A visit to Titi Eco Farm

On a normal working day, I decided to take a day off to bring my kids for a short trip. Sometime, we are too focus in work and neglected them. My wife kept reminding me to spend more quality time with the kids while they are young. Family bonding is importance because they will grow up very fast. If the foundation of relationship with your kids isn't build strongly when they are young, then, it will be more difficult when they grow older.

I decided a day trip because my elder son is having PMR examination this year. It is not so right to spend too much holidays. So, I choose to visit this newly heard about place - the Titi Eco Farm.

When I google about this place, I found that Titi Eco Farm is located 1000 feet above sea level at Negeri Sembilan. It is located in a greenery mountain side where you can get plenty of fresh air. This place is surrounded with fruit plantation and organic vegetable farming. Now, the owner is turning this place into recreation park with accommodation. They have built some chalets along the mountain side, they claimed you can overseeing the lust greenery scenery which is "breathtaking" from their chalet balcony. 

I think this should be an ideal day trip for my family as both my two sons who grow up in city life and never experience the nature and country lifestyle. I wanted them to experience and appreciate nature.

I decided to travel using Ampang route, I will pass-by the famous "look out point" and Hulu Langat Water Dam. I have been long for this two places because of its famous scenery. I hope to stop over to capture some photos.

Wow!! what a beautiful Hulu Langat Water Dam. I spotted this site and immediate stopped my car, I came down and snapped a few photos. The scenery simply awesome and breathtaking ... beautiful.

Unfortunately, there were no proper rest place to enjoy this magnificent view ... I think is not  practical to have rest place here because very less cars traveling this route.

As for the famous "Look Out Point", it was a total disappointment. When I reached there, the place was total sealed, car cannot not turn in. Apparently, it was sealed by the local authority. I think it could be some licensing problem. So, I spotted one part of road that can overseeing the Kuala Lumpur view, I pulled over immediately and captured the following photo ... 

  

Finally, after traveling about one and half hour, we finally reached our destination ......  

Well, the overall surrounding was a bit below our expectation. The sun was very hot and the kids were complaining about the weather ... and blah blah blah ....

At least I found the entrance was nicely built.

When we arrived, the owner was bringing another group to tour the plantation .... So I quickly follow them.

Unfortunately, all my family members were not kin to follow due to the hot sun ..... especially my elder son... ran away because he saw some insects flying .....

Oh .. City Boy ... scare of butterfly too ....

Leaving me and my buddy (Camera) to go jalan-jalan (walk around)

To be honest, if you are not a nature lover, you may not appreciate the surrounding ... Especially in humid hot weather and many mosquito bites , it is quite tough to enjoy ...

I followed the owner and she brought us to a river. The fun part was the bridge because part of the bridge was built with one wood only. For some people, they may feel scarey to walk across.

There is another option to cross the river ... is like the George the jungle to have "Oh ... ohhhhh ... Laaaaaaa". Look how fun the lady enjoy...

Later, I saw an older lady in her mid 60s doing that, I was so worry for her. But she managed to cross without any difficulty ... 

Another interesting event was organic food tasting. The owner prepare some raw leaves and passion fruits, I wasn't sure what name of those leaves except I recognized the mint leave only. They are 7 types of leaves and you are suppose to eat raw together with sour papaya, passion fruits and some dry meat (the meat was made using some dry fruit) ...

This is how we eat .... yummy ... 

Being a food adventure, I love it very much, but not my family.

The lunch wasn't impressed us at all because of the "healthy" concept. The taste was very plain and a lots of vegetable. My two boys having hard time and they dislike the food .... 

"Daddy, when can you bring me to have burger?"

Another interesting thing is after lunch, all of us need to do our own washing. Well, the owner is practicing back to basis, appreciating everything in life ...... Even the soap also organic and no bubbles ....

I walked around and captured some chalets photos ... I think is quite spacious and comfortable for relaxation. If you want to escape from city headache life, to have a quiet time, to detoxing your body and soul .. this is the right place for you.

At least my younger son found something he like ...

After lunch, we packed and go home ....

On the way back, I asked my sons whether they wanted to come back again.... everyone of them said no no ... Look like I am the only one who enjoying the trip ... hahahaha.

I guess they prefer something more adventurous and city like ....

Sad, nowadays, many city's boys and girls lost the passion on nature. 

I wonder who fault is it? 

Me ? 

Ah-yoh~~ 

 

The end :)

A vist to Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012

I woke up before dawn on yeterday while many others were still having sweet dreams in a warm bed, the reason of waking up so early was to go for the 4th International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012 at Putrajaya.

At 4.00 am, I starred out from the Window, it was total darkness out there and only a few street lights were on, it was cold and total quiet  ..... Deep in my mind, I was telling myself ... crazy man, why so early I woke up? Is it worth it?

"zzzzzz .... i want to sleep !!"

Control control control .... Waaaakkkke up!!!

..........

By the time I reached the "Meet Up" point, all my friends had arrived ..... 

All of them came so early and already had their breakfast at Mc-D. We are a group of photography enthusiast, and willing to scarify our sleeping time just to have the shooting opportunity ... nothing can stop us getting thing we like.... not even the warm and comfortable beds ... (oh ... should i regret saying that ... I miss my bed, wanted to go back hor ............. )

One thing good about waking up early is easily get parking and no need to queue for toilet .... look how happy Gerald was when nobody at the toilet .. 

"Wow!! What a release !!!" shorted by Gerald (hahaha!!)

Below is my photography buddies for the day, from left, was Wilson, Franky, Gerald, Robin, Wendy and Chun Chow .... by the way, the famous photography blogger  robin wong was with me - robinwong.blogspot.com , what a privilege :)

As this is my first visit, my friends told me to fix the longest lens to my camera because only those with DSLR "look" camera is allowed to go into the balloon launching area (Apparently our "smart" security guards were basing the size of the camera to judge whether you are pro or not .... hahaha). 

However, this round the rules have changed a bit whereby everyone been chased from the compound except the media photographers and workers. I was lucky enough because I wore a red t-shirt which is identical with workers t-shirt .... hee ! hee !

It was great to have early start and I managed to capture a few nice photos during the dawn hours.

Time really passing very fast .... before I notice, many people are starting filling balloons with hot air ....

Wah, so many balloons started inflating and moving up .... it was an awesome sight ....There were many funny sharp balloons, it was really nice seeing them up. Just minutes ago, it was flat on the floor, but without long, it became a giant huge thing ... when all balloon started to float up to the sky, the joy of freedom was over-whelming ... Yeah!!!!!! Suddenly I felt like a kid ... running around  .... ha! ha! ha!    

Wow ... for those who wanted to go must be early, it was only a short while and all the balloons float away ... if you missed this round, you need to go early because before 9 am, all hot air balloons will fly away ....

To sum up, it was a wonderful day for me ..... to get more information about the 4th Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta, please visit this website - 

 http://www.myballoonfiesta.com/

The End

A Visit to Sekinchan - Part 2

Fishing Village at Sekinchan is equally famous as compare to the paddy fields, many residents at Sekinchan started as fishermen, over the years, from a small fishing village slowly turned into a larger township. This place is famous with quality seafood due to the freshness. I believe many people willing to travel miles to enjoy the food here especially weekend.

I think the above restaurant is famous because at least I see this guy poster here, Ah Sien, a famous TV host who always recommend good food in Malaysia. Will he be the quality assurance? I am not so sure but at least he is the "San Chew Pai" now for the restaurant .... hahaha

Well, we were not sure what food to eat, so we asked the owner to recommend a few famous dishes. For me, I thought the food was good, however, not as good as I expected. 

Until I tried the stir fried shrimp with sambal which was super tasty. Emm ... yummy, but the only complaint was the small portion.

I think sometime, food is not the critical factor for happiness, but rather a good company having lunch together is the best. We were like a bunch of hungry ghosts, within a short period of time, we wallop all food on the table .... 

Second part of our journey began after a heavy lunch, It was just a short walk from the restaurant. When we walked along the river bank, we spotted many fishing boats were parked at the wooden jetty. Some fishermen gathering there to relax but some were busy fixing their fishing nets. The weather was hot and feeling sleepy but it was awesome site for photo shooting ... shutter sounds were clicking away to capture the authentic scenery of a quiet and harmonious fishing village.

 

Wow, everyone there was so relax. The folks were friendly and approachable. They are not camera shy and won't mind us taking their photos. 

Before we went back to Kuala Lumpur, we went to nearby beach. To be honest, Sekinchan beach is not fantastic, in fact is rather dirty and muddy. I didn't see anyone swimming. The ocean wave went very far during low tide. It was kind of dirty when the seabed surface from the water. 

We found an unique double story tree house at the beach. The tree house is very unique, many netting were fixed in between tree branches, so it was great to lay down and enjoy the windy breeze from the sea .... 

Look how enjoy I am seated on the nets to have a short relaxation ..... wow ... like heaven woh ..

We saw a few kids playing at the beach ...... My friends went down to "kacau" (disturb) them and to take their photo, luckily they are friendly enough and did not treat us as "strange uncle （怪叔叔）" and freed away.

hahahaha ...

run run ... quickly run, behind got 怪叔叔 (strange uncle) ... run for your life  .....  wakakakaka (evil laughing )

hahaha ... but at the end, we are the one who are runaway from those kids because of their over whelming curiosity and hospitality, the kids kept surrounding us to check out our camera gears ... uncle ... uncle  ... what is this? ..... uncle uncle .... can you take a photo of me .... uncle, uncle ....  can I touch your camera .... uncle ........ oh .. run !!

Photo taken by Koon Yik

Before we leave the place, we saw a married couple taking outdoor photo shooting ... our Wedding Photographer Robin Wong, quickly took his camera to check on what his competitor was doing ....

 

  

No matter how fun is it, toward the end, time to say farewell  .... it was a fun trip for me. It was tough for me to follow my friends who used to travel to many places on Saturday for photo shooting due to my work commitment. Well, whenever timing is right, I will try my best of not letting go the opportunity to go out with them. 

They are simply awesome group, fun to hand around with and stress free group of people. .....

Good bye Sekinchan, time to go home ..... Home sweet home ...... I will come back to visit you again :)