Travel Tips

The first ever VT meeting that I attended was on October 2, 2003... The fixture was done thru the wonders of the internet, where everybody was rounded up... I would like to repeat here what had been listed in my homepage....

Pic - Chia, Audrey, Marcia and Mei-ling

KLumpur VTers used to hold VT meetings every first Friday of each month.... On behalf of KL VTers, all VTers (locals and visitors) are cordially welcome to the meetings... However, for various reasons, it was not possible to hold them every month... VT meetings are now held whenever visiting VTers request for them... Just check the Malaysia forum listing for the time and venue closer to the day of the meeting to find out the details.... It would be nice to meet you in KLumpur....

Attendees

Andrew (Lily's brother)
Audrey (Audrey118)
David (City_guy)
Emie (Edachshund)
James (Jameswtc)
Jen (Jenniferchin)
Lily (Yurijade)
Marcia (Quero)
Mei-ling (Dragontml)
Peter (Petertktan)
Razali (Banditleader)
Sam (Quero's husband)
Terence (Kenboy)

Pic - Chia and Emie

The meeting was originally organised to meet up with Sonia (Heywinks)... The KLumpur VTers decided to proceed with the fellowhip when Sonia was not able to attend due to changes in travel plans...

As they say: "it was a dark and stormy night"... or with every indication that it will turn out to be... Just before the scheduled time, black cloud gathered at Desa Sri Hartamas where the dinner was to be held at Uncle Don....but the threat vanished when the time came to have our little gathering...

it was a good gathering with everyone eager to exchange notes on travelling and sundry... Razali with his elephant santuary, Peter with his vegetarian food, Jen, Mei-ling and David with updates on the KLumpur night circuits.. and it goes on and on.... A few was convinced that they should visit the elephant sanctuary... What a sell, Razali... The food was good and the companionship better - despite having met the first time for most of the VTers... Each VTers was presented with a key chain while Seah (Audrey's husband) was given a box of golf balls... with my compliments...

The VTers were so satisfied with the gathering that it was decided (impromptu) that a monthly meeting be considered... This is agreed on for the first Friday of each month - the first meeting being December 5, 2003....

For more write-up on this meeting, check the homepages of Audrey118, Dragontml, Jenniferchin, Quero, Yurijade

Attendees

Audrey (Audrey118)
Cat (Cat_y88)
David (City_guy)
James (Jameswtc)
Jen (Jenniferchin)
Marcia (Quero)
Mei-ling (Dragontml)
Peter (Petertktan)
Sam (Quero's husband)
Terence (Kenboy)

Pic - Sam, Jen, Chia, Audrey and Marcia

The first of the monthly meetings was held in Desa Sri Hartamas (again)....at Uncle Don (again)... As some of the VTers were late, those who arrive early just chat and have a drink... It was again a good gathering... As everybody was getting hungry, the meeting adjorned to Spicy for food after the promise of "dry laksa" from Peter was not to be as he had to go off earlier after he received a telephone call (the bane of mobile phones..).... Cat and David joined us at Spicy and have to be contented with the left-over food....

As we have seen so much of Desa Sri Hartamas, it was decided that the next meeting be held in KLumpur....

For more write-up on this meeting, check the homepages of Dragontml, Jenniferchin

I met up with Peh-san (Pehsan - VTer from Penang) and Darren (VTer from Canada) and Eddy (Peh-san's friend), at Kajang...

Pic - Diana (Chia's friend), Chia, Eddy, Darren and Peh-san

Arrangement was made to meet Peh-san, Eddy and Darren for satay lunch in Kajang during the Chinese New Year period... Lunch was at Haji Samuri satay stall next to the Kajang Stadium... As it was CNY, they were given an "ang pow" each, from the oldest in the group (you can guess who..hehe..)

Following lunch, we went to "tour" Putrajaya as both of them haven't been to the Government Adminstrative Centre.... We visited the mosque, look at the PM's Office Block and drove around Putrajaya - taking in the sights and developments...

As all good things must come to an end... Peh-san, Eddy and Darren then went on to KLumpur for their other "tours" which (I was told) include Berjaya Times Square....

Attendees

Andrew (Dreks)
Audrey (Audrey118)
Chris (Canadacutey)
Farha (Deuter)
Lily (Yurijade)
Sha (Sha_stallion)

Pic - Sha, Farha, Lily, Chris, Audrey, Chia and Andrew

On February 21, 2004, Andrew, Chris and Sha visited KLumpur... Meeting them at MATIC upon their arrival by coach from Singapore, we visited the Cuti-cuti Malaysia travel fair held at MATIC... After meeting Farha at the same venue, the group adjoined to KLCC, where Lily(Yuirjade) and Audrey (Audrey118) joined us...

Drinks and snacks was then partaken in KLCC Starbucks, with my compliments.... After the introductions and answering questions on Malaysia.... the group took the KL Monorail to Berjaya Times Square... Checking out Cosmos World... we then proceed to Chinatown after Audrey left us for another appointment...

For more write-up on this meeting, check the homepage of Sha_stallion and Yurijade

On March 12, I met up with Lee-huang (rite_of_spring who was in Kuala Lumpur on some personal business.. We visited the MATTA trade fair in Putra WTC... Nothing much, although Lee-huang was able to collect tons of brochures for her next travel ideas...

On March 15, Cheryl dropped into Kuala Lumpur with her family after meeting and co-habiting with "pirates" in their Penang treasure hunt... After all the disappointment in not finding any priate's hidden loots... they were fete with a well deserving chinese dinner at Regal Restaurant together with local VTers Audrey and James... It was a good fellowship and talks centered around family, food and travel.. of course...

Although it was a very short trip, the Frantzs were impressed with all the developments in Kuala Lumpur, which they have not visited for a long time...So impressed were they, that Cheryl and Chris promised to be back again in Kuala Lumpur in the later part of the year... We are waiting for you, Cheryl...

Attendees

Audrey (Audrey118)
Cheryl (TravelBug_sg)
James (Jameswtc)
Chris Frantz (Cheryl's husband)
Mrs Lam (Cheryl's mum)
Cheryl's children Josh & Steffie

Pic - Audrey, James, Chia and Cheryl

For more write-up on this meeting, check the homepage of TravelBug_sg

On March 22, I met and entertained Judy (cpim2004) who came to Kuala Lumpur, after her Singapore trip...After helping her to settle her "errants" in Petaling Jaya, we had seafood lunch in Padamaran, following which I send her to Port Dickson where she stayed the night. The next day, we met for lunch and then went to Melaka,.. After a night's stay she left for Singapore to catch her flight back to Beijing... It's nice meeting you, Judy... Let us know if you will visit Malaysia again... Sorry, didn't take any photos...will post them if Judy send me some photos taken on her camera

The April VT meeting was held on April 2 at the Al Sabeel Restuarant in Bangsar... It was a dark and storm night with torrential rain, flooded KLumpur roads and trafiic jams... It was no wonder that only the strong and brave VTers turned up, albeit a bit late... The meeting was in a way, a farewell gathering for Deepa who left for Adelaide the next day... Good luck to you in Ozzzz, Deepa... We will miss you... We have Middle Eastern specialities and good fellowship...

Following the tuck-in, some went to Coffee Bean for the normal dose of caffine while the rest to Finns for a drink and to shake off some of the food intakes... I opt to call it a night in preparation for my golf game (yeah, you guess it right) the following morning...

Attendees

Audrey (Audrey118)
David Jr (City_guy)
Deepa (Dmirebella)
Deni (Ardeni)
James (Jameswtc)
Jen (Jenniferchin)
Mason (Masonwong)
Mehala (Mehala)
Mei-ling (Dragontml)
Peh-san (Pehsan)
Terence (Kenboy)
Wendy (Peh-san's friend)

Pic - James, Mei-ling, Peh-san, Mason, David Jr, Chia, Audrey, Ardeni, Jennifer and Terence

For more write-up on this meeting, check the homepage of Dragontml and Jenniferchin

On Labour Day, I got a message from VTer Fudge that she is in KLumpur... We arranged to meet up for lunch on May 2 after her visit to the KLCC Skybridge.. We met at about 2:00pm and decided to have a quick lunch at the Food Court as it was already late and everybody is hungry...

What was unexpected was we have 3 foreign travellers who joined us as we meet up with Liza, the local lady friend of Farheen...

Attendees

Farheen (Fudge)
Liza (Farheen's friend)
Angela (from Austria)
Markus (from Germany)
Russ (from Canada)


Pic - Markus, Angela, Russ, Liza, Farheen and Chia

We have a nice lunch (must be because we were very, very hungry).. and catch up on (what else but) travelling... We separated ways after vowing to keep in touch...

On May 8, Andy (vt Leonik) and Najam (vt Najamrulz) was my guest for dinner at Soul Out Cafe in Desi Sri Damansara....together with my friends Vincy and Chin from Penang... It was an impromptu arrangement but we have a good dinner and fellowship.. with Najam narrating to us his travels..