My Side Trip to Malaysia

I didn't know that my couple of days in Singapore would be insufficient to explore it thoroughly. So, of my five days vacation, i ignorantly allotted half of it to SG's neighbor, Malaysia. Of course, the days weren't enough!

I tried to make the days longer by travelling in the middle of the night from Singapore to Malaysia (by bus). 

StarMart Express costs SGD 35 and leaves at 11:30PM from Golden Mile Complex

Reaching Genting Highlands in Malaysia at 6AM, it was freezing cold! I was probably more sensitive to the cold temperature because I didn't have enough sleep. 

braving the fog and cold evening breeze outside our hotel
Visibility: ALMOST ZERO

inside the First World Hotel, at the Rain Forest Walk, before check in

Staying in First World Hotel was an advantage. It was where First World Plaza was located and the indoor theme park. There were lots to do inside if weather didn't permit visitors to go outside.

walking around Genting Walk

shops and stores for all kinds for shopping -
Malaysia is a bit budget-friendlier than Singapore :)

free shows at the Rain Forest Walk and at the stage area hold visitors' attention

when hungry, EAT!!! :)
First World Plaza has a LOT of food choices - from fast food to restaurants to food stands! 

the gondola seems like a relaxing ride after chow time 

reindeer rides delight kids and parents alike with its Christmas-sy theme

at the Universal Walk, "flying" whale and dragon rides let you explore the Plaza from above

Ripley's Believe It or Not will leave you amazed -
or maybe i was awestruck by Shrek?!

Halloween-themed Arena of the Stars Park won't get little kids scared coz their characters are just sooooo cute! :)

see this witch?...
isn't she just adorable?  :)

Revived from lack of sleep, we explored the rest of Genting Highlands in the late evening. There were five hotels in Genting Resorts. We only got around to three of them.

Highland Hotel lobby felt more like an art museum

the seed collection at Resort Hotel

the colorful First World Hotel - where we stayed

Aside from casinos, discos and bars also abound for more seriously adult enjoyment...

Safari Disco featured pop music, not tribal as i would have expected :)

it was quite early yet at Cloud 9

...but knowing me, I'd much rather spend my time and money on these...

my first Fish Spa experience - PRICELESS!
(actually, it was RM 18 for 10 minutes, hehe!)

...my first Baskin Robbins mocha malt - YUMMY and DREAMY-CREAMY..!

my first 4D movie, The Pirate Story (RM 8) - not so scary, hehe

...and not my first cable car ride..but it was the first time i got nervous -
 ( lasted 20 minutes and 10km in distance )
- at a very low, low price of RM 4.50

On more stable Malaysian ground, we kind of missed the Genting Highlands height and sought out the towering Petronas Twin Towers in KLCC. Asking around for directions, we were able to find Malaysia's famous skyscraper with no trouble at all.

at the Petronas Twin Towers in KL

quite fascinated by the atom design at the Discovery Center

the Suria KLCC behind me

KL Sentral MRT Station, from here we jumped onto the KLIA Express Train , RM 35

And then, we got lost...hehe! In our hurry to catch our flight back to Singapore, we took the KLIA Express to Kuala Lumpur's International Airport. Once there, we were so excited with its awesome pillars and festive decors so we took pictures even before locating our check-in counter.

the train that brought us to the wrong airport!
(it was very fast though...just under 30 minutes from KL Sentral)

at KLIA, excitedly taking pictures for souvenirs :)

Diwali, an Indian holiday and Festival of Lights, was celebrated last October 26

Deciding we should check-in before taking more pics, we asked where our airline's check-in counters were....and were told that Air Asia was in LCCT, the other airport! Somewhat dismayed, panicked , and annoyed with ourselves, we hurried to the money changer (we didn't have enough Malaysian Ringgits for our taxi ride to the correct airport)...We purchased a ticket for our taxi cab and went our way to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). We were relieved we had plenty of time to spare. I even got some postcards from Books @ LCCT.

Books @ LCCT after finally checking in at Air Asia :)

our Air Asia flight back to Singapore

Oh well, the shots and the brief tour we took in KLIA was very well worth the taxicab fare :) We were just glad we made it in time for our trip back to Singapore.

happy to make it back in Singapore :)

Thank you, Malaysia... It was lovely!

My Happiness Menu - Part 1 - All Done!

Last September, I made plans for fun that would cheer me up. It included travelling to Singapore, watching a concert, and going to the beach. It was only yesterday that i completely fulfilled my happiness list.

 Visiting Singapore in late October

 I went on an off-peak season, just before halloween. I was on a budget (less than 5K) so I chose to fly with Tiger Airways from Cebu. It wasn't as bad as I expected (based on what i've read on many comments and threads about the airline). My flight with Cebu Pacific from Bacolod departed earlier than scheduled and Tiger was also on time. There was one glitch in my travel plans though (but it turned out for the best). Tiger cancelled and rescheduled my flight a day later, so i was left with only two days to spend in Singapore. 


 With only two days to roam the city, i decided to skip the theme parks and do the offbeat path. Day 1 was all about the Jurong gardens (the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden next to it) in the morning. The gardens were almost deserted and i almost had it to myself.

east entrance to Chinese Garden

the bridge that leads to the Japanese Garden

had to skip the Tortoise Museum due to time constraints

Hua Mulan was one of the eight legendary heroes honored in the Chinese Garden  

After the gardens, it was on to the Marina Bay Sands experience to meet up with my friends.

from left: the Helix Bridge, Art Science Museum, and Marina Bay Sands

with friends and the Merlion at the MBS

 Day 2 was the unexpected shopping "spree" at a warehouse sale in McPherson Road, and pasalubong shopping in Lucky Plaza. The Orchid Garden @ the Botanical Gardens was a hectic stroll sandwiched between shopping and dining in Wisma at Orchard Road. 

 

it was raining off and on, but still we toured the Botanical Gardens

my friend and i went gaga over souvenir items at Lucky Plaza!

dinner and laughter with high school classmates in Wisma

dirty ice cream dessert that didn't taste dirty...AT ALL! yummm :)

strolling along Orchard Road at night was fun...my girlfriends and i also watched a live fashion event nearby..for FREE!!!

...while eating our dirty ice creams, of course :)

 Two days weren't enough to explore fully what Singapore had to offer, but it was an amazing time that i had with great friends.

my happiness menu - Part 2

The past weeks have been hectic. I was quite occupied doing what was on my happiness menu. Here are some of what I have done lately.


DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD!
1. Sign up to be an organ donor and remember to tell your family.
 I don't know how to go about this, so instead I made care packages that i plan to give to an orphanage. Resurrecting old paper bags that will hold some basic toiletries, I was able to assemble about 12 sets for donation.

 2. Give $25 or more to a worthy cause.
 I don't have a lot of money but as the GK ideal goes, "No one is too poor that he cannot share; no one is too rich that he cannot care."  A couple of weeks ago, UNICEF was at the SM Mall campaigning for donors who want to share their blessings with the less fortunate children in North Cotabato. At first, I was hesitant to commit, but finally I bit the bullet and became a Champion for Children. On how to become one, too, click  here. You can also donate online, one-time or monthly.

  And you know that screen that asks you to donate to WWF when you withdraw from BDO ATMs?  i finally clicked "Donate P5.00" instead of the "Donate Later" button. It felt good, and still feels like the best P5 i ever spent. Try it! :)

 3. Sign up to volunteer or participate in an organization.
  Being involved in our Church as one of the lectors in the past year has made me want to serve more, so I voluntarily promote our chaplaincy, Our Lady Of Compassion Chaplaincy. 

This Thursday, September 15, will be Our Lady's feast and there will be a mass at 6PM. I helped out by making some candles to be given to sponsors as souvenirs. The candles will be lit during offertory and placed at Our Lady's feet.

Volunteering sure is fun, isn't it?