Singgah Sebentar

Wowww! Sedar tak sedar hampir tiga tahun aku biarkan belog ni berhabuk. Pheewwww.

Hai

Lama tak singgah. Rinduuuu.

Hello, 2014.

Well, we can say goodbye to 2013! Thank you for all the lessons and hello to 2014! I am ready to rocking you, baby!

Realiti #5

Kau tahu, bila mana kau sedar yang selama ini kau hanya berharap pada harapan yang sia-sia. Harapan yang kau anggap mungkin akan menjadi hadiah yang terindah dalam hidup. Tapi harapan itu hanya tinggal harapan. Berharap pada sesuatu yang tidak pasti. Kau sedar akan kenyataan itu tapi kau tetap bergantung pada harapan itu dengan harapan ia akan menjadi kenyataan. Tapi, percuma sayang. Harapan itu tetap harapan. Harapan yang kau sendiri cipta sekadar untuk menyedapkan hati dan melayan perasaan.

Top Tips for First Time Travellers

Travelling overseas for the first time is an extremely exciting time, but it’s also easy to be overwhelmed. One thing’s for certain, we will be stepping out of our comfort zone. But if we prepare well enough, that’s all part of the fun!

Follow this top tips and make sure you’re first time overseas is unforgettable.

• Travel Insurance - Whilst travelling overseas is an exciting time, things can sometimes not go according to plan. Travel insurance is a must for any traveler. Make sure you do all your homework and choose an insurance policy that is best for you.

• Pack light - Don't buy new clothes before you go, take your old stuff and throw it out as you travel to make room for all the new things you will most likely buy.

• Photocopy all documents and make copies - Don't keep all your essential documents in the one folder in case you lose it. Photocopy all of your documents such as plane tickets, passport, visas, travel insurance, driving licence and make sure they are kept separate from the originals.

• Research - Any experienced traveler will tell you that it is important to do your homework before you leave. Do as much research as possible on your destination before you leave, from the climate to local customs and traditions.

• Turn off international roaming – Roaming charges can be very expensive and you could spend thousands of dollars without realizing it. Get a SIM card in the country or countries you are going to and save the agony of opening your bill when you get home.

• Get vaccinated - If you're planning to spend time in remote parts of the third world, it is essential that you contact your local travel health clinic before you go. Make sure you’re vaccinated against all possible diseases as your health is your most valuable travel accessory.

• Write it down - It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the new and exciting things you’re bound to experience your first time overseas. Have a small diary and makes notes of your favourite sites and how you felt that day. This will ensure you don’t forget your first time and is an excellent keepsakel.

• Enjoy! - Travelling is an exciting mix of emotions to it’s important to have fun, stay safe and enjoy every minute.

The wet and wild side of Malaysia

There’s more than one Malaysia. There’s the modern, well-ordered state boasting the Petronas Towers, those twin rocket-ship behemoths in capital Kuala Lumpur. There’s bustling multicultural Malaysia, an ethnic and culinary mélange into which Malays, Chinese, Tamils and numerous indigenous groups contribute cuisines and customs. But there’s still – thankfully – wild, untamed Malaysia: jungle and reef, mountain and rain forest, river and ridge. Few countries in South-East Asia – or anywhere – match the range of opportunities for getting adventurous outdoors.

1. Dive the Semporna Archipelago, Sabah

Any spot described by scuba supremo Jacques Cousteau as ‘an untouched piece of art’ is pretty special. A submarine adventure around Sipadan – an elliptical island atop an oceanic pinnacle – takes the breath away: whale, hammerhead and reef sharks, manta rays, barracuda and turtles are regular dive buddies.

2. Surf the breaks of Cherating and Tioman Island

The swells of Indonesia to the south grab the headlines, but there’s ample action on Peninsula Malaysia’s east coast, too. Breaks around Cherating and off eastern Tioman see waves from across the South China hold five or six feet – plenty for both beginners and more-ambitious surfers.

3. Go batty in the caves of Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak

It’s a fine three-day trek through rainforest to the pinnacles, but the showpieces of the park are subterranean: the vast caverns, including the largest open to tourists – 2km-long Deer Cave. Come to discover what two million bats look (and smell) like.

4. Hike through the jungle of Endau-Rompin National Park

Tigers. Elephants. Tapirs. Leopards. Endangered Sumatran rhinos. They’re all here – though admittedly tricky to spot among the 870 sq km of lush lowland forest. A hike isn’t about ticking off species but, rather, camping in the primordial woodland, ducking under remote waterfalls, and watching for birdlife and monkeys.

5. Raft the Sungai Padas, Sabah

The Class I-II rapids of the Kiulu River are a mere nursery for the big adrenalin-pumper: Padas, with whitewater pushing III-IV over the 30km course. During breathers, grab the chance to gaze into the rainforest lining the river.

6. Wander among the tea plantations of Cameron Highlands

For a very English adventure – tea and strawberries: it could almost be Wimbledon – take to the trails around the hill station of Cameron Highlands. Amid the pleasingly geometric forms of the bushes of the tea plantations, stretch your legs in the cool high-level air for views of peaks and waterfalls.

7. Spot orang-utan from boat level on the Sungai Kinabatangan, Sabah

You could spot your ginger-mopped primate cousins at the rehabilitation centres of Sepilok or Semenggoh – but there’s nothing like delving into the jungle for some real wildlife-watching. Take an early morning boat ride on the Kinabatangan River for the chance of spotting shy pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and vivid birdlife.

8. Hike to the longhouses of the Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak

The chance to meet the indigenous inhabitants of Borneo and stay in their traditional longhouses is one of the key reasons for trekking into the steamy interior. Headhunters they may no longer be, but meetings with Borneo’s tribespeople still offer unique insights into fast-eroding cultures.

9. Snorkel the reefs of the Perhentian Islands

These almost stereotypically tropical-paradise islands off the peninsula’s north-eastern coast tempt with sand and snorkelling. From the fine beaches it’s the work of a moment to don mask, snorkel and flippers and drift over colourful coral. The islands are also a great place to learn to scuba dive, with varied sites and reasonable prices.

10. Summit Mt Kinabalu, Sabah

This huge grey lump of granite, soaring to a sharp 4,095m peak, looms large over northern Borneo; the two-day climb requires steely determination to tackle hours of solid uphill – but dawn views across to the Philippines on a clear morning offset even the most burning thighs.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/travel-tips-and-articles/76398#ixzz2lseDdd7q