[OK na Road Trip] First Time Backpackers (Malaysia and Singapore - Part 1)

This is a really late post but the plan is to get this up in time for our fifth anniversary as BF/GF. Para sweet at may significance! 

Petronas Tower at Night

Our backpacking in Malaysia and Singapore was our first international trip as a couple and a LOT of planning have gone with it as we want to minimize our expenses while covering as much tourist destinations as we can. Working on the itinerary tested our patience in a whole new level, very reminiscent of our not-so-distant wedding planning. Pero habang lumalapit naman yung flight, mas nagiging interesting and entertaining siyang gawin. Big thanks to all the people who we need to bugger for info about both countries!

Quick facts muna for future reference!

Places visited: 

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Johor Bahru, Malaysia
• Singapore

Date of visit: March 16 to March 19, 2014
Airline: Cebu Pacific Flight 5J499

Where the Fun Begins

Armed with my new Star Wars notepad (na regalo ni Kat for my birthday!), I took down notes along our four-day trip. Here it goes!

Day 1 (NAIA Terminal 3)
* 10:15AM - Check In
* 11:42 - Done with Immigrations.

(Which is unfortunately manned by a grumpy lady officer. Parang napag-abutan namin yung monthly period niya. LOL. Anyway, travel tax and terminal fee is a ripoff at 3K and 1K, respectively. Ampangit naman ng serbisyo.)

her backpack

* 1:38 - Boarding the airline.
(After taking a quick lunch in Tapa King.)

* 2:12 - Take Off

Day 1 (LCCT, Kuala Lumpur)

Extra: Nakaka-aliw ang language ng Malaysia which is Bahasa or Standard Malay. Madami itong katunog na Tagalog words dahil more or less our language traces its roots from it. Sinulat ko yung mga salitang Malay na nakulitan ako dahil sobrang lapit niya na sa ating Tagalog equivalent. I'll put it at the end of each "DAY" of logs.

LCCT

* 5:26PM - Touchdown Malaysia

(It was raining. Anticipated naman namin yun.)

* 6:29 - Boarded Skybus to KL Sentral

(The Malaysian terminal, called KLIA, is outside the city proper. The bus to the city is in Platform 1. Almost all major arteries going to and throughout Kuala Lumpur is like SLEX-wide! Hindi sila madamot sa kalsada. May traffic din pero bihira at hindi kami na-stuck ng matagal.)

(Ang tawag nila sa kalsada ay "jalan". Parang yung dinaanan namin papuntang Kuala Lumpur, ang pangalan nun ay "Jalan KLIA". KLIA is Kuala Lumpur International Airport, so parang katumbas ito ng NAIA Road natin. Pero hindi kasing pangit. LOL.)

Bas Ekspres to KL Sentral is in Platform 1

* 7:04 - Plaza Tol Putrajaya (Putrajaya Toll Plaza)

* 7:14 - Perbadanan Stadium

* 7:20 - Spotted Petronas Tower!

(Ang ganda sa malayo ng Petronas. Yung mga bahay along the highway na nadaanan namin ay parang Pilipinas lang din ang arkitektura.)

* 7:42PM - Meal Station, KL Sentral

(KL Sentral ang main railway station ng Kuala Lumpur. Lahat ng sanga ng tren nila ay dumadaan dito. Sobrang laki nito. Papasa nang airport. It has all the amenities travelers will want. Konti lang ang nakaka-intindi ng mabuti ng English pero nakaraos naman kami sa pabasa-basa lang ng mga signage. Nagpapalit kaagad kami ng pera para makakain.)

KL Sentral

(There's McDo and KFC but we decided to have our first taste of the local deli. We dined at the Meal Station, parang carinderia lang din natin. May nakasabay pa kaming mga Pinoy sa kabilang lamesa.)

On the Plate:

• Mee Rebus - RM7.90 (Egg noodles in pasty curry sauce na parang gawa sa bean paste. Madaming sahog tulad ng tofu, shrimp, itlog, at kung ano anong peng peng peng!)
• Beef Rendang - RM9.90 (Parang binagoongan na baka natin ito. Spicy at may hints pa din ng curry.)
• Nasi Lemak (National dish nila ito. Kanin na niluto sa coconut milk at madalas ihain na may kasamang dilis, mani, at itlog.)
• Tubig (May bayad! Fifty cents.)
• Coke - RM2.80  

 

dinner at the Meal Station

mee rebus

beef rendang with nasi lemak

Madami pang ibang putahe. Inuna namin ni Kath piliing kainin ang mga yan dahil sobrang traditional yan sa Malaysia. Overall, nagustuhan namin at nasarapan kami. Good first impression for the local food! O baka nagutom lang kami from the flight. Pwede din.

Rating (Meal Station): 5/7

Kelana Jaya Line (MRT)

* 8:25 - Dang Wangi LRT Station

(Ayon sa itinerary namin, we can squeeze a few hours to visit the Petronas Tower and Suria KLCC mall sa ibaba ng Petronas. So taking the Kelana Jaya Line, we went on our way. Kinain kami ng buhay ng teknolohiya ng LRT token system nila. Naghahanap kami ng paghuhulugan ng token yun pala kelangan lang i-tap LOL. Mga mang mang!)

* 8:33 - KLCC LRT Station (Petronas Tower!)

(Just four stations away from KL Sentral, napakalinis ng station na ito. Well, most of their stations naman pero extra awesome itong sa KLCC kasi paglabas pa lang namin, mall area na agad ang bumungad - Avenue K ang tawag. Natanaw nga agad ni Kat ang H&M... at sale pa! Uh-oh... wallet alert!)

crossing to Suria KLCC

(From Avenue K, tatawid na lang at Petronas Tower na at yung katabi nitong KLCC Park. Una naming hinalughog yung Suria KLCC habang bukas pa. Sobrang laking mall nito. Tantsa ko kasing lapad ng Megamall. Pero mas sosi ang dating. Lahat din ng stores sa loob, sosi brands!)

beneath Petronas

(Next, lumabas na kami sa KLCC Park para mag photo ops with the famous tower landmark. Nice move na isingit ito sa itinerary namin ng gabi dahil sooobrang ganda niya sa gabi with all the lights and sounds they put into it. May lights at water show din sa isang malaking pond sa park. Andaming tao... locals man or tourists. Kaya in na in kami! Sobrang useful ng tripod at selfie-pod namin all through out the trip!)

KLCC Park

* 10:03 - Bye Petronas Tower!

* 10:24 - KLCC LRT Station to KL Sentral

(Ang layo ng nilakad namin pabalik. Mamawis mawis na kami... amoy curry! LOL. Buti malakas ang aircon ng mga tren nila.)

(Back in KL Sentral, our next job is to look for the train that heads to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan or TBS. Isa ito sa mga main bus terminals ng Kuala Lumpur at dito makikita yung mga buses heading south to Johor Bahru kung nasan ang next stop namin - Legoland Malaysia! Again, sa sobrang laki ng terminal na ito, papasa siyang airport.)

KL Sentral Komuter Train

* 10:43PM - Platform 6 (KL Sentral) to Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS)

(Back in KL Sentral, we need to figure out next how to get to TBS na nasa BTS. Gulo no? TBS yung name ng bus terminal at BTS naman yung name nung lugar kung nasaan ang TBS. Ang saya! We went to BTS via Komuter train. Talong talo nito ang MRT at mas lalo na ang PNR trains natin.)

* 11:16 - Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS)

(From BTS train station, may mahabang tulay na naka-connect papuntang TBS. Inside TBS, dali-dali kaming pumunta ng Counters 1 to 18 kung nasaan ang bilihan ng bus tickets to Johor Bahru. Sabi sa research ko, hanggang 12 midnight may mga tumatakbo pang bus heading south. Pero pinakaba kami ng konti dahil sarado ang buong counter!)

Platform 1

* 11:35 - Starmart Quistna

(Quistna saved the day... or night! Akala ko matutulog na kami sa terminal at male-late for the Legoland trip the next day. Mahigit 6 hours ang travel papuntang Johor Bahru kaya sira ang itinerary kung sa susunod na araw pa lang kami makakakuha ng bus. Nag-iisip na nga kaming sumugal mag taxi ng ganun kalayo para lang tumama sa itinerary. Buti mahal kami ni God! May last trip heading south ang Quistna.)

* 11:46 - Gate 17

(RM34 per pax ang binayad namin sa bus. Sa bus kami matutulog for the night. Welcome to backpacking, for me and Kat! LOL. Kubeta ang aming kakampi. After freshening up and doing our toilet rituals, nag-abang na kami ng bus. Buti na lang malilinis ang mga toilet sa Kuala Lumpur.)

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan

 
Bahasa to Tagalog Words - Day 1

• telinga = tenga (ear)
• pintu = pinto (gate)

Day 2 (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, Kuala Lumpur)

* 12:47AM - Still waiting for Bus

(Bored na kami sa isang oras na pag-iintay. Kape time, sa 7-11. Bumalik na ako sa counter para magtanong kung nasaan na ang bus nila. Malapit na daw.)

bored si Kat, kung ano ano na kinukuhaan

* 1:15 - Left TBS

(The bus arrived around 1:05AM! Maluwag ang coach buses ng Quistna at comfortable yung reclining seats. Tulog time!)

* 3:30 - Stop Over

(May weird kaming co-passenger na sobrang lubha ng ubo na parang mamamatay na. Argh. Kaya hindi din kami nakatulog ng maganda.)

Starmart Quistna

Day 2 (Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru)

* 5:06 - JB Larkin Terminal (Larkin Sentral)

(Welcome to Johor Bahru! Isa sa mga pangunahing terminal nila sa parteng ito ng Malaysia ang Larkin Sentral. Mabilis yung nasakyan namin na bus kaya ang aga pa namin.)

* 5:33 - McDonalds - Larkin

(Tambay muna kami at agahan habang iniintay yung unang bus papuntang Legoland. Walang local choice kaya McDo lang kami bumagsak.)

On the Plate:

• Big Breakfast - RM9.50 
• Sausage Brekkie - RM4.50

* 6:27AM - Still in McDo

*  7:22 - Waiting for Bus (LM1)

(Sobrang bored na bored kami dito sa Larkin dahil 8AM pa daw ang bus papuntang Legoland. Halos three hours kaming nagkukulitan at naglalakad lakad around the area. Makulit yung sumisigaw kami ni Kat ng "umutot ako!" at wala namang nakaka-intindi sa amin. LOL.)

Larkin Sentral

* 8:13 - We're bound to Legoland!

(RM7 per head ang bayad sa bus. Hindi friendly sa pandak ang bus dahil ang taas ng bintana! Extra thing to take note, hindi tumitigil sa Larkin terminal yung bus to Legoland. Dumadaan lang pala ito para mabilisang magsakay ng mga pasahero. Buti na lang alisto kami.)

* 8:30 - Kota Iskandar (Administrative Center of Johor)

* 8:34 - Little Red Cube Hotel, Jalan Bahtera

(Malayo pa pala sa Larkin yung Legoland, kaya pala medyo mahal yung pamasahe.)

= = Start: Legoland - Malaysia = =

Everything is Awesome!

* 8:42AM - Legoland! Everything is awesome!

(Masyado na naman kaming maaga, 9AM pa ang bukas ng Legoland. So we just looked for a toilet so we can freshen up again for the day then lounged around a nearby shopping arcade. Bitbit pa din namin yung backpacks namin and we are figuring out where can we have it stored while we walk around Legoland.)

back entrance to Legoland Hotel

(Enter, Legoland Hotel! Habang nagpipicture-picture around the entrance premise at nag hihintay ng opening, we discovered that there's a backdoor lift that goes up to the hotel's lobby. Ang saya ng elevator! Merong 2-foot minifig on a corner tapos punong puno ng Lego art yung paligid with tugs tugs music at disco ball... yup, elevator lang yan!)

inside the most awesomest elevator i've seen in the whole universe

(Sa lobby ng hotel, sooobrang daming Lego!! We want to run around and jump on their Lego tubs like kids! May malaking block castle in the middle of the place with huge dragons and pirate ships where kids can actually go inside and roam around. Ganun kalaki! Around it are moats na punong puno ng Lego blocks. Sa likod ng Information Desk, punong puno ng minifigs yung buong wall!!! Waaaahhh! Gusto ko iuwi yung buong dingding nila!)

(Sabi ko kay Kat, sa lobby pa lang ng Legoland Hotel, solb na ako! Pwede nang hindi mag Legoland theme park. LOL. Anyway, we figured out that we are now short on ringgits and the nearest money changer is about 15 minutes from the Lego compound pa, sa may Bukit Indah. No choice, we have to go there. Taxi na lang para mabilis.)

tubs and tubs of Lego inside the hotel

(A bell boy suggested that we leave our backpacks on the hotel's luggage storage place. Lightbulb! Naisip namin na iwan na yun dun hanggang buong araw na nasa theme park kami. For free! LOL. Sinabi na lang namin na we're checking in at the hotel... kahit hindi. Wag gayahin, mga bata. So we headed to Bukit Indah on this taxi with a cool and friendly driver.)

* 9:37 - Heading to Bukit Indah

* 10:07 - Kaching! Heading back to Legoland
(Mabait yung taxi driver. Pangalan niya eh Shamsul, ayon sa tarheta na binigay niya sa amin. Binigyan niya kami ng tip na sa bangko na lang magpapalit para mas malaki ang exchange rate. Sinamahan niya ako hanggang loob ng bangko at kakilala niya pa yung isang empleyado. Para sa kanya na lang din daw kami sumakay pabalik ng Legoland, since magta-taxi naman kami ulit anyway. Kung taxi dito sa Manila yung nag offer sa amin ng ganun, nakataas na ang CODE RED alert signs ko.)

the entire wall is full of minifigs!

* 10:24 - Back to Legoland
(Bukas na ang Legoland! Yahooo! No need to buy tickets because we prepaid for our's online. First stop, gumawa kami ng DIY minifigures sa isang booth malapit sa entrance. Isa para sa akin, isa para kay Kat, at isa para sa kapatid niya. This is where we got the idea of the #LegoLoveTeam which is our alter-ego, Misis K and Mister O!)

(We traveled clockwise, starting with the Lego Technic area. Frankly, the least of my favorites. Picture-picture lang kami around that area since most rides there are water-related. No splashy rides for us. I like our picture with Einstein's big bust made of blocks. Umulan din bigla nung nasa area kami na ito.)

our friend, Albert

(Next area ay yung Lego Kingdom. Nakakatuwa dito yung Castle na madaming kung ano-anong Lego constructs sa loob. Hindi kami makasakay ng Dragon roller coaster dahil umuulan... pero palusot ko lang talaga yun. Takot lang talaga ako. LOL. Instead, sumakay kami ng Merlin's Challenge, isang merry-go-round na puno ng Lego. Hehe, pathetic.)

* 11:53 - Observation Tower
(Sa Lego Imagination area makikita yung mataas na observation deck ng Legoland. Sumakay kami sa isang flying saucer-like na view deck habang mabagal itong tumataas at umiikot. Kitang kita sa taas ang kabuuan ng Legoland at ang immediate surroundings ng Nusajaya.)

(Umulan ng malakas habang pababa kami. Kaya imbes na lumabas, nag round 2 na lang ulit kami sa ride na ito.)

Observation Tower

* 12:17PM - Jungle Cafe (Lunch Time!)
(Sa Pizza Mania kami dapat kakain, kaso sobrang mahal ng mga pagkain. Kaya lumipat kami sa Jungle Cafe sa Land of Adventures area.)

On the Plate:

• Fried Chicken (two huge pieces)
• Beef Burger
• Soda

(Bumuhos ang sobrang lakas na ulan habang kumakain kami at sobrang dilim na ng langit.)

* 1:04 - Resume walk (kahit umuulan!)
(Rides time! We did the "Lost Kingdom Adventure" ride. Train ride ito na may hawak kaming laser-gun to shoot at identified targets along the way. Nakakatuwa naman. May part pa na may scenario na nakakagulat, sabay kukuhaan ka ng litrato. Tapos available yung litrato for purchase outside the booth. Nakanganga kami pareho ni Kat. LOL. Di namin binili.)

Lost Kingdom Adventure

(Next stop, Lego City area. Panay pictures lang ulit kami dito before finally going to the famous Miniland area, kung saan makikita ang replica ng iba't ibang tourist spots ng Malaysia at mga karatig bansa nito - including Pilipinas! Lahat gawa sa Lego pieces! Nakisama ang ulan, nawala ito just enough for us to ogle around.)

(Medyo disappointing yung replica for Philippines which shows a town scenario in Bolinao. Madami naman tourist spots na mas kilala tayo pero bakit yun pa ang napili?)

mini Taj Mahal

* 2:53 - Back to Lego Hotel
(Time to prepare for the next leg of our trip which is to jump borders to Singapore. Nagpahinga lang ulit kami sa lobby ng Legoland hotel at nag last minute shopping. I feel poor! Pagkatapos, kinuha na namin yung backpacks namin sabay nag hilamos at nagpa fresh ulit.)

(Bagsak na din ang dalawang gadget namin, phone ko at camera ni Kat. Kaya kelangan na namin mag recharge. Dito lang namin napansin na iba ang saksakan ng Malaysia. Tatlong butas. Ayon sa isang staff sa Lego store, kelangan namin ng "plah"... ang tawag nila sa adaptor.)

paalam!

= = End: Legoland - Malaysia = =

* 3:12 - Bye Lego Hotel!
* 3:34 - Adaptor for RM15
(May nagbebenta ng adaptor sa shopping arcade sa labas ng Legoland! Mall of Medini ang name nung shopping arcade.) 


TIP: Madaming makakainan sa Mall of Medini na mas mura. Huwag sa loob ng Legoland kumain. Our first backpacking blunder of the day!

* 4:34PM - Waiting for JP02
(JP02 yung bus number na kelangan namin sakyan to Singapore. Halos one hour na kaming nag hihintay dahil ayon sa itinerary, 4PM dumadaan yun sa Legoland. Bumuhos na naman ang ulan. Galakas. Nakita pa namin ulit yung taxi na sinakyan namin to Bukit Indah earlier.)

Legoland Hotel

* 4:53 - JP02 arrived!
(Nagtanong-tanong kami around at mali pala yung pinag iintayan namin ng bus. So lumipat kami ng spot and this time, sure na kaming tama na kami kasi may mga kasabay na kaming pasahero na same destination as us. May isang pinay pa.)

* 5:17 to 5:32 - Malaysian Immigration
(Tinatakan lang ang passport namin. Then we transferred to Bus CW4. This bus ferried us to Singapore via CIQ Second Link. Ayon sa research ko, ito yung mas less traffic na way papasok ng SG.)

*  5:32 to 5:40 - Singaporean Immigration (Singapore!)
(Tatak tatak lang ulit ng passport.)

Bolinao?

Day 2 (Jurong East, Singapore)
* 6:31 - Jurong East MRT Station, Singapore
(Nasa Singapore na kami! Jurong East ang usual na bagsakan ng mga galing Malaysia via Second Link na route. Andaming tao! Rush hour ng mga opisina ang inabot namin. We headed to our hotel.)

* 6:48PM - MRT to Lavender Station
(Amoy curry na kami pareho.)

* 7:49 - Fragrance Hotel (Lavender)
(Naligaw pa kami. Wrong side of the road kami lumabas. My fault. Sablay ang nakalagay sa printed itinerary ko. Walang matinong mapagtanungan sa Singapore. Napaka unfriendly ng mga tao. Mas okay pa sa Malaysia, kahit nahihirapan mag English yung mga tao, pinipilit sumagot sa nangangailangan.)

* 8:03 - Room 602
(Sobrang liit ng kwarto but can't complain, ito na ang pinaka murang place na nakita namin through research na malapit lang sa MRT station, thus malapit lang sa lahat. Ang mahalaga... MAKAKALIGO na kami!)

* 8:36 to 8:41 - Lavender Station to City Hall Station
(Charged and all, we headed to City Hall to meet our Pinoy friends who are now based in Singapore!)

with Nex and Mia

* 8:53 - With ex-SST
(Together with ex-SST friends, Mia, Kumareng Grace, and Nex, we passed through the labyrinthine subway of City Hall to I-can't-follow-where. Mahaba habang lakad pero pag labas, tadaaa... nasa Glutton's Bay na kami! Hanep si Mia sa mga pinagsusuotan.)

* 9:24PM - Makansutra, Glutton's Bay
(Chow time!!!)

On the Plate:

• Mee Goreng (SGD5) 
• Char Kwei Teow (SGD4)
• Chilli Crab (SGD25)
• Sugar Cane Juice (SGD2.40)
• Fried Rice ("Plai Lai" ang pakinig ko, LOL)
• Fried Squid 

Masarap lahat! Medyo redundant yung mee goreng at char kwei teow dahil parehong pansit pero talo-talo, inubos namin lahat! Personal favorite ko yung fried squid na sinabawan ng sauce ng chilli crab! Si Kat syempre chilli crab ang pick niya. Kahit yung fried rice, ulam na agad!

char kwei teow and mee goreng

chili crab

Al fresco dining with food stalls lining the perimeter, Makansutra is one of the top choices to eat hawker food in Singapore. Ang daming Pinoy. Never felt that "in" since Malaysia. Nagta-Tagalog nga lahat ng nakapalibot sa lamesa na inupuan namin.

Maingay. Madaming tao. Masikip. But I love the feel of it kasi masaya ang lahat.

Rating (Makansutra): 7/7

makansutra

* 9:36 - Turista Mode, ON!
(Ang malas namin dahil under repair yung merlion ng Marina Bay, complete with scaffoldings. So we just walked along the breakwater through the Helix Bridge and Marina Promenade to The Shoppes. Major catchup with the girls. Sinagot pa nila yung dinner sa Makansutra. Dyahe! Pero major savings LOL. Thanks bigtime!)

* 11:10 to 11:19 - Bayfront Station to Bugis Station
(Dito na kami naghiwahiwalay ng tropa. We headed east to Lavender Station.)

* 11:25 to 11:41 - Bugis Station to Fragrance Hotel (Lavender)
(Aaand we called it a day! Sobrang bagsak kami. Kelangan pa namin gumising ng maaga next day for our Universal Studios tour and to buy a ticket in advanced going back to Kuala Lumpur. Zzz-time!)

around Marina Bay

Bahasa to Tagalog Words - Day 2

• lelaki = lalaki (male)
• stesen = istasyon (station)
• kanan = kanan (right)

Day 3-4, to be continued on my next POST...