6th Trip To Cameron Highlands: Review By An Avid Chill Traveller

This will be the 6th time that me and the fam went to Cameron Highlands in 10 years. 

1st trip: 2012 when we just got married

2nd trip: 2013 when I was pregnant with Naila

3rd trip: 2014 when Naila was 6 months old

4th trip: 2016 when I was pregnant with Hassan

5th trip: 2018 when Hassan when 1 year old

6th trip: 2023 now. 

Although covid was the only reason we didn't return from 2020-2022. 

So this is a dedication to Cameron Highlands, a place that we love so much. Alot of people wonder why do we go back time and time again. Some even comment "what to do in Cameron Highlands?" 

First of all, you have to understand what kind of family we are :D We love going to the park every week. We've been to almost all the parks in KL/Selangor. We also love Penang Botanical Gardens & Taiping Botanical Gardens. Our kids idea of adventure is hiking sunrise hill and they get excited whenever we mention hiking. 

So our idea of holiday in Cameron Highlands is a slow paced, enjoying the hilly town scenery and cold weather, eating fresh veggies & fruits from the farm, walking but never getting sweaty and playing with fluffy animals. 

Normally, we'd spend 2 or 3 days staying in Cameron Highlands. 

This time, we spent 3 days and 2 nights, choosing to stay in Snooze Hotel, Brinchang. Two reasons, because this holiday isn't supposed to be stressful. Second, it's not supposed to cost alot. 

Brinchang Town

Staying in Brinchang gave us the freedom to walk to many places. As you would hear from many accounts, Cameron Highlands is JAM CITY with capital J on weekends. A simple 3km drive would take one hour at peak jam. We are a family of 5, therefore it's the car or walking. 

So for those wondering, this is our itinerary: 

Saturday

12.00pm   drive to Cameron Highlands from KL

4.00pm     arrive in Cameron Highlands 

4.30pm     arrive at Agro Technology Park MARDI, Tanah Rata

6.00pm     dinner at Restoran Ferm Nyonya (Steamboat)

7.30pm     night market

Sunday

8.00am     Kea Farm morning market/breakfast 

9.00am     Sheep Sanctuary

11.30am   Back to hotel, R&R 

3.00pm    Lunch/Dinner at Pizzarella Misokimchi Brinchang

4.00pm    Walk around Brinchang shops (rain heavily)

5.00pm    Ice Cream/Cake/Hot Chocolate break at Cado Cafe

6.30pm    Back at hotel

Monday

7.30am     Breakfast at food court Kea Farm

9.30am     Check out from hotel

10.00am   Cameron Highlands Flora Park

1.00pm     Head back to KL

So on the way up, we took the Tapah road. Hassan vomited at the very last minute when we're about 15 minutes to Tanah Rata. The rest were okay. I missed Cameron Highlands! We wind down the window the feel the fresh jungle smell and cold air. It wasn't too congested when we arrived at 4pm. Most of the people on day trip were already heading down.

When we arrived at MARDI Tanah Rata, first we had to wash off the vomit. MARDI had a nearby 

We did all the things we didn't do before in Cameron Highlands. Believe it or not, so much has changed since we last came 4 years ago! Also, the kids are a little bit older and they can enjoy the attractions more..

Work Life Balance

I think I knew what kind of mom I wanted to be since I was young. When I was in form 4, my dad bought me a book about women doctors reflections on work and life. He knew I was enamored by the "surgeon" title. 

So I read the book and it changed my mind 100%. I stopped wanting to be a doctor because that wasn't the life I wanted for my future children. For the high ambitions that I had in that moment, a life of balance is not in the cards based on what I read. I mean, coming back home at night? NO WAY MAN. 

But again, I was 16 at the time. I made up my mind based on what little information I had. But I finished that book. (Can't believe how much of a bookworm I was. 1 book each week.) 

When I was younger, I said to myself, I'm NEVER going to be like my mom. I'm never going to be a stay at home mom. 

I'm going to have my own thing.

I'm going to be successful. 

Well having my own kids changed my perspective again. I started seeing my mom through the eyes of my kid self. I felt safe and mom's always home. I never knew what danger was. I was quite emotionally safe. I ate home cooked food (such a blessing), mom picked me up from school. 

When the two realities meet, I became hybrid. I think my kids have the best of both worlds. I send them to school every morning. There are times that I can't be there because of work but they usually see me. 

I've started cooking a whole lot more, because of that health awakening and I'd like my kids to have a good head start.

I involve them in everything that I do, from running, to real estate. 

Yeah I have boundaries when it comes to work. When my kids need me I'd cancel everything. The virtue of working by myself. 

No 1 is always family. No 2 is work.

Minimalist Consumer

Don't know if the title makes sense. I've been thrifting since 2020 now. I suppose covid has in many ways changed our outlook of life. 

I kind of feel disgust by the amount of consumption right now. I blame the capitalist world, how they shove marketing down our throats. But then again, who doesn't want to profit and live a nice life?

It's so ironic, considering I'm selling new houses to people. But that's why I never stopped the subsale side of the business and .. rentals. I feel this responsibility to shine light on subsale houses because buying used is always better for the environment. 

Buying new is good for the economy. 

It's hard when you see good sides to everything. You can vouch for either sides. 

But now I'm heavy into "used" items.

Especially clothes.

7th Year Fitness Journey: Running & Clean Eating

Wow! 7th year! I don't remember when did I consciously started on this journey but I was surprised to see since 2019 in my old posts. 

So yeah wow 7th year. Alot has changed since my 5th year. I broke my wrist in 2023, I broke another small toe in 2024. I was scared of having brittle bones. I was also under a lot of stress that year. 

Hubs gave me the idea of climbing Gunung Nuang together. So I said yes, started training by climbing 18 steps a day and brisk walking on alternate days. A week before the trip, I ended up breaking my toe so I didn't join the trip. 

I felt frustrated for missing out on the trip, although everyone who made it went through the most horrible experience. 

When I got better, around 3 weeks after the toe incident, I felt determined to get my fitness and bones stronger. So with the old running shoe and fresh off the toe incident I started slow jogging around my local park. At first I was struggling to finish even 1km. My lungs felt like it would burst. So I run walked. 

At the time, I had no idea whatsoever about running methods, pace, heart rate, shoes, zone 2 running. NO IDEA. This was in September 2024. I just ran cold turkey. I had hip pain when I first started running. I now realize that was probably weak hip flexor muscles.

I kept doing the same thing over and over for a few weeks. Until one day, I did the slow jog and finished a whole round without stopping. That was 1.7km. I was silently wiping the tears off my eyes. Felt like such a big accomplishment. 

I kept slow jogging every alternate day until I hit 5km. Mind you, it was a really slow jog. I think it was a 10min/km pace. I told hubs that I could "run" 5 km now without stopping. Hubs said you need to challenge yourself. Something like joining a half marathon. I was like, that's crazy. And dropped the subject. 

Over the next few days, I started researching about half marathons and found a training plan for 3 months. I started learning about the types of runs. Shoes. Nutrition. Heart rate zones. Fueling. I went into the rabbit hole basically.

One month after that, I registered for the Twincity half marathon. To think back, it was pretty crazy. But I was so in the zone and focused. When I find something interesting, I tend to obsess. So running became my life. I was scheduling my days around runs. Weekends were like, .."I have my long run, can't do that". 

And since I was a newbie, I wasn't strong yet. Kept getting shin splints, sore legs. Pain in all places. I was doing work and going to appointments with sore legs from running but I enjoyed it so much. 

Funny thing is, I didn't know there was a culture in running. There are running clubs everywhere. But up until now, I enjoy the solitude of running alone, so I never felt the need to contact running clubs or to run with anyone. 

Hubs follow me on long runs. But he does the slow jogs for a few rounds and we meet for breakfast when my run is over. I haven't been able to convince him to really be into run yet. He says its boring. No idea what's he talking about. I find it invigorating! 

So going into month 7 of running, I'm starting to add some strength training. I did alot of HIIT and body weight training before going into running but once I started being consistent, it became too hard to balance because of scheduling. Previously I needed rest after a running day. So I never had the time to incorporate strength training.. until now. 

I finally feel strong, running a 10km, then going off to appointments, walking and living my day normally. So strength training after a 5km feels good now. Starting to do weights. 

Running has definitely became the highlight and invigorated some things that has been lost. I love being in the student mindset. Learning, adjusting, improving. 

I've never been a runner my whole life and never found the urge to run. Even despised it a little to be honest. I've always been more of an active lifestyle, play tennis, swim, hike, badminton sort of person. Not running. But somehow running found me at this juncture of life. Funny how sometimes we just stumble into things. This is exactly that and it's just caught me unaware. 

In April, I've also started to change my eating habits. I think this is the year I'm becoming my strongest & fittest self. Best part is kids are getting the benefits of having a health conscious mom. 

Whatever I cook for myself is also for them. I learned to blend veggies into meals just to get them to eat veggies. They also eat broccoli/potato/carrots off the plate now. It's been a struggle to get them to eat veggies before but I think we're making great progress.

To being fit and healthy and best self. Till next time.

5th Year Into Fitness Journey: What works

Hi yall, 

I suddenly had this weird urge to write. I've just completed a 10 minute HIIT workout, sweating in my tights. 

Anyway for the past 5 years, I've been quite consistent with the workouts. It helps that I'm working by myself, having the luxury to arrange my schedule, at the same time adding workouts to my schedule as if it's part of work. 

Years of tweaking and adjusting and I know what works for me:- 

1. Last heavy meal by 7pm - The only times I break this rule is for family gatherings or date nights. I do have snacks sometimes at night but nothing heavy. 

2. More noodle soups than rice - It helps that I've always loved mi hun sup, kuey tiaw sup, ladna and the variety. I don't miss rice that much. I love noodle soup with lots of veg (the only time I binge on vege variety). I skip rice many times a week with pleasure. 

3. HIIT workouts - I swear on PAMELA REIF's HIIT workouts. Keeps me fit & maintains my weight. I feel GREAT after a HIIT workout. I first started doing them because I needed a workout routine that doesn't take much time. I'm talking about 10 minutes here! I used to only do HIIT workouts 5 times a week but felt like my body needed something else. Hence

4. Pilates - No, I don't even pay for it. It's all on Youtube! I love Lilly Sabri's workout. You get sore afterwards but over time you feel stronger, tighter and your body feels more sculpted. So I alternate the days of pilates with HIIT excercises. If you feel that this is too much work, imagine me spending 15 minutes TOPS everyday. A tiny chunk of my day but doing it consistently. 

5. No store bought juice in the fridge, order warm water as much as possible when eating out - Basically cut out sugary drinks at home and outside. My only exception and 'treat' is having MILO at home, no added sugar. 

6. Morning park walks - We go to the park as a family every weekend morning, usually 3000-6000 steps. The kids complain but they always finish the track and they get ice-cream afterwards. Sometimes we alternate with hiking trails. 

These are tried and true. Being fit is a lifestyle and especially if you're mom and wife, you have to get your family on board. Luckily hubs is just as committed on his fitness journey, although HIIT and pilates in front youtube is not his thing. So when he wants to go to the gym, sometimes I'll tag along. 

I also hope that our lifestyle rubs off on the kids as they grow older. I can safely say, nowadays the kids seldom gets sick, eats well. The only thing is, I always wish they were chubbier like when they were toddlers but alas you can't have everything can you?

Moving forward, I'd like to take care of my food intake better, eating more variety of vege and fruits. It's been a challenge because we lead such hurried lives. Fruits and vege don't last long. It's extra effort to go buy fruits and vege every few days and you can't guarantee you'll finish it all before it turns bad. I don't always cook at home, so it's been a challenge to balance healthy eating. 

Also, last May, I fractured my wrist. Was put in a cast for 1.5 months. That prompted me to research brittle bones. As it turns out, our bones lose density as we get older and one type of exercise may help which is weight training. I just bought dumbbells 2 months ago and incorporating weight training into my exercise routine. Weight training is a bit slow and boring for me, personally. I guess it works well in a social setting, but I'm not giving up. 

I would say, it's an effortless effort for me to be fit. If I let myself go, I would definitely gain alot of weight and get out of shape. As you grow older, it's much easier to put on weight so you have to adopt a fit lifestyle somehow. But by having a "lifestyle" you don't actually feel like you're putting in too much effort, it's just daily life if you know what I mean. 

My motivation has always been to be ready whenever a zombie apocalypse comes. I need to be able to sustain running, jumping, and eating little. It's a joke but not really. Last December, we felt an earthquake from our apartment. Me and my daughter ran down 18 stairs and it wasn't a big deal. That's what I mean. 

My body has to be ready for anything that can happen in this crazy world. 

So there, if you made it to the end, thanks for reading and all the best to your fitness journey. 

Dreams and then some

It's like 11.54pm at the moment. Lately, I've been sleeping late and waking up with panda eyes which is not good for Instagram close-ups. Yup, I'm thinking about stuff like that now. What a far cry from the days of sarong the whole day. 

I guess life changes in a split second. You have to savour every moment. 

You also have to make firm decisions that would propel you into a new life. Five years later, you'll thank the day you decided to make exercise part of your morning routine. You'll thank the day you pick up the camera and start sharing on youtube. You'll thank the day you started consciously avoiding things with an extensive carbon footprint. You'll thank the day you tentatively invested a little amount in the stock market. 

If you have dreams, it's easy to take the next step that would support it. It's never comfortable but it will feel purposeful and necessary. 

When I started out on social media, I didn't know which language to write in. I felt comfortable expressing myself in english but I'm aware that I would alienate the people who needed the knowledge the most. So I decided to brush up on my awkward bahasa and punch through. OK PUN. As they say. It might still be awkward but who cares. The important thing is that I'm conveying my message clearly.

I also wished that I could hide behind words and continue blogging forever. But if we don't get out of our comfort zone to do what is required, others will and then take away our dreams too. 

I look at Bill & Melinda Gates with their philanthropic work. Simply inspiring. I could listen to him talk about eradicating Ebola & infectious diseases all day. He changed the world via tech and philanthropy. And managing to be humble.

If there's something we should be good at, it should be something we're already doing. I'm hoping that one day, my kids will say "mommy & daddy" as their inspiration.