Zafigox 2019: For Women by Women

Founded by Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, ZafigoX, the highly-anticipated two-day annual event was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Hannah Yeoh in Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

Brought to you by AirAsia and Zafigo, the third instalment of the women-only travel event returned better and bolder with a diverse group of 26 extraordinary women (and 1 man), travel experts and service providers; as well as exciting opportunities to discover new travel experiences and destinations, participate in workshops and discussions, and learn how to travel smart and savvy.

AirAsia BIG Loyalty launches eStore

To many Malaysians, AirAsia is no stranger. But did you know that by setting up an AirAisia account, you can also collect AirAsia BIG points via their loyalty point programme as you purchase flights?

But unless you're a frequent flyer with the airline, point collection can take a while before you can actually redeem something. Enter AirAsia BIG eStore, the latest lifestyle offering from AirAsia’s loyalty programme, where BIG Members can shop online to earn BIG Points faster than they fly.

Indonesia: Tough Mudder Bali 2016

It was exciting news for OCR junkies in Malaysia to hear that Tough Mudder was finally coming to Asia, set to take place in beautiful Bali. And since Bali was sort of a part of Australia, it drew heaps of Aussies over as well. Malaysia and Australia weren't the only excited nations.

According to Coconut Bali, mudders from over 37 countries flew into Bali for what was deemed "probably the toughest event on the planet." For many, it was their first Tough Mudder. For a few other members of my team, the Mudder-in-Laws and myself, it was our second and third respectively. I had my eye on that blue headband and I wasn't going to let even a nagging hip pain and cramps get in my way.

The morning of the race, it was so humid. Imagine that. Our wave was 7:30am and we were already sweating. I loved that they brought down a few of the Australian Tough Mudder team to lead the warm up and especially the emcee who successfully got the crowd revved up. Tough Mudder always had the best pre-race routines where we had to incite the Tough Mudder code to look out for each other.

At 7:30am on the dot, we were released onto the course and off we went into the 13km course. I had heard the organisers had to shorten the route on account of the Bali heat. A wise decision I thought as heat stroke and dehydration were no joke. The heat and terrain also limited the types of obstacles they could bring to Bali.

However Tough Mudder does not fail to live up to its name as there was mud albeit not as much as Australia. But enough that everyone came away muddy at the first obstacle.

Of course, what was an obstacle race without wall obstacles? Tough Mudder was not without Skidmarked (slanted walls) and the Berlin walls. There were some obstacle that could be conquered alone like the Cage Crawl and the sand bag carry.

The infamous Artic Enema 2.0, a dread feature obstacle overseas was one to look forward to to combat the Bali heat. At least until we found our legs seizing up from the icy cold waters. What sorcery is this??

Still the nice cooling effects lasted about another kilometer before we came across the ever scenic Life is a Beach obstacle.

Which wasn't an obstacle but a photo backdrop....sighhhhh.

Quite a number of the obstacles were a disappointment as they were merely part of the terrain like the Gorilla Killer (which was actually a killer hike in the Melbourne Tough Mudder so that was legit), Bushwhacked, Stairway to Heaven and Cliffhanger. Like why....

Where Tough Mudder really excelled were their teamwork-oriented obstacles. The Pyramid Scheme and the ever iconic Everest 2.0 were my favourites because it basically forces everyone to work together.

Blockness Monster was a new obstacle for 2016 and one where we had to work with other racers. It also got us all nice and wet for the next and final obstacle........Electroshock Therapy.

Ah, what is Tough Mudder without Electroshock Therapy?

Also what is Tough Mudder without a cold bottle of beer and its orange headbands?

The first Tough Mudder in Asia clocked in 13km, the shortest TM I've done but on account of the blazing heat, it was a good call. As for the obstacles, well, let's just say the terrain should not be counted as obstacles. Loved the course though for its scenic views but wished there was more beach running and obstacles. 

Psst - I heard Jakarta is next on their list for a Tough Mudder Half and another full Tough Mudder for Bali next year. 

Ps: Sorry for the crappy action pics. They were taken with my iPhone 4s, securely protected in a waterproof bag. 

Pss - I missed my Olympus camera.... Olympus Malaysia, why you take so long to service my camera? It's been two months T_T

AirAsia and AirAsia X Free Seat [Promo period: 13 - 19 June 2016]

Have you already started planning for your 2017 vacays?

Well, if you haven't, this might given you that incentive to start planning on where you want to go next year! Because the AirAsia Free Seat campaign is back and gamed to run from 13 - 19 June! The travel dates are from 4 Jan to 21 Aug 2017!

AirAsia is giving away up to three million promotional seats in its latest Free Seats campaign across its entire short- and long-haul network. Starting from a base fare of RM0, excluding taxes and fees, guests can fly to any of the more than 120 destinations in 24 countries served by AirAsia and AirAsia X, the low-cost carrier said in a statement.

Travel 2014: 5 Countries in a Year

Yes, it's that post. That last post of the year, the post that recaps the year. That post. 

 

Because, truth be told, 2014 has been a good year for me - wanderlust-wise. With everything that has been going on at posting time, it may seem insensitive but it has made me grateful that I got to travel safely and got to experience what I did in five different but distinctively beautiful countries.

Not as many as some people who have jetted to seven countries in a span of 12 months (I am looking at you, mom!) but still a feat for me who is used to traveling once or twice a year.

Indonesia: Bali - Grand Mega Resort and Spa, Kuta review

While Sri Ratih Cottages had been heaven away from home, the next hotel stay of our trip in Kuta was a vast disappointment. We made the mistake of being drawn in by the cheaper rates on Agoda, forgetting that we would eventually have to make up for it in additional transportation cost as the hotel was about 10 minutes from the city center by cab.

Grand Mega Resort and Spa hotel is located along a massive hallway/road where across was Galleria mall that was loaded with food and shopping. To cross the ever busy road, guests would need to get the hotel security guard to help them. From the road, the hotel was a flashy sight with a silver and purple front.

Indonesia: Bali - Sri Ratih Cottages, Ubud review

This review is way overdue, mainly because I forgot. Sorry!

On my Bali trip in January, I stayed at Sri Ratih Cottages while in Ubud for two nights. My flight got in very late and by the time I arrived at the accommodation, it was well past midnight. Fortunately, the open-air lobby was opened around the clock and the receptionist quickly sorted out my luggages and had a bellboy deliver them to my room where a friend had already checked in.

Indonesia: Bali Day 3 (Part 4) - Al Dente anyone?

After a whole day out and on our feet, we felt that we deserved a good meal to mark our last evening in Bali. So after much debate, we agreed on Al Dente, an Italian restaurant and bar that was right next to Flapjaks and also under the same parent company as Flapjaks as I discovered later. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this place... and boy, was I glad to be proven wrong.

Because holy crap, what a jem this place was!

Indonesia: Bali Day 3 (Part 3) - Kuta on Foot

 After Flapjaks, the friends and I spent the rest of the day exploring Kuta. Having already planned to get a massage, my friends took a cab to Seminyak to try out the famous Jari Menari massage parlour while I stayed in Kuta and continued to explore it.

Indonesia: Bali Day 3 (Part 2) - Waffle, Crepes and Pancakes at Flapjaks

After a disappointing early morning excursion to Lovina, a two hours drive from Kuta, we were starved and after the tour van dropped us back at the hotel, we hopped into a rather pricy cab (I suspected that he just overcharged us) and headed to Kuta in search of Flapjaks based on a friend’s recommendation.

 

Indonesia: Bali Day 3 (Part 1) - Lovina Dolphin Cruise

The night before, we stayed in the hotel and watched American Ninja Warrior. We were in bed by 10pm and this was why. We had to be up by 2am to catch the pickup van that took us up North to Lovina beach where a boatman greeted us in his odd looking boat.

 We gave up our sleep (actually we slept on the way to Lovina which resulted in the worst sleep of the trip) for a chance to see dolphins at sunrise. Marketed as a dolphin-watching sunrise cruise, we bought the deal over Groupon months in advance at about RM90 per person and it included transportation to and fro Lovina from any hotel in Kuta.

Indonesia: Bali Day 2 (Part 2) - Bali Mall Galleria, Kuta

After a busy morning in Ubud, racing from attraction to attraction, we were beat and were eager to move on to the next part of the holiday - Kuta. 

The drive from Ubud to Kuta took about 1 hour and a half and we slept the entire way while Joe from Bali Joe's drove us in his ever comfortable van to the main tourist hotspot. Our hotel, Grand Mega Resort and Spa, however was in the outskirts of the town center, a good 10 to 15 minutes drive away. Fortunately, it wasn't completely devoid of shops and stores as there was a shopping mall across the road. Unfortunately, that road was a busy freeway with no traffic light to stall the rushing cars and motocycles for us to cross.

Indonesia: Bali Day 2 (Part 1) - Ubud by Foot

I love Ubud. Quite possibly even more than Kuta. I love how simple the road is, it's just one long road that has everything including a Starbucks! That's right, Ubud has a Starbucks. But I am getting ahead of myself.

After a day of temples, monkeys and rice field with our guides from Febris Bali Tour, we only had the morning to explore Ubud after a slow and leisurely breakfast. From our hotel, we headed into town and it took us only 10 minutes by foot. Walking on the street can be quite dangerous though as there was no pedestrian walkway on the very narrow roads. However, the locals seem quite adapted at dodging us. To be safe, we struck to the edge as close as we could.

Indonesia: Bali Day 1 - Temple Tour, Ubud

A month before my trip, it suddenly dawned upon me that we had no idea how we were going to carry out our itinerary. We had no transportation or sense of direction to get to our intended sites. So I consulted Lord Google and came across Febris Bali Tour. Reviews of this tour group have been positive and assuring so I shot them an email and received a prompt reply confirming my tour booking in Ubud.

After a stressful night of delayed flights and missing purses, I was looking forward to a day of visiting the historical and cultural landmarks that made up Bali. Our guide, Mathir and driver, Putu were at our hotel, Sri Ratih Cottages in Ubud, early and waited patiently while we finished up breakfast. Mathir was very polite, courteous and spoke good English as he explained our itinerary for the day.

Our first stop was Taman Ayun Temple, located in Mengwi Village and is about a 40minutes drive from Ubud and 30minutes from Denpasar. The pond and garden surrounding the temple were huge and well-maintained with a clear pathway leading to the temple area.

Indonesia: Bali Day 0 - Strings of Bad Luck

My first trip of 2014 to Bali started off on a bad note.

To start, my evening AirAsia flight to Bali was delayed by an hour plus and the staffs did not even have the courtsey to inform us of that. I supposed it was expected considering that it was AirAsia but when did it become accepted for airline staffs to not inform passengers of delays?

A line of waiting passengers had formed at our assigned gate and no one was sitting less we had to board soon. We watched as the flight after ours took off for Singapore, me wishing I was on that flight. The gate next to ours to Bangkok was allowed to board. It was near 8pm when we were finally allowed to board our plane.

The flight was supposed to be at 640pm.