Alvin’s Swimming Pal ~

Here is another Alvin’s swimming pal…

It’s an Asian Arowana!

On the Lord’s Errand: The Life of Thomas S. Monson

Learning & Living the Gospel #4 ~ Read a recent conference address given by the prophet. Decide what you can do to follow the prophet, and do it.

It is the 4th part of the lesson of the Prophet and Apostles. I am thinking of make it an easy and interesting one. I learned that our church did produce a video on President Thomas S. Monson, our living Prophet.

It featured the biography of President Thomas S. Monson’s life and highlights some of his great memories and experiences.

Included in this video are interviews with President Monson, family members, and friends.

I personally watched it before I decided for this activity for the children.

I felt so touched and grateful for he is our prophet, as the Lord prepared His Servant from very young age.

And, President Monson is no other just like an ordinary person like you and me, and he has a very kind, charitable and like to serve heart and mind.

We are using tablet to watch it. Both naughty Issac and Annabelle not really concentrate while watching the video, it is an hour video.

It might be too long for them, because there are a lot of interviews and talking in the video.

I am the one whom more love it ! I love what he said in the end of the video:

“I have a testimony of this great work in which we are engaged. I don’t know when I first obtained it. I think it came step by step, from goodly parents. I’ve always had a testimony. The sweetest experience i know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfilment of someone’s prayer or someone’s need. I always want the lord to know that if he needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him. I’m so grateful for His example, and that’s who we serve.”

                     

I am planning of make it a family home evening program that we shall watch it together a family.

Port Dickson Picnic 12 Dec 2016

Today is a holiday. Our small family have a picnic at the seaside at Port Dickson. It was an enjoyable day.

We had an evening walk near the club house at our home. The decorations of the Christmas is on! So lovely!

Nice Catching Up with Brother Ambrose 10 December 2016

Brother Ambrose came to Kuala Lumpur together with Lyndon, to enrol the new coarse for Lyndon. His college is at Cyberjaya. Time flies, Lyndon is going to college to further his higher education studies.

We fetched them at the Board Walk Hotel at Taylors Lakeside University, and wondering around at SS2 PJ area, then only fetch both to their another hotel at Bukit Bintang area.

Malacca Weekend Trip 3-4 Dec 2016

2 weeks after we came back from Bali, early December our family had a weekend trip down to Malacca.

It is a trip together with Brother Andrew’s family and Sister Agatha’s family and with mother-in-law.

We woke up early in the morning around 7.30am, and Daddy drove down to Malacca already. We arrived at Malacca round 9.30am.

It was so fortunate that we managed to find a parking at the street along the street where our hotel is – Hotel Puri which was booked by Brother Andrew.

While waiting for them in Malacca, we have our morning walk at the Jonker Street.

Some of the shops still not yet opened, some already opened. We visited the interesting places such as Kling Mosque, the Hindu Temple, etc.

We have our brunch at a famous shop called Pin Pin Hiong at the corner which is a restaurant serving awesome Hainanese food.

With just one old Uncle doing all of the cooking, and it was packed when we were there with huge crowd.

We have to wait for our brunch to arrive but it’s totally worth it.

After our brunch, we walked along the river and have some shaved ice.

And, we have a look at the remains of the Fort of Malacca Bastian Victoria. Both kids did shop some souvenirs for themselves.

We still love the riverside or river front of Malacca. It looks so beautiful and nice walking along.

Sometimes the passengers on the river cruise will wave their hands to us as they passed by. It feels so warm and friendly.

Once in a while, we can see the komodo lizards which are staying near the river banks or underneath the bridge.

We were wondering around the area and only got to know that they just on their way to Malacca.

It was around 3.00pm that Brother Andrew’s, Sister Agatha’s families arrived at Malacca.

We checked in together to the Hotel Puri, settled our things and room.

Then, we came out to walk again at the Jonker Street night market.

Daddy helped to take some really nice family photographs or to be exact, We-fie.

Our family have a dinner at one of the restaurants at Jonker Street.

It do have a Chinese traditional big round marble table which can sit and accommodate the whole families of us.

The food is average, but the time spent together during dinner time is priceless.

On the second day which was a Sunday, after we check-out from the Hotel Puri.

Brother Andrew’s family and Sister Agatha’s family checked in to the A-Famosa Resort & Theme Park.

We just followed to the A Famosa Theme Park. Brother Andrew had booked a Villa which have 4 bedrooms with a individual swimming pool. The villa have a huge living room and dining room. It was a great Villa.

But, both Daddy and Mummy cannot join as the next day is a working day, and we need go back to work. And, princess is in the house alone.

Both Issac and Annabelle were so eagerly wanted to join them for a day for Sunday, thus Daddy and Mummy thinking of let both of them have a fun day with their cousins.

Then, we would fetch both at Brother Andrew’s house after they check out and back to Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

It is a short trip, but really fun for all of us!

We met one cleaning lady at Hotel Puri, which she offered to take some photographs of our family in the courtyard. It is so green and beautiful!

Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport

Our first and last day of Bali, a place where we definitely go through is the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Frankly, I was pretty amazed during the day we arrived at the night time. The high ceiling volumn, the vibrant carpet colour and the lighting ambiance really surprised me!

The airport is huge and clean. There were extra arrival immigration counters being opened when our aircraft arrived. The waiting time for our check in baggage was short and the terminal signs were very clear.

For our returning flight, we arrived the airport more than 4 hours before flight after checked-out from Novotel, we thought we might have a long wait at the check in area, but there was early check in service available for AirAsia. The check in counter staff was friendly and cheerful.

The airside is very spacious, with many duty free shops and restaurants. The airport lounges are available one floor above the departure level.

They still have that strange passage through the Dufry shop going out and in the transit area, but so do a lot of other airports.

There is a reasonable amount of shopping and dining that is to be had and gate seating is ample. And, we had all the time we have while waiting for the boarding time.

Despite the large number of tourists arriving and departing, the airport is pretty well maintained and queues in immigration, both inbound and outbound were reasonably fast moving.

The only thing that need to be improved is that some parts of the airport are hot, I could see many people fanning themselves.

But overall I liked this airport.

Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

It was the last day of our vacation in Bali, we checked out from Hawaii Bali Villa around 11.00am using Grab car.

That was the first time we were using Grab apps in foreign country and our first ever experience using Grab. Frankly, it was so fast and so efficient! I think we will use more if we were here again.

Our flight back to Kuala Lumpur was around 8.55pm, actually there was still a lot of time to visit a place or two if want. But we were thinking of may be just drop our luggage at the air port first, then only took a Taxi or Grab to the nearest place and walk around.

Unfortunately, during we reached air port we can hardly find one shop that can do the luggage storage and it really costs a boom just to put one luggage.

Plus seeing the weather was so hot, and we were thinking of may be just check-in to the air port hotel and rest before the flight tonight. And, here we went to the Novotel Bali Ngurah Airport.

The hotel is located within walking distance from the arrivals exit. It is well signposted, however is marked as "Airport Hotel" rather than Novotel. It took about 5mins to walk under a covered walkway.

We went up to the reception counter and asked about the rate as we only may be have few hours only.

Thus, the front desk staff is very helpful and offered us a 4 hours stay at the discounted rate and we shall check-out at 4pm. It was due to we have to check-in to the counter around 6.00pm.

Check in was friendly and we were given a welcome drink while they checked us in. The porter escorted us and our luggage to the room which was on the third floor.

The room was light and a bit small but it was sufficient enough for us as we just took a rest before our flight.

It was clean throughout and still had a new feel to it. The bed was comfortable. There was a safe. Tea and coffee making facility and the complementary in-room Wi-Fi was decent.

The bathroom was clean with a western style toilet. The shower was a large rainfall style one with view into the room. There is a privacy blind as well. Water temperature varied from cool to scalding during shower which was disappointing in an otherwise great room.

There is a nice pool in an inner courtyard with some loungers. Both children and Daddy went for a swim after put down our luggage in the room.

It was a great ‘short stay’ for us and it is really convenient for us to go to the check-in to the International Departure Hall with the special access  given.

This actually expedite the process of checking and clearing the custom of our luggage. The staffs are very friendly and polite. We would definitely stay again if transiting through Bali.