Halo Friends
I hope you like the photos posted in Europe which are 35 out of 1400 shots I took. For those of you who are thinking of going to Europe, if you need to move around on your own do not fear coz I have been through it and it's not that bad after all. I survived. Honestly, before I went for this trip I was not looking forward to it. I dreaded the idea of having to lug my 23 kg luggage from train station to train station and having to walk to our hotels dragging my luggage.
I was in London to attend my niece's wedding and we couldn't find any tour convenient for us to Europe. So, we had to move around our own. When we first arrived in London airport, I was sulking away having to board the train to London, changing 3 stations before we arrived at Bayswater (our hotel - Holiday Villa ). We took a wrong train at one station and had to carry the luggage up and down staircases. I really really hated it and was pitying myself and telling myself how did I get myself into this kind of holiday.
But, as the days went on, as we travelled by rail from Amsterdam to Paris (3 hrs), Paris to Zurich (5hrs), I told myself, hei this is not that bad after all coz everyone is doing it and it is kind of fun and I am working out too. The trains are so comfortable. It was really great experience and getting caught in Europe during the Iceland volcano eruption. We were not really affected coz the day I was supposed to fly back the airports opened. I was really looking forward to more trips to Rome and Venice, but then I had to come back. So, friends the moral of the story here is whatever we do once we get used to it, it is not that bad after all. Never say NO before even TRYING.. It was a real experience and I know from this trip, in future I can rough it out a bit, but, I still need my bedroom with my own bathroom as long as it is clean.
Cheers.
Betrina
When you are in London, do try taking countryside walks. It is really really nice and 4 hrs wasn't enough for me. Amsterdam - Holland - The best time to go mid-April to mid-May coz it is the annual flower festival. I was so thrilled to see so many types of tulips and I wish I could have an early dinner amongst the flowers there. Zurich is so beautiful and not busy. 50% of Switzerland are mountains. Remember the movie Heidi, the swiss alps are so amazing and it really gave me peace of mind. I wish I could spend a night up in the alps.
Gohtong Jaya & Awana Genting 16 & 17 Jan 2010.
40 students joined Ms Betrina, a Line Dancing Instructor in Klang on a Social Outing filled with fun & adventure. The event started on Saturday morning in Klang for their journey to Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands, where they put up for a night.
After checking into their rooms, the four teams took up their gears for their first activity - Team T-shirts Design. Their creativity surpases all imagination with gold dusts sprinkled to enhance the design... Team Orange even attached fake eye lashes to thier furnishing!
After a seafood lunch in Gohtong Jaya Town they proceed to Awana for Jungle Trekking. 2 jungle trails were identified to suit the participants. Nevertheless, most took up the more challenging 3.5 km trial. 2 senior citizens, one at 72 and the other at 76 years old took their first jungle trekking experience attempting the 1.8 km trail! We salute their amazing spirits!
Next activity is of course, golf. They wouldn't want to miss the Driving Range since they are in a golf resort... After a short 15 mins coaching session on the basics, the girls got more than 80 balls crossed 50 yards! Not bad at all for first timer.
Dinner was held in Awana Kenyalang Members Lounge. Obviously, the show can't go on without Line Dancing and other team fun games. Bridge Over Trouble Water, 8 Crap Traps (final message - 3 craps eat 3 craps! ???), "My Baby My Baby" just to name a few... Lots of prices were given away too.
The day ended in mamak restaurant in Gohtong Jaya way passed 2 am for the night owls. Imagine the energy they have! The story still doesn't end here, morning walk the next day at 8am!!!
After breakfast in Gohtong Jaya Town, the ladies went for a shopping spree - The Scavenger Hunt. Given only just RM22.50 for each team, they are required to get 5 items. One of the item they must produce is the biggest strawberry, hand pick from the farm. Nobody bought "Hope" though during the game but got it after the game. Good luck!
Check out Gohtong Jaya Apartment the next day and proceed to next destination, Tanah Aina Orchard Farm in Lentang, Pahang. Had a wonderful lunch hosted by Pn Sri Sabrina and her team. Fruit Hunter - solve the quizes and produce the evidence. Luckily no fruit tree were harm in the process ... 
Back to Klang Town after buying loads of Langsat, Luilian, Lambutan, Langka! Women... they don't give chance.
Overall Winner - Orange Team. Well done gals!
Women's Sports And Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted towards the empowerment of women on the significance of sports and fitness, fostering friendships to achieving peace and solidarity.
This year, WSFFM took 76 participants to their annual adventure challenge from 30 Oct to 1 Nov 2009 in Gopeng Perak, Malaysia. With them are the exco members and event management team that comprised of marshals, 4x4 drivers, medic and video & photographers.
Participants were greeted by the organising team at Shah Alam Stadium where they register and collect their goodies. The buses departed once everyone's on board and head towards Gopeng Town. A briefing was conducted on board the bus to prepare participants for event. Participants were then ferried to Adeline’s Rest House by 4WD and trucks, the “Bangla” style! It was the first-time experience for most as there’s no chance to do this back home.
Breakfast was served once they settled in. The rest house provides safe and comfortable huts built by Orang Asli (indigenous people). It’s “luxury camping” in the jungle with all the basic conveniences. Complemented by Adeline’s yummy culinary meals, it’s a 5-star resort in the jungle!
Off they go for the first event - 4x4 off-road driving (group 1 & 2) and other groups went for different activities. 4x4 Special Stage, a friendly competition to test the skills of the participants in off-road driving based on precision and teamwork to cross a log-bridge. Most ladies passed this SS with flying colours although some came out with a pale face from fright caused by their team member’s confusing hand signals!
In conjunction with 4x4 activity, a donation drive and cultural immersion project were planned to expose participants to the culture of the Orang Asli in Kg. Ulu Guroh. Participants were taught head gear weaving, play instruments and dance as part of the activity in Asli Craft.
The challenging White Water River Rafting in Sg. Kampar didn’t stop them from getting into the raft. This level 1 – 3 white water run takes about 1 and 1/2 hour down river. After a technical briefing to prepare them to work as a team followed by a Water Confident session, just in case they fall off. Couple of rafts toppled, throwing everybody off-board but they were assisted back aboard by the experienced guides. After all, it’s part of the thrill!
The breath breaking Cavern Flying Fox at Gua Kandu that can be accessed by a short jungle trek was said it’s not for the faint-hearted. The ladies proved them wrong and showed their might. The 80m distance, 30m drop couldn’t stop them.
A training session was conducted for each member to ensure that they are comfortable using the Abseiling Safety System. The waterfall is so appealing that no one can resists climbing to the top and getting wet abseiling down the fall. Too tired to climb? No way, I’m going up again! The refreshing cool water gushing down your face and soaking through your body just keep you wanting for more. Got people went 3 rounds - that’s too much already…
Heavy rain pours in both evenings but it didn’t dampen their spirits at all. The ladies continue to have fun, bringing down the house in Explorace held on the first night and BBQ Garden Party accompanied by a Saxophonist on second night. What more you can ask for? Good company, delicious food, great music, fantastic atmosphere, all under one roof. Oops…or should I say “under open sky”.
Thanks to the generous sponsors, the best group, winning team, individual awards and gifts were presented to all participants at the end of the event. But the most valuable gain from participating in this event was I guess; new friends found and old friends cherished!
Explore Nature, Discover Wonders, Experience Living
A group of 120 volunteers participated in a conservation project to replanting mangrove trees in Sungai Besar, Selangor, inititated by the Forest Research Instiutute of Malaysia (FRIM) to protect the shoreline from erosion, providing shelter for young animals and fish to trive in the protected santuary.
We left KL in the early morning and arrived at Doraini Bayu Resort where we had breakfast and lunch after the project. An introduction on mangrove conservation and technique used for planting were done by FRIM officials followed by a short demo on how they're planted.
A total of 52 Comp-mat with 4 plants each were successfully planted on that day. To ensure that the plants are savely in placed for them to take roots, they were ties down with ropes and secured by 4 poles. Besides that, rows of Geotube were erected about 100 meters off shore to protect the tides from destroying the fragile plants.
End of the day, it was fun in the spa-like soft muddy sand and most of all, contributed to protecting nature!