DIY: Kuala Lumpur

I was introduced to the Petronas Twin Towers by Entrapment - a 1999 movie of Catherize Zeta Jones and Sean Connery - that's why I was so excited to finally see it in person!

 

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia. It has a diverse population of Malay, Indians, Singaporeans among others. It also serves as a gateway to people who wants to go to Singapore (6 hours drive)

 

Off we go.

 

As the plane touched down, I was a bit confused as to where we are, their airport is in Selangor and it is technically their "province"  - and it is a vast land of trees.

 

I was getting a little nervous if we rode the right aircraft. Haha! But yeah, the aircraft crew announced that we have arrived in Kuala Lumpur - which is technically an hour and a half drive more.

 

KL's airport has one of the hi-tech immigration facilities - they do not require embarkation slips as they will be scanning your finger print instead. Once we got out, we looked for a currency exchange booth and cashed in our pocket money.

 

Before you exit the airport, there are a lot of taxi/van/bus booth offering rides to and from LCCT to the city. We went to information and asked for directions (which we got) and the officer pointed the booths and gave us a map to the city. We got a a one way bus ticket ride to KL Sentral which costs 8 RM. We hoped on a bus idling at the far end of the airport and slept.

I woke to the view of the Petronas Twin Towers and KL tower. A few minutes later, we were in KL sentral - the station connecting all train stations/lines in the city. We bought tickets to Pasar Seni and walked to our inn - Eclipse Guest House. :)

 

The place is cozy and good for cowboys/backpackers like us. It is a new experience for us to remove the shoes and put it in boxes once you get to the lobby, but we don't care - it felt like home. They also have free breakfast!!! The lanai is also great for barkada bonding - sooo cool!

 

 

Once settled, we went around China town and Merdeka Square which is basically a street away from us.

 

China town - Jalan Petaling - is like a big bazaar - full of stalls for food, clothes, shoes, souvenirs and the like. If you are into food trip, this is the place to be!

 

The rain started to pour and we misread the map and turned right instead of going left, so we end up in the Jalan Tun Perak directly below Menara Building or Maybank head office. Upon realizing our mistake, we went back 3 streets to Masjid Jamek and found ourselves back in China Town overlooking Jamek Mosque.

 

People can actually go inside the mosque, they offer scarves for free so you can go in and explore the place. We decided not to because we are soaked and one should look presentable when you go inside a temple. We continued walking and Merdeka Square revealed itself.

 

 

Merdeka Square is Rizal Park to Post Office (Manila, Philippines) in a nut shell. It is reachable via Rapid KL Masjid Jamek station.

We went back to our hotel to change clothes and rest a bit. At 5pm, we went out to go to KLCC (rapid KL klcc station) which is below the Petronas Twin Towers.

*This photo was taken at 7pm and yes it doesn't look like it's night already. Haha

We ate at the Suria KLCC food court for dinner and then walked around the area towards Bukit Bintang to see KL tower up close. Went back to the hotel and called it a night.

Batu Caves is the major part of our itinerary for day 2. To go there, you need to take the the train via KLM Commuter line - Batu Caves is the last station of this line. (1.50 Rm/fare)

You can go back to KL Sentral and switch trains, or you can go directly to KL main railway station. 

You can join the Dark Cave tour and experience the adventure. Inquire at the booth before you take the steps.

Pigeons and monkeys everywhere!!!

We went back to meet our friends in the hotel and head to Midvalley Megamall to buy cheap Ipanema slippers. - Why Pay More? - afterwhich, we went to Berjaya Times Square and Jalan Alor.

We took the monorail to Imbi Station which is connected to Berjaya Times Square building.

Berjaya Times Square is home to Tiny Taipei - where you will find Shinlin XXL chicken, a must try! - largest indoor roller coaster and Largest Capsule Vending Machine.

After a few awe moments, we walk towards Jalan Alor, 2 streets away from Berjaya Times Square.

We ate Satay, stir fried Kangkong and their teh. Yes, that's how they call their tea.

We took the Monorail (bukit bintang station - the nearest station to the hawker food street) to go back to China town and walk back to our hotel.

We woke up early the next day as our flight back to Manila is at 10am. We went to KL Sentral and got to the 7am bus to LCCT.

TTFN!

DIY: Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental

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We were kidnapped! Kidding!

Our Boracay vacay was cut short because a friend called us and asked us to go to Mindoro the next day.

We got ready at around 4 and took a tricycle to the port to go back to Caticlan. From there, we took the earliest trip of the ferry from Caticlan port to Roxas port (Oriental Mindoro.) It was a 5 hours long travel time (it was a big ferry like that of Montenegro.) If I remember correctly, ferry fare is Php 150/ person plus the terminal fee.

The ferry docked at Roxas around lunch time, and we were instructed to take a van to San Jose. Travel time is another 3 hours, fare is Php 350/person.

Upon arrival, we took a bus to Sablayan for another 2 hours. (Imagine my mood when we arrived! I was supposed to be enjoying the white sand of boracay yet I am seated on a bus - travelling for atleast 10 hours already!)

Finally, we reached Sablayan before sun set. Our friend fetched us with his motorcycle and brought us to the grey/black beach resort (overlooking Pandan Island) where we will be staying.

Once settled, they brought us to Overlooking (the highest point of the town proper overlooking the pandan islands - hence the name) and enjoyed the view. As the sun sets, the barkada decided to drink the night away and I went for a deep slumber! 

We got up early as our host sent motorcycles to fetch us so we can eat breakfast at Camalig (featured in Byahe ni Drew) 

The food is good and the price is reasonable.

We strolled and went around town before going back to our resort accomodation to get ready for the ultimate Sablayan roadtrip! 

We were shown the Convention Center, PUP Sablayan, Municipal Hall and of course their plaza.

All set! We stopped and took photos from our starting point. We are to go to the Penal Farm, firing range, and Libuao Lake.

It was almost sunset when we got back, we stopped at our friend's farm to get a quick peek of their 'private' lake (technically it is govt owned but it is inside their property so yeah)

Went back to Camalig to eat dinner and called it a night.

The next morning we checked out of our beach accomodation and moved to a hotel in town. 

We killed time (because everyone is busy at work) singing our hearts out in a function room with unlimited videoke perks.

Before sun down, the group assembled to go to Pandan Island (pandan maliit.) There are two Pandan Islands, the maliit and the malaki (as the name connotes one is bigger than the other)

Pandan Malaki is fully booked so we opted for Pandan Maliit and we got the whole island to ourselves. The gang set up a camp with bonfire, and we ate dinner and drink and played songs - a chill night to end the day.

The morning after gave nice view of the sunrise! 

Our host wanted us to stay behind and enjoy the beach while everyone else go back to the mainland for work but we decided against it and broke camp.

Pandan Maliit and Malaki are just a few meters away. On your left is Pandan Maliit and on your right is Pandan Malaki. They said that there is a shark sanctuary in Malaki.

The view going back is amazeballs! With the Sanfobridge looking bridge smiling at you. 

We changed and went to the bus terminal (to manila) - the port is at Abra de Ilog (Occidental Mindoro) a 3-4 hours travel time from Sablayan. From there, take the ferry to Batangas port and catch a bus to Manila.

It was an awesome on the spot adventure (we got to road-trip the whole stretch of occidental Mindoro) and as we have limited time we promised to go back for Pandan Malaki and Apo Reef.

TTFN!