Our short National day holiday to Port Dickson

We managed to get a last minute short trip to Port Dickson this National day break... seriously last minute... but it was fun... especially seeing my kids enjoying the short trip so much!!  but super expensive trip... hahaha... like I told my kids, sorry, this will be the only time we are enjoying such a luxury stay for a short trip!  next time you guys will have to give mummy a good overseas trip...

As usual, hb was asking if we wanna go for a short trip during the short national break, and guess where he suggested? Malacca!  Yes, a place which I always love to go to, for food and visiting, shopping, whatever... so long am there, am happy!  So, throw me there anytime, huh!??!  the thing is, we went there like 4 or 5 years back during this national break, and guess what?!! All the places we wanna go, were jammed along the way!!  Horrible time to visit Malacca, as lots of Singaporeans were there for a break too!  And everywhere we go, it's always jammed and wait & wait... so nope, am not going there during this time of the year!! So, i did a random search for staycation anywhere near Malacca & landed on Port Dickson on my search engine!!

Again, this was a place with lots of childhood memories for me... we would head back to Malacca and then, gather all our cousins, aunties & uncles just to go to Port Dickson beach for some picnics & beach swimming... And since, it's been like ages since I last came... so thought a new place for us to explore... And some how, I landed on this Hibiscus Lexis hotel!!  And since now we have 3 kids, there's no hotel room which could accommodate all us in, especially when we each need a bed now!  And I don't think my 3 children can sleep alone in a room without us... so I went & look for a suite!! Ah hahahaha... Crazy Rich Asians?!!??... well, nope... am not there yet... far far from there... but, it's good to get pampered once awhile, since I been working soooo hard all these years!!!

Ok, back to my staycation... yes, I managed to get a Imperial Suite for my family and helper during this short trip!!  Wow... Impressed!!!  So, hb did a 4+ hours drive there... and the last leg of the road trip, about 45mins before we reached our Suite, my kids were wondering if I had book them a kampong room for this staycation!! Hahahaha.... Cos the road after the highway to the hotel, was super dark, there's no street lights, and houses were really sparse, about 1 or 2 houses in every 200meters or more!  And the houses were very badly lit or there were no one inside or they had slept due to no activity available at 8pm!  So... along the way, this was the conversation between me and my 2nd baby:
Ad: Mummy, are you sure we are going to stay over at this place?
Me: Yes, son, I had booked a place for us to stay over this 4D3N!
Ad: Can you tell me what type of hotel you booked?
Me: Well, since we stay in an urban area, I thought it would be good for all of us to be back and near to nature... and we shall live with the minimal this time, you guys may need to walk out for toilet breaks... no air-con, no wifi... yes, back to basic staycation...
Ad: Are you serious? Oh Sh*t! Oh My God!....

Hahahaha... My 2 other babies were just listening to our conversation and waiting to see what I had planned for them! Hahahaha...

So, here's the view of our suite and view of the sea!!!  3 nights were not enough for them, but I can't afford any more nights!!  But the man and boys had a rare chance to go on a short helicopter ride around this area... so, trip well spent!  And along the way back, we decided to drop by Malcca for a sumptuous lunch and durian chendol!!! Yummy!!!

Trip to Malacca during June holidays (part 2)

We decided to go to Mac for breakfast on the Saturday morning as we understand all Mac around the world served different food according to their culture. But I guess Singapore and Malaysia are neighbours so the food does not differ much... hahaha...

Here's my dose of cappuccino for the day and kids favourite hash browns..

Ashley enjoying her Mac breakfast!

This Mac got a small playground for their kids patrons,  so in my kids went... Ashley is always seen taking care of her 2 brothers...

I can't recall much what we did for that day... hahaha... only photos showing us having Mac breakfast... but I think we went shopping again at the mall behind this Mac outlet...

I did remember we went for Spiderman movie the next day, Sunday and was enjoying so much with the food and hot drinks we got from the stalls... And picture below were us having halal Taiwan food at the Mega Aeon mall.. everyone of us enjoyed the food here as well as the drinks!!

A selfie of me with 3 kids outside the Taiwanese restaurant! 

The next day was our last day for this trip and we decided to pop over to the observation tower for some view of malacca!  Actually we had wanted to come over on Sunday but there was no packing lot available and too crowded!! 

Here's a view of the surroundings while we were going up...

A truly different view of Malacca... never had such a good view of this small town this day... nice experience bah... ;)

 

 

A selfie of me and 2 boys... a cool place to stay in a hot day!! This is a air-conditioned tower... hahaha... we were seating on top of the air-conditioner getting the cold blast before we get under the hot hot sun again.... 

 

 

After the tower ride, we walked over to the small park behind, as there was an old train on display as well this air craft... the picture of the old train was in WL's mobile... so not able to show it here... :p  The 2 elder kids had a try on the trishaw ride here... a mini version though...  Ashley was the cyclist and Adwin the passenger... haha...

 

 

We went over to this Nonya restaurant for dinner after some walking for the day... all of us were sooo tired due to the hot hot weather...  this pic was taken before my Alvan took his nap!!

 

 

Food and price was ok, considering good and we finally got a taste of the nonya food here... been in Malacca umpty times, but never had the chance to try on the nonya food here...

 

 

This is the restaurant we went for, Nonya Suan, just next to the Parkson mall at Melaka Raya... easily located. And good thing is, it was not very packed when we were there and food were served pretty fast!!

 

 

A trying to be funny daddy posing with his back when I only wanted to took the pic of the opening hours!!! :(

 

 

And since its our last night stay before we head back home tomorrow, my Ashley requested for the Putu Mayam supper and her wish granted!!! 

 

 

We headed home after our dim-sum breakfast the next day and WL decided to pop by the mall at JB, to get his 'things' and of course, this is another must go place, the black ball dessert!!! :)  And all these ends our Malaysia trip for our June holidays!! :)

 

  

Trip to Malacca during June holidays (part 1)

WL had been trying to plan for a trip overseas for the kids for their June holidays. But due to many recent accidents in the news that am a bit paranoid of travelling.  For example, the missing of MH370 in Mar and till today the authorities have yet to find the plane!  And Korea sinking of the ferry that took the lives of the students on board who were on authorise school trip! And I remembered some tour buses accidents in Malaysia. And recent many kidnapped children cases in Malaysia. So I thought it would be better to travel on our own.

Anyway, the kids always loved staying at their gong gong's house in Melaka and I thought that would also save us the $ staying in hotel to buy more things for the kids and to eat more food! Haha..

Our first dinner was trying out a Chinese restaurant at the newly renovated Pahlawan shopping mall. I can't recall the name of the restaurant, something dragon I think... hahaha...

Food wise, ok, at least the kids are eating and enjoying them. Drinks were good, tried their sweet corn drink and vegetable drink and I had some tea with wolf berries and Ginseng, which was finished by my Alvan!

The newly renovated Pahlawan shopping mall was big. And many new shops found, with this interesting sweets shop. It's becoming a trend to customise sweets and the kids each bought a lollipop, which was very tough and sour... :( anyway, we thought the shop was very nicely decorated! 

And we finally had the chance to buy this big Putu Pering from Melaka.  As it's a weekday so basically there's no queue and WL had ordered 20 pcs of them!!! Don't worry, we didn't finish all, half were for my aunty's family!  Haha.. but we all enjoyed it and my Ashley was loving it. So we had this for supper on our first and last day for this trip! Haha..

We went nearby coffee shop for breakfast the  next day. And it had become my Alvan's habit to ask for his bag of cars the moment he sat on a table! 

We ordered food from most of the stalls except for chicken rice! Haha.. never been a habit of us to have chicken rice for breakfast!! The kids had wanton noodles, helper had laksa, I had fried kway tiao (which I liked cos it's Malaysia's style of eating with sweet sauce! ) and WL had mee hoon kway. Everyone was full and so we decided to head to the nearby shopping mall for some shopping.

These cartoon characters were recognised by my Alvan and he happily stood next to them waiting for us to take a shot for him! Hahaha.. and WL happened to be in this shot as well... lol...

We head back home after some like shopping and bought some pizza buns back for lunch!! And see my 3 monkeys having pillow fight here!!! All were snatching to sleep on the cars bed!!!

And we decided to pop over for the famous satay celup for our early dinner before we proceed to our walk at jonker!!!  Lucky for us, we reached at about 5:20pm and it was not very crowded and most important, we were the first to the pot of satay gravy!!!

I must say it was really yummy after sooooo many years not having it, for me!!! I really missed this food especially when this was a must eat food for me before married, every time when we head back to Malacca,  we must go for this at least once. But after having kids, my kids could not stand the heat and no patience to wait for the food to be cooked, so had never visited it since then. Of course, the one I used to visit is not this outlet. 

Ashley helping to pick up our ingredients to be cooked.

After our Dinner, off we went to our must visit place again, Jonker walk!!  Kids taking pictures with those steel structures during our toilet break!!! Lol...

Malacca Trip -- National day weekend

Haha... I can't even recall that I have not put this post up!! And this trip was close to 3 months back!! :p

Ehm, let me try to recall as much as possible on what we did there... Ok, WL told the kids we were heading to "Xiao Niang Re"'s home... Cos it's tough for them to understand where is Malacca, geographically and also theoritcally, as they would need to be buckled up in their seats for at least 3 hours in the car!! So to make they feel anticipated towards the trip, WL had to say something they understand!!  And I had told them, they need to nap in the car, get up, watch some movies on our portable DVD player before they reach their favourite character's home!!  And so they did, they were quite ok through the car ride, took their nap, got up & still buckle in their seats!! Haha... And we only make 1 stop-over for them to stretch their legs, for US to go loo & also got them each a pack of milo.

And, before the trip, I had bought an app on my Iphone, the GPS system Papago with Malaysia map, and it's really good!!  Cos it's running on satelite & there's warning of Speed cam along the way, and of cos, the best thing is it does not require any data plan for it to navigate, as I do not want to pay thousands of dollars when I get back home!  Ehm, yes, I may be familiar with the road in Malacca (since I was BORN there, but been a long time since I heard back to Malacca to visit relatives!), so I thought it's better to have a MAP on hand since we are really on our own this time!!

Ok, back to the trip, after we checked into the hotel, we went to the famour Jonker Street, hoping to have our dinner & also do some walk around, and lucky for us, Jonker Street is only available on weekends!!  So it's our ONLY chance to be able to 'see see look look' for this trip!  We bought lots of things to eat along the way, and of cos, lots of drinks also... But none were what I was looking for!  Haha... Anyway, the kids seem to be enjoying but it was pretty humid there and super crowded!!

Day 1: 0808, we arrived around 5+pm & only managed to go to the Jonker Street, which is just behind our hotel!!

Day 2: 0908 (Happy National Day! :p)  This is my first time stepping into Malacca museums!! Haha.. Though I was born there, but I never attended schools there, we only went back during our school holidays, and during public holidays break!!  The kids were really upset over the big ship museum showing some prisoners being locked up in the 'confinement deck'.  Especially Adwin, he keep asking to stay there, he felt so upset that the guy can't move anywhere with the heavy ball chained up on his legs and he keep telling us the guy can't go shopping, toilet, etc after we left!! Haha... So WL though to take the picture so he can look at when he 'misses' the poor guy! :p  The dinner we had today was BAD... I really never expect this famous Farmosa Chicken Rice ball to be so tasteless... if not for the fact we have nothing better to eat around the hotel!!  And  forgot to mention, for our breakfast, WL got up early & went to the famous Dim Sum cafe, just behind Jonker Street to get some dim sum & you know what? He said he ordered the famous BIG BAO, but the guy forgot to give him!!! ARGH... I had missed the bao since it's been YEARS since I last tried it!! *sob sob*...

Day 3: 1008, we will be heading back home today!! A really fast short getaway!! We decided to go for the breakfast provided by the hotel, the kids enjoyed it, having their eggs & cornflakes... We decided to go for a last walk around the area before we go back for shower & check out.  And we managed to get some really nice chicken rice balls along the way, no time for dine in, so only pack some for later consumption!  And while we were walking back, my cousin bumped into us!! haha... really so coincidental, cos he was out to collect his son's full month cakes, & was heading home, but saw WL!! Haha... Anyway, after our check out, we head to the famous Satay Place for satay!!! & my kids really had alot of satay, Adwin being the meat-eater, enjoys most!! Haha... Our last stop before the way home, was a new mall (to me i guess!) but we find the things are quite expensive, so we were really window shopping and only got 2 avacado coffee from J.Co & head back home...

The kids are asking to go Little Nonya's house once awhile now... haha... Hope to find time to go back once again!!