30,000 reasons to say Thank You.

It’s a wonderful week when you wake up one morning to see that numbers on your page have gone soaring and there are suddenly over 30,000 people that enjoy your FB page!

My album on Kids Cafes in KL turned out to be the most popular article I’d written in a long time, with already over 3000 shares across Facebook – WOW!

The words ‘thank you’ just never seem enough – you are all just amazing and I appreciate every single like, comment, share, private message, and the words of advice that I receive from YOU! Here on my blog, I love seeing your comments and any other interaction I get from you all – it’s so amazing and still shocks me to be quite honest!

This is by no means just my achievement, but a joint effort from us all, and for that, I thank you wholeheartedly!

, Sarah x

Lantern Festivals In Malaysia This Chinese New Year

My favourite part of Chinese New Year?!

It has to be the lantern festivals that light up temples around the country. The glow of thousands of lanterns that brighten a night sky is breathtaking.

If you haven’t yet been this year, you still have the duration of CNY to take the family out and enjoy this stunning sight!

Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur is simply amazing and one that we make a trip to regularly with visiting friends and family. For those wanting to venture a little further, the lantern festivals at both Fo Guang Shan and Kek Sok Li Temple Penang also look stunning in these photos below and I’ll have to pop them in my to-do-list!

Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen in Jenjarom (Kuala Langat) have their CNY Lantern & Flora Festival running until the 19th of February 2019. Photos courtesy of Jenjarom

Wherever you go, whatever you do, enjoy the festivities with your friends and family this Chinese New Year, S x

Kek Lok Si Temple Penang 槟城鹤山極樂寺

Merry Christmas!

To those of you who celebrate, wishing you and your families a very merry Christmas and a very happy holiday with loved ones this festive season.

One of our favourite spots, and practically our back garden here in the city centre; the wonderful park and playground at Suria KLCC…. it doesn’t get more perfect than this.

Best wishes from me, and my two little elves, S x

A ‘Cool’ Christmas in Kuala Lumpur: My Top Picks

It’s December and the lead up to Christmas and all things festive is definitely upon us!

We love Christmas in the tropics, but if you are used to cooler climates and winter sports, you may be looking for something a little more traditional for your holidays here in KL this year!

Throughout Malaysia, the malls are doing an amazing job of transforming themselves into winter wonderlands but here are a few other suggestions to add a bit of sparkle and fun to your family celebrations this month! Enjoy, S

Ice Age Alive KL:

If you haven’t yet made it over to see the current exhibition over at Matic, then you are in luck! They have extended their dates, and will now be here in KL until March 2019!

Step back in time and explore an Ice Age of interesting creatures, enjoy a play in the snow, bouncy castles, arts n crafts, and games and activities, all of which really fit in with this festive time of year!

First Traxx Ski & Snowboard Centre:

The winter sports facility that opened in 2017 is a must for this time of year for anyone who is used to taking yo the slopes over the winter months.

Learn to ski and snowboard in Malaysia’s very first snow sport training facility with qualified instructors, suitable for children and adults!

Dreamworld Playland:

This popular indoor soft play opened at two locations in 2017 and their ‘cool’ theme makes it perfect for a little bit of Christmas spirit! Check out their locations at both The Starling Mall in KL and IOI City Mall in Putrajaya.

I-City Leisure:

Shah Alam is the home of the spectacular “City of Digital Lights” which is well worth a visit, especially at this time of year! Wander through the magic park of multi-computed lights, take a train ride through the trees and enjoy fairground rides for all the family. Best of all, is that entry to the Digital Lights section of the park is completely FREE of charge!

Ice Skating Rinks:

Ice skating is definitely a winter sport worth trying out this December! We are spoilt for choice now in KL and you can even experience skating under the snow at IceScape, or a snow playground at Sunway!

Royale Ice Skating Rink

Sunway Pyramid Ice

Icescape

Snowalk, i-City:

The perfect place for anyone who enjoys sub-zero temperatures, and the best news is, they’ve undergone a complete renovation this year!

While we haven’t yet seen the new-look SnoWalk, it remains a little world of ice and snow with igloos, ice slides, sculptures, sledges, and a very cool temperature of -5!! Yes, you’ll need to wrap up warm but a big warm coat is included in your entry fee!!

Enjoy the festivities in KL this December!

S x

Antenatal Classes at The Baby Club in Kuala Lumpur.

For any of our pregnant mums here in KL, let me introduce you to The baby Club; a new centre in Mont Kiara that will be running its first Antenatal courses on the 17th and 18th of November 2018.

The Baby Club provide confident birthing and parenting preparation classes with these two dates next month being given by a UK midwife with over 30 years experience.

Gain confidence, courage and knowledge to get you safely and enjoyably from Bump to Baby with this weekend course which will get you up to speed on antenatal questions, queries and jargon.

With small intimate groups it’s a friendly environment where you can ask as many questions as you want and you will meet a support network of parents all going through the same thing at the same time. The classes are aimed at all expectant couples whether it’s the first baby or you already have a family. Everyone is welcome!

The format of the course will look something like this:

Morning 9am-1pm and Afternoon 2pm-5pm

Location: Function Room, Kiaramas Ayuria, Jalan Desa Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Please bring swimming costumes to take advantage of the 150m long Swimming pool at the start or end of your sessions.

Tea and Coffee will be available throughout the course and on both days lunch will be provided at 1pm for both classes to join and get to know each other.

Event pages on FB with all the details can be found here, or you can book your place now at www.babyclub.online, S x

A Roaring time at Ice Age Alive in Kuala Lumpur

We stepped back in time and visited Ice Age Alive, the latest expo to hit Kuala Lumpur, from the same creators as last year’s Dinosaurs Alive!

Showcased in a similar setting of a big marquee in the grounds of Mat1c on Jalan Ampang, this new attraction will let you experience beasts that roamed the earth millions of years ago.

Walk among mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, dodos and many other creatures all while learning interesting facts about them. They move, they roar, and there is plenty of opportunities for photos.

Apart from the main expo, there are two free bouncy castles for the littles ones to play in and then there are additional activities in place, but you will need to pay an additional RM5-10 per child to partake in these.

Have a go on their ice rink, make some sand art pictures, or enjoy their wonderful ‘snow pit’ which really is lovely! and the ‘snow’ feels sooooo amazing!! The snow is made from a polymer powder and just feels so amazingly good! All the children we saw go into play in the snow were delighted with the experience!

While we did enjoy Ice Age Alive, it is such a big space, that the expo alone felt a little small and the marquee, a little empty. That was, until the surprise event! Now while I can’t say with any certainty what time of the day it happens, I do know that we were treated to a wonderfully entertaining appearance by a couple of dinosaurs!!

At first there was just one lone dinosaur; I saw him out of the corner of my eye, and he made a beeline for the children playing at one of the bouncy castles. Unlike me, none of the kiddies saw the dinosaur coming until….. he was right up with his jaws snapping at the entrance to the inflatable slide – shrieks, squeals, screams, and excited children ran around! Admittedly some were a little scared, but overall it just took a bit of time before it was the children chasing the dino and them trying to grab his tail before a selfie moment caught on camera!

When the second dinosaur showed up, there was a moment where the children just didn’t know where to run or hide, but the whole thing was both fascinating and hysterical. The two staff dressed up in these suits did a great job of interacting with everyone and it entertained us for a good half hour!

I popped a video up on FB this weekend of duelling dinosaurs so take a look here to see just how real it all seemed!

IceAge Alive is closed every Monday but will be in KL until December 2018, and is the only show of its kind in Asia! You can visit between 10am and 7pm; we went on a Friday afternoon as it’s the school holidays for us, and it wasn’t crowded which meant we could get up close to all the exhibits and take some nice photos!

I’m sure weekends are fairly busy though! You can buy tickets online in advance of your visit, or just pop along on the day. Finding Ice Age Alive is easy enough if you head down Jalan Ampang towards the Malaysia Tourism Centre. You’ll notice the big white tent in the grounds and there’s a box office just on the left-hand side to buy tickets.

For more info, check out their FB page here.

Anyone been or planning to go?!

Enjoy it and let us know what you think! S x

Bridging the Boundaries; a weekend event not to be missed.

A chance to learn, discover, and enjoy an originally-inspired weekend away….

“Bridging the Boundaries” is a 2 day event in collaboration with the indigenous people of Kuala Kubu Bharu. (Fraser’s Hill!) This weekend has been put together to highlight the lifestyle of their people, where they will share their everyday life with you, showcase their music and dance forms with everyone, and teach you about the colourful culture of orang asli of Kuala Kubu Bharu.

With the goal of promoting ecotourism, this is a very educational way of getting back to nature and discovering something a little unknown. This whole weekend package (which includes transportation, accommodation and food, survival kit and a certificate) is amazingly priced at just RM100 per person and children aged 5 and above are welcome to join their parents (for the reduced fee of RM50)

Feeling adventurous?! Make this a family trip for an extremely memorable occasion. Check out their event page for full details and the link to sign up! S x

The Neon “Lit Run” is a Family Event Not to be Missed

Wow, look at this!

Who’s ready to “get glowing”?!

The “Lit Run” is a charity 5km Fun Run being held in Shah Alam on July 14th 2018 and promises to be full of fun; with carnivals and live performances, this is an event not to be missed!

Sign up to run and support The National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia by purchasing your tickets priced at RM69 (including your t-shirt, medal and other entitlements!) via: this link here and be a part of something that will change the lives of so many people.

With FREE entry for everyone to two days of their neon-themed carnival at Taman Botani Negara, this is an event for the whole family so mark the weekend of 13&14 July 2018 for games, lucky draw, food, live performances, and so much more!

Don’t miss out, save the dates:

Opening Carnival: 13th July 4pm

5KM Fun Run & Carnival: 14th July 3pm

14th July Flag off: 7:30pm

Don’t forget to sign up TODAY! Link is here ….. S x

Mother’s Day 2018

Happy Mother’s Day!!

For me, I send out a thank you to my twins who take me on their travelling adventures with them and help me learn and grow in so many ways as we explore the world together.

Wishing every mum out there a beautiful day with their little ones.. you are all amazing! S x