January 3, 2012
And so this is Christmas,… and what have you done? Have you registered for our Reunion???
A (belated) Merry Christmas (on the 10th day) and Happy New Year to everyone…and we know it is going to be a good one!
Hi Friends,
After many sessions of exciting discussions and negotiations, we now have for you the details of our “THIS IS IT!” Reunion. We have taken great care in the planning as we aim to give it our BEST shot.
The cost of the Main Event in Kuala Lumpur (KL) is RM230 per head.
However, for overseas attendees from countries specified below, the cost is as follows,
Australia/US/Canada - AUD85 / USD85 / CND85
New Zealand/Singapore - NZD110 / SGD110
The difference in price is in line with our 2008 reunion. It is mainly to cover the fluctuations in exchange rates and bank charges. Whatever ‘extra’ we pay as a result of exchange rates gain, will go towards the event to make it a better one.
We will advise you of the payment method is due course. Careful consideration was given in arriving at the price for our last reunion. As you will see, this reunion is unlike any other reunion.
Each of you will have to make your own arrangements in regards to travel and accommodation. Where possible, the committee will provide guidance, recommendations and discounted rates to assist you in arriving at the destination with minimum disruption/stress.
The Main Event in KL is on Saturday, 15th of September 2012. It will be held at the One World (a 5-star rated) hotel located next to the popular ‘One Utama’, the biggest shopping complex in Malaysia. There will be ‘live’ band and performances throughout the evening. Special room rate (which we will announce later) is available to those who choose to stay at this 5 star hotel. Check the website.
In addition to this, there will be a Welcome Party sponsored by David Chin. It will be held at his restaurant, Dave’s Bristo Bar & Grill, in the One Utama shopping complex, on Thursday the 13th of September 2012. Those who attended the 2008 reunion, should remember the great time we had at this venue. There will be ‘live’ music with local food delicacies.
Golfers will get the opportunity to display their skills. A Golf Tournament will be organized in KL for those interested on Friday, 14th Sept. The details will be posted as we get nearer to the date.
Other informal gatherings will also be organized to make your stay in KL a pleasant and memorable one.
As if this is not enough, our dear friend, Chong Kah Kiat, has organized the trip of a lifetime to Sabah after the K.L. reunion, as promised.
The Sabah program is very flexible and it covers the period 16th to 30th September 2012. The actual length of stay is entirely up to you.
If you wish to join the ‘extended’ reunion party (highly recommended) in Sabah, you will have to make your own flight arrangements from KL to Sabah. Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia are the only two airlines that fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.
When booking your flight to Sabah, please aim to arrive no later than the evening of the 17th September.
Before you make any decisions, please visit the website below, to get an idea of the activities/places of interest in Sabah. Carefully choose your activities to fit in with your length of stay in Sabah.
Sabah has a lot to offer. We recognize that each of you will be pursuing your own program whilst in Sabah. To this end, Kah Kiat, has set up the ‘infrastructure’ which allows each of us to do just that.
He has engaged Ms. Candy Chung (candy@popularexpress.com) of Popular Express (popularexpress.com) to handle your bookings for local tours and activities.
The recommended hotel in Kota Kinabalu is ‘Hotel Sixty3’. This is a BOUTIQUE hotel (not one of those common ‘star-rated’ hotels) located right in the center of city.
The person to contact when making your hotel booking is Mr. Nicholas Tan, Nicholas@hotelsixty3.com . However, you are free to choose other hotels in Kota Kinabalu if you wish and Ms. Candy Chung of Popular Express can help you to secure good rates.
When engaging Candy or Nicholas for bookings, please mention Chong Kah Kiat’s name to get your discounted rates. For the record, neither Kah Kiat nor the committee receives any ‘kickbacks’ or commission from them!
And, there is more….!
Kah Kiat has managed to secure 20 permits for the 22nd and 23rd September with the Director of the National Park for those who are keen to scale to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu.
The estimated cost of this adventure is between RM700 to RM800. This includes food, various climbing fees and one night accommodation at 12,000 feet!
Special arrangements have also been made to secure 20 Scuba Diving permits. The diving will take place at the Sipadan and Mabul islands for any time after 18th September.
The Sipadan Island is one of the top diving spots in the world. The fee for this is approx. RM800 per diver or RM500 for twin share per diver.
This cost, ex-Tawau, includes diving at both Sipadan & Mabul Islands, food and accommodation in Mabul Island per day. Divers must be certified to scuba dive at Sipadan but there is no restriction for diving at Mabul.
The above TWO permits are very difficult to obtain as there is always a long waiting list. It is through exceptional effort that Kah Kiat is able to secure them for us. I hope you will take advantage of his effort.
For those interested in either or both of the permits, please register your name with any committee member ASAP. The permits will be issued on ‘first come, first serve’ basis and only to those who have attended the Reunion in KL.
We will provide further details to those interested.
Now, if you wish a less challenging activity whilst in Sabah and be close to your long lost ‘cousins’, you can opt to spend a few nights with the Orang Utans in the Rainforests of Borneo (in the Sukau and/or the Danum Valley Rainforests). The rates for this activity will be available in due course.
Surely, this must be it! Nooooo…..
The ‘bonding’ continues… Golf sessions will be organized for those interested. There will be informal gatherings every night around respectable ‘watering-holes’ and/or restaurants to sample the local amber fluids, seafood and to exchange our daily pleasantries / experiences / adventures…..’sing along’,..etc. Just sheer unadulterated fun for the “young at hearts” and we all are.
To pack the FINAL ‘punch’, Kah Kiat will be sponsoring a ‘Lest We Forget’ Dinner Party to welcome everyone to Sabah on the 17th September, Monday night. So, the party continues in Sabah!
Phew, at last, ‘THIS IS IT’ !!! and it has to be a GREAT Reunion!
Now that the venue for the Main Event in KL is selected, there are limited places left for those who wish to join this reunion. The number is restricted by the size of the venue not by the committee. We don’t want you to miss out.
So, please register ASAP, your name and the actual number attending with any committee member if you wish to attend this Reunion.
Please, be clear with your registration and make no assumptions. Remind your friends. You are only registered if you specifically asked to be. Do not leave it to the last minute. There is no obligation attached when you register. Commitment only comes when you pay for the event.
I have attached to this update, a list of currently registered alumni for the Reunion. When reviewing this list, please check,
1) Are you registered? If yes, has your status changed due to unforeseen circumstance?
2) Did you include your spouse/partner?
3) Did you specify your option (i.e. ‘KL ‘or ‘KL & Sabah’).
4) Confirm your location of residency? This is to assist in payment collection in due course.
Due to the limited number of places remaining, it is important that you check and confirm the above to secure your place for the reunion.
Refer any changes to the committee members immediately.
Do forward this update to anyone who may be interested.
Oh yes, don’t forget to join our Facebook for informal updates throughout the year.
Do also visit our blog,
What more can I say…. If this reunion doesn’t get you to join in the fun with your ole’ pals, we understand and wish you well.
This will be the last Wellington Alumni Reunion by the original committee and we do like to see everyone there!
More specific details will soon follow.
256 days left and counting…Let us have something great to look forward to in 2012!
Take care and stay safe.
PS: If you have any queries please forward them to any committee member.
With Regards, Henry Cheong
