Trip to Bukit Tinggi - Day 2

I woke up to the aroma of Mama's cooking. Mama woke up rather early to cook as Kungkung and Popo have to leave early to drive to Penang for Uncle King Yu's wedding dinner. We are not going to that dinner as Mama had to work and we already attended the KL chapter.

After having breakfast, Papa took his bath before bathing me whilst Yiyi and Mama is busy packing and cleaning up the apartment for check out. When everyone is done, we checked out at the clubhouse and adjourned to Colmar Tropicale and Japanese Village. The complimentary tickets are for multiple entries, luckily.

We first went to the Japanese tea house and the road up is so so steep that Papa has to carry me up as Mama said she will faint if she were to carry me up. Though it is only 300 meters from the parking area, it looks like 1 kilometre to Mama and Mama said that's the consequence for not exercising!

We explored the Japanese garden area to our left first. There is a Japanese tea ceremony whereby you need to pay RM20 to rent a kimono and pay RM28 to participate in the ceremony. As it is nothing special, the adults decided not to part with their $$$. The Tatami Spa is closed as there were no bookings. So, we just enjoyed the scenery and the koi fish ponds before backtracking down to visit the Botanical Gardens.

There is nothing much in the so-called Botanical Gardens but a steep hill with flowers and trees everywhere. As it was nearing lunch time, we had our lunch at the Japanese restaurant, Ryo Zan Tei. BVC members have 10% discount on the 'premium' menu prices.

I had my cereals before the food arrive, which took a long long time despite us being the only customer at that time. Subsequently the restaurant filled up and some people resorted to sharing a set meal due to the expensive prices. Mama, however, insisted to order one meal for each of us...except me of course. The bill came up to be RM107++ after discount and the food was mediocre.

With a full stomach, we stopped by the souvenir shop which mostly sell Tenmoku pottery, some T-shirts, toys, prosperity cats and Japanese dolls. Nothing caught Papa Mama's fancy. So, we left 'Japan'.

Then we walked down the hill to our car and suddenly there were lots of shuttle buses going up. There are free shuttle buses but they don't seem to stick to their schedules which will be rather inconvenient.

The drive to 'France' (Colmar Tropicale) took about 15 minutes. Again, you can't drive all the way in if you are not a hotel guest. So we parked at the guest parking and walked 10 minutes to the entrance. It is just a one street village which is very commercialised. As it is a weekend, there are temporary stalls on the street but we did not get to witness any of the performances stated on the activities board eventhough the stated starting time was when we were in the vicinity and we could not have missed it since it is only a very SHORT street. Mama remarked to Papa that we did get to go to France after all...as we had cancelled our Europe trip in the midst of the H1N1 pandemic and Mama losing a lot of money for the bookings made. Well, as Papa said, better be safe than sorry.

So, we decided to leave as there is nothing interesting there and on our way out, we visited the pair of black and white swans on the moat. I was so excited and I said 'duck duck'. Mama said, no they are swans but I continued to say 'duck duck' coz they looked the same to me.

That was the end of our Bukit Tinggi trip and I think I will make a trip here again when Mama has BVC nights expiring or she needed to quick get away.

Trip to Bukit Tinggi - Day 1

Mama has nights expiring on her BVC and booked a 2 room apartment at Meranti Park Suites at Berjaya Hills Resort for the weekend.

After Papa has clocked in for his work, Papa Mama had breakfast at Restoran New Chuan Hup in Bandar Baru Ampang. Then, we started our journey to Bukit Tinggi via MRR2.

Was supposed to meet Kungkung, Popo and Yiyi at Restoran 126 at Kampung Bukit Tinggi but we were there around 10am, so Papa decided to drive up to check-in first. We had the car windows down when we are in the hills and I loved the cool refreshing breeze on my face!

After checking-in, Papa bathe me and we rested for a while before going down hill to Restoran 126 to meet Kungkung's entourage. The apartment is clean and basic but can do with some refurbishment.

BVC and the Berjaya Hills clubhouse reception insisted that there is no kitchen in the apartment which prompted Mama not to cook whilst we were there. When we checked in, we noted that there is a kitchen!!! Apparently they tried to discourage people from cooking by saying that there was no kitchen and when Mama asked why photos in some personal pages showed a kitchen, BVC replied that they had renovated the apartments and removed the kitchen. Papa and Mama thought it to be odd that a holiday apartment does not have a kitchen!

When we arrive at Restoran 126, food has already arrived and Papa Mama ate while I chanted, "mien, mien, mien", coz I wanted to eat the yee mee Kungkung ordered. After eating the noodles and some fish, Yiyi brought me to see fishes at the pond next to the restaurant.

Before going back up hill, Papa stopped at a provision store to buy soft drinks to put into the fridge. Papa and Kungkung used different way up and we ended up reaching faster using the new road.

I ran about in the apartment and in the late afternoon, Papa Mama decided to explore Bukit Tinggi Resort as I had refused to sleep and we had 4 complimentary adult tickets to Colmar Tropicale and Japanese Village.

Yiyi, what are you doing?

The moment I went into the car, I slept like a log and it started to rain. So Papa continued to 'explore' those places in the car. The roads leading to the Japanese Village are very steep and if you are not staying at the Ume Suites, you cannot drive all the way up.

After 'exploring' the hill, we returned to the apartment where everyone slept!!! The atmosphere is very relaxing. One may deem it boring but Mama said it is a good escape and relaxation place away from the hustle and bustle of the city as well as Mama's stressful work.

When we woke, Kungkung has started to call for dinner and we are driving back to Kampung Bukit Tinggi for dinner as the food up the hill is exorbitantly priced. Before deciding on a restaurant, we stopped at a provision store to get eggs, bread, canned food, oil and soya sauce for cooking tomorrow's breakfast.

Papa decided on the first restaurant on the road leading to the village, the name if not mistaken is Restaurant Green Village. The food was good and I had free entertainment as the kakak there kept giving me utensils to play with. Yiyi also brought me to view the fishes in the tank and I refused to let Yiyi return to the table though the fish area stinks! Ha ha ha....

The sleepy head refusing to sleep

After dinner, I ran around the apartment some more and Papa carted me away into the room where I watched my beloved portable dvd until I refused to sleep and Papa had to forcibly switch off the lights. I wailed so loud that I think Kungkung found it annoying and Mama had to come in to pacify and cuddle me to sleep.

The TV addict in action with her pupu

Baby in luggage: I actually got out of the luggage and when Yiyi said take picture, I gladly re-enacted my stunt for her.

A long tiring day indeed and tomorrow, we are going to explore the hill on foot! BTW, Mama's camera spoiled during our Beijing trip and she has yet to get it repaired, so my photographer and blog writer is taking a rest now until 14 August 2009. Photos posted meanwhile are courtesy of Yiyi or from Papa's or Mama's handphone.

My first road trip: Genting Highlands

As I am able to understand more things now, Papa Mama decided to bring me on my first road trip to Genting Highlands.

We left the house around 10am and went to the Taynton market to buy Papa Mama's brunch, newspapers and some soft drinks before heading up to Genting via MRR2.

Halfway through the journey I fell asleep and missed te excitement of going up the hill. I only woke up when we reached Ria Apartments. As Kungkung's entourage has yet to reach, Mama asked Papa to drive us to the mushroom farm. Mama bought some mushroom there for tonight's steamboat.

When we returned to Ria, Kungkung's entourage just reached. We checked in and moved all our stuffs, including steamboat pot, rice cooker, meats, vegetables, etc., up to the apartment.

After leaving our things in the room, Mama made me my lunch and fed me before helping Popo with washing up the things for tonight's feast. Auntie Serena helped too.

Popo asked us to go walkaround Genting since Papa Mama haven't been there since their last Kitaro concert. After we left the apartment, Auntie Serena and gang left also, leaving Popo to get all the preparations done all by herself. Papa Mama had a strenous walk up to First World Hotel with me in tow. I was allowed to walk by myself on certain walkways. Some enterprising people actually lined their cars up outside Ria apartment offering shuttle services up to the Genting hotels and casino for about RM5 per pax (according to Popo)!!!

As I am still too young, Papa did not allow me to take any of the rides. So, I just watched other kids on the merry go round. Later, we just walked around the indoor amusement park and bought some fast food before headed back to Ria within 2 hours.

Back at Ria, I was entertained with my new portable DVD player until I fell asleep. Then Mama helped Popo start up the steamboat feast before Papa joining in. Auntie Serena, Brian Korkor, Emily Jehjeh and their grandma came back just when Mama started the pot.

They were all eating happily when I bawled as I woke up with no one in the room!!! Mama ran to me and I made Mama cuddled me for the next hour. Papa and Kungkung tried to take turns but I liked to be cuddled by Mama only.

After I am done with my moodiness, I played with Brian Korkor and Emily Jehjeh but they are quite rough and noisy. I was hit and fell on the floor. Papa Mama was so worried but I stood up laughing thinking this is all part of playing. Kungkung laughed. Mama forgot to bring toys for me and I had to make do with playing the box of Brian Korkor's toy but this is short lived as Brian Korkor took it back. So, I played with Popo's sandals instead but Papa had to hide the sandals as I was trying to play telephone with them.

Mama took the opportunity to finished up her already cold meal and Papa bundled me into the room for bedtime. Of course, I would not give up that easily and had another round of watching DVD before dozing off after having cleared my bowels.

The night was so noisy with cars and motorbikes racing up the hill despite it being midnight. However, I am oblivous to the noise and slept all the way!!!

(Photos to be uploaded)

My new entrapment

Seeing that I detest the car seat, Papa Mama got this flexi car seat at the recent My Dear warehouse sales.

I was fascinated by it but within half an hour, I manage to disentangle myself from it. So Papa put it back into the plastic bag waiting for another opportune time when I am able to behave myself in the car before using it again.

He he he, me so smart hor?

Happy Birthday, Popo...

Happy Birthday, Popo!!!

Today is Popo's birthday and time realy flies.

We celebrated at the same restaurant as last year. Somehow, Popo seems to like this restaurant. This time round, I am more mobile and cannot sit still as compared to being a 3 months old baby during Popo's previous birthday.

Hong Kong and Macau Trip: Day 5 (4 December 2008)

Hong Kong and Macau trip: Day 4 (3 December 2008)

Hong Kong and Macau Trip: Day 3 (2 December 2008)