Holidays – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back To Being A ‘Kid’ Just For A Day

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!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Spontaneous BACOLOD Weekend: 48 Hours In The City of Smiles

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.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

IT’S THE SHIP 2018 – 4 Days & 3 Nights Of Non-Stop Parties On Board Genting Dream Cruise

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. ✌️

PENANG in 36 Hours – GEORGETOWN MURALS Photoblog

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

Little Children On A Bicycle

Boy On A Motorbike

Little Boy With Pet Dinosaur

Children On A Swing

Location: An Alley Off Chulia St (Lebuh Chulia)

Basketball Game

Cat In Blue Window

Skippy Comes To Penang

Indian Boatman

Rickshaw Vendor

Two Men Pushing A Door

Wo Ai Nee Chinese Malay Indian

Teach You Hokkien

LKLocation: An Alley Off Armenian St (Lebuh Armenian)

Lion Break-dancing Out Of Wall

Old Soy Milk Stall

Location: An Alley Chulia St (Lebuh Chulia)

I Can Help Catch Rats

I Want Pau

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. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

PENANG in 36 Hours – A Walk Around Heritage Sites

Happy new year everyone! I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday break. I went home to my hometown & spent the festive season with my family & relatives. It’s also the reason why I’ve been very quiet the past weeks. I’m very happy to be back! I have a long list of stories, tips & content to post. I can’t wait to share all of them with you!

Let’s get down to business. Today, I will bring you to Penang, Malaysia. Last November 2018, I got to explore Penang. I was supposed to stay for a few days but I had to cut short my trip to 36 hours for another exciting engagement in Singapore. I will talk about that experience in an upcoming post. Back to Penang, I spent most of my time around the island’s capital – Georgetown. This colorful & multicultural capital became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Georgetown is like a living museum; the buildings & shop houses have retained their historic form through the years.

I will make this post somewhat informal & basically share my itinerary by date & time. Check out the turnout of events in Penang below.

Day 1 – Hello Penang!

22:00 – I arrived at Penang International Airport from Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines. Flight was delayed for an hour due to bad weather at the airport vicinity. I got some cash from the ATM & booked a Grab ride to my hostel.

23:00 – I arrived at The Frame Guesthouse in Georgetown & checked in to my room. I went to the nearest convenience center & grabbed something to eat & drink. I had freshened up & went to bed.

I wrote about my stay at The Frame Guesthouse. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Day 2 – Kek Lok Si Temple & Around Georgetown

07:00 – I woke up & immediately took a shower. I went downstairs to avail the hostel’s free breakfast. I had some toast, fresh fruits & a glass of milk. I went to reception & asked for advice on what to do for the day.

08:00 – I left the hostel & walked to Komtar Bus Terminal. I took Bus 203 or 204 to Ayer Itam. The fare costs RM2 per person & takes about 30 minutes. It is the bus line’s last stop so the driver will advise you to get off the bus. The temple is only a short walk up the hill.

09:00 – I arrived at Kek Lok Si Temple. The Buddhist temple was built way back in the late 19th century. This temple played a big role in building Penang’s religious heritage.

I went around the different temple buildings & pagodas. The complex has millions of Buddha images & hundreds of physical statues. I also took the inclined lift up to the giant Buddha. It took me 2.5 hours to go around the whole temple complex.

11:30 – I went down to Ayer Itam & had lunch. I went to the small hawker center & bought curry mee for lunch. After lunch, I walked around the different shops in the area. I was a bit tired so I booked a Grab car back to the hostel.

12:30 – I arrived back to The Frame Guesthouse & decided to rest for a while.

14:00 – I left the hostel & started my walkathon around Georgetown. I walked around Love Lane & saw some interesting murals.

14:15 – I went to Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Also known as the Mansion of the Babas & Nyonyas, this mansion was once owned by the rich Chinese who migrated to Penang. The Chinese family adopted to the local Malaysian & colonial British cultures & still managed to create a unique lifestyle & customs. This way of life left a big collection of antiques which are on display in the mansion. The mansion has a RM20 entrance fee per person. They also offer English tours (takes about an hour) around the house daily. I joined the 14:30 tour.

15:30 – I left Pinang Peranakan Mansion & continued my walkathon to Penang Town Hall & The Esplanade. This public open space by the sea is a popular recreation area for the locals. People go here for leisure walks & relaxation. I planned to visit the nearby Fort Cornawallis but the fort was closed to the public on that specific day.

16:00 – I went to Padang Kota Lama, a hawker center beside Fort Cornwallis, to try the famous mee sotong goreng. This sweet & spicy noodles are only sold by Hameed Pata Special Mee. I waited in line for a few minutes before it was finally my turn to buy. The regular plate costs RM5 & the big plate costs RM7. You can choose from the goreng (fried noodles) or the rebus (boiled noodles). I also tried the coconut shake in the nearby stall for RM4.

16:45 – I resumed my walkathon around Georgetown. This time, I went back to Lebuh Chulia & continued to Lebuh Armenian to check out the famous Penang murals. I went around the main & small streets to see as many murals as I can. Luckily, there were only few tourists checking out the murals.

17:30 – I went back to the hostel to rest before heading out for dinner.

19:30 – 2 hours after, I went out to have dinner with a Filipino I met in the mansion tour. We ate in a local restaurant along Lebuh Chulia. I had wan tan mee (Malaysian wonton noodles), char koay teow (stir-fried noodles) & hot teh tarik (hot milk tea) for dinner. Yes, I was that hungry.

20:30 – We went to this local liquor store named Antarabangsa Enterprise to have drinks. This shop is located along Lorong Stewart (Stewart Lane). Every day, the store staff sets up tables & chairs in the street for their customers. We stayed for a while here & met interesting people from Penang (locals), Iran & Norway. It was a fun night exchanging stories about anything under the sun.

23:45 – After a few bottles & hours of drinking, I headed back to my hostel to rest. I took a shower & went to bed.

Day 3 – Goodbye Penang!

06:00 – I woke up & fixed my stuff. I took a shower & got ready for check out.

07:15 – I booked a Grab car & went to Penang International Airport for my international flight to Singapore.

07:45 – I arrived at the airport & went straight to check in. I had breakfast at KFC after check in then I headed to the boarding gate.

09:30 – Boarding for Singapore commenced.

10:05 – My Scoot flight to Singapore departed Penang International Airport on time.

This pretty much is all about my quick stop at Penang. I wish I stayed longer but I guess I made the most out of that 36-hour stay. I know I missed a lot of interesting places like Batu Ferringhi, Clan Jetties, Penang Hill & the Blue Mansion. That gives me another reason to go back in visit Penang in the future.

Have you been to Penang? Where else did you go that you find very interesting & unique? Feel free to share these places in the comments below. I’ll check ’em out when I fly back to Penang. You can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for the next post about Penang. You’ll surely love it! Ciao. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.