A weekend Getaway!
By zandi458
@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
June 20, 2011 9:43am CST
I just can't stop myself from traveling. I guess many like me has that traveling mania who like to experience a change in scenery to kill the boredom in life. The recent weekends saw me traveling to the coldest part of my country for a breath of fresh air. It was a two hours drive from my place to this beautiful scenic mountain view which is a tourist attraction located at the foot of the highest mountain in South East Asia.
It was a long tiring drive through hilly and winding roads to reach the place. My friend and I took turn to drive through the winding and mountainous roads passing through vast areas of highland vegetables farms, sometimes stopping by the roadside stalls to quench our thirst. When we arrived at our destination it was already late in the evening and the weather was so cold as though we were somewhere in a temperate country. An early dinner and an early sleep was the order of the night.
Our morning was greeted with the breathtaking view of the majestic mount Kinabalu standing tall at 13,450 ft above sea level clearly seen from our motel balcony. We spend about 30 minutes enjoying the view while taking pictures of it before it disappeared covered by a sea of clouds. The beauty of nature is so amazing, I feel I am in cloud nine just being closer to nature. A weekend getaway takes away all the everyday stress and gives a person that recharged effect.
I never realized that my country has many places of interest to venture parallel to those overseas. It is not only cheaper to travel locally but a lot of time is saved in local tours. Any interesting spot in your country that is worth going for a weekend getaway?
3 people like this
20 responses
@marguicha (222895)
• Chile
27 Jun 11
I have had many wonderful weekend getaways within my country. It is unthinkable to go out on a weekend but it´s not needed as we have beautiful sceneries near my home.
There´s the Pacific Ocean 2 hours from my house and the Andes Muntains can be seen from my balcony. It is just a matter of thinking which way to go and you are there.
@marguicha (222895)
• Chile
1 Jul 11
I think I´m going to go there many times in the near future. The doctor I spoke with today says I can have vacations while on chemo, but not too far. So this is probably one of the places I´ll go. My friends have already invited me.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
27 Jun 11
zandi458,
As I am much away from my country most of the time, I rarely have much weekend time with the family at home. Also, my country is just simply an island which is a tiny red dot on the world map, according some politician - so there are only a few interesting places to visit when I am back home.
Of late, I believe you are aware that we have the Universal Studios and the Casinos at Integrated Resorts and Marina Sands which the main attraction to my country now. Also, there are the famous Zoological Gardens, Jurong Bird Park and Botanical Gardens to contend with but you will need to bear a little cost to visit these places.
Otherwise, it will be a trip to the East Coast Park for the beaches and succulent delicious seafood or rent a BBQ pit and have our own BBQ. Or, it will be a trip to the shopping paradise - Orchard Road where you can shop for every known designer brands and experience various gourmet coffee and food.
Or, we will be traveling to nearby country resorts in Batam or Bintan in Indonesia, Desaru, Johor Baru in Malaysia for a short break.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
30 Jun 11
I have been to your country once many years ago. It was only a day trip so did not visit the star attractions that you mentioned here. Shopping was of course in my top list then and I agree that Singapore is shoppers paradise. A friend has just mentioned about the fame Universal Studios and she was suggesting that we go there since Airasia is promoting cheap airfares now. Have heard of Batam and wonder what attraction they have there. I'll be traveling to Medan in August to see Lake Toba.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
22 Jun 11
It sounds divine! Some people love going to the beach, but I've always
preferred a scenic mountain get away. Also so much more enjoyable.
We live very near the mountains too, some 100 miles up the road.
Must make a point to visit soon.
1 person likes this
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
I heard you.I also love traveling.I love going to the beach.I love swimming,snorkeling,and just frolicking in the beach.I also would love to learn how to dive.I would love to live a life that I can travel every month to a nice beach and relax.I also would love to go to a cold,snowy skiing resort and experience the cold weather.
1 person likes this
@Memnon (2170)
•
25 Jun 11
You have certainly had some interesting trips. We live in the UK (south)- so there is a lot available within a fairly short distances. It is surprising what is on your doorstep! Unfortunately travel is not cheap in the UK; a day's peak rail return to London is often more than a day's wages for me!
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Jun 11
Lots of places I havent got to yet and some just up the road really like Zions NAt. Park Bryce canyon and on other park in the red rock country of Utah,
We just have to gt up and go we pass these places ever year when I go to Utah for family reunion have no time to stop at these places but do need ot take a weekend and go see them
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
20 Jun 11
I am very keen on traveling to different countries and am usually rushing off abroad. This summer I did a trip last week within my home country. It was to Yorkshire and I took my disabled 4 year old son and my almost 2 year old daughter. It was so interesting to visit an old castle on the edge of a picturesque village. I liked taking my kids for a ride on a steam train. At a marine reserve we saw some sharks and lots of fish. I loved visiting an animal rescue place. Most of all I adored visiting Tropical World. Wow! Around that area we locked round a beautiful park. We stayed at a really lovely guest house and it was charming. Two and a half years ago I took my disabled son on a trip to Sea Houses. So therefore it was nice that we had another trip within our home country. I would love to visit Cornwall and also Norwich has tropical style gardens to interest me.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
26 Jun 11
I am not able to stop myself from traveling due to travel being my top hobby. Every year I like to have a few weeks overseas on my foreign trip. In addition this year I have managed to go on a week to Yorkshire in my home country. I traveled up there by train with my 4 years old disabled son and my 2 year old daughter. I loved riding on a steam train up to Whitby. I loved going to an animal rescue place. I enjoyed visiting Tropical World in Leeds. I would like a long weekend in Norfolk to see some hardy tropical gardens. I also fancy a long weekend in Cornwall to visit the Eden Project and lesser well known gardens. I am lucky to live in a place others go on vacation but swimming isn't possible in the sea here due to sinking mud and dangerous tides.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Jun 11
hi zandi I live in S outhern Californis and Yosemite park and the redwoods national park are two of my favorites as they are so beautiful with mountains and creeks and those huge Redwoods it is just gorgeous
country there. closer to me by just five miles is Newport Beach and my wonderful pacific Ocean. I love to relax smell the salt air and watch the waves surge in and out. see the pelicans and the seals and all the ocean birds. I love to look for pretty sea shells and just walk the beach with the sand under my feet. here in my area we have june gloom with overcast skies til about one am then the sun will come out most days,.by july it will be getting hotter here I often feel recharged at the beach. I used to live in tustin which is one of the prettiest cities in this area of Orange county as everyone has gorgeous flower beds and lots of blooming trees line the streets. Its a smaller city and very friendly too.miss it now I have to live in Garden Grove. Right here on Dawson street its fairly attractive with lots of flowering trees and flower beds although its all apartment complexes very few private homes here. f
nty as everyone has gorgeous flower beds and lots of blooming trees line the streets. Its a smaller city and very friendly too.miss it now I have to live in Garden Grove. Right here on Dawson street its fairly attractive with lots of flowering trees and flower beds although its all apartment complexes very few private homes here. f1 person likes this
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
21 Jun 11
That sounds like a beautiful weekend! it's always refreshing to take some time away from our daily routine...here where I live I Am only 1 1/2 hours to the beautiful Blue Mountains a high spot for tourist and all Australian alike! I make sure to visit this place at least once a year! is not far and there is plenty to see every time!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 Jun 11
Wow...you are lucky to be near a famous tourist spot. I've heard of the snowy mountain which my nephew often talk about. We had plans to go to snowy mountain while I was there but was called off. Should make another trip to Australia to visit this place.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
22 Jun 11
Hi Zandi, sometimes it is wise to explore and visit the beautiful places of our own country before we are to visit the beautiful places of other countries. We need to take some time to explore, then only we will discovered that each country have their own beautiful places. That's what my father always reminds us whenever we are talking about traveling to overseas. My father ever visited the Mount of Kinabalu in the years of 70's. At that time, it is really very difficult to climb that mountain. My father said it's very steep and dangerous. Now, i heard they had built staircase for the convenient of tourist who interested to reach to the top. I plan to visit Sabah and Mount Kinabalu in another 2 years time and hopefully able have the chance to meet you as well.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 Jun 11
You are very much welcome to Sabah. No problem to guide you around here. I myself have not climbed Mt Kinabalu. I don't think I am fit enough to climb. Recently an 82 years old Filipino man managed the scale Mt. Kinabalu but he did it in 3 days 
and the news of his success to reach the peak was splashed all over the papers.
and the news of his success to reach the peak was splashed all over the papers.
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
20 Jun 11
Many places here,,weekend is never enough.........make sure u bring ur friends along,,Friends are hard to find here,sure this is a strange place
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
20 Jun 11
Wow! traveling, friend since last 7 days I am not gone out of my house and I am so bored. My mothers in law is out of station so all housework load is on me and no servant in our home. You are enjoy lot good and you spend your weekend near nice place.
@GardenGerty (160642)
• United States
20 Jun 11
You are very wise realizing that there are often many things that are worth seeing close to home. Driving less than an hour, I can visit a lake that is wonderful and peaceful to visit. In a drive of four hours I can either visit metropolitan areas, or find mountains and more isolated touring areas. I can drive clear across country as well, as we have wonderful road systems. I live right in the middle of the country. There are oceans, mountains, desserts and meadows to visit. I looked up Kinabalu on the internet, and it is beautiful
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
24 Jun 11
Right close by here - Napa, Gold country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, San Francisco, many more places...
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Jun 11
I'm glad u enjoyed your weekend. It does do u good to get away sometimes. There are alot of places of interest around but i don't go much.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
1 Sep 11
Wow Zandi. That does sound like you have some amazing places to visit in your part of Malaysia. I had no idea that there were mountains so high there. I would love to visit that one day. That must be amazing! The highest mountain in Australia is only just over 7000 feet I think.
As you know, my part of the world, being south east Queensland has lots to do for weekend getaways or day trips. There are mountains with rainforests and huge waterfalls behind the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Brisbane. We have lots of great beaches up and down the coast as well. Then there are the attractions like the theme parks on the Gold Coast, the city of Brisbane and it's river. Just a few hours west, we get into desert type country which gives another feel completely to the coastal areas.
Just 20 minutes south of me is the border and you are then into the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. There you will find Mount Warning which stands alone at the centre of the extinct volcano that made all the mountains around this area. This is surrounded by the Tweed valley where there are loads of activities to keep us busy. The region also has great beaches and of course Byron Bay which is a centre of Hippie culture and a very unique lifestyle.
This area that I live in is a huge tourist mecca as it has many features that continue to attract people. It really is a great pat of the world. 
@alquizar (480)
• Philippines
21 Jun 11
I really do love traveling too it is just like you are reading the whole book.Yes,it really do help people in times of boredom and just have nothing to do yet in life.People love to travel a lot so that they can explore and discover a lot of things in the world.My family and I loves to travel a lot we had our itinerary done so that our trip will be a successful one.Having a breath of fresh air and seen a lot of things you have not seen yet really help us to be relieve in our stress in life.Sometimes traveling is expensive but it is worth especially if we had been to the place we really want to go.As of now me and my family are planning to have a vacation locally and our flight schedule would be this week and I am excited about it.:)
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 Jun 11
Many airlines are offering cheap flights to many parts of the world. Traveling is no longer expensive and every can now fly with burning their pockets. The only problem that we face when we go overseas is accommodation which can be very expensive. Going local is better choice now when the economy is not too good.
