Mikie Holiday Resort is located mid way from Medan to Berastagi city offering a beautiful panorama of high land resort. Berastagi has been very popular weekend resort for the people of Medan and foreign leisure travelers. Berastagi town is located around 60 kms from Medan city on a high land connecting the southern part of North Sumatra the famous traditional culture of Batak and the beauty of nature such as magnificent waterfalls and lake Toba.

Mikie Holiday Resort room have different theme apparently . . . a themed hotel!.

Toledo Inn - Next morning : The walkabout before we depart from the island to our next destination.

It was indeed a beautiful landscape of land, sea and sky. With the soothing breeze in the morning and the fresh air from the lush greenery (apart from the mosquitoes) it was indeed a nice place to be in from the hectic of the busy life back home.

Located at the banks of the volcanic lake, Toledo Inn was surrounded by lush trees. They had a small place cordon off from the lake as their pool.

The walkabout at Niagara Hotel and Resort.
Do bear with me on the whole load of pictures! I could not resist on sharing them . . . (^▽^)

Waking up a as early as at 5am to proceed to our next destination after our breakfast – Lake Toba. We seize the time available before and after breakfast to capture the beautiful surroundings of the hotel before checking out to Samosir Island.

Niagara Hotel and Resort is situated high on a hill overlooking the Lake Toba at Parapat. It does indeed the most beautiful scenery of Lake Toba as they claimed in their website. We could not get a better looking picture of the accomodation

It was almost an hour plus of drive from the Paten to the retreat house. Driving through palm estate and narrow road which only allows two small cars to pass is an old Franciscan Retreat House. Driving through the estate, it can be observed that the Indonesians are courteous to take their turn and would move to sidelines to let larger passing vehicle pass quite unlike the Malaysians back home, where each wants to go ahead of each other.

According to the tour leader, the retreat house is undergoing renovation and upgrading works. The current retreat house is so unlike the old time when he was there last; previously the place was quite run down. A part from the renovation debris, the place was quite unexpected pretty and peaceful. There was so much greenery and the fresh air (though the haze problem is alarming back in Malaysia where the haze was from Indonesia itself - even my colleague warn me not to get burned from the forest fire. Cis!) . . .  at the retreat house after going through the long long way of estate road. (Sounded a little like the Snow White where she traveled way way into the dark forest.)

Master Bear Resort, Part II

Finally we are in our resort! Me and my family got the upper level and we are sharing the cabin with another newly married couple. I was secretly hoping that we would be sleeping in the caravan. But from all the rain and cold weather outside. Think the cabin sounds more comforting!

Our cute little living room of the cabin.

Looking forward to a break and an adventure of driving up to Thailand, Betong.

Half day work on Thursday to get home to pack my luggage. Anticipating the road trip up north the following day. Had all the luggage packed into my car and the car registration card ready. Dad, aunt and me bunked up into the car and off we went to PJ to pick mum from work. Going up to PJ during after work is a nightmare! Anyway, mum got off work on time and we headed off to Ipoh to stay a night before heading to Betong.

Reached Ipoh at around 9-ish. Had some food before going to my grandma's. Retired to bed early as we got to get up real early the next day to meet up with dad's friends at Simpang Pulai Rest House. He will be leading the way up.

0615 - Gets off bed, taking turn to use the bathroom
0705 - Ready to go out for breakfast
0800 - Was on the way to Simpang Pulai Rest House to meet the rest of the group.
0930 - Departed from the rest house to Betong after the others freshen up.
1100 - Gerik. Had something light (tea break) before continuing our journey. Lunch will be late they say.
1147 - Finally in Betong! Immigration was a breeze, filling up forms and lined up for stamping.
Noon - Light lunch at the stalls near the hotel. Forgot what time was it. We initially wanted to go to this famous and recommended store but they had finished with the beef balls. With a growling stomach, we start off looking for another shop selling beef noodle . . .

Few weeks back, had the opportunity to join my mum's sports club on an outing! Departing from their company by bus. 3 hour journey to Ipoh,Perak with a few stops for WC along the way. Our first destination, Kellie's Castle at Batu Gajah.