Sungai Sedim day trip

Sungai Sedim, a recreational forest located in the northeast of Kulim, Kedah is popular for its treetop walkway (of reinforced steel) recognized to be the world’s longest at the spans of 950 meter above the lush green rainforest trees and also white-water rafting to those that is adventurous enough. The park also offers packages for teambuilding activities which include paint ball, flying fox, jungle trekking, down the river tubing and many more. For those who are simply nature lover or even photography enthusiast, Sungai Sedim is certainly complete with natural beauty of flora and fauna for one to explore and experience.

Having heard of Sungai Sedim since the recreational park open its door to visitors many years ago, five crazy friends planned for a trip to visit the park for the first time (actually it was their first but already my second as my first was with company teambuilding). Excited over the short trip, the five of us squeezed into a small car headed to Sungai Sedim via Kulim Hi-Tech Park. By the time we arrived, it is almost noon and still very few visitors at that time. We went straight on to experience the famed treetop walkway. Entrance fees is RM10 for adult while RM5 for children, opens from 8:30am to 5:30pm every day. Sigh...I have to say that I actually felt the price is a little too expensive for a squared walkway. Anyhow, we tried to enjoy the beauty of nature from the top of walkway.

Before walkway entrance

Starting point of the walkway

Excellent view from the above

Several educational signage along the path

Steel walkway

At the highest point

Rainforrest surrounding the walkway

Of course, plenty of flora

Though the sun is not shining directly on us, but the weather is still humid and hot. We were all soaked in sweats by the time we reached the end of trail. Hmmm….what else would be the next fun thing to do other than soaking our butts in the cool running stream of Sungai Sedim. We went back to our car to pack our clothes and snacks for our mini picnic. By then, the riverside started to get a little over crowded with visitors in groups of families and friends. But lucky us, we found a secluded area for just the five of us to enjoy ourselves and splashing water at each other like little kids without feeling shy of being seen by others.

Unfortunate that my Nikon SLR is with repairer. Pictures taken with my old Canon Ixus 700

Mr. Toad that won't budge though we kept disturbing him

Almost an hour or more later, we decided it was time to start our journey home. Once again I was disappointed with the level of maintenance of the area. To enter the public toilet cum shower, each had to pay 30 cents (which is still alright). However upon entering, I was let down by dirty dark toilets and worst when there are no water in the shower rooms. In the end, we just change our wet clothes without any shower.

On our way home, we stopped by Kemunting Lake View Restaurant at Sungai Kob, Mahang for our early dinner. The restaurant is on a floating platform above man-made lake full of reared fresh water fish swimming around. Obvious enough that the restaurant served all kinds of fresh water fish dishes.

Entrance

The restaurant area

Man-made lake

Fresh water fishes

We ordered almost all of the famous dishes recommended by the staff there - 3-Flavours Talapia Fish, Deep fried Patin fish on light soy sauce, Steam Pak-Su-Gong with ginger, Stir Fried Deer Meat, Sambal KangKung (Stir Fried Water Spinach with chili) and Salted Fish Beans’ Sprout. 

Dishes we ordered...I forgot to snap picture of Salted Fish Beans' Sprout dish

The aftermath

All of that plus a jug of Luo Han Guo (fruit of Siraitia Grosvenori) drink totaled up to RM208. For a meal of five person, I guess the price was pretty much alright!

Private Spa

Sunday morning (10/11)

…we woke up with practically nothing much interesting to do at home. The weekend will go away just like most of the boring days we had. Hence, it was an ad-hoc decision to go hiking at Penang’s Taman Negara, pretty much up to our so-called ‘private spa’ location. By the time we left the house, it was already noon and as usual, Tim Sum is always in the menu for breakfast. It was merely 2pm that we finally started our journey heading to the mini pool of fresh cold water. The 50 minutes journey brought us through the jungle of many fallen trees and muddy path from the rain, before we reached to main destination….our own fresh water pool.

 

 Mini pool -- just for us

Fresh & cooling water

Some flora...

...and fauna

We rested in the cold water for an hour or more before we started our journey home.

4D3N Trip to Samui - Day 3 & Final

The day started with a quick jump into the pool (again)…That was the first thing I did the minute I opened my eyes (of course after a quick shower). I just could not resist the clear water viewed through the glass windows from bed. What I loved most is the warm temperature of the pool water. Not sure if there is any temperature control to maintain level of heat, but the water is perfect be it during day or night time swim.

The room were provided with free breakfast served at the hotel’s restaurant, 4K which is pronounced as Fork…a very creative name indeed! The breakfast came with three selection of main dishes: (1) Asian – with choice of seafood/chicken porridge and 5 other side dishes like salted egg with pickled vegetables, fried egg, Thai sausage, stir fried vegetable and stir fried assorted mushrooms; (2) European – omelet, sausages, kidney beans, fruits; (3) Thai – several choices of fried noodle/rice Thai style. On top of that, there were buffet lines with assorted breads, cereals + nuts, salads, yogurts, cold cut fruits, juices, tea and coffee. Of course we had a very satisfying meal to start our day…at the pool!

4K Restaurant

Morning view from the restaurant

It was till 5pm that we finally drag ourselves out from the pool to get ready for dinner. Since free ride from X2 to Chaweng is part of the services given to all X2’s customers, we decided to head back to Chaweng to hunt for nice restaurant for a romantic dinner together. By 6pm, our ride left for Chaweng and dropped us at the Central of the busy street. Our chauffeur would come to pick us back to X2 by 10pm, so we got ourselves sufficient time for dinner and foot massage. We took a little stroll along the many shops and restaurant before finally decided on Monkey Bay Beach restaurant with tables on candle light right on the beach.

Candle light dinner

Neon lights coconut tree

Thai Spring Rolls

Local Thai delights

It is absolutely nice to feel the sand on your feet while enjoying dinner with your loved ones. When the dinner is done, we went for an hour long foot massage at only 250 Baht each.

By the time we were done with the relaxing massage, it is almost time for us to catch the ride back to hotel. Our last night spent at Villa No. 03 ended with more dip in the private pool and bubble bath!

Morning came and we had to take early ride from Koh Samui back to Penang. The journey home got us stuck middle of nowhere when the bus that carried us broke down. It was till nearly two hours later that a replacement bus came to bring us all the way to Hatyai. Unfortunately we were half an hour too late to catch the last ride, hence were forced to stay overnight at Hatyai for the next day ride to Penang.

Verdict: Excellent hotel room and great foods! But I do have to stress on one thing though...X2 rooms is only for 'licensed' couple, not suitable for friends. Reason? The whole villa is all glass and therefore see-through when one in shower or even when answering the 'nature-calls'. Enjoy!

4D3N Trip to Samui - Day 2

Our second day started with us leaving AKWA Guesthouse to head down south of Koh Samui to X2 Resorts by Hua Thanon beach. Before we got ourselves a taxi, we went for a little grocery shopping to stock up our inventories of drinks and tidbits from the famous 7-Eleven chain. Our breakfast or rather brunch (breakfast + lunch) was just simple Thai food of crab meat fried rice, deep fried seafood glass noodle, fried meat + prawn paste and the famous mango glutinous rice as dessert.

Crab meat fried rice

Deep fried glass noodle

With our tummy filled, we started our journey to X2 Resorts. The arrival at X2 Resort after a 30-minutes ride, greeted us with spacious and modern designed lobby. We were welcomed with nice cold fragrant towel and cups of refreshing cold green tea.

Main Entrance

Within minutes, the registration were all done and we were brought to our room, Villa No. 03. The hotel staff took the courtesy to show us around the hotel surrounding and what will be our room for the next two days. She then left us to enjoy the facilities by ourselves.

Villa No. 03

The first thing I did was to get hold of the small iPOD remote to search for a nice relaxing song. And then, the shooting session begins!

Little note from the management & iPOD remote

Comfy bed

Apple TV loaded with musics and movies, free wi-fi connections, DVD player (which we never had the opportunity to watch any DVDs)

Outdoor sun lounges Bathtub with garden view Outdoor shower
Bathroom
Open space toilet Daily fresh fruits

The next thing we did was took off our clothes and off into the 30 sqm private pool. Though the villa was all glass and window, but do not worry about being seen by anyone peeking through. One of the hotel motto is “Privacy without Isolation’ and indeed is it true. The whole villa is fully covered from outsiders except for the two of us to enjoy the 162 sqm villa.

30 sqm private pool

Sun Lounges by the Pool

We went out to explore the hotel surrounding after the short dip. There were very few guest during our stay, probably it was due to the low season during this time of the year.

Public swimming pool
2.40 meter deep pool Public sun lounges 4K (pronounced as Fork) Restaurant Beach benches to relax

The day was rather hot and humid. Seems that our private pool is the best place to be. It was till almost dinner time that we finally drag ourselves out from the pool to have dinner at 4K Restaurant. The restaurant provides a ‘mix match’ of eastern and western dishes and the best of fusion but not really to our liking, so the dinner was quick and easy. Probably we are still craving for the scrumptious BBQ meats we had the night before. After the dinner, we went for a little walk around the hotel pool area for some night shots and relax by the public sun launges to watch the stars before headed back to our private pool again!

Night view of X2 Pool

Night view of hotel public pool 4K Restaurant all lit-up

There were little candles prepared earlier by the hotel management. Obviously, we lit all them and surrounded the pool to create a cozy and romantic mood. Then finally to add on to the ecstasy, Lays potato chips and cold Bacardi Breezer. Ahhh….this is simply heaven!

All glassed room

Cozy lighting

Bathroom by night Pool at night

Candles everywhere

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