Travel diary: Malaysia in 3 days

I LOVE, LOVE, LOOOVE traveling. Every time I travel, I always learn something new about myself, my companions, and the world - cultures, traditions, cuisines, governance, fashion. Because of this, I made it a point to travel at least once or twice a year. Last year, I was blessed to have been able to visit Puerto Princesa, Hong Kong, Boracay, and Malaysia.

Our Malaysia trip last October was supposed to be a couples trip: me and my boyfriend, and J (check out her blog here) and her boyfriend. Unfortunately, we found out 2 months before the trip that my boyfriend had to attend a wedding in the US at around the same time. *sigh*.

In this post, I'll share with you our itinerary, my budget, and some tips. I'll also post some photos of our trip in my next posts.

Ticket. We bought our roundtrip tickets from Cebu Pacific at P3,897, inclusive of 15kg baggage allowance. This excluded airport fees: travel tax P1,620 and terminal fee: P550. Such steep prices, considering we don't have ample CCTV cameras at the airport, huh?

Itinerary.

Day 1: Melaka/Malacca

Day 2: Kuala Lumpur: Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL, Dining in the Dark

Day 3: Kuala Lumpur: Be Tourist Tour, Batu Caves

Budget. I carved out P20,000 from my savings, but only spent P18,323, all-in. This already included my airfare, hotel and airport fees! So happy I was able to stay within my budget and even had a few savings. Ooohhh, the power of frugality, self-discipline and a go-for-experience-and-not-things mentality. The exchange rate at that time was MYR1 = PHP13.53.

Tips.

• It's better to exchange your Philippine Peso (PHP) to US Dollars (USD), then USD to Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). The conversion rate is much better. Best to also exchange your PHP to USD in the Philippines and your USD to MYR in Malaysia.
• Before traveling, I always make it a point to research about the country's weather. In Malaysia, you can be sure that the weather is almost always hot with occasional rains. Thankfully, it didn't rain when we were there but best to be prepared as well. I suggest packing these essentials:
• Sunblock (super important if you don't want nasty sunburns!)
• Off! Lotion to fight mosquitoes
• Cover-ups such as cap, sunglasses, cardigan (light enough to lug around when you're touring but thick enough to keep you warm indoors)
• Comfortable footwear (I always bring my trusty Converse or Keds)
• Water bottle (major tipid tip!)
• Vitamins and medicines (mostly for headaches and stomachaches)
• Research, research, research! Print out maps and addresses. You might also want to research estimate fares since there are cab drivers who target innocent tourists. You should also research must-try dishes and restaurants, and must-visit places so you can make the most out of your trip.
• Fill your water bottle at the hotel before you leave so you don't have to buy outside.
• It's always a good idea to talk to the locals. You can learn so much history you can't get from Wikipedia. They're also your best source on must-try (and dirt cheap!) restaurants. These are sometimes hole-in-the-wall restaurants you won't normally see on the internet.
• Don't be afraid to try new things or taste new cuisines. To be perfectly honest, most of my favorite dishes from this trip didn't look appetizing (or clean) at all. LOL.
• ENERGY! Every single second is important so always make the most of your vacation.

Watch out for my next posts on our Malaysia trip!

The gift of goodbye

Photo: bethannchiles

Goodbyes... Have you ever wondered why it's called "good"-bye and not "bad"-bye? Usually, when we think of goodbyes, we think of sadness, pain, tears and anything of the same category. Sometimes, goodbyes are uttered with a positive spin, such as "see you soon", "see you later", or simply "later". Or sometimes, it's said with an early onset of reminiscence - "I'll miss you."

Yes, I admit goodbyes are sad occasions most of the time. It means we won't be seeing our loved ones, friends, even boyfriends/girlfriends. But when you think about it... isn't the word "goodbye" enough of a hint to let us know that goodbyes are anything BUT sad? What if we change our perspective of goodbyes and think of them as different chapters in our lives?

"One of the hardest things to accept is that not everyone is meant to be in our lives forever. Some people are meant to be with you for the long-term, of course - your spouse, your children, your siblings, your parents, and your closest friends. But then there are those God brings across your path for a season, maybe a mentor, a teacher, or a guide of some sort to help you through a certain stage of life or a difficult time." - Joel Osteen

When people leave, maybe we should think of these moments as both parties moving on, instead of people leaving us behind. When our mentors move on, it is also a chance for us to develop and grow into people we are meant to be at that point in time. When our friends move on, it means we've already learned what we needed to. It's time for them to move past being our mentors/teachers and for us to apply the lessons we hopefully learned.

On the other hand, there are goodbyes that we celebrate. When it comes to broken relationships (friends/lovers), we can't help but give a sigh of relief. We think that finally, we're past that destructive phase and we can let go of our heavy burden. But we should not just rejoice the freedom, but also the possibilities that come with it - the possibility of new relationships, new beginnings. According to my best friend Joel O. (I wish haha!), "You want people in your life who are supposed to be there. When God wants them present in your life, they don't find fault in everything you do, and you don't have to manipulate them to stay. When people leave your life, they are no longer a part of your destiny. Their time is over. If you stay open, God will give you people who are not just with you, but for you."

What's the difference, you might ask. People who are WITH you are just there, tagging along because of your common interests... because what you're doing is right... because you're offering something they want or need. People who are FOR you, however, are your resident cheerleaders. Even if you're not aligned all the time... or engage in petty fights... or make mistakes now and then... you can be assured that they'll be with you through thick and thin, supporting you... believing the best in you.

"God will always bring the right people into your life. The right people will never show up if you don't clear out the wrong people." - Joel Osteen

Review: Belo Essentials SunExpert (SPF40, Face)

I love taking care of my skin. Our skin is the first thing people see and, whether we like it or not, our skin's condition makes an impact to the people we meet. But aside from wanting clear, beautiful skin, I'd also like to stay cancer-free. Did you know that at least one person dies form melanoma every hour? (from Skin Cancer Facts)

Photo: glogster

But wait, why am I talking about sun and skin cancer in August?! You must be thinking, "Hello! Tapos na ang summer diba?! Ano ba naman tong blogger na to!" But that's where you're wrong. There's a big misconception that you're only at risk of melanoma during summer when the sun is always up and shining brightly. While it's true that the sun is strongest in summer, the dangerous UV rays do not disappear just 'coz it's the 'ber months or typhoon season.

To protect my skin from the UV rays, I wear sunblock every day. Yes people, we have to wear sunblock even if it's not summer and a trip to the beach isn't part of our calendars. Why? Because according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, "UVA rays can penetrate glass windows, meaning you're at risk while sitting close to a window, whether in a car, at home or in the office. Also up to 80% of the UV rays can pass through clouds."

Did this surprise you? You're not alone; I was surprised too! When I became aware of my skin's needs, I dedicated a lot of my time to search for a really good sunblock. The sunblock I use at the beach is too thick and heavy for everyday use. It also leaves a bit of a white cast, which is acceptable at the beach (because it disappears after taking a dip), but is a huge no-no at the office. Another requirement for me is an SPF of at least 15, which is generally recommended for everyday use.

After a few misses, I finally found a perfect sunblock for me and I'd like to share this with you. Introducing, the Belo Essentials SunExpert (SPF40) for the face.

Photo: uptowndowntownsite

Product description. "This moisturizing facial sunblock effectively provides broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV rays. Lightweight and non-sticky, it also gives superior cell protection against sunlight and pollution. Sun Expert strengthens the skin's defense system, maintaining healthy skin while simultaneously preventing accelerated premature skin aging." It's water-resistant, fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, dermatologist-tested, and takes effect immediately. To know more about this product, please visit their Facebook page here."

Here are various hand shots for your viewing pleasure. Or not. lol.

left: no product. right: with product - no difference, no white cast!

left: you only need a small amount because it's sooo easy to spread. right: when spread out - silky, liquid-ish texture

Rating: ★★★★★
Pros:

• Not heavy, sticky and oily
• Very easy to apply
• My skin takes on a healthy, dewy glow after application (NOTE: I have normal/dry skin so I'm not sure how this will hold up for oily/combination skin)
• SPF40 PA+++ - it has a high SPF so it's also the same sunblock I use at the beach. I just re-apply more often. I find beach sunblocks for the body too harsh for my face and I'd end up getting pimples after
•  Hypo-allergenic and non-comodogenic - no break-outs!
• Water-resistant
• Takes effect immediately - most sunblocks instruct you to wait for at least 20 minutes after application before exposing yourself to the sun

By the way, it has a mild scent, but it doesn't really last long (there you go, all you scent-averse people haha!). Scent or not, I don't really mind. I just find it weird since it says fragrance-free in the packaging.

Cons: nada!

I cannot stress enough how much I love this product. I really recommend it to all my friends. This only costs P229.75 for 50ml at Watsons and it will last you for months. Usually, I do my groceries at Cherry Foodarama in Congressional 'coz it's cheaper there, but I couldn't find this. Not sure if it's out of stock or they really don't carry this.

How about you? Care to share your favorite sunblock or sunscreen?

Photo: wellsphere

Miranda Kerr

My friends know how much I looove Miranda Kerr. I love her face, style, body... She's just perfect! I even love her adorbs son, Flynn! I'm just sad the she seemed to have had breast enhancements. This observation is just based on her past and present photos, but I'm not sure... Nothing wrong with breast enhancements, but she's been such a strong supporter of "loving yourself" and all things natural that the enhancement somehow contradicts? Anyway, here's a collage of some of my favorite photos of her, gathered from various celebrity websites.

I've got more of these photos, but I don't wanna creep anyone out. Teehee. :) Aside from these superficial factors, I also like that she's into organic food and skincare, and really breathes holistic wellness. She created her own brand, KORA Organics, a certified organic skincare line made in Australia. It's quite expensive, but being the fangirl that I am, I went ahead and bought myself the Exfoliating Cream worth AUD54.95. Convert this to Philippine Peso, add the taxes, and shipping and customs costs, and you get a whopping P5,681.58. For. Skin. Care. Wow. Not one of my smartest buys, I know. Here's my take on the product.

Photo: KORA Organics

Product description (taken from KORA Organics website). "KORA Organics Exfoliating Cream contains a unique blend of organically grown Oat Flour and Bamboo to gently buff away dead skin cells helping to reveal a smoother, softer complexion. KORA Organics gentle and effective exfoliant is filled with Essential Oils to nourish and cleanse the skin and is gentle enough to be used on all skin types including sensitive skin.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Pros:

• Smelled good
• Nice texture with lots of granules
• My face was glowing after use. It felt really nice and soft
• Very gentle
• Lasted me for about a year because I only nedeed a very small amount to cover my face, neck and chest area. I exfoliate 2x/week
• Certified organic with great ingredients

Cons:

• Expensive!!!

Would I recommend this? For girls like me with financial limitations, probably not. It's great and effective but it's just way too expensive. :(

So far those of us who can't really afford to buy designer goodies and expensive skincare... Well, I've put together my top 3 tips on dressing up and taking care of your skin. Hope these help!

Style:

1. Dress for the occasion. If you look at Miranda Kerr's photos online, you will see that she's always dressed appropriately. She may be ultra glam in events, but when shopping or taking out baby Flynn, she's always in casual outfits. Casual doesn't necessarily mean drab. You can make your casual look stand out by injecting color or using accessories like a necklace or scarf.

2. Dress for yourself. Don't follow trends blindly. Know what works for your body type and wear clothes you are comfortable in. People might be sporting animal prints or cropped everything, but if you're not comfortable, might as well not join the bandwagon. Wear what you like. Even if other people say what you're wearing is so last season, if you like, go flaunt it. It's your life after all.

3. Confidence is key. In anything you do, confidence makes a big difference. You may not be the most stylish person in the room, but if you're confident, all eyes will zoom in on you. It all boils down to how you carry yourself. Nasa nagdadala yan, hindi sa uso o sa presyo o sa dami ng accessories.

Skincare:

1. 4-step process. Cleanse-tone-moisturize-exfoliate! You expose your skin to harsh elements every single day so you have to take extra care of it. It's your biggest organ after all, and at the end of the day, no matter what you're wearing, if your skin's bad, sayang lang ang designer get-up mo.

2. Be reliious. Never, ever miss out on item 1, even if you get home at 3am.

3. Drink water. It's very important to be and stay hydrated the whole day. Try to tearget at least 8 glasses of water in a day.

4. Apply sunblock. Yes, even when you're not going to the beach.

There you have it! Holler at the comments section if you've got other tips you wanna share. :)

Food trip: Grills & Sizzles Steakhouse

My boyfriend and I wanted to have one of our special dinners to take a break from our usual cheapskate dates. Since we were on a tight budget, we chose a restaurant that we really loved, but still with a competitive price point. It was between House of Minis and Grills & Sizzles Steakhouse. We ended up with the latter due to location

For me, Grills & Sizzles is underhyped. They serve really sumptuous food but not a lot of people are aware. It's the perfect in-between of your over-the-top steakhouses and your overly cheap, is-this-real-steak ones. We've been there a couple of times and everything was still the same: the food, service and ambiance were great.

Rating: ★★★★★

All entrées come with garlic rice, soup and a mix of veggies. My boyfriend ordered Porterhouse Steak, medium-well done, at around P360. Not bad, right? Compared to other steakhouses, this is a really good price. My boyfriend was very satisfied because it was done in exactly the way he requested it.

I, on the other hand, ordered Chicken Breast Fillet at around P200. Finished and loved every single bite!

I hope the business is still doing well. I'm gonna be really sad if they close. If you want to check them out, they're located at 57 Examiner St., West Triangle, Q. C. You may call to reserve at 410 5345 or 925 8453. For buffet lovers out there, they have an ongoing promo on their lunch and dinner buffets.

Travel diary: Bacolod

I love traveling. I realized that it's really one of my passions. While I love being home, being in a different place just gives me a very light and happy feeling. It can be a local destination, an international one, or even just another city that's an hour away from home. My family really loves overnight stays and with all these crazy deals online, our family escapades have become more frequent. Aside from my family, I also love traveling with friends and my boyfriend of 6 years (yey!). Again, this is just a re-post from my old blog. I'll be going to Bacolod again this coming September so I'm pretty excited to see these places again after 3 years.

My boyfriend and I went to Bacolod for my birthday celebration 3 years ago. I know it's a long time ago but I just want to share our itinerary and experience with everyone. :) Anyway, it's a 1-day trip 'coz my parents are pretty conservative haha! Honestly, I don't think I'll be doing that kind of trip again. It's very, very, VERY stressful (yes, it deserves 3 "very"s). It's like playing Amazing Race under the scorching heat! It's fun, yes, and an adrenaline upper but I don't really recommend it, not just because of the stress factor because that I can handle. The thing is, I think it wouldn't have been as stressful if we were able to leave the airport on time. That's really one of the things I super hate about our airlines. Flights are almost ALWAYS delayed. For 1-day trips like this, it's more vital to really leave on schedule because an hour makes a huge difference. Anyway, enough about this and on to our Bacolod adventure circa 2011! Hahaha! :D

obligatory airport shot

We arrived at the Silay International Airport at around 10:30am, an hour and a half delayed. There was no time to waste ranting though. Tricycles, cabs and jeeps can easily be found outside the airport so getting around was a breeze. We went to Talisay and headed for Manukan Country where the authentic and best Chicken Inasals are found. Chicken heaven! Being a chicken lover, I made sure to include this in our list of must-dos. Best paired with toyo and calamansi (for some, with a hint of sili).

authentic chicken inasal

We didn't know any of the shops so we just picked a random one because there really was no time to dilly-dally. The food was really good! They made Chicken Inasals in Manila seem like rip-offs. :( Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take note of the store's name, but I'm sure any of those are good. Based on online reviews though, they say Aida's Chicken serves the best.

From Manukan, we went to San Sebastian Cathedral. It was well-maintained and had this really grand aura to it. After saying our prayers and taking photos, we went strolling at the Central Market and the public plaza. These 2 places were packed with people, it was crazy! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take photos of the 2 latter locations. :(

We were supposed to walk to our next destination but we just couldn't find the right street. We also had a hard time communicating with the locals since many didn't speak Filipino and/or English. Since we were running out of time and patience, we just rode a cab to ANP Showroom. ANP stands for Association of Negros Producers and sure enough, this place was a pasalubong haven. They had statues, keychains, pens, food and lot of other knick-knacks. Of course, maskaras of different sizes and colors were everywhere. For those who don't know, the MassKara Festival is one of the more popular festivals celebrated in the Philippines. From Wikipedia, "The word 'Masskara' is a portmanteau, coined by the late artist Ely Santiago from mass (a multitude of people), and the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces). The word is also a pun on maskara (Filipino for "mask"), since a prominent feature of the festival are the masks worn by participants, which are always adorned with smiling faces." Here's a wonderful display of the maskaras.

colorful maskaras

From there, we took a cab to The Ruins. Just a brief history from this site: "The mansion was built in the early 1900's by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson... The mansion was the largest residential structure ever built at that time and had in it one of the finest furniture, chinaware and decorative items..." The structure was burned down in World War 2 by guerilla fighters but to this day, the structure, albeit burnt and "ruined", still stands beautifully. Looking at it, you can't help but be awed. A lot of pre-nup photos are taken at this very place. It's breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely a must-visit. To enter, you just have to pay P50, which most probably goes to maintenance.

After The Ruins, we went to Balay Negrense. It was a house built in 1897 and was turned into a museum in 1990. It housed interesting items from the old times so it was really kind of an inspiring place, for me at least. Walking around, it made me feel blessed and at the same time sad to be living in this time. Life seemed so easy back then... Although I really couldn't imagine living during those times with the war and all that. Plus, no gadgets! How shallow! hahahaha! Of course, being in an old place, we couldn't help but feel creeped out. I was a bit scared to go through my photos from this place, for fear of seeing something or someone that shouldn't be there haha! I'm such a chicken. There's just a minimal fee of P40, again, probably for maintenance. Here's a bunch of photos from the house.

The whole time, I was dreading to see something scary. Haha! What can I say, I just find old places really spooky. I mean, just look at these photos!

Final stop: El Ideal Bakery. This was a pretty popular place and it was listed as one of the must-visit places in Bacolod. It's quite near from Balay Negrense and the airport so we decided to grab a quick bite before heading to the airport. Their most popular dish was the Guapple Pie. Sounds weird, I know. It's like apple pie with guava. Hmmkay. I still prefer apple pie but for a unique experience, I think you guys should try it as well.

For foodies out there, here are 2 other places we weren't able to visit but also had great reviews: Calea's and Felicia's. They're both located in Lacson Street so if you have time and are staying for more than a day, try to visit these as well. Let me know how their food is!

After El Ideal, it's back to the airport for us! What a day! Vans that take tourists to and from the airport stop near El Ideal so it's very convenient. These vans are likely your Bacolod version of Manila's UV Express.

That's it for our 1-day getaway! Hope you enjoyed this post. :)