Malay Mo, Malay Nila, Malaysia!
One of my fears about traveling is hearsay! Ranging from bad to worst and good to bad and the like. Particular information that I read from a traveler is that Singapore is an expensive country to visit with. Reading the enumerated expensive leisure that she encountered in visiting this country was registered into my heart and mind. So it created a sense of fear inside of me on going to this small hot, humid country in the Northern Hemisphere (one and a half degrees north of the equator). So INIT (HOT)!
Nevertheless, I booked from one of the low-cost airlines in the Philippines-Cebu Pacific from their promo fare roundtrip which cost me 6+ thousand.
While the trip is coming so soon, I was so excited on the day of my flight. Here are the details of my Manila-Kuala Lumpur/Singapore/Indonesia Trip:
Take Off: Manila, Philippines (MNL) Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Touch Down: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Cebu Pacific assigned KLIA2 Terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The downside of taking a promo fare ticket is the time of departure and arrival. In my case, I departed from NAIA3 at 10:00PM and arrived at KLIA2 at 1AM which left me no choice but to take a grabcar going to Holiday Inn Express at KL Centre. Good thing, the Malaysia Grab is so cheap and it has a fixed value of MYR65 even in a great distance, plus the 3 toll plaza that you are going to pass by which will entirely cost you MYR72 for 45-50 minutes travel.
Important NOTE: Do not make arrangements to the taxi drivers outside the KLIA2 (Arrival Hall) they will persuade you of a discounted price for you to take their services. Say NO and tell them that you are waiting for your grabcar!
If your flight is favorable for you, then it is better for you to take the KLIA Express Train going to KL Sentral which will take you 45minutes going to KL Sentral Terminal.
Places I visited in Malaysia:
Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur Tower
Panoramic view from the Observation Deck (TH01)
Or if you have some extra go for Sky Deck (TH05)
Petronas Twin Tower
Genting Highlands(was canceled due to rain), "I will come back for this"
Thank you to my friend Marisa who lives in Penang-gave me this information which I enjoyed the rest of my stay in Malaysia.
My flight to Penang Island via Airasia
Take Off: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Touch Down: Penang, Malaysia (PEN) Penang International Airport
One thing I was amazed at was the car that I booked from the Grab - Volkswagen! Super luxury for the price of MYR21 going to my hostel!
Places I visited at Penang Island:
Little India
I arrived at Penang Island on a rainy morning so some of my list to visit was canceled. Instead, I went to Little India and eat some of the Indian foods there! There's just so much spices in their food!
Important NOTE: If you're not into spicy food when making orders, please tell the waiter "No spicy". You might not eat the food that you ordered. Hahah
Gurney Plaza
I haven't found the store which sells Nougat in Penang - Nougat is not associated when it comes to Penang but they are the best, so I went there to find the store but I couldn't for some reason, it's not there!
How to Get There: Take the 101 Bus route to Gurney Plaza from Georgetown
Penang Hill or Bukit Bendera
The view of the entire Penang Island. It's a must when visiting the island.
Funicular Train this will bring you up there!
The view from the Hill
How to Get There
Take the 201 Bus route to Penang Hill lower station from Komtar Bus Terminal
Take the 201 Bus route to Penang Hill lower station from Komtar Bus Terminal
Singapura, My Merlie!
Now, the hearsay that I afraid of being about to be revealed!
I arrived in Singapore at 11:25AM from Penang, Malaysia brought by a low-cost airline carrier, AirAsia Berhad. Seeing the airport for the first time, I was amazed at how it was designed, I checked the comfort room and it was so nice, clean, and smell-free from stinky odor.
As I was appreciating the beautiful Terminal 4, I forgot to fill-up the Disembarkation Form needed by the immigration officer! haha, so I presented to her, my passport. So she asked, where is your Disembarkation form? Oh...I see! I replied. She said, "you see, everyone is writing. Go!" Not so embarrassing moment-this the scenario which you will learn. So to the readers, do not forget to fill-up the Disembarkation form and fill them using capital letters. And went back, but not to her anymore (nanananana...)
After which I headed to "Cheers Convenience Store" to claim my SG SIM card which I purchased through Klook. The store has no name if you are from the inside of the arrival hall, you need to go out to see the "Cheers", along with the 2 forex booths.
Speaking of which, I need to exchange my PHP to SGD, so I just exchanged, PHP3000 just to be able to buy an EZ Card for MRT/LRT access.
So I boarded to the bus shuttle that brought us to Terminal 2 for the proper disembarkation and the commencement of my visit to Singapore! Roy, welcome to Singapore! Oops! I don't have an EZ card yet! Haha
Where to Buy EZ Card
In the Terminal 4 arrival hall, you won't find any store which sells EZ Card, only at the Terminal 2 Changi Airport Station booth. The price is just SGD12 which has SGD7 stored value. You can ask them to add some value to it.
How to Get There
I arrived in Singapore at 11:25AM from Penang, Malaysia brought by a low-cost airline carrier, AirAsia Berhad. Seeing the airport for the first time, I was amazed at how it was designed, I checked the comfort room and it was so nice, clean, and smell-free from stinky odor.
Entrance from the air bridge
A lot of trees inside the airport
As I was appreciating the beautiful Terminal 4, I forgot to fill-up the Disembarkation Form needed by the immigration officer! haha, so I presented to her, my passport. So she asked, where is your Disembarkation form? Oh...I see! I replied. She said, "you see, everyone is writing. Go!" Not so embarrassing moment-this the scenario which you will learn. So to the readers, do not forget to fill-up the Disembarkation form and fill them using capital letters. And went back, but not to her anymore (nanananana...)
After which I headed to "Cheers Convenience Store" to claim my SG SIM card which I purchased through Klook. The store has no name if you are from the inside of the arrival hall, you need to go out to see the "Cheers", along with the 2 forex booths.
Speaking of which, I need to exchange my PHP to SGD, so I just exchanged, PHP3000 just to be able to buy an EZ Card for MRT/LRT access.
Sim card, 100GB of DATA!
So I boarded to the bus shuttle that brought us to Terminal 2 for the proper disembarkation and the commencement of my visit to Singapore! Roy, welcome to Singapore! Oops! I don't have an EZ card yet! Haha
Where to Buy EZ Card
In the Terminal 4 arrival hall, you won't find any store which sells EZ Card, only at the Terminal 2 Changi Airport Station booth. The price is just SGD12 which has SGD7 stored value. You can ask them to add some value to it.
Cute EZ Card. Hahah
The reason why I did not exchange all my PHP at the terminal forex because there is better value awaits me at Bedok Mall! Just 3 stations from Changi Airport station going to Bedok. Prior to my arrival, I've checked the exchange rate of SGDs, so I found out that there are a lot of forex stores at Bedok, so I went there.
Where to Exchange PHP to SGD
Green Point Money Exchange/Firman $hah International Exchange
How to Get There
East West Line(Airport line) Alight at Bedok MRT
Take Exit B and walk to 204 Bedok North Street 1 passing the Hawker center.
Comparable Exchange Rate
https://cashchanger.co/singapore/php-to-sgd?val=3000&valtype=have
If you have PHP3000, you will get approximately SGD79.20. This forex will give you, PHP1=SGD 0.0263 =SGD78.90
NOTE: Only be vigilant and be wised enough for the Indian that owns the forex will likely cheat on you for he cheated on me, but I went back and asked the correct value for my money! They gave me SGD360 but when I left just a little farther and checked the amount and 'twas lacking (kulang ng SGD30). So I came back and asked SGD30!
Where to Stay
Hotel 81 Princess
I book via "booking.com" for my stay at Hotel 81 Princess. As I was reading the reviews of the hotel, Indeed! It was clean, the comfort room, the floor, and bedroom linens. It was comfortable lying on their one BIG Bed! The bed is just so comforting after exhausting your body from roaming around the city.How to Get There
By MRT from Changi Airport:
- East-West Line, alight to Aljunied Station Exit B and walk towards Aljunied Road Bus Stop Code: 81089
- Take Bus No 100 or any bus that goes to 80069 Opp Mohd Salleh
Where to Eat
Food prices depend on location. In malls and other establishments, the prices are ranging from SGD8-15. But you can find cheaper food without sacrificing the taste -the sidewalk restaurants or cafeterias with a selling price of SGD5-9. You will go out burping! Promise...
Food prices depend on location. In malls and other establishments, the prices are ranging from SGD8-15. But you can find cheaper food without sacrificing the taste -the sidewalk restaurants or cafeterias with a selling price of SGD5-9. You will go out burping! Promise...
Places I visited in Singapore
Featured all kinds of flowers in the world, there are trees that can only be found in a certain country, to a specific weather condition and the like.
Cloud Forest and the SuperTree
Tallest Man-made Water Falls in the Cloud Forest
This flower is particularly found in the Australian Garden in the Flower Dome.
Bellis Perennis or Daisy
Blue Million Bells
Dendrobium Sonia
When in Singapore, this trademark should be on your itinerary. Once this is not included, you did not visit Singapore! Its name is a combination of "Mer" meaning sea and "lion". The fish's body represents Singapore's origin as a fishing village when it was called Temasek which means Seatown in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name-Singapura meaning lion city.
Height: 8.6 meter tall (original)
Merlion's height: 8.6 meter tall, the original Merlion
Marina Bay Sands (Skydeck Observation)
The only thing that you can find up there is the information on every corner of Singapore, building their story, it is written in Mandarine, Korean and English! Nothing special out there, only viewing of Singapore skyline.
Marina Bay Sand
Marina Bay Sand between Gardens By the Bay
Sentosa Island (Universal Studio and many more, I went to Palawan Beach!)
The 37-meter-tall gigantic Merlion replica in Sentosa Island. This will be demolished soon to give way to a new $90M Sentosa Sensoryscape project by the Sentosa-Brani masterplan.
Singapore Botanic Garden
(Inaamoy ko lahat ng bulaklak dito at niyakap lahat ng punong-kahoy na nadadaanan ko, well, I did it!) I smelled the flowers and embraced the trees that I passed by here.
Those who are lovers of nature, this is well suited for you. In the Botanic garden, at the Bamboo plants- you can find "foot massage pathways" there. It was absolutely beautiful and was clean and good for your health while just walking around the foot massage pathways while smelling the freshness of Bamboo trees. I love every plant in the Botanic Garden.
Just a Big Tree! Hahah
Caranium Vulgare - Java Almond Fallen Leaves
Hymenaea Courbaril-West Indian Locust Tree
Bamboo Tree. So cool to be under this tree.
China Town
Best for tummy and souvenir items as well. I bought Durian here! Stinky!!!
Little India - Mustafa Centre
Souvenir item, it's cheaper here than somewhere else like if you visit Sentosa and buy pasalubong (homecoming gift) there, it will be expensive, but you can buy them at Mustafa in Little India at a cheaper price. Oops! Don't forget to claim your tax refund coz I forgot mine :(!
Batam, Indonesia
I briefly visited Batam, Indonesia through Batam Fast with the ferry ticket of 1,491.80 back and forth. I just bought more chocolates since it is cheaper there than in Singapore. The chocolate was made in Malaysia by way. :)
Verdict
Is it really expensive to visit Singapore? The answer is as sweet as honey, "NO".
I am encouraging you to go and experience Singapore and don't let others define your fear just because they said so. That's not true my dear, go see it for yourself. :) Thank you so much.
Truly yours,
Roy
#suroysuroyniroy #royinasia #singapore #malaysia #batamindonesia
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