10 reasons why I enjoy visiting Desaru Fruit Farm

Pixs by Laura Lee and Anthony Tan

Our group comprising 11 Chinese bloggers and media during our DFF visit on 1 October '16

 

1.     Desaru Fruit Farm (DFF) in Kota Tinggi, Johor never fails to amaze me with its new and varied offerings each time I visit the place. During my previous visits to this award winning agro farm, it was promoting its honey products after we had our lunch.

2.     The different aspects of its tour are very educational. Among the things I learnt during this trip are wild boars love guava and jackfruit too and that the branch of the guava fruit makes a good substitute as a rotan to whip your children when they are naughty.

Find out from DFF owner's son Steve Er why visitors like to touch this ornamental 1,000-finger banana from top to bottom

3.     The activities at DFF appeal to both the young and old. The highlight of my visit this time round is the chance to try out its go-kart course. Since ours is a small group, all of us could have a go at it but there were a few non-takers. Not me this time!

       Steve, who's Desaru Fruit Farm Trading and DFF Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd director, has forewarned us to be prepared to get dirty as it is a dusty sand track.

4.     Getting Steve’s personalised attention right from our arrival to this agro farm for our lunch followed by our tour was a bonus as he is so knowledgeable and friendly.

5.  Steve and his family are very passionate in what they do. I have met his mum and dad Richard on previous trips. His mum, who turned up at the end of our tour and go-karting activity, introduced us to DFF’s latest products: its rolled love letters in two flavours, red dragonfruit and durian.
      
      We not only had the chance to sample them but were each given two plastic containers of both versions to take home as souvenir. Each container costs RM16, two at RM30 for those who are keen to buy.  

6.   DFF’s dedicated staff makes a difference to our trip experience, ensuring that everything is taken care of like ensuring that we have a bottle of chilled fruit juices to quench our thirst when we reached the herbal and organic vegetable section of its farm. I enjoyed the sourish sweet passionfruit juice unlike the fruit, which is extremely sourish, when I took it during lunch. 

Lwin Wen Li and Joanne Wee, with their passionfruit drink, enjoying the freshly plucked air jambu

 

7.   The fruits and food served here are another draw. It was a wow factor the way they have laid out the fruit fiesta to whet our appetite prior to our lunch or feast.

     
We had eight dishes and a soup, cooked as healthily as can be with the fresh produce from the farm. 
      
 The name of some of the dishes - fresh papaya chicken soup with tongkat ali (and other ingredients such as kei chee and red dates), Emperor chicken, deep fried calamari served with red dragon fruit sauce (love the sauce!), sweet and sour prawns with assorted fruits, and shredded papaya tossed with seafood and raisins - are enough to make you salivate.    

 The ingredients that made this soup so nourishing

Another unique dish is banana cooked with local spices and coconut milk but it is not my favourite. I love assam pedas but found its assam pedas stingray with passion fruit juice doesn't have the spiciness.
      
Nevertheless, it was an awesome meal supplemented by two vegetable dishes: organic pak choy and four angle beans stir fried with prawns and sotong or squids. 
 
Besides the fresh fruits, there are also the pickled fruits and fried chempedak fritter to cuci mulut. We had fresh roselle drink and cat whisker tea as beverages. The food served here is halal.

8.     DFF has different packages to suit your needs and budget. Ours was more like its Combo B package and more as this package comprises a fruit farm tour, fruit fiesta, lunch (seven dishes only) and go-kart ride. It costs RM72.10 per adult and RM63.60 per child.
     

      I would highly recommend this to really savour what DFF can offer. On the lower range, you can opt for just a tour and fruit package at RM26.50 per adult and RM21.20 a child. For a tour, lunch and fruit fiesta, it's RM58.20 and RM50.90 respectively. All rates are inclusive of 6% Goods and Services Tax and valid until end-2017.

9.  DFF is also the place to relive your childhood joys. Remember those traditional games such as the five stones and congkak challenge that you used to play when you were young.

10. DFF gives you the chance to get in touch with nature, pet and feed some animals. There is small charge for the animal feed or vegetables. 

Geozo and Emily Tang (right) feeding carrot sticks to the rabbit.

 

DFF also has a friendship bridge overlooking a koi pond near its herbs and vegetables section. Of course, we took the opportunity to have another group pix here.

Visit www.desaruff.com for more details.

 

Fang-tastic experience at LEGOLAND’s Halloween Brick-or-Treat Party Nights

Pixs by Laura Lee and Anthony Tan

LEGOLAND staff led by its interim general manager Young Pil Kim (in yellow tee) showing the LEGOLAND hand sign with the kids.
 

It’s my first time joining LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort’s Halloween Brick-or-Treat Party Nights. Started since 16 September this year, this event is held every Friday-Saturday until 29 October, which happens to be Deepavali.

We drove from Kuala Lumpur to Iskandar Puteri, Johor on 23 Sept and arrived slightly past 3pm. After checking in our luggage at LEGOLAND Hotel, we headed for LEGO Kingdom located inside its theme park where the event is held.

To find your way to LEGO Kingdom, follow these purple footprints

The event venue was decorated in Halloween theme. There were lots of pumpkins around the place and where the food is displayed. Placed on our round table where I’m having my food are cotton wool that reminds me of cob webs.

Since we missed our lunch at Market Restaurant, one of the food and beverage outlets inside the theme park, we welcome the spread at the event venue. The chefs were quite creative in decorating the food based on the Halloween theme.

Brushing my reservations aside, I tried the green looking witch finger pretzel pods but found the bread crust inside had softened.

With the speeches over, we waited anxiously for the announcement of the shortlisted candidates for the children’s best dress costume contest.

I was elated when my friend Nannie Isa’s daughter dressed like a pontianak won. I had expected her son in Manchu attire and hopping like a ghost to bag a prize too but he didn’t.

To me, the interactive Halloween Show with LEGO Frankenstein and Witch ain’t that “terror-rific.” Perhaps it’s because I’m a jaded old journalist. Anyway, such shows and the many Halloween themed activities that have been organised are meant more for the kids.

For the Brick-or-Treat this year, there are 10 pop-up huts where the kids can collect goodies from the various sponsors such as MILO, Staedler, Julie’s, Haribo and Ribena, Canon. Wish I was a kid once again when I saw what Phil’s daughter had collected.

I quite enjoy the Monster March at the start of the Party. They were playing Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

I met up with some of the characters in the Monster March when I made my out of the theme park later. I decided to join them and scare some of the people in the outdoor theme park.

During the Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, the park hours is extended to 8.30pm. Kids who come in a costume enter for free. Tomorrow is your last chance to do so!

I had wanted to don my witch hat but couldn't find it the whole nite before we set off for the trip. Ugh!

 

Visit www.LEGOLAND.my for more details.

 

Tiara Desaru Seaview Residence eyeing more long-term stay tenants

Pixs by Anthony Tan

Did you know that the 579-unit Tiara Desaru Seaview Residence (TDSR)  in Johor was formerly known as La Cemara Desaru Resort Condominium and that it was graced by Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan during its grand opening?

At a recent press conference with a group of Chinese bloggers and media who were hosted for their stay here from 1-3 October 2016, TDSR’s new owner Dato’ Sri Jacky Ker Cherk Yee (in the centre), who is Premier Plus Property Consultant executive director says he bought over this property for around RM190 million after it was rehabilitated and completed by MB Resorts Sdn Bhd, the white knight for this abandoned project.

The RM190 million includes its refurbishment cost. According to the TDSR release distributed to us, this is the first condominium in Desaru to provide hotel service to its buyers and residents.

Ker says the TDSR still has 100 fully furnished condominium units open for sale with prices starting from RM500,000. Apart from its units for sales, TDSR has some 150 units reserved for short-term or daily rental to tourists and business travellers.

The spacious suite we stayed in is provided with clean towels, a kettle, a fridge and more than ample kitchen cabinets, which we did not use since ours is only a short stay.

It comes with two bathrooms. While a toilet roll is provided in each bathroom, only one of the bathrooms is given a small bottle of shampoo and shower gel. Fortunately, as seasoned traveller, we brought our own personal toiletries and hangers along.

I welcome the television sets provided in our bedroom and living room, which allowed us to watch our favourite programmes aired on different channels at the same time.

Ker is looking at reducing the numbers for short-term stay to 50 units as he is targeting for more long-term stay, adding that its team can provide value add services such as housekeeping, food and beverage as well as laundry to its residents or tenants for a fee.

For instance, its long term tenants can opt for weekly or monthly services. Its long-term lease from RM1,600 a month while TDSR release puts its daily “homestay” rate as starting from RM250.

Spread over 10 acres of land, the amenities at TDSR include swimming pools as well as garden and beach side cabana barbeque areas. Near block E where we stayed, we have our own private pool. We shared with Ker that the trend is now moving towards salt pool instead of the chlorinated ones.

Cycling is another activity that one can do around TDSR and its vicinity, including the beach area as it has a flat and solid surface. 

Try to catch the sunrise at the beach when you are staying. A few of our newly met blogger friends did so and were rewarded for their patience at around 7am to 7.15am on 2 October.

Visit www.premierplus.com.my or www.tiaradesaru.com for more details on TDSR.

Vivatel KL's Seafood Galore promotion

By Laura Lee

I love seafood and thus did not turn down the invitation to review Vivatel Kuala Lumpur's Seafood Galore promotion on 2 September 2016 at its Retro Café. Its release informs me that I'll be experiencing the "freshest catch of crabs, oysters, mussels, slipper lobsters, prawns and more from the sea".

As I surveyed some of the cooked dishes, my eyes were attracted to its huge prawns wrapped around in pandan leaves. I quickly picked up a piece after most of the other media had taken photographs of the cooked dishes.

I was not disappointed either when I went for its seafood on ice, relishing its fresh oysters with lemon juice squeezed on it and accompanied with Tabasco sauce while I waited for my seafood selection to be grilled.

I was recommended by one of its staff to try its Japanese marinated baby octopus served with young mango kerabu. I like baby octopus and these were quite big sized ones.

My grilled cod fish, prawns, crab and slipper lobster was finally cooked. There is a wide choice of sauces to go with them but I opted for none as I wanted to enjoy the natural sweetness of the seafood. I finished what was on my platter except for the crab which did not get to be cooked fully.

I found out later that you can also ask its chefs to cook the seafood for you in other variations like with sambal or chilli if you like it spicy. 

Careful not too over eat, I made sure I have enough room for the fish curry. I went for a meaty piece instead of the fish head and asked its Chinese chef to put in some lady fingers, brinjal and tomatoes as well. My colleague asked the chef to whip up for him seafood curry instead and it looks yummy.

This curry dish goes well with the soft and fluffy Hainanese white bread. I opted for the prata instead and have no regrets.

The chefs here can also prepare for you different types of seafood noodle. All you have to do is to select your ingredients. I asked if the sang har noodle could be done but wasn't given a positive answer.

However, one of the chefs was quite obliging to do an oyster omelete for us but it was not what we have in mind and I was not the only one who found it a wee bit queasy to swallow those big oysters down our throats. We were dreaming of the oh chien that we get at the hawkers' stalls where some starch base is.

To wash down the taste of the oysters, I went for some ice cream at the dessert corner whose selection is quite varied but there's only so much one can take for buffets.

Although there is a section where you can also have the seafood done steamboat style, I'll be trying them on my next visit with some friends since I find its RM58 nett promotion rate for those aged 55 and above quite reasonable.

Its normal rate for adults is RM88 net and RM48 nett for children aged below 12 years old. For every 10 paying adult, the 11th person dines for free. This Seafood Galore promotion is only available on Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 9.30pm.

Don't wait too long to check it out as we do not know how long this promotion will end. Those interested can call the hotel at 03-92058888 for to make their reservations at Retro Café.

Eat Travel Write Putrajaya here I come!

By Laura Lee

The night before the start of our Eat.Travel.Write (ETW) Putrajaya programme on 16 December morning, inevitably the conversation in our group chat was how to get to our new meeting point, Putrajaya Sentral, as indicated in our latest itinerary from our organiser Gaya Travel.

Our earlier tentative programme had KL Sentral as the meeting point. It was a venue most of us are familiar with unlike Putrajaya Sentral. Participants to the ETW Putrajaya programme were informed that they could park inside Putrajaya Sentral for RM4 a day if they were driving to the venue.

Since it is costly to park at the KL International Airport, the more seasoned travellers have been parking their cars at Putrajaya Sentral, especially those for three to four days' travel. Parking here would work out to be cheaper than taking a taxi to KLIA.  

See the number of cars
already parked along the road at 8.30am on 16 Dec '15

A few weeks ago on a Sunday when I was shown Putrajaya Sentral by a developer, I could see cars parked indiscriminate-ly along the road. I was told that the authorities are quite lax about issuing summons to the cars along the road where white lines have been drawn.

For those of us heading for Putrajaya Sentral from KL Sentral, we have been advised to take public transport to avoid the morning crawl.

Although I have travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya many times on the MEX Highway, which has proven to be a breeze, driving during the early morning or peak office hours on this stretch can be quite nightmarish. 

I decided to take the KLIA Transit train. A check with the website, www.klia2.info, showed that the one-way fare costs RM9.50.  

Since the website also provides information on the time schedule, it helps me to plan my travel arrangements for the next day. I was elated to find out that KLIA Transit offers 30% discount on the normal fare for senior citizens who are 55 years and above.

I occasionally commute on the KTM Komuter from Kepong to KL Sentral or Mid Valley but do not qualify for senior citizen privileges as most places, including hotel restaurants, give discounts to those who are 60 years and above.

I eagerly tested out on 16 Dec morning the genuineness of KLIA Transit's offer for seniors like me. All I had to do was to show Mykad (Malaysian identification card) at the counter to qualify for the discount.

I was given a receipt which shows that my discounted RM6.70 fare is valid for travel two hours from the time of issue. By the way, there’s a KLIA Transit train plying every 20 minutes from 6.03 am.   

Owing to the efficiency of the KLIA Transit service, I arrived very much earlier than our 9.45 am appointed meeting time. It gave me the opportunity to explore the Putrajaya Sentral station, which has a board announcing that come 1 January 2016, the fares will be increased.

New rates
The normal fare from KL Sentral to Putrajaya will cost RM14 one-way in 2016 but if you were to buy it from the self-service kiosk, you can save 10% and pay RM12.60 instead. 

Use these kiosks to enjoy more savings

Apparently, a 10% savings apply for those who buy their tickets on the website or app.

The board also mentioned that you can enjoy 20% cash rebate and pay only RM11.20 a trip if you use your credit cards during promotion.

The good news for senior citizens, they still get the 30% discount for their one-way fare for 2016 alongside with the OKU (or disabled) cardholders.