Tumblr

Apart from this blog, the pathetic daughter-obsessed ambitious daddy has another blog or in this case a tumblr, dedicated to her daughter - Hessa.

You can follow Hessa at http://hessakhadeeja.tumblr.com/ :-)

This is supposed to be one-picture-a-day tumblr... but sometimes daddy is a bit busy, so it is only updated during the weekends.

Genting Highlands : Weekend getaway (Jan 2014)

Seperti dalam entry sebelum ni, aku plan nak bawa Hessa gi ke Genting Highlands. Kali terakhir aku pergi Genting tahun 2006. So dah 8 tahun aku tak pergi Genting ni. Ibu Hessa banyak kali dah ajak aku, tapi aku je malas nak drive ke Genting.

Memandangkan trip ni rest and relax je, takde nak kejar apa-apa. Kitaorg bertolak ke Genting pun selepas makan tengah hari dan visit kawan aku yg baru je dpt anak. Lagipun, check in time untuk Hotel Awana ni pukul 3pm. So kitaorg pun plan untuk sampai di hotel lebih kurang jam 3 petang.

Check in hotel ni agak cepat je. Takde masalah dan tak ramai. Bilik hotel ni pada aku besar... kalau setakat bawak anak bawah 10 tahun 2 - 3 org, muat je nak tidur satu bilik. Cumanya takde breakfast. Tapi hotel ni dah wujud lama dah, 20 tahun sudah aku pernah stay kat apartment sini. So ada benda yg nampak sangat lama dan deserved refurbishment. Toilet bilik tak lah elok sgt, tp ada lah bathtub. Sink dia tersumbat, tp sebab aku dok sehari semalam... malas nak complain.

Dan aku dapat tahu yang pool hotel ni heated... meaning walaupun dalam cuaca sejuk, air dia agak panas... so memang sangat sesuai lah bawak anak-anak... tapi anak aku masih kecik sangat nak try pool ni... so tgk je lah.

Lepas check in, solat asar dan rehat-rehat... kami pun terus ke puncak genting highlands tu utk jalan-jalan. takde plan pun nak main apa-apa ride. Cuma nak g minum kopi... tgk-tgk perubahan genting dan dinner... Hessa happy je tengok lampu... and kitaorg g dinner kat Coffee Terrace (RM84 per person for buffet dinner). Dinner tu biasa saja le.. for the same price some hotels kat KL maybe boleh bagi better food.

The next day, check out pukul 12pm. Setelah breakfast (spread kat hotel ni so-so je). kitaorg jalan-jalan sekitar hotel. menghirup udara segar. Memang tu lah sbb nya aku pilih hotel awana ni, sbb dia ada garden boleh jalan-jalan. Kalau ambik hotel kat puncak, takde jalan-jalan outdoor sangat. Bila jalan-jalan... ada lah sign tunjuk ada other kids activities... sapa dok sini lama-lama sempat lah join kot.

Oh for those yg might not know kat mana Awana hotel ni. Awana ni dekat sangat dengan station cable car ke genting highlands resort tu. Kiranya halfway utk ke puncak. Sesapa yg nak stay sini dan tak nak drive ke puncak. boleh naik shuttle utk ke cable car or shuttle terus ke puncak. Tp aku ada baca review, shuttle ni slow sgt.. kena tunggu lama. n kalau penuh, kena lah tunggu sejam lagi.

Final say... memang boleh datang lagi and stay kat awana ni for weekend getaway. worth the stay. *note - Genting Highlands outdoor theme park is currently closed for renovation. 2016 nanti baru dijangka dibuka semula.

(trip : 18 Januari 14 - 19 January 14)

Quick holiday...

There are so many public holidays in December and January and better still, they fall close to the weekends. This gives us longer holidays and can plan for a quick weekend getaway. But as they are very closed to each other and the recent prices hike up, we can't afford to go on holidays every other week. Therefore, let's plan for a quick and reasonable weekend getaway during one of these holidays.

We've been planning to go to the highlands for many months... so there are a few to be considered. Our main aim is to walk around with the baby and enjoy the cool weather. We are taking the risk that if the baby feel too cold, she might get sick. But lets try.

1. Frasers Hills
2. Cameron Highlands
3. Genting Highlands

I personally wanted to go to Frasers Hills. I've been to the place perhaps over 20 years ago. So I wonder how much the place changed since then. But, after a few research on the hotels/ accomodation, it seems like the place has not changed at all. The Puncak Inn still there, the Ye Olde Smokehouse is highly rated and Shahzan Inn still popular. I can't find any reasonably price hotel with good review. Most of the reviews for these accomodations would say that the place are tad old and need refurbishment. I stayed in Puncak Inn back in the 90s, even then I felt the place was a bit creepy and old. I can't imagine how does it look now. Due to this unwelcoming comments, I have to skip Frasers Hills. Oh I know that if we could rent a villa/bungalow, then it would be very nice place to visit.

Cameron Highlands is our second option. It is very near to my hometown - Ipoh. I know there are plenty of parks and gardens we can stroll around. Plus, we can enjoy cups of tea with scones or homemade strawberry ice cream there. But, the location is a bit far from KL and we only have weekends to spend. Going on long distance will cost us petrol and toll as well.

So left with Genting Highlands or Bukit Tinggi if I could add more options. The resorts at Bukit Tinggi has loads of bad and negative comments recently, so I have to skip that. While Genting has more hotels options. But I understand that if you don't really want to go for the theme park, there's nothing much in Genting itself. Plus, the outdoor theme park is currently under refurbishment until somewhere 2016. Ibu suggested Awana Genting, which is not on top of Genting and the hotel has a garden and park to stroll around. The hotel is old, I stayed there more than 20 years ago. But, luckily, the comments on the hotel is quite balanced.

There you go... the decision is made, the hotel is booked... let's go to Genting!!! And lets see what will we discover...

 

Apa nak bawa masa jalan-jalan?

Ni aku direct copy & paste dari babycenter.com. Yang aku color kuning tu, aku rasa yang valid. Yang color oren tu, baby center yang highlight.

What do I need to pack for my baby when we're going away?

Think about how she'll be travelling first. Choosing the right pieces of travel gear will certainly help smooth the journey and make it easier to explore once you've arrived.

• If your baby is very young, a complete travel system takes some of the hassle out of getting in and out of cars and airplanes. A lightweight buggy you can pop in your car boot makes sense if you baby is old enough to sit up.
• A front carrier or baby sling can make life a lot easier when your baby is tiny.
• If your baby sleeps in a cot, do ask for one when you make your room reservation. Discovering there is no cot available when you arrive is not a good start to a holiday. Alternatively, take along your own travel cot.
• Do pack a sheet and your baby's cover. The familiar smell of your laundry may help settle your baby when you're away.
• If she wakes when the sun rises, pack a travel black-out blind in case her room doesn't have thick curtains or shutters.
• If you're travelling somewhere hot, a baby sun pod will keep your baby shielded from the wind and the sun. Make sure your pushchair has a sun canopy or umbrella too.
• You may also want to take a plug-in baby monitor or night-light with you, useful for settling her back to sleep in an unfamiliar room. You may need a plug adaptor too.
• Take along a couple of her favourite toys and books. Stacker cups are brilliant as they can double as bath toys.
• A universal bath plug will turn a shower into a bath, or put socks over the taps and bath her in the basin.
• And of course, take along your camera to capture all the fun!

Also remember all the usual baby supplies, which may include:

• nappies
• wipes
• nappy rash cream
• changing mat
• sunhat and suncream
• tissues
• car seat
• bibs
• first-aid kit
• breast pump
• travel steriliser kit
• clothes
• toys

See our suggestions for a really good packing check list for your baby.

Sling?

First time Hessa travel jauh seminggu selepas dia keluar dari hospital dan selesai masalah demam kuning. Masa tu kitaorg bawa Hessa balik kampung untuk ibu berpantang di kampung. Kami dah beli car-seat awal-awal lagi, sebab nak bawa Hessa balik kampung berpantang. Tapi, masa nak balik kampung tu, mak aku ada sekali dan dia tak nak bagi kitaorg letak Hessa dalam car-seat. Kesian kata dia, dan dia nak pangku dan riba Hessa sepanjang perjalanan KL ke Ipoh. Ok, no hal.

Setelah 3 minggu di kampung, aku bawa Hessa ke KL dah. Belum lagi genap 44 hari tempoh berpantang :-) Bagi tahu mak ayah sebab kena jumpa doktor hari ke 44. Memang pun, tapi kitaorang set date lagi awal sebab nak pergi baby fair di KLCC. Nak cari stroller untuk Hessa. Tapi untuk berjalan di baby fair ni, kitaorg tak de cara nak bawa baby. Kitaorg ada baby carrier, tapi masa tu kitaorang tak beli pun infant set, dan aku rasa baby carrier buat baby tu terkangkang. Hessa masa tu kecil sangat, dan aku rasa sling lagi best untuk bawa dia.

So kat rumah aku pun try baby sling tu. Kitaorang beli babasling sebab guna sling ni baby boleh baring instead of terkangkang. Harap-harap Hessa selesa dalam sling ni. So what's the verdict?

Me and Hessa in Babasling

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Verdict (pada pendapat dan pengalaman aku):

Kitaorang bernasib baik, Hessa sedang tidur masa kami tiba di KLCC. Jadi senang lah nak memasukkan dia ke babasling. Awalnya memang senang berjalan-jalan guna sling ni. Tapi aku masih tak berapa yakin dengan kekuatan sling ni, dan aku agak risau. Jadi aku masih separa dukung Hessa walaupun dia berada dalam sling ni. Jadi postur badan aku agak tak betul dan lepas jalan-jalan ni, sakit belakang aku.

Hesaa pulak agak ok pada awalnya. Tapi dia memang tak tenang dalam babasling ni. Bila dia terjaga, dia terus nak keluar dari sling. Dia tak boleh mengeliat dan mungkin terasa terkongkong. So masa tengah jalan-jalan tu ada masanya aku terpaksa dukung dia dan bukannya dia duduk dalam sling.

.........................

Tapi ni saja lah sekali kitaorang cuba babasling ni, tak pernah pakai dah sejak cubaan pertama. Sekarang kitaorang ada baby carrier - egobabyr dan stroller yang dibeli di KLCC baby fair tu. Aku akan tulis review aku pasal baby ergo dan stroller tu dalam entry yang lain.

Bila boleh mula bawa baby berjalan-jalan?

Sebagai seorang yang suka jalan-jalan dan merantau bila dapat anak antara perkara pertama yang aku fikirkan adalah sejauh mana aku boleh berjalan-jalan seperti dahulu. Sudah lah tak dapat nak pergi jalan-jalan jauh - naik kapal terbang - sepanjang tempoh isteri mengandung 9 bulan, bila dapat anak ni, lagi lah terfikir, bila pula akan dapat jalan-jalan lagi. So aku tanya lah 'doktor' Google dan jumpa banyak maklumat dari babycenter.com. (credit to babycenter.com). Aku ada jugak tanya persoalan di bawah ni kepada doktor Hessa.

Sejak bila baby sudah boleh dibawa berjalan

Baby sudah boleh dibawa berjalan sejak dari lahir. Kebanyakan syarikat penerbangan membenarkan bayi berusia lebih 2 hari untuk menaiki kapal terbang. Tapi aku tak rasa logik untuk kita bawa baby yang kecil tu, tak sanggup aku. Andaikata memang dah takde pilihan, terpaksa je lah bawa baby naik kapal terbang. Sebab baby yang baru lahir ni perlu lebih banyak perhatian dan penjagaan rapi, jika kita masih tak sempat dan ada masa antara menyusukan baby dan tukar lampin, tunggu je lah beberapa minggu.

Tapi setelah 3 bulan, baby dah boleh dah jalan jauh. Dia tak terlampau kecil (dalam segi saiz dan berat) dan mungkin dah tak kisah samada tidur di rumah atau hotel. Orang kita pun selalunya berpantang, so secara logik nya selepas pantang boleh lah bawa berjalan.

Aku ada tanya doktor, dia pun cakap boleh saja. Dan setiap baby mempunyai tahap toleransi tersendiri, jadi kita lah yang tentukan. Tapi doktor tu cakap juga, dia cuma rasa boleh bawa anak dia terbang setelah 6 bulan dan kalau boleh lebih dari setahun. Dia agak risau baby tu cepat berjangkit dengan penyakit. Bila di negara orang dan baby yang masih memerlukan imunisasi dan kurang daya tahan penyakit mungkin senang dijangkiti penyakit. Dia juga nasihatkan agar ambil imunasasi yang sesuai seperti influenza, jika perlu.

Aku pula berpendapat, lebih senang nak bawa baby berjalan sebelum dia sendiri boleh berjalan atau merangkak. Kalau baby tu dah pandai berjalan dan ada rutin dia sendiri, mungkin jalan-jalan ni akan lebih mencabar. Baby ni cepat bosan. Dia tak suka dengan persekitaran yang berubah-ubah dan menganggu rutin mereka. Dia tak suka berdukung dan dipegang.

Dengan pendapat ni lah, aku dah mula berangan nak bawa Hessa berjalan lepas dia dah 3 bulan ni, kalau boleh nak bawa pergi luar negara - naik kapal terbang.

2014 travel plan

These are my New Year travel resolutions... As it is too ambitious to plan for a trip a month, I'll put through my plan for each quarter.

First Quarter (January - March):
This probably the busiest month for me - workwise. And the baby is still small and I don't think travelling long distance is advisable. But, perhaps a trip to Cameron Highlands or Genting Highlands or even Frasers Hill may not harm the baby... so I might plan a weekend trip there.

Second Quarter (April - June):
Ibu's birthday is in April and Hessa would reach her 6th month during that same month. I'm planning to take 1 whole week off in the middle of April. So, I'm thinking of bringin them to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A full week holiday between Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. Throwing a trip to Perhentian Island would be nice. Let's travel like tourist in our own country.

Third Quarter (July - September):
Definitely not much travelling can be done in July as it's Ramadhan. But, there's an invite for Kinabalu trip on the second week of Hari Raya. I'm now making myself ready for climbing the Kinabalu, but Ibu and baby might just stay at the hotel. Oh, the short plane ride would be Hessa's first. A good introduction for her.

Final Quarter (October - December):
Hessa will be one year in October, so she is now ready for a longer flying trip. For now, we are planning to go for Umrah in the middle of December.

Let's see how it goes... Perhaps, I could make a cheap weekend getaway in between those trips - so long there's enough budget for it la...

This is a new blog

I just had a baby after 3 years of marriage. Being an average traveller, the first thing came to my mind when the baby was born (or in fact when we knew we were going to have a baby) was how would I miss travelling when the baby is around. I may not be able to do the backpacking trip or long road trip or go to cinema, theatre or broadway (as if I've been to one) or doing extreme activities etc... Plus, as ibu had a difficult pregnancy and Hessa (my daughter name) such a precious baby, we had hold our travelling abroad during the 9 months pregnancy period which means I have had not travelled during the whole 2013!!!

But as 2014 arrived and Hessa has already reached 3 months old, I shall make some travelling plan. If previously I planned for myself or with ibu, now I have to plan an itinerary to suit Hessa's interest as well. We'll shall see and observe the places assessing whether the place is infant/toddler/kid friendly or not. And we shall plan the packing to ensure it fullfilled Hessa's needs.

Some might say that I am not grateful for the baby or being very negative about it. But, these are my  presumptions and list of issues on travelling with a baby/infant (Hessa is only almost 3 months when this entry is written) Travelling in this blog does not only mean travelling abroad or some place far, travelling here refers to shopping trip to the nearest mall and eating out neighbourhood stalls.

These are my top 5 issues:

1. We need to pack extra clothings for her, plus her diapers/changing mat, baby wipes, the nappy cream or powder. Travelling light is now a history. Luckily Hessa is currently fully breastfeed, therefore, there's no need to bring along items related to preparing her milk, otherwise that along would be another bag to pack along.

2. Kids are known to have mood of its own, they can be cranky which we aren't able to understand. The best timing is when they sleep through the journey. But, they can get cranky because they need to sleep. Plus, they can get bored easily.

3. Disposable diapers help in ensuring the baby is always  comfortable - not many stop for diaper change, but there'll be a lot of stop for feeding. As Hessa is fully breastfeed, we'll have to find a private space for her feeding time. So this will slow down the pace.

4. Kids these days have loads of gadgets, and their gadgets are space consuming... from the car seat to the stroller... worst thing is when even we are prepared with the most comfortable stroller or car seat, but she wanted to be carried/held instead. Yes there's baby carrier, but sometimes that also doesn't help. When they needs these gadgets, when travel abroad - I might have to kill the idea of backpacking completely. And for roadtrip, I might need to limit to 2 kids only, otherwise, I need to rent a bigger car to fit in more than 2 car seats/stroller.

5. They don't understand us as we sometimes don't understand them... loads of negotiations to be done.

The list can go on and on... but I still need to travel... so I need to come to a point where the travelling suits her needs but still a trip that I enjoy doing it... Let's see how this will go along...

Travelling tips

The entry will always be updated when we discover new and interesting tips.

1.

The trips we went...

Malaysia

 - 2014 - Kuala Terengganu
 - 2014 - Penang


Indonesia

 - 2014 - Bandung & Jakarta

• Day 1, 
• Day 2 - Ciwidey & Situ Patenggang 
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5