Singapore – Kuala Lumpur Cruise: Summary, Itinerary, and Budget

October 15, 2011 by 1 Comment
SuperStar Virgo (Star Cruises)

First times. If there's one thing that I am so grateful about this trip, it's that it gave me a several first times. It was my first time to board a cruise ship. It was my first time to see  a cruise ship, to be honest. My first time to set foot on Malaysia. My first time at a Temple where taking photographs isn't prohibited. First time to enter a skyscraper that is more than 400m tall. First time to travel out of the country with fellow travel bloggers. Thanks to Airphil Express for making this possible. Airphil Express invited me and seven other bloggers to try one of the packages they offer --- Fly and Sail. It was a 4-day 3-night trip. We flew to Singapore via Airphil Express and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jewel Box: Where Everything’s a Gem – Mt. Faber, Singapore

October 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Jewel Box logo all over the place

"Hey, come inside! Look!" Normally, when somebody excitedly invites me over to show me something, I get thrilled. But at that particular moment, I was not. And with good reason. My blogger friend had just emerged from the restroom and excitedly grabbed my arm to show me "something." "Where are we going?" I asked. "Stop asking questions! Just come with me," he insisted. I almost peed my pants when I realized we were heading to the restroom. Uh-oh. "You're gonna love it," he said. "The restroom?" "What else, silly?" Hahaha. I tried to imagine how a washroom could wow me but not even the prettiest washrooms in my head could blow me away. Whatever. Like a little boy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Other Landmarks, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Becoming a Kid Again at Sentosa, Singapore

October 10, 2011 by 2 Comments
sentosa tiger sky tower

Quarter-life crisis. I guess it's starting to kick in. Almost every night since my 25th birthday I would just lie in my bed at night and think about my childhood. When I close my eyes, I try to relive the days when I would just spread my arms wide open and pretend to fly. I try to remember the day when I first rode a bicycle. I try to imagine climbing a nearby hill just so I could see the beach and feel the wind on my face. Many times I would even dream about it. Unfortunately, unless time travel becomes a reality, all I can do is remember. I have always considered Singapore to be a very modern and futuristic city. I had never been to any place in Singapore where I could not see … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Singapore, Theme Parks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

October 9, 2011 by 2 Comments
petronas twin towers kuala lumpur malaysia

Earlier that day, when our Tour Guide announced that we had entered the city of Kuala Lumpur, I quickly moved to a window seat and started searching the skies for an imposing structure --- the Petronas Towers. When I looked at our itinerary before this trip, I was familiar with these twin towers only. Prior to this trip, I had not heard of the Thean Hou Temple or the Merdeka Square. The Petronas Towers, I have to admit, were the only man-made structure in Malaysia that I was familiar with. That's why I was really excited when it was finally time to visit this iconic landmark. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buildings, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

KL Tower and 1 Malaysia Cultural Village – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

October 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
kl tower kuala lumpur malaysia

The Kuala Lumpur Tower, or Menara Kuala Lumpur, has become one of the most iconic landmarks in Malaysia. Completed in 1995, the tower is 421 meters (1,381 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest free standing towers in the world. The KL Tower, as it is more popularly called, was built to improve the quality of telecommunications and broadcast in the city. The Tower also serves as the Islamic falak observatory, enabling observation of the crescent moon, which marks the Ramadan and other important events. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buildings, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Parks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Merdeka Square and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

October 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Merdeka Square (Independence Square)

Our tour bus stopped in front of what looks like a cricket field. "We gonna play?" I mumbled. The green field lie in front of Tudor-style buildings that somehow reminded me of Old England. Malaysia was under British rule before. It was only when I caught a glimpse of the flag pole in the southern end of the field that I realized that we were at the Dataran Merdeka (or Independence Square). That flag pole is said to be one of the tallest in the world, standing at 95 meters. On this flag pole, the Union Jack (flag of the United Kingdom) was lowered and the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time. It was the midnight of August 31, 1957. That explains the countless Malaysian … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historical Sites, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thean Hou Temple – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

September 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
thean hou temple kuala lumpur

I was still trying to catch my breath when I reached the tour bus parked at Port Klang, Malaysia. The SuperStar Virgo had docked and our group was ready for a tour of Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital. It was a long walk from the ship to the bus. "Are we still waiting for anyone else?" asked our Malaysian tour guide. She was a nice and soft-spoken middle-aged woman. "Yes," I responded. Winston (of BatangYagit.com) and Marcos (of Ambot-ah.com) were still in their room. After a few minutes, they climbed into the bus, relieved. It took almost an hour to reach Kuala Lumpur. While on the road, our Tour Guide gave a brief history of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia. Of all the facts that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On Board the SuperStar Virgo: Dining and Entertainment (Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Cruise)

September 24, 2011 by 1 Comment
Cafe Gelato!

Eating. Probably my favorite activity in the world. And it's even more enjoyable on cruise! On board the SuperStar Virgo from Singapore to Port Klang, Malaysia, I found myself eating most of the time! To hell with my tummy, I would indulge in the many gastronomic delights aboard this lovely cruise ship! SuperStar Virgo houses several restaurants serving a variety of international cuisines. From fine dining to buffet restos, you'll find something that caters to your taste. The Airphil Express Fly and Sail package comes with free meals from three restaurants --- Bella Vista (international), Mediterranean Buffet (halal certified), and The Pavilion (Chinese). This means that you won't be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On Board the Superstar Virgo: Boarding and Facilities (Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Cruise)

September 18, 2011 by 3 Comments
superstar virgo cable car

I had never been on a cruise ship before. I'm not even sure if I had seen one before. I had been on a ferry a number of times but many of them were short trips. I had spent a couple of days on a ferry once, when I was young, to General Santos City but there was nothing remotely luxurious about the trip. We did not even have a private cabin and there was nothing I could do but watch the horizon. A cruise ship complete with entertainment facilities and buffet dining? Nah, never experienced it before. It was also my first time in Malaysia. That's why this trip is so special for me. It gave me many first times. I was beyond thrilled. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, International Trips, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lost in the Pages of Books Kinokuniya | Orchard Road, Singapore

September 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
books kinokuniya singapore

There's something about the smell of new books that excites me. Call me weird but I love putting my nose close to the pages as I flip them. I also love the feeling of my fingers running on the edges of the books and its virgin pages. It's just addictive. Books give me life. That's why when our very little time in Orchard Road on my previous trip to Singapore did not allow me to step into Books Kinokuniya, I was really disappointed. Knowing that it's one of the biggest bookstores in Southeast Asia --- Indonesia's Gramedia flagship store in Jakarta is the largest --- I promised myself I would pay it a visit the next time I'd be in Singapore. And this Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Cruise paved way … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Shops, Singapore Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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