Langkawi Trip 11 - 14 July 2008

In a fortnight, I'll be taking a holiday in Langkawi (again!!!) ha ha ha.. this time with mum in law and family members on hubby's side. Hubby worked in the morning so that's why we can't leave early..

The itinerary would be Friday around 4pm - driving from Kuala Berang (mum in law's house).. arrive in Gua Musang around 6.. then to Ipoh using the Cameron Highland interchange (another 2 hour).. then night rest maybe at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort (have to find an apartment there)...

Saturday - drive from Taiping to Langkawi.. arrive maybe in the afternoon - shopping at nightime
Sunday - full day round Langkawi Island
Monday - drive home - altogether maybe 8 hours trip

.... yikes! Will make full report when I'm back.. maybe highlighting Mahsuri Tomb, Gunung Machinchang Cable Car, The Beach Resort, Dataran Langkawi and Shopping HIghlights!

Terengganu - Batu Bersurat (Inscribed Stone)

The Batu Bersurat or Inscribed Stone is the earliest evidence of Jawi (Malay writting based on Arabic Alphabet) in the Malay Muslim world. Aged around 700 years, it served as evidence that Islam arrived in Terengganu before 1326 - 1386. The stone was discovered half submerged after the flood at the bank of Sungai Tersat in Kuala Berang, Hulu Terengganu in 1899. Based on the study by Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naguib Al-Attas, the date inscribed for the stone was Friday, 4th Rejab 702 Hijrah (22 February 1303).

A replica of the Stone is stationed at the main junction of Kuala Terengganu - pointing ways among others to the Terengganu Business District (where you can find Terengganu in a jam) and Pasar Payang.

Kuala Lumpur - Pantai Dalam's Auction Apartment

This is the apartment at Pantai Dalam that I'm in JV with one of my colleague. We bid it at RM60k.. At my friend will be leaving for Nairobi for the next 3 years, we'll share the cost as well as profit by renting it first and maybe sell it in 3 years time. Currently the market rate is RM90k .. but should've gone up in 3 years.

Now, I am very interested in getting my share in the lelong (aution market) in Malaysia. My sifu is Mr Shafie of www.pie2020.com, Link me!

Pie is an employee of Telekom and earning around rm2k month, but by shrewd investment, logical thinking and JVs, he got around 17+ apartment with total investment value of RM700k... and ASB aim to be RM600k by the end of the year. Tabik Sifu!

Front view of the apartment, at least there's only 2 doors for each floor. But at fourth floor, not soo nice to climb.

The main bedroom, the whole apartment measures 685.4 sqm.

Kitchen area. Still spacious, before renovation it was a bit of a horror as there were holes left by the previous owner.

Freshly painted walls. We're thinking of adding sofa set, single bedroom set, tv, washing machine etc. Think for rm650 monthly, that should be ok. Monthly loan payment is about RM350.00. So there still profit.

View from the top, not soo nice as it is a low cost flat area, but still.. near to LRT, lots of RapidKL busses.. near to Telekom Tower and some of the factory area.. still an ideal location for investment. Thinking of renting it to ladies. Ideally they are the less worrisome tenants.

Kelantan - Rantau Panjang Shopper's Heaven

The custom and immigration complex. Straight up is to Golok, shopping paradise of Thailand, to the left... Rantau Panjang's town, here we come...

The narrow street of Rantau Panjang.

Welcoming sign. We went during the third week weekend, still many people but not as jammed pack should we went there during payroll time or school holiday period.

Clothings, also heaven for tudung, cookware, kitchenware, souveniors...

Some of the popular imports, gifts for wedding, small towels, candles, pot pourri - all at reasonble price. No wonder wedding wannabes would throng Rantau Panjang for this.

Traditional food galore - can have bepam, dodol, lempuk... yummy yummy!!

Cartoon character stuffed toys. I must admit that it is one of the reason that attracted me here. Bought one stuff doll to my 9 months old niece, Mira - cost me RM8/=. Cheap!

News - Malaysia's Healthcare Tourism

I am very interested in this view published in Utusan Malaysia (a Malaysian newspaper) today. I was responsible in handling the services section such as education, healthcare, construction... when I was in K.L. so this news is quite interesting for me.


On a segment aired by Today Tonight, Melbourne TV on Medical Tourism in Malaysia, the following reviews were given by some of the Australian patients:


Lynda Clifford, 48 yo
- face surgey by Dr. Nasir Zahari at one of the private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
- she was also given counselling to give her confidence before and after the surgery
- apart from having the surgery, she was also able to visit attractive locations within Malaysia

Rosie Bates, 34 yo
- Stomach surgery and liposuction
- said that she got five star treatments during her visit in Malaysia
- after the successful surgery, she and her husband are able to tour Malaysia at very reasonable cost

From the website www.malaysiahealthcare.com, there are some popular medical treatments that are offered by Malaysian medical centre and hospital including cardiology, ortophedics, dental, cosmetic surgery up to minor surgeries.

According to Dr. Norman, one of Australia edical practitioner, the total cost of health tourism package is about 1/3 of the same cost in Australia. For example, in Lydia's case, she spend only about AUD11,600 (RM35,000) for the surgery as well as holiday expenses. She would've paid AUD20,000 (RM60,000) only for having surgery in Australia.

Based on the statistic of Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), there are positive increase on the inflow of foreign patients seeking treatments in Malaysia. For example, in 2006, there are 296,687 foreign patients coming to Malaysia as opposed to 75,210 in 2001. The positive development helps to bring RM203.66 million of health tourism revenue to Malaysia.

However, as stressed by Today Tonight, 59 per cent of Australian having surgery in certain countries need to get medical treatment again in Australia due to failure of surgery done overseas.

In this regard, Malaysian hospitals and medical centre need to be careful in handling this issues in order to ensure Malaysia's reputation as quality health providers are uphold.

Link to MalaysiaHealthcare.com.
Link to APHM website.

Extracted from the views by
Khairunneezam Mohd Noor
La Trobe University, Melbourne AUSTRALIA

Utusan Malaysia, 19 June 2008

Kuala Terengganu - My New Medium Cost Flat?

Entrance to the flat. There's a guard post before entering. The flat really need a fresh coat of paint.

View from the top of the apartment.

The corridor to the rooms. The apartment has 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms.

Toilet area. Wonder how many inches of dusts is there on top of the toilet.

Kitchen area.

My flat would be at the top - second from left. I think it is a good location cz I won't be burned by the afternoon sun.

Kedah - Langkawi Trip 2007

Hmm.. when I was going tru my pics files, I saw some of the pic I snapped during our trip to Langkawi last year. Posting here as an appetizer cz I am going to Langkawi again in 2 weeks time!!!! Oh, haven't asked for annual leave yet. Have to do that ASAP. Not many pics yet but when I return from the hol next time, I'll put up motherloads of 'em.

The boat trip down. Took about an hour.

At one of the restaurant cum fish pond where we watched the fish freshly caught before being served as dinner... yummy..

In the background is Dataran Langkawi where you can see a huge stature of the helang (eagle).. Langkawi's name is derived by the word Lang... shorterned from Helang or Eagle.

Pic at the top of MAchinchang after the cable car ride. At this moment, clouds were rolling by.. brrrr....

There aren't many things to do at the top except taking pics. However, we did commission a cartoon drawing of Kimi. Cost around RM25.00.

The boat trip back.

Terengganu - Kuala Terengganu Medium Cost Flat

Hmmm.. Gotta say I am getting a bit desperate in searching for a place to stay here in Kuala Terengganu. Currently, I am still staying at my bro's house at Kampung Atas Toll.. but, of course staying at other people's place doesn't feel so good.

Anyway, my dad's friend told him that a medium cost flat is available for sale. Well... if it is cheap, I supposed I could put it down as long term investment - be a landlady of sort. The location is quite nice, just at the back of Kuala Terengganu's Giant Hypermarket. And about 3 - 4 km to my office. Hmmmm....