Make it a Handmade Holiday

Are you handy with a needle? Not a stranger to a hot glue gun? Do you know your way around a sewing pattern? Maybe you should consider putting those talents and skills to work and create handmade gifts to give for the holidays this year. There is a resurgence of demand for handcrafted items and people will appreciate your thoughtfulness and effort. Here are a few ideas that you might want to consider.

Just for Baby

A small floor quilt for a baby to play on when visiting friends is a handy item to keep in a diaper bag. With the huge variety of novelty flannels available, you could find just about any theme you want from licensed characters to polka dots and stripes to woodland creatures. Combine a couple of prints by putting them on opposite sides.

For Children

Make the little ones some little plush animals. You can easily find patterns at the craft store Long Beach CA crafters swear by. The fun of making them yourself is that you can customize the colors and prints as you wish and create a special little friend for your favorite or youngster to love.

For Teens

Even the teenagers in your life will appreciate handcrafted gifts when you stitch up a little backpack-style bag. Add a few pockets for cell phones and electronics. Add a drawstring closure for easy entry. You can get some fun results when you sew them out of an old pair of jeans or a denim jacket.

For Adults

Why not try some fun aprons on for size? Make a stylish barbecue-style apron for him and a cute vintage style with a ruffled hem for her. Add contrasting fabric pockets and grosgrain ties and you are all set. For added fun, make matching hot pads.
Whatever you choose to add your special touch to, your recipients will be flattered you thought enough of them to make it yourself. And you will have the satisfaction of sharing a part of yourself with your loved ones.

Seeing the World with Tiny Tots in Tow

There are few countries where traveling with children can prove to be an enjoyable and memorable trip, and Vietnam is one of them 

Traveling with young children may not be easy, but it certainly does not have to be intimidating. One of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has no shortage of sights and activities that will entertain even the most discerning of travellers, including the young ones.

Apart from the vibrant cities of Ho Chi Minh (south) and Hanoi (north), which are great starting points for any Vietnamese family adventure, there are several other destinations that could make your holiday an extremely memorable one.

Families can head to one of Vietnam’s beach resorts in Hoi An or Danang, which have plenty to offer in terms of beautiful beaches, fabulous restaurants and lots of fun activities for children. Some of the best beach resorts in the country are located in Danang, although the Cua Dai beach close to Hoi An is also a popular vacation spot. There are also plenty of other beaches in Vietnam’s central and south coasts worth exploring.

Hoi An also offers some unique sightseeing opportunities. Centuries-old Buddhist pagodas, temples, quaint museums and colonial shophouses line the streets of this ancient town. One of
the best ways for you to soak in the rich culture and heritage as a family is by cycling through the streets of Hoi An.

For the more adventurous families, there are spectacular mountains and jungle treks from the peaceful hill station of Dalat in the south, to the beguiling valley of Sa Pa in the northern highlands. The mountainous countryside of Sa Pa – close to the border with Yunan province in China – offers charming trekking trails for some amazing hikes; rice terraces and waterfalls; and is home to several ethnic minority tribes.

Cap off the Vietnamese holiday in the modern and bustling metropolitan of Ho Chi Minh City. Among the not-to-be-missed attractions is the Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park in District 1. The Buddhist-themed attraction is fitted with colourful statues of mythical creatures as well as edifices and shrines of Buddha amidst waterslides, rollercoaster rides, a 4D theatre and aquarium!

(Image source: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/suoi-tien-cultural-amusement-park.htm)

Of course, as in any foreign city, a sampling of local street food and visit to the local markets are a must. Kids generally enjoy Vietnamese cuisine as they are flavourful and rarely spicy. From a warm bowl of traditional Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) and banh mi (Vietnamese sandwish) to steamed Banh bao (steamed pork buns) and Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe), there are plenty of kid-friendly foods in Vietnam.

Browse along the family-run shops and stalls lining the sidewalks of the city, for a truly authentic experience. Alternatively, visiting the Ben Thanh Market will also give you a taste of the energy and flavor of Ho Chi Minh to complete your memorable holiday experience.

With the school holidays coming up in June and August, planning your next family holiday is now made easier as Vietjet, the fast-growing Vietnamese airline, is currently offering irresistible promotions on its domestic and international network as part of its summer 2018 promotion.

From 9 – 11 May 2018, two million promotional tickets from as low as USD0 will be up for grabs during the golden window of 1pm to 3pm daily. The promotion is applicable on Vietjet’s domestic and international routes to South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia within the travel period of 20 August to 31 December 2018 (excluding national holidays).

The promotional air tickets are available for booking at www.vietjetair.com
(also compatible with smartphones at https://m.vietjetair.com) or at www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (just click the “Booking” tab) or
via the 24/7 call centre at (+603) 2730 9887.

Genting Highland – More than just the theme parks

For those in and out of Malaysia, when Genting Highlands is mentioned, the first thing that would pop in your head will be the thrill filled, exciting rides that makes up their theme park. Not only that, being nestled high on a mountain peak makes Genting Highland the best place to escape the scorching sun to the salubrious mountain air. P.S., even though the outdoor theme park is currently under construction for the bigger, better, more extravagant Fox themed theme park, don’t let this stop you from getting yourself there. Here are the many other things that can be done up this mountain.

Casino de Genting

Genting Highlands raison d'être, the Casino de Genting may not come anywhere near Las Vegas’s prime light where sparkling dresses, glittering neon lights and scantily-clad showgirls abound, but for all its worth, this is Malaysia’s only legal land-based casino. Men in batik shirts and women in pretty frocks crowds the tables and punters line the slot machines waiting for their luck to bless them with a big payout. There is nothing but pure fun here (and momentarily loss for some too).

Flying Fox

If you fancy being strapped safely into a harness and helmet and then jumping off a ramp into a dipterocarp forest, then this would surely tickle your adrenaline spirit. This airborne adventure sends you off down a 100-metre strung down the side of the hill, not only do you get to enjoy this jump down, imagine the view of the whole Genting right in-front of your eye. The ultimate best way to bond with friends and family and required minimum level of instruction, making it the perfect quick-thrill ride.

Genting Skyway Cable Car

The Skyway Cable Car is the fastest and easiest way to get to the apex of Genting Highlands. This relaxing and scenic ride affords you breathtaking views of the surrounding hills; the gondola-style cab glides along at leisurely pace, making it an ideal photo-taking opportunity.

my family members enjoy the fun in Snow World, click to read about it

Snow World

Experience a winter wonderland, unlike any other in Malaysia, when you step into the snow-white landscape of Snow World. Featuring the Cresta Run snow slide, this attraction is a novel experience due to Malaysia’s hot and humid weather; it’s a great place to see kids playing and adults taking in the sights.

Genting Bowl

First World Plaza has a bowling alley - Genting Bowl. One of the highlights at Genting Bowl is the glow-in-the-dark bowling. For those of you who feel like the indoor theme park has nothing to offer you, do make sure you take some time off your shopping trip and drop by this bowling alley and experience a one-of-a-kind bowling session with the family!

Now that the entertainment part is covered, let’s talk hotels and accommodation. The hotels up here in Genting Highlands are stylish accommodations with impeccable service and spacious guestrooms with breathtaking mountain views. Here are some of our favourite.

First World Hotel – Resorts World Genting

This hotel is officially the world’s largest hotel in 2015, as it adjoins the First World Plaza which boasts 500,000 square feet of indoor theme park, a shopping center and food heaven. Right at the main entrance, a lush, tropical rainforest greets their guests and all their rooms are modern, comfortable and practical.

Awana Hotel – Resorts World Genting

Indulge in five-star luxury while enjoying the breathtaking view of a majestic mountain range, and make full use of their 18-hole golf course, heated swimming pool, and other sports facilities.  At Awana, the only main rival for comfort is their beautiful, stunning view.

One thing about Genting is you need to plan your holidays well as the crowd can be crazy at times and rooms will be totally sold out. So it’s always best check with Traveloka on the availability and also for the best deals in town.

School holiday is almost over

It's still TGIF now, tomorrow is Saturday and then next day is Sunday. Sons will need go back to school and kindergarten on Monday. Exam soon and parents are the one that are nervous instead of children.

We have no plan on next school holiday. Sons wanted to go Legoland but we don't think it's the right time to go for now. We still need to save money for that and it's school holiday time the rooms are more expensive.

My friend has the vouchers for Swiss Garden Hotel, but sad to say it is suitable for just one location to use. The terms and conditions are stated cannot be used during school holiday and cannot be used on the Friday and the weekends. So this just make parents to make their children to skip their lessons? That's bad! We are not going to do that for the sake for going for a vacation with children.

Planning on school holiday to Dubai

My friends are planning on school holiday, they have ideal place to go. They want to go Dubai because they heard and saw many nice pictures of this country. I am sure they want to check out hotels in dubai, if not where else they can stay? Unless they have friends or relatives or family members there which they can accommodate with.

Beside the view and sightseeing it the country, they are searching to know what is cheap to purchase in Dubai. Well everyone has got their budget and shopping list to shop. One of my friends told me she interest to check out their jewellery, I don't know if diamonds are cheaper there. How about clothes and bags in Dubai, are there selling cheaper there?

Talking of vacation, she has a shopping list in hand now where she needs to purchase luggage bags and a digital camera. She also needs to bring her family to make passports for everyone. It's her first family vacation to bring her children and parents for vacation to Dubai. It's going to be great vacation for everyone, can't wait to find out more details from her. I want to know what's on her shopping list in shopping in Dubai. Dubai is one of her wishlist that she wants to go. I told her to purchase sunscreen as she will needs them if they are going for beach. We needs to use sunscreen everyday anyway. I told her not to left out the sunscreen product and pack in her luggage bag.

It's more than just having a nice vacation in Dubai, not just shopping or enjoy the sightseeing but the food too. I am sure she will need to find restaurants to dine and what to eat in Dubai. I wonder if Dubai food any similar to Malaysia's food.

It's good to plan on vacation during the school holiday, so it does not disturb the children on school days. We don't want the children being left out or absent from school.

I haven't been to Dubai, I still need to save more money for a family vacation.

Carpooling with Tripda

Have you plan on your back home town trip on for this Chinese New Year, yeah just few weeks away. Above picture of me and my friends in carpooling. The day we carpooling to attend an event, Jane is lovely driver as you can see. Grace and I were heading to nearest MRT station in KL. I am not familiar with route in Kuala Lumpur so carpool will be the decision as it save fuel and time from stuck in traffic jam.

Nobody enjoy stuck in the traffic jam, 

even a child would know how's it is like being stuck in the traffic jam.

I am sure you can imagine how many cars on the road if everyone is driving a car. 

With carpooling with Tripda, I am sure you'll find the journey smoother and safer.

With Internet access from your home or office, using the Internet or smart phone, 

you can start register using your Facebook account complete your profile and preferences.

Choose whether you would like to find or offer a ride.

Setup your trip details or select the trip that is most convenient to you.

Have a nice trip with Tripda with your buddies.

Then rate your trip buddy, yeah you get rated back too. 

Tripda is an online peer to peer carpooling platform & community that connects drivers commuting with empty seats in their cars and passengers heading the same way. 

Tripda is driven by the principles of the "sharing economy" where technology is utilised as an instrument to help people share any excess capacity they have in terms of resources (in this case the spare capacity in a car).

The night I attended Party of The Century at Empire City, I am happy that I have chosen to carpool because it does save fuel and traffic jams, most important is help reduce pollution in the air. I am sure you know by now Tripda helps the environment by reducing the number of pollution causing vehicles on the road and traffic congestion especially in the city.

Ensures a safe journey. Tripda verifies the identity of drivers and passengers in multiple ways to runs a variety of checks to ensure your privacy and security.

For more info, click below links.

*  Tripda website :  http://www.tripda.com.my/

*  Tripda mobile app  available on iOS and Google Play
*  Tripda Facebook page :  https://www.facebook.com/TripdaMalaysia
*  Tripda instagram   + twitter handle : @TripdaMY for both
*  Hashtag  #TRIPDAblogawards

Happy Deepavali and Happy Holidays to my friends

 

 

Son's telling me that he misses ice skating in Sunway Pyramid, we haven't been there for sometimes.

 

It's quiet Saturday, some friends are on vacation in Taiwan and some of them in Bahau.

 

How about you?

 

 

Selamat Hari Raya

I am here to wish friends who are celebration Selamat Hari Raya.

Enjoy your holiday with family and friends, spend a good time with them.

If you are going for vacation, don't forget to check your lists for packing.

Happy Holiday to you!

Wow looks like it is a long week for this week yeah? Everyone is on vacation or you still need to work? As you know being a mom, there's no break for us. Time flies I cannot believe that my boy going to be seven next year and he will be in primary school. Yeah time to get serious with studies and I hope the teacher is not too hard on him.

On the other hand, my 16 months old baby is super active. He can climb on chair or container even punishment is no good for him. He is not scare and he is bold enough to give you a big smile that he is walking up the stairs by himself. Cheeky boy is never tired but adult will be tired, my dad will surrender if he's like that. Anyway my dad's busy helping to care for my bro's twins.

Now it is quite peaceful as baby is sleeping in the sarong, we had the electric sarong so he sleeps longer. The electric sarong passed down from brother-in-law, his children used it before. I am sure you know that electric sarong cradle is not cheap, it would be at least two hundred and above.

kittens and Christmas tree

I am sure during the time of Christmas everyone will be busy having their hands on the gifts anc camera as well.

Just to tell you that I have not set up the Christmas tree. On the other hand, my friend having her kittens and Christmas tree post to share with you. Kittens and Christmas tree = Cuteness! I agree they are just perfect.

I have kittens many years back. Kittens are cute and adorable and they are playful too. If you looked at the picture taken by Earthlingorgeous you'll see what I mean. Tell me are your kittens are so playful just like them.