Hello everyone! I know you guys are waiting for my Malaysia adventure. It's been a hell of ride and an awesome one! Come and let's walk through with my journey.
I really wanted to start the year of 2014 with a bang. Not with just fancy firecrackers or fireworks but with memory that will surely be unforgettable. So having said that, I decided that I will go somewhere, alone and without any thing planned to do. Quite crazy right? I decided to go to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Yes! You read it right! I chose a foreign destination and not the typical jeep, bus or train ride away from where I am staying.
Maybe you'll ask me why I chose to travel to Malaysia and why specifically to Kuala Lumpur. Well, just to share you about how I come up with the decision, here's the story. Last quarter of 2013,
AirAsiaPH come up with a blogging contest via
NuffnangPH, the world's leading blogging advertising community. The task was to blogged about top 3 destination I want to go to and why. So I decided to research on places I wanted to go to and submitted my entry. (
Click here if you want to see my winning entry.) Kuala Lumpur was not even on my list since I really wanted to go to South Korea. But due to schedule concerns, I need to change my chosen destination. I wanted to try out Kota Kinabalu but a friend told me that in terms of beauty and view, Philippine beaches were more sophisticated and lively. Take note that I seek the advice from a well traveled friend so I really believe his judgement. So there, I chose to travel to Kuala Lumpur.
January 2, 2014 - Thursday - The day of the flight.
Thursday, 4:25 pm (printed time in my itinerary). I arrived quite early at Manila Domestic Airport (NAIA Terminal 4) since I know that my flight was set at 16:45. Before entering to the departure gate of the airport, the security guard asked for my flight details by looking at the printed copy I brought with me. After seeing the details, he told me to go straight to Air Asia's office nearby to asked for a reprint since my flight was delayed for about an hour. So I go directly to Air Asia's sales office to have it reprinted. The sales officer was kind enough to assist me but when I asked her why the flight was delayed, she said that she doesn't know the reason. I waited quite some time inside since it's more comfortable to wait there than in the open area. But when people started to come in for them to reprint also their itineraries, i decided to go out, find a vacant space and make myself comfortable while waiting for my respective flight.
Observations and realizations while inside the airport (NAIA Terminal 4):
1. Passengers don't know where to fall in line since no one's taking in charge to assist.
2. There's no sign or notice that OFW needs to validate their OECs at Terminal 1 before checking in.
3. Travel Tax and Terminal Fee was quite expensive considering the service I've experienced.
4. Immigration officer's poker face. (AMAZING!) I wonder if that's part of their curriculum. :)
5. The amount of liquid materials in a hand carry bag should not exceed 100ml. If it exceeds, you need to leave the item in the airport. You can't put it in your checked in luggage since it's already sealed and transported.
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long queue |
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a couple waiting to board |
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we were transported via bus to our plane |
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Air Asia plane bound to KL, Malaysia |
The plane successfully landed in Malaysia around 9:05 pm and it was on time. Because I haven't ordered any food inside the craft, I was very hungry. After getting my checked in luggage, I go straight to the nearest food stall to by some food. Because I felt too foreign, I ordered at McDonalds (medium fries, medium iced milo and chicken burger). I loved the sweet chili sauce for the fries. They don't serve ketchup. (I failed to took a photo of it.) Define HUNGRY. :)
As a backpacker, I'm looking for ways on how to have trips that will incur the lowest possible cost. One way to minimize the cost was to stay on a cheap hotel or try a sleep over/couchsurf. For most of you, you may not be familiar with couchsurfing. In layman's term, it's a process where in you need to send a request online to people living in the area who has available space in their pad/apartment/house and ask if you can stay with them through out your travel or depending on how many days they can accommodate you. The host can offer his/her bed, another room or simply his/her couch. It's totally free. The process was build on trust that's why the site envision a world made better by travel and travel made richer by connection. To more know about COUCHSURFING.
(Click this link.)
So after ordering to McDonalds, my host, Ky, instructed me to find Star Shuttle bus going to Jalan Ipoh, an hour and a half drive from LCC Terminal. He said that he will pick me up there going to his pad. Since I don't know where to locate the bus terminal, I looked around to find people whom I can ask for directions. Luckily I overheard Filipino chatting inside the fast food chain. I approached them happily and asked for the directions. I successfully locate the bus terminal and waited there for 30 minutes.
One and a half hour drive from the airport to Jalan Ipoh become a 2 hour drive. As soon as I alight from the bus, Ky was already waiting inside his car. He said that the bus driver was so slow. He told me to go inside his car and drove all the way to his pad. I took a shower before heading to my bed and then sleep.
End of DAY 1.
January 3, 2014 - Friday - Getting lost and wandering.
I started my day early. Ky woke me up around 7 in the morning but the sun doesn't show up yet. Quite early for my usual time of getting out of the bed but this day was different. I was full of enthusiasm and sense of adventure. After taking a shower, I arranged my stuff needed for this day and leave his pad immediately. He dropped me off in front of his office building and agreed to meet him up around 8pm. He instructed me some sites to go.
Kuala Lumpur has Makati-BGC-ish vibe. Building here and there. The first thing that come to my mind was to go to the very famous Petronas Tower. It's nice that Ky's location was near the epic building.
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photo taken by a Vietnamese couple whom I volunteered to took pictures of them. |
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The Vietnamese couple whom I helped with. |
Using the map I grabbed from the airport, I look for places where I can explore and take a picture of. On my way to KL Tower, I felt that I need some gastronomic taste of the city as I haven't eaten yet. I stumble upon a nice BBQ place which offers different kind of locale dishes from breakfast, lunch to dinner.
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BBQ Nights - offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. |
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Egg, Curry sauce/soup, Roti and Hot Milk Tea for breakfast. |
I got a chance to watch how Roti was made. The dough was flattened with a roller then a fork was used to create holes on it. It was placed on a big pot more like of a traditional oven. After baking it, it was removed from the pot, damped it with water using hands and then brushed it off with some melted butter.
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The restaurant specializes with Roti and grilled food. |
I went directly to Menara KL tower! There's a free van service on it's foot that will transport visitor's to the main entrance. Once you get there, the vicinity is full of attractions and stores where you can buy and reder locale products and services.
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MENARA KUALA LUMPUR is the fifth tallest telecommunication tower in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. Standing at 421m and located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. |
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at the foot of Menara KL tower. |
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The Information booth at Menara KL Tower. |
You can also check the following sites within Menara KL Tower:
Bee Museum
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A human sized bee hive. |
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it's really huge! |
Imported Perfume Store
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Al-Rania of Arabic Perfume |
XD Theater
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XD Theater - A 6D Motion Ride Experience |
A small park with hanging bridge.
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KL Tower Animal Zone |
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It showcases different birds and reptiles. |
Mini Theater for film showing and history of Menara KL tower.
Time to EXPLORE more! :)
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This is their version of ticketing machine for rail transit. It has a touched screen LCD where you can choose your destination. The machine accepts both coins and bills. One way ticket is in a PLASTIC COIN form. |
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Very handy and posh. :) You just need to tap it upon entering and drop it upon exit. |
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Going to KL Sentral Station - One of the longest escalator I've been into.
Longer than the one in SMX Convention Center. |
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They built walls so that the passengers can't jump off the railway. |
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Inside 1 of the trains. What I noticed was their trains were not crowded. |
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at KL Sentral Station - This station was air conditioned and have walls protecting the passengers from jumping off the railways. |
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Kuan Ti (Guan Ti) temple - a Taoist temple situated near Petaling Street in KL's China Town |
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Petaling Street is a Chinatown located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The area has dozens of restaurants and food stalls, serving local favourites such as Hokkien mee, ikan bakar (barbecued fish), asam laksa and curry noodles. |
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The busy street of Petaling |
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A locale flowershop in Petaling street |
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I really find this one cute. They serve drink this way.
I really felt it was an awesome innovation. :) #HassleFree |
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Central Market, also known as Pasar Seni, is a well-renowned heritage site and a popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. Strategically situated in the heart of the city, Central Market is located at Jalan Hang Kasturi, a few minutes from another popular tourist attraction, Petaling Street. |
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At the heart of Central Market is an ART HOUSE GALLERY MUSEUM OF ETHNIC ARTS. It showcases antique stuff from different ethnic groups of Malaysian heritage. |
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A wooden masked use to drove away evil spirits. |
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A piece of an elegant earrings wore by princesses to make their ear hole longer and wider. |
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A princess wearing the earrings in the previous image. |
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Wooden masks collection. |
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more wooden masks. |
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Dolls and musical instruments used for adoration and worship. |
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Bags used to carry a child.
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After exploring China Town (Petaling Street) and Central Market, I decided to go to National Textile Museum.
Next on my list is the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. The KL City gallery, located in a historical building from 1899 at Merdeka Square, is a free information centre of the history, present and future of Kuala Lumpur including the ARCH work and gift shop.
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The KL City Gallery building |
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Host of one of the largest scale model of the city |
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archictecture scale model of Greater Kuala Lumpur |
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face to face interaction with arch specialist |
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detailed art of Arch. ARCH is all about art imitating life. |
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Customized ARCH designs. |
Outside the KL City Gallery, you can find this I LOVE KL sign!
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Merdeka Square is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957. |
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beside the human made falls within Merdaka Square |
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The Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin or St. Mary's Cathedral is the cathedral of the Diocese of West Malaysia of the Anglican Church of the Province of South East Asia, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
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inside St. Mary's Cathedral |
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Quick lunch. Honey glazed chicken, Steamed vegetables and Malaysian fried rice |
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Rootz at Lot 10 Shopping Centre |
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Lovely pathway going to Rootz at Lot 10 Shopping Centre |
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Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is a 48-storey, 203 m (666 ft) twin tower, hotel, condominium, indoor amusement park and shopping centre complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
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Over pass going to Berjaya Times Square |
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Decorations in preparation for the Chinese New Year at Berjaya Times Square |
After a short stroll inside Berjaya Times Square, I head back to my host's office building as we agreed to meet at 8pm. We drove somewhere to have a dinner.
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A famous noodle house along the street near Jalan Ipoh |
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My first time to taste a curry noodle soup. It tastes really really good.
I am not a fan of curry but this one I would say I liked. |
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Chicken and Beef Satay |
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Manong preparing our order. |
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Satay was served with sticky rice, chopped onions and some cucumber. |
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sweet and spicy peanut curry sauce |
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View on my host's pad. |
Really felt tired during my second day as I covered most of the spots within Kuala Lumpur. My hosts and I finally got a chance to exchange culture. He has a lot of things to talk about his experience as a traveler both being a host and a surfer. He's fond of Thai culture and knowing more of family experiences.
End of Day 2..
Click the link for Day 3 and Day 4:
January 4, 2014 - Saturday - Up to the Clouds!
January 5, 2014 - Sunday - It's more fun in the Philippines
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Nice blog :)
ReplyDeleteThank you James. :)
DeleteA good read! My sister and I are planning to go to Kota Kinabalu this April. We must visit also KUL! Thanks for this! You're awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rommel. Hope to see your Kota Kinabalu Adventure. :) Enjoy.
Deletehey, I like to know lang na show money din to? Like HK? ;)
DeleteSa experience ko wala naman. Maybe kelangan kapag mejo matagal yung stay mo.
DeleteOh. Thank you Leo! :) We'll be staying there 4-5 days (Lahat nang pinuntahan mo nilagay ko sa list. Thanks for sharing your experiences! :))
DeleteEnjoy your Malaysia tour Rommel!
DeleteMalapit na yung Travel date ko huhuhu. Okay na ba ang 11K budget? I already booked my hotel and rt plane tix. So pocketmoney nalang. Pahingi po advicee :D
ReplyDeleteHello Rommel, If 11K will be you pocket money, I think it's more than enough . for my 4 days of travelling around KL I only spent 5,500 including pasalubong. :)
Delete