Bukit Payung, which literally translates to “Umbrella Hills” in Malay Language is a small hill in Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat. With an elevation of less than 300m, the hills on this part of the trail is overshadowed by the many other popular mountains in Johor (think Gunung Ledang, Gunung Lambak and Gunung Belumut), and therefore, a lesser known group of hills among non-locals.

Just shy of two hours away from Melaka, Batu Pahat was like a second home to me during my employment in an audit firm in Melaka. With many of our clients based in Batu Pahat, I ended up travelling to Batu Pahat and spending most of my weekdays there. From Otak Bun to Tonic Soup, I’ve tried many of the delicious local delicacies there but after moving to Singapore 5 years ago, I’ve never once stepped foot into this lovely town.

Somewhere in the dense rainforested mountaintop in Negeri Sembilan is a burial site of a half-century-old plane wreckage from World War II. Lies 1193m above sea level is Gunung Telapak Buruk of Negeri Sembilan, a Royal Air Force B-24 Liberator crashed and killed all eight members of its crew. The fate of the bomber and its eight crew was a mystery for over 60 years.

I first got to know almost this famous book character (which has even inspired a tourist attraction in Korea) from watching Korean dramas and variety show. Apparently, it was so famous that the Koreans studied this literature at school. I had always been interested in reading the book since I was curious about this story.

December 30, 2018. 9pm.

As I finished publishing the latest blog post, I glanced at the clock. It’s the second last day of 2018, and with just one day away from 2019, I figured it’s the time for my routine, annual Year-In-Review post!

Sungai Bantang Waterfall is a waterfall within Sungai Bantang Recreational Forest, in the town of Bekok, near Labis. Well known for being one of the gateway to Endau-Rompin National Park, this sleepy town is also home to the refreshing Sungai Bantang Waterfall. Unlike the other waterfalls in the National Park, which requires permit application, entrance via 4wd and a 2-3 hours long hike on jungle trail, this waterfall is very accessible. Within minutes of walking distance from the car park, anyone can easily pay a visit and have a quick rendezvous with Mother Nature.

I used to think that there is only one national park in Malaysia – Taman Negara National Park in Pahang, Malaysia. Truth is, there is another national park closer to Singapore – the Endau-Rompin National Park. Taught in secondary school as I now recalled, this beautiful national park in the southeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, is unfortunately easily forgotten by tourists and hikers alike, perhaps due to its not-so-easy access (4wd is required).

Bali is no stranger to travellers. It will surely come across everyone’s mind when talking about Indonesia. In fact, it was named world’s top destination in TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award in March 2017.

Besides beaches, temples and the recently crazed Bali swings, Balinese gates is yet another thing that Bali is famous for. Thanks to social media (yes, again!), taking a photo in front of a Balinese gate has becoming an it-thing. The most famous gate could potentially be Pura Lempuyang with the beautiful Mount Agung in the background, but making your way there from Ubud or Seminyak, where most travellers based themselves is a long painful journey that could take up to 4-5 hours. 

So, you have seen the famous Bali Swing photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram and you have got this place pinned for your next visit. Just as you got very excited about the idea of hanging midair with your pretty maxi dress and boasting about on your Facebook and Instagram, you found out that it actually costs you US$35. Instant dejection? Fret not, as there are plenty of cheaper imitations popping up all over Bali, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills is one of them.