The Budget Travel Guide to Langkawi, Malaysia

April 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Kilim Geoforest Park

Comprising 99 islands, Langkawi lies in Andaman Sea, off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its main island, Pulau Langkawi, takes its name from the reddish brown eagle that has also become the symbol of the island. The archipelago is known for its natural resources. It may be small but it is packed with all kinds of natural wonders --- glorious waterfalls, white beaches, mangrove forests, brackish rivers, limestone cliffs, and diverse wildlife. While Langkawi's popularity as a honeymoon and backpacking destination in Malaysia skyrockets, it remains unheard of to most Filipinos. During my visit, the manager of the hotel where I stayed shared that there were not many Pinoy tourists who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Langkawi, Malaysia, Planning a Trip, Travel Guide

Peninsular Malaysia West Coast: Islands to Highlands in a Week

February 23, 2013 by 2 Comments
BOH Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

We never intended to tour around Malaysia that month. Our original destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia but an unfortunate event forced us to drop the idea. Our connecting flights were in Kuala Lumpur so we figured, Why not explore Malaysia instead? So just a couple of days before the trip, we found ourselves rummaging through the Internet for travel ideas. After a night-long research, we listed down the destinations we wished to visit and most of them are located near the West Coast. Our initial list had five cities but, wait, that was too many stops for a 6-day trip! Since I had been to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur in separate occasions, they got the cut. We settled for three destinations … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Malaysia, Penang, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Langkawi Cable Car and Oriental Village – Kedah, Malaysia

February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Langkawi Cable Car

I still remember how I struggled to find another imaginary bowl to contain my overflowing excitement moments before my very first cable car ride in Hong Kong. Like all first times, the thrill was just immeasurable. I remember that very first step into a gondola; I almost jumped from the platform into it. I remember that moment when we reached the very peak of the line; I was scared and happy at the same time, and not many things can make me feel that weird mixture of emotions. It was that milestone in Hong Kong that got me too excited for my second gondola ride in Langkawi. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Langkawi, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills, Parks, Waterfalls Tagged With: , , ,

Batu Caves and All Things Tall – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Batu Caves, Malaysia

Dozens of macaque monkeys ushered visitors up the 272-step staircase to the Temple Cave. Actually, saying that they were "ushering" would be sugarcoating it. Not only did some of them follow visitors around, a few also found themselves on one end of a mini-brawl when they start getting territorial or when they just try to snatch food from unsuspecting tourists. It was the last day of our week-long trip across the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and there was no better way to end this journey than a stop at one of the most visited sites in Kuala Lumpur --- Batu Caves. Batu Caves is actually a 4-million year old karst hill with a network of caves and chambers running through and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , ,

Review: Old Penang Guesthouse – George Town, Malaysia

February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
An Old Penang Guesthouse brochure I found at Kang Lodge in Cameron Highlands

Standing along an amusingly named street called Love Lane is a pre-war shophouse building that has been converted into a charming hostel --- the Old Penang Guesthouse. There were many reasons why we chose to stay here and on top of that list are the stellar reviews I found on the web. And the place is even shinier than its online reputation. Old Penang Guesthouse is a restored heritage house at the heart of Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it retains the many almost century old elements, it felt surprisingly modern. We arrived in the late afternoon and the woman at the reception greeted us with warmth and kindness. She asked us to wait for a moment as they made … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Historical Sites, Malaysia, Penang Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Kang Travelers Lodge (Daniel’s Lodge) – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Kang Travelers Lodge

There was a bonfire in the far end of the Jungle Bar, where guests were gathered around. Selina, a British lady I met on the road, pulled a chair, invited me to sit beside her, and introduced me to the rest of the group. The bonfire was providing the warmth on that chilly evening but a different fire sparked within me as our conversations went on. For the first time ever, I was able to break out of my bashful bubble and make friends with other travelers on my own. That alone sealed Kang Travelers Lodge's position on my Most Memorable Hostels list. Before this, I had never traveled alone and never made an effort to befriend other travelers. But the hostel fostered an atmosphere that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Cameron Highlands, International Trips, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Review: Tropical Resort Langkawi – Kedah, Malaysia

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Tropical Resort Langkawi Reception

"You're the first Filipinos to check in at this resort this year," the manager told us after checking out. It was our second and last day in Langkawi. We spent the previous night at Tropical Resort in Pantai Tengah. It was a shame to leave this early. I loved the island and I wished I could stay longer but we needed to get moving to Penang. The manager and staff were just starting to warm up to us. Just the day before, we arrived at Tropical Resort after a full-day tour of the island and everyone seemed to be so busy. The manager was the only one at the reception, taking calls, welcoming guests, and doing a quick tour of the resort. Unlike most hotel-owners I had met in Malaysia, he was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, International Trips, Langkawi, Malaysia Tagged With: , , ,

Restaurant Review: Steamboat Hot Pot at Rosette Café – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
Big, big hot pot

The hunger that was tormenting me was starting to burn a hole in my tummy but I was sure I won't be having a meal any time soon. My travel buddy and I stared at the menu for more than five minutes, deciding on what to have for dinner. We arrived at the restaurant to try their steamboat feast but the Western dishes on the menu were making the task difficult. I wanted to try them all but, alas, my digestive system has a very limited capacity. "Not ready?" asked the waitress whose impatience leaked despite a very polite facade. "Not yet," I answered. "Give us five more minutes." And with that, the waitress rushed to the next table. She's the only server on duty at the time. After a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Food, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , ,

Review: Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant – Langkawi, Malaysia

January 4, 2013 by 2 Comments
Tiger prawns! Rawr!

"Are you sure?" asked the waiter, who appeared to refuse to take note of our order. "Four tiger prawns? Four?" "Yes, that's right," I confirmed. "So that's 4 tiger prawns, 1 sea bass, 1 chicken satay, and fried rice. Correct?" said the waiter. But before I could say yes, he spoke again. "One serving of chicken satay is equal to 12 sticks. Is it okay?" "No problem." "Alright." The waiter left us utterly confused. It was as if he did not want us to have what we ordered. That confusion, however, would be erased as soon as all the dishes were served. It was just too much. Considering that we were just a party of two, we knew at that moment that we were in for a big, big dining … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Langkawi, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , ,

12 Hours in George Town – Penang, Malaysia

December 2, 2012 by 1 Comment
Old buildings along Love Lane in George Town, Penang

When I was planning this Malaysia trip, the only thing that I was sure of was that I wanted to set foot on George Town, Penang. But as I read more about other places in West Malaysia, particularly Cameron Highlands and Langkawi, the shorter my Penang time got. By the start of the trip, Penang was reduced to a “connecting stop” and my stay was narrowed down to half a day. I would still spend a night in George Town but I would have to leave the next day for another destination. It was a mistake. As soon as we stepped on its soil, it dawned on us that 12 hours won't be enough to truly experience the city. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Malaysia, Penang, Religious Sites, Roads + Bridges Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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