Happy New Year 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

As we usher in to the new year, it is also a time for reflection on the past year. 

It has been an eventful year 2011 for me, a year of transition, so many happenings. My retirement, starting my blog, being a unit trust consultant and of course the hand-in-hand changes to my everyday routines and lifestyle. The great times I had with friends and people I care about.

I feel blessed and I hope Y2012 is as eventful, fulfilling and enriching.

What do I want for Y2012, doing what I have been doing the past year, and doing it better, and a few new things that I hope will materialize and being more disciplined and hardworking.

Best wishes to everyone for ‘A Very Happy, Healthy and Wonderful Year 2012.’

……and dream on…….

My New Carry-All Handbag

It has a detachable shoulder strap

    I recently went shopping for a new handbag, with the sales on, I thought I could find something nice and not too expensive.

         I managed to get something I like, something practical. What do you think? 

The back view, with another pocket

The front view

The top view

The inside view (contents not included)

 

It is made of man-made fabric and well-lined with lots of pockets and compartments.

The smooth fabric makes it easy to keep clean.

The colour of the bag is light brown and shoulder strap is comfortable and smooth.












So, what can I throw in it? The usual stuff that ladies carry and some extras..... your drinking bottle, reading glasses, hand phone, camera, e-book reader or kindle fire?

Or even something you just pick up from the shop on a 'no plastic green days.'

Now, that's why I need a bag that's light as it is going to be pretty heavy with all the stuff I carry.


The book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", by Stephen Covey is a great book and I placed it here, for viewers to have some idea on the dimensions.




Care to 'Bid and Buy?'..........just submit your bid together with whatever you want to convey in the
comments column...ha! ha!. :-D

My Supporters and My Blog Blunders

Before ranting about my blunders, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my friends  and families who have supported and  shared their photos with me.

I have tried to protect personal privacy except for some group photos.
Recently, while working on my Beris Lake Vineyard post, I re-labelled 2 earlier blog posts.

 1. Koh Samui Here We Come
2. A Family Outing to Pulau Aman

My re-labelling these two blogs, inadvertently erased my earlier postings and replaced with my newest post, post title intact though.

Different labels are separated with commas, but I had used this label “Sights, Sounds and Smiles.”

I finally managed to retrieve the ‘cache’ file of the original posting and re-upload the images. The funny and colorful font and format of some words are as taken from the cache file. I do not intend to change them, but keep them as a painful but colourful reminder of my blunder :-D

Still have truck loads to learn…..



Special thanks to Peter whose advice on his blog helped me tremendously.
http://www.bloggertipsandtricks.com/2010/04/recover-accidentally-deleted-post-part.html

Beris Lake Vineyard and Gunung Jerai

I received a special invitation from my sister-in-law. “Come on, come and join us, what are you doing staying home? It will be good for you?” Frankly, it really does not matter where they are going, after all my feet do get itchy.

I have been staying in Alor Setar for 20 years in total and I have not been to Gunung Jerai, so what is holding me back? Beris Lake Vineyard?


Our First Destination : Beris Lake Vineyard

Haven’t heard of it till now, where is it?

The geographic coordinates are approximately at N05° 55.908' E100° 46.262. (use that for your GPS etc and you would easily find the place). 

The highway over the Lake Beris

Alternatively, take the highway exit to Gurun,then turn right to Sik and head straight on for about 47 km. There will be many signages as you approach Beris Lake Vineyard/Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris.

We left home early in the morning of 8^th Dec. 2011. Beris Lake Vineyard at Sik, Kedah was our first stop.

The scenery at Beris Lake is fantastic, what a beautiful view. Wonder why they named it ‘Beris’, Lake? Maybe it used to have a lot of different types of berries growing in its vicinity. It seems that they named it after the lake, which is a man made lake formed by the Beris dam.

The Sun shining high  in the sky

Is this Malaysia, great view isn't it?

The vineyard is an agro tourism initiative and is managed by Excel Agrotech Sdn. Bhd.There are 4 acres of vineyard at Beris Lake and another 30 acres at Sungai Senam, Sik.

Entrance fees are RM4 for adults and RM2 for children above seven years.

The nearest and furthest vineyards

This is definitely my favourite, except for the .......shhh.....the imprinted date

My first view

My 2nd view, not bad isn't it?

My 3rd view, more bunches.......and more grapes

Beris Lake Vineyard
(Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris)
Lot 264, Kampung Ternas
08200 Sik, Kedah Darul Aman
Tel : 604-462 0466

The beautifully decorated lobby blends so well in between the 2 types of vineyards (green and red)

The place opens from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. How would Beris Lake look like in the evening?

Mmmmmm!

Which is mine?

Is this mine? No plucking...:-(

 

Seeing those kindergarden kids, remind me of my young school days when our teachers would organize pinic trips to the Taiping Lake Gardens, which practically sits next door to my alma mater, Treacher Methodist Girl’s School. It was on one such school picnic, when my father bought me some grapes to take along. It was a rare occasion as having grapes, was such a luxury in those olden days.

Wow, now we have it in our…..Kedah state……..

The advancement in biotechnology as well as the hard work of those involved in the project has made this possible.

These are mine....?

Grapes from Beris Lake Vineyard
at a special price of RM15

Our Second Destination :  Gunung Jerai

Travelling up the road up to Gunung Jerai was not much of a hazzle, for the careful driver. Could not help wondering when they started building the road up the hill, not an easy job indeed.

On the way up, we stop briefly at the Muzium Perhutanan Gunung Jerai.

Muzium Perhutanan

Must be the biggest Tongkat Ali in Malaysia

Wow, look at the trunks, as big as pillars of a building

Malaysian Wildlife

                                     The wildlife must have  been  from here, the jungles of Gunung Jerai

A painting so very beautifully drawn,merchants arriving at Bujang Valley

The Indian Ocean, from Gunung Jerai

Luckily for us when we reached Gunung Jerai in the afternoon, the sun was merciful, cloudy and cool...., cooler than expected.


The place has been transformed, that is since my sister-in-law's visit during her teens. It is much neater without the wilderness. We now have the Regency Jerai Hill Resort and the gardens and surroundings are well kept and landscaped.

Regency Jerai HillResort

It is 986 m above sea level

The chalets

Around Gunung Jerai

Hi, care to join me

Around Gunung Jerai

Around Gunung Jerai

There is a camping site for those interested and for the fit and young, hiking trails up to Gunung Jerai.

Another of my favourite

Gunung Jerai is the highest peak in Kedah, not very cool, but definitely cooler and quieter than the lowlands for a weekend getaway.

I had a great time at Beris Lake Vineyard, it was warm but not very hot within the vineyard. The Lakeside heat is bearable at that hour, just bring your umbrellas..... Could not help wondering though about the view at Beris Lake especially in the evening, when it is much cooler. Maybe I will get to relish that on my 2nd trip.



Click here for more information : http://www.berislakegrapes.com.my 

A Family Outing to Pulau Aman

You might not have heard of this little known small island, Pulau Aman (Island of Peace) unless you are a local resident. It is located off the west cost of mainland Penan, or south east of Penang Island at approximately N05° 16.110' E100° 23.513' geographic coordinates.

Visitors could get to the island on one of the boats at Batu Kawan Jetty, which ferries passengers to the island for a fare of RM6 (for adults) and RM4 (for children). On normal days, there are 4 trips between 10 am and 7 pm. with additional trips to cater to the weekend crowds.

         Boat Departure Schedule

Departure Time from Batu Kawan Jetty	Departure Time from  Pulau Aman Jetty
10 am	8 pm
1 pm	12 noon
4 pm	3 pm
7 pm	6 pm

Awaiting for the boat ride at Batu Kawan Jetty

For my family of foodies, and photographers, an afternoon of fresh sea breezes, merriment, laughter and sumptuous Mee Udang was the draw.

Scenery of Mainland taken from Batu Kawan Jetty, I love this picture

For your safety, there are life jackets are kept above the captain of the boat.

The boat came, we got on. 
See....so many cameras

View from Pulau Aman Jetty, as we alight

The Restoran Terapung, Mee Udang Istimewa

Upon arrival, as it is way past our usual lunch time, with our stomachs growling we headed straight for the Restoran Terapung Mee Udang Istimewa.

To spice up lunch, our choice of some very fresh prawns, and on the right....the prawns just cooked in a simple boil to retain its original exquisite flavour and freshness. Below, and behold.....can you see the freshness glistering through its shell?

Mee Goreng Udang

For comparision, prawns sold at RM34/kg.(I paid RM12.40 for only 8 prawns) from the Alor Setar Market. We paid RM40/kg at Pulau Aman.


The infamous Pulau Aman's signature dish, the Mee Udang Istimewa, they have it in the wet form / in gravy too (Mee Rebus).

You could have your pick of fresh prawns, mantis prawn, squids or flower crabs. All very fresh, some are still alive. We pick some flower crabs to take home, they are slightly more expensive than your local market, but ...they do taste ....so very nice.

I enjoyed the fried rice, it has the flavour of seafoods

Some interesting sights to visit, if you have time

The Village

Beautiful and tranquil....

The many Breadfruit trees (Sukun) trees seemed native to the island

Beautiful and tranquil....

That's my 'big' brother and me

End of the path

End of the path

Fishing boats at Pulau Aman

View of the Penang 2nd Bridge Link in the background View of the Penang 2nd Bridge Link in the background

Our boat back to the mainland

All To Get On Board, if you missed this, hop on the next one in 3 hrs

Pulau Aman, is a quiet, peaceful island, whose inhabitants are mostly fishermen, it is good for a get away outing from the hustle and bustle of city life. You get some sun, relax, enjoy the serene air of  tranquility, fresh sea breezes and nice food. A great family outing indeed.

I had so much fun and yes, I would like to go again. It is the people that you are with that makes any outing so very special, isn't it?