YE Camp Recce Trip: Casa Rachado, Port Dickson

We're off to PD!

On 10 June 2007, a few of us from the YE Camp committee met up at The Curve at the ungodly hour of 9am (On a SUNDAY!!) to head off for our recce trip to the venue of our coming 2007 Summer YE Camp - Casa Rachado!

The sleep-sacrificing Leos who went on this road trip joyride mission included...

...Leo Francis & Leo Michelle a.k.a Kiwi, our OC (Organising Chairperson) for the Summer YE Camp...

...Leo Elaine, 2nd VP in charge of Youth Exchange activities, who together with Leo Francis were happily enjoying their breakfast in the car (long live Starbucks and O'Brien sandwiches!)...

...Leo Joanne, the AOC (Assistant OC) for the Summer YE camp, who also became our Master Navigator, with our precious map to Casa Rachado...

...while Leo Iong Sik was the designated driver for the trip!

Hilariously, eventhough we HAD printed a map that showed the way to Casa Rachado, we still got slightly lost on the way there. (-_-")

Now, upon reaching Casa Rachado, the first thing we took notice was the parking to ensure it would accommodate the buses we usually used to transport the YE Camp participants to our camp venue. And then, we saw this sign:

Aiks. What an ominous sign. Nevertheless, off we went to commence our recce trip mission!

We were a bit surprised upon seeing Casa Rachado, as it looked different from the pictures online.

Here's the lobby, which is next to the dining area. It looks really nice in the picture, but really, it's only average in reality. We blame the chandelier and the yellow lighting for making it look so romantic, lol!

The dining area was quite large, and opens up to a verandah, which was great for us as we all knew how hectic it would be when there is not enough tables and seats during meal times at the camp.

Samba 1, which is the 2nd largest hall in Casa Rachado is right next to the dining area. Unfortunately, it's quite small, which we suspect would be a tight fit when we hold our ice-breaking games and other activities in the hall! (>_<)

The highlight of Casa Rachado, has got to be its swimming pool! Psst...it has a jacuzzi! Bwahahahaha!

Another feature of Casa Rachado is its man-made beach. The sand isn't very pretty, but hey it's still a beach! There's also a beach volleyball area...

...and an area where rafting can be done, which depends on whichever package you're taking from Casa Rachado.

The apartment rooms were pretty okay, although their colour combinations are very...bright. It certainly takes a while for you to get used to it, especially when the sun is shining brightly in the afternoon and making everything in the room look the same colour as the walls. (-_-")

Here's a cool thing found in the apartments - A fold-out bed hidden in the hall closet!

Magic cupboard?!

The single-bed room was a tight fit, but we like how they hang the extra pillows above the beds. It looks very funky.

They also provide towels and toiletries, which is great because there would definitely be someone who would forget either one of these items!

The double-bed room was quite large and can accommodate a few extra beds, which makes up for the tight fit in the single-bed room.

Double-bed room has got adjoining bathroom, peeps!


Lol. Do, Re, Mi. Here's a candid shot Leo Elaine snapped when Leo Kiwi, Iong Sik and Francis were hiding away so she could snap a pic of the double bed.

Casa Rachado also has a mini store next to the main entrance to the lobby, which is great so the camp participants can buy snacks if they get hungry even after main meals.

Forgot to bring your cultural costume? You can buy Malay costumes here...hee!

After touring Casa Rachado, we had another mini discussion regarding several aspects of the camp that needed immediate consultation with the Casa Rachado representative, Mr. Kumar.

Finally, 2 hours later it was time for us to head back to good ol' KL! But before we left, we decided to take a memento snap at the front entrance!

Kiwi & Iong Sik, no need to act cute lah...ish!

Woots!

YE Camp Recce Trip Mission accomplished! \(^o^)/

2007 MD 308 Leo Forum: Penang

Last weekend, amidst busy work schedules and several riskily-taken annual leave, a bunch of us KLCC Leos happily trooped up to Penang to attend the 34th MD 308 Leo Forum that was held from 1 June - 3 June 2007.

Now the last time the Leo Forum was held in Penang was in 2005, during PP Leo Robert's year.

This year, the Leos who went was our 2006/07 President Leo Zetuan, IPP Leo Daryan, Secretary Leo Min Han, IT Director Leo Edwin, and Ren Li, while Asst. Treasurer Leo Joanne & 2nd VP Leo Elaine were only able to join on Saturday morning.


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Day 1: 1 June 2007

After a gruelling 4-hour drive, we finally arrived in Penang! (^_~)/ "Hello Penang!"





Now our first important mission was find our way to our designated hotel: Cititel. People who think Penang is small obviously has never been there before. Several twists & turns and many, many one-way roads where we wound up lost, we finally found our way to Cititel.




Unlike most forums where everyone would be housed in a single hotel, due to the smaller sizes of most hotels in Penang, everyone was scattered apart in several hotels.

The Lions stayed in G Hotel, while most of the Alpha Leos were housed in Evergreen Laurel and Bayview Hotel. As for the rest of us Omega Leos? Well, we ended up in Cititel, which strangely has no swimming pool, which totally made Leo Zetuan very, very disappointed. Lol.

(P/s. For those who went for the 2005 MD 308 Leo Forum that was also held in Penang, it's the hotel in front of that mamak place we had our yumcha sessions with the Lions last time. Hee!)

View of Komtar from our hotel room

As usual, Leo Forums are a great way to interact with other Leos and to renew old friendships. It was also great to catch up with fellow KL Omega Leos, more notably the Leos from Leo Club of KL Unity, KL Perennial and Bukit Kiara.

That evening, we had our Leo Parade down the entire length of Gurney Drive all the way to the Former Uplands School field - our venue for our Fellowship Night!

Would you believe they actually sealed off Gurney Drive JUST FOR US? Apparently it caused the most massive traffic jam in Penang history! (O_o)

Delegates gathering before the Leo Parade...

KLCC Leos with Alpha Leos before the Leo Parade

Ren Lee, Leo Daryan, Leo Min Han & Leo Zetuan discussing who would hold the banners...

Leo Zetuan & Daryan carrying the District 308 B1 banner!

Leo Min Han & Ren Lee carrying our KLCC Club banner

To make the Leo Parade more special, we also had extra entertainment such as Lion Dance and Dragon Dance! Haha! Kinda festive and grand indeed.

KL Omega Leos unite! (From left: KL Perennial, KL Bukit Kiara, KL Unity & KLCC)

At this point, perhaps it's only fair that we point out we had to sympathize with some of the Forum female delegates who had dressed up for the occasion, only to have to walk all the way down Gurney Drive and then through the field in high heels.

We then kicked off the Fellowship Night with special performances from Digi Celebriteens, while the Forum delegates had to grab tables pronto as it was free seating that night. Food that night wasn't very good, definitely not what we had expected actually.

We shared a table with KL Perennial Leos, and met some very active and friendly Alpha Leos from SMK Damansara Utama!

KLCC Leos having fellowship with KL Perennial Leos

Leo Min Han with the Digi Yellowmen!

[To know more about why Min Han is with the Digi Yellowmen, you'll have to ask him directly. Hee hee!]


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Day 2: 2 June 2007

The next morning, it was time to take part in the Opening Ceremony and Special Project in Sri Pinang Hall.




This forum, we were honoured with the presence of our Guest of Honour, Penang Chief Minister YAB Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, who delivered a long but inspiring speech.

VIPs, Lion dignitaries and Leos all eyes and ears on the presentation

We also had the Banner Presentation session, where KLCC President Leo Zetuan represented our club and went onstage to display our KLCC banner, along with Leo Thiam Beng from KL Unity and Leo Kok How from KL Perennial.




After the morning session, Leo Joanne & Leo Elaine arrived together with Leo Mervyn from KL Unity just in time to join us for Bak Kut Teh on Gurney Drive! Hehe! We had escaped earlier to have lunch outside because no one really had a yen for the catered chicken curry and mee hoon for lunch.

After lunch, it was time to head back for the District Leo Forum in Sri Pinang Hall, where we sat together with Lion Soh from our sponsor club, Lions Club of KL Cheras, and also with the KL Perennial Leos.

On a mutual agreement, we decided to roar for every single KL Omega Club that won. What we didn't expect was how often that would be, and pretty soon the other leo clubs were pretty astounded as we kept popping up and down from our chairs yelling "KL Omega, Roar! Roar! Roar!" non-stop. Lol!

[Sorry, no pics here. We were too busy roaring and going to the front to take pictures that we simply had no hands to shoot pics!]

Although we did not retain our Top Club position for this forum, nevetherless KLCC Omega did quite well, garnering:

• Outstanding Club Award: Leo Club of KLCC
• Merit President Award: Leo Chiang Zetuan
• Outstanding Secretary Award: Leo Chai Min Han
• Merit Treasurer Award: Leo Ng Yedda
• Outstanding Leo Member Award: Leo Joanne Wong

For our projects, we also gained recognition for our efforts, receiving:

• Environmental Award: PD Beach Cleaning project
• Fundraising Award: Jumble Sale
• Leo with Children Award: Sharing Hearts Sharing Hopes projects
• International Relationship Award: Project with Leo Club of Hong Kong, The Peak


CONGRATULATIONS KLCC LEOS for a job well done!


That night, we had the Banquet Night, which was held at Han Chiang School Hall.

Front of Han Chiang School Hall

Han Chiang is OLD. They had a statue that was unveiled in 1958 by our very first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman!

The theme for the night was Shanghai Night! So it was very nice to see many forum delegates dressing to the occasion in cheongsams!

Because we were on time, while waiting for the Banquet Night to proceed, we decided to fool around with the camera.

Leo Joanne & Leo Elaine

Here's Zetuan trying to act cute. Please note the 'stoned' expression on Min Han's face. It's like he's thinking "I so am not seeing Zetuan act cute. Ignore. Ignore. Ignorance is bliss...". Bwahaha!

Leo Zetuan (finally normal again) with Leo Edwin & Leo Min Han

We shared a table with KL Unity Leos during the Banquet Night. (^_~)v

We had a GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PINK DRAGON DANCE to kickstart the performance. (O_o). But it was unique all the same, only we couldn't see our food to eat! Lol!

Finally! The first course to assuage our starving stomachs!




We then had the long-awaited Top Awards Presentation. Congratulations to the Leo Clubs of KLU, KL Perennial and Skudai for winning Top Club and President awards!

After the banquet dinner, we were STILL hungry so we went for supper at Gurney Drive!


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Day 3: 3 June 2007

Having decided to go explore Penang's yummilicious food the night before, we all woke up earlier to go food-hunting before the Closing Ceremony.

Zetuan the driver and Min Han, our map-reader a.k.a Zee Navigatorrr...

We headed to this char kuey teow auntie at Lorong Selamat that we heard was good, but the stall wasn't open yet so we had dim sum instead!





Hehehe...dim sum was quite good, but we had to rush our breakfast to get back in time for the Closing Ceremony.

After the Closing Ceremony, it was time to head home.


Bye, Penang! さよなら！


We left Penang at 2:30 pm, thinking we would be back just in time for an early dinner, only to run into a long-lasting storm that dogged us all the way back to KL!

The stubborn storm that wouldn't leave us alone

Thanks to the storm, we suffered a horrible traffic jam all the way home, where we only reached KL around 8pm! Gah!

Oh, we also had several exciting moments when we needed a rest stop URGENTLY and there weren't any around, and when we found one we couldn't get to it because of the massive jam. Lol!

Well, there you have it guys. Our KLCC experiences at the 2007 MD308 Leo Forum in Penang.

Until the next forum then! Ta~! (^_~)/