Friday, December 01, 2017

#GalsNZ17: New Zealand Getaway Day #1

It started with a message from my sister, 'We are going to NZ in October next year. Would you like to tag along?' Without thinking, I replied, 'Yes!'

10 months later, here I was on this mother/sisters trip. I badly needed a break-away from routine after a rough start to 2017 (taking care of my husband after his open-heart surgery, managing major change at work, etc.) and I was happy that I made that decision (although I felt really sorry leaving my husband and two girls behind, but made up my mind to return to NZ with them next time).

Tips: Planning singles-trip can be a headache especially when each of us live in different towns (and in my sister's case, country). Thankfully we had TripIt apps to help us coordinate our planning and consolidated all our bookings in an easy-to-refer-to itinerary. This way, we can see which day we have not booked / planned anything yet.

All of us consolidated our itinerary in a single trip by emailing our bookings to TripIt

Preparation to NZ was quite minimal since I've already bought warm clothes from our Osaka trip last year. Although it was spring season, weather at night was chilly so I packed a pair of thermal inner clothing, windbreaker, fleece jacket and a sweater for outer-layer. I also brought NZD700 cash for food, souvenir and emergency cash.

We agreed that each of us was responsible to bring different items for the trip. I was tasked to bring pharmacy medicines, wet tissues and the likes, while my sisters bought instant rice (my sister bought the rice in Japan which required no water and just needed to be heated up in a microwave) and Brahim's instant food. We also did some grocery shopping when we reached NZ as it was easy to find halal food at the supermarket there.

We took AirAsia flight with a short layover at Gold Coast. Unfortunately, despite joining a 5km run the day before, sleeping late to pack my bag and waking up early to travel to Miri to catch our flight to KL, I couldn't sleep for the most part of the 8+ hours journey. Eventually I did doze off towards dawn only to wake up 1 hour later.

Upon reaching Australia, it was a rush to queue up for a quick immigration check, then a dash to the restroom for a quick relief before queuing up at the airline's counter to board the flight again. This time, I was upgraded to the quiet zone since my sister checked us in separately, and the airline wanted to accommodate a family request to sit together.

At Gold Coast Airport, Australia for a quick layover

The journey from Gold Coast Australia to Auckland took another 5 hours. When we reached Auckland, we had to take a shuttle bus to the terminal and then started the long queue at the customs. NZ's biggest export is their farm produce (milk, fruits, vegetable you name it), so the government is very strict about fresh food items that goes through their border. They even require us to declare if our shoes have been used in sports activities outdoors!

Tips: To speed up the process, prepare a list of food that you are bringing in (with translation if the food packaging is in local language) and only bring in food that are permitted (cooked / processed food like Brahim's instant chicken rendang that are sold in supermarkets are allowed if it is in its original packaging) and have the list ready for the customs officer to inspect. You may be lucky enough that they won't check the luggage if you have the list prepared ahead.

After 6 hours we finally reached Auckland

So the first thing we did when we reached Auckland Airport was to look for a prayer room to perform our Zohor & Asar prayers. I was impressed that Auckland International Airport is Muslim-friendly and there is a musalla on the first floor of the Arrival Hall (entrance next to McDonald's). Then we went to buy a local SIM card (we decided to get Vodafone SIM card) so we could contact Auckland Airport Lodge where we were staying for the night before our early morning flight to Christchurch. Besides being in close proximity to the airport, the lodge also provided free shuttle service to and fro the airport and the lodge so it was really convenient to us.

Tips: Auckland International Airpot does have accommodation adjacent to the airport, the Novotel Auckland Airport. There is also a budget hotel within walking distance to the hotel i.e. Ibis Budget Auckland Airport.

Our first night - Auckland Airport Lodge. Clean & comfortable

While waiting for our shuttle van to arrive, we bought sandwiches (and chocolates, my favourite Whittaker's chocolate is really cheap in NZ!) for dinner at the airport. The journey to the lodge took about 10 minutes and upon arrival, we immediately checked in and was given our key. While it is no fancy stay, we really liked the lodge. Our studio unit is just a few metres away from the office and located on ground floor so no climbing required. The room is really spacious and easily accommodated the four of us. It is also super clean and after a long journey, the bed easily felt like the most comfortable bed we've ever laid on!

Next entry, our NZ adventure began!

Post Created 6 Nov 2011 01:45:42

Have you ever wondered where did all the Time in the world go? I have. I ponder at the fact that Time is unique - in the sense that it can never happened twice. Oh sure. 3pm will arrive daily, but it's only a concept to measure Time so we won't lose track of life. The truth is it's always a different Time that arrives each day and it rushes and never return.

Time. It is something so precious yet always taken for granted. The first thing that I checked when I woke up is time. What time is it? It's time to go to work. It's time to take my bath. It's time to wake up. But it is only recently that it occured to me that I look at Time so incorrectly. The question that i should ask is - how much Time do I have today?

Like all vain humans in this world, I think of Time as an Asset - something that I own and control. Yet it is not. Time is my Liability. I borrowed Time to live this life. From who? I borrowed Time from the Time Creator.

That is why live life frivolously. I hardly stop to think - what will I justify for using that Time? I work mindlessly, spending my time outside working hours still working. I think the Time as MY Time - I can choose to continue work if I want to. But if I had taken a step back and reflect - this hour, who does it belong to? The answer would be - my loved ones. Then I would think twice before robbing Time for something as trivial as work.

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Paramount Hotel Sibu Sarawak

We had the opportunity to sample a hotel in Sibu during Le Hubby's business trip a couple of weeks ago.

While Sibu has thrived in many ways, one aspect of Sibu that has yet to catch up is their hotel establishments.

Most of the hotels in Sibu are still hanging on to the dated decor and facilities from my observation of the hotel room photos in booking websites. Therefore, it is not surprising to me upon seeing the room in Paramount Hotel.

Dated furniture are still the main theme of the room

There is a slight upgrade in the room - the flat TV instead of the bulky TV

The bathroom

The kids take pleasure in this bathtub

The carpet looks new and perhaps save the day

But what the hotel lacks in terms of aesthetics, it made up in terms of its cleanliness. Nothing is more dreadful than an old, mouldy hotel. However, Paramount Hotel while is yet to spot the modern contemporary design one should hope, it is very clean and well-maintained.

There is also ample parking space in front of the hotel, however it is not free on weekdays as the parking lot does not belong to the hotel. Since we stayed during weekend, we need not pay for the parking.

The generous portion of its special fried rice

Overall, it is an average hotel which will perhaps do better if the hotel management is willing to invest in modernising the hotel aesthetics.

Rating: 5/10

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Unforgettable Experience at Sarawak Cultural Village

We happened to be in Kuching, Sarawak for our Merdeka (Malaysia's Independence Day)/Aidiladha break. In conjunction with the Merdeka break, we decided to bring our kids to Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) to get them acquainted to their own grassroot traditions of being Sarawakians.

In front of SCV entrance

Entrance price for non-Sarawakians are RM60++ for adults (++ inclusive of 6% GST). Kids above the age of 7 are charged at 50% of adult's price. However, being local Sarawakians, we got the privilege of getting special prices (RM25++ for adults).

We were issued with these tickets that are valid for only one day. The downside is we didn't get the passport to stamp each time we completed a tour at the traditional houses

We were issued tickets as well as wrist band that we had to wear at all times, yet allowed us to enter and leave the premise freely without being charged twice. The first building we saw on our right housed a restaurant that features local delicacies, a souvenir shop as well as the cultural theater. Our first stop was at the restaurant first to have our lunch.

The main building that housed the cultural performance theater, a souvenir shop and Sarawak Ethnic Kitchen that served authentic Sarawakian cuisine

We opted for a meal set consisting of a combination of Sarawak various ethnic food - manok pansoh (chicken cooked in bamboo), umai (Melanau's version of sashimi seasoned with lime, chillies and onions), ikan asam pedas (fish cooked in sour and spicy style), daging tepus (meat), squashed tapioca leaves, wild ginger fern, fruits and complimentary drinks.

From top clock-wise: Umai, manok pansoh, ikan asam pedas and squashed tapioca leaves

Interesting colourful motifs adorn the restaurant ceiling

Sarawak Ethnic Kitchen has two dining area - air-conditioned and open air

Although the food served was delicious, we couldn't help but notice that the service was quite slow (we were made to wait for half an hour to wait for our meal set to arrive, although it presumably it is best-selling item. On the other hand, perhaps they wanted to prepare the meals fresh). A couple of foreign tourists with young children had to go to the counter to check on their order as it took a long time as well. I felt that this is something they definitely need to improve to preserve a good image of the SCV.

After lunch, our first pit stop was at the Chinese Farmhouse. Chinese in Sarawak descended from the Hakka or Foochow clan, who came to Sarawak in the early 1900s as farmers. That is why we saw many farming tools on display inside the house. According to SCV's website, the house itself is divided into two main parts; the family room which contains the kitchen, eating and living area as well as a storage area for valuables such as bicycles or agricultural machinery, and the bedroom.

My kids posing in front of an agricultural machinery (I believed to process white pepper)

Posing in front of the house exterior - the wall is made of whitewashed sawn timber while the roof is thatched with leaf attap

Next house we stopped by was the Malay house. Unlike the Chinese Farmhouse, Malay house is built on stilts, and the staircase will lead visitors to a verandah before coming to the front door. The windows are cut to floor level to allow breeze for the seated people (I just found this out from SCV's website LOL). The first room that visitors will see is the living area. Rooms are separated by curtains to maintain the modesty of the females living in the house whenever visitors come by. At the back of the house is a spacious kitchen area.

Le Hubby is teaching Khadeeja to play a traditional Malay game called 'congkak'

Malay house (Rumah Melayu)

The most interesting (and challenging) house to visit in our opinion is the Melanau Tall House (Rumah Melanau). It is built very high above the ground (forty feet high) to protect the house dwellers from enemy attacks (traditionally, Melanau people lived near the sea within reach of pirates). We once were told that whenever enemies attacked, the people on the house will pull up the log staircase to prevent enemies from climbing up to the house and pour hot water on the enemies that tried to climb the poles. The most interesting architectural design of the house is the thatched roof, which is woven in such a way that if enemies threw fire on the roof, they can easily detached the particular patch of the roof and reveal a second layer of the roof (if I understood the story correctly).

Rumah Melanau from the front

My kids attempting to climb the log staircase

Inside the Melanau tall house

The house is double storey and to reach the top floor, one has to climb up another log staircase

Our next stop was the Orang Ulu Longhouse where we even get to enjoy a traditional musical performance by an Orang Ulu at their spacious verandah.

Orang Ulu Longhouse in the background

Gongs, porcelain jars of all sizes were among valuable items on display in the longhouse

Historical factsheet on display told us that body tattoos symbolized a lady's social standing - the more tattoos she can afford to get, the more affluent is her family

Perhaps the simplest structure at the SCV is the Penan Hut. Penan people were (are) a nomadic tribe who lived deep in the heart of the Borneo jungle. Their shelters are quick to be constructed to last for several weeks to several months nearby area with abundant food supply, only to be abandoned once the supply has dwindled to search for new areas. They also hunted for wild animals using blowpipes which Le Hubby and Khayla had had a try at during this visit, for a nominal fee.

Khayla taking a rest in front of the Penan Hut

Having a go at the blowpipe (although her lungs were not able to generate enough force to shoot at far targets!)

Lastly, before we ended our tour at the Cultural Theater, we visited the Iban's and Bidayuh's (collectively known as the Dayaks) longhouses, where our girls had fun donning on traditional costumes and posing in front of cameras (even other tourists were taking their photos!)

Khayla donning on a Bidayuh ethnic costume complete with headgear

Khadeeja opted for the Kayan ethnic costume with colorful beads on black cloth, complete with feathers accessories

The girls posing with a SCV guide in Iban costume

Our visit ended with a splendid dance performances of various Sarawak ethnics which never failed to mesmerize me. The girls also were as spellbound as they watched an Iban warrior lifted a heavy 'lesung' using his teeth, and a Melanau man propelled on a long pole by the sheer power of his core muscle!

The opening dance was enough to capture my girls' attention

A Melanau performance

Overall it was both an educational and entertaining visit, which is suitable for families and first-time tourists alike. I think the tour would be more interesting if the management could organize a guided tour with knowledgable tour guides who can tell the origins, facts and trivias (such as the wonderful engineering design of the Melanau Tall House roof) to tourists such as done in cultural places in Europe. I would not mind paying premium for a guided tour in exchange for a rich information on Sarawak's history. In fact they can also play historical movies (e.g. Warkah Terakhir on the story of Rosly Dhoby, or even that movie potraying Jessica Alba as an Iban lass!). There are a lot of potentials that the management can explore to provide a better experience to visitors.

If you are in Kuching and haven't visited Sarawak Cultural Village, I highly recommend this place for a crash course of Sarawak culture.

Rating: 7/10

Monday, September 04, 2017

Le Meridien Putrajaya (Suite Room)

The Le Meridien brand needs no introduction. The latest addition to their chain in Kuala Lumpur is Le Meridien Putrajaya which is adjacent to IOI Mall Putrajaya.

I had stayed in this hotel before and reviewed their ultra modern Signature room. However, our latest stay at this hotel was a lucky one as we were upgraded to their suite room at no extra cost (we checked the price later and noted that the price is more than RM1000 per night).

I have mentioned most of the amenities available in this hotel before, so I would not waste your time to go through them again. So enjoy photos of the elegant suite room at Le Meridien Putrajaya below:

Ample space in the bedroom which probably can accommodate two other king beds. Love the oversized standing mirror next to the bed

The sitting room provides some privacy to the bedroom should there be visitors coming over. A four-seat dining table sits next to the sitting area

Bathroom in the suite room is bigger than the signature room, but offers same amenities as the latter

Ultra modern bathroom

Ok, perhaps the suite room has more toiletries than the signature room's bathroom. I think the mouth wash is not available in the signature room

So much space in the suite room which makes my kids super happy (and reluctant to leave afterwards)

So how do you stand a chance to get free upgrades like us? Simply sign up as SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) to enjoy amazing benefits including free night awards and room upgrades at any of Starwood Hotels:

Courtesy of starwoodhotels.com

I have to say that Le Meridien sure knows how to reward their guests :)

Rating: 10/10