Glamping With Kids: Lost World of Tambun @ Ipoh

Camping @ Lost World of Tambun - 6-7 Jan 2018

So last weekend, I took my kids for glamping @ Lost World of Tambun (LWOT) in Ipoh.

Glamorous + Camping = Glamping!

We were initially apprehensive if we should go on with our Glamping plans as just on Friday, a few places in Penang was flooded as it rained for like 12hrs+.
But I've already postponed this trip twice, and I dared not postpone again.
So we decided to just go and try our luck!

So, Hubby & I took Shern & Khye for a 2 hour ride to Ipoh. My sis, Min tagged along too.
I left Vern to my parents as he is a bit too young for all the water slides. If he had went, guess who would'nt get to play? "_"
So thanks to my parents & ah-yee taking care of Vern for the weekend.

Reached LWOT at about 10.15am.
Took a happy photo with these macho guys at the entrance. (Erm, not all are macho. The one next to me has like 6 packs though!)

Us with the Macho Guys

Then we saw this ghostly woman in costume and I asked if they would like to take a photo with her too. Surprisingly, Khye also said yes. And look at his wide smile.
I guess my Khye is a baby no more.  

Shern & Khye with the Eerie lady

We didn't know where to check-in. Went to the Theme Park entrance to ask, then they pointed us to the Hotel to register. The hotel is opposite the road of the Theme Park.  On the way there, saw a buggy driver and he told us checking-in is at the Theme Park entrance.

Went back there and the person at the counter said we have to check-in at the hotel first. No choice but to walk back there again. Upon reaching the hotel, saw the driver and he told us we must register at the Theme Park. I told him we've been going to and fro several times already.
In the end he drove us there and accompanied us for the check-in and registration.

Not a very good start to our day.
But after 15 mins, we got our wrist band tickets and breakfast voucher and everything.
The buggy driver drove us to our campsite which is located in the Theme Park itself.

Us in the Buggy Ride

That's the buggy bringing us to our campsite. 

Upon reaching the campsite, I quickly calmed down as I love how serene the place was.
The campsite is in Adventure Park, just next to the Zip Line activity.

There are 5 campsites just next to each other along one bank of the lake.
And another one near to the toilet.
And lastly another floating tent on the lake itself. (Will never choose this one! I will sure vomit in there lol)

The Floating Campsite

Campsite#4 and #5 were already taken. But the rest, we got to pick since we arrived so early.
We chose Campsite#3, which was more shaded by the trees.
I figured out we needed the shade in case it got too hot. And also needed the shade if it rained too heavily! "_"

This is how our tent/campsite looked like from the side view. 

Look how shaded it was. 

Love the wooden table and bench provided outside our tent. 

Now let's look inside.
Our tent was long in shape.
At one end was the queen sized bed, where hubby & I slept.
At the other end opposite us were the kids' beds.
And there was a small table/drawer in the middle with 2 fans plugged in.
There was even a full length mirror with some hangers behind, and a small close-lid rubbish bin there.

  

4 mineral water bottles were provided (you can ask for more if not enough).
They also provided for us shampoo, body gel and body lotions.
There was also a towel each.
And most importantly of all, there was a power socket for us to charge our phones!

TIP: Bring a 3-way electric socket so that you can charge more than 1 devices at the same time!

They also provide you a padlock with 2 keys to lock up your tent.
But we brought our own coz ours is the lock with the numbers so easier as we don't have to keep the keys!!! :)

This is the view when peering out of our tent "door". So peaceful and nice.

There are kayaks which you can use it to kayak on the lake. Look at the life jackets hanging there.

 Us standing next to our campsite.

 

So many people ask me, "how to go to toilet and shower ah?"
Do not fret.
There is a toilet/shower building just nearby there.
This is the building. Looking really good right?

This is the front view.
On the right is the Shower area divided into Male and Female.
Male and Female has 2 shower rooms each.

And on the left is the Toilet divided into Male and Female.
Male and Female also has 2 toilet rooms each.

In front of the Toilet is the open tap area. This is where you brush your teeth etc.
There is also a sink in the shower area where you can brush your teeth there too.

Oh ya, and the toilet is very, very clean. No smell.

And nearby our campsites is this common area where you can buy some drinks/snacks or just to chit chat and play some darts.

Hot water and Coffee is also provided there.

And this is the place where you can request for buggy rides to get to the entrance / breakfast place etc.

I was glad we went because the weather was nearly perfect.
First of all, we were glad it did not rain the whole day like the day before.
It was cloudy the day we arrived all the way until about 4+pm when it started to drizzle.

By that time, we finished all the Wet Park and everyone was already very tired.
Khye even slept on the Train Ride on the way back to campsite.
We rested awhile there where Khye took a 1-hour nap in the tent.

And then at about 6pm we came out again to have some dinner at the food court and then off we went for the Night Hot Sprint Spa. (will blog more about it in the next blog post).

After that, we went back to our campsite to call it a day.
Everyone showered and brushed our teeth and we all slept at 10+pm!

We zipped up our tent all the way because we didn't want strangers peering into our tent while we were sleeping (just in case!).
But if you want, you can leave one zip open, it will be locked but with a mosquito netting while the air can blow in.

We turned on the fan and we still need the comforters provided.
So I should say it was a really cooling and pleasant night sleep in the tent.


Love again how we were surrounded by the limestone hills and lotsa greeneries.

 Mirror-lake View :)

My kids enjoy their many buggy rides with the very nice uncle driver where they get to sit in front sometimes. :)

Taking photo with the nice Uncles before we checked out.
These guys take shifts and they are the ones taking care of us throughout our Glamping stay.
They are also the Buggy Drivers / Receptionist / Zip Line guides.
They are all very very nice people.

So besides the slight hiccup when we first arrived, it was an amazing stay.
We truly enjoyed our Glamping Stay there where we were so nicely taken care of.

So how much did we pay for it?
We took the Family Package for RM588!!!


Family Package - RM588
> Glamping 2 Days 1 Night for 2 Adults + 2 Kids
> 2 Days Day & Night Theme Park for 2 Adults + 2 Kids (inclusive of Wet Park, Dry Park, Night Hot Spring Park/Spa, Day & Night Petting Zoo)
> Buffet Breakfast for 2 Adults + 2 Kids

Add on - RM120 per adult including Extra Bed, Buffet Breakfast and 2 Days Theme Park.


It was soooooo worth it! Check out the entrance fee and you will see how worth it, it was!
And we had so much fun there!
I will blog more about our 2 days in the Lost World of Tambun in the next post....



p/s - I booked this last year.
It looks like price has been increased to RM788 now for Family Package. (So I paid RM588 only so I lagi feel is super worth it!)

***Please take note that this post is NOT sponsored. I booked the Family Package myself and paid with my own money. All text and opinions are of my own and represents my honest opinion of the product(s)/service(s).

Sabah With Kids: An Adventurous Day @ Kundasang & Ranau in Sabah

16 October 2017 @ Kinabalu Pine Resort with the Mount Kinabalu backdrop

We stayed in Kundasang for one night and it was one of the best decision ever.

We stayed in Kinabalu Pine Resort, which is a chalet/cabin type of accommodation, situated among beautiful pine trees.
But the main reason we chose this place is the magnificent view of Mount Kinabalu.

The wooden cabins built we stayed in are surrounded by beautiful, lush Pine Trees and have a magnificent view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu.

The price is quite reasonable too as the standard cabin can fit our family of 5 with an extra mattress. And it comes with breakfast and dinner too!

 

Source: Source: http://www.kakgojes.com/2016/08/homestay-hotel-dan-penginapan-di-kundasang.htmlSource: http://beautifulkk.com/2008/03/06/kinabalu-pine-resort
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The wind was howling the whole night as we were surrounded by trees and such. We all thought it was raining but it wasn't. Just the loud rustling of the trees in the surrounding.
It was super chilly in the morning. It was only 16 dC when we woke up at 7am! What a nice change from the usually hot & humid Malaysia. 

And so we whipped out our semi-thick jackets in the morning. 

Look at the view while walking to their humble restaurant for breakfast. Beautiful pine trees and the mountain behind. So beautiful right?

 

 

This is at the top terrace overlooking the nearby village, and again with the mountain view.

I think given another chance, I would have chose to stay there for 2 nights instead of 1 while we explored the nearby area. We loved it so much there. 

Upon reaching the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, our hired driver picked us up in his van and off we went straight to our accomodation in Kundasang.

RUMAH TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN HOUSE @ Tamparuli

On our way from the airport to Kundasang, we stopped at the Rumah Terbalik / Upside Down House in Tamparuli, Sabah.

By the way, we flew direct from Penang to Kota Kinabalu via Air Asia. 

The entrance fees were quite steep when compared to the rest.

There is the fee to go inside the Upside Down House and also a separate fee for the 3D Wonders Museum, or you can get the Combo package.  

The Rumah Terbalik is supposedly the first one in Malaysia, but to tell the truth, inside the house is nothing much. It is a guided tour and no photos allowed inside. (We think because if you know what is inside, no one would wanna go in haha). We finished touring in like 15 minutes or less. "_"

Yes, the interior of this Upside Down House. Skip it if you can. :P

 

But the outside of the house has a few booth featuring upside down stuff, like this one below.

But both the kids and adult had soooo much fun posing for it!

See how Vern also joined in the fun and clung onto my leg. 

As usual, our hair gave it away! lol

 And our favourite is the 3D museum.
We all spent a loooong time inside there. There wasn't much crowd so we had so much fun taking turns posing for the camera. I think we spent like more than 1 hour for this place.
I won't spoil it here with all the photos. Bring your kids there. I think they would love it. Just these 2 photos to let you see how they are like.
ok, we don't really know how to pose though. haha.

Rumah Terbalik / Upside Down House

Entrance Fees & Operation Hours

DESA CATTLE FARM @ Kundasang

After breakfast the following morning after our night in Kinabalu Pine Resort, our driver for the day came to pick us up at 7.45am. 

And then we headed straight to Desa Cattle Farm not too far away.

The main reason I chose to go there is because that place has my favourite view of the Mount Kinabalu as it is located at the foothill of the mountain. And with its fat cows and pine trees and majestic mountains views, we felt like we were in New Zealand. 

Weather also seemed like it was in New Zealand. It was windy and chilly so early in the morning.

See....New Zealand picture-perfect view right?

All of us donning the thickest jacket we bought.
It was school holidays so it was packed. Majestic mountain behind but ugly vans n cars in the photo. Blueks.

See how my hair was blowing away with the strong wind, and baby Vern holding close to me to shield from the strong wind. 

Ok, a more decent wefie of all of us with the mountain and the fat cows (without the vans).
You can't really see it here but the cows were all really fat.

One more of the 5 of us.

Desa Cattle Dairy Farm

Opening Hours: Open Daily, 8am-5pm

Adult: RM5, Child: RM4

PORING HOT SPRING (We skipped this)

After that, we went to Poring for the Canopy Walkway.
It is the same place as the famous Poring Hot Spring. You need to go through the Hot Spring to get to the Canopy Walkway and also to the Waterfall.

So therefore, you need to purchase the entrance fee of the Poring Hot Spring, which is RM3 for adult, and RM1 for child. Senior Citizens only pay RM1 too.

I did not choose to go to the Hot Spring because the last time I went, I was so disappointed with it. It was no natural hotspring from the ground, but is channeled via "taps" into a few different tubs.
A tub can fit 4-5 adults.
So it is basically turning on the tap for the "hot spring water" - no difference from the hot tub in my house.

And so we skipped that.
Here is a photo of it as we passed by, just in case you are still keen to go.

We just took a photo in front of this plague. ;)

PORING CANOPY WALKWAY 

Just walk past the Hot Spring and follow the sign boards that says Canopy Walkway. Our driver / guide also walked with us.

As you can see, there is another entrance fee for the Canopy Walkway, but it is reasonably priced at RM3 for adult, and RM1.50 for child. But the charge RM5 for per camera. 

It was about 15 minutes hike up mostly stairs and we see beautiful nature along our hike. 

So old and young all hiked up to the canopy walkway.

 

   

I was babywearing Vern up and you know him being such a big n tall baby kinda blocked my view. Thank goodness it was an easy hike. 

  

There were 3 hanging walkway suspended high onto the tallest tropical trees, and the last one was the longest and thus swing the most. 

It was fun for all, even for my dad who is scared of heights!

 

Hiking down was easier of course and it took us about 10 minutes to reach the intersection. We decided to hike up to the Kipungit Waterfall as well.

KIPUNGIT WATERFALL 

There is no entrance fee for this hike to the waterfall, so it was free.

The hike up this waterfall also took us around 15 minutes. But the hike was more gradual. Less stairs and less steep so it was a leisurely height.

I decided to backcarry Vern and luckily this time he obliged. And so it was a much easier hike for me although I'm carrying a 15kg baby on my back! But at least my view is not obstructed. :)

  

  

I have always loved waterfalls and surprisingly, it was not too crowded there.

 Even Vern was happy soaking his legs into the cool water.

The most fun is that we all had a mini fish spa at the water. The water was so clean and clear that mini fishes came to nibble at our toes and legs. Kids were really enjoying this.

 

We spent almost 45 minutes up there just soaking our feet and having mini fish spa. Then we hiked down.

Hiking down when all the kids want mummy only. ;)

A photo of me babywearing Vern on my back and Shern on my left and Khye on my right! 

I'm really proud that Shern and Khye hiked up and down both the Canopy Walkway and the Waterfall without any complains at all. :)

So it is time to arrange more hiking trips!

FISH SPA AND FISH FEEDING @ BOMBON, KAMPUNG MARAKAU

Next in our list is the Fish Spa.
This is by far our most favourite experience.

We paid RM3 for adults and RM1 for kids and each got a packet of the Fish Food.

 

What is so awesome about this is how huge and enormous these fishes are. And I couldn't imagine having those nibble my feet/legs. See the size of these fishes as compared to our feet.

The guides there taught us how to feed the fishes. By putting the fish food firm into our grip and then let these toothless fishes suck the food out of our palm. My kids got the hang of it real fast.

 

 

Look at how Shern is stroking and petting these fishes as if they were his pets? "_"

 

Vern sat nearby daddy and he also enjoyed feeding them, and also tucking his feet in and up if the fishes got too near him. lol.

He was hesitant initially but then got really brave too in the end. 

 

 

Here is a short clip of my kids feeding the fishes and enjoying their Fish Spa.

To tell the truth, it was a little bit ticklish especially when the fishes sucked so hard trying to nibble the food out of my palm.

But in the end, everyone had so much fun we didn't wanna leave.  

Bombon Kg Marakau Fish Spa

Adult: RM3, Child RM1

ARNAB VILLAGE @ RANAU

This was the last place we went for the day.

This place was quite spacious, and it was like a rabbit's sanctuary. 

It is built on a slope and so the rabbits had some exercise to do. There were tunnels and burrows and shades and etc. 

We liked that you could go near and personal to the rabbits. You could hug and feed them and stroke them. My kids certainly had fun doing all those.

 

My pet-lover son. He even smelled the rabbits as he fed them! "_"

 

Even Vern was getting really brave!

 

Arnab Village

Adult: RM3\5, Child: RM3, Senior Citizen: Free

After awhile it started to drizzle, so we left the place at about 4pm. And we headed straight to our accomodation in Kota Kinabalu. 

It was a tiring but really adventurous day we had. 

It was back to nature for all of us and the kids and even the adults had a marvelous time in Kundasang and Ranau.

So for all of you heading to Kota Kinabalu, please don't give Kundasang and Ranau a miss, especially if you have kids!

There are lots to do and see!

Stay tuned for the next part of our trip to Sabah........




***Our Driver for Kota Kinabalu-Kundasang/Ranau-Kota Kinabalu

I would recommend him because he was quick to respond Whatsapp messages, which made planning easier. He also helped to plan the route to optimize the time.
He also volunteered to take some group pics for us.
I liked that he joined us for the hike up to the Canopy Walkway and also to the Kipungit Waterfall, guiding and leading us the way.

For those of you interested in our driver/guide, you can contact him via Whatsapp him at +6014-9550124.
He also has a Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/teksikotakinabalu.taxi
He has his own mpv to cater for smaller groups, or he can also hire a van for bigger groups.

I typed/spoke to him in Bahasa Malaysia, but he knows simple English too.

***Read about our other travelling adventures here in my Travelogue page.