For this recent road trip to Malaysia, I’m just going to review certain highlights. I didn’t pay much attention to the itinerary when my parents first passed it to me. Plus, there were stops and detours along the way which weren’t in the original plans and I didn’t follow up on those either.

Nevertheless, while I don’t have a full itinerary for you, I still hope to be able to provide some helpful notes if you’re planning on visiting the same spots or staying in the same hotels.
 

V1 Boutique Hotel

The V1 Boutique Hotel was the first of our hotels in our 4D3N trip. The hotel is situated right next to the main road and was easily visible from our tour bus. I’m pretty sure with the address locked into your GPS, you won’t have an issue finding it.

The hotel is a pretty small one. Heh, my picture of the lobby actually captured almost the entirety of it. So that gives you an indication of its size. Despite that, the staff were able to quite quickly sort through our rooms and check-in seemed pretty fuss-free. The only hassle was for our guide to announce to the entire group of 30 that the hotel had security doors on every floor and we needed to key in a code in order to enter.

As we had started the trip super early in the morning, I was really grateful when I could finally get to our room. By that time, I was starting to pop Panadols to keep an emerging headache at bay. So imagine my joy when I realised that we were given a suite. It was one of the biggest rooms I've ever gotten on a group tour.

Photo above is a sitting area that was immediately to our right when we entered the room.

 

2 single beds in one room and a queen bed in the next room. Space was definitely more than adequate for my parents and me. The beds were really clean and comfortable too.

Headache temporarily forgotten in all that joy.

 

 

Except that joy was a little short-lived.

 

When we got to the toilet and the bathroom, little cockroaches started popping. I have a morbid fear of cockroaches (almost all flying insects actually). It's the main reason why I religiously clean my home regularly. So imagine my fear when there were at least 10 of them running around. My dad spent a good 10 minutes getting rid of them.

 

Mom was actually quite surprised to see these roaches since the room was pretty clean. We figured it maybe the suite was hardly in use hence these critters could proliferate.

 

 

Critters aside, V1 Boutique Hotel presents itself as a no-frills hotel. I understand from the other uncles and aunties who were in twin rooms, that they didn't even have a fridge. Our bathrooms also didn't come with any of the complimentary soaps or shampoos. Also, the sound-proofing isn't fantastic. The entire night we could hear the traffic, so if you're a light sleeper, you might want to get ear plugs. Wifi was also non-existent in the rooms and could only be accessed from the hotel lobby.

Having said that, V1 Boutique Hotel is listed as a 3-star hotel (i.e. rates are really cheap) so I guess you shouldn't expect too much. If you're intending to stay just for a night or 2, it's decent enough.


Tourist Information

V1 Boutique Hotel
Website: https://www.facebook.com/viboutiquehotel/
Address: 1 Jalan Penambang, Taman Seri Penambang, Kuala Selangor 45000
DID: +60 3-3281 2219

Sky Mirror Sasaran 天空之镜沙沙蓝

Have you guys heard of Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni? It's a really famous salt flat which is dubbed the world's largest natural mirror. Just check in with your best friend Google, and you'll understand what I mean. The images are just awesome.

Well, unfortunately, I don't really foresee myself going to Bolivia anytime soon (I can only drool over Google for now). So when the opportunity came to visit world's other sky mirror, obviously I jumped at the chance. Even if it meant going on an organised group tour with a bunch of my parents' acquaintances and friends. Serious. I was like the second youngest in the entire group of 30 and I'm not exactly a spring chicken myself.

Sasaran Sky Mirror

So anyway, the world's second sky mirror happens to be located in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. It's not an actual beach but rather a sand bar in the middle of the Straits of Melacca. Apparently, I learnt that it's only exposed about twice a month (something about tides and full moons) and that's when its time for the hordes of tourists to descend.

 

For those really curious, the sky mirror phenomenon occurs when the tides are at its ideal; i.e. only a very shallow level of water is left on the exposed sand bar. When left still, the water becomes a natural mirror reflecting the skies and its surroundings.

I forgot to check which operator ran the show for us to Sasaran. However, with Google's help (plus some power of deduction), I believe the operator was Sky Mirror Tour & Travel Sdb Bhd. I've included their details at the end of this post. Basically the jetty point was next to this seafood restaurant (photo below). The operator also offers sea eagle watching and fireflies viewing tours. We also did the eagle watching one. Haven't decided whether it's worth blogging about yet though.

 

Caveat: Not 100% confident whether Sky Mirror Tour & Travel Sdb Bhd was definitely our operator. Like I said its Google plus some of my brain power, so you may want to scount around for other reviews before making a decision.

Our group was scheduled for the 12 noon tour and once we arrived, we just boarded the boat with life vests that were supplied. The ride out to the sand bar itself was about 30 minutes. Got to say this, it was probably one of the most exciting rides for quite a number of the senior citizens in my group.

 

Speedboat + Choppy Seas = A extremely fast and bumpy ride

The uncle opposite me was clearly fearful and clinging onto the rails with white-knuckled fists. The one beside me commented that he thought the boat may split while yet another uncle at the rear of the boat shouted for our driver to "please slow down". We also actually saw someone else (outside of our tour group) throw up onto the sandbar after his ride.
 

So if you're travelling with eldery (or anyone for that matter) who have never done anything similar (and fear thrill rides), please do explain to them what to expect and assure them that it's all right. My parents were fine because I had assured them before and during the ride. Good thing they trust what I tell them! Plus, I've done similar speedboat trips (like to Redang) so I could tell them clearly what to expect. 

 

It's pretty easy to tell when you've reached your destination. There'll be crowds of tourists swarming and boats docking. We then clambered off a ladder into the sea and onto the sand bar. Ok, that was the part where I freaked out a wee bit. Because while some other boats had proper ladders attached to their boats to get on and off (like you know, at swimming pools), ours hauled out one that was used by my renovation workers! I was wondering how the hell they even stabilise it in sand and sea! And OMG! My entire group was like 99% senior citizens! Somehow, everyone managed to get off safely and no one landed on their butts or heads.

 

I have to admit, I wasn't impressed by the place at all. At least, not until I saw our photos. As far as my eye could see, it was trampled sand that met with the skies at the horizon. And because we were waiting for the other half of the group to arrive, it got boring after a while. Sure, there were some sea creatures crawling about on the sand flat, but sea snails and tiny crabs can only capture your attention for so long.

 

Once the photo-taking started though, people stopped feeling bored. The good thing was, there was an assistant who helped us take the photos. He was also very creative in coming up with different group shots. Probably copied over from too many photo groups. He also came prepared with props. And best part, all part of the package. Yup, at no additional costs! Our group had so much fun, we spent more than an hour in the blazing sun taking photos. Pretty sure some could have continued if it wasn't time for us to head back for a super late lunch.

 

 

 

 

I have to confess, since this was an organised (and very short) tour, I really didn't bother to do any research prior to the trip. Like I mentioned in my previous post, it's something I regretted. Especially since I have been an advocate of the "must do research and be prepared" belief.

 

So, now that I have gone and returned from Sasaran, I'm going to share some tips with you in the hope that you'd be more prepared than we were.

Tip #1 (and probably what almost every other blog you read will tell you)
Please wear super bright colours.

Especially if you really are going to the Sky Mirror just to cam-whore for your Facebook or Instagram (or whatever) pics. And I do mean SUPER bright. You’d want the Chinese New Year red, the neon highlighter green or the sunflower yellow sort of shades. Don't believe me? Let me present you actual photo evidence below.

The ladies in our group happened to be more brightly coloured. You can see how our reflections pop because of the strong colour contrast against the white and blue. Vs the men on the other hand, who were mostly in safe whites, darks or blues.

Basically the idea is to colour contrast against the blue skies and white clouds.

Tip #2

Please wear shorts.

Not even crop pants or three-quarter pants k. Go with anything that is above the knee. You may look at Internet pictures and think that there's not much water. However, don't forget that you'll have to get off the boat and into the sea to wade to the sand bar. There's the return trip too!

Tip #3

Please DO NOT wear shoes.

 

Do come in slippers and sandals. Ok, it’s not a rule thing that you have to follow, but I’m really saying this for your comfort. It’s likely that you will be asked to remove your footwear and leave them on the speedboat that you arrived in. Hence slippers and sandals would just make it easier for you. Not saying that taking off shoes is a hassle but trust me, once you’re done at the sand flat and back onto your boat, you definitely wouldn’t want to thrust your wet and sandy feet back into shoes. Well, I know I sure as hell wouldn’t want that.

Best kind would be rubber slippers. I went wearing Fitflops and the cloth kinda soaked up all the water. It wasn’t as bad as someone else who insisted on wearing shoes, but it wasn’t the most comfortable either especially since I spent the rest of my day in those.

Tip #4

Please bring along a spare change of clothes and a towel.

 

Ok, this one really depends on your luck while out at sea. I went and returned completely unscathed. However, there were several in my tour group who got completely drenched. And I do mean the “head-to-toe soaked through” on our return trip. In fact, one of my dad’s friends was so badly soaked, he had to sit on a plastic sheet on the tour bus after. He was still dripping sea water and that was even after he had tried wringing out his clothes in the toilet.

 

 

Tip #5

Travel as light as you can.

 

First of all, there is absolutely no where on the sand bar where you can put down your bag without it getting wet and dirty. There are also no lockers at the jetty where we boarded the boat. And Malaysia isn't always the safest for you to leave your valuables in the car.

Secondly, you really don't want your bags to get in the way of your creative photo shots.

If you are bringing valuables like passports, money etc along, consider keeping them inside zip-lock baggies or waterproof bags. This way, you don't have to worry about them getting soaked at all.

Tip #5a (since it's related to #5)
Just use your camera phone.

 

Leave those DSLRs, mirrors or compacts or whatever at home. Even if you brought them along, the assistance photographer who's helping you take those pictures would reject using them. And after seeing how they lie flat down on the sand to grab those photos, I wouldn't blame them either.

Essentially those DSLRs and all would be too bulky and very likely (confirm) will get dirty. Those dudes ain't going to want to damage your equipment and then pay the price for that.

The group shots you see in this post were all captured using iPhone. Good enough.
And yeah. My Sony became a burden.

Tip #6
Go to the toilet before you get onto the boat.

There is absolutely nothing and nowhere for you to relieve yourself. You really don't want to find yourself stuck after 3 hours, wishing desperately you didn't drink that much water. Like me.

Tip #7
Sun block and brollies are your good friends.

Please make sure you slather that sun screen everywhere. The sun can be merciless and you really wouldn't want to come back looking like Rudolph the reindeer. Or have photo reminders of how you turned lobster. Back of the neck too people!

Alternatively, bring along some really colourful umbrellas. They'd not only shield the sun, they make really good props for the pics too! And walking sticks or support for the eldery.

Tip #8
Sensitive skinned people, bring your medicated creams along.

You'd need them after your excursion back from Sasaran. Several of us in the tour group suffered from redness, swelling and itchiness within the next few hours after our return.

I only found out much later that the waters around the place was terribly polluted from the nearby factories. It was a good thing my mom and I always travelled with our creams because dad and I suffered that night. We were able to recover quite quickly by the next day but unfortunately, one of the uncles in our group got it so bad, he started bleeding from heavy scratching.

Tip #9
Get cheap and good love letters from a nearby shop.

Heh. Me and my mom's sixth sense started twanging on alert when we spotted this. Travel with us and you won't be disappointed when it comes to food. This wonderful tin of love letters was from a shop called 阿嬷的家 (Ah Ma De Jia, i.e. Grandmother's Home). It's located along the shophouses across the street from the jetty. They have a humongous sign board so it'll be hard for you to miss really.

 

It smells so heavenly whenever we opened the tin back home, and its one of the best home made love letters we have ever tasted. Very affordable too at RM20! We bought 2 tins home and barely a week later, they're already half gone.

 

 

I can now check Sasaran Sky Mirror off my bucket list. It's interesting but I don't think I will go back for a second time.

Those love letters are a different story though...

Contact Information:

Sky Mirror Tour & Travel Sdb Bhd
Website: https://www.facebook.com/skymirrortour/
Email: skymirrortour@gmail.com
Addrss: 15, Jalan Yu 1, 45800 Pekan Sasaran, Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia.
DID: +6019 266 6665

Hotel Excelsior Ipoh

It's been a long time since I even went on the Internet to look at my own blogs. More than a year in fact, and the blogging decline all started when I first bought my own house, did renovations and moved in.

 

It's almost a year (in another month's time) since I moved out to stay on my own and hence more than a year since this blog saw any action. And on a scarier note, also more than a year since I have travelled. In fact, even my colleagues have been pestering me to remember to use my leave allowances. They're just all kinda stunned that I've accumulated so many days of leave that I never used. Well, let's just say that I was adjusting to life on my own. The introvert in me just celebrated becoming a pseudo-hermit.

 

Nevertheless, the travel bug in me finally decided to rear its head after its long slumber. And I finally made a small step towards getting this ass out of the country again. Interestingly though, my first trip since moving out, was a road trip to Malaysia with my parents organised by my dad's "union". "Union" because while they probably started out being a company thing, this bunch of aunties and uncles have since been travelling together frequently for more than a decade, so they're kind of more like travel buddies. I honestly didn't think I'd enjoy going on a trip with a bunch of senior citizens but it was an opportunity to visit one of the 2 only Sky Mirrors in the world. Be quite dumb to pass up such an opportunity isn't it.

 

So, in my next post (which I WILL get around to), I'd write about the Sasaran Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Well, at least once I get my photos back. Another dumb thing I did, I accidentally deleted all my trip's photos. Complete dumb blonde moment which I'm paying for with a hefty price (yeah, actually hefty money penalty). Blame it on a year of not touching the cameras. But I'm going to (re-)start instead with a review of a hotel we stayed while in Ipoh, Malaysia. Sigh. A negative review to boot. But heck, these were photos I had in my phone and hence spared the agony of idiocy.
 

 

 *This image was taken from Agoda website

 

Hotel Excelsior Ipoh

 

As this was an organised tour, I didn't bother to do any research/homework prior departure. Which was another moment of idiocy on my part, having been an advocate of the mantra "MUST do homework before holiday".

Oh well, but no research done prior meant also that I arrived at Hotel Excelsior Ipoh with no expectations at all. And even then, this hotel really failed to make the mark.

Our tour bus arrived at the hotel at approximately 6:30 pm that evening. Checking in was relatively efficient. For a tour group of 30 pax, my family were in our room before 7 pm. Unfortunately, that's about the only good thing I could say for the hotel.

Because we arrived as a family of 3, we were given one of the bigger Family Rooms (Triple) instead. The minute we stepped into the room though, I turned around and went back down to the receptionist to ask for a room change. The air-conditioning unit was spoilt and leaking, resulting in a pool of water on the floor. There was absolutely no way in hell I'm going to allow us to sleep in a no-aircon room in Malaysia. The freaking heat and humidity would kill us. Second, water puddle on the floor is just going to be a fall-hazard, plus a potential flood disaster.

 

 

 

Can't see it in the photo because my dearest mommy went to remove the evidence when I went down to try get a room change. I had to explain to her why she needed to leave the evidence but the OCD in her wouldn't tolerate it. Anyway, the towel marked the spot of the water puddles.

 

Unfortunately, I was told at the receptionist that the hotel was fully booked and there were no other family rooms. Instead, the options offered to me was to wait and see if a mechanic could do damage repair or move into a twin room where they would add another mattress for the third person.

 

Seeing how we were going to just stay for a night and I didn't want us to put up with a cramped room and lousy mattress, I opted to let the mechanic try his brand of magic.

 

That was at 7 pm.

By the time the fella rolled his ass around and dealt with the mess, it was way past 9 pm. And he worked on it for less than 30 minutes. Which meant if he had rolled fasted, we wouldn't have wasted our evening waiting in the room for him. I was quite irritated by then because I had really wanted to get out to explore since it was my one and only night in Ipoh.

 

 

 

 

 

And that wasn't the end of it. While waiting for the mechanic to do his work, I realised that the room was extremely dusty and worn down. Mom actually spent some time wiping down some of the tables and ledges, otherwise my nose allergy would definitely have acted up.

 

It was as if maintenance was not a priority at all for this hotel. In my pictures above, you can see that the curtains have been spoilt and the paint peeling from the walls. There were also pieces of carpet around the edges of the room that were sticking up, ready to trip the next unwary person. One of the table lamps was also not working anymore but just left unplugged on the table.

 

At first glance, the bedsheets also did not seem to be washed properly either. Pillows also definitely had seen better days. Thankfully, we were still able to spend a sound night.

 

However, the last straw for my family was when dad realised (being the first to shower) that even the shower head was damaged. The water pipe was leaking so essentially water was just sprouting from the pipes and not the shower head. I gave up taking photos by then so you only have my word for it. Luckily, there was still a rain shower that functioned so we could still wash up. But by then, the hassle of trying not to get our hair wet became another sore spot in a string of sore spots. A string that leaves the impression that the hotel really cannot be bothered at all.

 

Breakfast, thankfully, was still an ok affair. It's not fantastic (and yes, I forgot to take photos of the breakfast spread), but decent enough to fill the tummy of the average tourist. There was an omelette and soup noodle station, breads and cereals, and some Malaysian selection. Not mouth-watering delicious (maybe except the omelette) but good enough.

 

Now that I'm back, I see that reviews for this hotel was incredibly mixed on TripAdvisor. Its plus point was definitely its location, and that's also what the positive reviews tended to note. One of the reasons why I was irritated with my evening wasted was because I had wanted to get around the nearby streets. There were a couple of really famous food stalls nearby and a shopping mall. Obviously, no comments since that didn't materialise at all.

 

All in, not a hotel I'd recommend to anyone. So no website link or anything for you guys.