Awanmulan Jungle Retreat

Back in August, Kev and I went to Awanmulan for our very first trip together. It was a rather last minute decision since we had to cancel our long awaited Bangkok trip due to the recent bomb blast T__T Truthfully speaking, I was quite upset cause this is my second time not being able to make it to Bangkok, formerly was due to the riot last year. I guess these are all fated *goes to one corner and cries* 

Anyways, enough of ranting and back to Awanmulan! We were searching high and low to all the possible destinations we can go at the eleventh hour; but in the end we opted for somewhere nearer and somewhere we have always wanted to go. The initial plan was to go to Dusun but it was fully booked but boy were we lucky that Awanmulan still has a house available. We quickly called in for reservation and paid the deposit just a day before, normal booking requires at least 2 days in advanced.

I'm pretty sure you guys have heard about Awanmulan, it is one of the well known jungle retreats you can find in Seremban. The journey to Awanmulan took approximately 45 mins drive from KL, the place itself was not difficult to locate with the help of Waze. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Patrick, who works for the owners, Uncle Teng and Aunty Anne. Apparently he's been there for about 7 months, being sick of the fast paced city life. We could definitely relate as we were touched by the gentle hands of nature the moment we got there. Fresh air and traquility all around, and being situated on a slightly higher altitude makes the place not as warm despite all the sunlight.

Patrick led us around the whole area and showed us all the different chalets (7 altogether including the two new additions; Durian Runtuh and Rahsiah) as well as the swimming pools. Patrick even told us that Teratak Bonda, the most favored house among all is currently fully booked every weekend till the end of the year, yikes! Just so you know, all the houses are equipped with almost all basic amenities including towels, hairdryer, a microwave oven, barbecue pit, electric grill, and electric cooker, kitchen utensils and even a fridge - so you can basically cook a full course meal as long as you prepped your ingredients beforehand. Besides breakfast; all meals will be self-catered unless you have a larger group of 10 pax or more.

There are specific houses to stay in depend if you want to enjoy the sunset or sunrise views, but unfortunately we were only able to get an ordinary one; Sasterawan.  Still, not complaining! So guys, ready for a tour?

This is the bedroom, simple yet cozy and it's attached to a washroom. 

The outdoor shower, cool but a tad inconvenient. 

The kitchen and dining area, excuse us for the messy table (x

They even have a hammock indoor!

The barbeque pit with charcoal and matches was provided as well. 

The infinity pool facing the west. 

Located just beside the infinity pool is another standalone chalet for couple called Evensong. It has its own balcony where you can sit and enjoy the sunset and shining stars at night. Too bad this chalet was not available during our stay, next time perhaps? :P

And oh meet Gina, the house dog!

After touring around, we retreated back to our own house and marinated our lamb chops for dinner. We chilled on our veranda, each reading the books we brought along and just listened to some music while enjoying each other's company. We also started to inflate the donut float (yeap, we rented one and brought it all the way there!) while waiting for the sun to go hide behind the clouds. Arduous, but it was an excellent workout so to speak HEH Once the weather started looking fine and dandy, we quickly changed into our swimming gear and hopped right into the pool!

Cute donut float from @letsplash. 

The other fat dugong half trying to be goofy. 

Since it's a weekday, we get to have the entire pool to ourselves the whole evening. How lucky! 

And of course, we didn't miss the perfect and mesmerizing sunset view by the pool. 

To be able to just watch the sun slowly sank beneath the horizon; sheer bliss. 

Barbecued lamb chops and chicken wings with salad and potatoes as side; cooked by the boyf!

Good thing that the thoughtful boyf brought along some art and crafts thingy for keep us occupied during the night.

Waking up to this hearty breakfast being served on our dining table. And we decided to spend the morning in the pool again before checking out, fully utilising the time we have left. 

P/S: This sarong was actually provided by them too, loving the #kampungvibe. 

Another infinity pool facing the east. 

Happy one year, love! Thanks for putting up with me through good and bad days, more to come HAHA Love you long time :*

The mini masterpiece we both completed the night before (':

It was indeed an enjoyable getaway, albeit short. Definitely coming back again! So if you're looking for a short trip out of the hustle bustle city, no doubt this is the place to head to :D

Last but not least, enjoy a short video we've made. It really doesn't do the trip justice, but hope you guys like it anyways :)

For more details, visit their website http://www.awanmulan.com/ and their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/awanmulan.

xx

Merchant's Lane 美真林 @ Petaling Street

Pssst. Guess who? :P Not Hilda, that's who! I am now announcing that I have hijacked my girlfriend's blog! *evil laughter in background* Nah, I'm kidding. Just gonna mooch off her fame and occasionally help her write some entries. :D

Those who know us well enough will know our love for food. That's why we're the fittest fattest couple around. Despite our never ending attempt to stay on track with our diet and workout regime, we somehow ended up making a trip into downtown KL today to visit one of the most talked about brunch places lately - Merchant's Lane. I must say, it was very well worth the trip!

Their very concise menu, all fitted into one frame :) 

You'll realize that the place has that truly vintage feel to it, like a place out of time.
We've also heard stories about how the place was a former brothel once upon a time, which is interesting to say the least.

Very comfortable rattan chairs and beautiful vibrant paintings for sale by some local artists.

Le girlfriend opted for the signature Rose Honey Milk (RM12). The rose contributed to the fragrant light floral scent and the milk itself was smooth and creamy. She loves it! 

Couldn't decide on a drink, so I went ahead with a regular Caramel Latte (RM12), which was also surprisingly good. The barista did recommend their Organic Matcha Latte, but I was a little reluctant to try. (he described it as having a grainy texture..quite off-putting really)

Service was rather on the spot, as my dish arrived just a few moments after placing my order. Oh and I ordered the Hongkie Beef Stew (RM19), which can only be described as an explosion of flavors in my mouth.

Look at those juicy and tantalizing beef chunks, sitting on hot homemade mash!

She ordered the highly recommended South China Sea (RM24) - grilled salmon topped with a tantalizing special salsa, sitting on some crunchy homemade hash, and coupled with a pair of poached eggs. Look at those colors! 

The dish itself had varying textures and was interesting, but unfortunately she remarked that the salmon was a tad dry, perhaps not the best batch they've served out yet. Fret not, we shall return to try their other dishes and this one again...just to be sure :P

A glorious and scrumptious meal indeed!

Seeing things like this makes me appreciate the building. Like we were trapped in some sort of time bubble that had remained in the far past. 

The rumours were true indeed! Every single corner in this place is very instagram worthy. In fact, you don't even need to do much. We've used a basic DSLR on manual settings at 100/200 ISO. The place is very well lit due to the skylight coming in from the top, so your food (and faces) will look naturally nice for the photos. :) Pretty girl sighted! 

Merchant's Lane can get very busy, so it's advised you make an early trip if you want to have a seat at the good spots, otherwise you're left with the long table to share with strangers inside. Which isn't too bad at all if you're comfortable with the idea. 

Don't you just love these classic olden days deco?

Spot their tagline? Mmmhmm...this is definitely the place to be!

Overall, we truly enjoyed our dining experience, save for the fact that we were kinda plagued by mosquitos, probably due to our choice of dining on the outer section where all the plants are.

Love that fact that it is only 5-10 mins of walking distance from Pasar Seni LRT, makes it super convenient to travel downtown without worrying about parking or traffic. You can even take your time strolling around the street (to burn some fats haha) after a hearty brunch. Searching for the cafe can be a little tricky; so just look out for this green door at the corner of a white building beside Advanced Tertiary College (ATC). The cafe is located on the first floor of the shoplot.

Merchant's Lane KL 美真林
No. 150, Jalan Petaling, Off Chinatown,
59000, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact Number: +60 3 2022 1736
Facebook Page: Click HERE  #merchantlane #美真林
Operating Hours: Sun - Thurs 10.30am - 6pm
                             Fri - Sat 10.30am - 10pm
                             Closed on Wednesdays.

[GIVEAWAY] Claire Organics Body & Skin Care

Having struggles in looking for the right skin care products for your sensitive skin? Claire Organics is a local brand that aims to provide the best, all natural, chemical free and environmental friendly products to their customers and I can assure you that all of their products are handmade with love.  They have a wide variety of body and skin care, ranging from their best-selling soaps to essential oil. Isn't that simply awesome? I have been a user of Claire Organic since last year, tried a couple of their product and was not once disappointed thus far. Thanks to the founder Louise, who is generous enough to let me try out their latest products; the Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil and Inspire Essential Oil Roll-On Perfume.

Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil -- RM56 

This body oil is designed to tame acne-prone skin and to lock the moisture in your skin for all day hydration. It creates a plethora of skin benefits, being a stress reliever, heroic healer as well as treatment for sensitive skin. Packed with powerful stress-relieving properties, it can be used to calm aggravated skin and exhausted mind caused by stress. This makes for an excellent overall skin tonic. Besides, it possess normalizing agents that enhances new cell growth and regeneration in damaged skin and wounds. On the other hand,  Lavender oil's natural soothing and gentle astringent properties is useful in many skin-related conditions such as burns, eczema and psoriasis as it has the ability to reduce inflammation, thereby minimizing breakouts and allow healing to take place. 

Ingredients: Lavender infused Organic Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Lavender Oil.

How to use: Dispense 2-3 pumps per application and gently dab it on your clean face prior to putting on your sunscreen or foundation. For night use, you can apply it before your moisturizer or you can even use it alone. To use in on your body, rub a small amount between your palms and glide it over your body. Pat it onto damp skin for maximum hydration.

Verdict: When I first heard of face/body oil, I was pretty hesitant to even try it and my first reaction was "Oil on my acne-prone skin?" That sounds like a terrible idea and there was absolutely zero chance that I was going to put it on my face. Little did I know that facial oils actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and nourish your skin with intense moisture as they have a locking and protective nature. So when I was given the chance to try out this Lavender Face Oil, I started to add it in into my daily skincare regime be it day or night, and I got to say I am loving it. It can be a great replacement for moisturizing cream and body lotion!

The texture is light and it was not as greasy as I thought. The oil absorbs almost instantly and it does not leave a greasy and shiny finish after application but rather a sheer glow. And ehem we all know, glow is good (; I can feel that my face is more luminous and even after a long day, I don't find my face oily. Apart from the nourishing and ultra-moisturizing beauty benefits, I love how soothing it smells. For my body, I tried applying this body oil on mosquito bites scar that have been irritating me for months, and it works amazeballs! The scar just faded off in a day or two.

P/S: However, face oil may not work the same on all skin types so be sure to read up more and test it beforehand. 

Inspire Essential Oil Roll-on Perfume --RM39 

Unveiling the latest addition to Claire Organic; their very first essential oil perfume oil! This special perfume oil is freshly hand-blended with juicy notes of Bergamot and earthy tinge of Lavender in a base of skin-loving Golden Jojoba and pure essential oil. Alcohol-free and fragrance-free guaranteed! The calming yet uplifting scent is sure to lift your spirits, providing a new energy and focus on fresh inspirations. The citrus blend also boosts the immune system and cleanses the body. The scent works really well for both men and women - citrus smells delicious on everyone!

Ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Organic Herbs, Essential Oil Blend and Love.

How To Use: Roll on area like wrist, neck area or back of your ears for a subtly scent or a quick pick me up.

Verdict: Its mini size is perfect to be put in your bag, at your desk, for travel, bedside or any other time when you need a quick and easy mood booster In short, this is aromatherapy in the pocket to keep your stress at bay anytime! One application and I'm hooked with the lingering and unforgettable scent! *sniff sniff Sometimes, all you need is just a short break from work and inhale the aroma-therapeutic benefit of the oil. I'm pretty sure you'll feel refreshed and calm your frenzied state in just a jiffy! Even your mind deserves some TLC, y'know?

Now that you've read to this very end; I shall end it with a happy note, no? That's right! Good news is I will be giving away two sets of Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil and Inspire Essential Oil Roll-On Perfume worth RM95 each courtesy of Claire Organics! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below, you will have to complete ALL FOUR tasks to stand a chance to win! Giveaway is open for Malaysians only; ends on 12th July and two lucky winners will be picked via random.org. So good luck girls! 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

Congrats Zurina Omar and Jiawen Carmen Loo! You both have won yourself Claire Organic products worth RM95, so be sure to check your email (:

They even provide personalised service from events door gifts and even your own breastmilk soap for nursing mummies (how cool is that?!) so for more details and updates, feel free to visit their Faceook Page https://www.facebook.com/claireorganics and Instagram  https://instagram.com/claireorganics/ or email them at claireorganics@gmail.com for any enquiries! They do have their products in some physical stores even in Sarawak and Penang, click HERE for more. I am definitely looking forward for more amazing body and skincare products from them in the near future!

Till then, have a good week ahead!
Disclaimer: All the products are sponsored for review purposes but it does not affect my judgement in any way, the review is based on my personal thoughts.

xx