To Ulanbaator, Mongolia

I am awesomely excited that I would be travelling again tomorrow.

Destination: the awesome Ulanbaator of Mongolia with a possible visit to Erdenet and Darkhan.

I didn't really mentioned that I am travelling again, saved for the little awesome box here in Awesome Adventurer saying that my next destination is Ulanbaator, but I am seriously excited. Excited to travel to an awesome new country. Excited to meet awesome new friends. Excited to do something awesomely different while travelling.

How awesomely different would it be?

Well, we are going to do some awesome charity-based work there. Travelling with me are a few awesome doctors, awesome nurses, awesome pharmacist and awesome therapist (hope I got it right) plus some awesome helpers (myself included) and we would be doing some medical screening for the poor. I would be one of the helper, helping out any way I can while taking awesome photos of the awesome trip.

I would be away until 10th August so don't miss me. Will try to login if possible.

Ending this awesomely short post with a photo of a young Mongol boy I found from http://oursurprisingworld.com

Awesomely cute, right?

Kellie's Castle

The awesome Kellie's Castle as we known it today, is located near the awesome town of Batu Gajah, about 20 to 30 minutes drive from the awesome Ipoh, Perak. Kellie's Castle is one of the oldest and most awesome mansion to be built in Malaysia.

The awesome William Kellie Smith from the Kellas village in Scotland came to the undeveloped Malaya back in the year 1890. Here, he met with an estate owner called Alma Baker whom he venture in some business dealings and profit from it. Soon, he start planting rubber and dabbled in the tin mining industry. Soon, he become the owner of Kinta Kellas Estate and Kinta Kellas Tin Dredging Company.

He returned home to marry his awesome sweetheart, Agnes and brought her to Malaya in 1903. William and Agnes has two children, Helen and Anthony and Anthony become sort of William's lucky charm when his business grew to new heights. To celebrate Anthony's birth, William started planning for an awesome huge moorish styled castle which he planned to call Kellas House, after his hometown in Scotland.

However, half way through the construction, tragedies struck. He dies of pneumonia while on a trip back to England. His wife sold her interest in Kellas Estate to a British company called Harrisons and Crosfield. The distraught family never returned to Malaya.

Nowadays, the mansion is being known as the awesome Kellie's Castle and is a popular tourist attraction. Basic restoration has been done to the structure but most of the structure has remained the same.

It has also being said that Kellie's Castle is being haunted by the awesome ghost of William Kellie Smith whereby there have been reported that some locals has seen his ghost walking down the awesome hallways of the uncompleted castle during the night. Other reports mentioned that some people got lost in the castle to be awaken in another place a few kilometers away from the castle several hours later. It is up to you to believe or not.

Entrance fee is RM5 for adults and RM2 for children

GPS coordinate: 4.474431, 101.087767

Airport to Colombo City

There is only one international airport in Sri Lanka, the awesome Bandaranaike International Airport, which is located in Katunayake, north of Colombo city.

While airlines would mention that the flight destination on your flight ticket as Colombo, you are not really that near to Colombo when your plan landed on Bandaranaike International Airport. It is actually nearer to the town of Negombo. So, if your destination is not Colombo, one can opt to stay overnight (if your flight reach the airport late at night) in one of the many hotels/hostels in Negombo.

If you must go to the awesome city of Colombo, there are several choices for you to choose from.

The easiest way to get to Colombo would be the taxi. But bear in mind that this would be a very expensive choice. Remember to negotiate the price in advance to avoid any problem later. (was told that the price is about

The next choice would be the local taxi / mini van. Do keep in mind that these local taxi / mini van does not have air-con but the good part is, it is cheaper than the price that you would pay for the taxi. Still, remember to negotiate the price first before boarding the vehicle.

The cheapest way to get to the city is, of course, taking the bus. The price that you would be paying would only be a fraction of what you pay for the tax, about Rs 50 per way per person. But, the tradeoff for this option is definitely the extra work that you need to do. First, you have to take the airport bus to the airport bus depot, located outside the airport. This is actually easy as there is a free shuttle bus service running all the time between the airport and the bus depot. Once you are at the bus depot, look for the public bus with the number 187. This would be the bus to take you all the way to Colombo Fort, which is something like a centre in Colombo.

The journey would take at least one to three hours, whichever mode of transport you may take as it depends on the traffic along the way to Colombo city.

A word of cautious, the traffic in Colombo and the surrounding may seem like a chaos to outsider. One better be prepare before going to Sri Lanka.

Selangor: Chiling Waterfall

Even though Selangor is being considered the most developed state in Malaysia, there are many hidden gems that some people still dont know about.

Take the awesome Chiling Waterfall for example. Until about 2 years back, I never knew such an awesome waterfall actually exist. But when I found out, I knew that I must go there at least once. And once I was there, it was like falling in love at first sight. The beauty of this waterfall is mesmerizing.

The waterfall is actually part of Sg Chiling Fish Sanctuary and it is located not far from the awesome town of Kuala Kubu Baru, on the north-eastern part of Selangor. From Kuala Kubu Baru, one would drive along a winding road towards Bukit Fraser (another post later). But about half way up, one would see the "entrance" to the sanctuary on your right hand.

Park your car along the road and remember to lock it.

You will need to walk for about 5 minutes to the ranger's house to register before you can actually start your journey to the waterfall. Do remember that this sanctuary is only open from Friday until Sunday (8am to 6pm).

The trail to the waterfall is along the awesome Sg. Chiling, thus, making it slightly easier to follow. To make the experience even more awesome, the trail actually need trekkers to cross the river 6 times (including the bridge at the beginning of the trail). The thrill of crossing the river is when you realized that at some point, the water level is actually up to your waist. AWESOME!

The whole trekking from the ranger's house to the waterfall would take an average man about 1 hour to complete. Once you are there, you will be greet by an awesome view of the waterfall.

Chiling Waterfall consisted of 3 levels, with the lower level most popular among those that come for it. There is a large awesome pool on this level, and the water is not too deep, making it suitable for most visitors for swimming and relaxing.

The middle level is inaccessible but one can see the powerful movement of the water from the base or from the trek up to the upper level.

The less popular upper level of the waterfall is actually a beauty of its own. But due to the awesomely hard trail to go up, which is only suitable for the very fit, not many would make the extra effort to go up there. (Another post in the future would explain and show more about the upper level of Chiling Waterfall)

The only way to go back is to backtrack the way in.

Here are some video for you to check on this waterfall:

Sg Chiling Waterfall

Mahseer fishes abundance in Sg Chiling

Indonesia: Sunset at Tanah Lot, Bali

The awesome Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the awesome Indonesian island of Bali. It is home of an awesome pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"). It is also a popular tourist destination and highly commercialized area.

This is also a favourite place among photographers whereby the awesome rock formation are a beauty of its own. And as a bonus, awesomely beautiful sunset can be seen here almost every evening (depending on your luck, though).

To get to the awesome temple, one would actually have to walk pass an awesome large "market" that sell awesomely nice souvenirs which I felt is the cheapest in the whole island. Still, if you are planning to buy something here, remember to bring out your best bargaining skill. You will be surprise and what awesome bargains you may get here.

Groupon Purchase: Outbac Broga (Part 2)

If you haven't read Outbac Broga Part 1, you can read it here.

Okay. Back to the awesome adventure.

After the awesome waterfall abseiling, we went back to the base camp to have our lunch, nothing fancy but it does taste good, especially for those who have been hard at work earlier. After that, our awesome Muslim friends went for their prayer while the rest of us we just awesomely lepak-ing around.

So, when everyone is ready for the next activity, the faithful volvo and van was there to fetch us to the destination.

This time, the awesome ride took us about 15 minutes as our destination is further away. Along the way, we saw the name "Jeram Kedah". I remember that waterfalls in Malaysia usually use one of the three name, "Air Terjun", "Lata" or "Jeram" and a confirmation with the instructor later on confirmed that the name of our destination is Jeram Kedah.

We have to trek for another 5 minutes from the place where the Volvo and van stop. The awesome trek is slightly dangerous as part of it is beside a cliff (around 1 storey high) but the view of the waterfall is great. The awesome Jeram Kedah consists of two level with the lower level already being modified to create a pool for swimming while the upper level are basically untouched.

Awesome Jeram Kedah

Swimming at the upper level are more for those experts as the water flow is fast and the pool is very deep.

Anyway, if you were thinking what does the waterfall got to do with the rock climbing activity, well, we are climbing wall next to the waterfall.

There, we were met with our awesome instructors.

Awesome Nada giving us our briefing

Nada teach us the basic while Alex show us how it was being done.

Alex awesomely on the rock

Next thing we know, one by one start to climb up the wall.

Alex, awesomely making sure everyone is safe while climbing

Awesome start by Penny

Awesome climb

Those who have done the rock climbing would help themselves with the awesome and beautiful waterfall.

Once everyone did the rock climbing activity, we move on to the last activity, the awesome rapid tubing...

Again, we were being briefed of what to do and after a while, we were looking at how it was being done. Remember that I mentioned earlier that there were a lower level waterfall? Well, the rapid tubing is done here....

Wearing awesome yellow life jacket

Awesome instructors showing how it was being done

Basically, you would be sitting on a tube and you would go down the waterfall from above. Awesome, right?

Going down the awesome waterfall

Some of my awesome groupmates

Awesome Alex after a job well done

Once everything is completed, the instructors would bring us back to base camp where we could change or bath and go back home. We left the place around 6pm once everyone clean up.

If you are interested in trying this waterfall abseiling, rock climbing and rapid tubing, you can contact Outbac Broga at the following:

Outbac Broga

Lot 315, Kg. Baru, 

71750 Broga, 

Negeri Sembilan

Tel: 03-8761 1076
Mobile: 012-485 2506 (Dr. Yap)
Email: info@outbacbroga.com 

Website: www.outbacbroga.com

Office Hours
Programme Days
9.00am to 10.00pm

Non-Programme Days:
Tues-Sat : 9.00am to 5.00pm
Sun : 9.00am to 1.00pm
Our office is closed on Mondays.

GPS
Latitude: N 2 56.104
Longtitude : E 101 54.557

Groupon Purchase: Outbac Broga (Part 1)

A friend, Alice, asked if I am interested in purchasing a groupon promotion a few weeks back. The groupon was an offer by the awesome Outbac Broga for three type of activities: rock climbing, waterfall abseiling and rapid tubing. I have seen waterfall abseiling when I trekked to Sg Pisang Waterfall (story for another post soon) a few years back and was keen on trying. So, when Alice asked, I said yes straight away. I asked around and three other friends actually responded and in the end, there is a total of 6 person in our group.

After purchasing the groupon, we arrange with Outbac Broga for our date to be 14th July and the confirmed it within one day. Great service. Our anticipation grew when the date gets nearer and nearer.

So, on that fateful day, we all meet up at Outbac Broga at 9am, according to the time given by Outbac Broga. Unfortunately for myself, I actually awesomely sprained my ankle the week before while trekking Chiling Waterfall (another story :P). It couldn't heal on time and I decided not to participate in all the activities. Lucky enough, the awesome Outbac Broga personnels don't mind me joining them to go around to take photographs.

Apart from us, there were a few other groups that have purchased the same groupon. Thus, we went around in one big group to have fun.

(A post on Outbac Broga would be written later. I would be focusing more on the three activities in this post.)

Filling the indemnity form (Willy, Alden and Penny)

First, we were divided into two awesome groups. First group would do the awesome waterfall abseiling first before coming back for our awesome lunch and follow with awesome rock climbing and rapid tubing. The second group would do the awesome rock climbing and rapid tubing first before going for lunch and finally waterfall abseiling.

Awesome Eugene giving briefing

We were listening

The awesome Volvo of Broga (one of our transport to go around)

My group of six would join another two groups to form a 20 person group and start at the waterfall abseiling first. we were brought to a trail nearby the awesome town of Broga (about 5 minutes drive from Outbac) where we would have to trek for 15 minutes.

Before the trek to the waterfall, Eugene gave further explanation on what should and should not be done during abseiling.

Due to my sprain, the instructor, Eugene, brought me straight to the awesome base of the waterfall where they are going to do the abseiling from above.

When I saw the waterfall, I find it quite nice.

I checked with Eugene but it seems that there is no name for the fall but the locals call it the awesome Broga Waterfall.

After waiting for a short time, one by one of the participants start coming down the waterfall.

Even though this is their first time, somehow, with proper instructions from the awesome instructors, they managed to do it like a pro.

Each one of them felt a sense of accomplishment once they reach the bottom of the waterfall.

And while they were waiting for the rest to come down, one can just lay back and enjoy the awesome cold water of the waterfall.

Once everyone is at the base of the waterfall, we start trekking out of the place and back to where the awesome Volvo left us. The Volvo and the van would bring us back to Outbac Broga for our lunch.

To be continue... in Part 2

Sri Lanka: Sunset at Colombo

Colombo, the awesome and largest city of Sri Lanka, may look like an over-developed city. But if one look deeper, one could actually find some awesome gems in it.

Located on the west side of the island, part of the city is just beside the vast Indian Ocean. The beach along the coastal of the city, is one of the best place to watch awesome sunset.

While waiting for the sun to set, one can actually enjoy watching the locals minding their own business along the beach. They would go for a swim, jog along the beach or just enjoying some family time there.

TSDayOut SE Ulu Kelang - ATV Adventure Park (Part 2)

When we actually reached the real starting point of the trail that we were going to follow, I was surprise.

It was a crazy rocky uphill trail. Some of those in front of me was actually struggling to move up. We lined up and I was sweating abit (from the heat, of couse :P) but knowing that it won't be an easy one, I kept my camera into the bag and get myself ready.

True enough, it was not easy. But getting up there is not hard either. The bike would slide to the side every now and then and one must really focus to get it right.As the saying goes, the first step is the hardest. Soon, I was riding the quadbike (i prefer calling the ATV as quadbike) as though I am born to ride one. The feeling was awesome!

After getting more experience, I start taking out my cameras to take photos. When my quadbike is idle, the 450D would come out. Tough 8010 would be around while I was moving.

Nigel going for a turn, Jess on the trail and awesome view of a grand tree along the trail

My instructor was Wan, the awesome instructor who gave the briefing earlier) and in my "group", there were the awesome trio, Nigel (of Food and Frame), Jenny and Jess (of Jessying). Wan was riding with Jenny and they were far ahead and I couldnt take much of their photo.

The awesome wheel (won me RM250 :P) and more of the trail

I didnt have a watch with me and thus, I didnt know how long it took for us to reach our destination, the Klang Gate Dam. Just before we reach this destination, there is a part of the trail that actually went downhill and it was very steep. Holding onto both brakes doesnt really help. the quadbike would continue to slide down (thanks to gravity) and it was unnvervingly awesome. If you have watched some cars drifting before, then the way you handle the quadbike is actually the same.

Hafeez and Rasyidi on their quad-bike, at our destination

At our destination, we were greeted by an awesome view of Klang Gate Dam. Usually, people would see it from high above, at Bukit Tabur but this view is a beauty of its own.

Click on the photo to see an awesome view of Klang Gate Dam

We took a rest here for about 20 minutes, taking photos with each other and of course, the awesome group photo by Nigel. Check his website if you want to see it.

Awesome group photos and while on the way back

After the rest, we move back to the park and later to the awesome Bread Ties for our late lunch (mine was peri-peri chicken which taste really really awesomely nice) and photo submission. I didnt really take much photo during this time because the ride back involve alot of downhill and I would be holding my two brakes 99% of the time and I was too tired and hungry to go around taking photos at Bread ties. Really sorry for that... 

But I must say thank you to Tourism Selangor for choosing one of my photos as one of the six best photo of this TSDayOut with the theme "Motion-Action". It was super awesome coz this is my first time winning a mini contest.

In the end, the element that make this DayOut super awesome is not just the ride, but the people that I met. Really happy to meet with all of you.

TSDayOut SE Ulu Kelang - ATV Adventure Park (Part 1)

This awesome post, although is the first "travel post" for Awesome Adventurer, is actually long overdue. It supposed to go up somewhere last week but due to awesome technical problem that I was facing, it was being postponed until now.

First thing first. TSDayOut stands for Tourism Selangor DayOut (in case you dont know yet).

The DayOut is the name of the one-day event organized by them for anyone who may be interested. It is very easy join the awesome DayOut. Just like Tourism Selangor on FB (here) or follow them on Twitter (here) and when they announced the DayOut, comment with your name and email address. They would do the selection afterwards and send you an email with more information, once you have been selected. Awesomely easy, right?

* Note to myself. Have to do another post specifically for TS DayOut.

Okay. Back to the original topic. This is actually my second DayOut with the awesome Tourism Selangor. The first one was back in February but that would be another post later. It was awesome too.

For this DayOut, we were given a chance to actually ride an ATV (all terrain vehicle) or what other call it as quadbike. Awesome, right? The event took place in the awesome ATV Adventure Park, Kg Kemensah which is about 4.2 km from our Zoo Negara.

We gathered at surau nearby at about 10am for registration before carpooling to the adventure park. The road was narrow and we have to drive thru the kampung to reach the park. I was riding Alicia's Suzuki Swift and it was awesome. My first time riding one.

Entrance to ATV Adventure Park, the ATVs

When we reach there, we could see alot of ATV around but before we could ride on one, we have to sign an indemnity letter which was followed by a briefing my one of the awesome instructor.

Awesome Wan, giving briefing on how to handle the ATV.

Once we think we got the hang of it, we move to choose our own ATV for the ride. 

As this is a Special Edition DayOut, the awesome Tourism Selangor is very generous to sponsor half of the fee for the DayOut and thus, we only need to pay RM100 for the Package D (pre-determined by Tourism Selangor) which is a three hours ride from the park to the side of Klang Gate Dam and back.

The ATVs

Before we actually move out of the park, we would need to do abit of training indoor first. The park has a n awesome small route that include all possible terrain that we would encounter later (uphill, downhill, turns, water and rocks) and the instructors would actually determine if we are okay to move out or if we need to do more training first.

Once we are ready, we would move out of the park to the real starting point. There are quite many instructors around and each instructors would be taking care of several riders at one time. 

Now, that is where the real fun began.

To be continue.

Hello, Awesome World

Hi. I am Alex, a man who love to travel, search for awesome good food, take awesome photographs and blog about it.

Usually, I would be blogging at my own domain but due to a trojan infection, I have no choice but to stop until it is fixed. And why waiting, a friend, Jard (Jardness.com) actually suggested to me to start a blog to focus mainly on travelling. I have several other blogs that tackles on specific topic, such as Food Huntz (hunting for food) and Rate and Reviews (rating and reviewing on Mobile Apps, Movies and Music) which are collaboration with friends with similar interest but I don't have one for travel just yet.

With such an awesome idea from the friend, who are actually a traveling blogger herself, I decided to start my own awesome travel stories here.

If you realize, the title of the blog is call Awesome Adventurer. I consider myself an adventurer but the "Awesome" is just for marketing purposes. Recently, I came across a blog (thanks to Jard, again) where the writer would use "sexy" almost everywhere. I find it an interesting concept but I prefer the word awesome. So, to start this blog, I decided to use Awesome as my key word.

Awesome, right? LOLz

Anyway, hope that you would visit this blog often. I got many stories to tell you and it would come part by part.