Read: Why We Want You To Be Rich

I have recently acquired an interest to read again. Through out 5 years of M.B.B.S, I have become accustomed to just reading academic books such as Physio, Anatomy etc. I have not had a chance to read a proper, non academic book in ages. I stumbled upon a great book a few months back, Why We Want You To Be Rich by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Donald Trump.

I bought this book back in 2011 during the Big Bad Wolf Sale in Serdang, Selangor. I bought it for MYR 8 ONLY. Very good investment indeed. It was left to gather dust for 1 year until I moved to Ipoh. I don't know what compelled me to buy it then. Investing or financial management was the last thing on my mind. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. It has changed my perspective on life and is a catalyst in my future transformation.



For those still in the dark, Robert T. Kiyosaki is the man behind Poor Dad, Rich Dad books. He is THE rich dad. He is an investor, businessman, self help author and motivational speaker. He has a series of books published under Rich Dad brand. It has been a best seller all over the world. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is famous with The Apprentice. To the layman, he was made famous by the series but he made in a name for himself in the real estate industry. These two people are giants in the business world. And when both minds combine, an AWESOME book is created.




Although it is based on the financial situation in the United States of America, the topics discussed is still very much relevant worldwide (at least Malaysia). The book provides insights from both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump. Each topic is explained by both prominent figures separately in a very frank and direct way. It feels like they are having a conversation with you. The English as basic for layman like me. If I can understand the terms used, I think everyone can. However, Robert Kiyosaki writes at a more personal level and I feel like he has more to share.

This is my first exposure to the thought process of Robert Kiyosaki and his CASHFLOW Quadrant and CASHFLOW game is intriguing. It really helps you to understand how things work in a practical sense. The main relevant points for me are:
1. There is so much that is wrong in the world financial system. In this system, only 10% will benefit from it and be rich.
2. The CASHFLOW Quadrant is an amazing example of how YOU can choose to become rich or become poor. I can't publish it here because it is copyrighted. Might as well just get the book or purchase the e-book version.
3. Property is a GREAT investment...more of that in future posts

This is my tipping point. This is when I start to think about my future and get out of my comfort zone. I have started to invest in financial knowledge. Its a long way to go before I achieve financial freedom. I have to start somewhere. And I will share parts of my journey along the way ;)

Jalan Sabah Bah! Part 4

The view of Mount Kinabalu from Kinabalu Pine Resort was magnificent. We woke up bright and early to catch a glimpse of the majestic mountain at sun rise. Alyssa was sporting enough to take a walk and enjoy the morning.

This is 6 am!

Beautiful skies

Simple breakfast

Breakfast was served at 630 am. There was nothing particularly good about the breakfast. It wasn't bad either. Good enough to fill an empty stomach. We had to check out early to ensure we arrive in time for our flight back.

Last photo from the balcony

Mount Kinabalu

The journey back wasn't much of a hassle. There wasn't any slow moving traffic. With some extra time, we stopped by a few places before reaching the airport. First stop was Jambatan Tamparuli. I think the only reason it is famous is because of the song 'Jambatan Tamparuli' (I don't even understand the song). We didn't bother to stop as it is only a 'titi gantung' across a bridge. 

Jambatan Tamparuli for pedestrians...

....for cars

Next, we stumbled upon The Upside Down House of Borneo. The only one of its kind in South East Asia. For RM 10 (MyKad holders), you get a guided tour of THE house. It's just one house by the way...and a car parked upside down at the garage.There is one big DOWNside, you can't take pictures inside the house. I am not sure why they have this rule, maybe so that no one can copy their ingenious design concept and apply it at home! In less than 45 minutes, we were off.

Upside down Kancil

The house

Last picture allowed before going in

That pretty much wraps up our Jalan Sabah Bah. We enjoyed the trip. I wish to come here again in the future as there is so much more to see. Maybe next time we''ll be more adventurous and hike Mount Kinabalu or dive in Sipadan. Word of advice, if you have bigger budget fly on Malaysia Airlines or Malindo Air. Sometimes, their flights can be cheaper with better service and baggage allowance. I am not saying Air Asia is bad but it is a BUDGET airline and the service is 'BUDGET' i.e. smiles on a budget. 

Jalan Sabah Bah! Part 3

With the trusty Saga and a tank full of petrol, we headed to the highlands. The trip to Kundasang was supposed to be roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes...on a good day. Google Maps or Waze did not take into account the possibility of getting stuck behind a very SLOW lorry. For the 1st quarter of the journey, the road was decent with most of the stretch having 2 lanes. Once you get past Tamparuli, the road can get messy. It's riddled with potholes and we were stuck behind huge lorries most of the time. Furthermore, I wouldn't be doing radical manoeuvres in a rental car. I really wished I had my CRV at the time.

Snail's pace

Still happy :)

We reached Kundasang around noon and stopped by Mount Kinabalu Visitors Center. The conservation fee was RM 3 per adult. There are a whole lot of other fees if for climbers such as permit fees which is RM 100. Accommodation is provided and varies according to budget. I stayed at the dorm with a few others back in 2002 and it was a wonderful experience. We were on a budget then, and the place provided enough amenities and comfort for climbers on a budget. However, the place was not as cold as it used to be. It used to be very very cold, or sejuk sampai ke tulang, even though my fat natural insulations were really thick!

Brrrr....cold!

Mount Kinabalu covered by thick fog

Mount Kinabalu Trail map

After having some packed lunch (prawns from the previous night),we headed straight to Kinabalu Pine Resort. Kinabalu Pine Resort is a famous spot for travellers. It is a well managed place, and affordable. For RM 240 per night, we stayed in a spacious chalet with a balcony and King size bed. Dinner and breakfast is provided. The food is certified Halal too. Our unit had a view of the valley. Units facing a Mount Kinabalu cost more.

The Balcony

A decent TV

King size bed

There is also a mini rabbit farm within the resort complex. Its not big but it kept Alyssa happy. A walk around the area is really pleasant, especially at dawn and dusk.

After a short break, we set off for Desa Dairy Farm. This was an accidental destination. We were trying to find our way to Poring Hot Springs but stumbled upon this place. The Saga struggled to climb the steep hill up to Desa Dairy Farm. To make it worst, the tarmac was riddled with potholes. I don't know how a Kancil will manage. 

This place will make you feel like you are in a Dutch Lady commercial. Unlike typical Malaysian cows, the cows here are the black and white type (I don't know the name of the breed). The grass was green like the meadows in the commercials. Its a working farm and visitors can see how cows are milked. Its not a slaughter house though, so its very "People Who Are Obsessed With Animal Rights" friendly. You can get up close to calves and feed them too. Somehow, Alyssa was terrified of cows. She wouldn't even come close to the enclosure. Even at home, she would run away if we showed her these pictures.

Clinging on for dear life!

Really close up 

Feeding area

Next stop was Poring Hot Springs. The journey was supposed to take less than an hour. It was raining and traffic was bad. We were stuck behind slow lorries most of the time and the road was slippery. By the time we reached Poring, it was already dark. I didn't think it was safe to venture into the forest with a baby at that time.

Rates

Park layout

I expected Kundasang to be chilly at night but it was barely cold. Nevertheless, the air was fresh. After dinner at the resort's cafe, we just relaxed in our room. The balcony was a great place to relax while enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate, perfectly made by my darling wife :) It was a joy!

Dinner: Fried Vegetables, Chicken Soup, Chicken and squid dish

Chilling out

Tasty hot chocolate

Jalan Sabah Bah! Part 2

We woke up bright and early the next day....really bright. 6 am was like 7 am. Geographically, East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) is ahead by 1 hour from Malaysia i.e different time zone. But because it is part of Malaysia, the time zone is standardized. Breakfast at The Promenade was good. The buffet spread was a good balance of local food (Nasi Lemak, Mee Goreng etc.) and Western (pancakes, sausages etc.). With tummies filled to the brim, we headed straight to Jesselton Point for island hopping.

Naughty girl

Jesselton Point is less than 10 minutes drive from Promenade. There is an open air car park nearby. To be honest, it didn't look like a safe place to park though. If you don't have kids, I suggest you walk or take a taxi (not sure how much it'll cost). The complex is very well maintained. Once at the jetty, we headed straight to the ticket counters. Do shop around for the best deals. The displayed prices are all the same, but do ask for discounts from the sales person. We met a wonderful lady which offered a pretty good deal. Plus she was kind enough to give suggestions on which islands to go to.

There are three islands you can 'hop' to. Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi. Prices range between RM 23 (1 island) to RM 43 (3 islands). We got quite a good deal for RM 124 for 2 adults and 1 child including snorkelling kits. We decided to go for only 2 islands. The sales person suggested Manukan and Mamutik as Sapi Island had too many stray dogs and was dirty (not sure how true it is).

We set off from the jetty at around 11 am. The trip took less than 30 minutes by speed boat. The boat ride was rather comfortable. It wasn't as bumpy as we thought it would be. It was comfortable enough that Alyssa managed to sleep through the journey. Between the two islands, I liked Manukan Island better. There were more fish in Manukan and it was a little bit cleaner. However I think it is too over rated. The corals around the island were dead. It was a disappointing site. I swam as far as I could from the beach but you can barely see sea life. The only way to see the marine creatures is by using bait i.e. stale bread. For me, Perhentian Island (Terengganu) is still the best place to snorkel. Will I come here again? Most probably not, unless the Sabah government do something about it. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time as a family.

Before jalan

The boat going really fast

Dah sampai!

She loves the water

Before heading back

Sleepy baby

It all ended at around 2 pm. Everyone was really tired. Island hopping to two islands was more than enough. We headed straight back to our hotel for a quick rest and some light lunch....great food was in store!!!

Before heading for THE feast, a holiday is never complete without the customary souvenir shopping. Look no further than to shop at the Filipino Market. I had a hard time finding this place. There is NO signboard directing to THE Filipino Market. Its not even on Waze. What you CAN find is Pasar Kraftangan Kota Kinabalu and all the stalls nearby. Whenever in Kota Kinabalu tourist will look for pearls. I am not a big fan of pearls but my wife spent quite a hefty sum on these 'stones' for relatives and friends. I could hardly tell the difference between a 'sea' pearl and 'river' pearl. So guys, just let the ladies do the shopping. Jangan tunjuk pandai.

Like most Malaysians, I LOVE TO EAT, especially seafood. Gayang Seafood Restaurant is located 30 minutes away from our hotel. It was a long drive (almost thought we were lost) but it was worth it. It serves typical Chinese style seafood, straight out of the aquarium. We loved this place because it tasted better and cheaper than New Gaya Seafood Restaurant. 

Best!

What did we order for the night?

1. 500 grams Chilli Crabs

2. 500 grams Butter Prawns

3. 500 grams Soft Shell Crabs

4. 500 grams Steamed Oysters

5. A plate of Sayur Manis

How much did it cost? RM 97. Sedap!!!!

The only thing that wasn't to my liking was the oysters. Why is it so expensive? I have no idea why anyone would eat raw. Why did Mr Bean like it so much?

Dinner is served

Fresh seafood

 I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Kota Kinabalu. If you don't have a car...rent one!
As the proverb goes "Gendang gendut tali kecapi, kenyang perut suka hati" (I have no idea how to translate that)

Jalan Sabah Bah! Part 1

After Hong Kong, the next big vacation was Sabah. We bought our tickets way back in July for RM 576 (return tickets for two). However, a few months before the trip we decided to bring Alyssa along. Apparently Air Asia does not have children fare. So we had to fork out RM 428 just for her.

Do remember to check in BEFORE check in your luggage (if you have any). Use the computers provided at the entrance. Otherwise it will cost RM 10 when you check in at the counter. I don't know why they have this system but that's the way it is. The staff at the counter can be rubbish and rude. You get what you pay for.

We set off from LCCT on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. The journey took roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes. We were worried of Alyssa. It was her first journey on a plane. Kids can get restless on a plane, especially during ascend and descend. But Alyssa was being her happy self. She slept through most of the journey. I must say, I am very proud of her :)

Happy baby @ LCCT

We're going on an airplane!!

Zzzzzz

Baru bangun

Arrival at Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu Airport was not much of a hassle. Our rental car showed up in time too. We rented a Proton Saga BLM 1.3 FLX for 3 days for RM 300 from Sewabah.com. I would say it was money well spent. The car was in a generally good condition (I wouldn't expect too much from a Proton though). However, if you have unlimited budget, I suggest you rent an SUV or 4x4 vehicle. The roads can be quite treacherous, especially on the way up Kundasang.

Our faithful car

 We stayed at Promenade Hotel for the first 2 nights for RM 240 per night, including breakfast. It is relatively old hotel but it offers one of the best locations. Restaurants are plenty nearby. The Filipino Market is 10 minutes away by foot and Jesselton Jetty is a short drive away.

Once settled down, we set off to seek the perfect sunset. We were told that Tanjung Aru is the perfect spot to see the sun set. However, the bloody Waze (GPS app) couldn't point out where it was. All is not lost though, after a short drive around KK armed with my exceptional navigation skills we found a great spot near Sutera Harbour Beach Resort. It was a beautiful sight. Words and pictures can't come close to the actual beauty.

Photo bombed by Alyssa's finger 

Beautiful

When you're near the sea it's only right for you to seek the best seafood. The first night, we went to New Gaya Seafood in Inanam. We spent RM 174 for whole lot fresh seafood. It is a typical Chinese Restaurant where you can pick your seafood right off from the aquarium. What we ordered:
1. 500g of fried soft shell crabs
2. 2 pieces of chilly crabs
3. 500g of baby lobsters
4. A plate of sayur manis
5. 2 bowls of rice
6. Bottomless chinese tea

Mouth watering..but not the best yet

 We were stuffed to the brim. The food tasted great, but I would not recommend this place. I'll recommend another place...in the next post ;)