Kuala Lumpur in a day (or even half)

This post is part of a travel series of Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia done in 11 days.

We arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by 1pm via AirAsia. Our KL City tour was scheduled last on our itinerary before we head back to Manila. We had planned to just kill time and check-in at Capsule by Container and avail of their 12hour stay which is just enough for next day flight to Siem Reap. So after having late lunch, we proceeded to Capsule only to find out that they do not accept walk-ins. Though Tune hotel was readily available nearby, it was too high for our budget. We were okay with idea of sleeping in the airport but it was only 2pm and lounging around the airport until we have to sleep is too boring. So we decided to do half of our KL City tour and went ahead to visit Batu Caves and Petronas Tower. We just had to make sure we catch the last bus from KL Sentral back to KLIA2 at 10pm .

We got on the 2:45pm bus and arrived at KL Sentral by 4:00pm. The next train to Batu Caves was at 4:30pm so we had ample time to fix ourselves and find the rental lockers where we left our bags. The train arrived as scheduled, and after 25 minutes we arrived and this guy was there to greet us.

Please be reminded that Batu Caves is a place of worship. Though there are no strict rules on clothing and behavior, it is better to be respectful of these things.

You have to climb the 250++ step stairs (I lost count while catching my breath) to reach the Cathedral Cave where numerous shrines are located. Be alert with the monkeys!

After an hour and a half we decided to go back to KL Sentral and proceed to Petronas Tower. To get there, you need to catch the train and travel about 15 minutes to KLCC station which is right under the towers. Fare is RM2.

 

 

The lights of Petronas Tower were so beautiful against the night sky! 

There are lots of people going around so you need to be patient for that perfect shot! 🙂

We went back by 9pm, had dinner in KL Sentral, retrieved our bags, and boarded the last bus. We were back at KLIA2 by 11pm, headed straight to departures area and slept there.

KLCC Suria

Things worth sharing:

Bus schedule from KLIA2 to KL Sentral (and vice-versa) is fixed and is available every 30 minutes. This is served by different bus operators so don’t get confused if you saw a different bus earlier. The KLIA2 bus ticket counter serves all destinations (Melaka, Genting, etc.) so be sure to tell the seller where your headed. There is no ticketing counter in KL Sentral, buses are lined up and a sign or a dispatcher will tell you which bus is departing. They are located at the basement, just follow the signs and you’ll find them in no time.

There’s a locker area in KL Sentral near the toilet stalls where you can leave your backpacks. It cost RM15 for the large one and can fit two large bags (ours was a 50L and 60L). The “key man” can be sitting there or walking around the area, he can change your bills to coins which you’ll use for the lockers. Be sure to get your bags by 10PM.

Use the taxi counter in KL Sentral located in the upper level (especially if you’re arriving late at night) and don’t get scammed – which could have happened to me on my first visit t KL back in 2013. I arrived at 11PM and was — by taxi drivers offering a RM100 flat rate. Thank God I was saved by fellow travelers who pointed me in the right direction and got a RM13 coupon for my destination.

So, if you only have half-day or a long lay-over it is still possible to see two of Kuala Lumpur’s top tourist spots. You got a full day? Visit the other half of this Kuala Lumpur City itinerary here.

Review: Fotosnaps (and why I can’t hate them)

This story started way back 2014.  I bought 3 vouchers from Metrodeal for Fotosnaps 8×11 hardcover landscape with additional 8 pages and free shipping. The expiration date was due in the next six months and I thought that was enough time to finish the travel books.

Six months could have been enough, if only, it didn’t coincide with my wedding preparations and my hard disk crashing. Two days before the expiration, I had one photobook in 80% completion. Not wanting to waste all the vouchers and my effort in lay-outing that one book I decided to email Fotosnaps and ask for an extension. They replied promptly and considerately gave me one week extension.  Yay! However, since my wedding was also nearing I still wasn’t able to take advantage of their generosity. I had to bitterly swallow the fact  that I just threw away Php2500.

The wedding came and went, 2015 came and went, and now we’re in June 2016. I was again dealing with a ton of travel pictures that needed to be turned into books. There was no on-going sale and I again remembered those wasted 2014 vouchers and the unfinished book.  I had the craziest idea. Without any expectation to grant my request, I emailed Fotosnaps to ask if I can still use the 2014 vouchers. At first, they replied that it can’t be done since it’s been two years (which I totally understand), but I pleaded that I be granted even just one, just to be able to finish that one 80% done photobook. I wouldn’t have hold any grudges if they didn’t heed my plea but to my surprise they agreed to use one of my vouchers provided I can upload my project in a week. Now that is customer service! I wasted no time and uploaded my book.

All that time, Fotosnaps team promptly communicated with me through email. They were very considerate, instructions were clearly given, and polite.

While I am very happy and thankful for the consideration that Fotosnaps gave me, I should be transparent of the not-so-happy news I got from them:

Php150 Re-processing fee. It’s not really a bad thing, it’s just that I don’t get it. I uploaded my book June 16 and received an email about “errors” and the apparent need to decide if I shall edit (and pay Php150)  it or leave it as is and proceed with printing. The thing is even if I edit the book, I can’t be sure that the new edited version will turn out fine especially when I don’t see the errors stated on the created proofs. I decided to print it as is.

One week and counting, still no photobook. Production and delivery should have been done within 7 days. I emailed them June 27 to inquire on the status of the book and unfortunately they replied that it’ll be delayed due to some technical problems they encountered. It’s still too early to consider it super delayed, but I do hope it doesn’t stretch into weeks (or months?).

I will update my review on the quality of the photobook once I receive it.

For now, I just need to be patient in waiting and trust them that it’ll be delivered as soon as possible. Though under normal circumstance this waiting game should have annoyed me, but I can’t hate Fotosnaps. And now you know why. 🙂

Have you tried Fotosnaps? How’s the book quality? I’d like to know your experience, share them below!

The Good Things about Juicing

I’m a very picky eater, but unlike most mothers, mine didn’t force to eat something I don’t like even if it is good for me. She spoiled me to the point of cooking a separate dish for me every time I don’t like what is served because it’s either that or I don’t eat at all.

That didn’t really bother me much since I wasn’t one to get sick easily anyway. My lifestyle was convenient and doesn’t seem to do any harm, so why change it right? Well, we all think like that until it’s too late and at the end we’re stuck regretting our choices. That’s how I saw it the day my mom, a person who eats well, gets ample exercise, someone who generally have a better well-being and lifestyle than me, gets sick with one of the most dreaded illness.

My mom was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer. I think my denial was more than hers, whenever we were at the hospital, during surgeries, recovery, and check-ups the only thought that keeps coming to me – how the hell did that happen to my mom? Here I am, someone who takes health for granted and yet she’s the one lying in the hospital bed. I feared for her future and I feared for mine more because I knew that it can happen to me any time too.
I made a choice to turn things around little by little, starting with improving what I eat.

Sagada Tour with Ken-U-Tour

It feels like we’ve exhausted Philippine’s most famous destinations, but a trip to Sagada, which is also a top destination, has long been delayed. Just thinking about being on a road full of swerves and bumps for 12++ hours is not too appealing, especially when we can score a seat sale and reach an awesome place in 1-2 hours only, so we always end up shelving the idea whenever it crosses.

Who would have thought that the only motivation I needed was a really bad and stressful day at the office? I just got out of a heated meeting and was feeling all drained up, I desperately wished for a time-off as I sulk in front of my computer . As if a commercial on cue, images of Banaue and Sagada’s sprawling greenery popped out of my head. I swear, I could smell the mountain pine freshness and feel the cool breeze while sipping my 3rd coffee of the day while seated in yet another meeting.

I called up my mom and my brother and asked them to join, so the travelling gang is now 4 persons than the usual 2. Since it was unplanned I don’t have an itinerary and a huge budget, both of which I can’t possibly come up with in a week’s time. I needed something affordable, fast , and convenient – all that spells one thing: Group Tours.

Review: Zalora Shopping Online

I bet a lot of guys are thankful for the existence of online shopping. How can they not be when gone are the days when they have to be dragged around the mall for hours by their girlfriends just to find one dress or a pair of shoes.

I have experienced buying clothes and shoes to people who sell online like in Olx.ph or in Facebook but never with a formal established online store like Zalora. Being the cheapskate that I am, I still find Zalora’s items priced a little higher than my normal budget so I didn’t really bother looking further into it, but that’s just me.

Even though I enjoy shopping like most girls do, I don’t enjoy spending too much. I don’t buy anything higher than 300Php and can only go up to 500Php if it’s on 50% or more markdown sale. Those conditions mean I only to go the mall or buy branded things during end of season sale and the rest I get from Divisoria or Ukay-ukay. I love the feeling when I get compliments for something I bought for only 100Php that doesn’t look as cheap as it costs.

So I was very happy when I received a 500Php Zalora gift certificate from BPI (because of my BPI Gold Mastercard) because that meant that if I am wise about my choice I can get something for free! Yey!

As I read Zalora is a Singapore based online fashion retailer, that means they sell clothes, bags, shoes, accessories for both men and women, which was launched in 2012. Like in the Philippines, they are also operating localized sites in countries across Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand, and five others. Since they not only carry their own brand but other local and international brands as well, Zalora is like this big big mall that you scour at the comfort of you own home.

Discovering JDrama, KDrama, and other things

I think for most people in the Philippines, the thing that opened Filipinos interest to Asian dramas was Taiwan’s Meteor Garden which aired in 2003 through ABS-CBN. It was my highschool senior year and I was instantly hooked because I was very much into anime back then and the F4 guys looked liked anime characters that came to life.

Ten years later, I was lying in my dorm bed in Singapore with no plans for the day and so utterly bored, I decided to re-watch Meteor Garden. I though it wouldn’t have an effect on me anymore but I ended up finishing Season 1 in just two days with only bathroom breaks and two-three hours of sleep (I didn’t watch Season 2 anymore because I know that it sucks).

After that, I remembered that there’s Korean version, Boys over Flowers (BOF), which also aired in the Philippines in 2009 but I only watched a few episodes because the female lead was irritating to watch. I tried to watch it again but I was again irritated by the heroine that I dropped it after 2 episodes. I don’t know why, but I just can’t stand the way she speaks or act, sorry…

I had no idea that a Japanese version, Hana Yori Dango (HYD), was also made (even before BOF in 2005) because it never aired in the Philippines like the other two. I checked them out and just fell head over heels over ikemen or good-looking guys and this started my eventful addiction to J and K dramas. A friend asked me once how come I was hooked to HYD but dropped BOF when BOF guys for her are more good looking. Well yeah, I would agree to a degree that Korean actors are more pleasing to the eye, but that’s the thing, they are too handsome I felt like they are “unreal” and the drama felt like a drama (it won’t ever happen in real life). Unlike HYD actors, who are good-looking but also flawed (like MatsuJun’s pimple scar, Shun Oguri’s teeth) and J-Dramas (I think) acting is loose and light.

I fell in love with Jun Matsumoto and Shun Oguri, so it comes with no explanation that my next drama is Gokusen. This drama which has three seasons led me to my current J-Idol favorite, Kamenashi Kazuya. My parallel obsession with Shun Oguri brought me to my official favorite JDrama of all time, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, which added Ikuta Toma and Hiro Misuzhima (I love him so much I watched Black Butler live action even if I was the only one in the cinema), to my ever growing “guys to dream” list.

I’m a shallow person when it comes to dramas. My criteria is simple, there has to be dreamy guys in it and the story must be light ( a little drama is okay). I eventually run-out of Johnny’s idols drama so I decided to check out KDramas and recommendations for something similar to BOF, and one drama kept coming up – You’re Beautiful.

If MatsuJun and OguShun got me started with JDramas, Jang Geun Suk and Lee HongGi are the ones that made me jump the boat to KDramas. I didn’t watch any JDrama for a while until I finished all of JKS his works with Mary Stayed Out All Night ending up as my favorite (it’s a personal preference, I’m a sucker for rockers in real life).

I remembered Lee Jun Ki from My Girl and so I watched all his other works right after my JKS drama marathons. His latest drama, Scholar Who Walks the Night, introduced me to my current #1 crush, Lee Soo-Hyuk. On the other hand, my obsession with Lee Hong Ki paved way to a new discovery – K-Rock and J-Rock. As I mentioned, I’m really into bands so it’s no wonder I loved FTIsland almost instantaneously.

When it comes to music, I’m still living in the 90’s or the era of punk, alternative, emo rock. If it doesn’t come from a band, I am not a patron. Even though I was obsessed with FTIsland, and several other Japanese bands like The GazettE and One Ok Rock (just imagine my hapiness when I found out they are friends with FTI), I didn’t bother to listen to K-Pop. I tried to listen to CNBlue but they didn’t appeal to me and they are a band, so I thought what more the generic Kpop genre?

But that all changed when I saw HongKi in a variety show together with a guy named Heechul and to say he’s crazy is an understatement. It was so funny, I was laughing my head off and I can’t believe (well I partly believed) that Hongki is bestfriends with a crazy guy like that. I was so curious as to who he is and why is he acting like that only for me to learn that he, HongKi, and JKS are all friends and are part of a group called Chocoball together with other equally crazy guys.

As much as I love Heechul, he didn’t make me go gaga over Super Junior. I checked out their songs, I liked some, I loved some especially Evanesce. I’m still overwhelmed with how many guys  they have there, that I can only identify four of them.

I watched Hong Ki’s WGM Global Edition Season 1 so I was astounded to know that Heechul was in Season 2. However, as Episode 1 starts on my laptop, it is not Heechul that caught my attention but this gorgeous guy – Key.

I tried to finish watching WGM but can’t get over my curiosity of Key, so I put WGM on-hold to search information about him, hello there SHINee!

My husband can’t believe my obsession with SHINee. For the first time in my life I’ve shown interest to the point that I joined SHINee World Philippines which he knows I normally wouldn’t do. I don’t think I’ll ever be a hardcore Kpop fan, I still cringe at some of their antics and still think the repetitive hooks and basic notes of their songs is meh, but for now I’ll be a hardcore Heechul, Key, and SHINee fan.

My husband, who is a bassist and drummer, always teases me on how the rocker gal he used to know have turned into a dancing kpop girl. He’s still amused on how my playlist can be playing Fall Out Boy or Chemical Romance and then out of nowhere play Ring Ding Dong or Odd-Eye. Oh well, what can I do? It seems like I’m Married to the(ir) Music after all.