KidZania Kuala Lumpur Opening on 28th Feb at CurveNX

KidZania Kuala Lumpur will be opening on the 28th Feb at CurveNX, Mutiara Damansara. Prior to this, the Foundation Day celebrations started at 2.30pm on the 27th Feb at KidZania Kuala Lumpur with the arrival of media, industry partners and VIP guests. YBhg Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is the Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Education of Malaysia attended the gala event that will be hosted by Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin -Governor of KidZania Kuala Lumpur at about 6pm Malaysian Time. Xavier López Ancona, President of KidZania and the full cabinet of the Central Government of KidZania was also there for this auspicious moment that many have been waiting for. The Deputy Prime Minister spent about one hour visiting the theme park and observing several activities such as rock climbing, fire fighting and flight simulation by AirAsia. Tomorrow marks the official opening for KidZania Kuala Lumpur.

KidZania Kuala Lumpur AirAsia Counter

KidZania Kuala Lumpur is also targeted at kids aged between 4 to 14 years where they can choose among 90 activities from 60 establishments throughout the complex. In other words, KidZania allows kids to play grown-ups in their own mini city. For toddlers and infants aged 0 to 3 years, there is a dedicated section located on the Mezzanine floor called ‘Urbano’s House’.

Dentist at KidZania Malaysia

The kids theme park is  also located in the new Curve NX building at Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya and run by Themed Attractions, the same people that brings us Legoland Malaysia. KidZania can accommodate 1,700 people at any one time across 80,000 sq ft of entertainment space. It spans across 2 stories of space and is a scaled-down version of a real life city. Managed by over 300 staff or Zupervisors, they speak a different language there, Kai (instead of Hi), Zee You (instead of See You or goodbye). It also has its own currency called the KidZos, and kids earn KidZos which can be used to pay for goods and services and also stored in an ATM card! KidZania partners with real-life brands in the adult world to provide authenticity to the experience; banking services and the ATM card are provided by CIMB Bank, AirAsia for its airline partner, KPJ Healthcare for its hospital, Dell for computers and etc.

Cockpit of an AirAsia Airplane in KidZania

At KidZania Kuala Lumpur, adults have to accompany their kids but are not allowed in the activity area except for the Theater and TV Studio. This would be interesting for the kids as they will learn to be by themselves. The overall place is a well-secured facility with over 80 CCTV Cameras and security tags for both parent and child, where a child can only leave the facility with a matching parent tag. The tags are RFIDed to allow teachers and adults to locate their children’s last position, should the need arise. So parents, please check on this.

Medical practice at KidZania Malaysia

KidZania has been well planned, with special areas such as the theater, the club and Urbano’s House for private parties which can host groups of about 50-100 at a go. There are also six different food outlets for parents and children. Parents can dine at these outlets while waiting for their kids, or they can hang around the Independence Square which is at the entrance of the city. Most importantly, they can easily go shopping at Ikea or at the Curve Shopping Center which is just across the building.

KidZania Malaysia Opening Times: 

Mondays to Fridays - 10.00am – 5.00pm

For weekends, school holidays and public holidays there are two sessions:

10.00am-3.00pm and 4.00pm-9.00pm.

KidZania Kuala Lumpur Ticket Prices

• Toddler (3 years and below) – RM35 (MyKad & Non-MyKad)
• Child (4-14 years) – RM55 (MyKad) / RM75 (Non-MyKad)
• Adult – RM35 (MyKad) / RM55 (Non-MyKad)
• Senior Citizen - RM30 (MyKad & Non-MyKad)
• *MyKad are Malaysian Identification Cards, Non-Malaysians pay normal rates.

For more information, pictures and stories, you can visit the official KidZania Malaysia website.
You can also call their Careline at 1 300 88 KIDZ (5439)  from 9.00am to 8.00pm (Mondays to Sundays)

For those looking for a Job at KidZania, please see the KidZania Job Opening page to be one of the Zupervisors here.

KidZania Malaysia (Pix from Venusbuzz.com)

*All images taken from KidZania Official Website and VenusBuzz.com.

KidZania Kuala Lumpur
Rakan Riang Sdn Bhd,
Level 9 Menara UAC,
12 Jalan PJU 7/5, Mutiara Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Telephone: 1300 88 KIDZ (5439)
Fax: 603 7839 9488
Email:contact@kidzania.com.my

KidZania Map

View KidZania Kuala Lumpur in a larger map 

Overall, this place has been much awaited by many from all around the country and even some for neighboring countries. You can expect a full house during the first few weeks or even months after the official opening so please book ahead to secure your spot here. You can also park your cars at the Curve Shopping Mall or even at Tesco which is just opposite. With that, I hope many parents will bring their kids to visit Malaysia's latest theme park and kids attraction after the KidZania Kuala Lumpur Opening on 28th Feb at CurveNX, Malaysia.

Tweet

Read More

Holiday Villa Bali Diwangkara Beach Resort

Holiday Villa Bali Diwangkara Beach Resort was one of the hotels I stayed at during my inaugural trip to Bali. Located in the Sanur beach area, this resort styled hotel seems like the perfect place to enjoy the best of both worlds - Balinese beach and also the amazing Balinese culture. When I first arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by Ms.Nonik, the Sales and Marketing manager here and she took me around the resort showing me some of the unique features available here. In my own opinion, I think this place is very suitable for those looking for a nice and quiet vacation in Bali. If you have kids, this would be perfect as the beach is just a stones throw away while attractions are easily accessible from here.

                           Sanur Beach, Bali                                     Balinese Statue at Holiday Villa

Sanur is about 20 minutes drive (10 km away) from Kuta and located in the south eastern side of Bali therefore it is pretty centralized if you are planning on visiting the many places of interest around Bali. The good thing about this 4-star hotel is that there is no traffic madness unlike Kuta town so it will be a breeze moving in and out of the area anytime of the day. Trust me, after visiting Kuta, I was glad I choose to stay here. 

                             Villa entrance                                                                  Balinese Statues

I took a deluxe pool villa unit which was very private with my own plunge pool and mini outdoor garden while the entire unit is surrounded by a wall with traditional Balinese doors at the main entrance. Inside the villa compound lies a well manicured Balinese garden and plunge pool while the patio comes with some traditional furniture. The main villa walls have intricate Balinese carvings that make this experience a whole. 

Villa Patio at Holiday Villa Diwangkara Bali

Entering the villa, I was greeted by a huge super queen sized four poster bed made out of rich wood. Basic amenities are found all over the room while the bathroom and toilet are interconnected to the plunge pool via a separate wooden door. Inspecting the minor details around the villa, I was pleased to find a bright green circular card that mentioned how the hotel participated in the Environmental Ecology Program and asking the guest to participate in the Go Green Practice by reusing towels and putting off lights and television when not using it. A thumbs up from me on seeing this being practiced.

Environmental Ecology Program - Go Green Practice

Queen Size Four Poster Wooden Bed

No doubt the overall feel of the villa is very homely and warm, the air conditioning was amazingly really cold so if you were out during a nice and hot day, you would be looking forward to coming back here. Another thing is that I don't usually watch television as most of the time I am out exploring sights but I was informed that all the units would be going through an upgrade with new LCD TVs.I hope they are going to be the 50 inch ones.

                       Bathroom door to plunge pool                                               Villa Bathroom and Toilet

Villa private plunge pool

As for the bathroom and toilet, it was very spacious and I liked how the doorway led towards the plunge pool outside making it easy to access the shower or tub without running through the main bedroom. Another point I want to highlight is the partial open top concept for the bathroom where natural light can peep through during the day. But not to worry as there is a netting above to prevent leaves and bugs from coming in. Mosquito's? I don't think I saw or experienced any during my stay here.

Walking around the main resort will instantly give you the traditional Balinese feel as the modest and tasteful decorations make the place complete with minimalistic effort. Lush green plants, water features and traditional Balinese statues are placed throughout the grounds. Walking through from the main street entrance of the hotel, you will end up at the main swimming pool area which is just next to the main restaurant. This faces the main Sanur beach and walking street where a hive of activities go on from day to night. There are restaurants and bars located along this mini street for the adventurous and curious guest.

  

                            Swimming Pool                                                            Breakfast at Holiday Villa Bali

Main walking street outside the beach resort in Bali

As I had my daily breakfast facing the sea, I would see many locals and tourist passing by while beach goers are getting themselves tanned on the long spacious beach here at Sanur. Vendors selling all sorts of nick knacks and souvenirs line the walk way while a short three minute walk along the beach road would lead you to the Le Mayeur Museum which is very interesting. Mind you all this is happening at the back entrance of the Holiday Villa Beach Resort. 

Back at the beach resort, the main lobby area is well divided with the reception, business room, a spa and also a mini stage area with the traditional Balinese Pura walls. Free WiFi is available throughout the main lobby area for guest. As for the Kawas Spa, there are numerous types of traditional and relaxing packages ranging from as low as US$14.00 so for those who had a long flight or simply need to cool down with a nice massage, you can easily access this at the lobby area.

For the ladies, there is a pedicure and manicure service available at the Kawas Spa too. And yes, men can also go for this service. For the Malaysian or Muslim travelers, you can easily get local Malaysian styled halal food at the hotel. Most of the staff here speak very good English and Bahasa so communication is not an issue. As most Balinese are Hindus, pork is widely found throughout the island but the Holiday Villa Diwangkara is a halal resort to cater to Muslim travelers as well.

  
                         Outdoor restaurant                                          Beach entrance to Holiday Villa Bali  

For more information, you can visit the official website for Holiday Villa Diwangkara Bali. The below are also the published rack rates in US Dollars for the rooms, bungalows and villas. Please do check the website for monthly promotions on the rooms. Also, if you are staying at any of the Holiday Villa Hotels and Resorts around the world, you may be interested in this as the group is running a Go for Gold Contest where the grand prize is a massive Gold Bar!

Holiday Villa Bali Diwangkara Room Rates

Superior Room: USD145.00 nett
Deluxe Room: USD165.00 nett
Superior Garden Villa: USD185.00 nett
Deluxe Garden Villa: USD195.00 nett
Superior Pool Villa: USD330.00 nett
Deluxe Pool Villa: USD450.00 nett
Antara Pool Villa: USD820.00 nett 

Sanur Beach outside Holiday Villa Diwangkara

How to get to Holiday Villa Diwangkara in Bali

By road via bus or taxi

• Taxi charges from the airport to Denpasar is less than US$3.00.
• The best and most popular taxis are the blue cabs from Bali Taxi (0361-701111) and the orange ones from Praja Taxi Bali (0361-289090).

By road

• Sanur is 20 minutes drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport
• Tickets can be obtained from the train station or on-line booking.
• There is also an international express train service to Bangkok, Thailand, operated by State Railway of Thailand.

By sea

• Two of the four Bali sea ports anchored by international cruise ships and yachts are Benoa, South of Denpasar and Padangbai on the East.
• Regular ferry services the Padangbai-Lombok route four times daily.

 Some of the villa units at Diwangkara Bali

My conclusion to staying at this resort hotel is: If you are looking to be away from the massive crowds in Kuta, this is your perfect choice as it is very strategically located in the southeast of Bali. For the business travelers, you would also be pleased to know that the resort hotel caters for business packages as they are ready to accommodate from 60 to 115 people in fully wireless internet business meeting rooms. There is also a special rate for business travelers on the main website. Overall, if I do visit Bali again in the near future, I would easily choose this hotel over the many others due to the simplicity and warm hospitality found at the Holiday Villa Bali Diwangkara Beach Resort.

Tweet

Read More

Olivia Newton John Live Concert in Genting

Olivia Newton John Live Concert in Genting, Malaysia this March 29, 2012. For more than four decades, Newton-John, 64, has captivated and enthralled the world with her talent, charm and admirable acts of humanitarianism. Her US album debut, Let Me Be There, produced her first Top 10 single of the same name, with Newton-John being honored by the Academy of Country Music as the Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This time around, Olivia Newton John will be performing at the Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands and apparently, this is her second time here in Malaysia.

Olivia Newton John singing on stage

Among some of her well known hits are ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’,’You’re The One That I Want’, ‘Have You Ever Been Mellow’ , ‘Magic’,  ’Guilty’, ‘I Honestly Love You’, ‘Summer Nights’ and  ‘Physical’ among many others, she sealed her status as a superstar performer. She is also a Four times Grammy winner and her voice and talents has captivated the world, placing her among the icons of the music world.

Olivia Newton John and John Travolta in Grease

Newton-John is also well-known for her humanitarian efforts, and was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Program. In the 90’s, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her cancer diagnosis was the inspiration for her album, ‘Gaia: One Woman's Journey’. Released in 1994, the album chronicled her ordeal in her battle with cancer. She has since recovered, and became a tireless advocate for breast cancer research and other health issues. In 2005, she released Stronger Than Before, sold exclusively in the United States by Hallmark. Proceeds from the album's sales benefited breast cancer research.

Malaysia’s reality TV star, Farhan Azizan will be the opening act for the concert.  A multi-lingual singer known for her repertoire of jazz and Mandarin songs, the 27-year old singer was one of the nominees for Best New Artist at the Anugerah Industri Muzik in 2007. The Olivia Newton-John: Live is organized by Offshore Entertainment Production Sdn Bhd.

Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands, Malaysia

Ticket prices for Olivia Newton-John Live in Concert

From RM168, RM268, RM368 and RM480

Tickets will be on sale from 24th Feb

Concert Date: 8PM, 29th March 2012 (Thursday)

To purchase, please contact the following ticketing agents:

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur Genting Onehub   03 2718 1118

Penang Sales Office   04 228 2288

Ipoh Sales Office   05 243 2988

Johor Bahru Sales Office   07 334 4555

Kuching Sales Office   082 412 522

TicketCharge    03 9222 8811

Victoria Music   03 2148 7208

iLasso Tickets   03 7957 6088 

Singapore

Singapore Sales Office   +65 6823 9888

Five Star Tours Pte Ltd   +65 6294 7011

Konsortium Express & Tours Pte Ltd   +65 6392 5000

Transtar Travel Pte Ltd   +65 6299 9009

WTS Travel & Tours Pte Ltd   +65 6467 8558 

For more information, Visit Resort World Genting or contact Ann Ishak (Shue Ellis Communications) at 012-2329891. This is the second time the star will be performing here so this may be your one chance to catch Olivia Newton John Live Concert in Genting, Malaysia.

Tweet

Read More

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012

Putrajaya International  Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012 is back for the 4th time here in Malaysia.This year, the event will be held from 15 - 18 March and the time will be from as early as 7am right till 9pm at night. If you have not been here, let me just give you a run through about the balloon festival. Firstly, you should expect a very large turnout as thousands of people from all over will be visiting the event which attracts international balloonist from all over the world. These balloonist would bring their very unique shaped hot air balloons to participate in a balloon race and also to showcase it to everyone. 

Among some of the unique shaped hot air balloons to look out for this year would be the Square Hot Air Balloon (Germany), Coin Box Hot Air Balloon (Netherlands), Ivi the Kiwi Hot Air Balloon (New Zealand), Heart Hot Air Balloon (Switzerland), Tree Hot Air Balloon (USA), Birthday Cake Hot Air Balloon (USA) and Felix the Cat Hot Air Balloon (Vietnam). These are only some of the unique shaped ones while there will be many other balloons on show there. [See the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Map at the bottom of the page]

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Festival

The best time to visit the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Festival would be early in the mornings on each day as you would avoid the massive crowds and also get a good parking spot around the area. This area would be at the Putrajaya Boulevard where the main governmental ministries are located. One of the prominent landmarks would be the Ministry of Finance building here. When you drive in to the area, you would be able to spot the beautiful hot air balloons from a distance too.

Felix the Cat Hot Air Balloon

This festival attracts all walks of life in Malaysia namely families, couples and lots of photographers. As the festival is also held during the school holidays, it would be a great family outing and exposure for the kids. Around the main ground area, you will find numerous food kiosks and stalls, souvenir stalls and even some fast food chains participating in this event so food and drinks are easily sourced here. Public toilets are also available while one of the highlights is an experience to ride in a hot air balloon for a small fee. This ride takes the guest up to about a hundred feet in the air and then descend back down. Sorry as it is not a ride that takes you around Putrajaya.

You also need to be there early to buy your tickets for this ride as only 300 tickets are sold at RM10 per person. Ticket booths are near the balloon rides and open at 7.30am for the morning session and 5.30pm for the evening session. Expect long lines here as many want to experience this.

Doraemon Hot Air Balloon during Night Glow

One of the interesting show to look out for are the Night Glow and Fireworks Show which is held only one night on the 17th March (Saturday) and it starts from 8.30PM onwards. Last year when I attended this show, it was pretty amazing as the balloons lit up to the tune of the music while fireworks decorated the night sky. Great for kids and also photographers while it can be viewed from many angles.

Hot Air Balloons in the sky of Putrajaya

For enthusiast, you have a chance to meet the balloonists at 10.30am and also 5pm around the event area. For those wanting to learn more about hot air balloons, this would be the perfect chance for it. There are also helicopter rides for those wanting an experiencing flying in one of these metal birds. This only is available on Sat and Sun from 9am to 4pm. But it comes with a price of RM130 per person.

Clowns at the Putrajaya balloon fiesta

An aviation show with para motors and giant kite flying will also take place during the event so do not be surprised when you see these flying over your head while at the event. Anyway, I hope to see you at this interesting event and below are some pictures from last years hot air balloon festival. For more information, you can also visit the 4th International Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012 website.

A unique blimp above a balloon

Inside a hot air balloon

Unique Tree Hot Air Balloon at night in Putrajaya

Very odd 'Upside Down' Hot Air Balloon during Night Glow in Putrajaya

 Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Area Map (Click to enlarge)

Here is an article on last years Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2011 and also some Hot Air Balloon Pictures. My personal tip to this event, bring good walking shoes and a good camera to capture some of the beautiful images. Bring an umbrella, raincoat or poncho just in case. If you are doing night photography, bring a tripod along. Come early to avoid parking and traffic jams. If you are coming late, park much further and walk to the event as the main parking area can get pretty congested, especially on Sat and Sun. Apart from that, it's all good fun, a great experience and see you at the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012.

Tweet

Read More

Sunset at Mabul Island, Sabah

Sunset at Mabul Island, Sabah is my picture of the week. This beautiful sunset photo was taken from the jetty of my lodge - Seahorse Sipadan Scuba during my trip here in November 2011. As I sat there with beer in my hand, I watched the big orange ball slowly inch its way down and eventually disappear behind the sea line. On occasion, you get really beautiful front row seats to observe this from the west side of the island. Mabul is closest to Sipadan Island here making it the main place to stay if you plan to do some scuba diving in Sipadan.

Many divers and even snorkelers visit this island as it is one of the best places to dive in Malaysia. If you are visiting the east coast of Borneo in the future, make sure you explore the many unique islands here and take some time in the evenings to catch the amazing Sunset at Mabul Island, Sabah.

Tweet

Read More

5 Things to do in Pattaya, Thailand

5 Things to do in Pattaya, Thailand is a random compilation for those planning to go there for a holiday. As Pattaya is well known as a lively coastal city, there is abundance of things to do there and this article highlights just some of the things a common person can do while on holiday in Pattaya. Also to highlight that Pattaya is also one of the main areas for Medical Tourism in Thailand as they have some of the best dentist and other medical procedures available. You have also the best of entertainment, island, shopping and sight seeing in this city which is about two hours drive from Bangkok.

Elephants on stage and in action at the show

1. Thai Alangkarn Theater Show in Pattaya

This is one of the most interesting Thai Cultural Theater Shows in Thailand. Called Thai Alangkarn, it is a must-visit if you like theaters with something different. It is also situated at km.155 Sukhumvit road, Na-Jomtien, Sattahip Chonburi with an area of 32 acres. This massive project includes a prototype Hexa stage Theater with 2,000 seats in tiers, Cultural Rostrum and a Restaurant with 1,000 seating capacity.  The highlight of the show is the use of live elephants in a mock up war. For more information, visit the Thai Alangkarn Theater Website.

Tiffany Show Girl

2. Tiffany Show in Pattaya 

This is also another must-see show as it is the Original Transvestite Cabaret show in Pattaya and Thailand which is now in its 37th year running! Amazingly, it originated as a one man show performed for friends on New Year’ Eve in 1974 and now, Tiffany’s Show is a household word in Thailand and Asia as well as around the world. Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya, Thailand has also been voted No.4 in the Top 10 Best Shows to see around the world in 2001. The incredible, talents of the transvestite, transgender community, all drawn from the provinces of Thailand are showcased in a show full of exotic spectacular scenes, the latest technical lighting and sound playing 3 shows nightly every night of the year. Good fun for singles, couples or even families. See more pictures of the Tiffany Show in Thailand on my Facebook.

Restaurants at the Pattaya Walking Street

3. Pattaya Walking Street

Famous or infamous, the Pattaya Walking Street is a place that everyone must visit, minus the children. This entire main street is closed off to traffic in the evening and becomes one carnival street with all kinds of entertainment offered in this one kilometer long street. If you have to bring your kids, make it a morning or afternoon visit. Expect hoards of tourist during weekends too. But security here is amazing as there are many Thai police men seen patrolling the area. From stylist and catchy seafood restaurants, live music bars, cabaret shows, go go bars, clubs, discos, shopping and even an Elvis Show. Read my previous review on Pattaya Walking Street.

Koh Larn Beach, Pattaya Thailand

4. Koh Larn Island in Pattaya, Thailand

Koh Larn is a beautiful island which is located about 7km off the coast of Pattaya Beach and can be done within a day trip if you go there in the morning via ferry. The Island is about 4km long and about 2km wide and has about a thousand residents most of whom live in the main village called Naban. There are many activities here for visitors to enjoy, some include para sailing, snorkeling, jet ski, banana boat, swimming in tropical waters, and there is even a shooting range located here. If you want to explore the island, you can do so on foot as there are temples and shops in the village area. Usually tourist come here to utilize the main beaches as there are about 8 beaches throughout Koh Larn. The main beach where the ferry drops you off is usually packed with tourist so if you like it less crowded, it is best to take a local taxi to a more secluded beach around the island. See more pictures of Koh Larn on my Facebook Album.

Ripley's Believe It or Not in Pattaya, Thailand

5. Shopping and Attractions in Pattaya

Apart from the above, there is abundance of shopping malls, local restaurants, unique attractions like Ripley's Believe It Or Not and Louis Tussaud's Waxworks Museum. Walking around Beach Street (the main seaside street) you can also visit Pattaya City Walk for some local art and craft, food and culture. The entire stretch comes very alive once night falls and you can expect thousands of locals and tourist around this area. For beach lovers, there is the main Pattaya Beach across the street where you can rent a deck chair and just bake in the sun. For a great view, you can take a taxi to the Pattaya Bay Look Out Point where you can see the entire bay area. Near Jomtien Beach, there is also the Pattaya Water Park for some family fun and for pampering, there are quite a number of world class spas like Oasis Spa. 

Overall, I would recommend Pattaya to the adventurous travelers as there is so much to do there. If you are booking a 3D/2N trip, you could probably do quite a lot in that short time. Take note that if you are a serious nature person or someone who likes less crowded places, then this is not your cup of tea. Also, for the very adventurous and ambitions traveler, there are quite a number of unique things to do in this city. Pattaya is also very different from Bangkok in my opinion and again, worth a visit if you have never been here so enjoy the 5 Things to do in Pattaya, Thailand.

Tweet

Read More