Some of the best memories are made without a plan — and this Raya trip was one of them.

It all started when my sister casually asked if my husband and I were free to join her for a visit to Taiping to see some of our relatives and pay respects at my late father’s grave. Without much thought, we checked the traffic — smooth and clear — so we packed our bags and hit the road.

The drive from KL to Taiping took just a little over 3 hours. It felt nice to be on the road during Syawal, seeing the festive spirit alive in the kampungs we passed. Our first stop was to visit Mak Teh, whom we hadn’t seen in a while. That short visit was enough to warm our hearts.

When it came to deciding where to stay, we were torn between Ipoh and Bukit Merah — both with their own charm. But nostalgia won this time. Bukit Merah was a familiar place from our childhood holidays, and we wanted the kids to experience that joy too. So we chose Bukit Merah Laketown Resort — though I’ll admit, I had my doubts about whether it was still well-kept after all these years.

Surprisingly, it was better than expected!

Check in at reception, before were sent to our rooms (overwater unit) via buggy

The room was clean, spacious, and well maintained. The kids absolutely loved the bathtub — I think they could’ve spent the whole day in there. The resort itself brought back a wave of old memories, but it also surprised me with how charming it still is. One detail that stood out to me was the blue boat house by the lake — it gave me serious Perth, Australia vibes (if you’ve been to the iconic blue boat house there, you’ll know what I mean!).

The trip may have been spontaneous, but it ended up being exactly what we needed — family time, slow mornings, and the kind of peace you don’t get in the city.

It was hard to say goodbye, especially for the kids, but something tells me we’ll be back again soon. ❤️

Until next time, Bukit Merah.