Visiting Kota Kinabalu with Young Children - Part 2 - Hotels

We chose to stay in Hyatt Regency Hotel, which costs around RM300 a night without buffet breakfast. The reason that Hyatt Regency is chosen is that it's in the centre of KK town, it's within walking distance to many interesting places, namely the very popular Sunday Market @ Gaya Street, Filipino Market, Waterfront City and some shopping centres. Also, Ryan has got some membership card from Hyatt group which entitles him to buy 2 nights, free 1 night, so that we could save the free nights to go for another trip. *blink-blink*

Some other hotels which are strategically located are Promenade Hotel, Le-Meridien Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel and Jesselton Hotel. If you are looking into resort living, you may opt for Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru, Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Nexus Resort Karambunai or Sutera Harbour Resort. Shangri-La's Resorts and Sutera Harbour Resort are very near to the city, while Karambunai Resort is a bit far, which is around 30km away from the city.

Picture is showing the night view of Kota Kinabalu from the observation tower which is near the Dataran, near all the Government buildings. We can see Hyatt Regency Hotel clearly from the picture.

Visiting Kota Kinabalu with Young Children - Part 1 - Flying

Ryan and I have just got back from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for a 5 days 4 nights trip, with Eugene (4 and a half years old) and Eu Anne (18 months old) tagging along. We traveled via Airasia. We actually drove to LCCT and parked our car there, so that we would not have to queue and wait for taxi, which is much more convenient and stress free for family with young kids like us. The parking fee for 5 days 4 nights is about RM120, which actually comes to almost the same if we were to hire airport limosine, which cost around RM60 for one way. Ryan and I felt that it's worth it to pay that little bit extra for the comfort which we are getting by traveling in our own car, our own leisure, etc... It proved us right, as our flight from KK to KL were delayed for almost 2 hours and we were all exhausted upon arrival in LCCT. Eugene and Eu Anne were both very happy to get to sit in papa's car, after a 'long' trip away from home. Best of all, no queue! :-)

Flying by Air Asia is as comfortable as traveling by any full service airlines, except that you have to pay for the drinks or food you ordered. Airasia has set the 'no outside food' policy. Also, privilege of boarding the flight before the others are only applicable to old folks of 65 years old and above or you may actually pay a little bit extra for the 'express boarding pass'. I'm planning to write to Airasia officially suggesting them to reconsider revising their policy to allow family with young kids to have this privilege too.

Airasia practices free seating, first come first serve. With our clans, we needed the whole role to ourselves. We always boarded the flight later than the rest, but we were lucky to have kind young people who were willing to offer us the seats, so that we did not get separated.

Also, a good tip for moms who fly with young babies: breastfeeding your baby during taking off and landing will help reducing ear pain. Can you see that Eu Anne is comfortably nursing during taking off? :-)

Meet us - Parenthood Expo 2007, 17 to 19 August, Mid Valley

Meet us at Parenthood Expo 2007, which is held from 17 to 19 August, Friday to Sunday, from 10.30am to 9.00pm at Mid Valley Exhibition Hall 2, Level 3 (near World of Feng Shui).

There will be a lot of interesting stuffs at interesting prices. :-) *blink-blink* namely nursing bras, nursing tops, baby sling/pouch, cooler bags, cloth diapers and many more breastfeeding and parenting stuff!

A must-highlight is the clearance of some of our nursing bras, to make room for more new designs, price starts from RM20 for that 3 days only!!! All existing and new designs at very special prices too. Moms who have been to our fair in the previous years will know what I mean. These special prices are given out during our this very yearly fair or during our very special events only! :-)

A few new designs of nursing tops will be launched during the fair at special prices too. Some older designs will be cleared at special prices too to make more room for new designs!

Cooler bag will be on sale at very special price with free reusable ice sheets.

Baby sling/pouch too will be on sale and moms who have bought the pouch and not sure how to use it may also drop by our booth for a free demo!

Cloth diapers - many new colors are in, sorry that I have not had time to put them up online yet. Please drop by our booth to take a look at those new, pretty and funky colors.

In summary, the fair is going to be sale, sale and sale and fun, fun and fun! :-)

We are giving out RM10 voucher to all our visitors for your future redemption too. Do drop by. Tell your friends about our fair, as we are also giving out 100 welcome points (valued at RM2) to new registered members.

There are many contests and lucky draws going on that 3 days too. Bring your family for some weekend fun. :-)

For more event info, please visit the organiser's website:

http://www.harenet.com.my/expo/dir-html/3parenthood2007_left.html

Seminar on Chinese Confinement and Post Natal Practices

Laures International is proud to organise another seminar for expectant parents, which will be highlighting on Chinese Confinement and Post Natal Practices. Members of Fabulousmom.com will get the special price of only RM150 per pax instead of RM188 per pax. For more information, please contact: Renu at renu@lauresinternational.com

Breastfeeding Event in Penang - 5 August 2007

Attention to all nursing mommies in Penang:

Penang Adventist Hospital is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, with many exciting programs and contests awaiting your partcipation! Fabulous Mom is one of the sponsors for door gifts and lucky draw prizes. :-)

Ante Natal Talk - 22 July 2007, Sunday

Details of our much looked forward for ante natal talk is finally up on our website, please click here for more details. Limited space available, hurry moms! :-) Don't miss our early birds promotion too! :-)

Seminar - The Malay Concepts towards Confinement & Post Natal Practices

There will be a seminar on The Malay Concepts towards Confinement and Post Natal Practices on 21 July, Saturday at Wisma MCA. More details, please click here.

Tips on shortening your 'oversized' baby pouch

If you have bought our My Lovely Closet (or any other brands) baby pouch which comes in sizes, and you find that the one you have got is a bit too big/long for you, here are some tips on shortening it. This way, you may still share the pouch with your spouse or family members whose body size is quite different with you.

Ummiku Sayang - Stock Clearance Sale 24-26 May

For moms who are looking for Islamic children books, educational toys, nursing bras and nursing wear, this is an event you shall not miss. :-) Check out some of our products there too!

Applying for a Malaysian passport for your baby

We brought Eu Anne to apply for her international passport today. The procedures are simple as we are well prepared by getting all the required documents ready and be in the immigration office early. The whole process took only 15 minutes that Ryan and I could hardly believe it!

Here are the procedures:

1) Get the following ready:

2 x passport size photos of your baby
1 x photo copy of the parent/guardian's identification card
1 x photo copy of your baby's birth certificate

Download the application form here:

http://www.imi.gov.my/eng/Forms/im_forms.asp

Fill up the form in advance and remember to bring the original copy of your baby's birth certificate and the parent/guardian's identification card.

2) When you are in the immigration department, go to counter number 1 to get your number and the officer will help you to check if you have filled up the form correctly.

3) Your number will be called and the oficer will help you through the procedures.

4) Once you are done with procedure number 3, wait for your turn to make payment. You have to pay RM150 to get a 32 pages international passport for your baby (also applicable to any kids below 18 years old).

5) You will be given a ticket to collect your passport in the afternoon if you have applied for one in the morning. It's really that fast and efficient. Well done to our immigration department!

Coming soon - Amber in grey/black

An exciting old design - our very best selling Amber bra in grey color with black skirting. Something different when it's put together with the rest of the basic colors nursing bras, namely those white, black and nude color ones. :-) Even our new colleague, Ms. Cheah who is only 20 years old said, "hmm... this is nice, this is so different, this is something young girl like me will like too!" We have put the sample up in our showroom, and all visitors who see it, like it and eager for its arrival, which shall be next week!

New Breastfeeding Wear in Store

A few new designs of Mirth and My Lovely Closet nursing wear are in store. They have been sold in our showroom for a few weeks, and have been selling hot! They are now available online! :-) Swing over here: http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_49

One of the best selling designs is Audrey from Mirth, as shownn in picture above. Audrey is great for mommies in 'transition', it hides the tummy while accentuating the bosoms!

Ante Natal Class - July 22, 2007

Our much awaited for ante natal class will be back by July 22. More details will be published here soon. Expectant parents, do mark your diary now! :-)

Cloth diaper can be used as swim diaper too!

Mommy Chris has just emailed a picture of her adorable baby Brayden with daddy in the swimming pool. Saw what baby Brayden was wearing? It's our Mommy's Touch One Size Pocket Diaper! The very creative mommy has actually turned it into a swim diaper too, same way of using, minus the diaper insert! It's a great tip for all of us! :-)

Please help baby Qistina

I received a call from Puan Kamariah of susuibu.com and was saddened to know that Sunarti's baby is suffering for liver cancer. Sunarti is one of our regular clients who is also very passionate about breastfeeding. Her baby's name is Qistina, to read more about Qistina's condition and how we may help her, please visit this website: www.qistina.org