Taiping Zoo visit

February 9, 2014
Taiping Zoo at Perak state, about an hour's drive from Penang

Sarah and Reena at the entrance area

Animal kingdom clockwise from top left: a bearcat; bird waiting for a kill; elephants, a sleeping crocodile

Clockwise from top left: Malaysian brown bear, deers, chimpanzees, monitor lizard

Clockwise from top left: deers, orangutan, giraffes and bunnies

A macaw; a brown spider monkey; deers

The boys' and girls' team figuring out where they are at the map :)

Siblings' stolen shots

Reena and Sarah

Highlight of the zoo trip: the girls feeding the deers

The girls kept on feeding leaves to the deers.

Touching the deer's nose, brave kiddo.

Busy Saturday

With Ravi on a two week US biz trip, it's gonna be a mother-daughter tandem in the coming days.

Saturday was a full day for Sarah and me.

First stop was at the dentist, to get Sarah's chipped front tooth restored.  We were told her two front teeth were slightly protruding making it prone to chipping.  We actually went last year but the dentist then didn't want to do anything yet, just asked to lessen the amount of toothpaste when Sarah brushes her teeth.

Got scared mostly form the sounds from the dental tools.

Lunch time, Sarah went for a trial class at A La Point Ballet Academy.  She's the youngest in the class - this age group is mostly 5-6 year old girls.  I signed her up after the session.  The studio is nearer our place and cheaper at RM10 per session, a very good combo!  

Tutu Tots ballet did not have enough enrolees so Teacher Alicia closed down the class for now.

Scenes at the trial class

Went home for lunch and some rest before heading to Straits Quay's Stage 1 for the kiddie play Stuck.
Stuck is the first kiddie play for the year from Gardner & Wife Theatre.

Stuck scenes

Taken after the play, the tree behind with the stuck things!

Getting her program signed

Autographed copy for Sarah

Sarah and I strolled around Straits Quay until we saw the bike rental shop.  She biked around the place, asking me to walk beside her.  Instant exercise for both of us!

Chose the green bike herself; yoghurt break; Gurney Plaza view from SQ

By the marina

Lots of expensive yachts in the marina. 

Princess carriage

Firetruck

Trampoline fun still at Straits Quay

Eastern & Oriental Hotel staycation

Valentine's Day is a non-event for us, we find the occasion overrated and overpriced!  Why pay thrice or more for the same goods and services right?  Besides, love should be celebrated all year long :)

This staycation just happened to be on Valentines weekend as my stepkids are on study mode for their upcoming exams and they didn't come over to our home.

My company provided some vouchers which amounted to 40% of the cost.  We stayed at the Victory Annexe, the newest wing of the E&O hotel, which has its least expensive suites. 

Enjoyed exploring both the new and old parts of the hotel, the free cocktails (good wine selection and tasty hors d'oeuvre) and the breakfast buffet.  

It was a relaxing and enjoyable staycation, more like a post-celebration of Sarah's 3rd birthday and Ravi's 49th birthday.

The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (Est 1885)

The grand lobby

The Victory Annexe building

Lobby at the Annexe

Victory Annexe snapshots

Spacious and luxurious suite

Inside the room

Someone enjoyed the (cold!) pool

Sarah and I exploring the hotel

Photo op with the founders

My little sleeping beauty

Cannot sit still hence the blurry shot

Sarah the Explora :)

Sunrise at 7:24am.

One of the fishing boats near the hotel beachside

Checking out the hotel grounds after breakfast

My two loves :)

Happy girl running around.

Quickie KL trip

Last Friday, I took leave from work to work on my passport renewal at the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur. There was actually a small team of embassy folks that visited Penang last December but their mobile biometrics machine broke down so passport services were not offered then.

Anyway, I brought Sarah along as I planned a quick city getaway after the embassy business.

We took Airasia from Penang to KL, the first flight at 7:10am.   Next we took the Skybus, a 50 minute ride to the city. Sarah made a new friend on the bus, a Chinese girl who's almost 3 years old.  The girls didn't understand each other but that didn't stop them from playing, laughing and holding hands.  Such joy at being a child, free from racial stereotypes and discrimination.

My passport renewal was pretty quick, done in about 25 minutes which included document submission, payment and biometrics.  I also signed up for the Flexi-Fund program at the SSS table.  When we came out of the Biometrics room, there were about 20 folks queued up at the Passport window!  We were lucky to arrive earlier and very happy not to be in that line.

11am saw us checked in at Trader's Hotel; grateful they didn't ask us to come back later in the day. After an all-day-breakfast room service and hot bath, Sarah slept close to four hours.  Poor girl had to wake up very early after a late shuteye from the previous night.

The rest of the day was spent at Aquaria KLCC, the playground and the Suria KLCC mall.  It's actually just a 10 minute walk between the hotel and the mall.  In between is a big playground+park, the major reason I chose our hotel for this short stay.   Of course, someone was very happy when she saw the playground!

Morning was a quick visit up the Skybar for photo ops then check out. We had a 4 hour bus ride back to Penang at 12:15pm.  We were the only passengers on the Nice Executive Coach bus!  Movies and games are available on the mini screens in front of the seats, snacks and blankets were provided as well.    The bus experience was actually better than the Airasia flight :)

Sarah eating her breakfast aboard Airasia :)

Lion dance during check in; room features for our 1-night stay at Trader's Hotel

Enjoying marine animals at Aquaria KLCC

It was a small aquarium but enough for this kiddo.

She says she's not afraid of this snake.

Mama can do a selfie shot with no one around :)

Fun at the park!

Her happy place.

Another favourite and happy place!

A bus friend;  Twin Towers at night;  Skybar area looking down the playground

Skybar and pool area, on the 33th floor.

Adieu to the Twin Towers; waiting for the bus at the Old Terminal