Beijing Trip - 9 to 14 Dec 2013

4 December 2013

Plan for Beijing Trip

It is winter in Beijing, and that means we have to do extra preparation for the trip. The kids are all grown up and their shirts from the US trip when Faris was 3 and Ariana 9 months will  definitely not fit!

We went to Uniglo in Midvalley last weekend to buy their sweater and jeans for Faris as most of his pants are the bermuda type. He complained that he cannot breathe if he were to wear long pants.. *sighhh*  After that daddy got to buy them gloves and socks at Going Places, SACC as Uniqlo doesnt have them. And now I am thinking of buying winter hats for them for I fear we will not be able to buy in Beijing as soon as we landed.

I have been having this notes on Beijing since a long time ago but years passed and we still didnt go to Beijing. I was thinking of going to Guilin for the scenery but hb vetoed on Beijing. I initially planned to bring my parents but their Langkawi trip coincidently fall on the same dates. Was advised by my sister not to bring my parents as all aunties will definitely not be going if mak didnt go. Beijing was chosen because Faris kept on asking us when we are going to US again as he would like to play with snow, make snow ball and snow man! It also include a trip to the Snow World Ski Resort.

We will be going under Muslim package with Wira Saujana Travel & Tours, arranged by hb on 9 to 14 Dec 2013 (6 days 5 nights), RM2690 for adults, RM2000 for Faris (with bed) and RM1500 for Ariana (without bed). Thank God the trip hb chose is with MAS as I hate going with AirAsia. And I managed to persuade Cik Zur to go :)  so she will be going with her sister Fiza, her aunties and hb, and 2 of their kids. Altogether there will be 20 people in our group.  

Looking forward to the trip!

My Craze for Travelling

Part 1 - Domestic
20 June 2013

I was reading someone's blog and happened to read about his trip to Swiss and was suddenly inspired (cewahhhh!) to write about the travelling I that had done.

My passion for travelling started when I was in Uni with all friends in my clique coming from different states in Malaysia and we will plan to visit each other's house. So we've been to among others Malacca to Kak Dura's house, Jig's house in Machang, Kelantan, Kak Eta's house in K.Trengganu, Kak Zamie's house in Seremban, CY's and Kak Mah's house in Klang, Kak Mus's house in Kajang, Kak Jam's house in Sentul, Kak Lalen's house in Kg. Baru, Kak Zura's house in Tmn Melawati, Kak Sherin's house in JB and not forgetting my house in Muar.

Kelantan

When we went to Jig's house in Machang, Kelantan, we also plan an excursion trip to Pengkalan Kubur and not forgetting the KB town.

Trengganu

When we went to Kak Eta's house we also went to Pulau Kapas by taking a boat from Marang.

From there we planned to go and went snorkelling to Pulau Redang and staying in Rumah Maybank in KT town. We took a speedboat from Merang and managed to get a good price for the package. The undersea view at that time was marvellous with colorful corals and fish, it was literally like heaven downunder. It was a dissapointment when we went there for a second time, after maybe like 10 year and this time with hubby. It was an adventurous trip by an executive coach (Sani Express bus) suggested by Zafrul. We parked our car at his house in Tmn Sri Gombak and he sent us to the bus station which is very near to his house. From KT bus station we took a cab to Merang where the jetty to Pulau Redang is. We took a 3 days 2 nites package with Redang Lagoon Resort. They had BBQ dinner, tea, and all other meals provided. Snorkelling trips to the Marine Park were also covered but we had to pay for the rental of the snorkelling gear. Accomodation was very basic, the chalet doesnt even have wardrobe to put our things. Back from Redang we stayed 1 nite at KT town and met Kak Eta.

Pulau Pemanggil - August 2000

It started with our friend Nani won a voucher for a trip to Pulau Pemanggil somewhere near Pulau Tioman and we planned to go together, me, Fazil, CY, Noe, Along, Cik Wahi and Nani. It was off to a bad start with the resort putting us in a cramped van together with the driver Tarzan and his assistant Jai. We departed at night and reached Mersing by Subuh the next day. We rested in a surau while waiting for Subuh prayer and I managed to shout at this 1 guy for asking us to wake up. (served him right :P).

The journey by bot nelayan(!) took 5 hours to Pemanggil in a rough ocean and we are so sea-sicked that all the energy drained from us. Lembek terlepek tak bermaya! Esp CY yg muntah2 and feeding the fish with the vomits (euwwwwww!).

The suprising thing was as soon as we were back on shore we were back to our normal gila2 stuff that Tarzan and Jai were so suprised! hahahaha.. and it was fun staying in the island with fresh fish as our source of protein (The guys went fishing and brought back 1 Coleman full of fish!).

The journey back was not so bad as the sea at that time was not so rough and I didnt vomit at all :)

Lake Kenyir

Participant for the 1st trip  (24 & 25 March 2001): Me, CY, Along, Noe, Cik Wahi, Cik Yam. It was on the IBMers at that time since they had the benefit of claiming for their holidays :)

Participants from the 2nd trip (August 2009): Me (pregnant with Ariana), hubby, Faris, Mak Abah, Lyna (we were actually attending her convocation), Ejun's family, Jaan & Abg Aiman. 

Ishhh no time to tell about all the journeys, the list of places first :

Year 2000

1. Bali, Indonesia - 7 April to 10 April 2000
2. Cameron Highlands - 18 to 20 May 2000
3. Kuala Selangor - 1 to 2 July 2000
4. Amsterdam - 21 to 25 Oct 2000
5. New York - 25 Oct to 3 November 2000
6. Pulau Pemanggil - August 2000

Year 2001

1. Tasik Kenyir and Kuala Trengganu - 23 to 25 March 2001
2. Pulau Perhentian - 5 to 8 July 2001
3. Cameron Highlands - 14 to 15 Nov 2001

Year 2002

1. Brunei - 10 and 25 August 2002
2. London - 11 and 14 August 2002
3. Amsterdam - 15 to 17 August 2002
4. Brussel - 17 to 19 August 2002
5. Paris - 19 to 22 August 2002

Year 2003

1. Bangkok - 4 to 10 March 2003
2. Awana Genting Highlands - 15 & 16 Oct 2003
3. Singapore - 17 to 19 Oct 2003
4. Genting Highlands - 25 & 26 Dec 2003

Year 2004

1. Cape Town - 27 to 5 Sept 2004
2. Fraser's Hill - 2 to 4 Dec 2004
3. Pangkor Island - 31 Dec 2004 - 1 Jan 2005
4. Kedah & Penang - 13 &14 June 2003

Year 2005

1. Langkawi - 17 to 19 April 2005
2. Cameron Highlands - 16 to 18 July 2005
3. Perth, Australia - 12 to 17 Oct 2005

Year 2006

1. Kuching - 17 to 20 Feb 2006
2. Port Dickson - 17 to 19 March 2006
3. Kluang - 29 & 30 April 2006
4. Pulau Redang - 28 to 30 July 2006
5. K. Trengganu - 30 & 31 July 2006
6. Langkawi - 12 to 14 August 2006

Year 2007

1. Korea - 18 to 24 March 2007
2. K. Trengganu - 30 June to 1 July 2007
3. Cherating - 1 & 2 July 2007
4. Geneva - 3 Nov 2007
5. Montreaux & Zermatt - 4 Nov 2007
6. Lucern - 5 Nov 2007
7. Lake Lugano & Milan - 6 Nov 2007
8. Verona & Venice - 7 Nov 2007
9. Florence - 8 Nov 2007
10. Pisa & Rome - 9 Nov 2007
11. Rome - 9 to 11 Nov 2007

Year 2008

1. Chiang Mai - 11 to 13 Jan 2008 (3 months pregnant!)

Year 2009

1. Kundasang & Kota Kinabalu - June 2009
2. Bandung - 11 to 14 Nov 2009

Year 2011

1. Langkawi - 17 to 19 July 2011
2. Los Angeles - 5 Nov 2011
3. San Francisco - 8 Nov
4. Santa Barbara
5. Las Vegas

Year 2012

1. Norwich - 19 to 31 July 2012
2. London - 21 & 22 July 2012
3. Edinburgh - 28 & 29 July 2012
4. Ho Chin Minh - 7 to 10 Nov 2012

Year 2013

1. Mekah - 21 April to 28 April 2013
2. Madinah - 28 April to 2 May 2013
3. Beijing - 9 to 14 December 2013

Year 2014

1. Melbourne - 9 to 16 September 2014

Year 2015

1. Cameron Highlands - 22 to 24 March 2015


and.. we planned to go to Japan this year. The kids had been begging to go to a place with snow and one of the nearest would be Japan. The city might be Sapporo. I've been googling for a good package as it would be a hassle planning your own trip with the kids in tow. I've suggested for Cik Zur and family to go with us on the package, so we'll see how it's going to turn out.

Edited :

Year 2015

2. Hokkaido (Sapporo) - 21 to 26 December 2015 
3. Hakodate - 26 to 28 December 2015

Year 2016

1. Grand Lexis PD - 17 to 19 March 2016
2. Bangkok - 28 May to 1 June 2016
3. Perth - 3 to 9 December 2016

Year 2017

1. Pulau Tioman (Kg. Salang, Salang Indah Resort) - 22 to 24 March 2017
2. Tasik Banding (Royal Belum Resort) - 29 Sept to 1 Oct 2017
3. Turkey - 

Year 2018

1. Port Dickson - 18 to 20 Aug 2018

Spain: (1 to 12 Dec 2018)

1. Barcelona
2. Madrid
3. Zaragoza
4. Cordoba
5. Granada
6. Seville
7. Valencia

Year 2019

1. Tawau and Semporna - 14 to 18 June 2019

2. Balkans (10 to 22 Dec 2019)

2.1. Milan and Venice, Italy
2.2. Croatia
2.3. Bosnia
2.4. Albania
2.5. Montenegro
2.6. Macedonia
2.7. Bulgaria
2.8. Istanbul, Turkey

A very stressful day

21 March 2013
Thursday

I was on leave yesterday and when I came back from just 1 day leave, a lot of things make me so stressed out:-

1) The never ending problematic India project that I have to handle the completion part of it without knowing head and tail about it plus having to no one to check when I want to clarify something about the file. The peoples who went to India countless time are not or do not want to answer my query.

2) I am having so many works at the same time now, with 1 subsidiary buying 5 properties simultaneously, tenancies, other conveyancing works, having to go to the stamp and land offices, other miscellaneos assignment plus other admin work (time tracking, KPIs, filing etc).

3) Having issues with my boss for taking leave without approval, despite me having applied for the same. Was reminded not to take for granted that my leave would be approved.

4) Having issues with the consignment from US.

5) Lots of baking to do lately and I am starting to feel so tired. I think I will be taking a break from baking until my office work reduces.

6) Thinking about preparation for umrah. Payment had been been settled yesterday but things has not been bought yet.

7) How to lose weight??

Should I call the headhunter now? Hmmmm....

Loya but not pregnant

6 May 2010

Thursday

I dont feel well. It's after lunch and I feel slightly loya, the headache is there.

 

Overdue post of Faris & Ariana

Jumble Post
26 February 2013

Faris and Ariana

 

Faris is now 4 years and 8 months, Ariana 2 years and 2 months. Bought a pink bicycle for Ariana's birthday present at Toy r Us, Midvalley for RM219.

 

Faris is now attending kindergarden at Q-Dees Amanputra under Teacher Gan. Schools fees is RM309 per month compare to RM238 before at his old kindy. Before this he's attending school at Brainy Bunch, also at Amanputra from when he's 3 1/2 years old. We figured that he's better be left off at school rather than talking indon with Bibik! He said he liked the new school better for reasons known only to him. If we ask him he just doesnt know how to answer. Either way, I am glad that the process of transfer went smoothly. Despite him crying every morning when asked to bathe :P

 

Travel

 

From the last post, we have been to US in Nov 2011 visiting Abg Li and family in LA and from there we went to San Francisco and Las Vegas. We met Kak Shafinaz in SF and had dinner at Franciscan Crab. Hand over Kak Finaz's order of Kopi Hang Tuah and Kak Finaz gave me 1 big packet of Giradelli's chocolate. Lovely! Had a great time is US despite the difficulty in handling the 2 kiddos. We will always be the last one out from airports (in Taiwan for transit and in LA).

 

We also went to Ho Chin Minh, Vietnam in Nov 2012 with mak, abah, Ayu, Cik and Lina for 4 days and 3 nites.

 

Wedding in the family after a long hiatus (9 years after MY wedding)

 

Aiz getting married this Friday, 1 March 2013 and the reception on the bride's side on the next day in Majidee, JB. Taking leave and Faris had to ponteng 1 day for the occasion.

 

Umrah

 

After that we would be going for umrah in April 2013 for 12 days with Andalusia Travel and Tours. Cost RM5890 for 2 in a room. I suggested to hb to go for ziarah to Jordan but hb was not agreeable. His idea is to concentrate on doing ibadah and not to melencong thinking about travelling. Hmmm...We have attended the talk on umrah on 23 February, delivered by the entertaining Ustaz Daud Hj Che Ngah. Despite the very uncomfortable seating (it was really sesak with some of them sitting on the stairs and kaki semut2 duduk atas lantai) and all, i really concerntrating on the talks as I had zero knowledge on umrah before. Plus I had no attire suitable to go to the holy place. Baju yg ada semua tak bermoral, all I have for jalan2 are jeans and t-shirt, HRC t-shirts, lots of it :) .Baju lain kalau ada pun tak muat since I put on weight like nobody's business the past few years. Need to exercise more and watch what I put in my mouth.

 

Need to do some research on where to buy the tudung, appropriate shoes, spray bottle for wudhu', jubah and socks.

 

Work

 

Work had been hectic lately, donno why but as the most senior among the execs, a lot of work had been referred to me, esp by the subsidiaries when they were supposed to give them to my boss first. I hate doing the file on India, had no knowledge of Indian laws and people that is supposed to know and decide doesnt want to do their part. But I had to bear with it all since I was not encouraged to change workplace. Hmmm..

 

Side Business

 

Now waiting for my agent in US to confirm my shipment to Malaysia. Can wait for it to arrive as it contains a lot of my personal things! Heheh.. among others, the KitchenAid mixer, 3 in 1 Samsonite bags, not forgetting my Corelle and Coach :)

 

I still bake cakes when there are orders, but limited to a few type of cakes, Red Velvet, Cheesecake, Orange cake, Prune cake and the layer choc cheese cake. Now I have orders for RV cupcakes for C.yam's sister and Kek Sujee for Emma. Today delivered a caramel cheesecake to Eezan for Aizat's birthday.

 

That's all folks!