22 December 2012 - 24 December 2012
It's December and most of us would always find a few days off to rejuvenate before the start of the new year.
I did. With my family in tow. We decided to go to Desaru. My last trip there was in 2009. It was an enjoyable trip too. But I didn't do the driving. This time round, there were 6 and half people in the car hehehehe... (includes a little 14 months old tot). I was the solo driver, to and fro. Proud lah sey! Hehehe...!!
Anyway here goes!
22 December 2012
Started out at about 11 am after running some family-related errands. Went via the 2nd Link (Tuas) as I heard friends talking about the new shorter Senai-Desaru highway and the new cable bridge along the way. 2nd link was crowded but moving. Cleared it about 12 and thereon starts my journey to Desaru.
Drove straight after the 1st toll (I forgot the name), via the Lebuhraya Laluan Kedua. And passed by a 2nd toll. I don't remember at which toll I asked the person manning the booth about the way to Desaru coz my GPS navigator was in a coma as it didn't understand the new highway. Was told to follow the Senai exit 304. Rested a while at Gelang Patah R&R for some refreshements. Then went straight on.
And voila, saw this sign!
From then on, I just followed the sign which has the word Desaru in brown. That kind of helped a lot because we nearly went into Kota Tinggi as that is the familiar route up to Desaru. But then again, if I had wanted to go that way, might as well go via Woodlands. But I wanna go through the new highway.
After turning into the exit, we found ourselves on the new Senai-Desaru highway. Along the way, we went through the cable bridge too! It was an awesome structure.
And when we really entered Desaru, the tricky part was to find Bandar Penawar, which housed the Lotus Desaru Resort we were supposed to check into. The gps navigator woke up just about here and we managed to find our way to the resort. And it also helped that there were a lot of signages of the different resorts along Desaru.
Reached our resort at about 2.30pm.
Checking in took quite a while for there was a crowd at the lobby. I guess it's the holiday season and we reached there just in time for the check-in. Managed to check in and got Block A and was told that we can park our car near our block. But then, looking at the crowd, I decided to leave the car at the main lobby's carpark 1st before checking out the lots near our block. What if I left the lot I had and realised that there's no lot near our block? Hehehe...
We took the resort's shuttle tram to our block. The tram system is very very efficient for it comes around 3-5 minutes to the different stop points for easy navigation throughout the resort.
Reached our block and got into our room and realised that we got not a duplex but a single-storey room with 2 bedrooms. But it's ok lah, decided that it would be better this way with a 14-month old tot, so he's free to roam about the rooms.
The rooms were spacious. 1 room had a 2 super-single beds, the other had a king-size bed. The room with king-size bed had an attached bathroom, the one with 2 super-single beds had a shared bathroom in the main dining area. The main dining area had a sofa, a tv, a coffee table, a kitchenette with a microwave and refridgerator. There were plates, cups and cutleries provided too... The parents took the one with the king beds. And the sister, her husband and the tiny tot took the one with the super-singles. Me and my sister? Oh, later we story.
As it was nearing 4 and we hadn't had lunch, we drove out of the resort to scour for a good lunch place. Asked a staff there and was told that there are a few makan-places in Bandar Penawar itself. So just tried our luck driving out.
Found a place about 15 minutes drive out of the resort. It's called Restoran Diwanda or something. I was the last one to enter the restaurant as I was locking up the car and all. As I entered, I noticed the swarm of flies buzzing around. And it was too late to tell the Dad to find another makan place as he already had a plate of rice in his hand. The Dad has severe gastritis and if he doesn't eat on time, his stomach with play rock and rolla. So we had no choice but to eat as fast as we can to run out from the flies-infested restaurant. What a terrible lunch.
And wonders of wonders, just as we were walking out after lunch, we saw Marrybrown! Darn.
So decided to pack some food for dinner later from Marrybrown.
There was a scare just as we entered the road leading to our resort. At a roundabout, we saw 5 mat rempits on our left. 1 Mat rode ahead of us while the others waited and when I just turned about the roundabout, the other 4 mats were following our car from behind. I got a really bad hunch and told Dad that these Mats look really fishy.
The Mat in front was turning his head looking at us once in a while and when I go slow the other 4 mats also went slow. As we were nearing the resort, I found a good spot to stop the car and the 4 Mats couldn't do anything but to speed ahead of us. If they had stopped also, then there was of course an agenda in their minds. Then I just drove slowly, as slow as I can and noticed that all 5 Mats kept turning to look at us. Alhamdulillah, we managed to turn into the resort without any mishaps. These mat-rempits are such public nuisance. Singapore car, woman driver, easy target, they might think. Stupig.
We let the little nephew play about the waterpark for a while, which he enjoyed of course and didn't want to get out from the water. Hehehe... And then we went to book for our firefly tour which cost us RM40 per person. Initially they told us there were no more slots, but just as we were enquiring, a family cancelled their booking, and we got their spots. We were told to gather at the lobby at about 7.50pm to board the van.
We also requested for an extra bed for me as the youngest sister has decided to sleep on the sofa. And initially, they told us it would be RM115 per night. Then they lowered it down to RM90 per night. Then they rounded it up to RM150 for two nights. Hehehe... The power of bargaining. It works in a resort too!
Did Maghrib and took the tram to the lobby and waited to board the van. There were actually three vans altogether. And as we were on our way to the place, I realised how dangerous the journey is and three vans going together is good. The road to the river was pitch-dark and rocky. And as we approached the river then we realised that there were a lot of cars near the riverside seafood place - Restoran Terapung Bujang. I wonder how they make their way in and out of that place. I wouldn't, for the life of me, drive into and out of that place. The roads scare me. Hahaha!!
Anyway, made our way to collect our life-jackets and we were atop the boat in a jiffy. I was quite worried for the little nephew as the river was dark and the lights in the boat were switched off. I was hoping he wouldn't throw a tantrum in the boat. Alhamdulillah, he didn't. He was restless but didn't cry. Good boy.
The fireflies were lovely. My camera was just not good enough to capture anything, but it was an experience. There were zillions of them resting on the trees by the river banks. A few flew into the boat and I managed to capture one in my palm. Although my palm was closed, I could still see the rays of light through my fingers. That's how bright they are. The trees looked like they were being decorated with small lights, like Christmas trees. Beautiful.
I don't know how long were were in the boat but it was an awesome time spent. Boarded the van back to the resort, did Isha', had our packed Marrybrown dinner and slept.
23 December 2012
Woke up early for in-resort breakfast. Took the tram to the clubhouse. It was crowded already and we got a spot and went to the buffet line to get our breakfast. Breakfast was simple. There was nasi lemak, fried noodles, roti prata, chicken ham sausages, eggs, cereals, bread and croissants, porridge and the usual orange juice, coffee and tea and some other drinks.
We were swarmed with FLIES yet again, even while having breakfast. Darn, what's with these flies? Even breakfast was not peaceful. Urgh!
Went back to the resort, changed and hit the beach and waterpark with a vengeance. The sea was subtle, not too fierce as I expected of the monsoon season. There were water-sports activities along the beach. All you would have to do is to pay and you get what you want. Banana boat, jet-skis, family doughnut. But we decided not to engage ourselves in any of that as the only person who knew swimming was the brother-in-law. And to be dragged by a motorboat all the way to the middle of the sea? Heh, no thank you. Hehehehe...
The waterpark was nice. Not really a big waterpark like Sunway lagoon or something, but nice enough to have fun. We had to wear our waterpark tags while being in there for sometimes the lifeguards will enquire whether we are guests of the resort or just any tom dick and harry enjoying a free swim in the waterpark.
After tiring ourselves silly in the waterpark, we decided to freshen up and head out for lunch. Yesterday, while leaving the flies-infested Restoran Diwanda, we spotted an Indian restaurant just on the opposite road and decided to try the restaurant out. BRILLIANT CHOICE!
It was a Pakistani restaurant. The staff who attended to us was friendly. And the food was fabulous. And it only came up to slightly more than RM40 for 6 people. And since the food was so good, we decided to pack food for dinner too.
Rested a bit in the resort and at night after Maghrib, we went out to the clubhouse area yet again to have a look at their fun-fair by the seaside. Not really a big one. With a few games at RM4 per try. I tried and only got a popcorn and a winter-melon packet drink. Hahaha! But the little one had a whale of a time playing with soap bubbles.
Went back to the resort, had dinner, did Isha', did some packing and slept.
24 December 2012
Woke up for breakfast, this time round the venue changed to the seaside cafe. I think the original cafe was hosting a company event or something. Breakfast was about the same. This time was more peaceful as there weren't swarms of flies hehehe...
After breakfast, roamed about the beach again, for some pictures.
And finally, the dream is over. Had to pack up and leave the resort by 12pm. Check-out was a breeze. And we were on our way home...
Again, the same route, only the other way round. Route 90, Senai-Desaru Highway, Lebuhraya Laluan Kedua, see TUAS on the signboard, you are on the right track.
And oh, we did stop by the Gelang Patah R&R yet again for lunch in KFC and *rolls eyes* there were flies yet again. Walauwey!
Anyway, it was a nice relaxing 2 nights rest. Journey was ok too. Loved the moments where we were on a single lane road and when there's a slow lorry in front of us and I had to do the stunt of overtaking with oncoming traffic on the right. It was adrenaline-pumping.
Resort was ok. Our sink was choked on the first-day, called the maintenance, they came in a jiffy. The extra bed came fast. Our leaking electric kettle was changed fast too. The only complaint I have was they never changed the faulty phone although we told them to for the 3 days 2 nights we were there. Anyways, amidst the mixed reviews I've read over the net about the resort, Im glad my stay was on the good side. Very recommended resort for resting and rejuvenating.
Ilal Liqaa'...!!
