ASIA: Johor Bahru, Malaysia | LEGOLAND!!

You can travel to Johor Bahru by bus, train, or plane. We opted for the plane since we didn’t have the luxury of time for a 3 to 6-hour journey. Our flight took just an hour, which was perfect because our main plan was to visit Singapore after Legoland.

Before flying to Malaysia, we made sure to book our Legoland tickets in advance to avoid long queues.

TIP #1: SAVE & CLICK.
Book everything ahead of time—your flights, hotels, and theme park tickets, just like we did. I have friends with credit cards (unfortunately, I can't use mine since it's maxed out), so we started by booking our plane tickets last November when there was a seat sale. Then in January, we secured our hotel in Malaysia, and so on. We didn't do everything in one go; instead, we followed the SAVE & CLICK strategy. We booked our flight to Johor Bahru thanks to Air Asia!

TIP # 2 : GO TO THE AIRPORT 4 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT

Be prepared for long queues, especially for domestic flights. It took us an hour to reach the airport and an additional 2 hours just to queue. Also, make sure to check in online beforehand; if you don’t, they will charge you RM 10 each for ticket printing due to their system policies. We were pretty frustrated about that!

We landed at Johor Bahru airport just an hour after takeoff, and I must say, the airport was quite impressive. From there, we took the yellow Causeway Link bus to Legoland, which cost us RM 10 each. The travel time is around 45 to 60 minutes. If you have luggage with you, don’t worry—they offer locker rentals at Legoland. The cost for a one-day rental is RM 40, but make sure to bring exact change since the machine doesn’t give back any. They provide both medium and large lockers for your belongings and luggage.

For more information about Legoland Click here 

 THE BEGINNING

LEGO TECHIC

THIS WAS ACTUALLY FUN.
WE WERE LIKE KIDS SCREAMING OUR HEART OUT.

I WAS AMAZED BECAUSE THE HEAD OF ALBERT EINSTEIN WERE
ALL MADE OF LEGOS. *tempting to pull off some legos*
This area are for kids who wants some mind-cracking games.

IMAGINATION

KIDS POWER
You pull yourself up and prove you are a mighty one!


OBSERVATION TOWER
You'll get a 360-degrees view of the Legoland, also the places that
surrounds the park.

KINGDOMS

CASTLE STAGE
There are shows you can watch here!

THE DRAGON

Expect a twist & turn ride!

LAND OF ADVENTURE

DINO ISLAND

This is like compared to the log jam ride in EK.

THE LOST KINGDOM

MINILAND ATTRACTION

IT'S NOW TIME TO HAVE SOME FUN AT

LEGOLAND WATER PARK! 

I have to say, this was definitely the highlight of our Legoland trip! If you're planning to visit Legoland, I highly recommend staying overnight at the hotel to fully enjoy both parks, especially the water park! The slides are absolutely exhilarating and will leave you wanting more!

This finally wraps up our Malaysia Trip!

If you choose to head to Singapore, you can take a taxi to the Malaysia customs and immigration checkpoint for passport checking and stamping. After that, hop on a bus to the Singapore customs and immigration for the same process.

TIP # 3 PASSPORT NUMBER, PLACE OF ISSUED & DATE OF ISSUED.

When traveling abroad, you'll often need to fill out forms for the immigration officer. To make this process smoother and reduce the number of times you have to dig through your bag for your passport, make sure to memorize your passport number, the place it was issued, and the date it was issued. This information will be incredibly helpful!

ASIA: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I was genuinely surprised by the beauty of Malaysia. My experiences there exceeded all my expectations. Initially, I thought it would be just another typical Asian country, similar to the Philippines, but I was mistaken. Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures, primarily Indian and Chinese. It was often difficult to distinguish between Malays and Indians, as they share many similarities. I noticed that some Malays resemble Filipinos, which I found interesting. However, throughout our trip, people often recognized us as Filipinos, though some would still ask, “Are you from the Philippines or Indonesia?”

Since we traveled on a tight budget and not for leisure, we made careful choices. We booked our flights with Cebu Pacific during a seat sale and secured a year-round promo for our AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru (Legoland). We stayed at Etika Inn, situated in the heart of Chinatown. We chose not to book a 5-star hotel, not because of the cost, but because we knew we wouldn’t spend much time there since we planned to be out exploring all day. Etika Inn was a great choice, especially for friends traveling together, with spacious rooms, clean bathrooms, and Filipino receptionists. Plus, they offered free Wi-Fi!

With only one day to explore Kuala Lumpur before our flight to Johor Bahru, we managed to visit the city’s top three attractions: Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur Tower, and the Petronas Twin Towers.

BATU CAVES

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Batu Caves (Tamil: பத்து மலை) is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in the Gombak district. The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia. (wikepedia.com)

Before entering the Batu Caves, there are a few important rules to keep in mind. The most obvious one is the dress code: shorts and skirts are not allowed. If you happen to forget this rule, as I did, you can rent a shawl for RM 5 to cover up.

To reach the cave, you'll need to climb a steep staircase with 272 steps, which can be quite exhausting. We found ourselves taking breaks along the way to catch our breath. Be sure to keep an eye on your belongings, especially your phone, as there are monkeys all around that might snatch your valuables—this adds a unique challenge to the climb!

Once you reach the top, you'll be greeted by various temples inside the cave. Just remember to remove your shoes before entering any of the shrines.

KUALA LUMPUR TOWER

We initially planned to dine at the top level of the tower, but we decided against it due to the high prices and strict dress code. Instead, we simply enjoyed the stunning views of the city and the tower itself. Near the reception area, there's the Menara KL Tourism, where you can find a hanging bridge that makes for a fantastic photo opportunity with a beautiful backdrop.

THE PETRONAS TWIN TOWER

I never expected the Petronas Twin Towers to be that colossal! We had to step back quite a bit just to capture the full image. It has become an iconic spot for tourists, particularly couples, due to its unique architectural design. Many liken the towers to two people standing face-to-face, holding hands. The view is truly stunning, and it's a perfect spot to relax and sit for a while. Don't forget to take plenty of photos; you won’t get bored just looking at them!

I highly recommend visiting at night. Not only will you avoid the scorching sun, but the towers also light up beautifully in the evening.

WHERE TO BUY PASALUBONG?

This street clearly belongs to Chinatown, and the picture says it all! You can find inexpensive "I love Kuala Lumpur" shirts, magnets, pens, bags, keychains, ashtrays, and more here. Miniature Petronas Twin Towers for home displays are also available. While some stores have fixed prices, others allow for bargaining to get a better deal. An interesting bonus is that some sellers speak Tagalog, likely because they know Filipinos love to buy pasalubong for their family and friends—and, of course, to negotiate for a lower price!

WHERE TO EAT?

SPICY OVERLOAD 

The food was amazing! I absolutely loved the chicken curry! They refer to it as "Chicken with gravy," which puzzled me at first. I expected actual gravy, so I was a bit disappointed when it arrived. But after tasting it—WOW! It's legit curry! I ended up ordering two servings because my friend found it too spicy for her taste. The "pancit-looking" dish, iced Milo, and rice also hit the spot.

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN IN KUALA LUMPUR:

1. Transportation costs double at night.
2. Make sure your taxi uses a meter. If they offer a flat rate of RM 30, look for another taxi.
3. If you prefer your food mild, be sure to specify it—most dishes are spicy!
4. There are free buses that travel to various tourist destinations.

Terima Kasih

ASIA: I love HK

Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations for Filipinos. It's often seen as a “shopping haven” thanks to its non-existent taxes. It's also a fantastic place for family trips and gatherings, boasting attractions like Disneyland, Ocean Park, The Peak, and Lantau Island. With Disneyland being more accessible than its counterparts in the US, Japan, and France, many dreams have come true for those wanting to visit.

I genuinely love Hong Kong; it's a place that feels like home to me. I've been there three times, and each trip gets better. My first visit was in 1996 when I was just 5 years old, and I still remember the thrill of it all. We returned in 2012 to ring in the New Year and, of course, do some shopping! My most recent trip was last year with my friend Tina, and it was a whole new adventure. We decided to explore Hong Kong on our own—no tours, no packages, just us and a map.

Like Japan, the main mode of transportation in Hong Kong is the train. The train stations are enormous, and you could easily get lost if you don't know which exit to take. So, having a train route map and a city map is essential—it will save you a lot of hassle!

You might wonder why Tina and I were brave enough to navigate Hong Kong without a solid plan. We wanted to experience travel like "legit" explorers do—venturing into a place with no itinerary often leads to unexpected fun. Don’t get me wrong; it can be challenging at times, and misunderstandings about directions can lead to frustration. But that's part of the adventure! Having traveled to Hong Kong with our parents on guided tours, we felt it was time to try something different.

Here are some of the places in Hong Kong that I've visited.

WHERE TO GO SHOPPING IN HONG KONG?

CANTON ROAD
If you love signature/high end bags or anything, you gotta go here.
You can find H&M here as well

MONG KOK
This is where you can buy cheap and good stuff.
You can bargain if the price is kind of expensive; some of them know how to speak and understand tagalog.
So be careful of what you speak.

WHERE TO GO?

THE PEAK
I would like to recommend you to go here at night.
Not only is it windy up there but the view of the city is just jaw-dropping.

DISNEYLAND
Whether you're a kid or an adult, this place is guaranteed to evoke feelings of nostalgia. It truly allows the child within you to come alive! With a wide variety of rides suitable for all ages, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

You can take pictures with your favorite Disney characters and Disney Princesses.

There are fireworks before Disneyland closes.
The bang of each fireworks is synchronize with your favorite disney songs.

OCEAN PARK
They have crazy rides. Really crazy. (well, for me)

Ocean Park is much larger than Hong Kong Disneyland, requiring you to ride a cable car to access different areas of the park. They offer a sea lion show that's perfect for kids, and similar to the Ocean Park in Manila, you'll find large aquariums showcasing a variety of fish species. Plus, you can spot adorable pandas among other animals!

M goi