I just got back from an adventure, and wow, what I just experienced makes everything else I’ve done as an adult seem pretty tame. It was beyond wild – like, if you think you’ve had some crazy moments, this was on a whole new level.
It all kicked off with an unexpected surprise: my brother and his family came back from Brussels, Belgium just in time for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and they decided to take mum out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Not wanting to miss out, my wife and I quickly made some last-minute plans to join the family trip.
Before we could jump on board with the plan, we had to think a few things through. Since it was so last-minute, ticket prices were through the roof – plus, it was Raya season, so we’d already budgeted for the festivities.
And here’s the clincher: we have a seven-month-old baby.
So, while the idea of a spontaneous family trip sounded great, we needed to weigh these factors before making a decision.
After a lot of deliberation, we realised that it might be a while before we get another chance to have everyone together for a holiday, and we decided to bite the bullet and go for it.
Most families fly out of Brunei International Airport, but with our budget constraints, my wife, our baby, and I opted for a different route. We decided to hit the road to Miri Airport, where we planned to catch a budget flight to Kuala Lumpur.
It wasn’t the most conventional plan, but it was sure to be an adventure. The day was finally here, and we were up at the crack of dawn, ready to get on the road and beat the border traffic. The drive to Miri takes about two hours, give or take, so we made sure to pack everything we needed to keep the baby happy – bottles, snacks, and a few toys.
This was my first time driving to Miri, so having my wife navigate with her smartphone was a huge help. The drive was smooth, and with my wife by my side and the baby content in the back seat, we were all set for our little road trip adventure.
As part of our planning, we found a hotel near the airport that allowed us to park our car for a few days for a small fee.
After checking in and double-checking that we had everything we needed, we loaded up the hotel’s van with our luggage and headed to the airport.
Of course, no matter how much you prepare, there’s always something. As soon as we got to the terminal, my wife asked, “Have you seen my phone?” Cue the panic. Luckily, the hotel was close by, so I raced back to the car and found her phone right where she’d left it.
Checking in was straightforward, but I really wish the airport staff were friendlier. I almost got into an argument with one of them over a simple miscommunication. Once we got past that, I was more than ready to board the flight and find our seats.
When people say “size doesn’t matter”, they clearly haven’t been crammed into an economy seat.
Our row was a three-seater, which meant I had to share space with a stranger. It was quite the challenge trying to carve out some personal space while being considerate of everyone else’s.
I guess it’s just part of the travel experience, but next time, I’ll definitely aim for a little more legroom!
The two-hour flight was all about patience and juggling – bags, bottles, toys, and airport meals. It was only then I realised just how tiny those fold-down trays are.
Being taller than average has its perks, but when it comes to cramped spaces, it can be a real pain. I was trying to balance two reheated meal packs, passing food to my wife as she juggled entertaining our little one and trying to keep her calm. It felt like a game of Tetris at 35,000 feet.
Alhamdulillah, we landed on time and then waited for the rest of the family to arrive.
Travelling with a large group is always a logistical challenge, and this trip was no different.
We needed two big vans for all our luggage, baby strollers, and what felt like a mountain of other gear, plus another van to fit the whole family.
Kuala Lumpur was buzzing, and we stayed in the heart of the city at a rented apartment – great for saving on hotel costs during our holiday.
But here’s a tip: once you’re out exploring, think twice before heading back to the apartment.
To get there, we had to take two separate elevators on different floors, and you don’t want to deal with that twice in one day. We learned that the hard way.
Next time, we’ll plan our excursions a bit more carefully.
Overall, Kuala Lumpur is a super kid-friendly city. The malls and even the people seem to cater to families with little ones.
Diaper-changing rooms and breastfeeding stations are easy to find, which is a huge plus when you’re on the go with a baby.
It’s also a great place to figure out whether your child is a “stroller baby” or not.
Turns out, ours isn’t – she’d cry the moment we put her in the stroller, unless she was asleep. Good thing we brought our baby carrier, so my wife and I could take turns carrying her around the city. I felt a special bond walking with my baby in the bustling streets.
After three days, we were ready to head back home, and I thought we had everything under control.
But with my luck, there’s always a twist.
On our last day, just as we were about to leave, my wife screamed, “Gate 10!” when she realised we were about to miss the final boarding call.
It was like a real-life episode of The Amazing Race – my baby was screaming in her stroller, my wife was pushing it as fast as she could, and I was sprinting ahead, hoping to reach the gate just in time.
After that chaotic end to our trip, the flight back was a breeze. The two-hour drive home to Brunei was the perfect time to reflect on what had just happened.
Did we really pull all that off?
Yes, it was hectic, tiring, and unpredictable, but we made it. We’re back home, safe and sound, and we have memories to last a lifetime. – Adib Noor
