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).

Review: Combi Mechacal Handy Auto4Cas Stroller (Handy 4x) - Lightest Auto Swivel Stroller

Vern @ 22mo on the Combi Mechacal Handy 4x Stroller - May 2017

I am fortunate enough to be selected to review this awesome stroller - the Combi Mechacal Handy Auto4Cas (Handy 4x) Stroller.

I mean, I'm sure most of us here have at least heard of the Combi brand. It is one of the most famous baby brands out there, so I was ecstatic to be able to try out this newest stroller from Combi.

So for those who haven't heard of Combi. Here goes:



SO WHO AND WHAT IS COMBI

Combi was established in 1957 in Japan, the foundation took place for over 50 years. Derived from the word "combination", Combi hopes to create a relationship with all the destined people. It strives to ensure the work of primary caregivers is enjoyable and to make it easier for all family members to experience the happiness of baby caring.

Today, Combi is one of the largest and oldest specialist producers of baby products in the world today.

(Source: http://www.combi.com.hk/)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND PRODUCT FEATURES

The package was delivered to my home in a very large vertical box. The box was hardy and was in quite good condition when delivered to me. Not much dents on the box or whatsoever.

Opening up the top flap of the box revealed the contents inside. There were more cardboard pieces for more cushioning of the content. 

 

When I took the stroller out, the whole thing was wrapped in a large plastic bag. This is to further protect it from dust and moisture. Very good packaging indeed.

And then it was time to unwrap the plastic. In it revealed the Combi Mechacal Handy Auto4Cas (Handy 4x) Stroller in Garnet/Shine Black in colour.

It also came with a Dacco Seat cushion, which comprises of a Head Support and Hip Support. This Dacco Seat cushion is mostly used for infants, and it absorbs and disperses impact evenly.
This is a new design and is now machine washable, which makes cleaning more convenient.

And of course it also came with a manual. 

So let's see how the stroller looks like when free standing/folded.
These are the front view, back view and side view photos of the stroller. Love the colour. Looks elegant and neutral gender colour. Which means it doesn't matter if you have a baby boy or a girl, this colour is suitable for both genders.

 

I asked both of my younger kids to stand near the stroller, so you can kinda gauge how tall is the stroller. 

My youngest is 22mo and the other is 4+ yo. Both of them were happy to be my models. :)

Yes, as the tag says, this stroller is only 4.9kg, which makes it the lightest auto swivel stroller in the market for now.
This is especially great for petite mums who can't handle huge, bulky stroller, especially when out with the baby alone!

 

And this is how the stroller looks like when it is opened.
I noticed that the seat of this stroller is actually higher than the rest of my other strollers.
This model has a high seat position of 55cm. This position raises the baby above ground-based allergens.
Besides this, the baby also has a better higher view of what is in front of the baby, compared to just looking at people's legs and butts all the time. ;P

Let's now see how it looks like with little Vern strapped into it.
It has a One Touch 5-point harness, which means that with just one push of the button, the 5-point harness comes unlocked.
And with the harness being 5-point, it means Vern is very securely strapped into the stroller.

 

This stroller actually has 170 degree full reclining seat, making this stroller suitable for newborns.
We only use the full reclining function only when Vern fell asleep in it, as he is no more a newborn and prefers to be upright when awake. However, the many reclining degree makes it more comfortable for the baby no matter which position the baby is in.

It has a flexible front safety bar, like all their Combi strollers, which I love.
The safety front bar means baby can sit right up and look out of the pushchair while being adequately restrained. The material is soft, and this soft and flexible bumper means that baby will not get hurt if they bite or kick it. 

 

Look at how comfy Vern is while we went shopping?

 

It has a large canopy, which is really good as it is able to cut over 99% of ultra-violet ray in sunlight.
It can also help to protect against a light drizzle.

The canopy also has two mesh windows. 

The first is at the front where the baby can look out of the stroller. 

The other one is at the back, so that the mummy can peek into the stroller to check on the baby while pushing it. 

My boy likes to play peekaboo with me with the canopy as well. This proved to be rather useful when we sometimes needed to wait in queue so it had something to keep him occupied while being strapped into the stroller. 

 

There are also many other benefits in which it will show better if being demonstrated.

I'd put together a short video clip on some of the features of this stroller, especially the 360 degree automatic swivel wheels. 

Take a look at this short video clip:

You can see in the video, how easy it is to maneuver it even in 360 degree. The ride is smooth with its 360 degree automatic swivel wheels! Not only that, you can even switch to a front view steering by reversing the handle and enjoy the same smooth automatic swivel wheels!

And with its one-touch folding and unfolding, you can manage the stroller effortlessly and give you more confidence when you are out with your baby alone. You can fold the stroller with one hand while holding your baby on the other hand.

Just like how it was shown in the video, this stroller can be free standing when folded, which makes everything easier when you go out with your baby alone. You don't have to put it lying down on the floor, or find a wall for it to lie against. It can stand on its own.

And also the hand strap makes it easy to carry your stroller to the boot of your car etc. I love this.

There are also some of the other benefits are not shown on the video;

The material used in this stroller is actually designed on ultra-shock absorbent system and soft suspension. 

The ultra shock absorbent Eggshock pad and the wider wheels installed in Handy 4x absorbs the vibration and shock when using the stroller on different terrains, making it a comfortable and smoother ride for the baby.

I did try using it on the smooth floors of the mall, the rough tarred road, and also on the bumpy grassy field and I had no problems maneuvering this stroller with Vern in it! 

And also thanks to the new Air-through seat design installed, this increases the ventilation and comfort level of the baby. 
No problem at all pushing this stroller to the park even in our warm and humid weather. Baby is kept cool in the stroller.

However, I find this stroller not too suitable for people with small car boot space, as it does not fold too compactly as umbrella strollers.
But then umbrella strollers is another stroller category all by itself, so I guess this is not an apple to apple comparison.

Another is that it has a relatively short body, but then this stroller is meant for newborns until 15kg (which is about 36 months) so this stroller caters for newborn up to toddlerhood only.

But all in all, I still think this is an awesome stroller.
The best is that it is only 4.9kg, and its 360 degree automatic swivel wheels, which makes it the lightest auto-swivel stroller in the market for now!

It is really recommended for any parent, especially for mums who are usually going out alone with just your baby, as this stroller is light and easy to manage.

So now, let me end this blog post with a photo of my Vern happily sitting in his Combi Mechacal Handy Auto4Cas Stroller (Handy 4x) - the lightest Auto Swivel Stroller!

TO PURCHASE

Please visit Combi's Facebook Page to purchase.

* Disclosure: I received a Combi Mechacal Handy Auto4Cas Stroller for review purpose, but no monetary incentive was received. All text and opinions are of my own and represents my honest opinion of the product(s).

Khye's First Piano Recital

12 September 2017 - Khye @ 5yo

Just like his brother, Khye also started piano lessons when he turned 4yo. He had been going for Yamaha classes since end of last year.

And after much delay and postponement, finally it was their mini piano recital/concert in September 2017, just 2 days before he turns 5yo. (Yes, I am 3 mths late in posting this!)

Khye had been waiting ages for it! He had been practising hard for it.
And so I'm going to jot this memory down, just like what I did for his brother 3 years ago.

And since I super love Shern's teacher, I got the same teacher for Khye as well. And I had been dutifully sitting in classes with Khye every week.
I enjoy the 1+ hr I get to be alone with Khye and fully concentrate just on him. Khye calls it "Mummy and Yiu-Khye's time"! Very precious indeed!

This is my 2nd round (my 3rd year) sitting in for Khye and I think I'm a little bit smarter nowadays although I have no music background myself.
I now know how to listen to chords, what are cadence etc. Haha.

But I must say his teacher makes learning sooooo fun.
Khye loves going to class, where he gets stickers for good behaviour and good playing. lol #gettingstickersishistoppriorityinlife

This mini recital was actually just for the kids to experience what was it like to be on stage.
The audience was just the parents and siblings of the kids performing. Not too big a crowd. Just nice.

My handsome cute little darling Khye, all dressed up for his recital.

This is a short clip of Khye's first ever piano recital, him playing 2 short songs - Hush A Bye and Jingle Bells.
He was a little nervous but I think he did great! We were mighty proud of him!
I love how he introduced himself. ;)

Look at him fully concentrating on his pieces.

This was when he was introducing himself to the audience. ;)

After that, it was party time!

The teacher, as usual, being a "big kid" came with balloons and gifts for the kids and stickers too of course!

Here are Khye's classmates, but I blurred their faces coz I think the parents won't be too happy if they see their kids' photos here without permission. 

And this is his teacher, who told me he is too shy to be on the internet. ;)

Thank you teacher for all your guidance and dedication to the kids.
I always believe that choosing the right teacher is so important!

It was a great night!
And well done, Khye! :)



Photo Credits: The clearer pics are taken by my friend Aaron.

Khye Taking the Best Reader Award In His Class!

6 Nov 2017 - Best Reader in English

While I was in Bangkok, hubby sent me a photo of Khye bringing home an award from school - Best Reader award!

If you can remember, he bagged the Best Reader in Chinese last year.
And so hubby went to ask, if this Best Reader award is in the English subject? The teacher told him yes, is in English.
And she mentioned that he also did very well for his Chinese, just like last year, but then each person can only take him one award and "must give people chance". Not sure if this means he bagged it too, but nevertheless we are #superproudparents! :D

Khye started reading rather fluently sometime beginning of this year, when he was about 4 1/2 years old. And since then, he has been reading most of the books his level with no problems.
He brings books home from school every week, and 90% of the time, he could read all the words in the book all by himself without help.

Reading to our kids every night before they sleep pay off.
Nowadays, Peter settles the reading bedtime routine with Khye. Either, Peter reads to him, or he reads to Khye. It depends on which books Khye chooses.

I think it is important that they kids get to choose the books they like to read, or to read to.
We, as parents, can guide, or narrow down the books. But ultimately, let the kid chooses.
Reading, after all, needs to be fun!

But, remember, each kid reads at their own pace! Just be patient!
Shern only started reading fluently at 6+yo, and  he is now a bookworm.


Congratulations Khye, we are very proud of you!
You are doing really well at 5 years old!