SONGKRAN! The World's Biggest Water Fight

As a child, I would look forward to every birthday party and family outing so that I could join the throngs of children my age to play Hide & Seek, Monkey Ball or any sort of battle-related team games like, Ice & Fire or Thieves & Police! 

As I grew older, the craze of Red Alert, Counter Strike and Battlefield was in every teenager. Flocking to cyber cafes with our team mates to challenge teams overseas for ultimate glory. 

Moving on to college, I was crazy about Paintball battles or War Games! 

But, now that I'm a full fledged adult, 

does that mean I can no longer indulge in these fun games? 

Usually, the answer is a sad 'Yes'. 

As adults, we would be called names or laughed at if caught playing our old games or toys.  

So, why am i talking about this? 

Because.... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! 

We are forever young at heart and we can still go all out war mode in reality. Imagine going into battle in a REAL CITY with your good friends!  With unlimited hit point/lives, this is a real life battle that is full of smiles! 

(No sore losers la because everyone WINS!)

Say hello to the SONGKRAN Festival! 

Thailand's New Year celebration and it is the MOST important festival for the Thais. It celebrates the importance of water and it being able to wash away your sins and bad luck of the past year. 

A huge thank you to AirAsia 

for flying me from Kota Kinabalu city to KLIA2  to meet up with 

the ever-smiling Ka Mei (captain of our #teamkamei and AirAsia representative),

 and fellow bloggers Calista , Henry , and Joel.  

From there, off we went to Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

Check List : comfy clothes, slippers, waterproof pouches, choice of weapon (watergun in this case!)

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to celebrating Songkran in Chiang Mai. 

Pools, canals, and streets are just a few of the places where you can get your water supply. 

(Just stay away from the Old City moat water, as it made my skin itchy!)

Come prepared if you ever visit Thailand during Songkran,

 grab a water-gun from the closest 7/11 or even just a bucket,

 so you can get in on the action of drenching people!

It’s all about fun, fun and more fun!

Just leave your laptop at home for the few days of the festival, and maybe even consider slipping your fancy smart phone in a sealable plastic bag in your pocket just so it doesn’t get destroyed in your soggy pocket.

A waterproof camera isn't a must. I brought mine, and realized it only added bulk and it was more fun shooting people with water than taking pictures :) trust me, your smartphone can take equally awesome pictures as momentos. Most of the pictures in this blog, are from our smartphones that were in our waterproof pouches.  

Reload stations are scattered around the city, this one was in front of our hotel.

In the city centre of Chiang Mai is often said to be the best place to be for a Songkran celebration. 

Most say its THE BEST festival in the world,

 for it was probably the happiest festival they have ever had the chance to partake! 

I thought these people were exaggerating or just showing off. 

They weren't lying at all.

 FUN is GUARANTEED! 

A reload station by a tiny cafe. 

No one has ever gone out of the hotel and come back DRY. 

If you do come back dry, you are probably in Thailand for the wrong festival 

because its just IMPOSSIBLE to stay dry! 

In fact, we were only A FEW steps outside our hotel and 

we were greeted with buckets of FREEZING WATER! 

THE WAR BEGINS! just a few steps outside our hotel

Its a great time to dress up and shoot at the hotties!
(cuz there are so many of them.)

Tourists and locals alike get creative on the streets, almost like Halloween! Join the fun and dress up! I didn't bring anything fancy so i wore a sun-dress! Most would be wearing singlets and shorts.

This guy in the wolf mask actually scared me by shouting really loudly before dumping ice cold water on me!

Sneaky masked boy shooting from Thailand's red taxis

dancing in the crowd is Ultraman! 

If your tired from all the running and dodging, 

you can learn a local trick : stand by the the sides of the main road 

and have a FREE FLOW of victims.

>:) I LOVED IT! 

Be sure to stand at a safe spot beside the road and next to a water reload station, and soak the oncoming motorists! Just please don't hurt them and cause them to get into any mishaps, ok? 

Motorcyclist being soaked with a bucket by a restaurant owner! 

Kids aren't harmless. They actually have more 'victims' than adults like us! 

Most tuk tuk (Thai's little motorcycle taxis) are more than happy to join the fun by bringing passengers around town with a lil bucket of water supplied! 

Go gangster styled with a tinted vehicle! 

Truly no where to hide, everywhere is filled with shooters! 

Children join the fun in the back of cars with family!

Go territorial! Fence up and soak any passerby! 

I believe this must be the happiest festival in the world. 

Everyone is smiling and laughing. Everyone is having fun, enjoying the genuine warmth of the locals welcoming us to play, and good food is abundant. 

Here is a tip though, amidst the craaaazy water fight, always remember to NOT get the elderly wet. Respect them by only sprinkling water on their hands if they indicate so or when openly expressed. 

It is also frowned upon to splash water into places of business, like cafes or malls.

Air Asia's huge stage in the middle of the city! 

Thousands of party people enjoying rave music while being sprayed with water by the Air Asia team! 

we took over the AirAsia stage! 

It is really important that you go with a bunch of REALLY sporting friends. 

Laughter and fun is sure to follow. 

Have lots of fun, make new friends there too, and look out for one another. 

Remember to snap some pictures or.... GET A GO-PRO! 

Try their green curry, tom yam gung, and mango sticky rice available all around the city. Get a massage, it's really good and it's super affordable. Don't forget : SUNSCREEN!

#teamkamei ready for battle!  From left : Henry, Joel, Calista and I.

If you visit during the festivities, just be prepared to be sopping for at least 3 days! It might be the perfect time to take advantage of  AirAsia 's great deals for your next holiday!

A flight from KL to Chiangmai only takes 2 hours 35 minutes. 
That's almost the same amount of time for a Kota Kinabalu flight from KL! :D 




For more pictures and videos on our amazing trip,
check out my Instagram or search the hashtags
#aabcsongkranadventure  #aabcchiangmai  #teamkamei

Here is to hoping I get to see you guys having loads of fun
in Chiang Mai's Songkran festival next year!

*hugs to all*

Kurtos Spiroll : Chimney-Shaped Bread!

I love all things weird and quirky, for instance : my husband! Just kidding.

Let me introduce you to the new bread craze happening in Kota Kinabalu city.

KURTOS SPIROLL is now here! 
Located at the basement of Imago Shopping Mall. 

These pastries originally came from Hungary, where Dracula came from too. :)  The word 'kurtos' means 'chimney', which explains why their signature bread are shaped like little chimneys! 

Almost 1 meter long of dough is used to make these delicious bread!  So don't worry, you are getting your money's worth. After being baked in a special oven, these babies will be coated in your choice of topping! 

 I've personally tried a few of these chimney bread and honestly, they are so much fun when shared with friends! There is so much different flavors to try. You can have peanut butter or chicken floss if you want abit of saltiness, mildly sweet would be the cinnamon, or pandan. Wanna try something healthier? Order the sunflower seeds or honey nestum. Chocolate lovers will have a field day with Nutella or choc chips! 

This, my dear friends, is my favorite. 

CHEESE on top of the bread, sprinkled with their secret blend of spices, and huge sausage! 

You might be thinking its an ordinary hotdog, but it is not! 

Trust me, buy one, eat it and then tell me about it. 

NOT A HOTDOG! 

Here is the menu! Check it out. 

Watch my video on how these little chimney bread are made! Choose your topping now! 

Video - How Kurtos Spiroll are made! 

Location : Imago Mall, Basement. Opposite KFC and Chicken Rice Shop. 

Other new and yummy new places to eat :
Sakagura Hokkaido in Oceanus Mall - Enjoy your sushi with KKcity's famous seaview!

Finally! Sakagura is now at Oceanus Mall

Tucked in a corner of the brand new Oceanus Mall at Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu,

 is my new personal favorite Japanese restaurant - Sakagura! 

 Enter the very tastefully decorated restaurant, and be greeted by their very enthusiastic staff calling out their hello's and please-come-in!

 Sit by the seafood bar and be entertained by their chefs from Tokyo! 

 With family or a large group of friends? Don't worry, lots of space here! 

 Or, if you are like me,

 I prefer a quiet corner with only my man or just a few of my close friends,

here is a tip : book the private room in advance! 

 Not forgetting those who love the sunshine and sea breeze, 

you can opt to sit in these comfy long couches on the boardwalk, outside the restaurant. 

Enjoy the amazing blue sea view while having sushi! 

THAT IS THE LIFE! 

Now the best part of this post begins! 

FOOD! GLORIOUS FOOD! 

Oyakodon which means chicken and egg rice bowl. 

Fluffy fried egg with sweet sauce and chunks of chicken on top of a steaming hot bowl of imported Japanese fragrant rice! This dish is definitely great for those who cannot live a day (or a meal!) without rice or if you are in a hurry. Once ordered, it was quick to arrive and oh-so-delicious! 

 Okonomiyaki is a Hiroshima styled pancake made out of noodles! On top of this pancake, your choice of beef or seafood is piled on and then topped with scallions and dancing fish flakes (Bonito). This is a savory and fun dish, think of it as a healthier pizza! 

 NO, IT IS NOT DURIAN! 

It might look like durian in that large pot, but its not. *phew!*

That's actually collagen, by the way, 

For those who crave smooth, flawless and youthful skin, this is your best bet! Order this large pot of Collagen Nabe, cooked with these fresh vegetables and seafood for even more beauty enhancing nutrients. Once cooked, the collagen melts and looks like a bowl of chicken soup! I'm not vain, but I couldn't help but keep asking for another bowl! Reminds me of grandma's awesome cooking skills! This is a pretty large serving, so go ahead and share with 2-3pax. 

This sashimi platter is for CHAMPIONS! Seven types of extremely fresh seafood. 

My favorite? 

The scallops are so fresh, it tasted like a tiny morsel of HEAVEN! Almost like candy.

The next best bit are the raw prawns! I bet you're probably cringing and thinking "EW!", and guess what? I thought the same too! Oddly i managed to muster some courage, i closed my eyes and tried it anyway. PEOPLE! YOU GUYS HAVE TO TRY IT! Its amazingly creamy. 

The rest of the sashimi platter was quietly devoured in absolute bliss.

Snow Crab meat on top of egg! 

This high quality Alaskan crab meat is famous for its snow white meat color and delicate sweetness. Generous portions of snow crab meat is paired with sweet egg rolls for a luxurious twist on an otherwise traditional tamago. If you love crab meat, this is the dish to try! Simple and interesting.

I believe that no meal is ever complete without a dessert, 

regardless it is in a form of a fruit or... SNOW FLAKES! 

A mountain of snow flakes is drenched in green tea, accompanied by a serving of glutinous rice balls and red beans. A tad too sweet for my liking but still i enjoyed it nonetheless. If you have a sweet tooth, their selection of dessert wont disappoint! 

Have you tried Sakagura in Oceanus Mall?
Let me know what you think of their food! Maybe recommend me other dishes to try! 

Hugs to all, Charlotte

DiGi 4G LTE in KKcity : Got Already Bah!

"My current internet speed is way too fast."

 Said no one ever. 

DiGi Telecommunications (DiGi) has now launched 4G LTE services in Kota Kinabalu, enabling Sabahans to now enjoy a quality, high-speed and consistent internet experience with its brand-new network. 

*yay!* 

DiGi’s 4G LTE launch officiated by Y.Bhg Datuk Bruno Vun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology.

From L-R : Christian Thrane - DiGi’s Chief Marketing Officer, En. K Juslly -Director of SKMM Sabah and FT Labuan, Y.Bhg Datuk Bruno Vun- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology,  Loh Keh Jiat -DiGi’s Chief Sales Officer, Prasanna Rao - DiGi’s Acting Head of Sabah Region. 

 DiGi CEO, Lars Norling also joined the launching event via live video call showcasing the consistent speed of 4G LTE.

Loh Keh Jiat, DiGi’s Chief Sales Officer said, “We are excited to bring 4G LTE services to a key market like Sabah, which has among the highest data users on our network. Our customers now enjoy a consistent internet experience of a minimum 1Mbps, 80% of the time on our brand-new network. 

The introduction of 4G LTE will strengthen this experience with more capacity and faster speeds. Customers will see the difference in faster HD video and music streaming, downloading apps and sharing on social media will almost be instant, and there is a difference when you connect your laptop with your smartphone hotspot.

“True to our mission to deliver Internet For All, we want as many people to enjoy what 4G LTE has to offer. Today, we are introducing a wide-range of LTE plans paired with the latest suite of LTE-enabled devices, both big and small screens, to fit different customer usage patterns.” 

DiGi’s Chief Marketing Officer Christian Thrane, Chief Sales Officer Loh Keh Jiat and staff visiting customers in conjunction with the launch.

The company plans to complete its LTE rollout for the year by strengthening its network in East Malaysia. By year-end, DiGi’s LTE population coverage in Kota Kinabalu will reach 84%, and will expand to Tawau and Labuan in Sabah, and Kuching and Miri in Sarawak.

“We will continue to progressively grow our LTE footprint in Sabah and nationwide, focusing on areas where we see a strong demand for LTE services and availability of devices, and where we can make a real difference,” said Loh.

Bloggers who attended the Official Launch of DiGi's 4G LTE in Suria Sabah

Seems like the future is already here, people! 

Enjoy DiGi's ever affordable phone and data packages, now with uber fast connection!  I mean, seriously, who else but DiGi can offer you a smart phone with LTE capabilities for less than RM200?! un-friggin-believable! 

Imagine never having to press pause for a Youtube video to load before watching it! 

TRIED AD TESTED! : it took less than 8 seconds for a full HD video of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off to completely download and buffer! 

I'm planning to get myself a new phone with LTE capabilities so i can video call my little sister in India and my best friend in Hong Kong without having any lagging response! 

For more information on DiGi’s 4G LTE offerings, please visit: www.digi.com.my.