Langkawi 2014

We had a holiday in Langkawi from 5-7 July 2014. Our last trip here was in 2011. Aileen and Aunty CL joined us on this trip. We left Penang just after lunch via Firefly. This was Jianna's first time on an airplane. We asked Jianna before the trip, "What are we going to do in Langkawi?" to which Jianna answered, "Buy potato chips!"

Accommodation was at the Federal Villa Beach Resort at Pantai Tengah.


[Jianna in the Firefly cabin]


[Jianna's first flight: We landed in Langkawi!]


[We ALL landed in Langkawi!]

Day 1
After settling in, we went to the beach.


[The kids in the sea and sand]


[Jianna in a spot]


[They boys in water-fight]

We had dinner at the Cactus Restaurant, just across the road from the resort.

Day 2
At about 9.45am, we went on a 2-hour mangrove tour (we paid RM270). The itenerary included the Bat Cave, fish farm (highlights include the spitting trigger fish and the sting ray), Crocodile Cave, eagle feeding, and a ride past the Kilim Geoforest Park "icon" (which is actually just a signage). At one point, when we explained to Justin that we were in the open sea, he asked, "Are they opening it now?"


[Jianna and Julian on the mangrove tour]


[Bats in the Bat Cave]


[Julian gingerly holding a large shellfish]


[Entering the Crocodile Cave]


[Eagles]

Lunch at Kuah town. After lunch at about 2.00pm, we took the cable car at the Oriental Village up to Gunung Mat Cincang. Julian was a bit nervous during the ride but Justin loved it. The weather was generally misty but had its clear moments. At the top station, we took photos with Mickey Mouse. We also bought postcards for the kids to post home (there's a post box at the top station...).


[View from the top]


[Jianna posting her postcard]

At about 3.30pm, we boarded the Duck Tour on a 40-minute ride from the Oriental Village, into the sea at the Telaga Habour Resort area, and onto the road again back to the Oriental Village. It was basically just a ride, no commentary unlike the one we experience in Malacca. Justin was a bit scared of the sea water splash and Jianna dozed off during the ride.


[The Langkawi Duck Tour]

Dinner was at the popular Rootian Seafood Restaurant at Kuah town with the intention of attending mass at 8.00pm. However, the wait for dinner was so long that we missed mass that weekend.

Day 3
On the last day, we made a visit to the Buffalo Farm at about 10.00am. On hindsight, we should have arrived a little later because the pens were being washed when were arrived and the smell from the manure was quite strong. On this visit, we saw a new born calf, probably born the day earlier. But sadly it was smothered in manure.


[Julian feeding a buffalo]

We were hoping to visit the Friendly Farms to check out their cheese produce but they were closed for renovations. So we headed back the Pantai Cenang area for retail therapy.


[The kids and an M&M's]

After checking out, we made quick stops at the Air Hangat hot springs and Pantai Pasir Hitam (Black Sand Beach) before making our way to the airport to catch our return Air Asia flight.


[Ahhh! Nice...]


[Is this sand really black?!]

On the whole, we did more than our previous visit, and it was an enjoyable holiday overall. By the way, the postcards arrived after about one month.

Jianna at 27 Months

Jianna turned 27 months old on 30 June 2014. Here are some updates:

• She's totally off diapers in the day time.
  
• She's very very cheeky, and talks a lot... much more than her brothers when they were her age.
  

[Jianna down the tube]


[Jianna admiring the Penang Hill "love locks"]


[Jianna checking out a fire hydrant]


[Funny X-Ray]

Julian at 85 months

Julian turned 85 months old on 28 June 2014.

We are happy to see him more willing to try new food and especially fruits. He finally ate a little bit of durian (which previously was like poison to him!) and he seemed to like mangosteen (the seedless segments, of course).

He had another milk tooth extracted on 10 June 2014. The permanent one is already peeping out :-)


[Scary X-Ray]


[Julian examining a fern]


[Julian's plasticine creation]


[Funny dance!]

Justin at 59 Months

Justin turned 59 months old on 25 June 2014.

• He's 'changed' his name several times now. His latest was Masso. No, we don't know how he came up with it.
  
• His definition of coffee: Coffee is a special kind of Milo for adults.
  
• His latest drawing craze is of airplanes. They can be quite vivid (if he chooses to colour them) and detailed.
  

[Justin]


[Justin doing an MJ dance impression]


[Justin's drawing for Jessie, a.k.a. Mummy]


[Justin's drawing for Clarence, a.k.a. Daddy]


[Colourful airplanes taking-off!]

Trip to Penang Hill

On 3 June 2014 we took the kids to Penang Hill.

It was a fun outing with some cool breeze and good weather. There are more things to do now than when we last went several years ago.

The kids were thrilled with the train ride up and down the hill. At the top, they had a chance to look through the binoculars (at a cost of RM1). We took the 25-minute buggy ride for RM30, which was really a good way to entertain the kids and take in the scenery. Then the kids played at the playground and we all enjoyed ice-cream and 'ais panjang' (juice frozen in a long plastic bag), which we remember fondly from our childhoods.


[We're in Penang Hill]


[On the first Penang Hill train]

We didn't visit all the attractions though. There is an owl museum, a pitcher plant (monkey cup) nursery and a bird park which we gave a miss. Apparently they are building a new canopy walk which is expected to be completed sometime next year.

Wouldn't mind bringing visitors up to Penang Hill now. Train ticket price for a family of 2 adults and 2 children is RM18. Individual adult ticket is RM8. Different charges for non-MyKad holders.


[Family on the buggy]


[Tunnel view from inside the train at the top station]

Jianna at 26 Months

Jianna turned 26 months old on 30 May 2014. Here are some updates:

• She can hold her own in fights and arguments with her brothers.
  
• She has started weaning herself off the diaper :-) She is able to tell us when she wants to go to the toilet, but we don't feel confident to let her go completely off the diaper yet. We insist on her wearing a diaper at bed time and when we go out.
  
• Speaking of weaning, we are also in the process of weaning her from the breast. She's off the breast in the day, but still can't let go of her night 'fixes'. She doesn't sleep through the night yet...still gets up once or occasionally, twice.
  
• She seems to enjoy spicy food :-)
  
• She has now joined her brothers in their profound interests in aeroplanes. She has learnt to imitate flights taking off and play aeroplanes and airport like her brothers.
  

[Clipping something under her armpit(s), she would say, "I have fever."]

Julian is 7 Years Old

Julian turned 7 years old on 28 May 2014.

This year his birthday fell on the first day of the mid-year school holidays. We had a simple birthday dinner for him in Double Good restaurant in Penang with three grandaunts and his aunt from KL who was up for the school holidays.


[Ultraman and Spiderman figurines for Julian]

For the record, thanks to Julian, the mirror in the car visor is now officially the CCTV in the car. It's used to monitor the children in the back seats to make sure they are behaving themselves :-)