Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan (May 18, 2013)

Basic Expenses:

194.00 Php - Ordinary bus fare from Dau Terminal to Alaminos City Proper via Pangasinan Five Star Bus Co Inc 

60.00 Php - 1 tricycle from Alaminos City Proper to Lucap Wharf

1000.00 Php - small boat (day tour, back and forth) from Lucap Wharf to all Islands. We are 3 persons

*We are initially wanting to get the 800.00 Php boat for the day tour which would cover 3 islands but we were given a discounted price of 1000.00 Php which according to them is usually 1400.00 for an all-island tour.

70.00 Php - 1 tricycle from Lucap Wharf to Victory Liner Bus Terminal

253.00 Php - airconditioned bus fare from Victory Liner Bus Terminal to Dau Terminal (This is supposed to be a Cubao bus that will have a stop over at Tarlac terminal but since we should stop at Dau terminal the conductor agreed to stop over at Dau terminal as well)

400.00 Php - snorkeling mask for 3 people with life vest but no aqua shoes

Lucap Wharf, Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan

one of the landmarks at Lucap Wharf

We're originally planning to go to Potipot Island in Zambales however we had a change of plan due to transportation issues. We were at the Dau Terminal by 11:00 pm and we learned that there are no Zambales buses that go there so we had to ride an Olongapo bus instead however we missed the last Olongapo van and the next Olongapo bus is said to arrive at 7:00 am so we decided to go to Alaminos Pangasinan instead to see the Hundred Islands. It was a very short trip to Alaminos City Proper. We left at about 11:00 pm and arrived at a little past 2:00 am. The moment we disembarked from the bus tricycle drivers approached us and offered a ride to Lucap Wharf however we had to take our breakfast first and buy some food so we declined. After eating breakfast and buying what we need for the day another tricycle driver offered us a ride to Lucap Wharf for 100.00 Php but we haggled for 60.00 Php and the driver agreed.

*Beware of fixers. Don't entertain boat offers from outside sources. you can get boats from the Lucap Wharf office. 

Lucap Wharf: where the boats dock

We we're already at Lucap Wharf by 3:00 am. We waited for the sun to rise at a hut 

the hut where we waited for the morning

waiting for the sunrise

from afar the Hundred Islands look connected to each other but if you get closer they are not

We left Lucap Wharf at 6:30 am but the sun rose early that day. We're just halfway through the boat ride and it's already hot but that didn't dampen our spirits. We first visited Governor's Island.

Governor's Island

A sunny day at Governor Island's view deck (it's hard to take pictures when it's very hot

Pinoy Big Brother House at Governor's Island

PBB House (back view)

PBB House (front view)

view deck at PBB's House

Then we went to Marcos Island. This is where we did the Imelda Cave jump. It's about a 10- feet jump from rock to water. I was nervous at first but i eventually jumped and now that I was able to do it I want to do it again. I can still remember that subtle jerk in my chest when I jumped and the couple of seconds that I was going down of the water like I would not float. I want to do it again preferably to somewhere higher.

people going up to Imelda Cave

Marcos Island (view from the top)

finding the courage to jump

the frog jump

we did it :)

After Marcos Island, we went to Coral Garden. I was getting impatient because I can't wear the snorkeling mask, good thing I persisted on wearing it and our tour guide coaxed me as well or I'll deeply regret it. It was my first time to snorkel and it was a very relaxing, and overwhelming experience. The corals at Coral Garden are pretty decent. They are not very colorful but I was still amazed (and it's funny because it's my first time to see corals underwater so I really have no idea how the corals at Coral Garden would fare if compared with other corals).

 I just have this paranoia that my life vest might get untied so i didn't go that far in the middle of the ocean but perhaps on my next snorkeling I would venture further.

At Coral Garden

It's fun to snorkel in the Philippines

Then we went to Old Scout Island where we had planned to spend the day. But sadly, 

other people went there as well so the island got crowded quickly and we had to 

leave which was both good and bad. Good because we had the chance to see Quezon 

Island and bad because we didn't have the chance to snorkel at Old Scout where there 

are also different-looking corals. The water is also clearer at Old Scout, the 

sand is beautiful and it's shady. The only downside is it has a very short coastline 

so it gets crowded pretty quickly.

Old Scout Island

After Scout Island we went to Quezon Island. Quezon Island is a developed island so expect most of the people there. I think you can appreciate it better if you go there during off-peak season. It has   various spots for swimming.When we went there I saw 3 pools where you can swim. 

First Pool: Near the Entrance

2nd pool: Opposite the 1st pool

3rd Pool

3rd pool on a different angle

After looking around Quezon Island we went to Clave Island. We swam for an hour or so then 

decided to call it a day as we're afraid we're getting too sunburned.

Lighthouse at Lucap Wharf

Upon touching the shore of Lucap Wharf we proceeded to the comfort room to take a shower for 10.00 Php fee then rode a tricycle which took us to the bus station which brought us home. 

Malaysia Tour

Basic Expenses:

(less than) 600.00 PHP - per person Brisdale Hotel

25 MYR (flat rate not metered) - taxi from Time Square to Brisdale Hotel

12 MYR - metered taxi from Brisdale Hotel to My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang

10 MYR - Nasi Lemak at Mak Tom's in Pavilion

(more or less) 2 MYR - LRT from KLCC to KL Sentral

(more then) 1 MYR - KL Sentral to Pasar Seni

(more or less) 2 MYR - Pasar Seni to Bukit Bintang 

(less than) 15 MYR - dinner at Pavilion (I already forgot the name of the noodles but the sauce looks black in color)

(more than) 1 MYR - LRT from Plaza Rakyat Station to Pasar Seni (where we took off to go to Lake Gardens)

10 MYR- Kambing (Bought near Lake Gardens)

8 MYR (metered taxi from Lake Gardens to Bukit Bintang)

65 MYR - taxi fare from My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang to KLIA

Kuala Lumpur Day 1: Chowkit and Brisdale Hotel (April 25, 2013)

We originally planned going to the Perhential Islands so I booked a one night-

room at Brisdale because online information says there's a bus station around the Chowkit area which goes to Kuala Besut. Sadly, plans for Perhentian Islands was cancelled due to time constraints and other factors but we still have to stay at Brisdale since we already booked it.

When we reached KL it was already dark (past 8:00 pm, having left SG few minutes before 2:00 PM). The bus that we took from SG stopped at Time Square. My camera already died in SG so I didn't get the chance of taking a picture when we arrived in Kuala Lumpur. We rode taxis to Brisdale for a flat rate of 25.00 MYR.

We just checked in at Brisdale then went out to look for food. They have decided to eat at KFC but food was not what they expected. As I have told my Malaysian acquaintance, the taste of KFC in Chowkit is very different from that in the Philippines. He said he thought KFC tastes the same everywhere. I said I'm not sure if the KFC in Shah Alam tastes the same as that in Chowkit but he can try the KFC in the Philippines to see hahahah.

After eating, we went back to Brisdale and slept. The problem that we encountered the next day is charging my camera because the sockets at Brisdale are not compatible with my camera charger's plug. They had to buy a universal charger at 711 for 18.00 MYR.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to take any pictures at Chowkit. The only pictures we have is a view of the Petronas Towers from our window at Brisdale and Brisdale's lobby. Not much tourists go to this place maybe because it's not a very glamorous place.

overlooking the Petronas Towers from our room at Brisdale Hotel

Brisdale Hotel lobby: getting ready to go for Bukit Bintang

After charging, we checked out and got ourselves a taxi to take us to My Hotel @Bukit Bintang. 

Kuala Lumpur Day 2: Bukit Bintang: Malling and LRT Hopping (April 26, 2013)

Taxi drivers in MY didn't appear too honest for me as they were to me back in SG. From Brisdale Hotel to My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang the taxi meter read 12 MYR. I gave the driver 15 MYR and I sat there waiting for my change but the driver is not giving me any change but because I won't budge on my sit the taxi eventually gave me 1 MYR. The taxi driver may have noticed I didn't look too happy so he explained that the rest was the charge for the call he made to My Hotel since he doesn't know where exactly it's located. And I thought to myself, "so we had to pay for the call just because he doesn't know where the hotel is?" And then my cousin told us that they only paid 10 MYR to their taxi so the more I felt bad.

Bukit Bintang is totally opposite from Chowkit. You'll see a lot of tourists and malls are within walking distance.

My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang: if your taxi doesn't know it, just please tell him it's just a  few minutes walk away from Pudu Central and it's right across Swiss Hotel. If he still doesn't know maybe he's not from KL hahahhaha

Swiss Garden Hotel 

The receptionist advised us that check-in time is 2:00 pm and since we arrived hours ahead she momentarily gave us 1 room where we can place our luggage. We also need to pay a key deposit of 25 MYR per room which is refundable once we check-out. Right after we left our luggages, we went out to look for food. We found someone who pointed us to Pavilion. The malls are just walking distance from My Hotel, maybe 10-20 minutes walk. 

H&M Store near Pavilion

Zara

Pavilion is next to Sephora

At the fountain near Pavilion

We took our lunch at Food Republic which is located at the basement level of Pavilion.

Eating Mak Tom's Nasi Lemak

After eating, we went out to look around.

The walkway that will lead us to KLCC

Bukit Bintang - KLCC Walkway

View of the Petronas Towers from KLCC Park

Jogging Track within KLCC Park

From KLCC Park you can also walk to Suria KLCC and Aquaria. We planned on going to Lake Gardens after KLCC (we never thought that Lake Gardens is too big and it's not advisable to go there with just an hour at hand. We found this out when we finally got the chance to get to Lake Gardens the next day). While we were at KLCC Park we asked how we can go to Lake Gardens and we were told to go to KL Sentral. We once again asked around when we got to KL Sentral but was now advised that it will be nearer if we originate from Pasar Seni so we went back again and rode for Pasar Seni and then it rained (rain in April, just our luck). Unfortunately, we had to cancel plans for Lake Gardens because we have an infant with us. 

Bridge where you exit to Pasar Seni

waiting for the rain to stop

We went back and rode the monorail to Bukit Bintang. We took our dinner at Lot 10's Food Court

Lot 10


After dinner, we went back to My Hotel. My cousin wants to go to Petronas Towers that night however it drizzled so that didn't come into fruition. We ended up eating Paratha and drinking Teh Tarik at UK Asia instead.

My first time to eat Paratha and drink Teh Tarik. Paratha is the only food I ate in Malaysia which I  enjoyed eating with chicken curry. Curry is a staple food in MY and so far I haven't acquired a taste for it yet

Day 3: Lake Gardens and Petaling Street (April 27, 2013)

We went to the Plaza Rakyat LRT station and stopped at the Pasar Seni station then after we exited to Pasar Seni we asked around how to get to Lake Gardens. It was a very hot day and was a very long walk because every people we ask has their own version of how to get there by foot. There was even one who said we can never walk it, that we have to take a taxi but no, we were able to walk it, it just took a while. 

two edifices we passed by along the way to Lake Gardens. If I'm not mistaken, the one on the right used to be a train station

And this is the part when you'll realize that sometimes it's difficult to travel with groups of people that are not your immediate family because some of my relatives are not much into walking so walking quite a distance dampened the atmosphere. One word of advise as well, if you are not prepared to walk don't go to Lake Gardens. Also make sure that you take your breakfast and bring food with you. This is a huge place.

Do you know what tree this is?

Okay, so where do we go now? (Inside Lake Gardens)

Plaza Tugu Negara

I'm not sure if this is a mosque. Anyone?

I think this could be the National Monument, or I  could be wrong hehehe

Just like what I stated above, some of us are not into walking so the atmosphere went sour and I also felt like just going home. Good thing two of my cousins said we just check what's inside Plaza Tugu Negara that's why we saw the 2 pictures above however since I'm also worrying about the rest not eating lunch yet I didn't go further and had them go back already so we can already leave the place. But looking back, I thought I should have also checked what's behind the mosque. There may be something more. Anyway, everything is a learning experience. 

We took a taxi from Lake Gardens to Pavilion. One of the taxi is charging for 30.00 MYR and we were like "That's expensive!". Then we got another taxi which was metered and we ended up paying only 10.00 MYR. 

For dinner I didn't eat rice anymore. I just ate this.

Bought from Mak Tom's

Come night time, we went to Petaling Street to buy some souvenirs or other things that we may like.

Petaling Street (this is also walkable from My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang)

But stuffs here are not as cheap as we thought so we tried Central Market.