Cleffairy's Blog, page 93

Tips on Dressing Up in Style While Traveling

As someone who travels often and loves to mix business and pleasure whenever I’m on my trips, packing up can be quite a nuisance as I’m pretty vain. And despite it being a business trip, I refuse to let style go flying, even if that means making luggage heavier.

I used to carry almost the whole wardrobe with me whenever I travel, but a friend of mine shared some useful tips on packing up light but still make me look like I’m worth a million dollar.

Here’s sharing some must haves for die hard fashionistas while traveling:

1. A pair of jeans

2. Plain coloured shirts

3. Dress

4. Shawl

5. Sunglasses

6. Accessories like earrings, bangles and necklaces.

7. Liptint ( they doubles perfectly as lipstick and blusher)

8. Sunscreen/ CC Cream

9. Travel sized toiletries

10. Wet wipes

The trick to traveling light and looking good is not a heavy luggage. I wasn’t very smart and used to stash half of my wardrobe into my luggage whenever I travel, resulting to having to pay more to the airlines and whatnot for excess baggage but little did I know that looking good while you are traveling, be it for business or pleasure lies in how you mix and match your clothing and your accessories. Be creative as you can. Put up some makeup and pair up your accessories like earrings and bangles with plain black shirt and skirt or just a necklace with a stylish summer dress and I assure you that you will look like a bombshell you really are during your travel.

How to Take Instagram Worthy Pictures While Traveling

It is undeniable that Instagram is one of the most convenient smartphone application travelers used to record their travel. And if you’ve been following some top travel instagrammers, you would realize that their travel pictures are almost surreal and too beautiful to be true. Now, here’s sharing some tips how to take take instagram worthy pictures during your travel by just using your smart phones:

1. Take pictures horizontally. Always take the shot with the phone in horizontal position. Reason being is to get the most part of the scenery in the original picture and then crop it in square format directly on Instagram so that you have a choice to show what you really want to show your followers.

2. Don’t hesitate to get dirty.’ If you want the best picture of a scenery or a very original shot, look for new angles from the ground, from high, over a canal or a river and go to places where other people don’t go. 

3. Turn on the HDR mode when capturing a scene where there are both extremely bright and dark areas.

4. Turn on flash when photographing people in daylight so their faces don’t look too dark.

5. Use Instagram filters. Don’t be afraid to edit your photos. If you know how to post process or edit your photo it’s possible to never take a bad photo.

6. Be creative. Eg: Line up your hand to make it look like you’re holding the building that you are shooting.

7. Clean your smartphone lense. A clean lense ensures clarity and sharpness of your photo.

8. Make effort to dress up. If you are doing OOTD, make sure you choose a dress that befitting the scenery or an outfit that is really striking so that you will look standout in the crowd. And a light makeup to bring up colour to your face wouldn’t bring any harm either.

9. Make use of selfie stick if you are traveling alone and needed a good selfie.

10. Make use of timer to time your shots if you are traveling on your own.

Taking travel photos for your instagramming pleasure does not have to be a pain, and I hope you’d benefit from the tips above. Happy instagramming and don’t forget to share your beautiful pictures with a personalized travel hashtag.

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: Cable Car Ride

Getting to Resorts World Genting has always been a pretty straight forward affair for me and my family. We have been to Resorts World Genting for more times than I bothered to count, but we have never experienced a ride on their famous cable car as my family and I usually drives up and riding the cable car at Genting Skyway is not a necessary mode of transport to get to the top of the hill.Obviously my family and I did not know what we have been missing all these while.

During our little eco-escapade with Treks Enterprise, we were given a chance to ride the South East Asia’s longest and fastest cable car, as part of our journey to exprience the true beauty of nature from bird’s eyes view.

The Skyway Station operates from 7.30am – 12.00am daily.

The staffs on duty are very friendly and helpful, so if you have any questions, just fire away.

Each gondola can load up a maximum of 8 person. But please note on the lugage requirement. Luggage with size exceeding 56cm x 36cm x 23cm are not allowed to be brought onto the Genting Skyway Gondola. Oversized luggage must be checked-in at the hotel’s front desk or Luggage Handling Counter.  Luggage storage for large luggage is available at Genting Skyway. Guests are advised to make use of this service and to only carry a day bag for the duration of their stay. Kindly ensure that all valuables and important documents are transferred into your day bag as well. Luggage handling counter operating hours is 7.00am to 8.00pm.

The ride was 3.38km is it was 15 minutes of sheer ecstasy as the gondola travel through 100 years old tropical rainforest from the station at Resorts World Genting to the base station in Gohtong Jaya.

A zoomed view from above.

Lovely, don’t you think?

You can get to the Skyway Station by express bus,  limousine or luxury coach and car.

For ticket pricing please refer below:

Ticket TypePrice (per person)

Normal One-Way: RM 6.40

Normal Two-Way (Return): RM 12.80

Express One-WayRM 31.80

Hotel Guest Leisure Ride (Return)RM 10.60*Price is inclusive of 6% GST. 

*Children below the height of 90cm are eligible to ride the Genting Skyway for FREE. 

For more information on Genting Skyway or enquiries on planning your journey to Resorts World Genting via their cable cars, visit www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: Jungle Trekking

I was raised by a family of academicians and grew up believing that nothing else matters as long as I do well in my studies. My childhood was pretty much routine and straight forward. Going to school and studying for exams occupies most of my growing up days and thinking back, I was brainwashed to believe that I couldn’t do anything outdoor or extreme stuff as I have a weak and sickly body.

As I grew up, I started to become rebellious and discovered that the things that I have been told by my family are mostly not true and I am actually capable of anything that I wanted to do as long as I put my mind to it. My life started to become interesting when I met my husband. He’s always been there to support me and accompany me to to do all the extreme and the crazy things I wanted to do, even if it defies logic.

Naturally, when I became a mother, I did not want my son to go through the same childhood that I did. My son has autism and is dyslexic. And because he does not achieve the academic milestone the same way as children his age, he is stigmatized. I did not want to restrict him from exploring the world and condemn him to a normal and boring academic life although he is a special need child and everyone around me keeps telling me that he is not capable of anything and so, I’ll bring him to explore the world with me at any chance that I got, in hopes that he will benefit from all the exposure.

One of the things that I’ve dreamed of doing as a child but never got the chance to do was jungle trekking. My first jungle trekking experience was with both my husband and son during Resorts World Genting Back to Nature Eco Retreat 2015. It was a 2km trek in the jungle of Genting Highlands and I was practically sweating by the time it was done. It was a memorable experience, to say the least.

We started our exploration just after our birdwatching session. You may read our experience HERE.

Still all hyped up, we trekked down a very steep slope.

As our guide back then were pretty strict, we did not really get to leisurely take our time in the jungle but our second time around with Treks Enterprise was another story altogether, we get to trek into the jungle at a pretty much leisurely pace and we were allowed ample time for photography as well.

Due to the steepness of the path and for safety reasons, only a maximum of 5 people were allowed to go down at one time.

My family and I went down with a guide especially assigned to us. In my humble opinion, this time the path is much more challenging than our first time.

Walking sticks and hiking shoes is advisable should you decided to trek a challenging path like this. Unless you are equipped with shockproof or action camera, I wouldn’t advice any photography session during any jungle trekking or hiking session.

After about 30 minutes, we were rewarded with such a beautiful view.

A sight to behold for nature lovers, I must say. And if you ask me if I would do it again, the answer is a definite yes.

Treks Enterprise is offering all sort of guided walks and eco-related programmes and a guided hiking or jungle trekking session is one of them.

For more information on other programmes offered by Treks, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: Birdwatching at IBA, Awana Genting

I was first introduced to the joy of birdwatching back in the year 2014, where I was invited by Tourism Malaysia as a member of the media to do coverage for Wings of KKB: Selangor International Bird Race 2014 and I have been providing coverage for the said event since then. Basically it is a birdwatching event that embed the element of amazing race in it. Participants were required to identify various kinds of birds from different altitudes, starting from Kuala Kubu Bharu and ends in Awana Genting.

As a member of the media, my job scope was merely to provide coverage and not experience the whole thing as a participant, and therefore, I never had the opportunity to really enjoy birdwatching, but fortunately for me, during my family’s most recent eco-escapade with Treks Enterprise in Awana Genting, we were brought to IBA in Awana, Genting Highlands to experience some real bird watching session.

IBA (Important Bird Watching Area). This place is located nearby Awana Longhouse and is a home to various birds, including migratory birds.

We kicked off our birdwatching session fairly early, under the guidance of a birding expert, Mr. Henry (the guy in the middle).

Going deep inside IBA for some serious birdwatching.

Spotted some birdwatchers patiently waiting for some rare migratory bird sightings.

Serious birdwatching going on here

We were quite lucky that morning. Unlike the birdwatching session with the participants of Wings of KKB: Selangor International Bird Race 2016 back in April 2016, we spotted quite a number of rare birds this time.

We not only get to see rare migratory birds but also flying squirrel and lizard as well.

One of the birds that lives in the virgin forest of Genting Highlands.

Lovebirds

Can you see the bird? It’s hanging upside down.

Another resident bird in the vicinity of Awana Resort.

Other than birds, we managed to captures pics of other creatures too. And here’s a cute little squirrel.

It is unfortunate that I do not own a pair of binocular. I guess it is time to invest one. It is certainly useful during birdwatching session.

Treks Enterprise is offering all sort of guided walks and eco-related programmes and birdwatching is one of them.

For more information on other programmes offered by Treks, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: The English Garden

The English Garden is a beautiful garden located just right in front of Theme Park Hotel in Resorts World Genting, Genting Highlands.

I’ve been to Genting Highlands countless times, but as I usually go to Genting Highlands for the live shows or just to simply chill out at my favourite cafe, taking a leisurely stroll in the English Garden has never been on my agenda, but fortunately enough for me, my family and I were brought there by the good people from Treks Enterprise for a visit.

There’s a small water fountain here and occasionally, you will be able to catch birds taking a sip or two here before flying away.

Bench for you to sit on, and I reckon it is perfect for dating couples.

Couple spotted chilling out with each other on the bench.

Gazebo

One of the latest eye-catching attraction here in the English Garden is the Nepenthes’ Wall where various kinds of pitcher plants are actually grown in a natural environment, making a beautiful addition to the garden’s population.

The Nepenthes’ Wall in the English Garden is a part of Treks Enterprise’s effort to educate people about the beautiful plants and conserve the pitcher plants that they found in the jungle.

Eddie showing us how to differentiate a male and female pitcher plants.

A closer look at a pair of pitcher plant.

Unlike the Nepenthes Conservatory in Awana Hotel, the pitcher plants in the English Garden grows in riot over the wall and besides taking pictures here, visitors are also allowed to ‘adopt’ one of the wild pitcher plants grown here and fashion decorate the wall of the English Garden to their liking.

Adopting a pitcher plant and tying it to the wall.

I couldn’t draw to save my life, and I could only immortalize them through the camera, but if I’m a painter, I’d sit here for hours and paint them on a canvas, with immense pleasure.

Some interesting looking pitcher plants that I managed to spot during my visit.

I don’t know how everyone else felt when they paid the English Garden a visit, but personally, I felt as if The Secret Garden came to live and I was the protagonist, Mary Lennox. For those who is not familiar with this title, The Secret Garden is a classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and it tells the story of a sickly 10 year old Mary Lennox. She’s an unloved 10-year-old girl born in India to selfish, wealthy British parents who kept her out of their way as much as possible. Upon her parents’ death, she was then sent to live with Archibald Craven, an uncle she has never met, at his home called Misselthwaite Manor. Mary then discovered a Secret Garden that used to belonged to her uncle’s late wife and she tended to the garden and made it her sanctuary. As the story progresses, she met her bedridden cousin and they both started to grow things in the garden and started to become happier and healthier. To cut the long story short, the author explores the healing power inherent in living things.In a very literal sense, Mary Lennox “comes alive” as her garden does. The same goes for Colin and Mr Craven. As they tend to something outside their own sorrow, they find joy and new life and looking over the Nepenthes Wall in the English Garden, I felt the same. Being outdoor and close to nature made me feel not only healthier, but liberated and happier too.

I’m grateful that the good folks from Treks brought me and my family there during our last visit to Genting and moving forward, I’d be sure to make a point to just take a stroll there every now and then and smell the roses. The view in the English Garden is simply breathtaking and I couldn’t get enough of the picturesque view over here and it was indeed a novel experience.

For more information on programmes offered by Treks, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: Fashion Forest

Being an Adrenaline junkie who hates staying home, especially on weekends, I enjoy outdoor activities the most. While I hate walking around in the city, the same thing could not be applied to taking a stroll on the beach or jungle trekking.

A couple of weeks back, my family and I went for a leisurely trek in Fashion Forest in Genting Highlands.

Here’s following our guide, Eddie into the fashion forest.

The entrance to Fashion Forest is somewhere nearby Awana Longhouse, Resorts World Genting.

Fashion Forest is quite a funny name for a forest, don’t you think? Whenever one talk about fashion I will only think of frilly and colourful clothes that models showcase on the runway. But then I was told that it is just a concept where Treks aims to showcase the forest to visitors in a safe and fashionable way.

Eddie, briefing us about the Fashion Forest.

Here in Fashion Forest, there are celebrities.

Or rather, celebritrees. The trees are named after celebrities here in Fashion Forest, and here’s a lovely and sensational one; Mariah Carey.

And here’s a transformable celebritree, the Optimus Prime Pergola.

Visitor posing at the Santana Stage.

A family with a baby chilling under the Mariah Carey Pergola.

Eddie telling us that sightings of Hornbills are not uncommon here in Fashion Forest and if we are lucky enough, we’d be able to see one.

Our guide spotted an area where some orangey fruits are grown, and he told us that the fruit is actually one of Hornbills’ favourite.

And if you can spot this fruit, you are likely to spot a Hornbill around here.

Hornbills will crack this fruit open and devour the black seed.

And here’s the seed that Hornbills will feed on.

One thing interesting about this Fashion Forest is that there’s WiFi available. Yes. You are reading that right. There’s WiFi available. Which means you can go online and have a social media party while you are trekking in the Fashion Forest. Awesome, isn’t it?But the purpose is not just for you to be glued to your gadget nor merely post your selfies and wefies in your social media accounts while you are spending your time in the forest.WiFi is made available for a purpose. An educational purpose. Treks hopes that technology will help create and spread awareness on the forest’s conservation.

And as part of the educational bits over here in Fashion Forest, the trees are barcoded.

You can actually scan the barcodes by using apps on your smartphone and information on the plants or trees in question will appear. Interesting way of learning, I must say.

Apart from learning about trees by scanning on the barcodes, Treks also take the educational fun to a higher notch by providing barcodes with quizzes in it and you can participate the quiz by scanning the barcodes and answer the questions via whatapps and plenty of surprises awaits you if you managed to hunt down all barcodes with quizzes and answers correctly.

Visitors participating in the barcode quiz game.

While the questions are pretty simple, spotting the barcodes can be quite tricky at times if you don’t look closely.

Sometimes the barcodes are camouflaged by leaf and whatnot.

Visitors are also given a frame and encouraged to find interesting plant subjects and take a photo via the frame and share it on social media.

Here’s one of mine.

A mossy subject. I was told that these moss could glow in the dark.

Someone spotted this flower and it is definitely a sensational star.

A visitor taking the opportunity to snap a picture of a plant and share it on her social media account.

Our little trip to the Fashion Forest is definitely fun and educational one, and who says the jungle is all dark and scary and is only for hardcore adventurers? Here’s one that is beautiful and family friendly. Fashion Forest is a must visit, especially family with young kids. It is a great place to nurture kids into loving nature and conserving them for the next generation.

Treks offers plenty of eco-related programs for people from all walks of life and I’m sure there is something for everyone.

For more information on programmes offered by Treks, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting: Nepenthes Conservatory

Treks’ Nepenthe’s Conservatory is one of the latest eco attraction in Resorts World Genting.

Located in Awana Hotel, the place aims to showcase all sort of nephentes and is an information centre for Treks’ activities and entrance is free.

Here is where we can see all sorts of nephentes or the common name for it, pitcher plants.

Part of the live speciments in the conservatory.

More live speciments

Young visitor posing with the speciments.

Visitor taking photos of the speciments. Yes. Photography is allowed in here.

Children being taught how to take care of the pitcher plants.

Visitors listening to explanation on the pitcher plants.

We were told that pitcher plants comes in varieties of sizes and colours. We learned quite a few things about the pitcher plants here. One of them is that the pitcher plants are not exactly carnivorous, dangerous or poisonous. It is a misconception that pitcher plants hunts small animals for food. The fact that it is known as carnivorous is only because the shape of the plants trap insects in it’s pitcher and they get their nutrients from there.

Foraging, flying or crawling insects such as flies are attracted to the cavity formed by the cupped leaf, often by visual lures such asanthocyanin pigments, and nectar bribes. The rim of the pitcher (peristome) is slippery, when moistened by condensation or nectar, causing insects to fall into the trap. Pitcher plants may also contain waxy scales, protruding aldehyde crystals, cuticular folds, inward and downward pointing (retrorse) hairs, or guard-cell-originating lunate cells on the inside of the pitcher to ensure that insects cannot climb out. The small bodies of liquid contained within the pitcher traps are calledphytotelmata. They drown the insect, and the body of it is gradually dissolved. This may occur by bacterial action (the bacteria being washed into the pitcher by rainfall) or byenzymes secreted by the plant itself. Furthermore, some pitcher plants containmutualistic insect larvae, which feed on trapped prey, and whose excreta the plant absorbs. Whatever the mechanism of digestion, the prey items are converted into a solution of amino acids, peptides,phosphates, ammonium and urea, from which the plant obtains its mineral nutrition (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus).

Like all carnivorous plants, they all grow in locations where the soil is too poor in minerals and/or too acidic for most plants to survive. Rather than relying on photosynthetic glucose to survive, pitcher plants supplement available nutrients and minerals which plants normally obtain through their roots) with the constituents of their insect prey.

Interesting, don’t you think? Well, these things are much more interesting in real life, and if you are looking for something interesting and educational at no cost at all, you should visit the Treks’ Nepenthe’s Conservatory.

Treks offers plenty of eco-related programs for people from all walks of life.

For more information on programmes offered by Treks, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Family Friendly Eco Adventure with Treks in Resorts World Genting

Last father’s day, my family and I were invited to spend the weekend exploring the jungle in the vicinity of Awana Resorts, Genting Highlands where 130 million years old untouched rainforest lies. Being a nature lover and an Adrenaline junkie, is an invitation that I could not resist. A weekend away from the concrete jungle? I always say yes to such an invitation in a heartbeat. I never liked to stay at home anyway. At least, not on weekend. It is just so depressing and suffocating.

Dragging my husband and son along with me that fateful weekend, we spent 2D1N exploring a 130 million years old rainforest in Genting Highlands, a place very rich with biodiversity for nature lovers to savor.

Yes, you are reading that right. I mentioned Genting Highlands. The place that is commonly known as a city of entertainment and is well known for its casinos and live performances. This may sound strange to some, but here’s a newsflash for you.

There is more to Genting Highlands than just its hotels, indoor theme parks and casinos. Genting Highlands have much more to offer than just that.

Resorts World Genting is currently working alongside with Treks Nature Enterprise, a company that aims to present nature to visitors in a fashionable way.

Attractions that we experienced during our 2D1N eco escapade was:

Nepenthe’s Conservatory

Here at the conservatory, we were shown to all sort of Nephentes, or the common name for it, the pitcher plants. Read more about it HERE

The Fashion Forest

A forest concept where Treks aims to showcase the forest to visitors in a safe and fashionable way. Read more about it HERE.

The English Garden

A beautiful garden with magnificent views. Read more about it HERE.

A ride on the cable cars in Genting Skyway.

One way to reach the top of Resorts World Genting is via the cable cars in Genting Skyway. Read more about it HERE.

Birdwatching at IBA

Birdwatching at Awana IBA, where we managed to see some migratory birds. More about it HERE.

Jungle trekking

One of the activities offered by Treks is jungle trekking. More about it HERE.

Herping

Herping is a term used for searching for amphibians and reptiles. Definitely not for the faint hearted. And you may read more about our experience HERE.

If there is something I must say about programs offered by Treks’ is that it is not only a family friendly program, but the activities gives opportunities to discover nature in the most fun and up close and personal way. It also helps to stimulate people and help them develop as nature loving individual. If asked if I would go for this again, I definitely would not hesitate to say yes.

The Treks programmes begin in June 2016 and are available from 9am to 10pm.

Pricing for the programs is as below;

Self-Guided Fashion Forest walks:

RM35 per adult (12 years and above); RM30 per child (11 years and below)

Guided nature walks:

RM75 per adult; RM65 per child

Special-interest walks (Birding/Herping/Black Gibbon/Helmeted Hornbill):

RM250 per person

For more information on programmes and prices, go to Treks’s website and Facebook page or please call 03-27181118 or logon to www.rwgenting.com

Accidental Shortcuts Discovery with Salam Browser

So, I was looking for…ahem, a method to prevent my son from seeing what he is not supposed to see yet whenever he goes online. You know, as much as I would like to tell you that I’m a sweet angel who does not do naughty things online, it would be a blatant lie. I often watch movies that’s not so children friendly, I visited sites that is not appropriate for kids and you know, I do all sort of naughty stuff and my browsing history isn’t exactly angelic to say the least.

Having a pre-teen kid whom I allow to use the laptop for blogging and browsing purpose, I knew I had to protect his innocent mind from seeing the unseen. Pre-teens are curious creatures. I was a pre-teen once and I knew how out of hands things can be.

To cut long story short, I stumbled upon this Salam Browser while searching for secured browsing for kids. Reading up reviews, it is a browser that is supposedly children friendly. It is free to download and ensures secure browsing for children by enforcing great security.

Anyway, let’s put technicalities aside. Upon usage, I discovered that Salam Browser gives plenty of useful tips and one of it is keyboard shortcut tips.

Well, despite being married to a system engineer for more than a decade, I’m not quite that literate when it comes to techie stuff. When I browse and do things, it would be the old fashion way, the very useful and mighty mouse.

But now here’s sharing keyboard shortcuts that will make your online life easier, because I know how miserable it can be whenever your mouse goes faulty or when you need to do things at a faster speed.

Common keyboard shortcuts (can also be used on Salam Browser)

1. Open New Tab in browser

Ctrl+T

2. Close Current Tab

Ctrl+W

3. Reopen Last Tab Closed

Ctrl + Shift +T

4. View Specific Tab

Don’t clutter your screen with more than 9 tabs opened at once. Minimize distraction. With up to 9 tabs opened jump to a specific tab by holding Ctrl and pressing required tab number

Ctrl+ 1 or Ctrl+ 2 and so on.

Jumping to a specific tab in browser with Ctrl+1, +2, +3… shortcuts

Ctrl+Tab will let you jump on the next tab in the right direction. To go in the opposite directions add Shift.

5. Point mouse cursor into search bar without dragging your mouse there

Ctrl+L

6. Scroll with Spacebar

If your cursor is not in a text field press Spacebar to scroll down.

7. Jump to the top of the page

Press Home button

8. Open Downloaded Page

Ctrl+J

9. Browse in Incognito Mode

For extra privacy, use Ctrl+Shift+N

10. Quit Browser Window

Quit Incognito Mode window without clicking on ×. Simply press Ctrl+Q

There, easy-peasy, right? Hope all of you out there benefited from the shortcuts the way I do should you been in the dark about it.