Travel Teaches...

It's actually amazing how we let the little aspects of every day life irritate us and fret us all the time. It's upsetting either to see  ourselves rushing in all our daily routine that predicate our demented compulsion for speed at all times. This had made our lives more streamlined than it should use to be when we slow things down a little and live life in a much happier and more fulfilling way. Thus comes the thought of traveling.





Why do you think we travel?

For one, it is our only way of escaping from a very hectic schedule each day and instead giving ourselves a breather as well as seeing a new perspective in life.





Travel teaches us that our time is the most precious possession we have in life and we just want to make the most of it, explore the world outside our boundaries and embark on a wonderful discovery of another place. The satisfaction we get from finding new challenges and experiences, meeting new people and discovering something new about ourselves is absolutely mismatched even if we are blessed with the most exorbitant asset available to us. Likewise, travel teaches us that the most valuable things in life is not pegged to  monetary stuff but by the experiences we have from that journey like moments when perhaps we are in the middle of a turquoise lagoon shaded by young coconut palms and the fine white sand is touched with the luminous pink of the setting sun - this scene is priceless!





Travel also allows us to set no limits on what we can do and what we cannot do. You swore not to ever ride that dueling roller coaster but there you go zooming yourself to a frightening speed, twirling up and down, letting loose of everything and eventually summing up the whole experience as the most enjoyable thing ever! An absolute irony to your previous belief. You reckon that there is no way you can ever try out that bungee jump, or climb the Everest and Great Wall, or be at the Amazon or wild African jungle but your conscious self tells you, 'Hey, I'm already here! It'll be absolutely wasted if I don't try out what I envisioned myself as incapable of doing! I should try it now or regret not trying at all!" The immeasurable thrill of being exactly where you are and just allowing things to happen give you the ultimate freedom you've always dreamt of in life. When we travel, we wish to embrace the privilege of seeing life as it happens before our eyes. This is definitely where fun and excitement come.





Travel also shatters the many preconceived ideas of a certain place. It opens our eyes to different realities which allow us to understand more and visualize exactly the unique feature of that place and learning how to adjust to the cultural beliefs and accepting people as they are.  





Travel is a great learning process. What has travel taught you? 

D is 10!!

A couple weeks ago we celebrated D's 10th birthday. I CANNOT believe my baby girl is double digits now! Here are a few pics of the festivities.

Our tradition is to take a picture of D going to bed one age and waking up the next age. I don't know what we'll do next year for 11 - add a big toe??

On the Thursday before her birthday we were in Dallas for her eye doctor appointment so we celebrated with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt D. Grandma made a homemade cake - yummy.

Before her friends arrived for the party.

On the Friday before (her birthday was mid-week) she had a sleepover. Here they are doing "cheers" with the ice cream cone cups over pizza and cheese balls.

On her actual birthday, November 3, it was a school day so I put a candle in her pancake that morning and we sang happy birthday again. It wasn't Walt Disney World this year, but I think she partied sufficiently for a 10 year old :O)

Adam Scott Wins 2010 Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa Serapong Golf Course

Today, I was able to witness the continuation of the final round of Barclays Singapore Open and took some photos of the event highlights. Adam Scott won the title and bagged the coveted prize of US$1 million. He had won it for the third time now after he lifted the title in 2005 and 2006. He carded a final round of 68 with a score of 17 under, three shots ahead of Denmark's Anders Hansen. Here are some of the photos I would like to share...

Phil Mickelson and company as they finished their last hole of the game.

Phil Mickelson close up photo shot. I had my cap signed by him:) Cool!

Singapore's professional golfer Mardan Marmat

Defending champion Ian Poulter finished 11 under...

Adam Scott approaching the score recording room...

Last hole layout...

Australian professional golfer Adam Scott on close up....

Korean professional golfer Kang Kyung-nam

Winner Adam Scott lifted the trophy...

Adam Scott and company posed for the cameras...

Me posing for that score board...:)

My beautifully autographed white cap - autograph courtesy of Mr. Phil Mickelson. Supercool!

2010 Barclays Singapore Open

Do you like to play Golf?

Do you travel just to follow your favorite golfer?





Now here's a good place for you to check out if you desire to see one of the world's most beautiful golf courses. Travel to Singapore and visit Sentosa Golf Club, home to two of Asia's top golf venues - the Tanjong and Serapong golf courses. 

It was indeed a great pleasure to be able to witness this year's Barclays Singapore Open at one of the world's most prosperous cities which set a handsome purse of US$6 million up for taking that eventually cemented Singapore Open as one of the most prestigious championships in Asia and around the world. Sentosa Golf Club is home to Barclays Open for six successive season now and this year it has lined up most of the world's top golfers including Phil Mickelson the 2010 Master's champion, Adam Scott the two-time Singapore Open champion, defending champion Ian Poulter along with the likes of other top golfers Martin Kaymer, Greeme McDowell, Louis Oosthizen and Singapore's pride Mardan Marmat and Lam Chih Bing.

Today's final round of Barclays Singapore Open, unfortunately had been delayed due to thunderstorms. Scott, Poulter and Kang Kyung-nam shared the lead on 14 under par when the play was brought to a stop because of bad weather. Spectators were all held up at the spectator's village for a shelter from a really heavy downpour where everyone was packed like sardines squeezing to get a space to share. It was a long five-hour wait for the thunderstorm to stop but to no avail. Every one eventually started to find their way towards the exit after losing hope for the play to resume. I had then learnt from the news on the internet that the play was resumed at around half past five in the afternoon but then again the play was called off for the second time around because of darkness. Adam Scott led the score board by three shots against Ian Poulter after eight holes of the final round.

It was also reported that play will resume at 7:30 a.m. the following day.

Posing for the camera as the trio walked towards the green.

Adam Scott as he practiced for his tee off shot for hole #3. 

Collin Montgomorie approaching hole #8.

Miguel Jimenez with his tee off swing for hole #9.

Hole #10

Hole #10's water and bunker layout.

Malacca, Malaysia

Located in the southwestern part of the peninsular Malaysia, between the state of Negeri Sembilan and Johor is the state of Malacca - our last stop on our two-day road trip in Malaysia. It is the second smallest state covering an area of 1,652 square kilometers, yet rich enough in historical significance and cultural resemblance. The state is divided into three regions - Alor Gajah, Central Malacca and Jasin.





On 7 July 2008, UNESCO declared Malacca a World Heritage Site. The birthright of the state's splendour and tempestuous past can be witnessed through a visit to Bandar Hilir, where traces of the Portuguese, Dutch and English influences are still left and preserved.





As we strolled down the narrow streets to visit old temples, museums and medieval fortresses, Malacca's history never failed to allure us. Historical attractions tucked into the nooks and crannies of its limited streets were just barefaced signs of its affluent history. Much of the fragments of Malacca's effulgent past lie within the Town Square and waterfront area near the river.





Our first entry to Malacca started from Ayer Keroh. Places of interest within this place included the Melaka Zoo, Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary and the World Honeybee Museum. Further north along the main road was another place of interest called the Hutan Rekreasi Air Keroh, a recreational forest - part secondary jungle and part landscaped park with paved trails, a 250m canopy walk, picnic areas and a forestry museum. Nearby was the Taman Mini Malaysia which showcased the traditional houses of all 13 Malaysian states, as well as neighboring countries. 

Bullock Cart Ride for RM2.50 per person. This ride was really fun though the place stank so badly! Nature smell!

Souvenir shops along the sidewalks..

We proceeded our journey to Bandar Hilir immediately after having a good lunch at the Macdonalds within the vicinity of Ayer Keroh. Bandar Hilir is the national heritage zone where many historical legacies and remnants of past historical buildings are found. Below are some of the pictures we took from the place.

At my background is the Taming Sari Tower situated within Bandar Hilir which is similar to that of Singapore's Skytower in Sentosa. It is a 110-meter tower that will enable visitors to experience a 360 degree bird's eye view of Bandar Hilir and its surrounds.

Close up view of Taming Sari Tower

Melaka River Cruise - an opportunity to cruise along the river and view the bustling surrounding area and Kampung Morten enclave while recalling the history of Malacca. The trip starts from Taman Rempah in Melaka Town.

Maritime Museum

Inside the Captain's Cabin at the Maritime Museum... That purple hat was my souvenir from Ayer Keroh for RM10. Who wouldn't want to take a pose with this one?!

A day trip in Malacca was certainly not enough for us to fully explore all its places of interests. But we're fortunate enough to capture and visit a few of its historical sights and attractions and though we only managed to visit the Maritime Museum among all the museums there were at the place, it was already a fulfillment that we were really proud of for this had been an unplanned road trip we had in such a short span of time. Malacca is definitely a must visit state in Malaysia for historical sightseeing. 

Kota Tinggi Waterfalls

Located in the southern peninsular state of Johor, Malaysia and 16 km northwest from Kota Tinggi and about 60 km from Johor Bahru (capital of Johor) is the Kota Tinggi Waterfalls - our third stop on our road trip in Malaysia. Known for its continuous rush of cascading cool water down 34 meters from the peak of Mt. Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfalls is a popular place for locals and holiday makers who throng to the place to escape the scorching heat of the sun and enjoy the cool waters of the waterfall and be enthralled by a beautiful tropical surroundings of flora and fauna. The corresponding stretch of rapid waters has also been channelled to whisk bathers seeking fun and adventure, down the slide with the huge inflatable tube, such that the place is now transformed into a water-themed park attraction, albeit lacking in world-class amenities.

The water park can seem uninviting for a dip especially when visitors are distributed all over the base of the waterfall and a hope of serenity to be able to embrace the beauty of nature is eventually a turned down - a major drawback for this attraction, otherwise I would have soaked myself into the cool waters of the waterfalls. I ventured up the arduous steps of the uppermost part of the waterfalls in the hope to find tranquility but up there was another waterfall attraction where a bunch of people were seen impregnated into pools of water and just having fun. From there I could see the water cascading down below with the view of the 600-meter high Mt. Muntahak in the distance.

As it was always dangerous to play around waterfalls, visitors were always warned not to make head plunges into the pool of water and be reminded to keep the holiday site clean and safe for everyone.





The place also offers chalets for those who wish to spend a night at the place. Rental of equipment such as inflatable tubes and children's float are also readily available.





Entrance fee to this attraction is RM9 per person and parking fee is RM5 per car.

Desaru Fruit Farm Agro Educational Tour in Johor, Malaysia

Desaru Fruit Farm was our second stop on our road trip in Malaysia. It is a 160-acres farm planted with many different types of tropical fruits such as starfruit, jackfruit, soursop, banana, papaya, orange and seasonal fruits like durian, rambutan, and mangosteen. 

We rode on this bullock-cart to go on an agro educational tour around the farm with the help of a friendly, Malay tour guide.

Our tour guide (apparently I forgot the name.. pardon me for that) is smelling the jackfruit to know if the fruit is ready for harvest.

Did you know that dragon fruits grow on cactus-like plants? Well, I didn't until I saw this. To cause a dragon fruit to grow, a farmer would cut off the top of a frond. The

 yellow flower on the left side of the picture is the beginning formation of the fruit. It will develop into a pinkish colored flesh like the one at the center of the picture and contains really strong anti-oxidants.

  A close up photo of passion fruit.

The farm also boasts a collection of herbs such as basil, oregano, turmeric and many others.

Fish therapy at the farm's koi pond! A surprise discovery at the end of the guided tour. Let them nibble at your hands!

 Meet the large, two-toed, swift-footed flightless bird - the largest there is among living birds - the Ostrich, at the farm's mini zoo.

A refreshing sip of coconut drink at the end of the farm tour.

Fruits galore at the farm's souvenir shop. Buy them at a cheaper price here.

So for a better understanding of the commercial fruits produced in Johor, visit the Desaru Fruit Farm. This is another exciting attraction in the state of Johor.