Travel diary: Melaka/Malacca

As I've said in my post here, I will share with you our unforgettable 3-day trip in Malaysia.

We arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal before 1am. Their airport was pretty easy to navigate because all the signs had English translations. Passengers were required to purchase taxi coupons from the taxi counters. Be very clear and specific with your words to ensure you get the correct price. Aside from the quantity, your bag's weight also affects the fare price. Our taxi fare to Melaka/Malacca (3 passengers with 3 medium bags) was MYR240 or around P1,082.

We were lucky to have a driver that understood English. Our driver, Satya, was very friendly, which was a good thing because he kept us awake the whole time. It took us around an hour and a half to get to Melaka. Obviously, we were pretty early for the regular check-in time. Good thing our hotel was very accommodating and didn't charge us extra even if we arrived almost 10 hours before our check-in schedule.

We stayed at 1st Inn Hotel, which we booked through Agoda, for only P2,010 per night. There were 2 double beds, CR with hot water, free towels, free water, TV... everything "basic" that you need. No toiletries though. :D

You might think it's not much, but really, this hotel was a Godsend. It's near everything we wanted to see. It was also near money changers, and some small shops that sold pasalubong, toiletries, food and spices. Plus, the receptionists were very nice. Such a steal!

Anyway, here are some more photos from our Melaka/Malacca adventure.

We had our breakfast in Selvam, which served cheap Roti with different fillings! I had the Roti Pisang (Banana) at RM 2.50 (P33.83 at that time). Unfortunately, when my parents went there early this year, Selvam was already closed. :(

The Malaysia Crew :D

Did you know that Melaka/Malacca and George Town were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008?

Melaka River by day.

Almost all buildings in Melaka had this color.

 We went there on a holiday so most shops were closed.

 Hello Kitty rickshaws/trishaws. Wonder how long it took them to finish designing these...

Photo: Jean Q

Jonker Walk/Street is very popular in Melaka. It has various shops selling food, souvenirs... wigs, even!

And it was there that we found the Chung Wah Chicken Rice Balls! The looong line was sooo worth it!!! The chicken rice balls were just perfect! Forgot how much this was but it's definitely easy on the wallet! I would go back to Melaka just for this.

Photo: Jean Q

 Durian Puffs. Not a fan.

Before...

After... Kept this because I love the chaos in the photo.

Melaka River at night. We took the Melaka River Cruise for RM15 (around P203). It was ok. I recommend spending your money on more chicken rice balls instead! :D

We couldn't help iiit! Since Chung Wah was already closed, we went to Baba Fred Nyonya Home Cook instead. Preferred the chicken rice balls and spicy dip of Chung Wah, but I liked Baba Fred's chicken better.

Next up: Kuala Lumpur!

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!