The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park of Kota Kinabalu is a marine park that is made up of a cluster of five idyllic islands namely: Palau Manukan, Palau Mamutik, Palau Sapi, Palau Gaya and Palau Sulug.

There are also tours that are being offered by various travel agencies. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is labelled as the Island Hopping Tour and rates range from RM 100 (US$ 31) to RM 150 (US$ 46 ). The most expensive tour would include the following: Entrance Fee, Port Fee, Boat Fee, Land Return Transfer and even a buffet BBQ lunch at the island of your choice.

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Posted in Beaches, Malaysia, Things to do |

Anyone who has been to Hong Kong would normally rave about the great shopping experience, exquisite Chinese food, and the amazing sights! One great place to experience while in Hong Kong is the famous Victoria Peak, situated high above the dazzling Hong Kong skyline.

Victoria Peak is on the western side of Hong Kong Island and is known to be the highest point in Hong Kong as it stands at 552 meters above sea level. This is a favorite among tourists, families, and even teenagers who are looking for some quiet time and would like to escape the busy life downtown. Enjoy a panoramic view that stretches from Victoria Peak to Victoria Harbor, Kowloon, New Territories and other islands of China as far as your eyes can take you.

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Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |

I am still a kid… at heart, that is. I am fascinated by simple things like cotton candies, rainbows, chocolates, crayons and fireworks. I still watch cartoons and I still go to amusement parks. Yup, amusement parks! Whenever I visit a new country, I usually make it a point to include a visit to the amusement park in my travel itinerary.

So when I found myself in Indonesia, I didn’t stay in my Jakarta hotel long. I immediately headed off to one of their famous tourist spots – TAMAN IMPIAN JAYA ANCOL. It is highly recommended to bring a car or rent a private car that will bring you there. For foreign visitors, there is a taxi line available or you can simply call a taxi company like in order to arrange your trip to and from Ancol.

This amusement park, known as the largest in Jakarta, is located North of Jakarta and is said to be built on reclaimed land. There is an entrance free of Rp 10, 000 (US$ 1) per person and Rp 10, 000 (US$ 1) for each car. This recreation park offers both outdoor and indoor activities. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Indonesia |

Are you in the mood for a different kind of adventure? Would you like to experience caves with challenging twists and turns, see breathtaking vertical cliffs and limestone formations? Then you should definitely leave for that long overdue vacation and head over to the wonderful Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Gunung Mulu National Park is Sarawak’s World Heritage Site. The Park was included in the prominent list back in November 2000 mainly because of its notable contribution to the understanding of earth’s history, plush flora and fauna, and rich biodiversity.

There are a number of ways to reach the Park. There are flights from Miri, Kota Kinabalu and even Kuching. Unfortunately, it is not possible to travel to Mulu by land. The only way to get to the Park is by boat. From my hotel in Kota Kinabalu, I rode a taxi to the airport so that I can catch a flight to Miri. From Miri, the trip will take up to about ten hours departing from Kuala Baram, on the Baram River, by speed boat to Marudi. From Marudi, you have to get another boat to Long Terawan or Long Kabong and this is where you have to make reservations for a ride in longboats that will bring you directly to the Park’s headquarters. The trip may be long and tiring but it is definitely worth it. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

Your ultimate Asian tour will never be complete without stopping by Malaysia. You can sample Malaysian culture and tradition by visiting its wonderful capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL).

As a first time visitor in KL, I can still recall my excitement when I was on-board my flight to KL from Manila when the plane’s captain announced that plane would be landing in a few minutes. I immediately looked out of my window and strained my neck to catch a glimpse of the famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL. I was disappointed when I didn’t get to see the Petronas Towers. I must have been seated on the wrong side of the plane.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do |

In Discover a Slice of Paradise in Sentosa Part 1, you learned how to get to Sentosa. You were also introduced to some of the popular attractions in this little island in Singapore like the Animal and Bird Encounter, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Underwater World and the Dolphin Lagoon. But there are more attractions and activities to choose fromw…

THE MERLION & MERLION WALK - When you step outside of the Images of Singapore museum, you will be led to the Merlion and Merlion Walk. Here you will find the biggest Merlion replica. The Sentosa Merlion, which is half lion and half fish, is about 37 meters high. You can take the lift to the top floor and enjoy a panoramic view of Singapore and other nearby islands. The scales on the Sentosa Merlion are also known to glow with different colors at night. At the back of this gigantic Merlion is a 120-meter long walkway which is referred to as the Merlion Walk. The Merlion Walk is lined with thousands of tiny bulbs and that is something that you should definitely see during your night stroll in Sentosa.

FORT SILOSO TOURS - Fort Siloso is a concrete reminder of the World War II in Singapore. Here, you’ll be able to see life-sized wax replicas of people who played an important role in the Japanese surrender. Visitors can view entertaining interactive exhibits like the Surrender Chambers, Voices of Singapore, etc. You can browse through memorabilia like old photographs, documents and film clips are being displayed. Furthermore, one can explore the old tunnels. That’s a different kind of adventure in itself. There are also real cannons and a lot of guns from the 17^th century that can be explored. As an added bonus, you can also view some docudramas about the war that can help visitors better understand Singapore’s unique history. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Beaches, Singapore |

Singapore is another favourite destination in Asia among tourists. When you find yourself in checking in at a hotel in Singapore, one place that you should never miss is the world-famous SENTOSA.

SENTOSA, which in Malay means peace and tranquillity, is so popular that millions of people all over the world flock to this island-resort/heritage center/theme park/nature park each and every year. You can reach Sentosa Island through a number of ways:

BY CAR - Car owners are required to purchase the S$2 per car per entry fee plus the island admission fee of S$2 for each person onboard)

BY TAXI - Passengers would have to pay the island admission of S$ 2 per person onboard over and above the taxi fare

BY MRT – You would have to take the North-East Line and get off at the Harbour Front MRT Station. There are two ways to reach Sentosa from here. One way is you can go to the third level of the Vivo City Shopping Mall then transfer to the Sentosa Express. Another way is to look for the Harbour Front Bus Interchange and ride the orange Sentosa bus. The ticket for the orange bus is S$3 per person.

BY PUBLIC BUS – Another way to get to the island is by ride a bus that will take you to Telok Blangah Road. Find your way again to the Harbour Bus Interchange so that you can catch the orange Sentosa bus. The bus numbers that you should take note of are as follows: 65, 80, 93, 188, 855, 10, 30, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166

BY CABLE CAR – I am such a fan of cable cars which is why this is my favourite. There are even two kinds of cabins to choose from. There’s the normal cabin and there’s the exciting glass-bottom cabins. You can log on to www.mountfaber.com.sg for more details on the rates, location and operating hours.

Your adventure begins the moment you arrive in the Island. You can visit a multitude of attractions and activities that Sentosa is known for:

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Posted in Attractions, Singapore |

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is considered as the largest city of South Korea and one of the most highly populated cities all over the world. It is a favorite destination in Asia not only because of its colorful culture and historical landmarks but because of its growing reputation of being every shopping addict’s version of heaven on earth.

I have very fond memories of my shopping escapades in Seoul. I remember that after I checked in at my hotel in Seoul, I deposited my bags in my room and prepared myself to shop ‘til I drop. My heart was even pounding in my chest the moment I stepped out of my hotel.

I got to visit this bustling city in April when lovely Magnolias and Cherry Blossoms line the streets. The weather was also quite cool — perfect for a entire day of shopping!

There are a number of shopping areas in Seoul. For starters, I visited the Namdaemun Market, one of the popular shopping stops in Seoul. This was my first stop as it only took me about ten minutes to reach this place from my hotel. This market is so huge that it occupies many city blocks and has a couple of entrances. You can buy absolutely everything here! Enter one store and the store owner will try to make you buy all kinds of tea from Green Tea, to Jasmine Tea to the local Ginseng tea and roots. You can even sample Ginseng Tea in some stores! In another stall, you can purchase all kinds of Korean souvenirs like key chains, to mobile phone charms, Korean dolls, chopsticks, paper weight, and many others. There are dozens of stores that sell clothes, shoes, bags, and even jewelry. Retailers are known to purchase their goods at the Namdaemun market at wholesale prices so that they can sell again in their own stores.

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Posted in Korea, Things to do |

Are you feeling the urge to just get away from it all and pack your things to go on a much deserved or long overdue vacation? Yes? So, what’s stopping you then? More often than not, the reason would be budget constraints.

The good news is traveling in this day and age is no longer just for the Rich and Famous. An average person or a regular employee can go on trips not only domestic ones but international trips as well.

Whenever I travel, I always make it a point that I do a lot of research so that I can make the most out of my trip without blowing off my entire year’s savings. This is why I’m very thankful that there are now quite a number of budget airlines that service the Philippines, my country of origin. These airlines include Air Asia, Tiger Airways and Jet Star. The destinations are interesting enough even if limited.

I decided to go on a trip late last year and was able to work around a limited budget for my trip. My destination of choice was Kota Kinabalu or KK, as it is popularly known.  It is the state capital of Sabah in Malaysia and is fondly described as a “pleasant Borneo surprise” as it is unexpectedly set between the magnificent South China Sea and rich tropical rolling hills.

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Posted in Airlines, Food, Malaysia, Things to do |

Ocean Park, one of the world’s greatest educational theme parks, is located in Aberdeen which is on the South side of Hong Kong island. A lot of people, including Hong Kong residents and tourists from all over the world, flock to this theme park each year making Ocean Park a favorite destination among tourists not only in Hong Kong but in the entire Asian region.Just like any other theme park, Ocean Park, offers a lot amenities and services such as Souvenir Shops, Food Kiosks/Restaurants, ATM machines, Animal Shows, Aquariums, Aviaries, Observation Towers, and a wide selection of heart-pounding rides. What makes it extraordinary is that the entire park is divided into two major areas – The Lowland Gardens and the Headland – which are connected by a Cable Car.

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Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |