Thai Odyssey Blog

Thinking of staying put this coming Raya holidays? There is no shame of wanting to skip the massive jam as the whole nation makes their annual exodus back to their ‘kampung’. Staying at home during holidays can be great too. Just treat it as your much deserved staycation. To help you along with your plans for a ‘home holiday’, here are some tips on how to create a great staycation you won’t forget anytime soon.

Establish Your Ground Rules
First and foremost, lay down your ground rules. It is very easy to slip back to your normal routines when you are in your house. Make it a point to skip doing house chores and no checking your work emails during your staycation. Small rules like these ensure you will have a staycation that isn’t bogged down by life’s little routines.

Hire House Cleaning Services for Your Chores
The best is to hire cleaning services right before you start your staycation, so you can enjoy a sweet smelling clean house right from the very first day. If you fancy, ask the cleaners to make your bed in that perfect, crisp hotel style. Just make sure you don’t start doing the chores yourself as it will beat the purpose. Trust us; it is very tempting to do that especially in your own house.

Add Some Zen to Your Rooms
Decorate your bedrooms and bathrooms to make them worthy of a vacationing family. Zen it up by adding some flowers, scent it up with diffusers and replace your normal toiletries with more indulgent pieces. Thai Odyssey carries a range of Natural Home Spa products that will make your rooms hotel-worthy. Just replace your shampoos with our Acacia Concinna Herbal Shampoo and place a bottle of Aroma Bath Gel in your shower stall. Then, put in a Reed Diffuser in your bedroom and some Eye Pillow Gift Sets on your bed. These will make your rooms instantly feel like the latest additions from a spa.

Pamper Your Senses at a Spa Outlet
No vacations are ever complete without a massage and spa session. The same should apply to your staycation. Book a massage session for yourself and your family at Thai Odyssey. It will be a great way to pamper your body and reset your mind during the holidays. Indulge in a range of authentic Thai massage services such as our Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Aromatherapy Massage or a 1-hour Traditional Foot Massage. All our outlets are open during the Raya holidays, so you can always visit us anytime.

Indulge In Elaborate Cooking or Try a New Cuisine
Go on a grocery spree and buy the most indulgent food and ingredients you have wanted to try. Then, cook up a storm at home and serve yourself an elaborate dinner, complete with candlelight if you fancy. If cooking is not your thing, then choose a restaurant you have been saving up for and indulge away. Better yet, be adventurous and go try a new cuisine, be it Moroccan, Moldovan or Mediterranean. The experience will be akin to you travelling to a new country.

Tour Your Own Town
You may have lived there your whole life but there will always be something new to discover and places where you might not even know existed. So, plan a tour of your own town and treat it as a holiday destination. Visit museums and landmarks and take selfies as you would overseas. Those photos will serve as sweet memories and might even inspire you for a second staycation the next time around!

Hopefully these tips will help you plan a memorable staycation and have you yearning for another one soon. While you go about setting up your staycation, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the process! From all of us at Thai Odyssey, we wish you Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and happy holidays!

References:

https://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-make-a-staycation-your-best-vacation-ever-233899

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/22-ways-to-turn-your-home-staycation-resort

Just a few hours’ drive from Jakarta, Bandung, also known as the Paris of Java, is a booming metropolis in Indonesia. This beautiful city lies on a river basin surrounded by volcanic mountains, making the city cooler in temperature year-round than most other cities in Indonesia. Bandung used to be filled with tea plantations during colonisation by the Dutch, but today it has evolved into a resort city filled with restaurants, cafes, luxury hotels, and fashion boutiques that give the city a lively edge. Combine all that with its scenic surroundings, you have a place with plenty to see and plenty more to do. Below are some key activities to help you make the most of your visit to Bandung.

Visit Kawah Putih

Kawah Putih, also known as the white crater, resides 2 hours away from Bandung City Centre. It is a beautiful sulphuric turquoise lake that comes from a volcano. The lake is surrounded by a collection of mysterious looking skeletal trees, making it a perfect spot for those surreal photography sessions. It takes about half an hour to explore the entire area. So, make sure you have with you a light jacket as the temperature can be quite cold up there.

Retreat at Dusun Bambu

Dusun Bambu is about a 30 minutes drive from the North of Bandung and is an open concept eco-retreat spot set in the midst of a forest. Visitors come here to enjoy tranquility and peacefulness within the embrace of Mother Nature. Facilities within the enclosure include a park, cabins, outdoor pools, a lounge, a garden, and cafes among other family-friendly activities. Do visit the Burangrang cafe to have a great meal served to you while you enjoy the backdrop of a beautiful view of the mountains and lakes.

Explore the streets of Braga

As we mentioned earlier, Bandung is known as “The Paris of Java” for a reason. It was the Dutch colonials who conferred Bandung with this colloquial title due to its advanced art and cultural scene, exquisite nature and other geographical similarities that they observed. The Dutch’s obsession with Bandung had inspired them to develop the town and pepper it with European-style buildings. Braga Street is one of these Dutch architectural heritage masterpieces, now bustling with restaurants, bars, and cafés.

Shop at Cihampelas Walk also known as Jeans Street

This street is known as a shopping paradise, where you can get clothes from local designers. Famous for its cheap but good-quality fashion products, Cihampelas Walk has a good mix of classy malls and old-school street markets which will make your shopping experience an interesting and colourful affair. Trust us when we say that you will be bringing home a lot of big shopping bags and an even bigger smile.

Indulge in Ultimate Relaxation at a New Thai Sanctuary

Between exploring the scenic city to shopping until you can’t feel your feet, you should also consider taking your time to relax and indulge your senses within South East Asia’s leading traditional Thai massage chain – Thai Odyssey. Now open in Bandung, this luxurious Thai sanctuary offers the best variety of authentic Thai massage services to choose from, such as Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Herbal Therapy, Thai Aromatherapy Massage and even a 1-hour Traditional Foot Massage to enhance your relaxing experience and promote well-being and inner tranquility. In conjunction with the outlet’s opening, purchase with E-cash and enjoy an additional 10% discount on top of extra discounts from the E-cash privilege programme. Visit this exclusive spa village concept sanctuary soon as the promotion is valid until 15^th June 2018. Also, follow Thai Odyssey on Facebook to stay connected and get more new offers.

Feast on Street Food at Riau Street

After indulging your senses with a relaxing massage, it is only right to indulge your stomach too. We recommend going for a more authentic and localized dining experience, and the best way to do so is through street food. A trip to Bandung will not be complete without a plate of siomay (Indonesian steamed fish dumpling) or Batagor (fried bakso taufu), both served with peanut sauce. You can find a wide selection of tempting street food restaurants along Riau Street.

References:

http://discoveryourindonesia.com/things-to-do-bandung/

https://www.smartertravel.com/2017/02/09/bandung-things-attractions-must-see/

https://www.divergenttravelers.com/things-to-do-in-bandung-indonesia/

6 ways to show appreciation on Parents’ Day

Like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Parents’ Day recognises, and uplifts the important role of parents. In fact, it is the perfect time to do something special together as a family and say “thank you” to your parents for everything they have done in our lives. If you need ideas to celebrate both parents, we have 6 ideas for you to make your parents feel appreciated and loved. It doesn’t have to be hard and complicated because in the end of the day, they just want to see that you put a little thought into spending quality time together as a family.

Commit your time

Whether you live at home, or you are just coming to visit, intentionally committing the day to your parents shows that you want to spend time with them. The fact that you commit the whole day to spend time together with them will instantly make them feel grateful, which your parents will truly appreciate.

Prepare breakfast

Showing up early, putting in the effort to make breakfast and serving it before your parents have done any work for the day shows that you remembered the effort they have put every morning in the past, such as preparing breakfast and sending you to school in the morning as you were growing up. Having them wake up feeling happy will make their day special and meaningful.

Handwritten card

To go along with breakfast, craft a note to your parents telling them about all the positive things they did for you. The important roles of parents can sometimes feel unnoticed, so showing that you recognise what they have done for you will let them know that they have done a great job as parents!

Clean their house and wash their car

Surprise your parents by doing these things, preferably in the morning as your parents can wake up to the great feeling of having nothing to do. Parents like to feel special especially when their kids are particular about being clean and tidy; hence your parents will really appreciate it.

Cook dinner

Find out your parents favourite dishes and cook for your parents, if possible something healthy of course. This will definitely make their hearts melt, and it will show how much you care about their health and know that you can take good care of yourself.

Treat them to a relaxing massage

Surprise and pamper your parents to a relaxing massage to give them a well-deserved break. Now at Thai Odyssey, with the Wonder-parents Treat, purchase with e-cash and get up to RM300 FREE! Join them too, and we assure you that it will make their day an unforgettable one. Here is to wishing all parents `Happy Parents’ Day’, from all of us at Thai Odyssey…

Did you know that Songkran festival is celebrated so massively that it puts Thailand as one of the world’s most happening countries in the map? Celebrated during Thai summer from 13^th April until 15^th April, Songkran festival is refreshing, exciting and definitely an event everyone has to experience, at least once in a lifetime.

Yes we all know that water is essence for life, and you should also know that it is an important element for Songkran too. Pouring and throwing of water has become a huge part of this celebration, so don’t be surprised if you get splashed on randomly during this 3 days celebration. You will see crowds of people roaming around throwing buckets of water, using water guns and water bombs to soak everyone in the vicinity.  If you want to be part of this refreshing and meaningful celebration, here are 6 recommended hot spots for you to join in the fun:

Silom in Bangkok

Silom is Bangkok’s business area and it is known for its large and wild crowd in Bangkok, mainly because it takes up at least 5km length of this street. Packed with thousands of people with water guns shooting at each other, the highlight of this area is to spot the fire trucks ambushed at each intersection with their huge water hoses spraying at the crowd. Also there is an alternative for those who want to experience Songkran but stay dry by staying on the BTS Sky Walk that runs above the street.

Khao San Road

This area is known as the happening tourists spot! Unlike at Silom street, once you’re in the battlefield, there is no escape in getting soaked wet. The surrounding of Khao San Road is usually pumped up with loud music as there are waterproof shacks set up with bars and DJs along the road. Those who enjoy water fights and partying hard at the same time should definitely experience the celebration here!

Wisutkasat

Taking place in the Wisutkasat area during Songkran festival is the Miss Songkran Beauty Pageant contest. This event is held every year during Songkran where these beautiful local women will be judged by the audience. Just like every other beauty pageant contests, these women are judged not only by their outer beauty but also their unique talents which they must display to impress the audience. The pageant is traditionally accompanied by a parade and merit-making ceremony. An event certainly worth to check out if you are in town during Songkran!

Phra Pradaeng

If you want to experience a more traditional Songkran celebration, you should certainly check out Phra Pradaeng district which is located on the outskirts of Bangkok. Celebrated a week after the Thai New Year, the locals in Phra Pradaeng will not only splash water at each other, but they will also put together folk dances, parades, Thai-Raman flag ceremony, fireworks and other array of cultural activities to celebrate the New Year.

Chiang Mai

In Chiang Mai, Songkran is celebrated for 4 days instead of the usual 3-day celebration. With the first two days dedicated for traditional and spiritual activities and spending quality time with the family. On the first day, the locals will organise a parade of Buddha images and floats that start at Narawat Bridge and end at Wat Prasingh. On the second day, they will head to Mae Ping River at dusk to gather sand from the river banks to take to temples. The sand is then piled together and topped with flowers. This practice is known as “raising the temple grounds”, a ritual that is done at the end of the rainy season, which coincides with the end of the old Thai Lunar Calendar. Finally the two remaining days will be spent having fun and devoting to `sanuk’ (to have a good time).  Foreigners even claimed that this city is the best place to experience the celebration.

Ayutthaya

If you are an animal lover and would want to get water sprayed on by elephants, head down to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage and home to one of Thailand’s most popular elephant camps. Experience a unique kind of Songkran celebration where colourfully painted elephants will join in the water fight by spraying people with water from huge barrels of water. It became a tradition for elephants to spray water at whoever who passes them by to mark the country’s New Year celebration and to get rid of bad luck and bring in good fortune.

So if you’re planning to celebrate Songkran in Thailand, just enjoy the celebration and have fun. With that, Thai Odyssey would like to wish all Thai people `sawasdee pee mai!’

References:

http://www.bangkok.com/information-festivals/songkran.htm

http://www.asiaone.com/travel/first-timers-guide-songkran-thai-new-year-water-festival

http://www.tasteofthailandfoodtours.org/best-places-to-celebrate-songkran-in-bangkok/

In Malaysia, Genting Highlands is known as one of the top destination to visit for foreigners and even the locals as you can find all sorts of entertainment and activities to do there. Also, thanks to its cooling weather all year round, the locals will find an excuse to just drive up for a cup of coffee and enjoy the cool breeze. Located just approximately an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, getting there is so accessible as you can either choose to drive or take the cable car(Gondola) all the way up. If you are planning to visit Genting anytime soon, here are 6 things we recommend you to do to make your trip a memorable one with your family or friends.

Pick strawberries at Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm

Before heading up to Resorts World Genting (RWG) by either car or the cable car, you can stop by Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm to pick fresh strawberries. Usually, people will stop here either during their journey on the way up to the highland or on their way down leaving for home for its peaceful and beautiful environment. There is also a Lavender Farm and various flowers grown around the area where you can take beautiful photos.

Visit the great Chin Swee Cave Temple

This temple was built in 1976 especially for worshippers to visit the temple and pray to Buddha and Kwan-yin, where their majestic sculpture is placed behind the temple. You can test your stamina and climb the nine-storey pagoda for a spectacular view of the valley. The temple also houses many turtles in a small pond and it is believed that if you release turtles there, you will gain good luck and fortune for yourself.

Discover nature and technology at Fashion Forest

If you are a nature lover and would like to experience the surrounding of a forest with diverse flora and fauna, then Fashion Forest is the place to be. Genting Highland’s Fashion Forest is located in Awana’s own backyard. However, what makes this place unique is the fact that the forest is wifi-enabled with fairly good coverage at all areas. It is an initiative done by Resorts World Genting and Treks to contemporise the forest by introducing arty, fashionable and modern educational concepts to visitors. So bring your friends and family for a healthy outing of trekking adventure in Fashion Forest and share your memorable experience through social media.

Go on a shopping spree at Genting Premium Outlets

This is another shopping spot to look forward to, especially for brand enthusiasts. Genting Premium Outlet is the second premium outlet in Malaysia and it is always packed with people on weekends and public holidays. With over 150 brands sold there, including Hugo Boss,Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade and more, the ongoing sale is definitely worth your time and visit, hence it is a heaven for avid shoppers. This place is made accessible via Awana SkyWay too, so after a long day spent there, don’t forget to loosen those tensed muscle of yours at Thai Odyssey…

Take a ride on the Awana SkyWay Cable Car 

The breath-taking ride up the mountain begins at Awana SkyWay Station where you can disembark at two stops to explore the attractions around Resorts World Genting. You can stop by at Chin Swee Station or continue your journey up until SkyAvenue shopping mall. Best part is, when you travel back to Awana SkyWay station after a long day of exploring, you can pamper yourself to a therapeutic Thai healing at Thai Odyssey, located at Lot 3-1, Level 3 Awana SkyWay Station. Treat yourself to any of their authentic Thai massages, from Traditional Thai Massage to even a Traditional Foot Massage. Your day will turn out a great satisfaction!

Shop and eat at SkyAvenue Shopping Mall

As mentioned before, this mall is situated at the highest peak of Genting and it is where most of the retail outlets and eateries are located. SkyAvenue Mall also boast a world-class LED display that spreads across an entire atrium within the mall which makes the mall look futuristic. If you are feeling lucky, you can even try your luck at the SkyCasino. SkyAvenue definitely has a variety of entertainment in store for you, not forgetting eating and shopping till you drop.

There you have it, 6 of our recommended activities to do in Genting! Also, another reason for you to come back in the future is the most anticipated theme park in Malaysia, 20^th Century Fox World. Currently, the theme park is under construction and is expected to be completed by end of 2018 or early 2019. This upcoming attraction is going to be bigger and better especially for adrenaline junkies as it features over 25 rides and attractions based on 20^th Century Fox movies including Planet of the Apes, Alien vs. Predator, Night at the Museum and many more…

As you can see, it is proven that Genting Highlands is a destination for all ages to enjoy, so don’t forget to check this list when you are visiting soon!

Reference:
https://www.klnow.com.my/english/sky-casino-genting-highland/

http://www.doseoflife.com/5-exciting-things-resorts-world-genting/

Did you know that Batam is located across the sea from Singapore, which takes only 40 minutes on a speed boat to reach there? If you are planning for an affordable and short weekend getaway, Batam would be the ideal destination to visit. There are a lot of activities and places of attraction in Batam to keep you occupied, and if you are a fan of snorkeling or diving opportunities – you will definitely be amazed by the incredibly clear water and underwater living in this part of Indonesia. Here are some of the things you must do while you are in Batam, Indonesia…

Discover Penyengat Island

There are a lot of beautiful islands surrounding Batam Island itself and they are all great destinations for day trips for a getaway. One that we can recommend is the famous Penyengat Island, where you can spend approximately two hours walking around the area. You will get to experience how the locals live their life there and also catch the amazing view of the sun setting. Also, don’t forget to visit the legendary Yellow Mosque (Masjid Kuning) which is the ultimate landmark of the island, where it is believed that eggshells were used in its construction to make the walls stronger.

Visit Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple

This temple was built in 1991 and it is known as the biggest temple in South East Asia with a measurement of 4.5 hectares. If you are looking to find Zen and inner peace within yourself, you should visit this temple and be inspired by the different types of Buddha sculptures here, as well as the beautiful carvings of twelve zodiac signs which is placed opposite the temple. There are also sections for devotees to pray and burn incense for blessings. You will also find a clinic, vegetarian restaurant, and school inside the temple.

Sunbath at Nongsa Beach

What is the point of visiting an island, if you are not heading to the beach! With that being said, it is a must to visit Nongsa Beach as it is known as one of the best beaches around Batam. This beach is especially less crowded and has a serene atmosphere to enjoy sunset dinners with your loved ones. It is perfect for those who wants a peaceful environment to retreat, with several eateries and resort nearby the beach.

Go Scuba Diving or at least give it a try

If water is your element, then you should try Scuba Diving at least once here! The well-known diving spots located offshore from the main Batam Island are Hantu Island, Labun Island and Petong Island. You can obtain an official diving certificate at Batam Island at an affordable price and get trained by professional divers. Whereas, if you are already an experienced diver, you will be amazed by the amazingly clear water here and watch a huge selection of aquatic life such as sharks, rays and turtles. If scuba diving is too heavy for your liking, you can even just snorkel around the shallow areas with your family and friends.

Pamper yourself with massage & spa sessions

One of the main reasons many people go for an island getaway is to either seek rest or to retreat from the city. Taking advantage to pamper yourself during a getaway is a must, hence while you are in Batam Island, you will notice that there are a myriad of spa and massage centres to choose from. However, it is always wise to choose one where quality matters, especially when it comes to highly skilled massage therapists just like the ones found in Thai Odyssey. The largest Traditional Thai Massage chain in South East Asia is located in Nagoya Hill Superblock and it takes approximately 10-15 minutes drive from Harbour Bay (closest ferry terminal). The outlet spreads over 800 square metres for locals and tourists to rejuvenate in this sanctuary of serenity. Choose from Thai Traditional Massage, Thai Aromatherapy Massage, Thai Herbal Therapy,  to even just a 1-hour Traditional Foot Massage to complete your meaningful day.

Go on a feasting adventure

When you are on a vacation, food hunting has to be one of the top things to do because that’s how you familiarise yourself with the place. At Batam, besides indulging in a rejuvenating massage, make sure to also indulge and enjoy all the seafood delicacies in the region. The most popular seafood restaurant in Batam is called Wey Wey Seafood, whereas other three top picks for seafood in the city include Sei Enam (The best restaurant in Batam according to TripAdvisor), Rezeki Seafood and Harbour Bay Seafood. These three restaurants are approximately 30 minutes away from Nagoya Hill Superblock where Thai Odyssey is located. Don’t leave Batam without having some seafood dishes!

Enjoy duty-free shopping

Good news for shopaholics because Batam is also well-known for its duty free haven. Many Singaporeans will make a trip to Batam for a day just to shop for anything they need or want before heading back. Check out Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall and Mega Mall Batam Centre where everything is sold at unbelievably-low prices. Batam may just be an island but that does not mean that it does not have shopping malls for you to splurge in.

There you have it, our top things to do while you’re in Batam Island. With the assistance on the list we provided, your trip is as good as well-planned with fun-filled and relaxing activities. You and your loved ones will most certainly want to come back for more…

References:

http://discoveryourindonesia.com/things-to-do-in-batam/

https://trip101.com/article/best-things-to-do-in-batam-center-indonesia

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and if you are planning to spend the long weekend by staying back in KL, there are still plenty of things you can do to make your holiday worthwhile. Best part is, the traffic crawl would not exist during peak hours and driving around KL will be a breeze. So this is your chance to wander around the city and make the most out of it!

Visit buildings and monuments

Since the traffic in KL will be eased during Chinese New Year, take a drive around the city and visit places like Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur Tower, Merdeka Square, or even Batu Caves and be inspired by our country’s architectural creativity or if you want to feel the Chinese New Year ambience, head down to Petaling Street in Chinatown and admire the beautifully decorated decades -old chinese temple located there.

Shopping malls hopping

We always go to shopping malls to shop, but this time you should visit all major malls in KL such as 1Utama, Mid Valley Megamall, Pavillion or Sunway Pyramid for their over-the-top Chinese New Year themed decorations. If you are in the mood, you can even find out about the mall’s event happening on specific days to catch performances like the traditional lion dance, traditional drums performance, acrobatic shows and more…(Visit http://happygokl.com/events-chinese-new-year-2018/ to find out more about the events.)

Pamper yourself day

Nothing beats treating and spoiling yourself good to a day of rest and rejuvenation, especially during the holidays, because you don’t have to rush anywhere. Make an appointment anytime this Chinese New Year at Thai Odyssey for a session of Traditional Thai Massage or Aromatherapy Massage, and while you are at the outlet, you can even purchase any of their spa products to bring home, such as the aroma bath gel, essential oil, eye pillow to perhaps help catch up on that sleep you need.

Catch up on lunch and dinner dates

It is the best time to catch up with friends during the festive holidays especially those who aren’t celebrating the event, because on normal working days, everyone’s schedule is always tight. Yes, it may be Chinese New Year and most hawkers and independent cafes will be closed for a few days, but you can always head to any local `mamak´ or check out any new hipster cafes’ to fill up your tummy and just chill…

Enjoy nature at its best!

You’ve already spent most of your days in the office and barely have the time to enjoy the nature, so why not take this break to go outdoors? You can visit the KL Eco Forest Park and enjoy some fresh air, a variety of trees and well-maintained walking trails. Entrance is free of charge, so you save some money and lose some calories!

There you have it – 5 chilling, yet meaningful things to do during Chinese New Year if you don’t have any special plans to celebrate the event. It is your time to reflect, rejuvenate and relax before you return to your normal daily routines of life. With that being said, have a chilling’ Chinese New Year folks!