Bali Residence to A’Famosa Safari: A Trip That Opened My Eyes

It’s story time!

Yesterday, my family and I finally reached home after spending the weekend in Melaka. We stayed one night at the Bali Residence Melaka. After checking in, we chilled in the room for about an hour before heading down to the swimming pool. Usually, I don’t bother with pools — I live in a condo, so seeing one is nothing new (arrogant, I know 😅). But this time, my two little nephew was so excited and kept begging us to bring him down. My kind older sister pitied him, and just like that, I got dragged along.

AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

The kids’ section felt like a mini waterpark — slides, splash buckets, water guns, everything. I honestly wished I was under 12 again so I could play without shame. Since I couldn’t join fully, I just played around in the water while teasing my nephews, trying to convince them to try everything. Unfortunately, both of them were scaredy-cats. Cute, but useless. 😂

That was the highlight of Day 1.

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Day 2: A’Famosa Safari Wonderland (Alor Gajah)

I’ve been there before with a friend back in 2020, and I enjoyed it a lot, so I was excited to go again with my family. The entrance fee was quite pricey though — RM60+ per person.

But once we entered, I immediately noticed changes. There’s now a crocodile cave right after the entrance, which wasn’t there before. Inside, it was nicely designed — cool with air-conditioning, and it felt like an aquarium. You could clearly see the crocodiles, and honestly, it was pretty nice for pictures!

Throughout the visit, I noticed they added quite a lot, especially the truck-tour feature. The safari seems extended, and now certain areas are toured using their trucks. The driver would introduce the animals — their names, species, habitat, etc. We got to see the cat family, birds, hippos, deer, and more.

There’s also a Monkey Island now, and to get there we had to ride a seated boat across. The monkeys were super cute! Their animal shows were mostly the same, but they added the “Wild West” show and an aquatic elephant segment.

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My Honest Thoughts

The fun animal play, bird show, and elephant show were actually cute and educational. I enjoyed those.
But the Wild West show… oh dear. Honestly horrible for me. Too much action that felt unnecessary — lots of hitting, punching, and kicking. Not really suitable for kids. And I couldn’t even understand what the actors were saying — everything sounded like gibberish. I wish they would replace the violence with more skillful, entertaining stunts instead.

Also, animal feeding was crazy expensive. A small bucket of bananas for RM20?? Bloody hell.

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The Sustainability Part

Now, this part hit me differently.

Since I’m working in travel agency and involved in sustainable tourism, I couldn’t help but notice things that didn’t feel sustainable at all.

Animals have extremely sensitive hearing. I can’t imagine how many trucks pass by daily — the noise, the engine vibration, the loudspeaker announcements over and over again. It’s a lot.

To make it worse, the weather was really hot yesterday. At least we could bring our umbrellas. But some of the animal enclosures were quite exposed, with very few trees for shade. I kept thinking about how stressed the animals must be.

I’m still grateful that the safari gives people the chance to see wildlife up close. It’s rare and special.
But I really hope in the future, we can enjoy these experiences in a way that’s healthier, kinder, and more sustainable — so that the animals can live better, and so we can continue learning about them without harming them.

What Turning 30 Really Feels Like

I honestly don’t know who’s been reading my rambling thoughts here, but thanks for taking the time!

I never thought that being in your 30s could take you somewhere so deep within yourself. Suddenly, you start feeling the weight of “real life.”

You begin questioning whether this is the life you truly want. You wonder who you really are. You confront conflicts within yourself - financially, in your career, in relationships, and with your health. I used to think these kinds of questions only hit you in your 20s, and that by your 30s, life would somehow feel more settled. I was dead wrong.

I’m not sure if everyone goes through this phase in their 30s. Maybe some do, maybe some don’t. It probably depends on your environment and the situations life throws at you. I think I’m definitely going through it. Looking back at my posts this year, so much of it revolves around concerns about health, relationships, and work.

To be honest, it’s not the best feeling. You’re constantly searching for answers, trying to figure out what’s going on inside you. In my 20s, I felt my emotions and perspectives were unstable—stuck somewhere between anger and bargaining, like the early stages of grief. Now, in my 30s, it feels more like bargaining blended with a quiet, lingering heaviness. (Not seriously - just exaggerating a bit.)

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can improve myself, how I can become a better version of me. I want more credibility, more skills, more confidence - something that can help me move to the next level. The uncertainty feels heavy. With the person and skills I have now, I sometimes wonder if I can be truly successful in the future. I don’t aspire to be the richest CEO or a billionaire. But at the very least, I want stability - in my career, financially, and personally. I want to stand on my own feet, lessen the burden on my family, and make my parents proud.

Alongside personal growth, I’m also questioning my career path. I don’t know whether to stay in the field I studied or try something new. Taking the first step feels both necessary and scary. Questions like “What if?” or “Should I or shouldn’t I?” keep running through my mind. I’m not particularly drawn to return to the same field, but I also don’t know what other roles might suit me. Right now, I feel stuck. This uncertainty is part of the same journey of understanding myself more deeply.

What’s changed in me is that I feel more deeply about everything. That’s the hardest part because I don’t always understand what’s going on inside me. But one thing is certain: I’m genuinely curious about myself. I’ve been exploring self-awareness - watching content like “Kenali Diri” and “Aura Diri” - trying to understand my strengths, weaknesses, struggles, and patterns in my habits. I wish I could improve myself in those areas.

But here’s the honest truth: most of it is wishful thinking. I have a lot running through my mind, but my actions are often frozen. I hate that. And I hate it even more when I realize these issues are coming from me.

I know that self-awareness alone isn’t enough. Thinking and reflecting are important, but action is what changes things. Freezing or overthinking only makes the uncertainty heavier. So, I’ve been trying - slowly, imperfectly - to take small steps toward improvement.

It could be something as simple as learning a new skill, sticking to a routine, or facing one fear at a time. Even small victories count because they remind me that growth isn’t sudden - it’s gradual, messy, and often uncomfortable.

What gives me hope is that I’m beginning to understand patterns in myself. I see the habits that hold me back, the moments when I doubt my worth, and the ways I can shift my mindset. That awareness is powerful - it’s a compass, even when the path ahead is unclear.

I’ve also realized that comparing myself to others is pointless. Everyone’s journey is different. What matters is that I keep moving forward, learning, adjusting, and forgiving myself when I falter. My 30s are teaching me that life isn’t about perfection or rushing toward a final goal. It’s about steady growth, curiosity, and resilience.

So, even though uncertainty feels heavy, and the weight of expectations can be overwhelming, I’m learning to embrace it. To see it as a sign that I’m alive, questioning, and striving. To see it as an opportunity to understand myself more deeply, and to slowly build the life I want - one small, intentional step at a time.

Love Isn’t Blind - But Sometimes We Are

Love feels simple… until it isn’t. Until it asks more than just your heart. Until it requires patience, wisdom, and sometimes sacrifice. Watching someone I care about navigate love has made me pause and reflect on what it truly means to love wisely.

There’s this girl I know - someone whose life naturally gravitates toward love. She desires it deeply, almost desperately, while I find myself craving it in a quieter, steadier way. Through her journey, I’ve learned that love is not just a feeling. It’s a test, a responsibility, and a crossroads between your heart and your values.

She often dives headfirst into relationships, many with men she meets through online platforms. She gives everything - her trust, her hope, her dreams. Even when red flags appear, she holds onto the idea of love, dreaming of marriage and believing wholeheartedly in the best parts of people.

Now she’s seeing someone new - a Christian man she’s known for only two months. She says he’s good, better than the one before, and she speaks of marriage again. “We’ll take it slow,” she tells me. “If it’s meant to be, we’ll end up together.”

It’s beautiful, in a way. But it also worries me.

It’s not just about religion as a label. It’s about the foundation you build your entire life on. If you and your partner do not share the most fundamental beliefs about the purpose of life, how children should be raised, or where your ultimate allegiance lies, that foundation will strain under pressures that even strong love may not withstand. There’s a saying: a ship may sail smoothly, but if its two captains are heading toward different destinations, it may reach neither.

I’ve gently reminded her that love alone isn’t always enough. Conversion for love, instead of genuine faith, can become a heavy test. Feelings may guide you, but actions - especially those that last a lifetime - require clarity and wisdom.

She tells me not to judge. “In Allah’s mercy, people change. As long as we have faith, there is hope.” And she’s right. Hope is powerful. Mercy is endless. But even hope should not blind us to reality. Protecting your heart and your faith doesn’t mean turning away from love - it means honoring the life, values, and path you’ve been entrusted with.

Feelings are gifts. But feelings are also fleeting. The decisions we make in their name can shape our entire future. Marriage can be beautiful, even magical - but it is also responsibility, effort, and sacrifice. Love without alignment in faith and values is a risk many don’t recognize until they’re already facing its consequences.

Watching her, I’ve realized something: loving wisely doesn’t diminish love. It strengthens it. It makes love steadier, safer, and more aligned with the person you are.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do in love is wait. Trust that what is meant for you will come - not only guided by your heart, but by wisdom, patience, and faith. Guard your heart, nurture it, and love - but love wisely.

Because love, when paired with patience and faith, becomes something enduring, sacred, and truly worth giving.