You know what, traveling is really fun. However, it usually will come down to who is going to do the travel plan? Unless you are a solo-traveler, planning up for your trip shouldn't be much of a hassle for you because you certainly know what you want, your budget and etc or you even have the liberty to not plan at all because you can just decide and go head on to whatever or whereever your travel will lead you to on a day-to-day basis. However, right now it boils down to the question of planning for a group of people, say somewhere between 3-4 people.
From what I've gathered, these are some of the basic things you need to get from your travel partners before you started planning up your travel. Amongst them are:
1. What is each person's individual budget?
It is always best to try working around on a budget for everyone unless someone in the groupie is willing enough to sponsor the trip for everybody, hence you can ditch the budgeting question all together. With budgeting, you get to figure out how long your travel will be, activities you can afford to do and the place you get to stay throughout your travel.
2. Figure out what kind of activities everyone is looking forward to.
If you are going to do crazy, outdoor activities - it is best to stick with a bunch of friends. Outdoor activities don't usually work if you are going with your family not unless if everyone is fit and old enough (not too young or too old) for such outdoor fun.
3. Figure out the type of accommodation everyone is comfortable with.
This eventually comes down to your budget too. Bigger budget means better hotels and the lesser budget means sticking to hostels or 3 stars hotels or below or cheap apartment where you get to cram everybody in (sleeping on the floor inclusive, hehe).
4. Deciding places to eat.
You should at least read up or figure out some good places you can eat up at least for dinner. At least have some vague idea on what you should be trying out during your travel so that you won't leave everyone hungry and grumpy at the end of the day. If you haven't done your homework, make full use of the hopefully helpful people behind the hotel's office desk and ask around for the best place or food to pig out for the day!
5. Deciding your means of transportation during your travel.
For longer stays, sometimes it is best to hire a car so that you get to travel to more places. For shorter stays, try going on the public transport because it is an experience on its own and going on a public transport is the best place for you to mingle and get to know the local.
Researching for your travel transportation is important because you can book ahead before you arrive and it won't be much of a chaos for you once you arrived at your travel destination. Also it helps to figure out the amount you should be paying for your transport, just to avoid getting ripped off by the locals.
6. Last but not least, choosing your travel partners. Haha. I know this one I should have put at the very top. The reason I have this one at the bottom of the list is, if you haven't traveled with this one person ever before, how are you going to know he/she is the right travel partner for you? Hence, if you've tried traveling with this person this time and you don't really enjoy the company, then you can make this no. 6 reason at the top of your list. You'll never know until you try, that's the concept I'm promoting in choosing your travel partner. Hah. With some risks included of course.
In conclusion, if you love traveling and is going to plan a travel pretty soon, do have all these six major points listed and discussed with your traveling partners. Whatever that you do, never ever miss out on asking about everyone's budget because hey, without a budget or cash in hand, you can't travel yeah!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
How to turn a t-shirt into a tote bag
Going Green is the hype these days and Malaysia is slowly working into the green-lifestyle, although we are surely years behind people in the West. Anyway, today I'm going to share with you on how you can make your own tote bag from one of those old t-shirts you have lying around or hiding under your piles of clothes. I sure have a lot of tees that I hardly even use but am too 'sayang' to give it away or throw it away because they really still look very nice but I just don't come around wearing them. That's all.
I'm sure you have one of these tees somewhere in your wardrobe and for you to begin supporting no plastic bags day, let's turn a t-shirt into a tote bag will ya. At the time of writing, I have put away a couple of old but super cool, bright colors tees to prepare for this tote bag making. I just haven't the time ( or more like the effort) to make it just yet. So right now, I'm suggesting that you all sit down and take a look at this video on how to turn that old t-shirt of yours into a super cool, home made tote bag.
How to make a t-shirt bag:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6yDxK68OZc
or you can follow this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nSv_XhxX0o
I'm sure you have one of these tees somewhere in your wardrobe and for you to begin supporting no plastic bags day, let's turn a t-shirt into a tote bag will ya. At the time of writing, I have put away a couple of old but super cool, bright colors tees to prepare for this tote bag making. I just haven't the time ( or more like the effort) to make it just yet. So right now, I'm suggesting that you all sit down and take a look at this video on how to turn that old t-shirt of yours into a super cool, home made tote bag.
How to make a t-shirt bag:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6yDxK68OZc
or you can follow this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nSv_XhxX0o
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A note to self: Never write a bad review on your blog
This is a reminder post for myself and hopefully to other bloggers out there too which is to :
"Never write a bad review on your blog!"
A bad review on something is as good as you doing people bashing all over the net. I am a firm believer of "What you do is what you get back" or in short yes, I believe in Karma. Since I was having a thought about doing a review on this resort I visited last month, I think I will postpone the post until I can come up with something positive about the place to share with you readers. The last thing you want is to have your own blog being bad named my other bloggers merely because you came up with a pretty awful review on something.
So if you think you want to do a full 300 words write-up on that thing/place/person you hate the most, you might as well skip the idea now.
*on another note, I wouldn't say I hadn't written a bad review on anything before, I think I had. True enough karma plays its magic on me right after. That's one lesson learned for sure!
"Never write a bad review on your blog!"
A bad review on something is as good as you doing people bashing all over the net. I am a firm believer of "What you do is what you get back" or in short yes, I believe in Karma. Since I was having a thought about doing a review on this resort I visited last month, I think I will postpone the post until I can come up with something positive about the place to share with you readers. The last thing you want is to have your own blog being bad named my other bloggers merely because you came up with a pretty awful review on something.
So if you think you want to do a full 300 words write-up on that thing/place/person you hate the most, you might as well skip the idea now.
*on another note, I wouldn't say I hadn't written a bad review on anything before, I think I had. True enough karma plays its magic on me right after. That's one lesson learned for sure!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Bikram Yoga - Hot Yoga
I was checking out for some yoga lessons from YouTube and the one that really intrigues me the most has to be Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga. Bikram Yoga session usually lasts for a good 90 minute of drenching in your own sweat and it is one very intense workout. Unless you have a heating system at home that you can blast up to 40 degree Celsius onwards, then Bikram Yoga is something you can practice on a daily basis at home.
Bikram Yoga:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEzznV7LlyA
I would really love to try out on at least a session of Bikram Yoga and endure all those pain, perspire like crazy which is extremely good to detox your body and at the same time being able to relax my mind and body. Nevertheless, for anyone trying out yoga on your own at the comfort of your own home, you can try out this particular Yoga for Quick Energy to give you "a quick burst of energy" and it surely does! I know because I've tried it.
Yoga For Quick Energy:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z19RezuAQak&feature=channel
If you caught yourself simply watching the videos I've posted here, why don't you get out from your seat already and have a go at it while watching them. If you haven't tried yoga before, it is not as easy and delicate as it looks. To experience is to try and do it, so why don't you have a go at Yoga too now!
Bikram Yoga:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEzznV7LlyA
I would really love to try out on at least a session of Bikram Yoga and endure all those pain, perspire like crazy which is extremely good to detox your body and at the same time being able to relax my mind and body. Nevertheless, for anyone trying out yoga on your own at the comfort of your own home, you can try out this particular Yoga for Quick Energy to give you "a quick burst of energy" and it surely does! I know because I've tried it.
Yoga For Quick Energy:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z19RezuAQak&feature=channel
If you caught yourself simply watching the videos I've posted here, why don't you get out from your seat already and have a go at it while watching them. If you haven't tried yoga before, it is not as easy and delicate as it looks. To experience is to try and do it, so why don't you have a go at Yoga too now!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Indoor rock climbing at Putrajaya Challenge Park
It never occur to me to ever in my life to attempt rock climbing not until some unknown yet friendly sales guy from Adidas injected the idea of indoor rock climbing to me sometime early this year. I remembered him asking if I am an outdoor junkie and whether I have tried rock climbing before. I said Yes, I am somewhat an outdoor junkie however I have never done rock climbing ever and upon hearing that, he quickly recommended Mad Monkeyz indoor rock climbing gym. I took note of this gym and forgotten all about it until someone in our outdoor gang started asking about this rock climbing gym at Putrajaya. Long story short, a group of 10 of us went for rock climbing some weekends ago and it was really fun!
Getting to this Putrajaya Challenge Park or locally translated on the signboard as Taman Cabaran is pretty easy. Follow the signboard for Precint 5 and don't be surprised if you have to go through the Muslim cemetery and see many cars parked around the area. Keep going ahead from that cemetery and the many cars you see are from people attending the burial ceremony and no, they are not visiting the Challenge Park like you are.Haha. You will see the Taman Cabaran signboard and the welcome banner a couple of minutes drive up ahead.
[caption id="attachment_1143" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Welcome climbers to Putrajaya Challenge Park"]
[/caption]
After getting changed (there's changing room with showers and loo) and paying up the fees (entrance fee: RM 6 + we shared shoes, harness and belayer service, so each person pay a total of RM11), we were directed to the beginner's wall. To tell you the truth, the wall is pretty intimidating and out of no where, I feel scared and anxiety take the better of me. The wall is high and it looks tough to climb. I struggled with the harness for a good 5 minutes and up I went making my first attempt at indoor rock climbing. Man, it was tough! I was clueless at most time on where I should put my hands and feet. I kept hearing people from below shouting up to me, to push with my legs, don't use my hands to pull myself up. But what the heck right, I was loosing grip and your immediate response is to hold on tight on the rocks with your bare hands. Despite being roped on a harness, it feels a whole lot safer to grip those rocks with your own hands rather than letting go of yourself to the hands of the belayer( the guy holding the rope down from your harness). During this first attempt, I made only inches away from the top and on the second run, this time with shoes on, and after endless shouts of "where to hold on" later to my belayer, I made it to the top. For no reason at all, you begin to perspire like crazy because unknowingly, it takes a whole lot of energy to pull yourself up when you do rock climbing.
[caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Beginner's boulder is easy? So NOT!"]
[/caption]
Next up, I tried going for the beginner's boulder - the one with the thick mattress on the ground. I found myself stuck on I think the 45 degrees slant on the wall and I hesitated on whether to jump down from 2 meters below or keep trying to go up or climb down a little bit and then jump. After much struggle, I chose the latter and it can get very intimidating and nerve wrecking to jump that high (although it may probably be less than 2 meter high). After much photo snaps later and only 2 climbs on the beginner's wall and 2 climbs on the beginner's boulder, I called it a quit.
Rock climbing takes a lot of energy out of you and yes you gotta be fit to enjoy this game. One thing I really like about it though is the amount of calories you get to burn in a short period of time and let say if I continue working on this rock climbing activity for sometime, I'm sure to have a very fit body. I would highly suggest rock climbing for anyone game enough for adventure and most importantly want to have a full body workout quickly in a short period of time. Most people say, rock climbing can get pretty addictive because you will want to do it again and again after your first climb. Personally, I would like to think, yeah, I'll do it again next time but I'm not too sure if I'll get addicted to it. Other than that, if you are given a chance to try out on indoor rock climbing gym or better the real deal on a real, outdoor rock face, do give it a go and don't be afraid to annoy your belayer or instructor on where to put your hands and feet during your climb.
[caption id="attachment_1145" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The indoor rock climbing gym at Putrajaya"]
[/caption]
*pictures courtesy of Azrul
Getting to this Putrajaya Challenge Park or locally translated on the signboard as Taman Cabaran is pretty easy. Follow the signboard for Precint 5 and don't be surprised if you have to go through the Muslim cemetery and see many cars parked around the area. Keep going ahead from that cemetery and the many cars you see are from people attending the burial ceremony and no, they are not visiting the Challenge Park like you are.Haha. You will see the Taman Cabaran signboard and the welcome banner a couple of minutes drive up ahead.
[caption id="attachment_1143" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Welcome climbers to Putrajaya Challenge Park"]
[/caption]After getting changed (there's changing room with showers and loo) and paying up the fees (entrance fee: RM 6 + we shared shoes, harness and belayer service, so each person pay a total of RM11), we were directed to the beginner's wall. To tell you the truth, the wall is pretty intimidating and out of no where, I feel scared and anxiety take the better of me. The wall is high and it looks tough to climb. I struggled with the harness for a good 5 minutes and up I went making my first attempt at indoor rock climbing. Man, it was tough! I was clueless at most time on where I should put my hands and feet. I kept hearing people from below shouting up to me, to push with my legs, don't use my hands to pull myself up. But what the heck right, I was loosing grip and your immediate response is to hold on tight on the rocks with your bare hands. Despite being roped on a harness, it feels a whole lot safer to grip those rocks with your own hands rather than letting go of yourself to the hands of the belayer( the guy holding the rope down from your harness). During this first attempt, I made only inches away from the top and on the second run, this time with shoes on, and after endless shouts of "where to hold on" later to my belayer, I made it to the top. For no reason at all, you begin to perspire like crazy because unknowingly, it takes a whole lot of energy to pull yourself up when you do rock climbing.
[caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Beginner's boulder is easy? So NOT!"]
[/caption]Next up, I tried going for the beginner's boulder - the one with the thick mattress on the ground. I found myself stuck on I think the 45 degrees slant on the wall and I hesitated on whether to jump down from 2 meters below or keep trying to go up or climb down a little bit and then jump. After much struggle, I chose the latter and it can get very intimidating and nerve wrecking to jump that high (although it may probably be less than 2 meter high). After much photo snaps later and only 2 climbs on the beginner's wall and 2 climbs on the beginner's boulder, I called it a quit.
Rock climbing takes a lot of energy out of you and yes you gotta be fit to enjoy this game. One thing I really like about it though is the amount of calories you get to burn in a short period of time and let say if I continue working on this rock climbing activity for sometime, I'm sure to have a very fit body. I would highly suggest rock climbing for anyone game enough for adventure and most importantly want to have a full body workout quickly in a short period of time. Most people say, rock climbing can get pretty addictive because you will want to do it again and again after your first climb. Personally, I would like to think, yeah, I'll do it again next time but I'm not too sure if I'll get addicted to it. Other than that, if you are given a chance to try out on indoor rock climbing gym or better the real deal on a real, outdoor rock face, do give it a go and don't be afraid to annoy your belayer or instructor on where to put your hands and feet during your climb.
[caption id="attachment_1145" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The indoor rock climbing gym at Putrajaya"]
[/caption]*pictures courtesy of Azrul
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Caving at Gua Tempurung - Grand Tour
It has been one of those back to back outdoor adventure weeks since a couple of weeks ago for me and it couldn't get any better than that. I've finally made it for the Grand Tour at Gua Tempurung, Gopeng last weekend. It is kind of pathetic really because almost all the years living in Perak, I'd never made it to Gua Tempurung not until recently. Oh well, it's better late than never.
Last year, the family and I went for Tour 1 - The Golden Flowstone tour at Gua Tempurung, hence the recent Grand Tour was my second attempt at Gua Tempurung. All in all there are four main tours you can choose from at this cave . There are:
1. Tour 1 - Golden Flowstone ( Level of difficulty (L.O.D) : Easy)
2. Tour 2 - Top of the World ( L.O.D : Moderate)
3. Tour 3 - Top of the World & Short River Adventure (L.O.D : Moderate)
4. Tour 4 - Grand Tour (L.O.D : Moderate to Challenging)
My partner in crime for this Grand Tour is none other than my loyal outdoor partner - FF! Needless to say, this caving activity was just a thought that I have in mind to do when FF decided to come down for a getaway-ad hoc holiday at the family farm. We made it to the counter just in time to join in with about 50 other people for the Grand Tour. Both of us joined in with a group of 30+ Chinese people from Penang and 17+ group of Malay teenagers. If you are coming in a super tiny group like the both of us, it is best to stick near to the guide during the starting point and make yourself noticed to the guide because I can tell you one thing, the guide has no idea on how many people exactly he is going to guide and there are no literal head count going on at the start of the tour. We made our presence pretty loud and clear to the guide by confirming to him that we are a group of two joining amongst the two other bigger groups in the tour.
Last year, the family and I went for Tour 1 - The Golden Flowstone tour at Gua Tempurung, hence the recent Grand Tour was my second attempt at Gua Tempurung. All in all there are four main tours you can choose from at this cave . There are:
1. Tour 1 - Golden Flowstone ( Level of difficulty (L.O.D) : Easy)
2. Tour 2 - Top of the World ( L.O.D : Moderate)
3. Tour 3 - Top of the World & Short River Adventure (L.O.D : Moderate)
4. Tour 4 - Grand Tour (L.O.D : Moderate to Challenging)
My partner in crime for this Grand Tour is none other than my loyal outdoor partner - FF! Needless to say, this caving activity was just a thought that I have in mind to do when FF decided to come down for a getaway-ad hoc holiday at the family farm. We made it to the counter just in time to join in with about 50 other people for the Grand Tour. Both of us joined in with a group of 30+ Chinese people from Penang and 17+ group of Malay teenagers. If you are coming in a super tiny group like the both of us, it is best to stick near to the guide during the starting point and make yourself noticed to the guide because I can tell you one thing, the guide has no idea on how many people exactly he is going to guide and there are no literal head count going on at the start of the tour. We made our presence pretty loud and clear to the guide by confirming to him that we are a group of two joining amongst the two other bigger groups in the tour.
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