Langkawi - Our Great Nature Escapade!

This March, our Poo-Poo Rocket landed in Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah! This beautiful island is located northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. 

We stayed at the stunning Andaman Langkawi resort that is nestled between the Andaman Sea and a 10 million year old rainforest. The Andaman has an inviting pool (with a slide!) and a Young Explorer's Club that offers an exciting range of activities for children. 

But the most fascinating activities are those that centre around the hotel's rich natural attractions. As the Andaman is enveloped by verdant trees and lush greenery, many animals make this rainforest their home. A wide variety of flora and fauna can be seen around the hotel and the Andaman also provides free guided nature walks that are informative and compelling. Our guide, Daia, told us about the medicinal value of different plants growing in the rainforest surrounding the hotel, as well as the 'resident' animals and their interesting traits. 

The flying lemur, or colugo, is a mammal that glides! This nocturnal creature is commonly seen sleeping in the day while hugging a tree trunk. Its two predators are the snake and the eagle. If the  colugo sleeps at the top of the tree trunk, the eagle can see it, while if it sleeps at the bottom of the tree, the snake will devour it. So colugos cleverly snooze in  the middle of  tree trunks! You can spot them on many trees around the Andaman. 

If you look up at the wooden beams of the hotel, you can also spy the White Gecko. This prized creature is illegally sold for thousands of dollars because the Chinese believe that its tongue can cure asthma. They are nocturnal animals and can literally say their own name. The females cry 'tokay' which is lizard in Hokkien, and the males say 'gecko'! Monitor lizards are a rare sight, but try to spot them wandering around the hotel grounds. We were lucky to catch a glimpse of one next to the swimming pool. Its tail was extremely long and its skin was grey in colour. It splayed out on the ground to sun itself! 

There are also many species of birds around the hotel grounds, for example, the hornbill and the feisty drongo. The latter is a very special bird that has two tails and is known for mimicking the call of other birds. When a bird of prey such as the eagle is in the vicinity, the drongo will mimic the sound of the eagle so as to warn the other animals of the imminent danger. It sometimes loses its tail when it engages the predatory eagle in a fight by covering the eagle's eyes with its longer, bottom tail! The drongo we saw flew so quickly that we couldn't capture a photograph of it, but we sure did spy its two distinctive tails! 

We rate the Andaman's nature walks 4 Poo-Poo Rockets 

The most memorable activity that we participated in at the Andaman was coral reef transplanting. Our patient and knowledgeable coral expert, Darren, told us all about corals and how they survive in the ocean. He recounted how in 2004, a tsunami hit the shores of the beach at the Andaman. 

Luckily, no lives were lost and no buildings were destroyed. However, much of the coral reefs along the hotel's beachfront, estimated to be between 6,000 to 8,000 years old, was damaged or swept away by the powerful waves unleashed by the tsunami. Therefore, the hotel management felt a great need to start a coral nursery to restore the coral reef in the bay to its original glory.

Darren started off the coral transplant by taking some coral from the nursery. Our job was to use super glue to fix the bottom of the corals onto a brick. 

The brick is then placed in the nursery until the corals are well-grown enough to be returned to the ocean. 

Guests are also welcome to snorkel at the coral nursery. Darren will help you put on a snorkel and a life vest, and will bring you around to see the amazing and magical underwater world. There are hermit crabs, lobsters, a number of 'Nemos' (clownfish), some sea urchins and lots of coral and algae. As you snorkel, the fish sometimes tickle your feet!

Can you spy the hermit crab on the third step? 

When we snorkelled  in the nursery, we had spied creatures that looked liked dried leaves floating in the water. What on earth were these strange looking things? Fortuitously, we bumped into Dr. Gerry, the Andaman's resident marine biologist. He told us that those creatures were called knife fish. Their slender shape enables them to protect themselves from predators by hiding between the spikes of the sea urchins. Aha!

Meeting the learned Dr. Gerry and admiring the coral nursery

We rate the Andaman's coral transplant programme 5 Poo-Poo Rockets 

The hotel really celebrates its natural surroundings and its close connection to flora and fauna. Every night, after your sheets are turned down, you will be surprised with a bookmark on your pillow that has a delightful poem about the animals. A lovely way to end the day! 

Other thoughtful, environmental touches include the placement of large drums of rainwater that guests can use to wash the sand off our feet after a day at the beach. 

Overall, we rate the Andaman Langkawi 5 Poo-Poo Rockets

Beyond the Andaman of course, Langkawi has much to offer! 

Traveling on a boat, we headed to a place with trees and thorns - the mangroves at the Kilim Geoforest Park, Langkawi's most impressive nature reserve. We fed bread to the colourful fish in the sea, 

and saw magnificent eagles swoop down low.

At the mangrove forest, cheeky crab-eating monkeys swung from tree to tree! Can you spy the monkeys hiding in the mangroves? 

We also wandered through a limestone cave to admire bats, stalactites and other limestone formations.

We rate Langkawi's Kilim Geoforest Park 5 Poo-Poo Rockets 

Bet you will be hungry after all that sight-seeing! Well, if you're in the mood for seafood and Malaysian Chinese cooking, Orkid Ria at Pantai Cenang is the place to go. With a wide selection of seafood, every dish is reasonably priced and the service is excellent. They serve different kinds of crab, lobster, and fish. If you are a fried rice lover, this dish is a must try - every grain is creamy and scrumptious! 

And what's a holiday without some little trinkets and souvenirs to take home? Just outside Orkid Ria, at around dinner time, you can't miss the cute wire keychains that this talented craftsman makes. First, he lets you choose the colour of the keychain. Then he takes a long piece of wire and after twisting and turning it with a pair of pliers, voila! There is your name in neon colours! On top of that, he affixes a dainty bell to the keychain, lending it a whimsical touch! 

Over at Pantai Tengah, we enjoyed delicious chocolate tarts and pastries at La Chocolatine, Langkawi's finest French patisserie, run by the amusing Chef Patrick. He grabbed his chef's hat just to take this pic with us! Cool! 

With so much to savour and enjoy, we rate the island of Langkawi 5 Poo-Poo Rockets!

 

What a truly thrilling and satisfying experience Langkawi was! We would be pleased as punch if we could rocket back to this gem of an island again!  

Chock Full of Travel Gear

Are you ready to go on a Poo-Poo Rocket holiday? What you're missing is some rocket gear! Here are the 10 things you need to pack in your in-flight bag to keep you comfy on flights, long or short.

But first you need a bag to put everything into! Choose one that's light, sturdy, and brightly-coloured so that you can spot it easily:

Our two in-flight bags!

 

Now, here's what needs to go in:

#1: Your FAVOURITE Plush Toy

A cute and cuddly plush toy will comfort you if you're feeling homesick.

 

A nice, cuddly soft toy to hug!

 

#2: A small pillow or bolster

Are you feeling sleepy? Yawn... A small pillow or bolster will be handy for a nice nap on the plane.

Yawn... Bolster and pillow needed for takeoff!

#3: A good book

If you're a bookworm, a good book will just be your cup of tea!

 

A good book to keep you occupied!

 

#4: Paper and pencils to draw with

Drawing happy pictures will surely cheer you up, especially when the flight feels endless!

Bring some colour pencils or crayons for doodling!
This will help you pass the time.

#5: Card games

Be it Snap, Donkey, Uno, Monopoly or Happy Families, these interesting and fun card games will keep you entertained throughout your flight!

Fun card games to play!

#6: Candy to chew if you have ear pains during descent

Having ear pains? Not to worry! Bring some small sweets to chew on the plane and voila! The pain will go away instantaneously.

Make your ear pains go away with the magical and magnificent
sweets! Hooray!

#7: An empty water bottle

Most airlines don't allow you to bring your own water on board but you can request some upon boarding. Just beckon the cabin crew, hand them your bottle and ask them to fill it with some water. This helps to cut down on the use of disposable cups too! It's great to be an environmental traveller!

Our water bottles that we carry on the flight. Spillproof - just the way our mum likes it!

#8: A change of clothes
You know that dreadful word 'turbulence'? Sometimes the flight is like a wild roller coaster ride and you may feel a little quesy and even ... gulp, throw up and make a mess of yourself. You will feel kinda awful but a change of clothes will make you feel MUCH better! Pack extra clothes into a plastic bag and you can use the bag to store your dirty clothes too!

A change of clothes for an emergency.

 

#9: A sweater
Brrr... the plane can be freezing sometimes. Get warm and toasty with your sweater!
 

Remember to keep warm!

 

#10: An airsickness bag (a.k.a. vomit bag)

Rocket adventures have some of their hairy moments! Turbulence and airsickness can make you feel like throwing up. :( An airsickness bag can also be used to store your trash and whatever else comes out of you ...

Like this super-adorable Hello Kitty airsickness bag that our Godpa Gary got on his Hello Kitty plane ride?
Hope we get to board that EVA Air plane some day!

Once you've got all your gear ready, you're all set for another Poo Poo Rocket adventure!

3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!!! Wheee.........

 

In search of pigs, buskers and the Golden Ticket

If you liked our last post about London, there's more! In this post, we will share some of our other thrilling Poo-Poo Rocket experiences in this wondrous city! Scroll down for more!

West End Musicals
Anyone a fan of Roald Dahl books? Have you ever wished that his amazing stories would come to life? Well, look no further, because your wish is granted! Two of Roald Dahl’s beautifully-written stories have been transformed into musicals in London's West End, and they are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda.

Matilda - the musical
Matilda was so popular that on the day we caught the show, all the tickets had been snapped up.

No room left in the house!

 And no wonder! Matilda is a compelling story about a little girl who grows up with her cunning and uncaring parents who abuse her but dote on her elder brother, Michael. Despite growing up in such tough circumstances, she is a child prodigy who can read books that are for much older kids. She is an adorable and clever little girl whom you will admire for her pluckiness and wit. In one memorable scene, she tricks her wicked father by squeezing glue into his hat, making it stick onto his head! That was simply hilarious!




We were lucky to get box seats, with Wyn and mum in one box, and Ryn and dad in the opposite box
Look at evil Miss Trunchbull glaring at us!

When Matilda enrols in school, she meets the despicable headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who loathes children and enjoys torturing them and their kind teacher Miss Honey. Will Miss Honey escape from the clutches of the evil Miss Trunchbull? Will Matilda be rid of her horrid parents? All these questions are answered by the musical through exciting scenes, brilliant choreography and catchy songs. We rate Matilda the musical 4 Poo-Poo Rockets

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - the musical

Another Roald Dahl musical that we caught was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Charlie is a poor boy who lives with his parents and grandparents in a tiny, run-down shack. His home is near the most famous chocolate factory in the world, owned by the enigmatic Mr Willy Wonka. Mr Wonka's chocolate recipes are top secret, and no one is ever allowed inside the factory.



Excited about catching Charlie!

One fine day, an article in the newspaper reports that Willy Wonka has hidden a Golden Ticket in five chocolate bars. If a child wins that Golden Ticket, he or she will win a majestic tour of the renowned factory. The moment the news is released, everyone hunts madly for those tickets. Meanwhile, Charlie longs to find a ticket himself, but his father has just lost his job, making his chances of affording chocolate very slim. But our hero triumphs nevertheless!

  

The entire theatre was decorated with news reports announcing the opening
of the Wonka chocolate factory

The musical takes you through Charlie's visit to the Wonka Chocolate Factory. There were some parts of the show that we really enjoyed, like when Veruca, a character in the show, was sucked into the incinerator by squirrels and the Oompa Loompas (factory workers) sang wacky songs about the spoilt and bratty children in the show.


The amazing cast who brought the musical to life

The animation, singing and music were fabulous and the actors were all incredibly talented. The sets were also breathtaking and the Wonka chocolate factory looked especially real. Mmm... we could almost taste the chocolate! We strongly recommend this musical for all children aged 7 to 77! So, we rate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 5 Poo-Poo Rockets!

In our last post, we had promised you an epig adventure in a pig-turesque theme pork. Here's presenting...

Peppa Pig World!

Peppa Pig is a popular British cartoon that is broadcast in many different languages and is well-loved around the world. Peppa Pig World is a fun and exciting theme park based on this enjoyable series. This fabulous theme park is located in Paultons Park, a bigger theme park in Southampton. It is a two-hour train ride from London. We chose to go to Peppa Pig World because we love all the funny characters in Peppa Pig and watch it whenever we have a chance. It is a hilarious cartoon and each episode is amusing in its own way. It features Peppa, her little brother George, Daddy and Mummy Pig and their friends Danny Dog, Suzie Sheep, Pedro Pony, and many more. At the end of each episode, the characters never fail to fall to the ground and laugh uncontrollably, haha...oink!   

At Peppa Pig World, exploring the different rides and taking lots of pictures!

There are many fun rides in Peppa Pig World, all of which are based on the cartoon. In George's Dinosaur Adventure, you sit on dinosaurs that look just like George's favourite toy. In Grandpa Pig's Boat Trip, you ride in Peppa's Grandfather's boat. There are five other rides, namely, Peppa's Big Balloon ride, which gives you a magnificent view of the theme park; Daddy Pig's Car Ride, where you drive his car around town; Grandpa Pig's Little Train, which takes you around Peppa's home; the Windy Castle ride, which also gives you a bird's eye view of Peppa Pig World; and last but not least, Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Ride that will take you for a spin above everyone's heads!

 

Taking pictures with Peppa and the ducks

If you need to take a break, there's an indoor play area for parents to rest and grab a bite, and for children to jump around and have more fun! George's Spaceship Playzone has numerous play areas specially designed for kids of different age groups. There are small bricks for toddlers to build things, and George's Spaceship for older kids to explore! There are also tricky obstacle runs for all children. Don't forget to wear socks! If you would like to have a picture taken as a souvenir, there are various great locations! Peppa's cozy home and Madame Gazelle's school house are just some of the delightful spots. Life-sized models of Peppa and George sometimes appear in the theme park so find them quick and take a shot with them!

Even though Peppa Pig World is not the most famous theme park in the world, it's still well worth a visit! We rate Peppa Pig World 5 Poo-Poo Rockets!

Back to London



There are many modes of transport in London - red buses, cable cars, River Thames ferries, and the Underground! We took them all to get around London!

So many fun ways to get around London!

Getting around London quickly is really important because there are so many sights to catch! Besides the museums we introduced in our last post, we also visited the Tower of London, National Gallery, British Museum, Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Clockwise from left:
Wyn posing in front of an Henri Rousseau painting at the National Gallery, Tipu's tiger automaton at the Victoria and Albert museum, admiring the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, a life-size model of the blue whale at the Natural History Museum, and a guide at the Tower of London dressed as a Beefeater

Besides museums and musicals, London also offers lots more! Covent Garden is a really fun place where you will see many buskers performing cool tricks! The buskers dress up as knights, soldiers, jedis and many more! Some paint themselves from head to toe in green and golden paint! Some of them appear to sit for hours without any chair under them, or to levitate in mid-air! Is there some magic to it???

The Covent Garden buskers really draw a crowd!

With so much to explore and enjoy, we rate London an astounding 10 Poo-Poo Rockets!

We hope that you've enjoyed this Poo-Poo Rocket post. In our next few posts, we will share some tips about what to do on long flights and what to pack for your fun adventures!