20 Minutes To There

Hi

I am behind time catching up on blogging these days. Now I am spending more time with yet another form of pastime, I just rediscovered.  I won't call it a hobby for me now though at one time in my younger life I had a great interest in it. I hope to blog about it if my interest sustains.

Today it's just about my outing with the family . . .

When it is festival time you would not want to be stuck lonesome in the house while crackers and fireworks are blasting away and everyone else is having a good time.

So during the CNY holidays recently when the children asked me to join them for a day fun at the hotel resort, yes! Why not. That it did not involve traveling far and it was for only a day stay, it suited me fine. You know how hot the days were around that time, I did not want to leave my plants dry.

There was not much prep and packing we just hurriedly put a few things in a basket small luggage and then drove 20 minutes to there, the Lexis Hibiscus.

When we reached the hotel as expected at festival time there was a crowd at the lobby. But I was not to worry the son who booked two on-water chalets for the whole family has checked in earlier and so we headed to the rooms.

Wait. You got to get a buggy, too far to walk.

It was also a very hot day. Seen earlier someone was near faint being pushed in a wheelchair. Many people were wearing the face mask too and that got me to be a little worried, you know, with all the news, but that negative thinking soon been wiped off by the sea air. With the efficient buggy service, we soon reached our chalet.

Wow! The chalet was spacious, to me, quite luxurious, good lightings to create ambiance, plush, with two king-sized beds, a flat-screen TV, a sofa,  working table etc, as usually provided. The other end the chalet opens to a balcony that has a dip pool.

 At the wardrobe/dressing area adjoining the bath area, there is a thick solid glass panel on the floor through which you can peep view the marine life below. It might be interesting for a little kid.

Further back there is the spacious bath area which comprises two washbasins, the 'small' room, the two designated areas one for the shower and the other for the bathtub.

Adjoining the shower area is the steam/sauna room which also opens out to the balcony where the dip pool is.

So from your bed, you can come out, plunge into the dip pool. After dipping and exercising until bored or tired you can go straight to the steam room and relax. How good is life hah . . .

If you don't like to wet yourself you can just relax and have your coffee there and enjoy the scenic view, especially in the early morning. I even had my Subuh prayer there at the balcony, the sound of water and the calming spaciousness of the open sea evoke such a peaceful feeling.

The hotel chalets are positioned in a hibiscus pattern in the sea. Ours were in the stamen part. It is quite a long walk to go to the main hotel building, say to go and have your complimentary tea served at the lighthouse. It is good if you walk before loading yourself with calories from their afternoon teatime spread and the coffee or the free-flowing fruit juice but riding on the buggy with the whole family is fun.

 I am not very sure what the hotel programs provided for the visitors apart from those activities like cycling and biking. Those funny types of bicycles and bikes that you don't ordinarily found on our roads. Fun to ride them. Or if you want to be more adventurous you go for the boat ride or the jetski. Or take a helicopter ride to view the Lexis Hibiscus from the top. Of course, all these activities don't come free. Free activity is walking of course. Quite a distance but with a nice view.

A day of stay won't allow us to explore whatever more there is the hotel could offer but of course, sigh . . . the $$$$$ . . .

Breakfast time was meriah. Nearly all the seats in the big hall were taken up and the atmosphere made more festive by the CNY music songs and dance by the hotel staff. Little Adli also got entertained by the catchy music.

After the heavy breakfast back at the chalet, we went for another dip in the pool but just a short while because check out is at 11.00am which I think is too early.

Sharing with you pictures and videos here . . .

Adli and sisters enjoying themselves in the dip pool

Morning scene

Evening scenes  

Adli's father and sis no 1 went for a helicopter ride

Going to the Lighthouse for tea

To the hotel main building

The hotel logo

All in all, it was quite an enjoyable stay. Nice chalet, prompt service, friendly staff and not to forget the good food.

And most thankful to the one who generously belanja . . .

Well, I would like to go again someday . . . only 20 minutes, you don't call it travel, right?


Happy holidays.

Images

Hi

My free iCloud storage space is nearly full as frequently notified. I think I have too many photos and videos there. Why is that so, the reason being everything that seems interesting to me I would surely take a shot. Some are taken purposely for my blogpost. I would only delete the lousy and irrelevant ones later. It is becoming a junk and unorganized as I procrastinate. 

Mobile phone photography is so easy and convenient. At any time we can just click. Taking selfies is trending. The phone follows wherever you go, no effort to carry, unlike the camera which might be bulky and cumbersome. This form of photography as everyone knows is a craze not only among the young but the old too, just like me :) So there will be loads of photographs of whatever quality in our keeping

I also received images from family and friends and most of the photos I saved. 

Some photos bring back fond memories. Those photos that ooze out happiness and joy you will find yourself viewing it, again and again.  Some captured moments are ticklish, some even hilarious. I take pleasure in viewing them when alone and free and when I don't know what else to do.  I like them all. I will keep them in my hard disk photo storage later. I have no heart to send these photos to the trash bin.

Hooking/plucking mangoes

Cake too tough?

Shopping with Adelia

Some photos, like the ones below, sent to me are of distant places like Latin America and Italy where I could not possibly go. I appreciate them all. These pictures really make me feel I am living under a shell. Do I miss out on the pleasure of traveling . . .

There are pictures of sunrise and sunset. Some almost look the same but I like them all so they contribute to the piling up. Some of these pictures make me realize why people are willing to spend and travel. Some places are really interesting and the scenery breathtaking as appeared in pictures and videos and maybe more in real life.

Sunset in Kota Kinabalu

Rainbow rising from the sea - Port Dickson

Part of my favorite walking track

But I don't understand why people travel so far just to lie on the grass and go to touch the goats  . . . This kind of picture of family fun is fondly viewed by Adelia time and time again, so I keep them.

Those are some of the photos from my collection.

Too big a collection can be overwhelming when choosing pictures for a blog post. It badly needs sorting and many photos should have been deleted to free up space.

Till next entry, bye.

Where Else If Not Kuala Lumpur

Hi

Though I am quite contented to be where I am and with my life, at home, I do sometimes want to take some time off and be away from home and break the everyday routine. I seldom go far and never beyond the country's border. Say I live within a shell, I don't mind at all because it is true, metaphorically.

My good friend the neighbor would know where I go if she sees my front gate is locked, unlike most days when the gate and door are wide open. Where else do I go if not to Kuala Lumpur the great city.

Me, no travel bug, really. Usually, travel only if I have a specific purpose. The last time I went to Kuala Lumpur was actually to have physiotherapy done on my leg. Of course, after that, I could take time to wander at the multi-story shopping malls but not this time as the leg needed a good rest.

bitten by the travel bug

In past visits after having done with whatever was my purpose of going, wandering the malls was what I usually do. Real shopping or window shopping a favorite pastime but at my age now shopping is not so enticing anymore. Unless I have a specific thing to buy the goods on display fail to interest me much. However, to make the trip to the shopping haven worthwhile and to justify the fatigued leg I must splurge on something. That, of course, is at the home department, I think I can make a haul video on the purchase :D

If there is a home and furniture exhibition at the mall I won't miss them. I would go look and examine the show items with great interest especially things like the endless pool which I have seen one exhibited before. I dream of installing one at home. 

Makan makan? Hmm, I cannot eat much nowadays. No more crazy about food, those mouth-watering salty, sweet, sour or fiery hot and oily, I now try to avoid but how to ignore food like this.

What else I do in Kuala Lumpur? Visit places of interest? Museum, me not the kind. Visited the museum umpteen years ago. So is the zoo, for children. Thinking back I need to go there again. I like taking pictures of birds. But then I don't fancy taking pictures of birds in the cage. I have heard about a big bird park in Kuala Lumpur and its a shame that I have not visited it yet.

Yes, I have been to the National Art Gallery once but was not able to view much, according to the staff there was some renovation going on. So I spend more time browsing the digital images of the art collections of the gallery on the big screen. I hope to visit the place again to view the real art when I can spend more time in my future trip to Kuala Lumpur

How about watching a live performance at the Istana Budaya or at the Klcc convention center. Been there two-three times, but the most memorable for me was watching Mamma Mia the ABBA-inspired musical theatre at the Istana Budaya many years ago. Modern concerts, I like them too but if I go I would be out of place, hah old me . . .

Where else? Klcc, of course, to take a picture of the iconic twin tower though not the highest in the country now, it still attracts. The surrounding area is a nice place to walk around and at night there would be a display of colorful lights accompanied by lively music at the fountain. But going there taking pictures once twice, enough. Enough of stretching of the neck :D

So on that most recent trip, the daughter suggested that we could take pictures of the tower from a different perspective, ie if we go up to a higher level. Agreed. So after my physiotherapy session, we checked into a hotel room with the tower view. 

Nice and comfortable to rest there. You get a nice view of the twin tower while lying on the bed. I took a few shots of the tower and the surrounding area, evening night and early morning scene through the glass wall. The place did not look as cheerful maybe it was a weekday and raining.

must cross this fabulous air bridge one day

It would be a waste if you stay at the hotel and just hibernate in the room. Just go use their facilities like the gym. Use their buggy to take you to the neighboring shopping mall. Of course, I used their swimming pool. Swam for an hour, early morning then spent an hour at the breakfast buffet. 

The hotel gym view from our room

meintheswim stealthily doing the breaststroke 

Felt like a vacation but it was only in Kuala Lumpur :))

I have yet to go for another physio session. So it is the Kuala Lumpur trip again.  Will stay with Adli this time.

Friends got to put a full stop here before you get bored.


Be happy.

Garden Of My Dream

Hi friends,

I came home after more than two weeks of absence. I am happy to see most of my plants are ok. There must be some rain otherwise . . . 

Some plants are flowering. The amaryllis flowers have withered but there are many more new buds. 

The plumbagos are happily flowering though not so lush.

The white orchid with the orange tinge is really long lasting, a few more blooms that are still there are fresh.

The kesidang climber blooms on the top of the mulberry tree and the kemangi is also blooming and spreading its sweet scents.

The anthuriums are ever faithfully blooming and so does the dancing ladies.

The hibiscus? :-( . . but it's ok.

The overall look makes me happy but of course, the garden is nothing like what my dream garden is. And I know I can never achieve what I want as my garden area is small and my budget is humble. And worst is I am not knowledgeable and hence not so good a gardener :) But it is no harm to be engrossed in dreaming, right?

Pictures below are not of my garden. 

These pictures are from my phone, sent from this place. (Thanks M for the pictures.)

Dear readers hope you enjoy this entry.

Bye for now.