EUROPE EXCURSION

19 December 2014, the whole of Bustanu Pahamin residence except for the 9 maids, 5 guards and 4 drivers, left with 30 luggages weighing 270kg in total for a 17 hours flight inc 2 hours transit in Doha on Qatar flight from Kuala Lumpur to London Heathrow. Prepared for the expected coldest winter in Europe, we brought along 5kg rice, three rice cookers and 2 bags of food including sambal belacan, big huge bottle of already fried salted fishes (ikan kering) and anchovies (baso darak kato oghe Kelatae).

Sambal belacan, Ikan kering, all snacks & food, the 270kg of luggages, 22 passengers + 2 infants safely arrived in Heathrow London at 130pm and were greeted by the friendly English Parlo tour guide to a big coach to bring us to Elvedon Forest, Centre parcs in Suffolks. The weather was friendly without any rain but twice colder than the average aircondition room in Malaysia.

After an almost 2 hours of drive, we arrived at Centre Parcs around 5pm and the weather was less friendly.... Colder!! 

We checked into a total of three 3 bedroom cabins and one 4 bedroom cabin and had Anny's hot home cook meal to end the day. Anny, Aaraf and I was in the same cabin with Wawa, Doc Ta, Shazrai & Shazrhy. Wawa, Shazrai & Aaraf went for a walk in the coldest weather to collect our £30 per day rented bicycle which was the primary source of transportation in the 400 acres of resort. They also went and did some grocery while Anny & I retired as early as 7pm.

Jet lagged, we woke up at 3am and cooked fried rice and sausages. By 7am we were ready for our first activity for the day.

We had pre-booked all activities at the Centre Parcs. Each of the activity cost approximately RM180 or £30 exc 20% VAT. 

Our first activity was High Rope, Jacobs Ladder. Secured by a harness, we had to climbed up on team work basis, 7 levels up. Team work means, we had to support each other to climb each step up. The height vary from one step to the next. The heights from the third to the fourth is about 5 feet and the highest step is as high as 9 feet (I think, maybe more).

 

   

 

 

 

Anny Chunraem, Aaraf Armin, Rafel Rhiza, Raina Rhiza, Rees Azhar and I only managed to reach the fourth level and had to abandon when Raina & Aaraf gave up. 

We continued our activity with wall climbing. I had my first taste of wall climbing at Camp 5, One Utama with Rose Emini Pahamin many years back. Being height phobic, I didn't enjoy as much anything to do with height.. Gayat wei!!!! ...but Rees reached the peak twice. Aaraf & Rafel managed to reach mid point and Anny had 2 attempts.

 

It was a great experience climbing in the cold weather and the soonest we completed the two activities, we went back to our cabin for Ibu's homecook hot Nasi lemak!!! That's heaven especially in the cold.

Anny, Aaraf, Rafel, Rees, Leona and I proceeded with our 3rd activity with the Segway adventure. We impatiently cycle to the outdoor activity area but Rees & Leona was declined entry being underweight. All participants must be more than 7 stone in weight. For once, I was grateful with Aaraf's weight. Both Aaraf & Rafel were all smiley.

  

The Segway was a good experience. We should get that for transportation in Bustanu.. 

We rode into the forest but was pre-warned not to speed. Rafel & Aaraf was not pleased. Have it their way, they wanted to rammed the Segway to its maximum speed.

After the Segway, we cycled to the club house of sort, parked our bicycle and walk around enjoying every moment.

I have not cycled for many years since I retire from those dualthon & triathlon activities. Cycling in the forest, brought back those good cycling memories when we used to clock 200km mileage a week. 

This year marked our 10 years anniversary since we cycled our first longest distance from KL to Port Dickson. We were a bunch of crazy gym-goers then whom started out with RPM classes at the Fitness First gym. Everyday, we would attend to 3-4 RPM classes as part of our training before we actually ride outdoor. That Port Dickson cycle was also the period when we were hit by the biggest tsunami. Masya Allah time flies and Allah swt protected us.

 Our day ends looking forward to the next activity!! But of course, after a good food... A man got to do what a man has to do...

After makan... we hang out near the fire to keep us warm.

To be continued..

NEW YEAR EVE WITH SERAMBI EMAS AT KUALA LUMPUR TOWER

A last minute invitation from Serambi Emas, where my father is the Chairman landed us at the Kuala Lumpur tower for a corporate party to end the year 2013. Serambi Emas is a company principally involved in the trading of gold bars and gold bullion. While Azhar Sulaiman and the battalion from the 3rd infantry/generation awaits the midnight countdown at Bustanu Pahamin with various firework, we had a good dinner dining with a birds eye view of Kuala Lumpur. The plan was to be home before the new year.

Serambi Emas alike most of us, has its own New Year resolution and the KL Tower was chosen in line with its resolution to be at the top above everything else. We must have resolutions every year. Without it, every year will be just another year and a year that is lost, will be gone forever. We cannot turn back time but we can make the best of the future if we carefully plan with a resolution.

(Click on picture to enlarge).