The Harrowing Story Of How Two Indian Nationals Escaped From Slavery In Sibu

An Indian national's harrowing escape from a "human slavery mafia in Malaysia" reported by Indian online daily Mid-Day has ignited into an international controversy about Malaysia's human trafficking record

An Indian national has recalled a harrowing experience of modern day slavery in Malaysia, working in squalid conditions in a Sarawak factory and paid a salary of about RM20, in what could highlight yet again Malaysia's human trafficking record.

        themalaysianinsider.com

Lokesh Sapalinga, 27, was looking forward to a career in Malaysia. His agent in Mumbai promised him a good job on an oil rig in Kuala Lumpur with a handsome pay of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 (RM2,700 - RM3,300).

Image via mid-day.com

Sapaliga’s ordeal began in September, when he chanced upon a job posting on a classifieds website. He had then been working in the Gulf as an electrician. The ad, posted by one Ram Support Service, a placement agency based in Nallasopara, promised a job on an oil rig in Kuala Lumpur. The owner of the agency, Narendra Kumar Yadav, promised the Andheri resident a handsome pay of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. Lured by the money, Sapaliga quit his job and came to Mumbai to speak to Yadav.

        mid-day.com

Sapalinga paid Rs 170,000 (RM9,200) in agency fees for the agency, Ram Support Service, to arrange his departure and secure a placement. On 19 September 2014, he trustingly boarded a plane to KL.

Image via mid-day.com

“Yadav took Rs 1.7 lakh from me to arrange my visa, flight tickets and the continuous discharge certificate (CDC, a document required for someone who works on-board a ship). I boarded a flight on September 19 for Kuala Lumpur. My visa had a proper stamp stating I was going to work on a ship, so there was no question of casting doubts upon the offer,” recalled Sapaliga. Unfortunately, there was.

        mid-day.com

However, Sapalinga's vision of a bright future soon tarnished as soon as he landed in Malaysia. A man who claimed to be his sub-agent stuffed him into the boot of a car and allegedly sold him off to "the Malaysian human trafficking mafia"

Image via mid-day.com

After reaching the Malaysian capital, Sapaliga met one Rajkaran Verma, a sub-agent, who stuffed him into the boot of a car and sold him off to the Malaysian human trafficking mafia.

        mid-day.com

He was brought to CM Fibre Processing Sdn Bhd, an oil palm factory in Sibu, Sarawak. The Mumbai daily reported that Sapalinga's flight landed in KL but did not detail how he was brought all the way to Sibu.

The report, published yesterday, did not detail how Sapaliga arrived in Sibu, a major town in Sarawak over 1,000km away from Kuala Lumpur, and separated by the South China Sea.

        themalaymailonline.com

A check online showed CM Fibre to be a Sibu-based factory set up in 2007 to convert palm oil waste into raw fibre for export. It is a subsidiary of the Sri Minyak Group Bhd, which was established in 1986, and had dealt with oil and gas giant, Shell in Sarawak for over 26 years.

        themalaymailonline.com

Sapalinga told of horror stories from the oil palm factory in the middle of a jungle. He worked 20 hours a day for a meagre wage, slept in overcrowded shipping containers, ate worm infested stale meals, and had no medical aid. He had proof of all these allegations.

Image via mid-day.com

“We worked for 14, 18 and even 20 hours a day for a paltry sum of Rs 400. My hands and legs used to go numb from exhaustion. Slaves who dared to complain were thrashed by the factory guards,” he recalled. In the few hours of respite workers got, they were accommodated in shipping containers.

        mid-day.com

Each ‘room’ had one fan, and 15-20 men competed for the little breeze that it threw their way. The mattresses were infested with bedbugs, and with a welding unit adjacent to the containers, it was nearly impossible to get any sleep. “We were also made to work night shifts without prior notice,” he added.

        mid-day.com

Sapaliga told mid-day that they were fed rice and sabzi three times a day, but it was never enough. Moreover, these were stale meals, with worms competing for the food on the plate. The plates were also never washed.To break the monotony, they would be served rice and rotten fish. But, everybody ate without complaining, for they wouldn’t get any food if they did. Sapaliga also says there was no safety equipment or access to medical facilities. “Slaves who worked near the furnace had no helmets or safety gloves. As a result, many got injured but there was no medical help.

        mid-day.com

After 25 days of slavery, Sapalinga got his break when he managed to bribe some men to make a phone call to his brother-in-law in Mumbai. Prakash Karkera immediately met Sapalinga's agent, Yadav, for Sapalinga's safe return to India.

Image via mid-day.com

Sapaliga worked in the fibre-processing unit from September 25 to October 20. Realising that he wouldn’t last long there, with great difficulty, he bribed some men and made a phone call to his brother-in-law, Prakash Karkera, in Mumbai. On hearing of his kin’s suffering, Karkera landed straight at the office of the placement agency located in Solan Amit Shopping Centre, Nallasopara. The owner, Yadav, assured Karkera that his brother-in-law would be safe and back to India soon.

        mid-day.com

Yadav assured Sapalinga's release, but threatened to kill him if Karkera went to the police or the media

“Yadav threatened me that if I went to the police or the media, he would get Lokesh killed with the help of his connections in Malaysia,” Karkera told this paper. However, the family continued to pressurise Yadav to bring Lokesh back, issuing threats of police complaints. It worked.

        mid-day.com

But before Sapalinga was allowed to escape, he was made to sign an agreement stating he held no grouse against the placement agency. On 21 October, he ran away in the dark of the night.

Image via mid-day.com

Verma, the Indian sub-agent, called up Sapaliga and told him they couldn’t do much until he fled from the factory. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Sapaliga took the risk and, in the wee hours of October 21, escaped from the unit while others were asleep. “The factory is surrounded by a jungle. It was pitch dark and I somehow reached the highway, where I met Verma and his two associates. They had my passport and visa. Before I left for the airport, they made be sign an agreement stating that I was offered the job I desired by the placement agency and that I held no grouse against them.

        mid-day.com

I had to sign the document, or else they would’ve torn my passport and visa,” he said. The men dropped him to Sibu airport, from where he took a flight to Kuala Lumpur. A day’s halt later, he boarded a flight to Mumbai. On November 5, he lodged a complaint with the Nallasopara police. He had also clandestinely managed to document his experiences on his cellphone camera.

        mid-day.com

Four days after Sapalinga's story was told, another Indian national who was inspired by him managed a brave escape from the very same factory

Image via mid-day.com

Inspired by Lokesh Sapaliga’s flight to freedom, another Indian has managed to get away from the clutches of the human trafficking mafia in Malaysia. But, he bears grim news there are two dozen Indian seamen trapped in a factory, who are being made to toil in inhuman conditions, without proper food or accommodation.

        mid-day.com

Sapaliga’s escape had given everybody hope. On Friday morning, Singh decided enough was enough. Like Sapaliga, he waited till everyone was asleep. It was raining cats and dogs, and the factory is in the middle of a jungle. Against all odds, with a broken hand, Singh climbed a hill in pitch darkness and reached the other side. He managed to hail a bus and reached a friend’s place 500 kilometres away from the factory.

        mid-day.com

22-year-old Narender Singh was also attracted by the promise of a lucrative salary working aboard a ship. He managed to escape the factory, but is now stuck at a friend's place as his passport and visa is with the agent who has gone missing.

Like Sapaliga, Singh, too, was attracted to the ‘job’ by an advertisement promising a good salary for working aboard a ship in Malaysia as a seaman."I got carried away by the offer. He told me that I would get R20,000 to R30,000 a month. I paid him Rs 1.50 lakh for his services.”

        mid-day.com

Now, Punjab-based Narender Singh (22), about whom Sapaliga had spoken, has also managed a brave escape. He, however, is at a friend’s place in Malaysia and hasn’t been able to come back to India. Sapaliga had managed to capture Narender’s plight on his phone camera.

        mid-day.com

My passport and visa are with the agent (Prabhat) and he is nowhere to be found. I have to go to the Indian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, but the only way I can go there is by flight,” he rued. Singh says Bhupender is also ignoring his phone calls. He has learnt from other fellow workers that Prabhat has left for India. Once he is back, Singh hopes to collect his documents to return to India and get his hand which is still broken treated. Meanwhile, the police have not made any efforts to trace the agents.

        mid-day.com

Singh sang the same tune as Sapalinga. The guards, built like bouncers, would beat them up; the supervisors would torture them in the middle of the night; they survived on rotten and stale food...

“They have guards who are built like bouncers. They beat us if we fail to report to work. I have been surviving on rotten and stale food for the last three months. They have thrashed me on several occasions. The supervisors torture us labourers in the middle of the night. They walk into our rooms, ask us to wash utensils and clean our rooms just to harass us,” Singh recalled. Workers were made to slog for 18 hours a day in unsafe conditions. One day, Singh had a terrible fall from the top of a furnace and fractured his hand. Instead of helping him, the guards kicked him saying he had purposely done so to play truant from work.

        mid-day.com

Toiling through the inhuman and unhygienic conditions were hundreds of other labourers like them, mostly from India and Nepal

Image via mid-day.com

Sapaliga was shocked to see hundreds of labourers toiling in unhygienic and inhuman conditions for almost the entire day. Most were from India and Nepal; he was now one among them.

        mid-day.com

According to Singh, a native of Noor Purvedi village in Ropar, Punjab, more than 24 Indian workers are trapped as slaves in the factory. All of them were lured with the promise of a seaman’s job on a ship. “The youths have come from Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh. Apart from Indians, there are several youngsters from Myanmar as well,” he stated. “There is a constant influx of workers. Most of them are promised a job on a ship, but end up in the slavery racket,” he added. “I am happy to escape, but I have nowhere to go now.

        mid-day.com

The Malay Mail has contacted CM Fibre managing director Johnson Tiu who had defended the company with claims of his former workers eager to return

The management of Sibu-based CM Fibre Processing Sdn Bhd told Malay Mail Online that it was horrified by the news report, and cast doubt on the veracity of the allegations, claiming instead that some of the foreign workers it had employed were seeking to return. “The news is too bad... So sad to see this,” CM Fibre managing director Johnson Tiu said in a series of text messages with Malay Mail Online over the weekend.

        mmail.com.my

Defending his company, Tiu forwarded Malay Mail Online screenshots of text message conversations between himself and another worker from India, whom he claimed was eager to return and work with him. “Take a look at the message from my Indian crew. If my place is bad and I am a bad person, then why do they seek to want to return?” he asked, referring to his employees from India. “If he didn’t know about my place, why did he want to come here?” Tiu added, this time referring to Sapaliga.

        mmail.com.my

Tiu suggested that the problem is with the Indian recruiter, but did not explain the allegation of inhuman conditions at the factory

Tiu, who was abroad in Japan when contacted, suggested that the problem stemmed from issues between the worker and the Indian recruiter. “The biggest problem is the Indian worker [got cheated] by the agent and work in place that they [sic] don’t like. [They are] working for the air ticket to go back to their hometown,” he said.

        mmail.com.my

Tiu however did not explain how the Indian agents were responsible for the allegedly atrocious conditions in his factory, which included cramped accommodations in shipping containers, and lack of safety gears and medical facilities.

        mmail.com.my

Before he escaped, Sapalinga managed to record proof of the inhumane conditions forced on him by using his camera phone. The video can be seen here.

Image via mid-day.com


Local Medical Grad Shares What He Went Through To Finally Become A Doctor

It was September 2011. 24 students who aspired to become the movers and changers of the healthcare sector were excited to enrol for one of the most interesting medical degree courses in the country.

MH Kamal (not his real name) was one of the 23 Malaysian students (the other being an international student from the Middle East) who took the bold step to be part of a new four-year graduate entry medical program that was offered by a local university that partnered with a renowned American institution. This programme followed the US-style medical education system, which was newly introduced to Malaysia at that time. "The school was formed in collaboration with one of the most prestigious names in the world of medical education, that is famous for its tripartite approach emphasising on medical education, research and clinical care." "From this collaboration, the students were thought from day one, that they, a pioneering cohort of 24 students from different age and various background will be the one to transform the landscape of healthcare and medical education in this country," he said.

Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via PMC

Everything seemed promising until the exclusive deal between the local university and the American institution was suddenly terminated

"Everything was smooth sailing up until mid-2014, when were well into our third year of medical school, with just a little bit over a year left from scheduled graduation." "Every student from the first until the third year received a damning email out of the blue from a well-positioned eminent figure from the collaborative partner essentially notifying us that the collaboration will be terminated at the end of the current academic year," MH Kamal recalled.  "This unexpected turn of event was devastating for us. A killer blow. A knockout. TKO. Suddenly, the mood has changed."

While the partnership turned sour, it was the students that were helplessly caught in between this complicated affair

"We were told that the ending of the collaboration will not affect our academic stuff since the matter is well beyond our control and they’ll make sure the transition will be as smooth as possible, but we all know that it was all sweet talking and mere comforting words," MH Kamal said. "It will never be the same again. It will never be smooth as it was before. The road ahead seems gloomy for us, even with multiple reassurances by the faculties. We know that we are treading on a thin line." "That our future is at stake, and we are helpless in overcoming this definite consequence. We are the primary casualty from this move, but we have no say whatsoever in this whole issue.""Nothing we can do to overcome this. The period of uncertainty slowly eating us from the inside. We can smell that things will get worse from the day onwards."

The waves of uncertainty kept coming and soon, the reality was sinking in. What was first thought to be the "beginning of a new era" became a stumbling block for aspiring medical students.

"True enough, in the next visit by the Malaysian accreditation body several months later after multiple delays, the school failed to obtained recognition thus sending us students into the abyss. One problem after another. Like an unstoppable chain reaction." "The school tried to make some adjustment, but none was fruitful. I would like to thank them for the effort, albeit unsuccessful one. By now, we know we will not graduate on time, and ultimately, will not start working anytime soon," MH Kamal said.

That was only the tip of the iceberg as the students had to face a series of challenges as a result of the terminated deal

"Without accreditation, we are required to sit for the Medical Qualifying Examination (MQE) before applying for housemanship. But to sit for the exam, we must first graduate from the school and in order to graduate, we must sit for and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), and Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS)," he explained. The circumstances surrounding the situation left them with no choice but to go through one of the most difficult and exhausting examinations in the world.  "Most of us completed the whole United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) process by the end of 2015 after our final academic year ended in May that year. The Step 2 CS results were out by February 2016." MH Kamal and his coursemates met all the requirements and went on to take the exam set by the MQE. Against all odds, MH Kamal was one of the 11 out of the 12 who passed the exam in one try despite being told that the passing rate was just below a quarter (less than 25%).  "Another hurdle was thrown out of the way, and we can finally obtain temporary registration for housemanship. However, yet again, another problem arose."

Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via nursingcollegemalaysia

Despite passing the examinations, MH Kamal had to endure the long wait for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to offer him a job

"We were told that because this is the pioneer batch graduating from the school, it would take some time to insert the name of the school on the PSC website and we need to wait before we can apply for it online." "We were already one year behind our schedule since we left medical school in May 2015, and now we had to wait yet again for the registration. It was not until December 2016 (six whole months after the MQE exam) that we can finally complete our registration, just in time to be slotted in the January-February session for interviews.""Finally, I was interviewed in January 2017 and a majority of us that had completed the elaborate process too were interviewed around the same time.""We’ve missed the permanent appointment that was abolished recently for houseman, and now we will just be a contract doctor. Anyhow, that is still something to be grateful for comparing it to the previous two years that we were floating aimlessly. Better than nothing."

After the emotional roller coaster and the unanticipated delays, MH Kamal will finally begin his first day of work today, 22 May

Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via Free Malaysia Today

The 32-year-old finally got a job offer with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and gained a coveted placement into a public hospital in the Klang Valley.  "I'm happy and relieved to have finally being employed, but at the same time is a bit sad for my friends that did not make it for this intake," he said.  However, some of his coursemates were not as fortunate as him. He revealed that only three out of 11 of them got the job in this intake, which means that the housemen-to-be were once again left disappointed and frustrated.

MH Kamal said that he is sharing his story as a reminder about all the things that he has gone through

"People said what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But what they didn’t know is that all the suffering and recovering from those things that don't kill us may leave a permanent scar or impairment and changed us in one way or another whether we realised it or not." "I hope we can all become successful doctors in the future and always remember where and how we started. When we face any difficulties in the future, which I’m sure we will, whether it’s in our hand or not, come back to this moment and remember, we have experienced a lot worse." "We have jumped over hurdles, powered through stumbling block, and navigate through obstacles that we ourselves at one point doubt we could ever succeed." "Same goes to my juniors who are still struggling. Stay strong. We are the pioneers of graduate entry medical education in Malaysia. The future of medical education.""This is a bit about my journey to obtain the coveted ‘doctor’ title. This is the story of 'The (Unfortunate) Class of 2015: Once a pioneer, always a pioneer'."

Cover image for illustration purposes only.

MH Kamal's story is one of many others featured on the Malaysian City Life series on SAYS. Do you have a story or experience to share, or have you seen any we should write about?

SUBMIT YOUR STORY NOW. FB message us or email us at [email protected] about your intent to share something with us. It could be about a particular time in your life as an urban city-dweller in Malaysia, or it could be a story you've seen or heard.We'll get in touch with you for your story to be featured on SAYS!Stay tuned for the next episode!


From Weekend Markets To Brunch Spots, Here Are Cool "Hidden" Places To Check Out In Sydney

This Spotlight is sponsored by Malaysia Airlines and Destination New South Wales.

Ready for a holiday? Head to Sydney with Malaysia Airlines with fares starting at RM2,079!

Booking period: Now until 31 December 2019Travel period: Now until 30 September 2020Book your flights here!

Here are our top picks to enjoy another side of Sydney:

1. Enjoy delicious eats in the city that taste as good as they look

Image via Wild Sage/Facebook

Savour the perfect brunch at Wild Sage, a contemporary restaurant with a seasonal menu and produce that's sourced within the greater Sydney area. Located in the heart of the Barangaroo precinct, you'll love dining right by the water!Other great brunch spots include Devon Cafe, where you can chow down on filling breakfast bowls and Yakuza burgers, and Brown Sugar, which is inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean.

2. Visit the best vantage points for amazing views

Image via @newwin_22/Instagram

Get lost in panoramic views of Sydney Harbour at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. The historic chair was carved out of a rock ledge in honour of Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, giving you the best seat in the house ;)Other awesome vantage points to check out include the clifftop views of Hornby Lighthouse at Watsons Bay, spectacular sights from Milsons Point, which is home to Luna Park Sydney, a popular amusement park that dates back to 1935, and Pylon Lookout, an affordable way to see Sydney up high.

3. Visit these trending lifestyle precincts for an amazing experience

Image via Tramsheds/Facebook

Head to Tramsheds for a modern experience in a historic space. The old tram depot has been transformed into a dining destination where you can enjoy local produce, culinary delights, pop-up stores, and even have your meal while seated in a vintage tram.Another must-do is a visit to Darling Square. This newly opened development is just a few minutes’ walk from the main Darling Harbour area. There, you'll be spoilt for choice with ample dining and shopping options. You can also visit The Exchange, a stunning building that houses the new state-of-the-art Darling Square Library, lots of gourmet food options, and more!

4. Go swimming and lepak on gorgeous beaches other than Bondi Beach

Image via @Sydney/Instagram

Explore Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and enjoy the golden sands of Redleaf Beach as you watch yachts sailing in the harbour. Then take a dip at the Murray Rose Pool, which is protected by a walkable pontoon.Other cool spots to check out are Bronte Baths, a free public swimming pool that's considered one of the best ocean pools in Australia, Shark Beach in Nielsen Park, a family-friendly spot with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Gordons Bay, a hidden coastal gem that features an underwater nature trail.

5. Shop for artisanal goods and more at local markets

Image via Rozelle Collectors Market

Go bargain hunting at one of Sydney's best flea markets at the Rozelle Collectors Market (every Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 3pm). Seek out hidden gems, jewellery, vinyl records, books, pre-loved fashion, and more!Uncover more treasures at Paddington Markets (every Saturday, 10am to 4pm), a market that supports up-and-coming local designers showcasing their fashion, jewellery, and homeware. And get non-touristy souvenirs and artisanal gifts from The Rocks Markets (every Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm), including fine art prints, eco-friendly goods, and more.

Have the holiday of a lifetime when you fly to Sydney with Malaysia Airlines! Get more information here.

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Check Out This 5D4N Itinerary For An Affordable Winter Vacation In South Korea

Together with our media friends, we were invited to experience a Winter Wonderland in Gangwon with AirAsia X

Image via SAYS

AirAsia flies direct to Seoul 18 times a week and offers the lowest fares to South Korea. Book your next holiday to Seoul, Busan or Jeju:Promo price: From RM399 (for BIG members)Booking period: 3 - 23 February 2020Travel period: 10 February 2020 - 2 March 2021Check out the flights here.

Image via Laila Zain/SAYS

Pro tip: Pre-book Chef Hong's Korean Bibimbap with Chicken Bulgogi for just RM10. This Santan collab with Korean celebrity chef Hong Suk-Chun includes steamed rice with aromatic vegetables sauteed in sesame oil, topped with sliced omelette and a sweet, smoky chicken bulgogi in spicy gochujang sauce. It's really yummy!

What's even more exciting is you can now book loads of cool, affordable activities with AirAsia! It's the easiest way to experience the best of your holiday destination.

Get the package that suits your budget at AirAsia Deals. There's even an awesome promo to enjoy RM100 OFF with a minimum spend of RM150! Just use the promo code GANGWON100 when you book.

Image via SAYS

Here are our must-do activities from a Winter Wonderland in Gangwon:

DAY ONE: Incheon - Seoul

1. Getting there

Image via @hanisaliaa19/Instagram

We took the 7.20am flight from klia2 to Incheon International Airport, arriving at 4pm. From there it was just a 40-minute bus ride to Seoul where we checked in to L7 Hongdae Hotel and spent the rest of the evening exploring Hongdae.Pro tip: If you're planning to travel on a weekday, book a flight that arrives at Incheon International Airport before 5pm so you skip the rush hour jam to Seoul. This saves you two hours+ in traffic!

2. Explore Hongdae Shopping Street

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

This is one of the best shopping districts in Seoul! From local artisanal stores to world-famous franchises, there's fashion, beauty, accessories, gifts, knick-knacks, and more. Plus, the area is packed with delicious street food, and hidden restaurants and bars. You can also enjoy loads of street performances from live music to K-pop dancing.Address: 365-8 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, SeoulOperating hours: 10am-11pm (Monday-Saturday) | Open 24hrs (Sunday)

DAY TWO: Seoul - Hongcheon

3. Ice-Fishing at Hongcheon Ggong Ggong Festival

Image via @jaslinpuasa/Instagram

If weather permits, you'll be able to go ice-fishing for fresh trout at this premium festival that's super popular with locals. The best part is that you can get your trout grilled on the spot. Add a shrimp kimchi pancake, tofu soup, hot rice, and all those condiments for a satisfying lunch.Travel time: 2-hour drive from SeoulAddress: Hongcheon riverside in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-doOpening time: 9am-5pm (Monday-Sunday)

4. Meet cute animals at Hongcheon Alpaca World

Image via @nanabebu/Instagram

Alpaca World is home to loads of animals in a beautiful outdoor enclosure. Feed and cuddle alpacas, then hang out with white deers, rabbits, ponies, and more. It's a lovely place to get close to nature.Travel time: Less than 30-minute drive from Hongcheon Ggong Ggong FestivalAddress: Pungcheon-ri, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-doOpening hours: 10am-6pm (Monday-Sunday)

5. Have dinner at Dongmoon Express (halal certified)

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

Enjoy fresh wraps that include dakgalbi and bulgogi, kimchi fried rice, tteokbokki, and more local delights in this halal restaurant. It's a great spot to grab a quick bite before hitting the slopes!Travel time: Less than 1-hour drive from Alpaca WorldAddress: 262 Hanchigol-gil, Seo-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do (second floor of the Main Centre in front of the ski resort)Opening hours: 8.30am-10pm (Monday-Sunday)

6. Go sledding at Vivaldi Snowy Land in Hongcheon

Image via @nanabebu/Instagram

Snowy Land is one the biggest snow sled parks in Korea and so much fun for people of all ages. Zip down the slopes and slides on snow tubes, ride a snow raft, build a snowman, or huddle in an igloo. This is definitely our favourite activity of the trip! Travel time: 5-minute walk from Dongmoon ExpressAddress: 262 Hanchigol-gil, Seo-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-doOpening hours: 8am-5am

DAY 3: Hongcheon - Gangneung

We hopped on a Gangwondo Tourist Taxi for the rest of the day around Gangneung

The Tourist Taxi is a chartered taxi service specifically for foreign tourists, that brings you around major hotspots in a hop-on/hop-off style. The base fare is only 20,000 Korean Won, or roughly RM70, for a whole three hours!

7. Learn Korean calligraphy while wearing royal hanbok in Ojukheon

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

Visit Ojukheon, one of the oldest wooden residential buildings in Korea, for an authentic cultural experience. We dressed up in royal hanbok and got a lesson in calligraphy as we learned how to write our names. With the surrounding traditional buildings, it's the perfect spot to take loads of gorgeous photos!Travel time: Around 1-hour 45-minute drive from Vivaldi Snowy LandAddress: 24 Yulgok-ro 3139beon-gil, Gyeongpo-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-doOperating hours: 9am-5pm (Monday-Sunday)

8. Grab a drink at Gangneung Coffee Street

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

Every cafe on this famous street overlooks Anmok Beach, so you can sip your favourite hot drink with a stunning view of the sea. Named one of the 'Top 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots' since 2015, it's simply beautiful.Travel time: 15-minute drive from OjukheonAddress: Changhae-ro, Gyeonso-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

9. Recreate your Goblin moment at Jumunjin Breakwater

Image via @izyrlwilson/Instagram

This popular spot allows you to live in a real-life K-drama, and re-enact the moment Eun Tak accidentally summons the Goblin and they meet for the first time.Travel time: 30-minute drive from Gangneung Coffee StreetAddress: 1609, Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon

10. Snap a pic at the BTS Bus Stop

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

When you're in Gangneung, taking a photo at the iconic BTS bus stop is a must! Taken at Jumunjin beach, it's also a really relaxing place to chill.Travel time: 6-minute drive from Jumunjin BreakwaterAddress: 210, Jumunbuk-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon

11. Eat your way through Jungang Market and visit the Wish Tree at Wolhwa Street

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

One of the oldest markets in Gangneung, Jungang Market is packed with fresh goods and all kinds of delicious eats. Must-eats include hotteok (pan-fried pancake), fish cake croquettes, and fried chicken!Meanwhile, outside you'll find the Wish Tree where you can find messages of success and luck to the athletes of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Travel time: 25-minute drive from Jumunjin BeachAddress: Gangneung-si Gyeonggang-ro 2111Opening times: 8.30am-9pm (Monday-Sunday)

DAY FOUR: Gangneung - Pyeongchang

12. Visit Jeonggangwon for a traditional Korean food experience

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

Try your hand at making Royal Bibimbap, go on a personalised tour of the exhibition hall to learn about Korean history and culture, and check out the painstaking process of fermentation and cooking at this traditional food culture experience.Travel time: Around 3-hour drive from GangneungAddress: 21 Baekokpo-ri, Yongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Image via @meww111/Instagram

13. Join a skiing class on the slopes of the Alpensia Ski Resort

Image via @ninjahousewife/Instagram

You can rent everything here, from ski pants and jackets, to skis and poles, so you don't have to worry about a thing. We joined the Korea International Ski School at Alpensia Resort, the slopes that hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics. It's definitely an experience that can't be missed!Travel time: 30-minute drive from JeonggangwonAddress: 325 Solbong-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-doOpening times: 8.30am-10pm (Monday-Sunday)

DAY FIVE: Pyeongchang - Incheon

The journey from Pyeongchang to Incheon International Airport takes around 3 hours by bus. So your last day in Korea is likely to be all about the journey home.

Thank you AirAsia X for the perfect Winter experience in Gangwon! Check out the best AirAsia deals for all the cool activities we experienced and more now.

Remember to use the promo code GANGWON100 to enjoy RM100 OFF with a minimum spend of just RM150.Book your flight to South Korea with fares as low as RM399 for BIG members now.

Image via SAYS

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