June turned out to be a rather busy month for our family. The kids were occupied with retreats and CCA training, while our winter wear rental business had several customer try-on appointments scheduled throughout the month.
In between all the commitments, we decided to squeeze in a short family getaway. This wasn't the kind of holiday that required detailed planning or a packed itinerary. It was simply a drive–eat–sleep–and-repeat.
More importantly, it was precious bonding time with our little family.
Long hours on the road gave us the chance to listen to the kids' stories, laugh at their jokes, and enjoy one another's company without the distractions of daily routines. Along the way, we explored local food specialties and created simple memories together.
We left Singapore at around 9 a.m. and arrived in Johor Bahru an hour later. After enjoying dim sum for brunch, we continued our journey straight to Kuala Lumpur.
About four hours later, we reached Kuala Lumpur around 3 p.m. After settling into our Airbnb apartment, we headed to Alor Street Food Market for dinner. The area was bustling with tourists and lined with seafood restaurants, many charging tourist prices. Still, we loved the vibrant atmosphere. We sampled various street snacks and ended the evening with one of our favourite treats — durian.
The next morning, we checked out and continued our journey to Penang. Along the way, we stopped in Ipoh for lunch, enjoying the city's famous Ipoh Hor Fun and refreshing chendol before taking a leisurely stroll through Concubine Lane.
A few hours later, we arrived in Penang in the late afternoon and checked into Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya. The location was convenient as mama and papa had scheduled a general health screening the following day at Sunway Medical Centre.
That evening, we drove about 30 minutes to Georgetown, the historic heart of Penang. For dinner, we visited Kimberly Street Food Market and sampled an impressive variety of Penang favourites, including char kway teow, oyster omelette, bak kut teh, and chicken rice. Naturally, the day ended with another round of durian.
The following morning, mama and papa headed to Sunway Medical Centre for our health screening, which took approximately two and a half hours. Once completed, they met us for lunch at Sunway Carnival Mall and spent some time shopping for T-shirts.
In the afternoon, we explored Armenian Street, well known for its colourful street art, local craft boutiques, and souvenir shops. It was a charming place to wander around and soak in Penang's creative spirit.
For dinner, we visited Chulia Street Food Market, where we continued our food adventure. And yes, we finished the night with durian once again.
On our final morning in Penang, we enjoyed freshly made nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves for breakfast. Before leaving, we stopped by a Peranakan kueh factory to pick up some traditional nyonya kueh for the journey.
We arrived back in Kuala Lumpur around 5 p.m., just in time for dinner. Since our apartment was only a three-minute walk from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, we spent a relaxing evening there before getting a good night's rest.
The next day, we began our drive home to Singapore. Before crossing the border, we made one final food stop in Johor Bahru for a lok lok dinner.
Looking back, this trip wasn't about ticking attractions off a checklist or rushing from one sightseeing spot to another. It was about slowing down, sharing meals, having conversations, and spending quality time together.
Sometimes, the best holidays are the simplest ones.
