Penang limited time attraction - Water Ubah

Hong Kong had yellow rubber duck while Penang is having colourful rubber hornbill on the sea. The inflatable hornbill is named as Water Ubah. The Ubah hornbill is very famous among Malaysian but foreign visitor may be curious why this bird is so special and could attract a huge group of supporters. In fact, ubah is a Malay word which means 'change'. The Ubah hornbill is a mascot for one of the political party in Malaysia. 

The Water Ubah launched on 13 July 2013 is carried weight about 250kg, with dimension of 25ft height and 36ft wide. It is now docked at IJM Promenade. The designer might be worried that the hornbill could not swim, hence a life buoy is included to ensure the Water Ubah is survive forever, haha..

At day time, you could take the Water Ubah photo with Penang Bridge as background (perhaps no free haze) while at night, the lighted up Water Ubah would deliver another feel to the visitors. At the point I visited it already 2 weeks after the launch but the crowd was still there. At night time, a lot of family after dinner was bringing their kids or elders to this new spot, not only photographing but also walking around to enjoy the sea view. Besides, there is also counters that selling Ubah related products to visitor as souvenir.

For visitors who just happen to be around Penang before 31 Aug 2013, you may drop by to take a photo with this mascot. It would be moved out from Penang after 31 Aug 2013 but don't know where will be its next home. IJM Promenade not only having Water Ubah but is also a nice location to enjoy the sea view. For visitor with car, no worry about the parking because there is a temporary parking space which is free of charge.

Day time Water Ubah

Night time Ubah

Ubah Moon Cake, Souvenir Counter

How to go?
If you are driving from mainland and cross over Penang Bridge, here are some direction guide for you. At the end of the bridge, follow the right lane which will take you to Georgetown. Continue the way and you are now in Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway. Along the way you would see the images below

Follow way to Georgetown

e-Gate at your left

Follow right lane to Georgetown

Cross over the fly over

                                                           

When see the sign board to Bandar Seri Pinang, follow left lane to the exit

After take the exit, there is a traffic right waiting for you. Follow right lane and take the right turn at traffic light

Just after the turn, you will see there are four tall blue pillars. Move towards it.

At T junction, take right turn and you will see the Water Ubah waiting for you

Ipoh Attraction - Lang Mountain Recreational Park

Although Ipoh is closed to Penang (just two hours of driving distance), but I did not know there is a beautiful scenery park called Lang Mountain Recreational Park until I was brought by my family members to give it a visit.

It took us about 10 minutes drive from Perak Cave Temple to here. Initially I was not convinced to drop by a park at 4pm. Entrance to the park was free and there was lot of parking spaces for our vehicles. I did not expect any attractive scenery until I witnessed and surprised by the view captured in photo above. Then I switched my mind and feel lucky we arrived at the right time, not so hot but the shine was just nice to make the view along with romantic feel.

Lang Mountain Recreational Park is comprising the limestone hill and man-made lakes which previously was the mine.You could noticed the fish and ducks were freely enjoy their ways. Among the sceneries, there was a 'water-fall' that attracting me the most. I was so enjoyed to listen to the 'music' when the water droplet was fall into the lake.

Is the park is so simple? No !!! See, there is a park far away from us. Look like got the tower and children playground. But how to get there?

Don't worry, here is the vehicle... Let the boat bring you to the destination...Oh, but need to pay before get into it. If not mistaken, adult at RM3 while children at RM1.50, of course it is two way fares.

When we reached the park at another side of the lake, there were many people especially family with kids. You could see the children running around, attracted by the small animals and flowers. The elders were sitting below the trees, enjoying the moment with their children. What a warmer scenery. Besides animals and flowers (but do not expect it to be like zoo or botanical garden), there is a Malay transitional house and also the tower.

As a recreational park, Lang Mountain has meet to the theme. It is a good location for family, especially those with kids to take a fresh breath here. Of course picnic in such good scenery location could be also a good option. For those enjoy sight-seeing or natural scenery lover, bring along your photographing equipment and capture your good memory here. Anyway, do not expect the park to be like Sunway Lagoon or Lost World of Tambun, it is only an ordinary recreational park with beautiful and natural scenery. 

Langkawi Hotel - Bella Vista Resort & Spa Langkawi

To find a hotel in Langkawi is so easy, just key in travelling date in Agoda and more than 100 hotels would be listed. But if could stay in a castle-like hotel with lower fares, would you consider? Of course I would. The hotel is named Bella Vista Resort & Spa Langkawi.

Bella Vista Resort & Spa Langkawi

I got to know this resort was from Agoda, during surveying the most valuable hotel for my family to stay in. I was so attracted by the hotel image - a castle-like outlook. Besides, since there were two couples including me in the trip, hence the two bedroom suite of this resort was added in its value to me. Furthermore, the package offered was included the free breakfast. Hence, without second thought, we had made our booking with this resort.

Bella Vista is located at Kuah town area. Tourist attractions such as Eagle Square (Dataran Lang) and Legend Park (Taman Legenda) is within 10 minutes of driving distance. Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall is also close to the resort. This was also the reason why I choose Bella Vista where I could maximize my time to visit tourist attractions at Kuah town before proceed to Pantai Cenang.

A lot of parking space, no worry!

During our stay, the resort was in the renovation process and I'm quite sure it is even much attractive now. The hotel interior was nicely design and let me feel calm and relax. The wind flow from the sea had blow away all my problems and worries.

Don't want to stay in the room? Lets' walk out to the garden and take a fresh breath or swim in the pool and enjoy the sea view.

In terms of the room, it was clean and relatively big. There were two separate rooms with queen size bed; living area equipped with sofa and coffee table, etc. Whatever standard facilities provided by common star hotel could be found it here.

At night, of course we travelled out to try the local foods. But before we went back to our room, we dropped by the pool side bar - Nautilus Bar and Grill to have our drink together with the starry night, and of course the band music.

In overall, all of us were satisfied with the stay, especially my parent who visit Langkawi for their first time. Whenever I travel to Langkawi in future, this resort for sure would be my top preference.

Langkawi island - by flight and car rental

I had been travelled to Langkawi quite sometimes, but since there are friends that interested to know more about my trip arrangement, hence I decided to post it out and hope that my little bit sharing here could serve as reference to those who plans to visit Langkawi.

There are many ways to reach Langkawi include ferry, flight or land transport to Kuala Kedah and transfer by ferry to the destination. Sometimes due to the strong wave, certain people taking ferry might not get use to it and having seasickness. To ensure comfortability to my family members, I had planned out my trip through taking flight instead of ferry.

I caught free tickets from Penang to Langkawi for my family members at zero fares during AirAsia promotion and only paid for the airport tax. But due to AirAsia only has one trip daily from Penang to Langkawi, after considered to maximize our time in the island, we decided to take Firefly for our return flight. The flight only took us about 35 minutes compare to ferry that needs almost 3 hours from Penang to Langkawi. It is my first time taking flight to this island. The airport is quite established but to me there is nothing surprising.

Langkawi Airport

Langkawi Airprot

Langkawi is a small island and driving by our own giving us the most freedom. Of course, all cars in Malaysia including Langkawi is right handed-drive setting. Before we travelled, I had did survey on the websites include read up reviews from previous visitors. Initially I thought to book car on-line, feeling more secure compare to bargain during the arrival. Luckily got contact from the locals and known that Langkawi is full with car rental service and price quoted is much cheaper than the on-line deals. Hence, we decided to gave it a try. 

Upon walked out from the airport arrival hall, there were counters that providing us with the car rental service. Without compared to each and other, we walked to a counter who offered us a full auto Nissan Sentral for RM180 per 3 days (if I remembered correctly). The company name was Indra and it was serviced by a Malay lady. After settle all the payment and registration process, we being lead by this Malay lady to the airport car park. Just few minutes time, she drove the car and passed us the car key. We had made appointment with her by when  we shall return the car. Just few steps, the deal on. 

The car was not new but guess to be only few years age. According to our mutual agreement, the car was half tank filled during receiving and returning. RM 50 should be enough for this type of saloon car for travelling around 3 days' time.   To be secured, normally I would take photo on the car interior and exterior during receiving the vehicle to avoid any unnecessary argument with the owner when returning the car.

In overall, we are satisfying with the car rented from Indra at the Langkawi Airport. They quite trusted us without checked in detail the car condition when we returned the car. Of course, we did take good care of this rented vehicle.

If you do plan to rent a car in Langkawi, I would recommend you to rent it during your arrival rather than book on-line. Frankly speaking, the price quoted on-line somehow is very expensive. The same price from on-line reservation would give you car with one grade lower than the local counter offers.

Hope the above information help.

       

Aquaria KLCC Malaysia - huge aquarium in the city

Before planned out my trip to KL, I never know that there is a huge aquarium located at the Concourse Level of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Got to know about this Aquaria KLCC was from the review of Tripadvisor where it was highly ranked by the visitors. Hence, we decided to gave it a visit, part and partially was attracted by the shark that stayed in this aquarium. 

Aquaria KLCC is within the walking distance from Petronas Twin Towers. We took LRT to KLCC station and follow the way to Aquaria KLCC. In case confused with the direction, just check with the information counter at the ground floor of KLCC and they could show us the right direction.

Aquaria KLCC open daily from 10.30am to 8pm include Sunday and Public Holiday. Entrance ticket fares as below:

Type of ticket        MyKad/ MyKid holder           Non MyKad/ MyKid holder     

Adult                                   RM 38                                  RM 50

Child                                   RM 28                                  RM 40

Senior Citizen                    RM 28                                   RM 30  

Upon entering the aquarium, the first star that came to us is the red-bellied piranha. It is brought from South America and Aquaria KLCC is the only organization in Malaysia that granted with permit to exhibit it. Any special with it? It is a ferocious predator. Want to witness how fast these fish finished off their meat supply, then you should not miss out the daily feeding session at 4pm.

Red-bellied piranha

After took photo with piranha, we could move to the touch pool, house for bamboo shark, starfish, and sea cucumber. Is my first time to touch live sea cucumber. It is so smooth~

Bamboo shark

Around the corner, there are few more special creatures which include elephant nose fish and electric eel. Got to know that a 20 foot eel could produce enough electricity to light 12 light bulbs!!

Elephant nose fish

Electric eel

Another star - Water rat

Besides the marine creatures, we can find the small reptiles, amphibian and insects as well. Here are some sharing from my album...

Beetles

James Brooke Butterfly??

Bumblebee Dart Frog - One of the most toxic animals on earth

Along the way, there are many colourful or giant fish waiting for our photographing. Finally we reached the huge water tank and met with the superstar - Sand Tiger Shark. So excited to have close look at this marine hunter. Do not miss out the feeding time at 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Sand Tiger Shark

The shark is having two special neighbours which are Giant Blotched Fantail Ray and Green Sea Turtle. The Giant Blotched Fantail Ray is a heavy weight partner with 150kg body content.

Giant Blotched Fantail Ray

Green Sea Turtle

Want to experience watching the marine creatures swimming freely in the sea but you don't know how to dive? Now we have chance in Aquaria KLCC. Let's take the slow moved conveyor into the tunnel and we could easily see the shark or turtle crossing on top of our head...cool..

The journey end? Not yet, there many more marine stars waiting for us!! Who are they? Let's guess what are their name..

Chambered Nautilus

Seahorse

In overall, it is worth to visit. Those with kids would definitely having more fun than us..Let our kids to witness the live organisms but not from the book or tv...Big kid like me also don't miss it out during trip planning ya..