Mersing: Mirage Island Resort Pulau Besar

I booked this as a short beach break for the family, and since I started learning swimming, I thought I'd book somewhere that we can snorkel on the beach (I was cautious of snorkeling as well before learning swimming). Originally my preferred choice was Pulau Sibu (Sibu Island Resort) for a family getaway but they were fully booked that weekend. In the end, we settled for Pulau Besar.

We took about 5 hours to drive from KL to Mersing Jetty. We went through the PLUS Highway heading south, turning out at Ayer Itam Exit, pass Kluang, Kahang, NITAR Oil Plantations and into Mersing. While the signage to Mersing was clear all the way from Ayer Itam, once you reach Mersing, the signs to the Jetty is unclear. Remember that its around the KFC area...don't go further than that.

The pic below shows the Mirage Office in the Mersing Jetty where you are to register before departing:

Upon arrival at the Jetty....

We arrived around 11am and registered ourselves at the Mirage Island office. Our boat was scheduled to depart at 12.30pm and the other group joined us right on time. It was a rocky ride to Pulau Besar, about 30 minutes. They carried our baggage all the way to the hotel rooms.

Shows the reception at Mirage Island Resort Pulau Besar

When we arrived, we were greeted with Welcome drinks and showed to our rooms. We booked the A-Frame Chalets for a 3D2N food-board package of RM 420 (inclusive of a weekend surcharge). The rooms were nothing to shout about, just enter the room and you will see 1 double bed and 1 single bed, and a toilet.

We had a walk along the beach and played in the water. There isnt really much fish swimming on the coast like in Marine parks in Langkawi or Redang. While the water was clean, there isnt any opportunity for snorkelling as the hotel didnt rent out lifejackets or snorkels either (or at least, I didnt ask and I didnt see any lying around the hotel). There really isnt anything much to do around the island but hanging out and playing in the water. There isnt any wifi either.

You can arrange for a snorkelling trip but they need a minimum number of 8 or you need to rent the whole boat at RM 400.

 

 

Apparently they were shooting European Survivor we were there and this place is quite popular with film crews. 

 

 The food was pretty good - we were served cashew chicken, mixed vegetables and sweet and sour fish the first night, followed by an all out bbq the second night. I really enjoyed the BBQ as it has been a while since I've tried one. They serve tea, coffee and water all day. However, the cocktails were really expensive at RM 30 each. However, you can get vodka orange at about RM 18. Coke was RM 5 + 10% tax. 

All in all it was an OK place I suppose. Only if you like lounging around the beach and doing nothing. I'm not into that so I probably wont come again but if you like lounging and you are on a budget, this is a reasonably good place. 

Hotel website: http://www.mirageislandresort.com/

Singapore: Universal Studios Singapore

In my recent trip to Singapore I included Universal Studios Singapore in my itinerary as I wanted to see what the fuss was about. A lot of people seemed to talk about the Transformers 3D ride, and I had never been to a theme park before, at least not outside Genting Highlands in Malaysia. So I planned to spend at least half a day in Universal Studios Singapore (USS) on the last day of my trip to Singapore.

Since the school holidays in Singapore was starting during the time of my trip, the price of my ticket was SGD 74. Usually during week day, it is SGD 68, but that was OK. There's nothing much I can do about it in this case, as the school holidays is not something I can control!

I made my way to USS via the MRT. I took the MRT from Novena (I was staying at Value Nice hotel in Balestier) and took it to Harbourfront MRT. There I followed the directions in the MRT station/Mall up to about the 3rd floor where I took the Sentosa Express for SGD 3 all the way to Beachfront stop where I got down. The SGD 3 price included the a return Sentosa Express ticket and the entrance fee to Sentosa Island.

It was easy to locate the spinning globe which was the logo of USS. I bought my ticket at the ticket booth and went inside. I targeted to do the Transformers ride, the Jurassic Park rapids water ride and the Shrek 4D show, walk around and have some tea time snacks.

Based on the reports of long queus, I quickly made a beeline towards the Sci-Fi city where Transformers 3D was at. Thankfully there was a Single Rider line, and I quickly went to it and managed to get on the 1st car available on the ride. If you were on the other lines, it will take at least 20 minutes. Of course, I was very greatful I was there on my own today as it made things very quick for me - I also managed to go on the ride a 2nd time. You will pick up your 3D glasses during the line.

After you get strapped on to the car on the Transformers Ride 3D, you are automatically transported into this virtual reality world where big Transformers fight it out. *Spoiler Alert* You will experience things being thrown at you, hurtling down tall buildings, and large robot creatures coming at you full force. The car seat you are in will rock to simulate the 3D experience. It is most definitely enjoyable and recommended and worth all the fuss.

After the Transformers ride, I went for the Jurassic Park Water Rapids ride thing which was just ok. You sit in a boat and experience a very minor rapids with dinosaurs from Jurassic Park around you. I didnt think this was for adults as it was mostly animatronic dinosaurs moving around and roaring. You WILL get wet so please bring a raincoat to USS or you will have to buy it for SGD 3. Lockers are available for rent to keep your things at a hideously expensive price - SGD 4 per hour.

The Shrek 4D Movie was a lot more fun - we sat in a chairs and they showed a nice 15 minute movie featuring Shrek, the Donkey, Fiona and the rest of the usual Shrek cast, only there are 4D effects! To explain what the 4D experience is, it means that you actually get to feel some of the scenes in the movie for e.g. wind blowing at you, water being sprinkled on you, the chairs rocking to simulate horse riding etc. It was certainly my first 4D experience and was very fun.

I went on the Madagascar Crate Barrel water adventure but it was kind of boring to me and it was just the same as the Jurassic Park Water ride. Super boring, and it was meant for kids below 12 I think. Animatronic statues of the characters just moving about. To kill time I also went for the Lights Camera Action by Steven Spielberg show that demonstrates how special effects are done in studios. That was quite interesting and I think I would recommend it if you have 15 minutes to kill.

Drinking fountains are available everywhere to refill your water bottles and you ARE allowed to go out of the park to eat decent food outside at Resorts World and come back. I guess comparatively speaking the food in the park is not that expensive - SGD 9 per sandwhich, SGD 6 a cappucinno as it is about the same price outside in a shopping mall, but I usually eat at hawkerstalls so it was a bit pricey for me. My usual meal will come up to about SGD 6 in total, so to spend SGD 9 on a sandwich without drinks is kind of pricey for me.

All in all it was an OK experience. I've never been to "branded' theme park before, and I wanted to check it out so it was fine for 1 time. I don't think I will be making another visit though. In total I only spent 2.5 hours there. I left and watched a hollywood movie at the cinema in Vivocity!

To read more about other attractions in Singapore, click here

Attraction Details: Universal Studios Singapore

Kuala Lumpur: ATV Adventure Park Kampung Kemensah Part 2

I first tried this ATV Adventure Park in February and made arrangement with my friends to come back to do a slightly harder route. After about 4 months, we finally made it back to Kampung Kemensah for Package C, up to "Sofea Jane Waterfall" (actual name is Kubang Gajah Waterfall, I think). The waterfall got its name "Sofea Jane" waterfall as Malaysian actress Sofea Jane shot a movie scene there in the 90s.The trail took about 1 hour to get in and another 1 hour to get out via ATV.

As per the previous trip, me and my friends met at the ATV Adventure Park at Kampung Kemensah, at about 8.30am. We signed an indemnity form each, to relieve the company of any responsibility should anything happen to us during the ride. Again, they arranged for us to crowd around a demo ATV, and they explained the controls on the ATV. This took about 15 minutes and was a good refresher.

Everyone then grabbed a helmet and headed towards the ATV for a test drive on their circular loop. The crowd that day was huge, there was even a group of 16 people going on the same route as us! Thankfully, our group of 3 pax was grouped with another family of 3, and it was a good comfortable number. 

They even had Owen Wilson as a celebrity guest on the Package E (hardest route) who came around March 2012. I remember seeing an article in the newspaper showing that he did the ATV but I didn't know that it was with this company. After our package C route, my friends and I thought we'd try the Package E, just cause Owen Wilson also experienced it.

Back to our Package C route. The ride started with an uphill climb before heading into the forest. The difference between Package B and Package C was the while both the routes were off road, Package C's routes were not even, not level and has lots of bumps, holes and rocks. My friend estimated that it was about 50% tougher to ride than the Package B route. There were times when the ATV tipped 45 degrees side ways and there a lot of rocky uphills and downhills on route. During the downhill section, you have to grip the brakes VERY tightly -in my experience even if you grip the brakes extremely tightly, the ATV keeps going and going!

However, after trying out the Package B, everyone was a lot more comfortable on the ATVs than their first times.

After about 1 hour we reached the waterfall, we parked our ATV vehicles and we took a 30 minute break to take a picture of the waterfall and relax our arms. They also provided a free mineral water bottle to us which was really great.

The ride back to the basecamp was a lot faster as the guides were more comfortable with our technical ability this time round. I returned to the basecamp satisfied but a little tired from gripping the brakes tightly. Bathrooms, a shallow dipping pool, and a washing pipe was available at the basecamp for public use. They also sold some soda drinks for all the participants.

All in all, I will probably return again with the same group of friends to do Package E, but will give a rest before trying it again. I think we have had enough of ATV for a while - we might be back but we'll give it a few months.

For instructions on how to get there please refer to this post.

Attraction Website:
http://www.atvadventurepark.com/

Singapore: Singapore Zoo

I have always wanted to visit the Singapore Zoo ever since I saw that series/show on Animal Planet showcasing the zoo. All other guidebooks I've read have raved about this "award winning" zoo and as a person who loves animals and being around animals, I knew I had to include this into my trip.

Of course, the highlight of this trip for me was to see the white tiger and the polar bear, but unfortunately the polar bear exhibit was closed when I visited at the tail end of May 2012. Nevertheless, it was still a good trip as I got to see free-ranging orangutans, Malayan sunbears, white tigers, meerkats (the type you see on Animal Planet), pygmy hippos, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, lions and other fun animals.

This was the white tiger exhibit. A clever river barrier has been formed between the tiger and the zoo visitors. I was fortunate enough to see the white tiger swim in the mock river. The fact that there are no enclosures here made it very fun for me. This white tiger paced back and forth before jumping and swimming in the mock river. This is definitely one of the more popular animals in the zoo.

Although I have seen many hippos in Kenya, I've never seen pygmy hippos and not through clear glass like this. Usually you only get to see the top of the heads, but with this glass enclosure you get to see what they do underneath the water. Which just bumping into each other mostly.

Love the meerkats on display at the Wild Africa section of the zoo. Again as you can see there are no enclosures and a clever barrier has been formed between the animals and the spectators.

Ok enough about the animals and more on the practical stuff. While I enjoyed the zoo very much as an animal lover, I realise that some of the most important things people look for in blogs and the internet are the practical stuff.

So here goes:

1. There are lockers available to keep small items near the entrance of the zoo.

2. They have the Ah Meng's restaurant inside the zoo but before you enter the zoo there are coffee houses, ice cream cafes and some snack shops as well.

3. A tram goes around the zoo at 4 points where you can hop and hop off as you like. It costs SGD 5 to ride the tram. Once you purchase the ticket, you can ride the tram as much as you like. You can also just walk the zoo, but I wouldnt advise it as it is a big zoo. I had the tram ticket and I still didn't get to see the Outback and Ethiopian exhibits as I was too tired.

4. I spent about 2.5 hours there - it was enough for me to see the animals I liked and get a feel for the place.

5. I bought outside food and just ate it at the bench parks around the zoo as I predicted the food in the zoo to be pretty unappetizing and expensive. I think I was right, judging by the looks of things. A meal could cost up to SGD 10 ++

6. An ice cool slushie is about SGD 5.90.

To get here:

Take the MRT  to Ang Mo Kio and take the 138 bus from the Ang Mo Kio bus interchange. It will take about 40 minutes to get here from the bus interchange.

Attraction Website: www.zoo.com.sg

Singapore: Value Hotel Nice

I found this hotel via Tripadvisor or Agoda after browsing numerous weeks for the best value deal there was in Singapore. See, I am on a budget but I do not want to share my room with backpackers or sleep in a dorm. Thankfully, I managed to find this Value Hotel Nice on Balestier, which was a godsend.

Through online booking about 2 weeks before, I managed to get a rate of about SGD 86 (tax inclusive) a night which was cheap by Singaporean standard for a room. The last time I stayed at Hotel 1929 in Chintown, it was SGD 145 (tax not inclusive) for a Single Room with a Single bed, which was a lot smaller than the room I got at Value Hotel Nice - (Standard Room). Booking by the hotel website was a breeze. They will only charge the card when you get there, not on the time of booking.

The room was located on the second floor and did not have a window, being the cheapest room available. It had a double bed, a TV with only selected channels (2 sports channel, a movie channel, and a new channel), a phone, a bathroom, coffee making machine, hairdryer, toiletries and towels. Most important thing for me is privacy and I ran around Macritchie Reservoir Park for about 2.5 hours and had no mood to share a bathroom. Was extremely happy I booked the place that I booked.

The food at Whampoa Food centre was only so-so for me. The food seemed a little bland for me - that's the only downside of staying here. It is open fror Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. There was a 'zhang' rice dumping shop that opens 24 hours downstairs of the hotel, and it had a few 7-Eleven nearby. I also spotted a Mcdonalds about 500m away. There is no restaurant attached to the hotel itself.

The staff was friendly and helpful with any questions. Wifi was free with any online booking. Technically, Novena MRT is the closest to Balestier Road, but it has no busses that serves Balestier. I dont think you would want to walk from Novena to Balestier Road as it is quite far.

To get to Value Hotel Nice:

To get to the hotel, take the MRT from wherever you are and stop at Newton MRT (not Novena MRT) and exit via exit A. Take bus 124 and stop at Balestier Road. You'll know you've arrived when the bus makes a sharp left turn and you see Quality Hotel Marlow on your left. Press the button and get down at the first stop near Quality Hotel Marlow.

You are now opposite Value Hotel Balestier. Not Value Hotel Nice.

Now cross the street towards Value Hotel Balestier, turn left, and walk about 500m. You will then see Value Hotel Nice and the hotel's signboard soon. Along the way you will pass an Animal Recovery Hospital and Whampoa Drive (that leads to Whampoa Food Court).

To get to the MRT from Value Hotel Nice

Bus 124 stops right outside the hotel heading towards the Newton MRT. It doesnt stop here from the MRT. It will pick you up from the Hotel, go straight about 500m, passing Value Hotel Balestier, and make a sharp right at the traffic light. Then it goes straight about 20 minutes to Newton MRT.

The bus fare costs SGD 1.10 using cash but you can also get the Singapore Tourist Pass at selected MRT stations.

In summary I will most definitely stay here again simply because I cannot find a better deal for a private room than Value Hotel Nice. If I can get an equivalent rate at Value Hotel Balestier, I might stay there just because it is nearer to the bus stop from the MRT. I would say Value Hotel Nice was better value than the' uber-cool' 1929 at Chinatown.

Hotel: Value Hotel - Nice

Hotel website: http://www.valuehotel.com.sg/index.php