2012 - Has been a year of change

How was 2012 for you readers out there?
For me, it has been a year of change! Here's a little run up for my year....

January
1. Jared starts Std 1, new school, new environment
2. Managed to climb Gunung Mulu with some great friends and fantastic guide.... thank you Han for leading us and thank you Ong, Mee Ling, Alvin, Esther and Boon Leng for the great company (first time staying in the jungles for so many days)

March
1. Swam with the whalesharks! Wow, what an achievement for me personally. To think that I cannot swim at all previously, now I had the opportunity to swim with one of the world's largest creature... what an amazing experience
2. Managed to sell off our office in Shah Alam (after looking for a buyer for a very long time) - we had 3 units of office lots together and hence it was tough to sell.

April
1. Contributed back to nature with a cleanup at Kedondong waterfall :) I have been enjoying too many waterfalls so its "payback" time
2. Climbed Gunung Senyum and it was SO TOUGH! I thought I almost died! (from the heat) I say thank you to the many people who accompanied me and waited for me

June
1. Had an argument with a friend which never really did reconcile
2. I am reminded of how powerful mother nature can be
3. Had a good break at Phuket

July
1. The month of many coordinations with renovation works and moving plans (for the office)
2. The USA sales team (working in partnership) decides to resign from distributing our products! (shucks!!)

August
1. Went to Hanoi and the famous Halong Bay which I personally think its over-rated. The Halong Bay on land was very much better! (Ninh Binh)
2. Finally we move into a house (converted to use as an office) - after many years in Shah Alam, I am now in PJ for those of you who don't know
3. I lost a friend to mother nature
4. I was given a resignation letter by the Technical / Ops personnel

Sept
1. I was given another resignation letter by the Secretary
2. Gathering with secondary school mates with a lovely cake baked by one of them, Li Ying. Was a great turnout and thanks to all who came, making it an event to remember

Oct
1. I finally got an iPad - which is used by Jared and mum! The grandma and grandson negotiates who uses the iPad for how long - quite comical I must say
2. For the company we managed to get confirmation to be listed into BigLots stores in USA... 1400 stores mind you! Great record for us
3. Stepped into Pulau Perhentian for the first time... it's off season and it was a fantastic weekend breakaway. Not many souls in sight and it was a wonderful experience. We could just snorkel off shore.... lovely

Nov
1. And another resignation letter by the Accts personnel (this completes it!) :) PHEW! Thankfully!
2. Mum's check up revealed that she has early signs of kidney problem :(
3. Kimi won the race at Abu Dhabi and said "leave me alone" to his crew members - classical
4. I had to settle for Frasers Hill for my winter holiday this year - better than nothing!

Dec - my favorite month!
1. 12.12.12 gathering with my LP friends, 12 years of friendship....


Things that I thought I would do this year but did not:
1. Climb Gunung Rajah
2. Try kayaking
3. Try diving

Guess, the year has not too bad?
Its always up and down, and I always say be thankful for the ups and gain the experience from the downs.

I say thank you to some close friends/buddy and family members who always stood by me and never left my side. I am thankful for your presence in my life.

Going Italian with buddies @ Marini's on 57

Thank you for the birthday treat.
(Yeah, my birthday celebrations start early......its tough to coordinate 3 persons calendar)

So here's my verdict of Marini's - not quite worth the $
The atmosphere was good (except for the constant flash lights), service was not that great and as for food, I believe that there are better places to go.

Here's a run up of what we tried:

Pan Seared Foie Gras with Caramelised Apple (The usual dish)

120 days Black Angus Beef - Somehow its pretty bland and no beefy taste! (Normally Black Angus has a nice beefy taste to it - which is what I like)

Lamb Shank - The sauce was not sufficient but Potato Truffles was not bad

Tagliolini (Home made) with fresh crab (cream sauce) - I thought the texture of the pasta was a bit too soft....

Cooked Cream with Vanilla - I have to try something vanilla :) but this did not turn out too well.

This was a interesting dessert - the Marini's Picolezze - Tiramisu on Almond Crust, Baba Au Rum (little cupcakes infused with rum), Creme Brulee and Macaroons - Actually more "French" than "Italian"

Here are the details for Marini's on 57

Level 57, Menara 3 Petronas,

Persiaran KLCC,
50088 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Phone : 03 - 2161 2880 or 03 - 2161 4880

Website : http://www.marinis57.com

16-19 June 2012 Phuket Breakaway - Day 3 & 4

We decided to go over to Phi Phi Island and stay a night there.
(Did not even do any hotel bookings - so when we arrived, we were walking from hotel to hotel to look for a decent place to stay. I must say that the nice clean, white sheets are full! Can you imagine???)

Anyway, we booked the cruise via this tour agent (situated same row as Minotel Patong)
They operate in a little kiosk.... and we were charged THB 500  per person for a return trip to Phi Phi.
(Do not bother to try to go to the pier to get tickets yourself) (This includes the transfer from / to hotel)
- Note that if you google you will see that the charges can range from THB 800-1600 for this boat ride to Phi Phi. So the best is just approach the tour company (in kiosks like below) and negotiate for the price.

We were greeted by this on arrival to Phi Phi Island

This is the cruise we took. Journey to Phi Phi, approx 2 hours

Streets of Phi Phi Island

We walked over to the Long Beach area (quieter) - the walk takes about 45 mins. (If you ask around (which we did) - people will say 1 hour, some will say 2 hours, some say very very tough - but really, its just a leisure stroll)

Happy jumps

Next day, we trekked up the View Point with our bags (because we had to check out by 11am). Basically we just had to climb staircase! Its about 45 mins climb.

After the view point we returned to Phuket via the same cruise.
Then we asked to be dropped at Phuket town instead of our hotel as we wanted to take this airport shuttle to the airport. This is the bus we took. (Everyone you ask will tell you that there is no airport bus - they will say to hire a cab)
The journey is estimated to be 1.5 hours to the airport, simply because there are many many stops along the way. Its not a direct bus. Along the way, the bus picks up many students (if the timing is after school like what we took)
The cost is only THB 90 per pax

I thought the price of burgers at the airport was ridiculous!!
THB 430 for a burger???? (USD 14)

Usually my trips all come with an itinerary. Very seldom I do trips without one and this was a nice change.
We just went where we wanted :)

16-19 June 2012 Phuket Breakaway - Day 2

We walked along the streets of Patong and decided to go on this the next day.
It costs THB 800 per person and this is what is included:
- Bang Pae Waterfall
- Elephant Trekking
- Buffalo Cart
- Canoeing

Greeted by rainbow - pot of gold at the end?

I read it after the trip that we should not do elephant trekking as the elephants are 'tortured" to make sure that they obey instructions. Will not do so again!

Buffalo Carting

Canoe into the mangrove swamp

An evening stroll by the beach

- To be continued -

16-19 June 2012 Phuket Breakaway - Day 1

Have you been to Phuket? This is my first trip here.
Its just like, one of the places to just go and have a look since like almost everyone has been here before.
I have to say I have never really quite enjoyed the islands until lately (since I could finally swim!)
I have actually given up any hopes of  being able to swim long ago but thanks to Edwin, whom never gave up on me, I am now able to... I try to swim at least once a week now.

So back to my trip, I was warned before the trip (and I totally forgot about it) - that I have to get out of the airport ASAP and hop on to the shuttles that runs into town and beaches..... as usual, I was slowly walking, passing through immigration etc etc.... (I always think - when I am on holiday I should take it slow - afterall every other day in my life I am always rushing here and there)

So, of course we were almost the last ones to come out of the airport and as a result had to wait for the mini van transfer to be filled up before leaving the airport. What to do? Wait-lor :)
Afterall we did not really have an itinerary for this trip as both of us just wanted to step our feet into Phuket :)

I can't remember how much the transfer into town via mini man costs. (I think its THB 150 per person) (this is the result of blogging months after the trip - my apologies) The mini van will do a stop at the tour agency where they will try to sell you tour packages or hotels if you have not booked. One can simply decline, and just inform them which hotel you are staying in and the minivan will drop you at the hotel.

We are greeted by this when we exit from the airport

Little details of the hotel room

The hotel room, served us well. We stayed at The Minotel Patong Beach www.minotelpatong.com The room costs THB 500 per night for a standard room with bathroom attached

Evening walk out to the beach

Dinnertime!

The Auto Bar

Fin for kids!

The famous Bangla Street at night, full of life and noise

It was Euro Season

I thought it was only Vietnam and Laos but looks like its also hard to troubleshoot any electricity problems here!

- To be Continued -