travel tips – My Minimalist Lifestyle

Hatyai, Thailand!! Sawadeekap! Kapkunkap ❤️🙏

Olaa!!! Como estás? How are you, guys? Hope you are in a good health!!

Last month I went for a short vacay to Hatyai, Thailand. It’s food heaven 😍 Thinking to repeat it again.

Check these out 😃

So… I went alone to Hatyai. I booked a return ticket via online and just trust the flow 😂 Parked my car at TBS (Terminal Bus Station), I think around RM10 per day. The journey was about 7 hours, starts around 10pm, and arrived at the Malaysia border around 6am (KL 7pm)

It was a long queue due to Malaysia public holiday, so a lot of Malaysian are going to Thailand for vacation. So, I passed and stamped twice, once at the Malaysia immigrant to check out from the country, and 2nd one was for Thailand immigrant for entrance. You really need to queue twice for the stamping purpose
😃

So, I’m meeting my colleague at the Duty Free Zone building, which was located between the Malaysia and Thailand Immigrant station. So as I am done with the Malaysia Immigrant, I walked about 5-10 minutes to Duty Free Zone waiting for my other colleague and our transport Van)

Duty Free Zone is located between Malaysia Immigrant station and Thailand Immigrant station

So, our entrance is Songkla after done with all stamping 😀. Finally 🥰

We had our breakfast at the nearby shop. It’s “Roti pisang”. Something like banana crepe with condensed milk. With Ice Tea

“Roti Pisang” aka Banana Crepe!! Delicious, eat with condensed milk ❤️

Just look around nearby building, I think it’s Fire Station.

Not sure what is that, but look so cute. haha!! Banananaananana 🍌

So the 1st place we went is Kaysorn Souvenir. To me, it’s not really that cheap. Just normal price. So I don’t buy much here, just few items n chill while drink the Thai Green Tea blended.

hurrmmmm…not so nice. I think was about 60baht. not so cheap too. nahh 🙃

Okay they have some other stall but I didnt try.

The building is nice, I’m just chilling and enjoying the ambiance 😃

Next stop, we went to Nora Plaza Hatyai 🥰

See you in the next Post

To be continued

Love, Sofia

Ahhuuuuu!!!! Let’s Party! @Cyberview Resort & Spa in Cyberjaya

Halluuuuuu Everyone!!!! How ya doing?? Hope u are all in a good shape!!

SooOooo it’s our reward days!!! Me with my cousin sister went to an underrated Resort Spa, I guess..because so less people there..but hey…its good for our healing session. Muahahahhaha

Packing my stuff in 1 whole luggage, I actually having interview session, so I bring along my laptop in the luggage 😂

So, I book via travel website, but pay by cash during the check in time. It was smooth as very less people, compared to Bangi Resort Hotel and very professional staff.

It was about 30min from Bangi/Kajang area, and I think around 45min drive from Damansara. I think, because the location is kinda far, and hardly to travel (you require transportation to get to here), probably that makes it less people eventhough its on public holiday. Good for me to heal my soul 😃

So, as I reached there, I don’t need to worry about parking as the parking is super spacious and I think there is place for busses as well. I parked next to the lobby area.

When we reached there, the staff will come to you with some refreshment tea, with soft wet small towel. I got no idea what the towel for, haha. I just took the tea, it was nice but towards the bottom got some spiciness from ginger I guess 😃

Oh, if you wanna go breakfast, you can order the buggy car. But we don’t have patience to wait, so we just walk. it’s not that far from the room to the restaurant, probably the buggy car is convenience for those have kids and elderly people, I guess.

This is the lobby, it’s traditional decor with nice smell , I think it’s jasmine smell 😋

We be given map for the whole resort too, see how huge the resort was 😃

The main reason we book here, is to try their spa. Unfortunately it’s only by book.hahahaha and it’s fully booked. fine 🙂

So, after I checked in *(No deposit required, which is good 😃),* we bring our car to the room. It’s a huge hotel area with nice and spectacular landscape. So our room is kinda like in a villa building. Not sure, if this is the term people call resort, but I kinda like the concept tho 🥰

We booked superior room, because just 2 ladies party. hahahahahaha 😝 The bed is superb comfort. love the mattress so much 🥰

Okay, the coffee bar is soo unique. you can close it and open like this. Besides next to the pantry cupboard was a place where u can put ur shoes n jacket.

The room has separate wet bathroom and dry bathroom. I love the concept as for ladies, we have a make up area. hahaha. so the right side is actually closet u can open for the both doors.

This is the right side of wardrobe, so there is a safety box, that we don’t normally use. hahaha coz afraid we forgot our own password 🤪

and also, there is an extra pillow, iron, hair dryer, insect spray, laundry bag and indoor slippers.

The toiletries – toothbrush, comb, cap, sanity bag, cottonbud, cotton face, sew kit..I think that’s all.

I love the sink, there is a space for soup and love the smart design.

I’m in love with the bathroom, but don’t have much time to explore the tub. maybe I will return n exploring the tub. haha. It’s spa concept, totally in love ❤️

The shower is absolutely awesome. the water pressure is superb, and it feels like showering in a heavy rain. Absolutely stunning for the washroom 🥰❤️🥰

After check-in, we relax for a while and jump into the pool. Hooyeahhh!!!! Check these out…🥳

This resort is fully landscape and I can see its the mixture of Japanese and Ballinese concept. Breathtaking view for relaxation 😌

There are 3 pools – this is for babies, below photo is for adult and the following photo for kids. It’s kinda deep for adult, up to 5ft.

If u see the entrance to the landscape, there are people name. I’m not so sure who are these people 😃 probably someone famous either politician or artist, I guess 🙂

There, got waterfall. Sooo relaxing. This is the adult pool 🥰❤️🥰

I think this resort has 3 restaurants – Verandah is the main as the breakfast will be @Verandah restaurant. I’m not so sure this restaurant as it was closed when we came and there is another 1 bar opposite side.

There are 2 hammock that u can chill on, but we just put our things on it. lol

This is different pond, no fish inside. kinda like Japanese garden concept. this area got various room for workshop or meeting rooms.

There is also traditional game you can play, just as the receptionist. Not sure tho if required any charges.

Once we done with the pool, we chill for awhile at the room and went out for dinner. Oh! btw the pool open at 8am to 7pm. and the room service available to order before 9.30pm.

So, we are about to go to Volcano Shabu Shabu, the steamboat and grill restaurant, unfortunately only by reservation. Dang!! so we ate next to the restaurant, which is TaeYang Island. Well, it’s not that bad. I ordered Soy Sauce Chicken with Tuna rice ball and my cousin ordered Fried rice Cheese with Chicken Cheese. My portion is small, but her portion is superbig..so we shared. hahahahaha 🤣

Soy Sauce chicken, not spicy once. Not bad🍗

and I really love this sooo much!!! ❤️ I think it’s mixed with Japenese mayonnaise, seaweed, tuna..taste so good and very filling ❤️🔥💯

After we had our dinner, we bought some coffee…Frappuccino Mocha for me and Cafe latte for her.

The next morning, we had breakfast as early as 7am. hahahaha both are morning person. So the breakfast here starts at 7am until 10am @Verandah Restaurant.

The entrance, you just give the receptionist the voucher. Voucher will be given upon check in if you pay with breakfast. I recommend to buy with their breakfast, cozy place for chilling 😎

It’s variety for food, I’m not be able to taste all. So there are fruits, cereal, croissants, cakes & cupcakes, pancake, bread, Malaysian favorite Nasi Lemak, Chicken curry, rendang beef and more. I cant eat all. hahaha Omelette..but no ice cream. it will be better with ice cream, coz I love to eat pancake with ice cream 😃

Our breakfast, so there are teh tarik, white coffee , hot chocolate, mocha n black coffee..I took Malay traditional breakfast and she took American breakfast 😃😃😃

I think that’s all, after we had breakfast, I had an interview took place in the resort room. hahaha then we just chill, and check out 1 hr early. coz she got something to do. Eventhough we are busy, we try to find time to spend for soul healing. Enjoying ourselves 🥰

Till then, see ya in next post..😉

Love, Sofia

Bangi Resort Hotel 🥰❤🥰

HellooOoOooo Everyone!!! How are you??

Just to share my experience healing after ups & down working crazily. hahaha…

Check these out..

Tadaaa!!! This is the entrance to the Hotel’s Lobby. It was huge and smell soo good. I’m kinda love the ambience.

So I reached to this hotel quiet early, around 2pm. The check-in time is 3pm. Yay!! 1 hour early, I’m checking out the surrounding and found 1 nice outdoor restaurant. it’s called, “The Burgerlab”!!

The view is breathtaking from the BurgerLab restaurant..and it’s breezing. I had a good lunch here 🥰❤🥰

I bought 1 set..cost RM 30, the burger, side dish macaroni and bottomless soft drink.

The bridge from the lobby to the BurgerLab restaurant.

Breathtaking view for the ponds. Need to take the bridge to the BurgerLab.

the pond views…it has lot of fishes. You can buy fish pellet at the counter, cost RM 5.30/pack.

There is some info regarding the fish naming..I dont bother those..lol

The pool is soo huge and beautiful..max depth is 1.5m, not too deep, but at least better than most of hotels swimming pool. normally they have 1.2m depth. Nice pool.

The Loaf!! it’s cafe..a nice but pricey..hehhheh. once awhile, it’s good to have it. the bottle drinks cost RM 15.90. I forgot the bread..lol

So, I booked Deluxe Room, it looks something like this. When I check-in, they said my room is not ready and about 4pm plus, need to push until I get the key. I asked for late check-out, coz the check-out is 11am. So, im requesting check-out at 12pm. Not sure, maybe because of the peak hours the service is relatively slow. so, yea, if u go during peak hour, try to ask the staff several times until they give the key. yay!! LOL

Okay, so this is the elevators to the ground floor which lead to swimming pools and to hotels
rooms.

Breakfast is…okay..not too fancy..but not too lousy. Okay for breakfast.

alright, the card u received for the rooms has this pamphlet. You can get free drinks and some discounts on their restaurant if not mistaken. but I dont use any of it. hahaahha..I went to “Farm in the City”. Will update on that u next post..something interesting ..hehehe 😁😁😁

*Okay ,before went back..Im having my lunch at the BurgerLab..coz I think the food is really nice*

*I took Joe Burger..But I guess Hawaiians burger is nicer..a bit spicy than this. this burger taste similar to McChicken..normal burger.*

Okay, till then..my experience staying at Bangi Resort Hotel. I will definitely come back and try out their spa n gym..

To be continued…

Love, Sofia

Pulse Grande Hotel Review 🥰

Hey hey heylllOoww Everybody!!!! Hahaha…I feel soOooOooooOooo refreshing today. Happy Eid Adha to all my Muslim sisters and brothers.

Last Friday, I’m visiting the 5 star hotel at Putrajaya – Pulse Grande Hotel. I really need a good break, and having my own time there. Whenever I felt about to burn out from work, I will reward myself by locking down myself in a good hotel.

Let’s check this out..

This is the entrance of the Pulse Grande Hotel entrance. As you can park your car at the near by parking lot with free of charge ❤

The original lobby at Level 3 was in progress of renovation. I should say the interior is quite old, and need to do some renovation. The temporary Lobby was at Level 2. Picture shows the view from the parking. Parking is a bit far, but don’t worry, there is a free buggy pickup and drop at the entrance of the Lobby. But, I don’t like waiting, so I just walked 😃

From the temporary entrance, you can see the Receptionist on your left, and straight path to the room’s lift on your right. Drop by at the receptionist for check-in, they will ask your Identity Card for local visitor, and perhaps your passport for foreigner. The receptionist will brief you on which floor the hotel and restaurant, and what time the room service will be available. If you bring your car, they will ask your Plat Number for their records.

From the receptionist, there are 2 type of elevator. On the right side is transparent elevator, which you can see the garden and small river downstairs. The other elevator also can bring you to the rooms, however it’s not transparent and it’s a normal elevator. Well, I want to see the view, so I’m using this transparent elevator to my room. 🥰

When I’m entering the room, there is huge foyer infront of the room. I think this is the biggest foyer so far I had experience for hotels 😃. The left side is wardrobe and right side was the bathroom.

The bathroom is spacious compared normal hotel I went in KL. There is separate bathtub, shower and bowl. You can enter for 3 or 4 pax inside the bathroom!! hahahaha 😂

So, the unique part for this hotel room is that, it has opened window for bathtub to the room!! I can see it’s very convenient for those who want to have honeymoon here..or just to bring kids for having fun in bathtub. It’s kinda a good idea for me.

So, this is the big and comfortable bedroom in the room. I think there is a decoration services as well if you want to celebrate your memories day with some extra charges. I don’t know how much, you may check out by calling the hotel 😃

The overall view from one of the room corner.

There is a chair and table if you want to write or work with your laptop.

On top of the table, there is a pencil and note, just in case if you need to write and leave a note.

I’m kinda like the switches for the room. 🥰

It has appropriate label on each of the switches.

the view from the bathroom to the bedroom.

I like the water pressure for the shower and love the built in rack.

The room has bathrobes and indoor shoes. I really love the bathrobes, it’s very much comfortable. 🥰

I brought my fairy light each time I went to hotel. It gave me relaxing vibes and chill ambience 🥰❤🥰

So, I just stay for a night, and I didn’t take their breakfast. Maybe once I got time, I will rebook again and try their breakfast. It’s just a day escape from a hectic life I had for past few months.

I really love the view, it was quiet and tranquil surrounding the hotel. This is the view from the balcony.

The next morning, I check out a bit early around 11am. You can check in after 3pm, and check out before 12pm at this hotel. When u check out, the receptionist will ask u if buggy required. I just feel too lazy to wait for the buggy, so I just walked to my car 😃😃😃

On the way back, I just took some snap photo at their garden. Oh!! If you stay here, this place has a very nice lights garden that you can walk casually with your love one here.

That’s all. It was worth it to chill and relax, to get urself a refreshment after a tiring weeks/months from work.

Till then, to be continued..

Love, Sofia

Awana Genting Highland resort, is it nice? 😃

Hye, so last week I went to Genting Highland. Didn’t go for cable car, just chilling and relaxing 🥳

Well, last time when I went there before the pandemic, it was an old resort (not well maintained). However, when I went there last week, I can see some changes and differences, and there were also some on going renovation in progress. I think it’s pretty nice, open concept resorts. Check this out..

Im not sure what was this, something like glass house? Its still in progress..

It looks like hydrophonic plants..still in progress..

What I like about is…the cafe 😍

Okay, I think the rest pretty normal, just the cafe looks a bit luxury and chilling 😍

They have an open concept cafe, you can seat whenever you want. I love the music they played, it reminds me of the gym I used to go before. Check these out…

The view from inside of the cafe..there is bar outside, beside the pool. I like the concept, if you wanna feel cozy and warm cafe, you can seat inside. If you wanna have some fun, the bar is outside..its versatile concept.

They have some machines…that you can play..

Okay, enough with the lobby, cafe etc, we go to the room…Zoom In…

The hallway..pretty old school…but I think they will change it later..renew the look..

What I like bout this resort is that…it has nostalgia memories when me and my siblings were kids. We came here most of the weekend 🥰❤

There were 2 rooms…check these out…

Breakfast at the balcony….

Okay, that’s pretty much about the resort..we enjoyed it 🥰

Till then…to be continue

Love, Sofia

Colmar Tropicale, Berjaya Hills

HeLLoOooooo Everyone!!! How are you all??? This week is a holiday week!! Yeppie! 🥰

So, we went to Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. I book via online booking, 2 sites – Booking.com and Agoda. It’s a last minute booking, since both my parents wanna join too. 😁

Okay, you will need transportation to come here. It’s kinda far from the city, surrounded by forest. Well, the food kinda expensive here if you compared to the normal price. 1 cup of coffee may cost you around RM 10. I’m talking bout the normal coffee, not starbuck kind of coffee 🙈 So, those who wants to be on budget, I suggest you to have picnic for the 1st day, then you can go for outside eating for the next day.

Registration at Hotel Lobby

Once you reach here, if you are using private vehicle, you may park at basement parking. Don’t bring along your luggage, I suggest you to register first to see which building is your room. You will need to fill-up some registration forms upon check-in.

So, I booked 2 rooms – Deluxe King and 1 bedroom apartment King. I’d asked for both rooms to be close together, you may asked the PIC at the hotel counter (subject to availability). So, I got Deluxe King at Level -1 (underground) and the 1 bedroom King at Level 3. Here are those rooms..its lovely and clean rooms.

The 1 bedroom apartment (King bed)

This room at the highest level, 3rd floor.

Narrow and long bathroom. I think they used the space wisely. Its small, but yet functioning well. ❤

Dry kitchenette. They didn’t really allow you to cook, you can cook instant noodles only 😀

Hurm…spacious dining room..idk why its so spacious here..i think can built the 2nd bedroom here 😃

Okay, that’s all for the 1 bedroom apartment. Now, let’s checkout the 2nd room..which is Deluxe King.

Deluxe King

Dining room and dry kitchenette. They have minifridge inside the cabinet, but I think only suit for drinks.

The hotel building…..🥰

It’s a beautiful france building for the whole hotel. I like it’s unique design..❤

It has the pad lock love too….idk what is the purpose….😃

Some of the view from side of the building..

Okay, I bought rooms with complimentary breakfast. Well, the croisants are much nicer compared to the rice. 😃

Last, but not least. My travel essential 😃😂

I can’t live without parfum…so i bring along the hotel flavour parfum..by Mayci. My fav were Grant Hyatt and Banyan Tree.

Okay, that’s all for now..to be continue….

Love, Sofia

Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel….is it nice? 😃

Hello everyone!! Just a throwback for last weekeend holiday, we went to one of the 5 stars hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur.

To be honest with you, for those who love cultural, and especially for tourist, this is one of the best hotel in Kuala Lumpur for you. It’s more classical and traditional carving decoration for the building and it’s decoration as well. There are some of the times I can see that the staffs are wearing traditional ‘songket kurung moden’ and the guy wearing ‘Baju melayu’ some with ‘Tanjak’. It’s was the best for family gathering and to relax, but i should say not a hotel for business purposes 😃 The service a bit slow and not so organize, not a hotel if you are in a hurry 😀

Where to park? (If you have vehicles)

Well yea, for those who have vehicles, you may park your vehicle at the basement parking. There are B1 and B2 basement parking. I will recommend you to park at B2 basement, coz too many cars at the B1 basement.

So, there will be 2 elevators, one is to the hotel lobby, and the other one is to the apartment lobby. You will need to park nearby to elevators which for the hotel lobby. The good about the elevator is, you don’t need to touch the card when you want to go to your room 😂 well, yes it’s good for safety reason to have designated card to your room, but if you go with your family, it’s kinda irritating. Haha. Yeah, I give a thumb up to the traditional way for the elevators 😄

Elevators….

Royale Chulan KL has 2 elevators, one is for the apartment, and another one is for hotel lobby. Use the one for hotel lobby, I managed to snap some photos for the elevator, lobby and the front counter. Check these out.. 😃

The elevator from basement to hotel rooms.

Registration to check-in hotel

If you bring your own vehicle, you will need to register the plate number at the counter. So, whenever you are going out, you will need to go to the counter first, for complimentary parking -multiple entries (each time need to claim complimentary parking at the counter).

I booked my room directly at their websites. You may use another platform too, but if you choose to booked directly to their website, make sure you fill in the booking room with your full name. There is no deposit at the time of my visit. I did booked for 1 studio apartment and 1 superior king, but they provided me with connected room with 1 suite room, and 1 twin room. Aaaa…its win-win situation..perhaps its something similar to upgrade room? 😀 But it’s okay coz the visit is just for relaxing. So, you will be given mainly 2 cards, one is for the key and another card is to plug in the power.

The decoration is traditional and cultural, I saw they hang quite some of numbers for ‘Keris’. Wanna know what ‘Keris’ is? Here..read this 😀

This is the spa booth. They have spa at the same level as the pool, Level 2. But I didn’t go check on it 😀

Err…might be cheap for Tourist, but not for Local 😃

The lobby and restaurant in the glass side area..

The rooms….

Okay, once you reached to your room’s level, you will see a beautiful hallway to your room. I think so far this is the biggest hallway for hotel I’ve been in my whole life 😀

Spacious hallway from elevator to the room..

When you entered the room, you will see the dry kitchenette and big mirror..

The suite was kinda spacious, it has 2 seaters sofa and small round dining table. TV and console table. But I think the TV channel is kinda old, think it should be better if have netflix channel 🙂

The dining/living room and bedroom are separate by 1 small wooden sliding door.

When you go further, then you can see the whole bedroom…as below…

Side table…it’s a very old and traditional for a hotel.

As I mentioned earlier, I got connected room and for the other room was a twin room.

This is the twin room. Some find it’s very fascinating, but I don’t feel the same way, coz my parents house was more ‘traditional’ and more ‘royale’ than this 😂

The bathroom…

The hotel bathroom is kinda spacious..but the concept kinda similar to Pullman hotel. The bathroom has partition to divide the shower, and bowl, and each of the rooms has bath tub 🥰

The pool….

The pool was located at level 2. It’s just nearby to our rooms 😍 very convenient..

This is the entrance..it’s available from 7am until 8pm

There are 3 swimming pools, purposely for babies, kids and adults…it’s pretty awesome for the pools

The complimentary breakfast, indoor waterfall…and garden… 🥰

Just like a normal hotel, this hotel has a complimentary breakfast. The food is local food and served ‘Nasi Lemak’ with ‘sambal’, ‘Roti Canai’, noodles, croissant and bread. Drinks, they have mango/apple juice, detox lemon water and hot drinks – nescafe, ‘teh tarik’, tea and black coffee.

I think overall, the food is not so bad. My mom said, it was nice. But I like those in Seri Pacific hotel more 😃

My ‘teh tarik’ and tosted bread..i toasted it twice 😂

‘Teh tarik” and muffin. The muffin looks so dull, but it’s actually taste nice and fluffy 😃 i thought its hard..haha

Okay, thats me with my glasses..too lazy to stick my eyes with contact lens in the early morningm..so I let those eyes relax a bit…hahaha

Okay, just nearby the cafe/restaurant..there is a tropical waterfall and garden….and lot of big koi fishes in the pond..😍

The indoor waterfall…inside the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur

Well overall, it’s not that bad…a spacious hotel, very traditional and rich of cultural, nice food, but I think it will need a lil bit of maintenance especially the room furnitures. It’s quite old and got some scratches on the furnitures. A lil bit of nice room parfum, will be good, coz most 5 stars hotel I went have a decent smell, like spa smell. Not bad for tourism, but not recommended for business trip as the services a bit slow 😀

Till then…to be continue….for the next hotel trip…

Love, Sofia

Pssstt…psttt..when A Traveller on Budget starts packing her things…😂

HelloOoooOooooo Everybody!!!!

Ni hao ma?? Its a holiday week!! Whoot whoot!!! 🥳🥳🥳

As you know, for Malaysian, we have yearly festival Chinese New Year on upcoming 1st and 2nd February. Then, following our replacement state holiday on 3rd February. So, it’s happened that…we…Malaysian who stayed in Kuala Lumpur going to have 3 days leave..straight from 1-3 February 2022. Whoot!! Whoot!! Wasn’t it awesome?? I love Malaysia coz we have a lot of festival and lots lots of leaaaveesss 😁

Soo, everyone. Since the pandemic still going on, and seems like will never go away, so we were mostly travelling within our states. On this weekend, we going to go “Sekinchan!!!”. So, I’m starting to pack light, coz we just going to stay for a night 😂

Just want to share some trick and tips for a light and budget packing. For those who using contact lens, I’m pretty sure you got a lot lot of these right???!! Contact lens casing. When you buy the saline, you will probably get one. I have a lot, so I try to multipurpose the use of it.

I don’t have any allergic to plastic and kinda rough and tough skin, so I can use this way. For those who have a very sensitive skin, it is not advisable to store your skin care like this 😅

Okay, that’s all for now..tonight I’m going to pack my cloths..and just using my laptop backpack!! Hahaha!! I’m not a lazy traveller..I’m just a minimalist on budget 😃😄😆😅

Till then….see you in next post…

To Be Continue…

Love, Sofia