Unforgettable holiday experience at Cameron Highlands Resort

Before all of you think this is a paid advertorial, I am going to say it's NOT and there's a reason why I am writing about my amazing trip not to Cameron Highlands but to the Cameron Highlands resort hotel!


I am assuming many of you will groan because you think it's a post on...

CORN...which was so sweet!

or the TEA plantation which they are famous for...

But why would I write about something so ordinary when that's not really what would excite all of you???

This post is basically the experience I had at a one of YTL's world class resort in Cameron Highlands.....To me, when I travel for a holiday, I am the type of person that wants to be pampered and not have to worry about anything (e.g., how dirty the room will be), even down to the food I eat. For that reason, I took a package for 3 days 2 nights with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners at the resort. You can say I am boring not to explore but the food at the resort is just too good not to EAT!!! Here's why it was such an amazing experience..

Greeted by a christmasy entrance

Once at the reception, you will be greeted by friendly staff and told to sit down instead of standing up to check in, unlike other hotels. You will be served aromatic tea and a hot towel.... *this is the life*

A christmas wreath at the entrance to our room

Huge white room with a poster bed, a small living room, and even a balcony that overlooks a golf course

Do you see how the theme of the resort is consistent throughout? It's very English

Our package included a spa service as well which is a MUST-TRY as it is a world-class spa afterall!

Chammomile tea served before treatment

Tranquil surroundings walking towards the spa area

Beds to rest at while waiting for the tea bath to be prepared

Relaxing soak in the complimentary tea bath while listening to music

Every individual gets to cleanse and rejuvenate themselves with the above treatment. Salt and honey to scrub the body, lime to get rid of dead skin, the black scrub for the face, a warm towel to open the pores and finally, a glass of refreshing lime juice to awaken the senses.....~bliss~

To our delight, we had the whole room made up with a rose on the bed after returning from the spa..

The first night, we had dinner at Gonbei,a Japanese restaurant that clearly did not dissappoint

We took the shabu-shabu set where we got to choose from a variety of meat, vegetables, and seafood! YUMZ! Stuffed to the brim

The package also comes with high tea which is another MUST to complete the English dream..

Loving the scones by the fireplace feeling

Not all of it was a fairytale on my holiday though because Ben fell sick :( Really ill with a throat infection, but BOY, was the service first class because....

The staff actually made him a card and gave him a "get well soon" fruit bowl. Not only that, the food and beverage staff prepared porridge for him to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! We were speechless, because this goes beyond service. We were touch that the staff at the hotel could go above and beyond their required duties:)

Because of the care given to Ben, he finally got to have his beef medallion for our candlelit dinner, along with this delicious dessert

There is ONE downside though....The two nights we were there, we were woken up by the "Mat Rempits" or rather known as menaces on the road with their motorbikes racing across the road again and again....We had to wait for their racing to stop before going back to sleep, and it lasted a whole one hour!! If YTL Cameron Highlands can work out something with the police to curb illegal motorbike racing around that area in front of the resort, it would be really good for the guests......However, that's not the resorts fault that unfortunate incident happened.

I would say that I have stayed in many resorts and hotels around the world but none of the resorts have given me or Ben the treatment that YTL resort staff has given us, especially at Cameron Highlands. We are really grateful, and would definitely go back. People would say it's really expensive to go to one of their many resorts, but it's definitely worth the price we paid and more because of what we'd receive in terms of service and care-taking. In addition, not only were the staff friendly and nice, but the managers of all areas from food and beverage to front desk was accomodating and more than helpful. And THAT's the reason why I wanted to write this post, so perhaps you too can experience what we did(not the falling sick part though)

xoxo

Meiz

Sunny Times for a "Sunny Bay" Life

Being one of the ambassadors for the “Yes, I Can” campaign, I was truly overwhelmed by the responses, comments and opinions received from all of you regarding my previous article on baby dumping and teen pregnancy. Thank you.J  For your information, the Yes, I Can campaign has just launched a new facebook game called Sunny Bay. More on that later…

In this post, I am going a step further to talk about relationships and how it unfolds for both youths and young adults. When teenagers are in a relationship, their experiences are always referred to as “puppy love” because it’s not serious. Parents always dismiss it as a transient fleeting moment in their children’s lives that may not last more than 3 years. As their children grow older into young adults, the next phase beckons where parents and relatives actually start asking their children above the age of 25, “When are you going to get married?”

Before I ramble on, has anyone ever thought how it switches from being “puppy love” to “marriage” in just a short span of about a decade? This transition in perception is really beyond me. How can you encourage someone to get married just because it is the right age to? For a start, is there even a right age to settle down?

Is marriage the key to a blissful existence in life? I’m sure most would envision sunny (pun intended) times ahead, but unfortunate, it takes hard work! Most would deem it all rosy after settling down to a married life. If only they knew what it entails.

I have had friends who were encouraged into marriage.  Once they tied the knot, they filed for divorce after a year or two. It gets even complicated when the couple has a child! Point to ponder; the divorce rate in Malaysia doubled between 2002 and 2009. How did that happen?

I am not sure whether it’s societal norms, peer influence or a mixture of both that drives most couples in their 20’s to get married quickly. Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not against anyone getting married in their 20s. A feeling of readiness to walk down the aisle, governed by emotional, social and economic reasons are only something the individuals themselves know.

A friend once told me she got married because it seemed like the next best thing to do in life, as all her friends were already getting married. She cited “natural progression in life” as the impetus. Instead of being happily married, she wasn’t. Rather than taking a bull by its horn and take stock of the situation she finds herself in, things spiraled out of control. As she felt an increasingly estranged marriage devoid of love, she reckoned it’s time to have a baby to patch things together. How wrong could she be?

This is just once case I’m aware of. I’m sure there are many others who are influenced or pressured into a marriage and having a baby thereafter. It’s unnerving to witness all these events and manifestation of the “herd mentality”. “Just because everyone is doing it, why can’t I?” being the all too familiar maxim.

From being in a relationship, to a married life, and eventually graduating to building a family together; it’s never been a straightforward journey. As rosy and “sunny” as it may sound, many young people think it’s merely a circle of life that just falls into place naturally. Little do they know the ensuing responsibilities required of young couples after the wedding bell sounds.

It isn’t easy especially when you are married because subsequent decision making has to now take into account your better half. The two shall be one. When you herald the arrival of a newborn baby, that would be 2 additional extension of yourself! Having a baby just complicates matters a great many folds. So if you’re not ready for a baby, please consider using the right contraceptive methods (e.g. the pill, condoms, IUS). Contraceptive usage is a great society shaper and effective family planning tool.

If you aren’t ready for an unplanned pregnancy, then why take the risk? I guess I am not one to say as I am not married yet but I have met too many divorced couples with children to know that the person suffering the most eventually is not the couple but the kids.

On that note, I’d like to bring to your attention a new facebook game that aims to connect all the dots in one’s lives with an underlying message on resource and population management. As mentioned, this new social game is called Sunny Bay, where you strive to become the Mayor of a town you manage. It has a great but simple gameplay that boasts of vibrant and unique graphics.

Sunny Bay aims to promote the importance of juggling between the need for a healthy community and a balanced approach to effective family planning. Players stand to benefit from learning the various contraceptive methods available and a host of other general knowledge when you answer the in-game quizzes correctly.

Most interestingly, the core storyline in Sunny Bay revolves around four characters. We can all relate with and learn from these characters as they progress through the different life stages – a dating couple, a couple planning to get married, a mother who’s expecting and a father. It’s truly a unique and interesting way to reach out to younger generation on a journey of love, life and sex.

Yes, it’s just a virtual world where things appear all too perfect. But it’s not just any other virtual “playground’. Sunny Bay offers players a platform to explore the reality of life which often escapes the consciousness of most newlyweds.

Enough said, go try it yourself and play Sunny Bay at www.mysunnybay.com today!

xoxo

Meiz

Blissful but Unorthodox Chinese wedding

If you are wondering whether it is my wedding I am writing about!????


A big NO! I think I am probably too immature to handle a marriage, let alone myself:p Am an advocate of believing that marriage should only happen when you feel that you are ready and prepared for it...


Here is my running around with my family for the whole day of 19th of November..wedding preparations especially for the couple is TIRING!

Not a bride...but the Brides maid (so honoured to be on the bride's side) This is so I can't torture my brother(s) and his friends...LOL!

Is it my sister that is getting married? NOPE, it's my older brother but I wiggled my way into being a bridesmaid by asking the bride, basically "I tak tau malu..meaning I have no shame" *blushes*

As you can tell, the theme was maroon for the day

Beautifully crafted pillow to house the rings

And you may kiss the bride..... Theirs was a whirlwind romance *loves*

The dinner was held at Passion road, in a bungalow. More like a garden party concept, truly unorthodox compared to normal Chinese weddings held in hotels or Chinese restaurants but I loved the decor! However, the older generation wasn't too keen on the setup because it was buffet style and not chinese food, something they are not used too...ain't it difficult? Trying to juggle between a young person's preference and also pleasing the older generation?!?

 

Theme for the night was Shanghai Tang

Doesn't this setup remind you of garden parties you watch in the movies?

Except that everyone was decked out in Chinese wear...

All the women look great with their cheongsams

Time for a part of tradition to continue, tea serving ceremony which is a MUST to show respect from the younger to the elder

The bride and groom serving tea to my parents who were clearly very happy that night

Then the younger ones, our turn, we served tea and received the angpaus(red packets) from the bride and groom

The little ones do the same as well *cute*

For the auspicious walk-in

Blushing bride and comical groom?

As unorthodox a wedding this is, there were no performances, just slide shows on their journey from a couple to the ROM which was the entertainment for the night. It was a free and easy dinner with people having nyonya laksa, Thai infused Malaysian cuisine which was delicious. This is the first time I didn't get a picture of the food..can you believe it?

Time for champagne pouring and the cake cutting session!

Like all Chinese wedding, the yamseng session which is a toast in english is another MUST!

After that, everyone got to take a piece of cupcake home to eat, it's the first time I've actually eaten a wedding cake because most wedding cakes are unedible...

Yummy ending to an unorthodox Chinese wedding

For the rest of you who wants or envision a wedding other than your run of the mill type of wedding, you can perhaps think out of the box? Have a garden party, or a beach wedding? smaller one rather than those huge ones? That's of course depending on who the majority of the guests are..if they are mostly your parent's friends, then a traditional Chinese wedding is better:)

Just a thought..I am sure many people, especially the younger ones are pretty bored of attending those at a hotel or a Chinese restaurant with the 9-course meal. In the end I feel, it's a juggling game between what your heart desires as a "dream wedding" and the older generations beliefs on what a wedding should be..

Not Forgetting to wish my brother and Joyce Shia... Congratulations!!!!! May the both of you be blessed with an everlasting, loving, and happy marriage and I hope this was your dream wedding come true :)

xoxo

Meiz

P.S. Welcome Joyce into the family. Very happy to have a sister-in-law like you