17 June 2017

14D13N Self-Drive Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane (Part I)

with 4 Khoos, 1 Kang, 3 Shas, 1 Phor, 1 Koay and 1 Chan.
on 22 May - 4 June 2017.

Recently, we went on a 2-weeks long holiday in Australia and managed to cover three beautiful cities; Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. 

I felt that 2-weeks of holiday was kinda long to get away from work and life's familiarity but I also loved the idea of making new experiences and get away from all kinds of stress (in our case, trying to get pregnant again). We decided that we will let things happen according to God's timing. I mean from the beginning, we have always enjoyed doing life together but ever since we lost our baby, we realized that we have become more (sort of) 'obsessed' with getting pregnant again. 

We really want to get rid of that 'obsession' and just enjoy life again at our own pace. We believe that when God feels that the timing is right again, my egg and his swimmers will be at it. So, we're not too worried anymore. This vacation took our minds off from this 'pressure' and boy, it felt good. 

And now, let's get to business. 

This trip was planned almost a year ahead of time because we needed to get the cheapest flight there (no, low cost carriers were never in the discussion because comfort is priority heh). 

Actually right, Australia was never in the picture until we had to re-schedule our New Zealand trip because the ticket price per person to NZ was about RM3,500. That's crazy. 

So, we decided that this time we will go to Australia and keep New Zealand for 2019 (everyone needs more time to save). 

Being the typical Asian we are, of course we cannot just go to a city since we're already paying so much to OZ, so might as well cover as many cities as we can. #kiasu

We wanted to only visit Melbourne and Sydney but I insisted that we go Brisbane because Mr Teng is there and he would kill me with his bare hands if I fly to Australia and not find him. So, we managed to squeeze Brissy in and extend few more days. 

After spending a lot of time on Skyscanner (highly recommended to download this app that tracks all airline's prices and gives you the cheapest including low cost carriers!), we finally were able to get a fairly good deal with SilkAir & Singapore Airlines at the price of RM2,300 per adult. The normal price is about RM3,000 and above.

So, we got the tickets with Holiday Tours & Travel Penang (my ex company - best travel agent in the world please). 

Next, accommodations. 

Of course we opted for Airbnb. There were 9 adults, 1 kid and 1 infant so if we stay in a hotel, we will go bankrupt before the trip even begins. Hah. More details on the Airbnbs on separate posts because there's just too many to squeeze all information /photos onto 1 post.

Next, we monitored on the car rentals because we have planned to drive from Melbourne to Sydney then to Brisbane. It sounded insane at first because everyone said so and because Google Maps showed up the real distance but we wanted to experience the international-driving so road-trip it is. 

My sister found out about the relocation deals where sometimes the car rental company will only charge $1 for the entire car (excluding petrol). So, we took turns to monitor closely to get these deals. We didn't confirm this until like the week before we were supposed to fly.

In the end, we managed to rent a relocation car from Melbourne to Brissy for only $1! That feeling so syiok!

Without further ado, we shall go straight to it.

TWENTY-FIRST OF MAY

Obviously we were all sleepless and excited because we've only got less than 24 hours to the big holiday! 

I only started packing this very night and the next morning. Thankful that our flight was a noon/evening flight, so not so bad. 

It was a no Monday-blue kinda Sunday, so syiok. 

TWENTY-SECOND OF MAY
PENANG-SINGAPORE-MELBOURNE

I spent my morning at home finalized all the packing while Koay went to office to work for few hours. Since all of us lives on different part of the island, we took Uber rides separately. Gone are those days when you need to get someone to fetch you to/from the airport. With Uber/Grabcar, everything so convenient now. 

Actually I just remembered that our Uber driver that afternoon was my mother in law because she wasn't working that day. Thankful for my mother in law and if I start talking about her, it's going to be a post by itself. Heh. 

We decided to get to airport earlier so that we could enjoy the access to the Plaza Premium Lounge. Now before you go off thinking that we some kind of VIP or rich people, don't. Let me tell you how you can get access to this lounge. 

First, you need to go get yourself a credit card from Ambank and do supplementary cards to the rest of your clan (maximum: 3 supp cards I think). We found out that we have 2 times access to the Plaza Premium Lounge per year with their credit card so we decided to make full use of it. 

It's complimentary okay!

Of course there are higher tiers kind of credit card that will give you more times of access to the lounge (selected airports worldwide) according to which one that you qualify to apply. For our case, we only have Ambank so yeah. Kids go in for free. 

Once you're in there, everything you order and take from the fridge is free - Malaysians favorite F word. I love the feeling of being in there. It's quiet (until we went in) and cosy and cold. Worth the hassle of doing paperwork and applying for Ambank's credit card! 


Penang - Singapore // MI 351 (SilkAir) // 6:00pm-7:25pm (1 hours 25 minutes)

Mini TV on board - not available
Refreshments & free flow drinks - yasss


Upon arrival at Changi Airport, we rushed to the Shop 2 Changi Information Counter because if you fly with SilkAir or Singapore Airlines or Air New Zealand, you are entitled a $20 cash voucher to be used at Changi. It's called Changi Transit Programme

Changi Airport is really big so with the little time that we had before our next flight to Melbourne, we walked really fast and kept asking people on the direction. No time to get lost please. Have to change to Terminal 3 some more.

We decided to use the $20 cash voucher when we come back so got more time to walk around. Hah.


Just get to the counter and pass to them your passport and boarding pass. Withi a minute, you will have in your hand the sweet $20 cash voucher. Yass to free shopping! 

After getting all our vouchers, we walked really fast to our next boarding gate - thought they were going to call us on the loud speakers. Turns out, they haven't even ushered the first class travelers in yet. 


Singapore - Penang // SQ 227 (Singapore Airlines) // 9:15pm-6:40am (7 hours 25 minutes)

Entertainment on board: Yes (though quite worn and used)
Meals: Dinner and breakfast (got menu some more)
Hot towel: yass
Pillows & blanket: yass
Earphones: yass
A set of toothbrush, eye pads and socks: yass







Both my parents preferred the food served on Cathay Pacific Airlines on our last year's family trip to Korea, but I like this one better. They gave us a menu each so we knew what we were going to have even before they start wheeling out the trolleys. 

For dinner:
Appetizer - Coleslaw salad with bay scallop & bread roll and spread
Main Course - Stir fried Sliced Chicken with ginger and spring onion, vegetables & chicken rice OR Beef Goulash accompanied with seasonal vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes.
Dessert - Flavors of Singapore Ice-Cream

For breakfast: Seasonal fresh fruit & bread roll and spread

Of course kids meals are very different from ours, more fun and snack-ish. Ohh and infant also get meals okay. They baby food. They gave 3 bottles of Heinz puree and Daryl loved all of it. Tam chiak to the max.


Vanessa wanted to sit by the window because she wanted to capture the sunrise shots (expected time of arrival is 6:00am-ish), but little did she know that it's 6:00am in OZ but 4:00am in Malaysia. What sunrise? Hah.

The rest of the stories are found here please.
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI

Till then, bye now. 

05 June 2017

Home Sweet Home.

It is so difficult to believe that it has been 2 weeks since we first started our annual family trip.

We arrived yesterday and we KO-ed at 10pm last night and woke up at 7am (automatically) and felt refreshed. Ahh.

It's going to take more effort to get back to the usual routines like before. However, I cannot wait to resume to life in Malaysia already.

Australia has been so nice, but home will always be here.

Hopefully I will be able to update soon on this trip. So many photos it is insane.

Till then, bye now. 

22 May 2017

Finally Here.

YASSSSSS.

After being sick for a week, I am still like 20% sick.

But it's a yasssss because I feel so much better and it's like I finally can smell things around me.

Also because we will be heading to the airport in few hours' time for a longgggg holiday! So yassssss.

Flu bugs, you will not travel with me to winter-holiday so leave now thank you.

I have been swallowing gallons and gallons of water for the past few days and taking different medicines to get rid of these stubborn bugs but they are still here. Stress.

To top that, I have been sleeping alone for so many days I forgot that I have a husband. Hah. Kidding. How can you forget being married, especially to a Mut?

No stress no stress. Holiday starts today.

Koay went to office today to settle off a few things. Not like he won't work when he's there. Hah. Workaholic husband, but I get that because when you do what you truly love and enjoy, it's really not working at all. I have not heard him complained (not even once) about having to work outside of 'office hours' or during holidays.

Anyways, this is just like a random update because I finally feel excited already for this trip. Finally feeling the butterflies. We managed to squeeze both our things into a big luggage and a cabin bag. I feel so proud of both of us. Initially we wanted to brig 1 big bag each but thought that could be a space-problem when we want to load all that onto our rented car. So, squeeze and don't bring the entire wardrobe.

See you all when we come back!

Gotta go wash and blow my hair now :)

Bye now. 

08 May 2017

Countryside Stables Penang at Balik Pulau.

I never knew that Penang island has a place where you can be so close physically to horses and ride on them as you wish, though chargeable.

Apparently, Rachel and Kah Wei have been there a few times I think. So they suggested this place for a quick family getaway on Labor Day. It was either this or Taiping Zoo. This for sure since we have been there. 

This place is called Countryside Stables Penang and here are some fun facts about this place that you may want to know:
  • Countryside Stables Penang is a private owned property, located on the other side of island called Balik Pulau.
  • They have about 40 healthy horses of different kind of breeds and colors. 
  • Some of which are called Shetland Ponies, Pure Bred Arabian Horses et cetera.
  • They also have some donkeys and miniature horses roaming in that private property. 
  • Yes there is an entrance fee that you have to pay in order to go in (Adult = RM6 // Child = RM4)
  • Should you be interested in riding these horses, you will have to pay  obviously (Adult = RM20 // Child = RM17)
  • Countryside Stables Penang can also be rented out for private functions (minimum 100 persons) or for pre-wedding photoshoot at RM450 per hour (crazyyy)
  • You can get a bucket of imported hay at RM5 (1 bucket is more than enough to feed the horses there)
  • Opening hours: 2pm-7pm.


Overall, I think it was pretty fun to be able to get so close to these horses although we were scared. Heh. I mean you can like touch them and like take amazing selfies and all, if you dare enough. 

One thing we learnt that day was horse do not like that humans are behind them or beside them where they cannot see you. Vanessa almost got kicked by Sha Lynn's horse because we were standing there and when the horse moved forward, we just stood there. 

So in that instance, the horse must have felt some human presence on his right backside-side, and moved his entire backside towards her. If he would have raised his two legs behind, Sha Lynn would have fallen off the horse and Vanessa would be kicked on the front. 

Dangerous sial.

At least now we know. 

So whenever you are near a horse, always make sure you're not behind them. 

The do not like it. 

For those who just found out about this place, you are very welcome :) You all should go visit then head p to Genting Thai Food (uphill) for dinner because one of the best Thai food we have ever eaten. They are the good ones!

Till then, bye now.