Our main reason for visiting Nara was to see & play with the deer. We really go there to explore everything Nara has to offer. I’ll probably put that as something to do in a future Nara trip. Let me share with you some details about this short but fun morning trip to Nara Deer Park.
Transportation & Access
As discussed in my previous Nara post, the city is accessible by trains from Osaka. The JR Yamatoji & Kintetsu Nara Lines connect the city to various points in Osaka. We took the JR Yamatoji line train from JR Shin Imamiya Station to Nara Station. I forgot how much the train fare costs because we used our IC cards in the trip. Journey takes about an hour per way.
We got off at JR Nara Station & walked towards Sanjo-Dori Street. This walking street full of souvenir shops, restaurants & cafes takes the visitors to the deer park. We dropped by a temple along this street before heading off to the park premises.
Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple found along Sanjo-Dori Street & is one of the must-see places in the city. It is also one of Nara’s Seven Great Temples that played an important role in the history of the city, especially during the time of the Fujiwara clan. Make sure to check out the 5-storey pagoda within the temple grounds plus the various halls around it.
Tōdai-ji
Tōdai-ji is the most famous temple in the city. It is located just by the deer park & it houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. This temple also has a large wooden gate at its entrance called Nandaimon Gate. Entrance to the main hall of this temple costs ¥600 per person. My sisters & I opted not to go inside the temple because of time constraints.
Nara Deer Park
Nara Deer Park is the place to see & play with the deer. These deer are considered sacred creatures in the Shinto Religion & are allowed to freely roam around the park. The deer do not bite or hurt the tourists but they tend to become really playful. The deer know how to ask for crackers from the visitors & know how to bow. They also know how to pose for selfies.
My sisters & I spent about an hour going around the park, feeding & playing with the deer. There were moments when we ran around the park because these deer don’t stop asking for food. Some of them, maybe those who are already full, just sit or lie down in one area & ignore all the people around.
Japanese Street Food
Right outside Tōdai-ji is a long row of stalls offering street food for reasonable prices. They have takoyaki (octopus balls), pork & beef sticks, yakisoba, ice cream sundae, chicken tenders, etc. My sisters & I dropped by for a snack. I got myself a pack of freshly-cooked takoyaki for ¥500.
This pretty much sums up our short but fun morning visit to the small city of Nara in Japan. It was a perfect morning side trip to see & play with the sacred deer. We rushed back to Osaka, had lunch in Ichiran, got our stuff from New World Inn Osaka & went straight to Kansai International Airport. My sisters flew back to Manila the same night while I flew to Fukuoka for an overnight stopover.
Have you been to Nara in the past? How was your visit? Did you enjoy feeding & playing with the deer? Are there other interesting places I should visit when I go back in the future? Let me know in the comments below & let’s engage in a discussion. If you want to be anonymous or if you have a question, you can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Many thanks!
Watch out for my next post about the short stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka I had for this trip plus the post about the last hostel I stayed with in this trip – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. Thank you for reading & see you next time!
After spending 48 hours in cold Nagano, I made my way to Osaka where I met my sisters. We spent a few days around Osaka & Universal Studios Japan was the 1st in our to-do list. I’ve been to Universal Studios Japan in 2015 but hey, nothing wrong in going back for the 2nd time.
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is 1 of the 4 Universal theme parks in the world & the only one in East Asia. This theme park has different areas patterned to shows created by NBCUniversal. Two of the most famous ‘lands’ of Universal Studios Japan are Minion Park & The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. USJ has become a popular destination for Filipinos (& other nationalities) coming to Japan for holiday. This is the same reason why my sisters & I decided to visit this theme park during our Japan visit last February.
Access & Operating Hours
Universal Studios Japan is very accessible via public transportation. The nearest station to the theme park is Universal City Station on the Yumesaki Line. This train line can be accessed by changing in Nishikujo Station of the Osaka Loop & Hanshin-Namba Lines. If you are coming to Tokyo, there are express buses that go directly to the theme park. These buses run on a daily basis. The theme park is also connected by buses coming from Kansai & Itami Airports.
The theme park is open everyday from 9:00 in the morning to 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening. The closing times vary depending on season & weather. Feel free to check the Universal Studios Japan official website for the update operating hours on your preferred date.
Park Tickets
Tickets are required for every person to enter the theme park. As of April 2018, an adult day pass which includes access to all rides & attractions cost from ¥7,400 including tax. If you want to spend 2 days in the park, a 2-day adult day pass costs ¥14,700 including tax. Children aged 4 to 11 years old pay ¥5,100 including tax for a day pass & ¥10,000 for a 2-day pass. Senior citizens only pay ¥6,700 for a day pass. 2-day passes are not available for senior citizens. Kids below 4 years old can enter the park for free. These tickets can be purchased in the ticket booths outside the theme park. For the updated ticket prices, feel free to check the official theme park website.
Alternatively, tickets are available for advance purchase via authorized online platforms such as Klook, KKDay, TripAdvisor, Voyagin & Traveloka. These platforms sometimes offer entry tickets for a lower price. These online tickets need not to be exchanged into physical tickets. They offer direct entry to the theme park via a unique printed or digital QR code. We booked our tickets via Traveloka & even got a discount for our ticket.
Universal Express Pass
The Universal Express Pass is a special pass that allows one to skip the long queues & to have a shorter waiting time for selected attractions. This pass also guarantees the pass holder a viewing spot in the parade. The express pass cost varies on the number & selected attractions included in the pass. This pass can be purchased on the day of visit at the park or in selected online platforms. Daily express pass allocations are limited & easily get sold out. For more details & prices about the Universal Express Pass, feel free to check the official theme park website.
My sisters & I didn’t avail the express pass during our visit. We only chose a handful of attractions to try that day.
Rides We Tried & Attractions We Visited
Universal Studios Japan is a very big theme park with different sections – Holywood, New York City, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Minion Park, Universal Wonderland, WaterWorld, Amity Island, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter & Super Nintendo World. Even with a Universal Express Pass, it is impossible for someone to try all rides or attractions in one day. My sisters & I went to every corner of the theme park but only tried few rides. Most of our time were spent lining up to these attractions.
Hollywood Dream
Hollywood Dream is a steel roller coaster that allows the riders to choose their own music from a pre-selected list. This open air roller coaster goes around the Hollywood section of the theme park.
The Flying Dinosaur
The Flying Dinosaur is another steel roller coaster but is located in Jurrasic Park. This ride puts the guests into a flying position & openly roams around the theme park. This ride is one that must not be missed when visiting Universal Studios Japan. Believe me, it’s worth the wait.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
One unique section that can be found in Universal Studios Japan is The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. This Harry Potter-themed section of the park has its own Hogsmeade, Hogwards Express & Hogwards Castle. This section also has attractions to try & shops to visit. The famous Butterbeer can only be purchased here.
Note that there are days when this section requires a timed-entry ticket. These timed-entry tickets can be redeemed somewhere near the Hollywood section. Make sure to check this as soon as you enter the theme park. We were there on a weekday & the park administration didn’t issue timed-entry tickets to the Harry Potter World.
Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
The Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey is Universal Studios Japan’s top attraction. This motion-based ride takes guests to some of the scenes from the movie & the book around Hogwarts Castle. You get to face the dementors & even join a Quidditch match in this attraction. This attraction has one of the longest queues in USJ but I tell you, it’s worth queuing up. Don’t ever miss this ride during your visit.
Minion Park
One of the relatively new sections of Universal Studios Japan is the Minion Park. It is an area dedicated to the Despicable Me movie series, particularly to the world-famous Minions. Everything in this park is so cute & delightful to see. Its main attraction is Minion Mayhem. Unfortunately, we ran out of time in this area. We chose the winter illuminations of the Harry Potter World over this ride.
Food & Souvenir Shops
There are a number of restaurants, canteens & food halls inside the theme park. In fact, every section has a food hall. Food may be a little more expensive than a usual Japanese meal but it’s just alright. There are also food carts located around the theme park for random nibbles & snacks. Don’t forget to try the famous turkey leg. Outside food is not allowed inside the park (at least as per the guidelines) but they really don’t check the guests’ bags.
Souvenir shops & stalls are scattered throughout the theme park. These shops sell anything you can think of that is related to characters under Universal. You can find Harry Potter wands, Minion goodies & candies, Spiderman items in these shops.
This basically made up our day in Universal Studios Japan. We were not able to try a lot of attractions but at least we’ve been to the major & exciting ones. My sister was able to try the Butterbeer for the first time! It was a perfect break from the usual sightseeing day; a perfect day to be like a ‘kid’ again just like the old times.
We left the theme park close to 8:00 in the evening (closing time that day) & dropped by the Gap Factory Outlet (I went shopping) before going to Ichiran Ramen in Tennoji for dinner. Nothing beats having the best ramen in the world after a long, tiring but fun day at Universal Studios Japan.
Have you been to Universal Studios Japan? Were you able to try the Minion Mayhem? Which was your favorite section or attraction? Feel free to share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the theme park? You can send those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Thanks for reading today’s post. Watch out for the article about our 1-day Kyoto adventure!
Hey yo, hey yo! How have you been? I am very sorry for being missing in action for the last few weeks. I’ve been really busy with trips, work & engagements. My siblings & I also moved out of our house of 12 years. Imagine the amount of things we packed! Anyway, I’m super happy I finally have time to write again. I have so many trips & things to share with you. I know I haven’t started posting about my recent Japan trip, but I’ll definitely put up the posts soon.
Last weekend, my current & former colleagues went on a 48-hour spontaneous tito (or tita for my female friends) weekend trip to the City of Smiles, Bacolod. The city is located in the Visayas & is the capital of Negros, Occidental. The city is popular for the annual Masskara Festival (Festival of masks), the abundant sugar cane plantation & the famous piaya snack.
Now back to the trip. Don’t expect this to be an adventure-filled weekend. We flew to Bacolod with no plans at all & our goal was to have a break from the busy life in Makati. Let me share with you the whereabouts this 48-hour relaxing trip to the City of Smiles.
Plane Ticket
The trip started when my friends & I (a group of 7 people) booked a return Bacolod ticket for ₱3,706 each last January 2019. We found the fare deal in one of Philippine Airlines‘ low fare sale. The tickets include in flight snacks, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance & 10 kilograms of check-in baggage allowance. Considering the flight schedule, flight dates & the fare inclusions, the ticket we got was worth it. Plus, it’s Philippine Airlines – our country’s flag carrier. Philippine Airlines’ fares are not as affordable as low cost carriers’ fares, except during seat sales.
Our flight left Manila at 3:55 in the afternoon & arrived Bacolod at 5:15 pm (with a few minutes delay). The flight back left Bacolod after 6:00 pm & arrived Manila before 7:30 in the evening. The schedules were perfect – we only took the Friday afternoon off from work plus we had enough rest time after the trip.
accommodation
Our trip was pretty last minute so the famous accommodations were already booked out. Good thing we found Jay’s property in Booking.com. The units were in CityScapes Bacolod, a relatively new residential building along 6th Avenue, a few meters walk from Lacson Avenue. We booked 2 units (one unit for the ladies & 1 unit for the gents) for 2 nights. It only cost us ₱970+ per person already for 2 nights. Affordable, right? The units were equipped with private shower & toilet, free Wi-Fi, private balconies, small refrigerator & a whole lot more. The units exceeded our expectations.
Click this link to check out Jay’s property at Booking.com. You may also opt to contact him directly for bookings – his number is +639477786688. Book early, his units are always in demand.
around bacolod
We flew to Bacolod without any plans at all. The only thing in our mind was to rest, eat the best chicken inasal & have dessert in Calea. We figured out our itinerary when we arrived. We initially thought of spending a day in Lakawon Island but we got stressed by expected travel time & resort / island fees. We decided to just go to the nearby upland town & go around the city. Check out the following places we went to & the local restaurants we tried.
The Ruins
The Ruins is an ancestral home mansion of Lacsons. It is located in within the family’s plantation in Talisay City. The house was burned down during the World War II. The remains of the mansion after the fire is now Negros Occidental’s most famous tourist attraction.
Aida’s Chicken Inasal
A visit to Bacolod is never complete without having the famous chicken inasal. One of the best places to have this staple Bacolod food is in Manokan Country, right beside SM City Bacolod. One of the most visited restaurants in this place is Aida’s Chicken. We went here for dinner on our 1st night.
Bacolod New Government Center
My friends & I stopped by the Bacolod New Government Center to have a photo with the big BACOLOD signage.
Don Salvador Benedicto
Our driver recommended that we go on a half day tour to Don Salvador Benedicto. It is a small town 45 minutes to an hour away from Bacolod City. This municipality is called Negros’ Little Baguio because of its location in the mountains & its (not so during our visit) chilly weather. We went to different viewpoints & Instagram-worthy places, plus Nami Island-like place full of pine trees. We also saw Malatan-og Falls from afar; we had no more time to hike down to the falls.
Balay Negrense
Balay Negrense is another ancestral house previously owned by the prominent Gaston family of Silay City. The house was abandoned years after the death of Don Victor Fernandez Gaston & was later turned over to the Negros Cultural Foundation & the Philippine Tourism Board. The house was restored into a museum in 1994 & was declared a heritage site by the government.
Seaside Restaurant
We headed to a seaside community in Silay City to have lunch. I forgot the name of the place but it’s a small row of ‘paluto‘ restaurants that offer cheap but fresh seafood. My friends ordered 2 buckets of oysters at ₱65 per bucket. We also had rice, buttered shrimp, pork sisig & liempo & a few more dishes for a very affordable price.
Calea Pastries & Coffee
Calea Pastries & Coffee is Bacolod’s most famous dessert place. They have a large range of cakes & pastries to choose from. They also have a wide variety of coffee & drinks to try. We were a group of 7 so we each got a unique cake of pastry. Their best seller Imported Chocolate Cake was so-so. We liked the pecan apple pie & pistachio cake.
Negros Occidental Provincial Capital Grounds
We dropped by the provincial capitol grounds before going back to our accommodation. We took photos of the building against the sunlight & the partly blue sky.
21 Restaurant
We had hopes of having batchoy for dinner at 21 Restaurant only to find out they only offer it until 5:00 in the afternoon. We had no choice but to order other kinds of food. We still had a good meal even if we felt we were under-dressed (we were in shorts & shirts).
Ted’s La Paz Batchoy
We can’t get over the fact we missed 21 Restaurant’s la paz batchoy so we decided to have lunch at Ted’s. Batchoy is a local noodle soup with round noodles & pork, chicken or beef as flavor. The broth is very rich & tasty. The soup is best paired with pandesal or puto (steamed rice cake). Ted’s la paz batchoy originated in Iloilo (another Visayan city in Panay Island) & fortunately has branches in Bacolod.
Felicia’s Pastry Shop
We spent our last few hours in the city at Felicia’s Pastry Shop. I didn’t try their signature chocolate cake because it didn’t look enticing to me. I got the pecan cheesecake instead. It was okay, nothing special. Their ensaymada with signature hot chocolate was so good!
Pendy’s Napoleones
One of Bacolod’s famous delicacy is napoleones. It is a pastry made of sugar, egg, flour butter & milk topped with white sugar glaze. In my opinion, Pendy’s & Roli’s have the best napoleones in the city. We went to Pendy’s the updated price as of early March 2019 is ₱18 per piece or ₱180 per box of 10. It’s a must buy pasalubong from Bacolod, of course together with the famous piaya.
That basically sums up our quick 48-hour trip to Bacolod last weekend. We basically went there to have food trip. Everything was relaxed & spontaneous, no plans or whatsoever. I look forward to more trips like this.
Any suggestions on where I should go next for 48 hours? Or maybe have you been to Bacolod? How was your visit? Which food or place did you enjoy most? Feel free to start the discussion in the comments below. You can also share your thoughts via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Until the next 48-hour weekend trip! I don’t have anything planned or booked yet but let’s see where I’ll go next.
Last November, my good friend, Lord of Lord Around The World invited me to join him on It’s The Ship 2018. Known as Asia’s Largest Festival At Sea, It’s The Ship sailed to Phuket, Thailand on board Dream Cruises‘ Genting Dream for their 5th Anniversary. Its sail started in Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore then docked in Phuket, Thailand for a few hours then back to Singapore. Let me share with you how my first cruise experience went.
Pre-Cruise Stops
Prior to It’s The Ship 2018, I went on a 36-hour Penang side trip (to see Georgetown’s murals) & a 24-hour Singapore stop. My initial plan was to explore Penang & Kuala Lumpur for a few days until Lord invited me to join him on the cruise trip. I cut short my Penang stay, cancelled my Kuala Lumpur leg & flew to Singapore a day before the sail. I met with Lord upon arrival in Singapore, then walked around the city & finished the day with the pre-sail party in Zouk Singapore.
Day 1 – Sail To Phuket & On board Parties Begin
Check-in & Boarding
The cruise trip & EDM festival started in Marina Bay Cruise Centre. All guests, crew & artists checked-in for the trip, boarded by batch & passed through immigration. Everyone was given their respective room key cards, festival booklets & cruise schedule / information. Passports were surrendered to the crew upon entering the ship. The entire cruise had a safety briefing at 5:00 pm right before it started its sail to Phuket.
Room Tour
Lord & I stayed in Room 10556, a Balcony Stateroom on Deck 10. It features a queen bed, private bathroom & toilet, a sofa bed, a large television (with our names in it), a small refrigerator & a private balcony. The room also had 2 packs of snacks from The Golden Duck, the festival’s official party snack. The room was just right for 2 people. It was again my first time (in years) to stay in a luxury room like this. I enjoyed every detail of the room!
First Dinner On Board
While everyone was busy lining up for the gala dinner tickets (which we decided to skip), Lord & I had dinner at Dream Dining Room Restaurant. The restaurant featured a Chinese set menu. The dishes featured unlimited servings of sauteed frog legs, steamed large shrimps, roast duck & a lot more. What a sumptuous dinner!
Crown Stage Welcome Party
Parties started as soon as the cruise left Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore. Right after dinner, Lord & I went to the Crown Stage Welcome Party at Deck 16. It is also the cruise’ main party venue. We stayed for a few hours & enjoyed the sets of DJs like Helena Legend & Chocolate Puma. We went back to our room after a while & called it a night.
Day 2 – EDM Festival Continues & Phuket Stopover
Sunrise Party with Maddix
We started Day 2 really early with a sunrise party at Zouk Stage at the rear part of the cruise. We woke up before 5 am & made it to Maddix’s set. Maddix is one of Revealed Recording’s rising stars & is one of my current favorites. I’ve been listening to his songs & mixes for quite some time, so it was really nice to see him perform live. I even got a chance to have a photo with him after his set.
Lido International Buffet Meal
Lord & I had most of our meals in Lido International Buffet Restaurant. It is one of the two restaurants (the other is Dream Dining Restaurant) which are included in the fee. The other specialty restaurants are not for free & had very expensive food. Basically, we go to Lido for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, midnight snack & pre-sleep snack. Good thing this buffet offers an international spread. The food / dishes also change from time to time.
Around The Cruise
I took time to walk around the cruise while Lord hit the gym (know as Crystal Lift Fitness). I went to the main lobby, casino (known as Resorts World At Sea), Bridge Viewing Room (where the ship captain & officers can be seen + replica of the cruise) & the Dream Boutiques.
Zouk Stage Foam Party
Lord & I attended the crazy foam party at Zouk Stage. It was my first foam party & it was a mad on. Everyone partied really hard & the crowd was awesome. We were able to make it to Mira Mira & DJ Helena Legend‘s sets. Helena was joined by Jjay De Melo. Oh, I found out that Jjay De Melo drowned & died last month. I’d like to pay tribute to this cool man & I’m actually dedicating this post to him. Rest in peace, sir.
Phuket Stopover
The cruised docked at Patong Beach, Phuket at around 5:00 pm. Lord & I disembarked at 6:30 at one end of Patong Beach & walked around the streets of Phuket. We had authentic Thai food for dinner at Baan Laimai Beach Resort‘s on site restaurant. We also spent some time reconnecting with friends & loved ones through social media. Wi-Fi on board the cruise was very slow. We walked up to the other end of the area then back. We skipped the Genting Dream’s Gala Night for this stopover in Phuket. We went back to the ship a few minutes before 10 pm.
Party ‘Til Dawn
Lord passed for the 2nd night’s party while I partied my heart out. I met some cool Indonesian people on the dance floor & I joined their party until dawn. If I remembered it right, I slept around 5:00 am on the 3rd day. We enjoyed the sets of Hook N Sling & Darude. Cash Cash gave the best set of that night. The crowd was wild; the people didn’t run out of energy. It’s been a while since I danced until dawn; I enjoyed it a lot.
Day 3 – All-Day Chill & Party
Lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant
After eating most of our meals in Lido, Lord & I decided to have lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant for a change. We had unlimited Chinese set dishes plus rice & soup. The food this time was so-so; it consisted of sauteed eggplant, cabbage, some fish & meat. Our 1st meal in the same restaurant was a lot better.
Chill All Day
Day 3 aboard Genting Dream was more about chilling rather than partying. I wasn’t able to join Lord when he interviewed Maddix so I decided to just walk around the cruise (again), sunbathe & have some carbonated drink. Good thing the sun was out & the sky was super clear. Lord joined me after his interview & we went for a swim in the pool near the Crown Stage.
Hip-Hop Afternoon with Big Shaq
I dropped by the Zouk Stage while Lord was having some down time in the room. The one & only non-EDM related hip hop party was happening with the It’s The Ship 2018 Captain, Big Shaq. People came in their 90’s hip hop outfits. It was another crazy afternoon party! I didn’t stay long in that stage; I immediately went back inside the room & had some rest.
Dinner & Crazy Trance Final Night Party
Lord & I went out of the room to have our final dinner on the cruise. We went, of course, to Lido International Buffet. After dinner, we headed over to the crown stage again to have drinks & enjoy the trance-themed final night party. We also went to the Zouk Stage for another party & watched Cash Cash play beer pong with the other guests. Notable names that played that night were David Gravell, Estiva, Cosmic Gate, Paul Van Dyk (who was on the same plane as I am to Kuala Lumpur) & Vini Vici. The crowd went super wild during the sets of Cosmic Gate & Vini Vici. We stayed until around 1:00 am & we decided to go to bed afterwards.
Day 4 – Back In Singapore & Flight Back To Manila
Last Meal at Lido
Lord & I had our final brunch meal at Lido on our way back to Singapore. I know I’ve eaten a number of buffet meals on this trip, but I think this last one was special. I can very well remember the potato wedges & slices of turkey ham served in that spread.
Check-out & Disembarkation
After our meal, we went to reception to settle our bills & to check for possible last minute purchases. We headed back to our room, took a shower & packed our things. The cruise staff gave us back our passports.
The cruise ship arrived Singapore around lunch time, but we disembarked around 2:00 pm. We cleared Singapore immigration & found ourselves back at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Our It’s The Ship 2018 experience officially ended here.
Flight Back To Manila
Lord & I immediately went to the nearest subway station. Lord took the train back to his place while I took the train to Changi Airport. A few hours later, I flew out of Singapore & landed back in Manila.
5 Reasons That Make It’s The Ship Is A Unique EDM Festival
You might wonder what makes It’s The Ship unique & why people go to this festival. Check out these reasons I thought of based on my experience.
It is on board a cruise ship.
Yes, it happens on board a cruise ship! You also go & disembark on a specific place in another country. How cool is that?
It has pop-up / themed parties.
The festival has pop-up / themed parties where guests can choose where to go to. It ranges from hip-hop parties, onesie parties, birthday bashes, foam party to pajama parties. People go to these parties in costumes, which makes the activity more fun.
It hosts side activities with DJs.
Sam of Cash Cash played few rounds of beer pong with the shipmates. Happened on the 3rd night!
It’s The Ship hosts several activities where the guests get to spend time with their favorite DJ’s. These activities include beer pong, yoga class, Singapore Sling class, games, etc. These give the guests the chance to meet their favorite DJ’s in flesh & also to have fun with them. It’s one of a kind.
It features the best local & international DJs.
The festival features the best local & international DJs in the scene. The 2018 sail gave the guests a chance to enjoy the music of legends like Paul Van Dyk, Vini Vici & Cosmic Gate. It also gave a platform for local DJs to showcase their talents & style in a bigger crowd.
It’s an experience of a lifetime.
Going to an EDM festival on board a cruise is definitely an experience of a lifetime. You get to enjoy the music of your favorite DJs while in the middle of the sea, plus you get to meet people from the other parts of the world who share the same passion for dance music. It was a fun trip, I’ll definitely attend it again in the future.
So.. There you go! It’s The Ship 2018 was a trip of many firsts & of a lifetime. I will never forget everything that happened in those 4 days & 3 nights on board Genting Dream. Massive thanks to my friend, Lord of Lord Around The World, for tagging me along!
It’s The Ship Singapore 2019 will be back for their 6th Anniversary this November 13-15. Check out the event website for cabin prices, lineup & more details. You can also start booking your cabins for this year’s party! Guess what? It’s The Ship will also sail from China & Japan this year. It’s The Ship China 2019 will depart Shanghai & go to Shimonoseki, Japan from June 13 to 17. Details are yet to be announced for the It’s The Ship Japan 2019. Make sure to follow It’s The Ship on Instagram & Facebook to get updated on the event details. You can also find everything about the ship on ItsTheShip.com. ✌️
One of the reasons why people go to Penang is to see its world-famous murals. Last November 2018, I walked around the streets of Georgetown to see these murals in person. These murals are painted by different artists & are scattered throughout the small streets of the city. Most of these murals are found along Lebuh Armenian (Armenian St).
Let me share to you some photos of the murals I came across during my walkathon around Georgetown.
In case you missed it, I spent 36 hours in Penang last November before I flew to Singapore for Its The Ship 2018. Check out my Penang journey here.
Property
Location: Victoria St (Lebuh Victoria)
Little Children On A Bicycle
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Boy On A Motorbike
Location: Ah Quee St (Lebuh Ah Quee)
Little Boy With Pet Dinosaur
Location: Ah Quee St (Lebuh Ah Quee)
Children On A Swing
Location: An Alley Off Chulia St (Lebuh Chulia)
Basketball Game
Location: An Alley Off Chulia St (Lebuh Chulia)
Cat In Blue Window
Location: Cannon St (Lebuh Cannon)
Skippy Comes To Penang
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Indian Boatman
Location: Stewart Lane (Lorong Stewart)
Rickshaw Vendor
Location: An alley Off Armenian St
Two Men Pushing A Door
Location: An alley Off Armenian St
Wo Ai Nee Chinese Malay Indian
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Teach You Hokkien
LKLocation: An Alley Off Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Lion Break-dancing Out Of Wall
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Old Soy Milk Stall
Location: An Alley Chulia St (Lebuh Chulia)
I Can Help Catch Rats
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
I Want Pau
Location: Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)
Those are the murals I saw during my walkathon. I still missed a few notable ones but I believe I already saw a lot. There are hundreds of these murals around Georgetown; it would take around a day to finish all of them.
Have you been to Penang before? Have you seen a mural not in the photos above? Which mural is this & where is it located? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Penang in general? Feel free send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Also, please help me in promoting my social media channels –Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Thank you for checking out this post. Don’t forget to read my Penang walkathon blog! Until the next post. ✌️
