4 Fraser's Hill ~ A place to chill

I did a bit of domestic traveling. My Raya holidays was spent gallivanting from one tourist attraction to another. Fraser's Hill was one of the places I visited on a day trip out of Kuala Lumpur.

It's just two hours away.. ..so we were told. Took us almost three hours because we made a small stop to stretch our legs. The winding uphill road is no place for a Formula One race. It is also unfriendly to those likely to suffer from motion sickness. I'm so glad I went prepared.

Fraser's Hill

The hill was named after Scottish tin prospector, Louis James Fraser. This was in the early 1920s after his mysterious disappearance. Makes for a nice thriller novel, doesn't it? The Sherlock Holmes kind. Fraser Hill's, to me, is a lovely spot for creative juices to flow. Novel writing, cooking, painting...composing music.

I could move here a couple of months, pretend I was the next Jamie Oliver, whipping up fancy meals in the middle of the street. Reallyyyyy.... I've got to get my head out of the clouds.

I stand near the roundabout where the clock tower is, taking the view in. Small gusts of cool air play with my hair. I am surrounded by British colonial buildings. Did horse-drawn carriages ply this route? Did ladies in pretty puffy dresses and wide ribbon hats have many strolls on this pebble road where I now plant my feet?

Police Station

Post Office

Restaurant

Public Toilet

Outdoor benches

Fraser's Hill is more than just charming old buildings. The Bird Interpretive Center is clear indication that it is a haven for bird watchers and nature lovers. Other things-to-do include jungle trekking, camping, paddle boating at Allan's Water ..and meditation. You won't find meditation in the travel pamphlet but it's so serene here, I believe that I could go into some sort of Zen mode if I stayed a little longer.

Oops.. I almost forgot to mention the bountiful flowers that have been so carefully tended in Fraser's Hill. They are beautiful to look at. The park benches are a brilliant idea. I sat many minutes admiring the environment and fresh air. I'll share more flower photos in my next blog post.

For now, I have these:

Bird Interpretive Center

Beautiful Flowers

A Gardener's Fairy Tale

Note: Fraser's Hill is crowded on weekends and most of the shops are closed on Public Holidays. If you want a peaceful experience, then these are the days to avoid.

4 Dale, Lake Fields (Sungai Besi)

Dale at Lake Fields. The name itself stretches my imagination. A fairly spacious 3-storey terrace house with a lake nearby gives me illusions that I'll be having lots of evening strolls with the sunset behind me...even though the lake is technically wayYYyy over there and I may not even walk that far.

Dale at Lakefields

I love the double volume concept and overall design. It's beautiful. Hardly original though. I once felt that it was unique but after seeing a number of houses with the same old, same old, I begin to wonder if housing developers are sinking into this mire of commonness. It's not a big deal but I always wish for something with a little more 'creative' in it.

For some reason, I could not feel the excitement. Mayhaps I knew what the price would be like. Maybe a sleepy town isn't my cup of tea. Perhaps it's just too big. With five bedrooms, this is a home meant more for large families. 

Plenty of space to play about

I can see you from up here! Like this so much!

Three storeys up. Huff, puff...... I'm tired already.

One of the rooms

Room with a bath

Now tagged at a no-surprise asking price of around RM1 million plus-minus, I wonder if anyone's thinking "Sungai Besi?". It's a head scratching moment when you find out that it sits in an old mining town that has yet risen to a level that can be said to generate high-income earners.

But of course, this is the shallower side of me speaking. People drive long kilometres to get to their work places. The prices of landed property is steeper in city areas, hard to find and if there is something cheaper, it is either very small, very old or poorly maintained. I guess city folks who can afford it would seriously think about getting a unit here.

When it comes to homes, it will always be a subjective matter. We are so diverse in our preferences that whilst this may not have tickled my fancy, it could very well be someone's dream home for a lot of other reasons.
 

End Unit

Intermediate Unit

4 The Penang Tan

Arghhh!!! Sun!!

There lies the tan. A beautiful curve across her foot, designed by the opening on her red-grey sneaker sandals. 

This is the feet of my traveling friend.

You could say that Penang left its mark on us. Oh, don't laugh. We would have applied some suntan lotion if we knew four days could do this much. ..and I add, it wasn't a beach holiday. Tsk, excuses.

Truth is, we don't look at tans in the same light as before, not anymore. We've gone from sun-loving people to UV rays concerned individuals. That's not being entirely honest either. We've just been greatly influenced by those 'whitening' advertisements. We try to stay as fair as possible because "it's supposed to be good for us", not because we think we'll look prettier if we do.  ...yeah, not that.

Blast those marketing ploys...

2 Penang : More on street art

I took lots of photos, of course...couldn't resist.

Street art is the in-thing here, mostly murals and steel sculptures. There's so much creativity going on that I feel their passion. If there's one thing I do not regret, it is walking along the streets of Lebuh Armenian and nearby...even under the scorching sun. I was wow-ed by some sort of artwork every corner!

I noticed several tourists carrying umbrellas to shield from the heat. I was amazed. Haha me. I had no time and no opportunity to hold one. My hands were glued to my camera the entire walkabout.

Feast your eyes on some of the photos I took. Beautiful, isn't it?

Ernest Zacharevic - Reaching Up

101 Lost Kittens Project - I Can Help Catch Rats

   

Children At Play

 

A message on Penang's cycling initiative

 

Tang Mun Kian - Steel Rod Sculpture - Cannon Hole

I'm easily amused. They painted around it! Guess they'll finish the job later. Dark purple? Too dark a shade, me thinks. This will make this piece very hard to spot in future.

Tang Mun Kian - Steel Rod Sculpture - Too Narrow

2 When in Penang - Walk, Feel, Eat

Jen and I decided to spend our nights in hotels near areas where we wanted to visit most. It was a brilliant move. We didn't have to depend on public transport and the hassle that came with. 

Going on foot opened our eyes and hearts to many things that could have easily slipped by us had we been going around by car. There is history in just about every corner of Penang! To drive is to miss these hidden treasures.

Sightseeing, to me, isn't just about rushing to cover a place for the sake of ticking it off the must-do list. It's about taking the time to experience new things, it's about bringing "Dora the explorer" alive in us....and most importantly, it's about blazing our own trail and enjoying the moment. The last thing I want to do is follow the footsteps of another traveler in entirety.  

"You must go here, arh. Stop by that building. Eat this, ok. Make sure you try that. "

I don't know about you but these sentences smack of dictatorship to me. Haha. It is as though people didn't want us to discover something new.

Our first night was spent in Lebuh Queen (Queen's Street). As we strolled along the side of the road, old buildings, beautiful murals and creative art pieces coloured our walkabout.  Each one depicting a little about local life. We took our time to appreciate what we saw. Unashamedly, we never stopped clicking our cameras!

And if there's one thing I've learned, it is that it pays to explore small lanes with quaint entrances. In one, we were led out to the Cheah Clan Association's ancestral temple and discovered a mural of cats by Artists For Stray Animals (ASA).

Doorway to Cheah Clan's Temple. Spotted this mural in front of the temple grounds.

The weather in Penang is always h-o-t and humid. We were sweat drenched. Our cheeks pink from the afternoon sun. Then, we saw it - a blessing! The 70's Ice ball stall was a welcome sight. Didn't hesitate to order one for ourselves. Crunch, crunch, crunch...euphoria. Ice balls are what I would call the 'ice-cream' of olden era - a taste of the past, that's what we had.

Here, somewhere along Armenian Street was when I realised that Penangites are an artistic lot and I'm not just talking about the murals.

Mango flavoured ice ball and a work-in-progress mural!

Above the ice ball seller was a lamp shade made out of cassettes.

Cassete Lamp Shade

Next door, a pair of old jeans was used creatively to plant a small tree. Further down the road, we saw shoes being recycled into flower pots..if that's what it can be called.

Creative Planting

We stopped for a drink at a soy bean drink shop that had recycled tyres into neat coffee tables. At the end of the wall is another mural or should I say an illusion, a picture of a passageway painted to make it look like this was located along a row of shops...not that it wasn't in the first place.

Chilled soya, a relief for this sun barbequed soul. Wait a minute, is that ....?

I plonked myself onto a chair to rest. Whoa..is that another street art thing. Through the bars I saw....the famed interactive art piece "Little Children On A Bicycle" by Ernest Zacharevic -  that awesome moment of realisation.

Little Children On A Bicycle by Ernest Zacharevic

And this was just a "small" part of our adventure in Penang...

Jen says, "..aahh, my poor feet". Not just tired, there was an obvious suntan. Hehe. We rested, overloaded with a sense of achievement. You should have seen our contented smiles.

4 Guess where we're headed ..

Jen and I off on an adventure

They call it the Pearl of the Orient. I call it "paradise". Officially, it is known as Pulau Pinang or Penang.

Jen and I are backpacking it this time around but not without the little luxuries. You could say we're the Luxury Backpacking Duo. Oh, don't snigger.

It begins with paying for premium tickets on a comfortable double decker coach - Aeroline.

For me, taking the coach is so much easier than flying. Be there twenty minutes before, climb on board and you're on your way. All for RM60! No hassle, no waiting.

Below is a picture of our amazing coach. Looks romantic, doesn't it? Normal ticket holders sit in the upper deck. That's where Jen and I go.

There's a business lounge below reserved for priority members. It looks like a very comfortable place to hang out. It is also equipped with a washroom for emergencies.

The Aeroline Coach - It's like taking a plane, only more convenient

The steward made an announcement to buckle our seat belts. The journey would take four and a half hours. I snuggled into my seat and adjusted the foot rest.  I get a cushion to rest my back.

Aaa..now that's what I call comfort

We were each handed a pair of headphones. I was soon engrossed in a movie - Escape from Planet Earth, to be exact. An animation about aliens being trapped on Earth and forced into building a super weapon that can pulverize planets. I think I watched three animated cartoons. Why cartoons? When traveling, I prefer light, comedic shows. Pretty much reflects how I feel on holidays.

In between, the steward served us food and drinks. We kept occupied with chatter and short naps.

Movie and refreshments

The coach stopped at a rest area just after the halfway point. We got down to stretch our legs for a bit before continuing on our journey.

20-minute stop for the restroom and to loosen our muscles

It was late afternoon when we reached Queensbay Mall, a huge modern shopping complex. That's where we alighted from the coach. How convenient!

Ee picked us up and took us to a lovely hostel where we bunked for the night in cosy settings. I'll blog about it in my next post. Promise!

11 A Day at Colmar Tropicale, Berjaya Hills

This is ..my fifth, sixth or was it seventh visit. I've lost count....

Call me a hopeless romantic, an old-fashioned soul, the one with her head in the air - I readily admit my weaknesses. I love quaint old buildings adorned with climbing greens and potted flowers. It makes me feel like a fairy tale princess, swooshing her long beige gown just above pebbled grounds, walking her way dreamily to swan lake.
   

Colmar Tropicale, Berjaya Hills

Colmar Tropicale, a french-inspired village resort set atop Berjaya Hills ~ I'm delighted that it hasn't been tarnished with unsightly modern or futuristic establishments.

As usual, I take a laid-back walk to the end of the street to climb the viewing tower. That's where I took this photograph (below). This time, the lift was out of order. I huffed and puffed up three or was it four flights of stairs against the cool breeze that playfully messed my hair.

The view was breathtaking ~ lush green hills in one corner, the village square in another.

Restaurants, a wishing well, entertainment centers and daily shows

I didn't stay overnight this time around. It is something I would suggest to first time visitors. There are many things to enjoy here like visit the Rabbit Farm, check out the Botanical Garden, take part in the Japanese Tea Ceremony and so forth. All, within a free shuttle ride away.

But Colmar isn't a place you should rush through. I take it as a heavenly escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. I don't mind lazing here with just a book in hand.

To the rooms ~ I sneaked a peek inside ..

Two pairs of swans swim in swan pond below the bridge ~ one white and one black. Both welcoming. The last time I paid them a visit, they arched their necks together, making the shape of a heart. I remember being so excited because I caught it on camera.

Bella...is that you?

Love bears! There's always something romantic about this place. Many have their pre-wedding shots taken in this vicinity.

Something for lovebirds

I always have a bite before leaving the place. The ambiance entices me. I pretend I'm in France. It has this setting that says "marriage proposal" all over. Oh, don't laugh. I bet a lot of women get proposed to here.

Lasagne for lunch. Delish!

Across the road is a magnificent castle. Le Chavelier, they call it. There are no dragons here, only conference rooms.

Hear ye! This is where we meet!

Well, that's the end of my dreamy adventure. Time to go. I pass my tickets to the van driver. I was back in hectic Kuala Lumpur within the hour.

A piece of advice for day-trippers: Buy your shuttle tickets early.

Goodbye, until we meet again!

8 Living In Smog - Kuala Lumpur

Spring, summer, autumn, winter. Where I live, it's summer all year and smog in between.

The haze is nothing new. It's something that doesn't get resolved either. Mostly an annual finger-pointing affair and brisk sales for respirator mask vendors. Read: Haze from Indonesia continues to shroud Malaysia

Before the haze, I was looking at the most beautiful sky and spent my evenings appreciating glorious sunsets.

Taken early June

Then, it happened. Smoky air started to blanket our homes. I kept my doors and windows shut. I had the air con on. It seemed to help.

Weeks later

I stayed indoors. It's the only place I feel I can breathe freely. The only time I went out was to stock up on groceries. It filled my nostrils - that acrid burning smell. That's the 'in' word now, a-c-r-i-d. After an hour 'out there', my throat started to sting from dryness. Water is my best friend. I've been drinking lots of it.

Yesterday morning, the air quality dipped for the worse. My skin felt dry. Am I imagining the effects? ...

It was so smoky, I couldn't see the highlands anymore. Our great blue sky has been replaced by a shroud of grey.

Air Pollutant Index of near 200 (Unhealthy Level)

It's past midnight. Nothing's changed. I hope it rains tomorrow...

2 Sixth Sense - A Sense of Pride

Genie Wong (Singer) - A member of Sixth Sense

They made the cut....to play in the Penang Island Jazz Festival's fringe events which is happening this December!

There's always this little burst of pride whenever I hear news of people doing great things back in my hometown.

We have no real celebrities to speak of. Dreams are often put away for a steady clerical job. The unambitious old folks feel that money in the pocket for a house and a car is what living is all about . Anything else seeming to add colour to mundane life is of little importance. Calling it a "sleepy town" is apt.

Occasionally, someone breaks out of the mould. I'm talking about Sixth Sense, of course. Founded by a group of talented Labuanites who have a long-standing love for music.

I admire their determination. Despite a challenging environment, they never lost their passion in taking an active role in the local music scene.

Here they are on another milestone in their music career ~ An opportunity to showcase their talent in the Penang Island Jazz Festival, a prestigious event hosting some of the world's best musicians.

This means traveling across the South China Sea. They need some help to get them over. 
I'm just spreading the word.

Here's the link to their funding appeal. You can read all about the band and hear their music in the same link. 

Project - Fund our Band to Perform in the Fringe Event at the Penang Jazz Festival 2013 | MYSTARTR

The Penang Island Jazz Festival (PIJF) is happening this December 5th to 8th. Mark your calendars because it is one of the most amazing events of the year. I was there last year and enjoyed it tremendously -  PIJF 2012 fringe event.

Blog update: 20/06/2013 - Photos of all the other band members of Sixth Sense.

Peter Lau - Drummer

Simon Lau - Bassist

MarcVai - Guitarist

Ed - Keyboardist

Gabry - Singer