Magnificent Malaysia!

We first stepped in Malaysia when we visited Legoland in Johor Bahru on Christmas Day after spending four (4) days in Singapore. We just want to see how this theme park compares to its predecessor in Windsor, England and Billund, Denmark. Being a new theme park built in September 2012, it needs a lot of catching up to do. Young kids will have a blast in this theme park. The attractions in it are a plenty for young schoolers while teenagers have limited choices. Star Wars Lego collection was impressive like the rest of Miniland where enormous amount of time and patience were invested in it to build the attraction. What a talent and commitment to art! 

After spending the day in Legoland, we were picked up by the 2nd taxi driver pre-arranged by driver Neil. Neil was a conscientious driver who recommended this driver friend to save ys some money. He did not get any tip from us for he was booked by the hotel through a transport service from Malaysia. Malaysian taxi was advisable so as not to get off by the Malaysian border from Singapore. If Singaporean taxi was used, we will have to transfer and walk aling the Causeway Link which was inconvenient with luggage to tag along. We had to skip the 8pm  fireworks in Legoland to make it to our flight in Senai airport to Kuala Lumpur. The aforementioned airport was approximately 30 minutes away from Legoland using the expressway. We were charged by meter which reached MYR 80. We did not pay extra aside from the tip. Toll fees were taken cared of by the driver. It was a smooth drive without traffic. We were lucky to skip the rain for it poured hard immediately after we went out of the park. We had to allow couple of hours leeway for we didn't know what to expect in a new country where traffic report is bad. So it was a real surprise to arrive to the airport 5 hours before our scheduled departure for KL.  Senai International Airport was a small airport but the people in ur had friendly faces with ready smiles. We thought of checking in immediately and just spend time in a coffee shop inside bur we were surprised for there was no coffee shop inside. After check-in were just small boarding gates so we had to get our trolley back and go out. The Immigration Officer just smiled and nodded when I asked if we could go out again. Saw three officers on guard and they were all smiling. I bet they are used to tourists like us. Cool officers! 

Checking in was easy using  AirAsia check-in kiosks. Luggage tags were also printed out.  So, it was a breeze at the check-in counter.
We boarded as acheduled and the flight was short with an episode or two of air pocket encounters. It went so quick that I barely finished my noodles and we were already landing in KL. 

Getting off at KLIA was easy following all signs to the taxi stand. Elevator was just tricky with odd-even system. We had to find the elevator that would take us to the third floor and airport staff were very helpful with needed directions. And when we found the taxi counter, we approached it and paid MYR 2 for taxi service. Took the economy vehicle using the Proton car which was cheaper and the only available at that time. Other car brands were charged more. The Proton taxi driver scared us though for he was driving in the middle of the road the fact that it was around 11pm. It was dark and raining and we were in the middle of the road! He was not drunk but he just can't stay inside the left lane. Some drivers have that bad habit. He also kept of clearing up his throat which made me think he was uncomfortable like he wants to cough or pee, might be sleepy or might been experiencing some pain or else about to have a heart attack! He sort of scared us and we felt sorry for him. I offered him lozenges but refused it. I would have wanted him to take it to help him clear his throat and relieved him but I cant force him. He spoke little English and I did not know any Malaysian. Thats why it was such a relief when we finally got to our hotel in KLCC just passing by Petronas Towers.

The Malaysia tour started with free and easy day since we arrived super-late, just before midnight. So, we went around the city on our own to see Petronas Towers and then the shopping malls. We've seen Suria KLCC, Pavilion and Bukit Bintang. There are other malls to mention but these malls are superb and posh showcasing numerous brands. The decors were also awesome that you can spend so much time admiring them. The giant and glittery Christmas decors amazes me. I am not the artistic person and was not gifted with such talent that is why I am always in awe when I see superb arrangements and decors of anything---flowers, ribbons, gifts, stores, walls, malls, etc. I envy artistic people. 

The following day, we went to Malacca and really enjoyed this experience. Would write more about this including Legoland and Batu Caves. Foodcourts were also great. We enjoyed our Malaysian experience and it's really a place I would love to go back to especially the shopping malls! When we went there, it was also the year-end sale season which is why I enjoyed this so much. To make everybody happy, keep hubby occupied in a cafe while shopping. ;) Of course, I just used the money I saved from D-I-Y-ing this tour.

Superb Singapore!

We arrived in Changi Airport Singapore on Dec 22 around 4pm and followed the sign to the taxi stand after taking our luggage. There was no queue at all and was glad to direct the driver to V Hotel Lavender. It was just approximately 20 minutes drive since it was not busy on the road although rain started pouring in as we drove by. The surrounding is so festive with all the Christmas decorations and it felt great. The colorful and glistening lights along Orchard Road were a feast to the eyes. The fact that Singapore is a clean city, a safe country for everybody & tourist-friendly, it had the wow factor. The driver chatted all the way to the hotel but not in anyway annoying. He was very informative like a tourist guide. We entertained those unsolicited information and thankful for his kindness. He knew exactly where the hotel was and by the time we took notice, we were already in front of the hotel.

The hotel check-in was really quick and we walked our way up to the room. We did not wait for the bellboy or concierge to help us with our luggage. The room had a great view overlooking the sea and some skycraper buildings although there was not much to move around inside a De Luxe Room. It was fine for this is Singapore. It would take more money to have more space. Accommodations in Singapore are pricey. Our room was pre-paid as a Christmas gift courtesy of a good sibling and we did not expect any breakfast included which was perfect for we managed to enjoy the local cuisine. In our 4 days stay in Singapore, we ate at foodcourts which were not our usual way. Modesty aside, food is one of our main expenses when on holiday. Of course, flights and tours are expensive but these were already paid before arriving in the country. We usually choose to eat in hotels and restaurants to make sure we won't have tummy aches or cramps during our travels. I am not that adventurous with regards to unfamiliar food as well. Since this is Singapore, I gave it a try with my family. We tried the local foodcourts which we enjoyed. Besides, most holiday-makers endorse local foodcourts not just for financial aspect of the holiday but also to immerse oneself in the culture and to appreciate how locals eat. Foodcourts had the menu in pictures and written in Chinese with English translation, so I just point & nod to communicate my intention. Paying in small bills was fine and in case of loose coins, I just put all coins in my palm and the sales crew will just get how much was needed. They were trustworthy enough and I did not mind even in case sales crew took more coins than necessary. There was no service charge and no tipping in Singapore anyway. We also managed to dine in restaurants and hotels especially for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. We did not regret eating like the locals and it was a great experience. 

Singapore has so much to offer. I am just impressed at how disciplined the people in Singapore are starting from taxi drivers staying within the speed limit and behaving really well on the road. You don't get that in Philippines with taxi, jeepney and bus drivers competing for the "King of the Road" title with their manic and erratic driving. Add to that the drivers with road rage which makes it a challenge to drive in traffic-congested areas of the Philippines like Manila. I drive at the outskirts for these kind of drivers scare me which is why I have my driver for Manila purposes only. Undisciplined drivers are well-known in Manila and hopefully more drivers will be more sensitive, respectful and show more discipline with regards to driving.

Also, I was amazed by people patiently queuing up at the taxi stand in Singapore. Not to mention the numerous displays of high-end sportscars on the road. The last time I saw numerous high end cars was in Saudi Arabia from Rolls Royce to Ferrari to Lamborgini. Of course, we see 3 or 4 Lamborginis, Ferarris, Mazerati & Porsche in our vicinity but not as many as this in Singapore. Imagine a group of 5-6 yuppies driving alongside each orher just for a stroll? Isn"t that music to your ears? The revs and power of these muscle cars are simply awesome although I don"t dream having them. I am happy with what I have--- SUV, that's it. That's all I want for practical purposes.

As for the Singapore attractions, there are so many to choose from. I have booked via Asia Travel for our tours. It was a smooth transaction and I did not have any problem with the booked attractions. The hotel pick-up and drop-off were accomplished as well as the guided tours. Started the Singapore tour with City Tour which included the Little India, Chinatown, Botanical Garden and the Esplanade. I love the Orchid Garden with its huge collection of orchids. Then the Sentosa Island tour to the Merlion, Universal Studios & the SEA Aquarium. We also managed to see the Gardens By The Bay and had Night Safari.

Overall, we enjoyed our Singapore experience better than the first time we have been there three months ago. I don't mind going back here whenever we get the chance. I just like to hang around Orchard Road and sip warm coffee watching people pass by. It's a great little country and a place I would love to go back to whenever I can because I feel safe, with great food, and people are well-disciplined although I have no plans of living here for standard of living is too high. I don't intend to shop also for it's pricey here compared to Malaysia. I just love Singapore. 

I am happy to DIY this trip again. We saved couple of thousands of pesos compared to the travel agency's quote for me and my family.

DIY Singapore Tour to Malaysia

Do-it-Yourself tour in an unfamiliar ground is quite uneasy so I initially thought of availing the professional service of a travel agency for a week travel from Singapore (SG) to Kuala Lumpur (KL or KUL), Malaysia. And what a shock it was to receive the travel agency's quoted price which could easily take me with my hubby and our teenage daughter to Europe! Hence, I decided to do it myself to save cost. Christmas being the peak season is understandably not cheap but this is a perfect time to bond as a family during the school break and work holidays.

It took me couple of hours surfing online to get to what I really wanted to do and to keep my family occupied. I personally wanted city tours to have a quick good glimpse of the city, some activities for our teenage girl and an aquarium tour for my water-loving husband including night safari, caves/temples tour, and cultural tours. Beach holiday was not an option since there are plenty resorts and beaches near our vicinity. For Christmas 2014, we initially thought of going to South Africa but with Ebola scare in the African region, we opted out. Asian destination was the second choice and so we thought of going back to Singapore since my daughter and I haven't really explored the city in our 4 days stay last September 2014 since it was mainly intended for the volleyball competition hosted by a prestigious international school.

Firstly, I compared the airfare and destinations. Budget airlines chosen where Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. I found out that flying from Clark (CRK) to KUL is way more expensive than flying out from CRK-SG. So, I decided to do the CRK-SG route and secured our seats with Cebu Pacific. Then I checked what else could be done from SG. I thought of Tri-City Tour (SG-Batam-KL). Batam, Indonesia could be accessed from SG via ferry but we would need more days to stay in Singapore. There are so many things to do in SG and 4 days is not enough for us---Resorts World in Sentosa Island, City Tour, Gardens By the Bay, The Eye, and a lot more. Final decision was, Indonesia could be done some other time. Afterwards, I finally secured the return seats to Philippines via KUL-CRK using Air Asia's service to grab the last seat on promo in time for the Christmas season.

Singapore (SG) is not new to us but it's our first time in KL City although we have been in the airport a few times on transit trips to Europe. I would like to explore the city and the neighboring cities if possible. Sentosa in SG and Legoland in Malaysia were definitely on the card. I happen to read about Malacca/Melaka being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it tickled my curiosity especially with its fascinating history with the Portuguese, the Dutch & the British conquistadors so I decided to include it in our tour. But my biggest ordeal was the transportation issues. Never been outside SG and also the airport in KL, so I don't know how the bus and train system works, in Malaysia how worse the traffic is and how trustworthy the taxi drivers are. I seldom take the taxis in Manila because of the negative publicity against taxi drivers, so can I trust the drivers in KL? I had good encounters among the taxi drivers in SG, would that apply to KL too? So many questions in my mind which were partially answered by various forums online.

In my search for ways on how to travel from Legoland, Malaysia to Malacca/Melaka, I found out how cheap a flight is from Johor Bahru (JHB) to anywhere in Malaysia like Malacca City, Kota Kinabalu, George Town, KL, etc, that I ended up booking JHB to KL instead of travelling by land for approximately 5 hours. Availed Air Asia flight rather than Firefly for I never heard of Firefly in Philippines yet.... no offense intended. Travelling by bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, passing by Johor Bahru and Malacca could be done and is cheap but it's a hassle with luggage for three to tag along. The overnight in Malacca was designed to cut the long travel to KL but getting to the World Heritage Site is another issue. I also thought of taxi, transfer, or car rental but it was just a lot to worry. One-way transfer service using Economy Toyota MPV or car rental for 12 hours with driver was my option but it was so expensive. From SG to Legoland was quoted at S$178, Legoland to Malacca transfer could fetch up to S$340 while SG-Legoland-Malacca rental starts at S$600, excluding toll fee and extension fee of S$35 per hour after 12 hours. Imagine my delight paying one-way airfare from JHB-KUL for three persons for only S$150! I would like our tour to be as comfortable as possible and to go smoothly. I may be the control freak in this aspect but I have a family to protect and to keep safe in an unknown place, so it should be well-planned. Flying was not the cheapest but definitely the quickest option from JHB to KUL. More stories regarding the attractions and accommodations on different posts.

After the airline bookings were sorted, hotels were booked. Had 4-star hotels in both city centers to be near the attractions. I wanted to spoil ourselves a bit since this was a Christmas holiday. Hotel bookings were done via Agoda using a link from HSBC to avail the extra 5% discount. That was a good deal. With regards to the attractions in both cities, I used Asia Travel thru HSBC which had good tour selections and very affordable. I could have booked the hotels as well with Asia Travel (thru HSBC) for this website offers lower rate but the website presentation was better in Agoda. I needed extra bed for my teenage girl which could be easily seen in the latter hotel but was sometimes not offered in the former. Besides, the extra 5% discount compensated for the difference.... nice. :)

All in all, the D-I-Y tour from SG to KL saved me approximately US$1600 from the travel agency's price quote. That gave me enough spending money for KL shopping! Bukit Bintang, Suria Mall, 1Utama, here I come! Sweet!  :)