My Personal Experience as AirBnB Experience Host

When AirBnB announced they are bringing AirBnb Experience to Malaysia in February 2018 we were excited. We registered ourselves for Rubber Tapping and Tiffin Lunch and was told we are the only one offering this unique experience. We have been hosting ever since. 

For the record, I'm not a rubber tapper nor my husband. Yes, we are now living in rubber plantation but we have worker. I do not know how to tap and we don't know the process and the equipment needed for it. Yes, we learnt about the history of rubber industry in Malaysia when we were in school but that was long ago. 

But, we are adventurous people so into the hole we go! We registered, was interviewed by Air Bnb HQ via video chat and we were accepted. We choose pictures from our stock photos the last time we had Kid's Survival Camp here.

Since launching, we have received 14 bookings and it is a great experience for me. I re-learned history of my country, learning rubber industry contribution to socio-economy, about environment, eco-tourism, managing time and I also enjoy introducing our food to the guests.




Along the way I designed the tour, changing here and there accordingly. I always start with briefing of our business, introducing the land, then history of rubber tapping, introducing the equipment and demonstration of tapping the trees. We also let them do the tapping on few trees. After that, we will have lunch/dinner. My favourite part of the experience.

As most of our guests are not local so I take pride to serve them local dish like masak lemak daging salai (smoke beef cook in coconut milk), ayam masak merah, grill fish Malaysian style and many more.

We are not allowed to serve homemade dishes (we are not certified restaurant). Fresh salads are from my garden, I always make a point to show them my little herbs garden :D

So, in conclusion I can say anyone can be Air BnB Experience host but you must love entertaining, getting to know people and that is rewarding experience. Fine what suits you and refine it. Do your research if you need to but sometimes the only way to find out is just do it.

You can book with us here :  Rubber Tapping Experience

Baby rubber

1st hike of the year: Bukit Melati, Bandar Baru Nilai, Negeri Sembilan

As usual, new year new me thingy is in the air every January.  I look back and I feels that I had to join the band wagon. What do I need to change? Oh, off course the loose weight challenge. I'm at my heaviest so why not? Doing it for myself pun, not for other people. 

I decided to visit Bukit Melati last Monday. It is near, easy access, easy parking and most importantly the hike is moderate. Centipede Hill, Monkey Hill, Cobra Hill, Rope Hill, Mosquito Hill and Eagle Hill. Bukit Melati was on a private land right next to housing estate called Desa Melati. Green and shady making it a choice to many. The trail is clear with marking and direction. Suitable for rookie hiker too. 

I went with Amanda, PUDGi's latest volunteer at 7.30am. We started at Eagle Hill, half Centipede, up to Monkey totally skipping Rope then to Cobra and skip Mosquito before exit.  

Why Bukit Melati is suitable for newbie and training ground?

1. Setting of the trail -  Good cardio when climbing Centipede or Eagle before a shady trek to Monkey giving your heart a good rest while you can choose to run or slow walk. 

2. There's Rope Hill - train arms strength here. You'll appreciate it. 

3. Steps - training for Korga? Kinabalu? Come here. Some steps are man-made and some are nature. 

4. Short and sweet - Bukit Melati is not a long hike. 1 - 3 hours depending on your speed. But as someone with low fitness level, I usually finish slightly over 2 hours.

5.  Friendly community - smiles are plenty there. 

I guess I started the year OK then. 

It was a hot day. 

Made new friends off course. 

Happy 2019 from PUDGi

Can't believe we already on our 3rd year here at Salak Tinggi.  We came here with our cats  Jelly, Kiddo and Pudgy. We lost Kiddo in the kebun few months after moving here, Jelly passed away from old age in September 2018 and Pudgy is 11 years old this year. Adding to the family is Kiki (rescue from Mt Kiara September 2016), Pergh (he was born here on September 2015), Princess (she came out of no where with very bad gashed on her hind leg early 2018), then along came Ethan and Edward (Princess' litter, born on 31st July 2018).

Career wise, I'm not doing well at all with my real estate business. I tried to maintain all my listings that is mostly 60km away but the driving to and fro for one viewing with no guarantee of closing dishearten me. I felt there's some limitation that blocking my success, not only on the distance but the market too.  I admit, at times I miss showing people houses, talking about property adn building dreams with their dream house but it is now too tough to do it. 

Seems like everyone is holding on to their cash and playing it safe. As my listings are mostly high end properties, it make it even more challenging. I'm still hopeful though. I share my listings with my colleagues and but since I didn't renew my REN card it is even tougher to do advertisements and promotions. I depend too much on my signboards on some of the properties I listed. 

End of June 2018 I decided to become unit trust consultant. This started with my sister in law asking me to handle her investment. At first I said no because I don't have what it take to be one. But she managed to persuade me and I kind of enjoy doing it. It is not difficult job. Mostly just repeat what my upline do:-

Prospecting. 

Presentation. 

Signing. 
Submission.

Let's hope this business can withhold whatever economic situation.

I hope 2019 will bring success to everyone and we will continue live in harmony and togetherness. 

Cheers to 2019!

NY celebration at Citta Mall