Plan to travel but living in Klang Valley and can’t cross the state? Well then, here’s an option for you: You can choose to explore Kuala Selangor.

Kuala Selangor is a small coastal town is located in Selangor and it’s only an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Selangor is formerly known as the old capital of Selangor. It used to be a very quiet town whose economy is driven by fishing industry in the straits of Melaka.

Fast forward today, Kuala Selangor is rich in nature and wildlife diversity and today it’s the most instagrammable place with the discovery of of Sky Mirror in 2016, when a group of travel enthusiasts discovered about the mysterious island from the local fishermen. Sky Mirror is a secret within the town only known to the locals.

Sky Mirror was introduced in 2016, with the support from the local council and residents,and it became an incredible sensation with remarkable number of visitors worldwide every year.

In 2017, Sky Mirror was further recognized when its official jetty was launched.

To reach Sky Mirror, one would need to take a 40minutes boat ride.

Today, 11 April 2021, a guide to Sky Mirror Kuala Selangor booklet was launched.

The launch was officiated by Yang Berhormat Tuan Hee Loy Sian, Chairman of Standing Committees of Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs of Selangor.

Written in Mandarin, the booklet can be obtained from the jetty and aimed to serve as a guide is enhance tourist experiences.

“Sky Mirror is a fantastic tourism destination and is famous for it’s unique photo-shooting spots. But Sky Mirror have more to offer than just it’s instaworthy location and it’s a home to thousands of marine creatures. We hope with this booklet, we hope to raise awareness on how important the creatures are in maintaining a healthy ecosystem in Sky Mirror. ” Yang Berhormat Tuan Hee Loy Sian said.

“The booklet is currently available in Mandarin language and we’re working to produce the English and Bahasa Malaysia version and hopefully it will be ready for visitors soon”.Yang Berhormat Tuan Hee Loy Sian added.

Visiting Sky Mirror is quite an experience for me. Although it’s best known for being an instagrammable place, I’m more captivated with the marine lives that we can see here.

There’s much more to Sky Mirror than just the unique mirror’s reflection.

Sky Mirror is only accessible to visitors on certain days of the months, so if you would like to visit, you will need to plan ahead and contact the travel agencies to arrange for you.

There’s plenty of packages for you to choose from and I’d highly recommend the all in one package where you can not only visit the Sky Mirror but also experience the Blue Tears, Eagle Feeding, ATV ride and a tour around Sekinchan.

Sky Mirror supports marine conservation and encourage visitors to do the same. Interested to visit?

Refer to the details below for more information on Sky Mirror and the timing to visit.

Sky Mirror Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd

Address: Jetty Sky Mirror Kuala Selangor, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Malaysia.

Contact: 6010-7785555
Email:- skymirrortour@gmail.com
website:- www.skymirrortour.com
Facebook:- skymirrortour
Instagram:- skymirror_official

Let’s admit it – we can’t wait to go on a holiday. While we long to get out of town, there is nothing standing in the way of planning ahead for that much-needed domestic vacation post-lockdown.

Leading holiday destinations across the country such as Desaru Coast, aside from offering over 800 luxurious rooms within its impressive portfolio of five-star hotels, are curating enticing packages. These packages include a wide range of options on experiences and activities to explore and peace of mind flexibility when it comes to date changes.

So, stop dreaming about your next holiday and start planning! Here are just four perfectly good reasons on why you ought to start now:

Cuts the Stress
The best part about planning ahead for a holiday is that it alleviates the stress associated with making last-minute travel plans. Holidays are supposed to be fun and so should the planning of it. Don’t do it in haste under the pressure of tight timeliness. That only drains the fun out of it. So even before you can start the holiday, avoid setting everyone on edge even leaving home! Planning helps assure you of a hassle-free holiday with your loved ones. In addition, resorts within Desaru Coast have adopted very flexible policies when it comes changes in reservation dates, in keeping with the current times.

Money matters
Planning holidays early also gives you leverage in terms of budgeting for your travel, accommodation and general expenses. After a year of almost no travel for most Malaysians, everyone’s looking forward to a holiday – shoestring or otherwise. Yet cost is undeniably a major factor now in deciding where to go and what to do. Hoteliers, travel operators and attraction owners are getting creative! Some are offering reasonable rates, while others offer innovative solutions such as valued added packages to encompass the full holiday experience. These packages include lodging, fun recreational activities and even F&B offerings from breakfast to dinner. So all you have to do is just check-in, relax and enjoy the varied experiences that are in store for you, during your much-awaited holiday.

Customising unique experiences
One thing we learnt last year is that there are so many unique hidden gems within Malaysia that many have yet explored. But in order to ensure we maximise the opportunity to savour these experiences during our upcoming holidays, it’s best to do our homework early and plan ahead. For instance, if you’re headed down to the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and in search of some outdoor experiences, Desaru Coast offers specially curated nature excursions led by passionate naturalists who will lead you in a journey to hidden places, away from the typical tourist trails. Nature lovers can also book organised tours available to the Tanjung Belungkor mangrove and the nearby fruit farm. Alternatively, choose to journey through the scenic and alluring Linting Wetlands river ecosystem dominated by tidal mangrove forests within which lies the Belungkor Forest Reserve. On this tour, visitors can immerse in a brief history of the Johor Sultanate while learning about the variety of mangrove species and vegetation unique to the location.

Another noteworthy activity here is a tour to the fishing village of Sedili, located a mere 35 minutes’ drive from Desaru Coast. The tour begins with a boat cruise that covers three distinct vegetation belts that changes from rich mangrove forest, Nypa swamp, Putat and Pandanus belt before finally reaching the freshwater swamp where the endangered Water Trumpet can be found. Along the way your naturalist guide will highlight interesting wildlife that call Sedili home.

Don’t miss out!
Have you ever arrived at a much sought-after restaurant or Instagram-perfect spot only to be told that you can’t get in because they’re fully booked? This can be avoided by planning ahead. When travelling, make reservations in advance — not just for flights and hotels, but for restaurants, tours, and all the attractions as you detail your itinerary. And if you’re visiting on peak holidays, check ahead of time to ensure if these spots may be closed on such special occasions. Desaru Coast’s Adventure Water Park has stringent Health and Safety SOPs in place including a cap on the maximum number of visitors allowed per day. So as not to miss out on this experience, book ahead!

How to get the most and best from a holiday
A good place to start is the respective websites of the resorts and accommodations themselves. For instance, Desaru Coast, the trending premium beach destination for Malaysians is offering dream vacation packages from as low as RM799 under its ongoing Sand-sational Deal promotions. These include exclusive hotel and resort stays with non-stop fun-filled activities for families and adults alike including access to the Adventure Water Park, All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Banana Boat rides and Fruit Farm Tour. Participating hotel properties are The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast.
To lure golfing enthusiasts to tee off at The Els Club Desaru Coast Ocean Course, Desaru Coast’s Golf Galore promotion offers unlimited access to Els Club’s 9-hole Academy Course and Driving Range, together with exclusive night stays at Desaru Coast’s Hotels and Resorts. The 2D/1N golf packages start from as low as RM489. The participating hoteliers are Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Anantara Desaru Coast Resort and Villas. Both promotions allow travellers to book their holiday packages ahead (before the upcoming Aidilfitri holidays in May 2021) to enjoy a vacation anytime in 2021.
Evidently, there is certainly so much to see and do in and around Desaru Coast. Visitors can complement nature-infused excursions and golfing sessions with a myriad of other activities including intimate beach walks or runs (thanks to the destination’s wide-open spaces) and indulge in some much-needed TLC with the many wellness and “me-time” pursuits available, such as yoga and spa sessions. Westin Desaru Coast’s Heavenly Spa promises a slice of heaven as they calm your nerves and soothe your senses from head to toe. Those looking for a musical twist to their ultimate spa experience can opt for Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast’s Rock Spa packages which will surely hit the right notes.
And if you desire to crank the adventure level up a notch, then take the scenic route to Sedili on a bicycle via low traffic routes to truly appreciate the natural coastal beauty along the way. Very soon, visitors to Desaru will also have the option of embarking on fishing excursions in the South China Sea! All these, coupled with the fantastic weather that Desaru Coast is currently experiencing, makes it the ideal destination.
But to get the most out of your holiday, one thing is essential – planning ahead! So, what are you waiting for? Start planning today and gather the whole family for an unforgettable holiday at Malaysia’s premier all-in-one destination. Desaru Coast truly has it all!

It is Chinese New Year 2021, day 1 as of writing. As most of us has sadly predicted, the Chinese New Year this year is indeed different due to the restrictions enforced by the Malaysian government due to the pandemic crisis. Unlike the yesteryears where it’s a tradition for families to make a trip back to hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year with their elderlies, this year everyone have to strike off that from their ‘to-do list’ as traveling and crossing state borders is still restricted.

To be honest, I’m quite frustrated and extremely annoyed that our movements are still restricted but since Covid19 infection cases is still out of control, there’s nothing much I can do about it. Anyway, enough ranting about Covid19. It’s Chinese New Year, and regardless of restrictions, my family and I are still celebrating…not the common way, but the new and improvised way, that is.

Instead of traveling back to hometown for reunion dinner and visiting relatives from house to house, we take everything online. We organized online reunion so that we still can greet each other and celebrate together despite of the physical distances, we still can be connected and celebrate the auspicious day together. Covid19 or not, traditions and togetherness should still be kept alive. If we don’t, that’s when the Covid19 truly beat you.

Apart from staying in front of the PC for online gatherings, we indulged in good food as well. Well, at least that’s what I do. I cooked some auspicious food for my family and snacks on goodies all day long.

And here’s sharing with you a Chinese New Year’s snack that’s worth mentioning; the Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah.

Thi is not just your ordinary Bak Kwa, mind you. It’s Halal Bak Kwa.

For those who are not familiar with this delicacy, Bak Kwa is traditionally a slice of sweet BBQ-ed sliced meat, usually made from pork or chicken. It is popular among the Hokkien and it is believed to be originated from Fujian, China. The process of making Bak Kwa is extremely tedious and must be of high quality, and therefore, Bak Kwa is considered a luxury food and it is only served during special occasions like Chinese New Year.

Typically made from pork , Bak Kwa is definitely non-halal and Muslims cannot eat it as pork meat is haram for consumption. Even the chicken variant of Bak Kwa is questionable in status as the chicken meat used might not be processed according to the Islamic Sharia, but these I’ve been snacking on is Halal, made by our very own fellow Malaysian Muslim, Firdaus Feeq. All the ingredients for Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah are sourced from Halal certified suppliers and was prepared in the most hygenic way and no preservatives are used in the making of the Bak Kwa.

Firdaus Feeq, the innovator, founder and the main chef of Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah aspire to allow Muslims nationwide, especially Muslim reverts to enjoy this delicacy as well. Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah is definitely a game changer in the Halal Chinese food industry, as the demand for Halal Chinese food is increasing by the day.

Made from premium, high quality beef and chicken, Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah is a must try. They are currently offering 6 variants of Bak Kwa; the Original, Madu Tualang and Spicy Szechuan, in beef or chicken flavour. They are sealed-packed in a vacuum plastic

Now, let me be honest. I cannot make any comparison between Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah and the non-halal version made from pork, as I don’t eat pork, and have never tried them before. All I’ve had before all these years during Chinese New Year is the vegetarian version made from mushrooms and soybeans but I can assure you that Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah tastes really good.

These chicken and beef slices is to die for. Once you open the seal of the Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah’s packaging, you’ll immediately smell this irresistibly delicious smoky fragrant wafting around to tempt you to eat one slice after another. The
Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah melts in the mouth and is highly addictive. They’re all sweet meats except the Spicy Szechuan version of the Bak Kwa.

Unlike the vegetarian version that I’ve tried before, these Bak Kwa are not dry, on the contrary, it’s surprisingly juicy, despite being smoked for hours. Initially I thought they would be a tad try, but they’re not. A welcoming sensation, I must say. My favourite is the Szechuan flavour, which was really spicy and a real kicker. A must try for spicy food lovers.

The Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah is a ready to eat food item and is good on it’s own, but some of you might prefer to pan fry it before eating them or pair it a slice of bread. The Szechuan flavour of the The Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah would pair well with a plate of piping hot white rice as well.

So, do is the Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah a yay or nay? Well, it’s a yay, that goes without saying. They’re sensational and the best part? They are Muslim-friendly. If you are a Muslim or looking for authentic Halal Chinese delicacy for your own consumption or a gift for your friends or colleagues during this festive season, then I’d suggest you to give this a go.

Wanna make some orders. Dendeng Bak Kwa Cik Midah can be bought HERE on their official store im Shopee.

Things changed. Chinese New Year is not going to be the same this year. Not only because my father-in-law has recently passed on and our family reunion will lack one important family member for the first time but because of Covid19 too. Instead of gathering and merrymaking with my family members like I used to in the yesteryears, I think this year’s reunion gathering will be restricted to merely zoom meeting or Google meet, considering how the interstate travel ban is still in place. I’m not very sure what to feel about that, honestly. Happy? Sad? I don’t know. Maybe abit of both. Happy, because my family members will be safe from Covid19 threats at home. Sad, because of…so many things that words cannot express. Oh well, I guess I shouldn’t dwell on things that I cannot change now, should I?

Anyway, Chinese New Year 2021 is less than a month away and usually, I would have gotten everything ready for the celebration by now; a visit to my hairstylist, new clothes, Chinese New Year’s snacks, you name it, but since this year my family and I are not really celebrating because we’re still in mourning period, I still try to keep the celebratory mood up.

I can’t visit the salon or splurge on pretty red dresses as the non essentials shops are closed due to the government’s order, but I sure can buy cookies and snacks online. So I’ve gotten these for Chinese New Year cookies from Cookies Vibes. These are among their top premium cookies and recommended favourites apart from their premium pineapple tart and premium extra moist fruit cake.

I’m not exactly a fan of sweet stuff. I’m more into the savoury and spicy kinda girl when it comes to tidbits and snacks, as sweet things, especially cookies and cakes taste cloying and they make me nauseous, but I somewhat changed my mind after having a taste of these cookies from Cookies Vibes. These are rich in taste but not cloying on the palate.

Cookies and snacks from Cookies Vibes. From left: Cashews Teacakes, Mini Popia, Black Pistachio and Hazelnut Latte.

Cookies Vibes focuses on producing high quality cookies for you to indulge on and therefore, they did not skimp on the ingredients. Cookies Vibes cookies are made from 100% Anchor pure butter, a renowned butter brand imported from New Zealand alongside other high protein premium nuts such as almonds, cashews and hazelnut. The cookies produced by Cookies Vibes are 100% Muslim Product and is Halal.

Hazelnut Latte- made from hazelnuts, almonds, cornflakes, with hints of Nescafé and Butterscotch chocolates. This one is my number one favourite among the four. It’s surprising because I’m not a fan of Nescafé. The Hazelnut Latte is taste sweetly nutty and chocolaty. It melts like a dream in my mouth and I regret to report that the whole container of it didn’t survive til Chinese New Year.

Cashews Teacakes-made from cashews, almonds, cornflakes and chocolate. The Cashews Teacakes is milky and crunchy. Those who loves cashews will be able to appreciate this cookies, since they’re generously topped with cashews.

Black Pistachio- made from pistachios, cocoa and white chocolate. If you don’t like overly sweet and sugary cookies, then you will be able to appreciate this Black Pistachio. The cookies are quite bitter with only slight hint of sweetness that comes from the white chocolate drizzle.

Mini Popia Udang, crispy mini popiah stuffed generously with spicy Serunding Udang exclusively prepared by Master Serunding from Kg. Laut, Kelantan. This is highly addictive. I don’t really recommend you to snack on these while binge watching dramas on Netflix, cuz you’ll end up finishing it off in one sitting.

Cookies Vibe provides a variety of options for Chinese New Year and Raya. There are over 35 types of cookies & snacks for you to choose from.

Wanna order some for Chinese New Year or Raya? Orders can be made HERE or through your nearest Vibers Family agents from all over Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Apart from selling the cookies and snacks individually, they also have Cookiies Subscription packages at as low as RM55 per month for 6 types of cookies. Use the code: ELLIE for 5% discount during checkout. Deliveries are made via post or Mr.Speedy in Klang Valley.

Check out the info below:

Hotline: 011 657 00101

Address: Cookies Vibe , U1-19, FLEXIS, ONE SOUTH, SERI KEMBANGAN, 43300 SELANGOR

INSTAGRAM : www.instagram.com/cookiesvibe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cookiesvibe

Twitter / Tik Tok: @cookiesvibe

website: www.cookiesvibe.com

Email: cookiesvibeinfo@gmail.com