Our Road trip took us from Kuala Lumpur all the way to Penang!

If you drive from Singapore to Penang straight – it will take about 8-9 hours. But as we had kids with us, we used KL as our base, and each time as we passed though, we stayed in KL for a few days.

The stopovers in KL really helped the kids and the adults, as the journey would have been too tiring, if we went direct!

So What’s so GREAT about PENANG?

After all, it’s so far away, and people normally fly there!

Penang is a World Heritage Site sited by UNESCO, together with Melaka, and it is a place rich with historic buildings and architecture.

The drive to Penang is also very easy, as the roads are 2 carriageway throughout. We drove all the way up, as it is also cheaper for the family. Two full tanks of Petrol can bring you all the way up to Penang. Much cheaper than Flying (even when you add in the toll charges)

But the Best thing about Penang for any Singaporean is the FOOD!

Somehow through its seasoning and spices, the food in Penang seems to suit the Singaporean palate, and the food is heavenly to me!

From Chinese Traditional Cakes to the roadside stall selling dough fritters, any Penang food stall is capable of producing great tasting food.

One of the places that I will recommend to start with is this food court in Penang called Red Garden. It is located at 20, Leith Street, 10000 Penang, Malaysia.

 

Food Courts are a common sight in Singapore, and they have a large collection of different food stalls for any tourist to sample. However, one of the draw-backs about any food court, is that they are not known to produce any fantastic food.

However, I must say that the food here was GREAT!

We tried dishes like Char Keow Teow, Prawn Mee and Bak Kut Teh at the food court and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bak Kut Teh in Penang is served in a claypot and full of vegetables! This was a real hit with my wife

Char Keow Teow in Penang is also different! First of all, it is not as dark! Secondly, it is served with a bit of chilli and some spices. However, the spices used to make the dish somehow seem to came out in a delicious concoction that made their Char Keow Teow stand out from its Singaporean Counterpart.

Even Nicole gave her endorsement to the Char Keow Teow!

Check out the next post about Penang as I talk about the E&O Hotel and other food!

I am sure that many of us have heard of Sunway Lagoon, but have you heard of the Lost World of Tambun?

Surrounded by Limestone Caves, this Water Theme Park managed by Sunway, is the rather unknown cousin of the more popular Sunway Lagoon, but the Park is definitely not much lesser.

Located 1.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur and near the town of Ipoh, this theme park is definitely a fun destination for all families. With opening hours from 11am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesdays), we left for the park early in the morning, and made sure that we packed the kids swimming attire for the trip. 

Admission Prices are also reasonably priced, and much more affordable than the Sunway or Genting Theme Parks.

What’s special about the Park is the Hot Springs!

As there were light showers when we reached the park, the Hot Springs was a refreshing welcome for the cold family!

With temperatures at a warm 38-40 Degrees, there were steam caves, as well as warm pools to greet the visitors to the park. Check out the pictures of the hot pools below:

 

Most importantly, there were also obstacles catered for the kids.

Check out the Pirate ship and slides for the kids!

As it was raining, I did not get to see the whole park, but there are things like a “Petting Zoo”, and Rafting for the adventurous visitors as well.

I did manage to try the Adult Water Slides and they were really fun!

What was great about the Park?

The Hot Springs! And as it was raining, the park was really empty. There were also plenty of life guards around, so you do not need to worry that there will not be anyone to help, if assistance is needed. 

In fact, we felt like we had the park to ourselves, and we did not need any Fast Pass for the rides!

Any Reservations about the Park?

The Park is more than 5 years old, and I would have to say that it has been poorly maintained. Most of the attractions need a bit of touch up paint, and the place needs some thorough maintenance.

I feel that for Singaporean Standards, the Park is still in good condition for at least the year of 2011. It definitely needs some touch up, if it wants to become a major attraction for tourists.

However, due to the lack of crowds and the Hot Spring, this place can definitely become a major attraction for families.

*Please be aware that you won’t be allowed to bring your own food and beverages to the Park. The good news is that there is a Mcdonald’s near the park!

We ended 2010 with a Family Road Trip to Malaysia, and we had a fun time with all our friends in Kuala Lumpur.

As usual, we searched for accommodation using Trip Advisor, and it proved once again to be a useful resource for all our travelling trips.

As there were quite a few of us for this trip, we stayed at the Somerset Service Apartments for our stay in Kuala Lumpur.

Located within walking distance of the shopping district in the “Golden Triangle”, the service apartments are ideally placed within the Bukit Bintang Area. This is a crucial factor for any hotel in KL, as the roads are famous for traffic jams, and travelling via foot or via the monorail are essential for any tourist. 

The reception area is Spacious and Roomy and the kids enjoyed running around the Reception area, as we waited for our cabs to come.

A plus point about the Somerset is the Service found here. Receptionists are polite and able to converse in English. They were also helpful in giving us local information and helping us call for cabs. Room Service was also prompt as House Keeping was quick to bring up extra towels upon request.

Tips for Tourists:

Please be aware that taxis are famous for trying to get “more” from tourists, so make sure that the meter is running when you enter the cab. (Cabbies will always tell you that the meter is not working – So don’t believe them! )

As we were on this trip with friends, we stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment. These units had a large sitting room area and are therefore great for parents travelling with children.

Each unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen, complete with a fridge, microwave and a washing machine with dryer.

Here’s a picture of the Master bedroom with its King Size Bed and toilet.

 

One of the plus points about Somerset Residences is its location. As we were staying in the hotel on the 31st Dec 2010, we managed to get a close-up view of the New Year Fireworks. The Sitting room was also adequately sized to accommodate the 20 of us that gathered to usher in the New Year Together.

 

As the hotel is situated within the city area, it is not blessed with large grounds. As the result, the swimming pool is a bit small and truthfully nothing to shout about! But it did not make much of a difference, as we were too busy shopping, and we did not even take out our swimsuits!

 

Breakfast at the hotel is also a bit of a disappointment. If possible, opt for the rooms without the breakfast, as breakfast is just bread, corn flakes, juice and  a lonely guy trying to make omelettes. You will be better off walking down the street and having some Roti Chennai

Overall, I think that the Somerset Service Apartments are great value for money, especially if you are travelling in a Big group and staying for extended periods!

Before I go, here’s wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the BEST for 2011  

Do stay tuned for my other reviews about KL and Penang!

Retreats and Camps are a yearly adventure for our family, and we have travelled to places like Mecure Hotel in Johor Baru to Equatorial Hotel in Malacca.

This year, we ventured to Harris Resort in Batam.

As budget is something that organizers always have to bear in mind, we need to look for accommodation that offers something different, as well as affordable at the same time.

Harris Resort has existed for some time, and it has recently added a new wing to the resort.

The reception area looks it has gone through some renovation as well.

Here are some more pictures of the reception area and cafe, with free internet facilities.

To give a fair review, the refurbishment was only done partially. As a result, the Hotel Driveway looks rather old.

The cafe was also suffering from “heat exhaustion”. Batam’s weather is rather humid, but the old air-conditioning was not adequate enough to cool the cafe effectively. A real Minus point for the resort!

The swimming pool area also looks a bit aged, due to the humid weather found in this region.

A plus point for the resort is that it is located next to the beach. However, if you are looking for clear waters and wonderful beaches, you might be a bit disappointed.

The Resort also did its best to give good service. When a friend was injured, they got a company SUV to send our mates to the hospital.  They were also very considerate, as they also sent food to my friend’s room, and provided a wheel-chair, when they realized that she was injured. In fact, they even gave her a wooden clutch when she checked out to assist her.

Essentially, the family did enjoy ourselves at the Retreat because of great company and fellowship.

However, the 1hr ferry ride and taking 1hour to cross immigration does make me think twice about going to Batam for a holiday! Think Malaysia is still cheaper and easier!

You are invited to a sneak peek at a upcoming blockbuster exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) … The Treasury of the World is THE exhibition of the year at the museum…

Wow! When I saw the email invite, I was curious! A blockbuster exhibition? Treasury of the WORLD?

When I read on, I realised this is no ordinary collection! It has been shown in the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Louvre in Paris… and now for the first time in Asia—in Singapore!

I’m no historian, but when I read about what would be shown at this collection, I really wanted to see the artefacts up close!

So along with Nicole, we went for this exclusive sneak peek! Ooohh it was a night of Indian Culture! We had a short introduction to the Mughal Empire – one of the wealthiest dynasties ever in the world.

Some interesting facts:

- the Mughal rulers lived lavishly. Everything they owned was jewelled with precious stones. Check out the dagger…

It’s adorned with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, ivory and agate! And that round ball-looking thing? That’s a mouthpiece for a smoking pipe. It’s just good ol’ rubies that they used!

- the Mughals loved life and lived it to the fullest! They smoked pipes, and collected art pieces.

- the Mughals were passionate people. The famous Taj Mahal was built by a Mughal emperor, out of his love for his beloved queen. One of the rulers who had a harem of 5,000!

After the presentation, we were treated to an Indian dance performance, and were even taught basic dance steps! (See how shy Nicole was!

Nicole had a blast as she bravely offered her leg to the Henna artist. We had to convince her one leg is enough! She wanted her hands and legs and face drawn!

Artist at work:

Near completion:

Check out Nathan—our little Mughal prince! (much thanks to ACM for the turban)

 

I can’t wait for the exhibition when it runs from 12 February-27 June! The whole family would be going down to see how the Mughals lived, try their clothes, taste their food, and have a hand at some jewellery designing. I know Mummy is definitely going to check out those precious stones!

FREE TICKETS TO THE MUSUEM

AND… I have 5 pairs of tickets to give away to my readers!

To qualify, simply leave a comment on this post by completing this sentence (less than 50 words):

“I have a bit of the Mughals in me because … …”

Please send in your entries by 5 Feb 2010, 2300hrs .

Winners will be announced on 7 Feb 2010.

Valentine’s Day Contest

Well, that’s not all! The museum is having a Valentine’s Day contest for visitors in February.

In celebration of the Mughals’ passion, ACM is giving one lucky visitor a chance to win a prize of a venue sponsorship of ACM’s River Terrace and River Room. The location is ideal for a wedding, anniversary party, or any special occasion! Look at the pictures!

To win, simply fill in a contest form stating your favourite artefact and why. You can drop in your form into a box at the end of the exhibition. More information is available at the museum. The contest closes on 28 Feb 2010.

So quickly send in your entries to win those tickets!

Below are additional details about the exhibition:

Date: 12 February to 27 June 2010

Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555

Website: www.acm.org.sg

Admission charges: $8 (adults) / $4 (concession); Family packages at $20 for up to 5 pax. Free admission for children aged 6 and below and seniors aged 60 and above.

Opening hours: Mon 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Tues to Sun 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (to 9 p.m. on Fri)

Tips for Parents:

On the 27 & 28 March, ACM is organizing a weekend festival for the Treasury of the World.

It’s going to be carnival time as you get to try out the Mughals’ favourite past-time of archery, and get to watch live performances of song & dance!

Cool Yah!!! See you at the ACM!