I didn't have any immediate plans to visit Malaysia. But I definitely included it in my travel list, just so I could see the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, I've heard and read about the country and its rich culture. But I didn't give it that much thought. But when my Filipino friends urged for me to visit their second home, I gave it a go and was not left disappointed. Malaysia, let alone its lovely cities and states, have sincerely kept me in awe.
Malaysia, being the melting pot of religions, hosts a cordial, multiracial community. And in my time in Kuala Lumpur and Penang did I see how the society really lived harmoniously despite being so diverse.
Rubel had to travel back home for a wedding. So I was left alone in the hotel, and in Kuala Lumpur for another 24 hours. But that didn't stop me from wandering around the city on my own. It was actually nice of my friends to invite me again for some girl bonding. So we went around the city's hip and happening shopping centers that morning.
Christmas decors at Berjaya Times Square (November 2013)
On our 4th day in Malaysia, Rubel and I spent the whole morning traveling by bus from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. The entire road trip took around 4 hours, since other passengers were picked up at the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal (plus one stopover). But we were able to arrive in KL just in time for lunch. We also met up with Rubel’s sister-in-law, Melody at KL Sentral (where we alighted), and went directly to Tune Hotel via cab. Yes, we came back to the same hotel since we loved its room and amenities. It was a budget traveler’s haven!
Penang to KL via Alisan Golden Coach (comes with reclining seats, power outlets, Wi-Fi connection)
Melody wanted to show us around the Central Market area, so we left immediately. So when we finally settled in at our hotel, the three of us headed straight to Sultan Ismail LRT (a 5-minute walk from the hotel via footbridge). The single journey ticket from Sultan Ismail to Pasar Seni is 2.20/person.
DIRECTIONS: From Sultan Ismail, get down at Masjid Jamek Station. Then alight at the next train that’s bound for Pasar Seni.
When Rubel and I were still planning our trip to Malaysia, we initially included 3 places for us to visit: Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca. Unfortunately, the latter had to be dropped due to time constraints. But we were glad that we pushed through in visiting KL, and most especially Penang. The Guardian actually listed it as part of the "World's Top 10 Best City to visit in 2014". And according to Yahoo, Penang is also part of the "Top 10 Islands to explore before you die".
I fell in love with Penang, as the UNESCO World Heritage Site was just beautiful and exquisite. But what I loved the most about it was how diverse the cultures and races were in the state. And basing it from our observations, a multiracial community existed in harmony despite having different cultures, languages and religions (there are Malays, Indians, Chinese, Arabs just to name a few).
Did you know that Penang is a thriving Malaysian destination? It sure is! Considered as one of the country’s well-developed states (being technologically advanced and highly urbanized), Pulau Pinang (in Malay) is an island state that nurtures an interesting multicultural community. The “Pearl of the Orient” is also known for its remarkable heritage sites, multiracial citizenry, and diverse yet sumptuous cuisines.
I promised myself that I would visit a foreign country yearly. And I'm grateful that I've managed to keep my word all these years. To share snippets of my adventures, here’s a rundown on the 12 countries that I’ve been to (mostly visa-free for Philippine passport holders) for the past decade.
I've previously posted my first batch of Starbucks Global Icon Series Mugs, from which the following mugs are already sitting pretty on my display shelf: Korea, Seoul, China and Macau.
But as of May, more mini-mugs (and one big mug) have been added to my collection! Here's my latest additions:
So happy with my new mugs especially with my MANILA addition! Thank you also to my GF Clarice for bringing home Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, to Juneee for my Thailand and Bangkok, Rick and Robin for my New York Mug, and to my honey for bringing me my Cebu and Philippines mini-mugs! :)
I haven't been to both Malaysia and New York, but I requested for these anyway. Here's to hoping that I get to visit both destinations soon, especially NYC! :)
It has been a yearly thing for me and Rubel to do our Christmas shopping ahead of time (as early as November), so we could avoid the rush of people scurrying to buy their last minute gifts. I particularly dislike the long lines at the cashier, and the body-bumping moments with the thick crowd. But what I've never really liked during the holiday rush is the commute whenever we visit the mall. We don't have our own car, so we'd usually ride a Jeep or Cab when going home. Then again, it also becomes a tiring thing to do when you have to wait in line just to get a taxi, when you so desperately want to go home and rest. Yes, cab's also have long queues during the holidays. And it's always the same scenario, so don't be surprised when you go around the Philippines in this time of year. But when we heard about this certain Taxi app, we knew we had to try it. So we did come Christmas morning.
I own two kinds of absorbent towels. One is an Aquazorb, and one that has no brand (got it as a wedding souvenir). But in all of the times that I've used both, I would usually feel uncomfortable with the fact that neither doesn't dry my body as fast. Sure, both towels are absorbent. But I've been on a constant look out for that one absorptive cloth that will help soak up the moisture from my face and body in a jiffy. I'm also looking for that 'quick-dry feel' from a towel, but with an extra softness to it. Get it? Well, I just found one recently --- and it's all in a TOWELITE! No doubt that it's one of my favorite travel must-haves now.
I usually set an expectation for myself when it comes to how often I should go online, especially when I'm traveling overseas. But in reality, setting expectations don’t always go as planned because I'd still find myself checking my Facebook feed, and posting photos on Instagram. This usually happens when I'm waiting for my food to be served or while I’m on transit. Anyway, I was recently in Thailand for my birthday/honeymoon. I wasn’t always glued to my phone, checking stuff online throughout the trip. But it still helped that I had a FLYTPACK router with me, which was a lifesaver during inopportune times on the road.
[NOTE: This was a 5-day trip three years ago] As Philippine passport holders who are traveling to Siem Reap for the first time, my partner and I made sure to prepare for our trip by learning about the country, to best be acquainted with their rules and traditions.
I just wanted to share my love of collecting Starbucks City Mugs! ♥
Yes! These babies makes me smile each and every time I see them. I've actually been to each one of these destinations except for NYC, Florida, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (gift from family and friends) -- all of which are also listed on my must-see-places!
I'm actually missing a few more city mugs (mugs from Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, Naga, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Pattaya, Thailand). So whoever wants to surprise me on my birthday this November, those missing destination mugs will surely make me the happiest girl! :)
Ever since the "no plastic" rule was implemented in several parts of Metro Manila, I've already made it a point to bring an eco bag whenever I leave the house. But even before the rule was put into effect, I would already place a foldable mesh bag inside my purse. And it would always come in handy whenever I'd buy stuff from the mall or from the grocery store. But I enjoyed carrying all sorts of stuff even more when I received my very own Baggu Shopping Bag.
Before there were hi-tech gadgets where 'notes' can easily be typed and saved, I first jotted down many details of my travels on just a simple notepad. I would write down the street names that I passed-by, the directions going to certain locations and attractions, and the expenses incurred from the many establishments that I've visited along the way (costs on transportation, food, shopping, etc.). So writing down my entries on several blank pages was my way of documenting the places that I've already been to. Of course, I recorded everything that was going to be of use to me, to help me write my travel stories in full detail later on. So you can just imagine how nostalgic it felt when I started documenting my travels again (after several years) using this spiffy looking journal --- a special edition, 'The Travel Club Moleskine'. This notebook was all the more special because the company behind TTC just celebrated 20 fruitful years of being in the retail business. That's a milestone right there!
For first-time travelers in Malaysia, going on a road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang was quite an adventure. We might have gotten lost along the way. But our modes of transport gave us one heck of an experience!
Angono continues to uphold its name on being the Art Capital of the Philippines, as it’s brimming with noteworthy artworks, outstanding talents and more. The inspiring town will certainly give you a walk that's worth remembering, as the city is filled with museums and galleries that display impressive paintings and sculptures, and of streets lined with murals that pay tribute to its local artists. Best of all, Angono is also the home of the Oldest Artwork in the Philippines, the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs.
In our brief time in KL, we spent our days sleeping in the comforts of Tune Hotels, Downtown Kuala Lumpur. It was a hassle-free stay, as we didn't experience any problems from the booking stage to checking out from the accommodations (we loved the staff at Tune, as they were super courteous and helpful). We booked our stay from November 16-18 and 20-22, 2013 (we were in Penang in between these dates), and only had to pay PHP1,500 or 120 Malaysian Ringgit per night.
We availed of the Double Room, which we paid to have a 12-hour AC use, and a day's worth of Wi-Fi access.
DISCLAIMER: This is a late post. This was my experience commuting to LCCT, back when it was still operational. It was our first time to travel to Malaysia. But the city's transportation system was something that we quickly learned about. It's fairly easy to commute to the metropolis when coming from Kuala Lumpur's Low Cost Carrier Terminal. So regardless of the time of your arrival, there will be buses parked right outside the airport, ready to transport you to downtown KL.
So what would my destination wish list include should I get the chance to fly via Air Asia?
Well, if I were given the opportunity to Travel
in the Philippines with Air Asia, my Top 5 Local destinations would
have to be Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Kalibo (Boracay), Cagayan De Oro and
Davao. But why these 5? Well...
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN
I immediately fell in love with Puerto
Princesa the moment I landed on the city. I just loved so many things about it!
I loved the courteous people, the clean surroundings, the noteworthy sites (from the famous Crocodile Farm to the
panoramic view of the city from Mitra’s Farm), the 2-3 hour road trip and
boat transfers to the nearby islands, and the seafood trips that I matched
with my anti-histamines! I also love the fact that Puerto Princesa is the
gateway to El Nido --- another paradise that I’ve been dreaming of seeing
up-close.
You probably all know how much I love food and traveling! I discovered a new collaborative website which combines my two loves. The travel platform Withlocals connects locals in Asia with travellers from all over the world. They can share their love for their culture, traveling and food, which will definitely create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for both the tourist, as well as the traveller!
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
