Two files are available for download: a single card in JPG, which you can use in your mobile device (just edit with your favorite image editing app to mark the items you’ve tried), or if you’re more of a pen and paper kind person, a printable version is also available in PDF. The print version has two cards and is optimized for printing in letter or A4 sized paper.

We may have been too enthusiastic in ordering food.

A photo posted by Nina Fuentes (@ninawanders) on Jul 18, 2016 at 8:46pm PDT

Some notes:

• • You can cross off a lot of items in the card by going to hawker centers. We went to Joo Hoi Cafe on Penang road, and we were able to have good assam laksa, lor bak, otak-otak, chee cheong fun, and cendol.
  • I know tandoori chicken isn’t exclusive to Penang, but Restoran Kapitan in Lebuh Chulia makes really good tandoori and naan.
  • If you’re going to Kek Lok Si temple, you can head to Sisters Curry Mee for breakfast, and then have asam laksa at the Air Itam Market for lunch.

• If you want to go off the beaten path though, head to Bayan Lepas for some really good (and spicy) curry mee and kway teow th’ng at the Dhoby Ghaut Cafe.
• For murtabak, you can try the ones they have at Hameediyah Restaurant. Their biryani looks good too!
• Roti canai in Jalan Transfer is great for breakfast. Make sure to head straight to the stall with the huge curry pot, or you might end up with eggs on toast instead. They also have teh tarik and nasi lemak here.

Here’s my updated Penang map, with the hawkers and restaurants I’ve tried (or want to try). It also includes the location of the cat street arts (the green star icons).

For souvenirs, you can try out the pastries at the Ghee Hiang. Their Tau Sar Pneah are really good. My friend who lives in Penang bring home boxes of these everytime he goes home to Johor.

Downloads:
For mobile devices (JPG)
For printing (PDF)

This post is (hopefully) a first of a series of blogs that I will be publishing about stalking cats I’ve encountered in the different cities and countries I’ve been to through the years.

Towards the end of July found me and my fellow crazy cat lady (who actually has a cat) friend Cla flying off to Penang for some serious street food eats. For the first part of our trip, we stayed at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort in Batu Ferringhi before moving to the Bayview Hotel in Georgetown.

We did not encounter many stray cats in Penang, which I take as a good sign. We’ve only encountered a couple while dining by the roadside in Batu Ferringhi, and while walking in Balik Pulau (though these seem to be shop kitties). However, there are still places in Georgetown that will excite any cat person.

Penang Cat Street Art

When the city of Georgetown commissioned artist Ernest Zacharevic to draw some mural around town, tourists started flocking to take pictures of them. While many other street art and installations have popped up since then, it was the cat-themed art that piqued our interest. Lucky for us, they are located near each other.

I’ve created a Google Maps based on the Penang Street Art map that Timothy Tye of Penang Travel tips has created, and marked the kitty arts with a green star. Load this map on your phone, and you’ll be set. Not a fan of mobile devices? Grab a copy of the Penang Street Art Walking Map at the Penang International Airport upon your arrival.

Penang Cat N Dog Shop

Located right beside the Owl Shop (which is, I suppose, a themed shop for owl lovers), the Cat N Dog Shop is right smack in the middle of things: it’s practically next door to the Khoo Kong Si clan house, which is one of the must-see attractions of Georgetown.

Though the name of the shop alludes to both animals, the goods inside are 80% cats and 20% dog. There are clothes, accessories, bags, notebooks, and various knick knacks for humans that has a cat or dog in its design. You can buy trinkets for as low as RM 5, though bags start at RM 20.

Penang Cat Cafe

The Purrfect Cat Cafe is Penang’s first and I think only cat cafe. Located in Jalan Muntri, the cafe is a great place to cool down and relax after a walking tour of Penang’s street art and heritage buildings. There are also a number of hostels and guesthouses nearby, so you might want to look into staying there if you want to be close to the cats.

The cat cafe is in a two-storey shop house. The ground floor is a shop where goods for both humans and felines are available, while the second floor is the cafe itself. The dining area is separate from where you can interact with the cats. There is no set admission fee, but there is a minimum spend of RM 18 to enter the cat cafe. While I see many grumbling about this policy, I am happy because you can choose to spend either on the cafe food and drinks, or at the shop.

The cat enclosure has floor cushions lining one side of the room and a wingback chair right between the cat tree and the litter box. We came in around 3pm, and all but one cat are snoozing. Orange, a grumpy looking Persian, ignores our fawning, yet eagerly sniffs my bag and is excited to play. Unfortunately, there were no cat toys around, so I had to do with dangling my camera’s strap for him to bat at with his paw.

A couple of cats woke up during our stay, but only stretched for a bit before turning around an going back to sleep. If you’re not used to cats, this may be off putting — after all, who travels and pays good money to see a sleeping cat? (Me.)

Still, we liked the cafe, and I would have gone back (even if it was just to buy more stuff at their store), but I got foiled by the sudden downpour. At least it saved me from going over my shopping budget again.

My Penang Google Map

(Because I’m *that* geeky)

Click here for the direct link

To use in your own Google Map, click on the sharing button, and then click on Download KML. In Google My Maps, click on Add Layer and then Import. Enjoy!

klia2 is huge

If you’re like us who had to fly through Kuala Lumpur via Cebu Pacific and AirAsia to get to Penang, you’ll be passing through and killing time in KL’s new airport terminal. From the gate, through the Gateway@klia2 mall in search for a money changer and a place to eat, buying coffee and a local sim card, all the way down to the Capsule hotel at the basement, we logged about 3,000+ steps.

If you have a tighter connection than we did, take this into account so you won’t miss your connecting flight.

There are limited sleeping spaces in klia2

KL’s airport is far from everything, so going all the way to the city will cost you time and money. If you decide to sleep at the airport, know that there are not a lot of places where you can sleep comfortably in the airport or at the adjoining Gateway2klia2 Mall.

Capsule by Container Hotel is alright

It’s a bit expensive, considering you’re only staying for a couple of hours, but if you’re like me who find it hard to sleep in unfamiliar places and needs to look fresh and presentable when you arrive in your destination, it’s worth the price. Just note that the lockers they provide is right outside, so if you’re taking stuff from your bag (maybe your change of clothes and toiletries), make sure to pack them near the top or in your carry on so you can quickly get them before heading inside.

Avoid Maxis Hotlink, unless you like spam

I bought a local data sim so that I can have internet on my phone, and went with Maxis only because I got frustrated when I was at the Digi store. I bought the sim card for RM 20.60, which comes with data allowance for 7 days (which I consumed by Day 4). It was okay, except I get so much spam. Not just SMS, but also MMS spam! Make sure to disable autodownload MMS, if this becomes a problem.

It’s travel season after Ramadan

When we got to Penang, I was surprised to find out that our hotel in Batu Ferringhi were almost at full occupancy. It turns out many of the Middle Eastern tourists travel after Ramadan. Take that into account if you want to avoid crowds.

Split your time between Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi

If you have at least 5 days to spend in Penang, try to split it with staying at Georgetown and then moving to Batu Ferringhi. Batu Ferringhi has such a laid back feel, and it seems like a world away from Georgetown. It’s also quite touristy, so it’s a bit more expensive.

If you can only spend a day in Batu Ferringhi

Go early before the tourists flock in. The beach area is open to the public, so you can actually go through the hotels to access the beachfront. All the watersport activities are handled by third party operators, so they are not exclusive to the resort guests. The Starbucks beside the Holiday Inn has beach access and views, and is quite popular with visitors. However, if you want to avoid the crowds, check out the beach right across the Tropical Spice Garden. Not sure if there are toilets there, but you can get ice cream and assam laksa from the restaurants along the road.

Save your coins for the bus

If you’re finding it hard to get rid of your coins, use them in the Rapid Penang Buses, which only accepts exact fare. Riding the bus from the Batik Factory in Teluk Bahang to the Tropical Spice Garden costs RM 1.40, same with the ride from the spice garden to Rasa Sayang Resort.

Penang Hop On Hop Off Bus

This is rather expensive, considering how cheap the local buses are. One adult pass costs RM 45, which is roughly the price of one-way taxi between Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi, so this might work out to your favor if you are going solo and in a hurry (they make limited stops unlike the public buses). However, do not confuse this with the FREE Central Area Transit Shuttle Bus that goes around Georgetown.

Walk around Georgetown

Georgetown has small, narrow streets and plenty of buses and cars. It’s much better if you just walk around the city, especially if you’re after the street art. On Sundays, Beach Street and other nearby streets are closed to vehicular traffic.

Use GrabTaxi or Uber

My biggest problem with taxis in Malaysia is that the drivers would rather not use the meter and sets a fixed price. In Penang, there are many taxi stands with taxis waiting, and 100% of the time, they charge a fixed price, depending on your destination.

If situations like this frustrates you, it’s best to use your GrabTaxi or Uber app to get a ride. GrabTaxi is marketed as MyTeksi in Malaysia, but the same app I use in Manila worked perfectly well in Penang, without me having to create a new account. The time estimate is more accurate than in Manila, and the drivers do use their meter. There is no booking fee, but there is a RM 2 surcharge, with is imposed by the government.

Penang Street Art

Since the first street art in 2012, many new street art has popped up around Georgetown. Make sure to pick up the Penang Street Art Map at the airport before you exit, so you know where to find them. If you’d rather go digital, there’s a Google Maps of all the Penang street art here.

Eat all the food

Penang is the best place to gorge on street food. Penang Travel Tips has an exhaustive list of Penang Hawker Food you can try. My favorites: Penang assam laksa in Air Itam, roti tissue from Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar in Bayan Lepas, and chicken tandoori and cheese garlic naan set from Kapitan Restoran in Georgetown.

Georgetown Festival

August is a great month to visit Penang. It’s the month of the Georgetown Festival, and there are many activities, exhibits, and shows scheduled for the entire month. We got lucky and was able to catch it as it started. Watch out for the schedule in their website so you can catch the exhibits and shows that interest you the most while you’re in town.

Location

The hotel is located on Lebuh Farquhar, right in between the Eastern & Oriental Hotel and the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. While it’s in the buffer zone, its location is still pretty optimal — the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is within walking distance, yet it’s far enough that it’s in a quieter neighborhood (though the streets around it are quite busy with speeding cars).

From the Georgetown Bayview Hotel, we were able to walk to the Purrfect Cat Cafe in Jalan Muntri, Dewan Sri Pinang in Light Street, and Kapitan Restoran in Lebuh Chulia in the historic core.

A photo posted by Nina Fuentes (@ninawanders) on Jul 31, 2015 at 8:28pm PDT

Taking a cab to Pengkalan Weld would cost between RM 8-10, which already includes the surcharges. Going to the airport would cost between RM 40-50, depending on the traffic.

Room

We were assigned to a Premier Deluxe room on the 15th floor. Though the hotel is showing its age, the rooms are recently renovated and are quite modern. Our room looks out towards Butterworth, with a partial view of the E&O, the esplanade, and the docks in the distance.

It’s a pretty big room, more than enough space for up to four people. There is a separate desk, a dresser, and a small coffee table, which came in handy when we had friends come over to play Cards Against Humanity.

The beds are firmer than I would like, but they’re comfortable enough that you’d still want hit the snooze button more than a couple of times. We had twin beds, and each bed had two fluffy pillows, which is always welcomed.

The toilet and bath is spacious. The shower is separate from the tub, which is fantastic. I have to admit though, that the thing that I remember most about this bathroom are their non-slip floor tiles. I think it’s the first time I’ve encountered it in a hotel bathroom, and I’m really happy with that.

Facilities

The premier rooms have complimentary Internet access, whether through wireless or wired connections. There is a unique login for each room, and it is limited to two devices only. Switching off your device’s wi-fi does not disconnect it from the network though, so if you’re wanting to connect a different device, you’ll have to call the front desk to have them manually disconnect it for you.

The hotel also have a swimming pool (with an terrifyingly deep end, especially when you see it from the 15th floor), a children’s pool, and an outdoor jacuzzi. There’s also a tailor onsite, Internet center, gym, prayer room, and a concierge where you can arrange for a babysitter, or buy postcards (they’ll also mail it for you). Guests who have cars can park for free at their car park. Just present the parking pass at the front desk for validation before you exit.

Premier Lounge

All the rooms from the 14th to 16th floor are Premier rooms and have access to the Premier Lounge on the 16th floor. You can have breakfast at the lounge from 7:00 am until 10:30 am, afternoon tea and cocktails from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day.

We had breakfast at the lounge everyday. Though the selection is so much more limited compared to the buffet at Kopi Tiam, there is a lot less people dining at the lounge, which appealed greatly to us.

The lounge also has a reading room, a board room, and a computer room, in case you need to get some work done, but haven’t brought your laptop.

The Premier Lounge access pass for each room is for two people. Any additional guests would have to pay RM 80 for entry and use of the lounge.

Kopi Tiam

Kopi Tiam Coffee House is the hotel’s all day dining restaurant, which serves the daily buffet breakfast. There is a good variety of local and western dishes available for breakfast.

They also have an ala carte menu available for lunch and dinner. I tried the Roasted Chicken Rice for dinner on my last night, just to compare it to the chicken rice at the Bayview Beach Resort. The chicken is as flavorful and tender, though the hotel’s version comes with beansprouts (my favorite) and chili sauce.

Since I had dinner early, I was hungry by the time I came back to the hotel after watching 100% Penang at the Dewi Sri Pinang. I ordered the Char Kway Teow, which came loaded with chilies. It was spicy, but not overly hot (I painstakingly took out all the chilies), and very filling, as it was a pretty big serving.

Three Sixty Revolving Restaurant and Sky Bar

At the time when Bayview was built, it was the tallest building in Penang, and the only one with a revolving restaurant. The rooftop al fresco bar also gives you a sweeping view of the city, and it’s the perfect place to watch the sun set and look out at the twinkling lights of Georgetown when the night rolls in.

Drinks at the Sky Bar is a nice way to cap a day of sightseeing in Georgetown.

Bayview Beach Resort

If you are staying at the Bayview Hotel in Georgetown, and want to take a break and relax by the beach, you can head to Batu Ferringhi and use the facilities at the Bayview Beach Resort

The Bayview Beach Resort has three pools, a sprawling garden, a tennis court, and offers watersport activities at the beach front (though a third party operator). If you get hungry, do try the roasted chicken rice and the nasi goreng at the La Veranda Coffee House in the ground floor.

Thank you so much to Lawrence of Bayview Hotel Georgetown and Kumar of the Bayview Beach Resort for the warm welcome and accommodation during our stay in Georgetown!

Bayview Hotel Georgetown
25-A Farquhar Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Website: www.bayviewhotels.com/georgetown

The Golden Sands Resort is a four-star property, and is geared more towards families on holiday. Much like many of other Shangri-La properties, the huge freeform pool dominates the outdoor area.

Rooms

The resorts has 14 suites with panoramic views of the coast or the surrounding hillside, and 373 deluxe rooms. The rooms are design with the same elegance of the Shangri-La brand hotels, but with the family in mind. Some rooms come with a Murphy Bed, which can be pull-down and retracted back into the wall to accommodate an extra person in the room.

All the rooms come with the standard features: LCD television, DVD player, satellite television channels, USB, iPod and modem ports in an audiovisual panel, coffee and tea making facilities, and of course, complimentary Wi-Fi.

The bathroom has the shower in tub configuration, and comes with two sinks, so if one kid is hogging one, there’s another you can use.

Like Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, many of the guests staying at Golden Sands (and Rasa Sayang) are regulars, and stay for an extended periods of time.

Facilities and Activities

Golden Sands Resort is one of those places that you don’t stay in just to sleep. The resort tries to anticipate their guest’s needs and offer them within the property — there are tailors, hair salons, and even laundry facilites for long staying guests.

Aside from the lagoon pool, there are also pool and futsal tables near Sigi’s bar, two pétanque courts, tennis courts, beach soccer court, Par 3 Pitch and Putt Gold Course, kid’s sand patch, and a beach volleyball court.

Guests who arrive early or need to kill time after check-out before heading to the airport can hang out at the Cool Lounge, where they can play board and card games, surf the Internet, read books, magazines, and newspapers, and watch movies.

Adventure Zone

The Adventure Zone Family Entertainment Centre is a huge indoor playground spanning more than 10,000 square feet. The center has three zones for different age groups, including toddler-safe play area for kids four years and under, thrilling slides for older kids, and game consoles for teenagers and adults.

Parents who need some alone time can also arrange for a baby sitter to watch their kids while they relax.

Sigi’s Bar and Grill

Sigi’s is located right at the edge of the garden and the beach, and is a lovely place to watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea.

They offer a variety of continental dishes and drinks that can be enjoyed inside the restaurant, by the pool, or on the beach.

We started our dinner with Wild Mushroom Soup and Calamari Fritti. Not wanting to fill up too much, we asked to split the soup. It was hearty and creamy, and the truffle oil brings it to another level without overpowering the flavor of the mushroom. The calamari was crunchy breading on the outside, tender on the inside, just the way it’s supposed to be.

Since we were by the sea, we had to order the Grilled Seafood Platter. This is Sigi’s signature dish, and they are right to be proud of it! Each piece we bit into was juicy and tender, and the individual flavors coming out perfectly.

The highlight of the meal though, was the Durian Cheese Chicken Burger. While Cla and I were not bid durian fans, we were intrigued when Suleiman told us about it over breakfast at the Ferringhi Grill.

July and August is the peak month for durian harvest in Penang, so it is the perfect time to offer this unique burger. The durian is cooked into a savory custard and added into the cheese to make this amazing cheese melt. Paired with the grilled chicken burger, this is the match made in heaven. This burger costs RM 45 (inclusive of taxes), and is only available until the end of August 2015.

Family Fun Package

Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La is offering a RM 660++ Family Fun Package for two adults and two children. This rate includes daily buffet breakfast at the Garden Cafe, complimentary bed for one child under 12 years old, daily dinner with free-flowing drinks at the Garden Cafe, and four-hour complimentary access to the Adventure Zone for two kids. Children from 5-12 years old can also join the Cool Zone Kid’s Club fun activities from 9:30 am to 9 pm. For more details, visit the resort’s website.

Thank you once again to Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts for accommodating us in Penang!

Spice Market Cafe

Spice Market in the Garden Wing is the resort’s buffet restaurant. This is open for all guests of the resort. The restaurant has a diverse offering in its breakfast buffet. Various Asian cuisine is present, including the local Nyonya-Baba, as do western and other international cuisine.

The entrance of the cafe looks like a spice shop of yore with its display of spices and sauces. They’re actually more than just decoration — you can actually buy spices here!

Ferringhi Grill

Similar to Shangri-La Hotel’s Horizon Club Lounge, the Ferringhi Grill is the breakfast venue exclusive to Rasa Wing guests. Though the buffet selection is much smaller than that of Spice Market’s, there are still enough choices to whet your appetite or craving. You can order from a selection of entrees and order eggs done however you want.

As I’ve been having some mad craving for murtabak, I was delighted when I spotted it in the menu and promptly ordered it. It comes with a bowl of dal, pickled onion, and chutney. Heaven.

FIP Lounge (Fun, Interactive, and Play)

The FIP is actually a fairly recent addition to the resort. This is a lounge open the while day, and well into the night. They feature fun items in their uniquely presented menu, like tic-tac-toe macarons, chicken and crab sliders checker board, and beer in solid ice mug.

There are several cushy seats around the lounge, and guests can also borrow board games to play. There is a pool table, a dart arcade game, a trick eye wall, a gorilla popping out of a doorway, and a big screen TV tuned in to the sports channel.

We went to FIP for dessert and drinks, and it’s a really chill and unpretentious place. Since many of the resort guests are families, the vibe is really wholesome. To be honest, I find it refreshing to see parents hanging out with their kids at the lounge and playing pool.

Activities

The focal point of the resort is its gorgeous free-form pool. There is a small wading pool for the little ones, and a really deep section for those who, I don’t know, like to dive deep? Like all the other Shangri-La properties I’ve been to, there is also a jacuzzi. Parched? Ice cold water is available for all guests at the towel station.

Like all other resorts in Batu Ferringhi, Rasa Sayang Resort has a third party handling the beach activities. At the beach, you can ride horses, jet ski, or parasail, which is very popular among the beachgoers.

There is also an indoor gym, as well as hair and nail salon (which I guess is popular among guests who are there to attend a wedding).

Shangri-La’s Chi, The Spa is also in a secluded corner of the Rasa Wing. There are 11 spa villas, a yoga villa, and the Chi Boutique, where you can buy the products used in your treatment, including their unbelievably soft cashmere robe.

The resort also offer daily activities like golf putting competition in their Par 3 Pitch and Putt Golf Course, yard games, water volleyball, sand castle competition, and a cooking demonstration at the Spice Market Cafe.

Around Batu Ferringhi

While the main attraction of Batu Ferringhi is its beach, you can also check out some nearby attractions like the Tropical Spice Garden (do have lunch at the Tree Monkey Restaurant!), and the Batik Factory. There’s also ESCAPE, which is an eco-theme park, Penang Butterfly Farm, and the Penang National Park.

Georgetown Shuttle

If you want to explore Georgetown, Shangri-La offers a complimentary shuttle to Hotel Jen Penang in Georgetown. The shuttle from the resort leaves at 10:10 am, 12:10 am, 2:40 pm, 4:40 pm, and the shuttle going back to the resort leaves Hotel Jen at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. This shuttle is shared with guests of the Golden Sands Resort, so seats in the bus needs to be booked in advance at the concierge.

Batu Ferringhi feels like a world away from Georgetown despite being just 30 minutes away. If you have five days to spend in Penang, I highly recommend that you stay at least overnight in Batu Ferringhi. A day trip is fine, but to get the full experience of the town, it’s best to stay a night or two to get you into full relaxation mode.

Once again, thank you so much to the lovely people of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts for this wonderful opportunity!

Thanks to the lovely people at Shangri-La, they made my plans come into fruitition. I reached out to my contacts, and was offered a two night’s stay at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at the start of my trip. It was the perfect timing, as the resort was a beautiful welcome to the island after a long night of traveling.

History

The Rasa Sayang Resort is the first Shangri-La property in Malaysia, and it’s also the first 5-star resort. Built in 1973, the resort was designed around the eight majestic rain trees that was already in the property.

The majestic rain trees

Like other Shangri-La properties, the Rasa Sayang Resort incorporates the ethnic architectural style of the region. The resorts has the distinct minangkabau roof, and Malaysian arts and crafts are visible all around the resort, and in the rooms.

The Rasa Wing and the Garden Wing

The resort has two wings: the Rasa Wing and the Garden Wing. While the two wings are interconnected, make sure to tell your driver which wing you’ll be staying at, so you can be dropped off at the correct lobby.

The Rasa Wing offers elegant and spacious accommodations for its guests. If you love soaking in the bath as much as I do, go for the Rasa Premier room, which has a private balcony with a soaking tub overlooking the garden or the pool.

The Rasa Wing can be likened to the Horizon Club — guests have an exclusive lounge where they can have afternoon tea and cocktails, and have breakfast at the Ferringhi Grill, away from the crowds. The wing also have an exclusive pool for guests staying at the Rasa Wing, and it is for ages 16 and up only.

The Garden Wing is also quite elegant, but it is more fitting for families with kids in tow. It was recently renovated, and all rooms are now equipped with energy saving features.

Our Room

We we billeted in a Garden Wing Deluxe Seaview Room, with a balcony that looks out to the Andaman Sea. The balcony is the perfect place to watch the sunset, or to hang out after taking a dip in the pool while you’re waiting for your friend to finish in the shower. Since swimming and watersports are the prime activities in Batu Ferringhi, each balcony is fitted with a retractable clothesline.

The room itself is spacious — more than enough space for two adults. The beds, as always, were very comfortable, and the pillows for each bed has both the very soft and fluffy variety and the soft-yet-firm kind.

One thing I really love about Shangri-La is the separate shower and bath tub. While I’m a very big fan of relaxing in hot water, I’m not too keen on showering while standing inside a tub. In Malaysia, it’s common to have see a hand spray bidet in the toilets. In the renovated Garden Wing Rooms, the bidet are now built into the toilet seat, similar to the Japanese kind, but without the extra functions. It’s something this this Filipino is happy to find in any toilet.

Instead of a desk, there is a small dining table. Since many of the resort’s guests are there on a holiday, this makes much better sense, as it’s easier for them to eat together or use their laptops at the same time. There’s also a universal socket right by the table, so no need to bring your adaptor (though there are a couple of type G plugs).

Aside from the welcome fruits, there were also some Spicy Treats waiting for us in the room. These chocolate treats were not spicy hot, but has hints of spice, probably as a tribute to Penang being known as the “Spice Island.” There were also local snacks delivered to the room daily, and put under the tujung saji in the room.

Say YES to glass bottles!

This may seem really silly, but what made me really happy with our room are the glass bottles of water. More than just the size of the bottles (because they’re 1 liter, instead of the usual 500ml or less), I’m happy that Shangri-La has opted for this green alternative. The bottles are sealed with the date it was bottled, so you’d know that the bottle you’re getting is fresh, and they are replenished daily. Since we both have our own water bottles, we just refilled them whenever we are headed out of the room.

Still to come: What to eat and do at Rasa Sayang Resort

Much love and gratitude goes to Bonnie Ang of Shangri-La, and Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman and Fiona Lee of Rasa Sayang Resort.

KL must-do: chicken rice.

On the flight over, I realized this is the first time I’m traveling solo this year. I love my friends and I also love the opportunities I got to travel to places I never would have thought to visit, but traveling solo is something that I equally love.

This is also the first time that I’m in KL with lots of time to veg. I had nothing planned for this trip, except to eat some char kway teow, go to Kinokuniya and maybe head out to Ikea. I’ve done all but for Ikea, as the rain is making me want to just burrow under the covers all day.

I’m staying at Bukit Bintang – right smack in the middle of the shopping district and just a couple of steps from the foodie paradise of Jalan Alor. Tourists and locals alike come here to shop and dine. This place is so alive and there seem to be a never ending stream of people walking in the streets. Cars also fills its streets, but there’s a monorail to help you get to other parts of Kuala Lumpur easily.

Tomorrow I pack my bags once more to head to Putrajaya, where I’ll join the rest of the group for the weekend.

Kota Kinabalu is pretty cheap compared to other Malaysian cities. Sure, the taxi drivers are averse to using the meter, but KK is so small you can just walk anywhere (except to the Mount Kinabalu Park and other attractions because it’s FAR). I’ve had a couple of expensive meals over the weekend, and I was surprised that my end total is just Php 1,337. Shopping in Kota Kinabalu is not too exciting, except if there are sales I suppose. Some of the items sold in Peninsular Malaysia is also available in Sabah, but there are also a number of brands and products that are locally produced like teas and cigarettes.

There are a number of souvenir shops in the shopping centers, but if you’re looking to buy Sabah tea, it’s best to check the supermarket, as the prices are much cheaper. There’s also the handicraft market, or the former Pasar Filipino (Filipino market), where local souvenirs are sold (batik, wood carvings, anything and everything made with sea shells).

A final note on Sabah: if you’re bringing US dollars, make sure that they are series 2006 or more recent. Money changers do not accept dollars from earlier years, which is a real pain. There are plenty of ATMs that accept VISA and Mastercards, so you can make a cash advance if needed (some hostels, like the Lavender Lodge does not accept credit card payments).

I meant to write a day to day update, as I did for previous trips, but I figured I owe it to myself to have a break from blogging and to travel just for the love of it, and not because it’s a great material for my blog. The daily recaps of my travels take a lot of discipline and energy and somehow made it seem as if everyday should be interesting just so I would have something to write about. I’ve done a lot of interesting things this weekend, though I wouldn’t write about it until the coming days or weeks.

The past months have been stressful in all aspects and I haven’t really taken the time to address the issues that has been bothering me. As a wise man pointed out, the more you avoid issues, the more it is highlighted. In my case, it everything came out all at once and I was forced to face the problems I’ve been trying to shrug off. These problems are partly the reason why I’ve been having second thoughts about taking this trip. Up until the day of my flight, I contemplate whether to push through, even when I’m already packing my things.

As soon as my feet hit the tarmac at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, my mind cleared and the heavy feeling was lifted. I was welcomed in Sabah with gorgeous colors in the sky as the sun sets, and I found comfort in the sounds of stamps pounding away on desks as immigration officials stamp people into their country.

The weekend that I have been dreading turned out to be one of the best weekends ever. Save for replying to some e-mails, I have done zero work on my blog and it felt good. I know this is going to add another couple of posts in my already too-long back log of posts, but I needed this break from everything.

Regular travel blogging will resume sometime this week. Expect a post on proboscis monkeys and island hopping at the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. I did not go anywhere near Mount Kinabalu.

Also, I realized how relatively cheap Malacca is for a daytrip from Singapore. The drive from the island to the heritage town is more than double the time it takes to drive down from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, but it’s a better alternative to Johor Bahru, where most Filipinos go for a visa run. For about Php 2,000, you can do this day trip from Singapore. That already include the bus (public bus from Singapore to Johor Bahru, domestic bus from Larkin Terminal to Malacca), admission fees, meals and transport within Malacca. Melaka is compact enough that you can just walk to see the main attractions. I’m definitely heading back there when I go to Singapore.

Oh, I’ve omitted my personal shopping expenses from this travel budget. It’s certainly not for public consumption.

Rui at the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum

I suppose it is something like a parting — me parting with my much loved youth and heading towards a new phase in life. Eeew.

The sunrise found me buried under the covers in Melaka, while the sunset caught me walking towards my brother’s flat in Singapore. This is a novelty that I particularly love about these two countries, that I can just hop on a bus and be in a different country. Having lived in the Philippines all this time, going overseas has always been associated with airplanes, not buses.

This trip to Malacca is in some ways a huge relief. I’ve been so stressed and exhausted in the days leading up to my trip, that the only thing I was looking forward to was sleep. And sleep I did. It was goooooood. Of course, the town is lovely and all, but the sleep was the highlight of the trip.

The trip home, however, was something else. I was so engrossed watching Queer as Folk in my laptop, that when the bus stopped and everybody started piling out with their luggages, I followed suit. I only realized when I’ve walked away from the bus that I got off at the Larkin bus station, and not at the immigration check point. *facepalm* Never thought I could lose a bus. Then again, a lot of things that happen are never what you expect.

That woke me up from my reverie. The short and sweet bus ride back to Singapore became the hop on and hop off tour of Johor, Woodlands and Sengkang. I guess the birthday lesson for this year is that even when you think you’ve lost your way (or your bus), you’d still find a way to get back home.

I arrived this morning on the 8am bus from Singapore. The trip took four hours and thirty minutes, including the immigration and rest stops. I was only able to sleep for two hours out of four, and I was already tired when I got off the bus. I was revived when I saw the historic city again, specially when I found out just how central Twenty’s location was. I passed the time in my room, waiting for the sun to go down. The weather was gorgeous — it was bright and sunny, with gentle breeze wafting from the sea.

It was a joy walking around Malacca. Since it’s a weekday, the streets aren’t as congested with tourists. In between walks, I rediscovered a skill I acquired in Luang Prabang: watching the world go by. However, Malacca has a much faster pace than Laos, and soon I was back on my feet, walking away lest the man with a huge snake draped around his shoulders get too close.

Our four hours in Malacca before was too little a time to be spent in this charming town. You can actually see most of the important tourist spots between the time the first bus from Singapore arrives until the last one leaves. I’ve gone up and down St. Paul’s Hill, got lost and found Capitol Satay Celup and cruised through the Malacca River. I’ve no clue what else to do tomorrow, but I’m not bothered. I’m quite happy just sitting down and watching the world go by.

** Pictures to follow. I’m too pooped to edit and upload.

The clock tower and the Christ Church

Melaka, as it is called in Malay, is situated in a very strategic location along the spice trade in the Straits of Malacca. European colonizers coveted this port, with the Portuguese, Dutch and the English staking their claim. The Malays, Chinese and Indians who populate the land makes Malacca a veritable melting pot of cultures. Not to mention the stunning architecture and array of textures.

Bukit Cina

Marie, our tour guide, made sure we did not miss the highlights of a trip to Malacca: Bukit Cina, the biggest Chinese cemetery outside China; Christ Church, the oldest and functioning Protestant church in Malaysia, Stadthuys or the Red Square, owing to the predominantly red color of the administrative buildings built by the Dutch; St. Paul’s Church on St. Paul’s hill, with its stunning views of the town and the river flowing out to sea; A Famosa, an old Portuguese fort at the foot of St. Paul’s hill; Kampung Kling Mosque and the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, both on Jalan Tokong, two of the three houses of worship in the same street, and; Jonker’s Walk, the lively market street lined with Peranakan shop houses selling all kinds of wares. Marie even made sure we sampled some great Nyonya cuisine for lunch.

Venison. Tastes like beef, not chicken.

Still, it feels as if we were only able to scratch the surface. There’s still more to see and discover in this small heritage town. Unfortunately, one of the places we missed was Hang Li Poh’s well. It is said that whoever throws a coin in the well (for it has long been converted into a wishing well) will return to Malacca. I’ll just have to make sure I am able to go back then!

Dolls don’t qualify. Booo.

The contest runs from November 9 – December 6, 2009. You can join anytime during the contest duration, but you must retain your profile photo until December 9, when the winner will be drawn. Goodie bags will be given to 8 weekly winners. Only these 8 weekly winners are qualified for the grand draw. What’s in store for the grand prize winner? A Malaysia Airlines ASEAN Pass!

The ASEAN Pass makes the contest all the more appealing, since you can visit other countries in Southeast Asia with the pass, not just Malaysia. Too bad I love my current Facebook profile photo too much

For more details and complete contest mechanics, visit (and join!) the Tara na sa Malaysia Facebook Group.