Live Free. Love Hard.

Travels. Music. How To’s

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Music 9: Dalangpanan

Dalangpanan (Ambassadors Worship Team) – Bisaya Christian Song With Lyrics

Album: Awit Sa Pagdayeg by Ambassadors Worship Team

Tanan ko nga problema Tanan ko nga kabalaka Isalig ko Kanimo akong Ginoo Tanang kabug-aton diha Kanimo

Ikaw lamang ang gustong makauban Ikaw lamang ang gitinguha ning dughan Magadayeg ako Kanimo…

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Music 8: Ikaw Lamang

Music 8: Ikaw Lamang

Album: Awit Sa Pagdayeg

Dalaygon Balaan Halangdon Gamhanan

Ikaw lamang ang angayan sa tanang Dungog ug himaya sa langit ug yuta

Hallelujah

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Gikinahanglan Ka

Album: Awit Sa Pagdayeg

Unsay bili niining tanan Kung ako wala sa Imong kiliran Mga butang ning kalibutan Lumalabay lang

Walay ma-ikatandi Sa gugma Mong akong nasinati Ang kasingkasing ko nakita mo Hesukristo

Oh Dios gikinahanglan ko Ikaw Kay Ikaw lamang ang nasayod sa tanan Sa kalipay ug kasakit, kaluya ug kadasig Oh…

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Music 6: Daygon Ko Ikaw

Music 6: Daygon Ko Ikaw

Album: Awit Sa Pagdayeg

Susiha ako oh Ginoo Ania na usab sa pagdayeg Kanimo Hinlo-i kining kasingkasing ko Himo-a nga maputli sa atubangan Mo

Pun-a ako sa gugma Mo Tagbawa ako sa presensya Mo

Dagyon ko Ikaw Oh Ginoo Dagyon ko Ikaw Oh Ginoo Daygon Ko Ikaw daygon Ko

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ThePanerios: No, It Didn't Start With A YES!

Sharing with you, for the first time, our journey to the most beautiful day of our lives... and it didn't start with a YES!

Sharing with you, for the first time, our journey to the most beautiful day of our lives… and it didn’t start with a YES!

I’d say, our journey to our wedding day didn’t begin when I responded to his “Will you marry me”.

Year 2017, we were planning for our marriage that time, can’t remember when, how, where… but it was just a normal conversation that we had, and then we went on discussing…

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ThePanerios: Arrival At Club Tara Resort Surigao

ThePanerios: Arrival At Club Tara Resort Surigao

Honeymoon trip in Club Tara Resort at Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte

First impression, WOW.

This is one of the best places I’ve been to. However, just like any other places, there are always the good points and the things that need to consider as room for improvement.

Below are my honest reviews.

Good…

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June 2018, my whole extended family decided to get together at Davao City. Since most of us are busy with work and studies, we only scheduled a one-day bonding at an area where every family would be “meeting half-way”.

Indeed, our one-day bonding was jam-packed. We were able to visit these three must-see places in Davao.

Sonnen Berg Mountain View

This started our day. Best visited at dawn, this place is where you’d be able to see a beautiful sea of clouds as you watch the sun rises. The ambiance is great for a sip of coffee or a “chowkate”. Morning snacks are available in their cafeteria, so there’s no need to worry if you may have dashed without breakfast. Entrance is P50/person. The place is surrounded with pine trees, with pool at the middle and an overlooking view. A piece of advice – go there as early as 5am to have time for an exclusive photo opportunity. Around 6am, people will start coming and it will be hard to get a good capture of the view.

Sonnen Berg Mountain View

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

I’d say it is one of the best mountain resort I’ve been to. Located in the deepest mountains, I believe (after that long rough road), I was immediately mesmerized by this place. The pool is from a fresh spring running COLD waters and the area is so clean and well-maintained. This place is best for a group retreat or if you just want to relax away from the city. Rooms and rest houses are available for any overnight accommodation.

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort

Here is a photo of their rates :

Garden of Gethsemane Mountain Resort Rates

Bemwa Farm

Trying their desserts, fresh salads and other treats is a must. Surprisingly, they have a wide variety of menu made from their fresh produce. This is a good stop for any travelers who appreciate nature. You can buy fresh organic lettuce or go strawberry picking. The good thing is that the entrance fee is consumable, so there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to get a delicious treat inside and chill.

Bemwa Farm Treats

Bemwa Farm Chill

Bemwa Farm Treats

Bemwa Farm Lugaw

Bemwa Farm

Bemwa Farm Lettuce

Bemwa Farm

The one-day bonding experience with my family was so worth it that we chose not to mind the long travel and few hours of sleep. It was a nature trip in one day. So if you are planning to go to Davao, might as well visit these places.

-livefreelovehard

    Highland Davao Trip In One Day June 2018, my whole extended family decided to get together at Davao City. Since most of us are busy with work and studies, we only scheduled a one-day bonding at an area where every family would be "meeting half-way".

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Summer of April 2018, my family and I went to experience Seven Seas Waterpark in Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental. It was actually just a few meters away from our home.

Given that it was a holiday, we were already expecting many people lining up for tickets. The good thing was that we have a relative who is working on one of the hotels in Cagayan de Oro City and they are also selling tickets for Seven Seas. In short, we got tickets from the hotel without spending hours lining up at the waterpark’s entrance. Here is the price of tickets and cottage rates inside:

Park Tickets & Cottage Rates

There are a lot of attractions you’ll definitely enjoy. Below is a map of attractions inside Seven Seas.

Map of  Attractions Inside Seven Seas Waterpark

Personal advice, try the slides in Jolly Roger Tower first before going to Pirate Lookout Tower. Why? The slides in Pirate Lookout Tower are more extreme 🙂 So better off start with the slides that make you want more.

The Attractions

Compass Splash Pad

The welcoming attraction. This starts your thrill to other water attractions inside. Kids love this spot as they would enjoy the water fountain under the heat of the sun.

Sir Francis’ Garden Courtyard

Update your IG with a summer heat vibe. This area is a good start to your photo journey in Seven Seas.

Sir Francis’ Garden Courtyard

  Pirates Caraibes (Aqua Playhouse)

Who tells you that only kids can enjoy the playhouse at a center of a pool? Even kids-at-heart can jump into this attraction and relax in this pool.

  Pirates Caraibes (Aqua Playhouse)

Captain Kidd’s Hideout (Aqua Slidehouse)

Again, not only kids can enjoy this short water slide. Never miss this one 🙂

    Riptide Reef

It’s a duo slide and the top-most slide in Jolly Roger Tower. The most exciting part was when you and your partner falls down and rebounds. I think that’s what this attraction is about. (Unfortunately, I was not able to take a photo while enjoying attractions in Jolly Roger Tower).

Pira-chute

It’s one of the relaxing water slides for me. Because it is designed as spiral, the slide was not too fast. Plus, because it is an open-type, you can enjoy everything you see while sliding.

Escape Tunnel

This slide is not scary, but rather exciting. Because it is enclosed, you will never know the next flow of the slide. It’s dark inside and literally, you can’t see anything.

Waterworks

It is a water balloon game found under the Jolly Roger Tower.

Buccaneer Bay

It is considered one of the largest dual wave pools in the Philippines. There is a scheduled time for the waves and you’ll be able to know this because of a loud sirene signaling the start of the wave pool attraction.

Buccaneer Bay

Pirate Cave, Shipwreck Island, and Crow’s Nest Aerial Bridge

Found at the center of Buccaneer Bay, these attractions are seldom enjoyed and missed. This is because most people prefer enjoying the water slides more. Undeniably, you’ll notice this because of its design and theme.

Pirate Cave, Shipwreck Island, and Crow’s Nest Aerial Bridge

Cyclone

Considered to be the largest waterslide in the Philippines. It is a group slide for 4 people and one of the extreme slides in this resort.

Cyclone

Plank Drop

As mentioned earlier, I didn’t dare to try this. It is considered to be the first vertical aqua loop slide in the Philippines.

Cutlass

It is a 100-meter linear waterslide. The best part of this single slide is the steep flow at the end part.

Cannonball Run

This is considered to be one of the highest and fastest free fall waterslides in the Philippines. The extreme part of this slide is the free fall starting point.

Cutlass and Cannonball Run

Pacific Racer

These three-tubed speed slides need you to use a rubber mat. These are single slides which you can try with a group of friends as there are 3 available slides for this attraction.

Mighty Maui River

Definitely, this is my favorite attraction. It is said to be the longest lazy river in the Philippines at a whopping 400m. When you’ve been wasted the whole day after doing those extreme slides, then you can just relax in this river as you go with its flow.

Mighty Maui River

Sandbox

This area is a small playground. However, due to summer heat, this is rarely being enjoyed by the people.

Sandbox

Moby Dick Whale

Great for selfies, this attraction is mainly about a big sculpture of the fictional whale in the novel, Moby-Dick.

Moby Dick Whale

Treasure Island Garden Maze

This area, just as its name, is a green-mazed garden where you may want to take a tour when going to Pirate’s Museum or to the Moby Dick Whale.

Pirate’s Museum & Fuerte de San Agustin

I was not able to get inside.  I’m assuming to see some “pirate” things in the museum. They said that the Fuerte de San Agustin is a replica of a cotta or fort watch tower common in the coastal towns of the Philippines during the Spanish era.

Pirate’s Museum & Fuerte de San Agustin

Amenities

Locker Rooms

Worrying about your things? No problem. Locker rooms are available for rent worth P50.00 only. All you have to do is present a valid id and the staff will provide a key holder which you can wear all the time.

Souvenir Shop

Looking for souvenirs or forgetting your waterproof bag to secure your devices? Then the shop has these things for you.

Food Shops

Take note, NO OUTSIDE FOOD ALLOWED. So if you may have brought with you a lot of food, then just leave it inside your cars. There’s no big deal. The foods inside are affordable. It is as if you are just in a fast-food restaurant.

Other things to look forward to…

Pool Party

I’ve been to Splash Island and I’ve only experienced this here in Seven Seas. Around 4PM, people gather at the Buccaneer Bay as the music gets wild and staffs are starting to dance, inviting for a mob dance.

Magic Show

While people are enjoying the pool party, some people prefer to stay at a corner and watch for a magic show.

The Experience

What a day. I conquered my fears. I felt brave. I enjoyed. Was it expensive? Maybe. But, one thing I’m sure about is that the experience was worth it for me.

-livefreelovehard

What’s Inside Seven Seas Waterpark? Summer of April 2018, my family and I went to experience Seven Seas Waterpark in Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

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Visit Kuala Lumpur without breaking the bank! See 20 attractions/landmarks for free. Spend less than Php 8000 for the overall trip (Airfare, Accommodation & Everything).

Here’s my detailed KL Budget Travel Itinerary for 2 days & 3 nights.

Enjoy!

Overview

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,  they’d say, is a melting pot of rich and diverse Asian culture. It is actually one of the must-go metros in Asia as you will find good city attractions, architectures and not to mention an experience of their flavorful cuisines.

Some interesting attractions in and near Kuala Lumpur include Merdeka Square, Batu Caves, Petronas Twin Towers and much more. Also known as a shoppers paradise, there are many huge shopping malls where you can literally shop til you drop in KL. However, if you prefer cheap good buys as souvenirs, then there are places you can go like Chinatown and Central Market.

At first, I really thought that I’d be spending more in this city. However, upon researching and while planning my trip, I was able to realize that you don’t need to spend more just to go to these attractions and sights. Most of them are actually free. But if you want to get the most of some attractions then, of course, you have to somehow burn your pockets for a one-time experience.

So to get started, I’ll be sharing my Kuala Lumpur itinerary as detailed as possible in here. And also you’ll find a breakdown of my expenses for my trip below.

Blog Content

Pre-travel Things

2D-3N DIY Budget Travel Itinerary

Places I’ve Visited For Free

Food For Filipino Taste Buds & Other Than That..

Breakdown of Expenses

Personal Budget Tips

Pre-travel Things

I have booked a roundtrip flight to KL for just Php 4,060.00. How? Low Fares. This is actually a fairly cheap price compared to a regular one-way domestic flight in the Philippines. To get notified of promos and low fares, I have signed up for various airlines to become a member. With this, I frequently receive email notification about promos and special deals. Plus, you get a chance to earn points and use this in your future travels. And also, don’t forget to consider booking for a roundtrip of Sky Bus to and from the airport (KLIA2) when traveling to KL. This also cheaper than any kind of transportation in KL. For a roundtrip Skybus fare via airasia.com, I have spent Php 110 only.

Finding the best place to stay in an unfamiliar area is really difficult. However, the good thing is that I managed to secure a comfortable inn and location by checking and searching for best deals in Booking.com. It can actually show you the reviews, nearby attractions, and how to go directions so it was really convenient. Plus, most bookings have free cancellation and no prepayment needed. I found an inn in Chinatown that offers MYR 145.26 (that’s around Php 1,945.95, so Php 972.96 each if you are with someone) for a standard air-conditioned room, with two beds and own bathroom, for 4 days and 3 nights. Affordable right? So if you are with a group of friends, then it is way cheaper as you can divide the spend. By the way, I’ve been using Booking.com in all of my staycations, so if you want to grab some good deals for your trip, you can click here to book through my link and get a 10% cash reward after your checkout.

One important thing we should never miss out is the network connection. I traveled to KL with a DIY Itinerary so having an internet for me is a must-have. I checked for any wifi devices for rent and they are just fine. The downside is that, of course, the picking up and returning of the device at the airport and also the amount you have to deposit. Plus, most of it offers limited data in a day like RM 28 for 1GB/day with a minimum of 3 days rent and a deposit of RM200. Thus, I’ll be spending more than Php 1000 for a 3GB data plus setting aside around Php 2600 for the deposit, not to mention a limitation of 5 devices to use the wifi. So to get rid of this hassle, I just contacted my mobile network provider and confirmed if I can use a roaming data in KL. Since I only need a data connection for 2 days, I find out that using a roaming data is cheaper. I spent Php 499/day for unlimited data for two days and so I was charged Php 998 on my postpaid bill. So all convenient. Since it’s unlimited, I’ll be able to share the use of data with my companion via hotspot and also, share the expenses. So literally, each of us just spent Php 499 for a two-day unlimited data connection. Again, traveling with a group of friends would make this a lot affordable for each person.

2D-3N DIY Budget Travel Itinerary

Here’s a detailed itinerary of my Kuala Lumpur trip.

Day 1 

Arrive at KLIA2 around 6pm

Ride Skybus to KL Sentral

Ride KTM to Pasar Seni

Check-in

Petaling Street/Chinatown 

Dinner

Back to the hotel/Rest

Day 2

Breakfast at 9am

Stadium Negara, view of KL Tower

Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Petaling Street at morning

Central Market

Lunch

Art House Gallery Museum Of Ethnic Arts

Masjid Jamek

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Merdeka Square

KL City Gallery

National Textile Museum

Dayabumi Complex

Petaling Street/Chinatown

Dinner

Back to the hotel/Rest

Day 3

Breakfast at 7am

Walk through Pasar Seni Station, view of KL Tower

Old Railway Station

Ride KTM from Pasar Seni to KL Sentral

Free bus from KL Sentral to Sentul Station

Ride KTM from Sentul Station to Batu Caves

Batu Caves

Snack

Ride KTM back to Sentul Station

Free bus from Sentul to KL Sentral

NU Sentral Mall

Lunch

Ride KTM from KL Sentral to KLCC

Petronas Twin Towers at day, view of KL Tower

Suria KLCC

Snack

KLCC Park

Dinner

Petronas Twin Towers at night 

Menara Public Bank at night 

Ride KTM back to Pasar Seni

Buy Souvenirs at Chinatown

Day 4

Go to KL Sentral via Uber

Ride Skybus from KL Sentral to KLIA2

Arrive at KLIA2

Breakfast

Buy Souvenirs at a Chocolate Shop

Check-in

Departure

Lunch in the plane

Arrive at Davao International Airport

20 Places I’ve Visited For Free

KL Sentral

KL Sentral is considered to be the central transportation hub in KL, as it is the intersection point of different trains and transportation vehicles around Kuala Lumpur. It offers global connectivity and it is seamlessly linking all urban and suburban residential, commercial and industrial areas (Klsentral.com.my, 2018).

KL Sentral Station

Buy Tickets at KL Sentral

KTM Train from KL Sentral

Petaling Street/Chinatown 

The Petaling Street or Chinatown is surrounded by hotels and inns, making it a popular heaven amongst tourist like me. Not to mention its accessibility to most of the attractions in KL. That is why it is really convenient to book your stay around this place. Best visited at night, this is where a multitude of traders can be seen hawking all kinds of goods at bargain prices. So if you want to buy cheaper souvenirs, then it’s a place to be. And also, its a perfect location to experience authentic dishes and street foods at affordable prices.

At Night

Petaling Street Chinatown At Night

Petaling Street Chinatown at Night

Petaling Street Chinatown at Night

At Day

At day, Petaling Street/Chinatown is just like a normal street with stalls along the side. Still, you can visit it at daytime when you want to see and buy some stuff.

Chinatown during the day

Stadium Negara

Stadium Negara, also known as Stadium Tertutup, is an indoor arena located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is where the formal declaration of independence of the Federation of Malaya happened on 31 August 1957 and it is the first modern building of the new nation. The stadium was the principal venue in Kuala Lumpur for celebrations and sporting events (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). We were only able to see the outside of the stadium. Still, it was a fulfillment to set foot on one of Malaysia’s historic site. Actually, you’ll be able to enjoy the stroll going to the stadium and also from there, you could see the KL Tower.

KL Tower from Stadium Negara

Stadium Negara

Going to Stadium Negara

Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Time: 8:00am – 5:00pm Daily; Admission: FREE

Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is one of the largest and oldest surviving Buddhist temples in Malaysia. It is characterized by a typical open courtyard and symmetrical pavilions and decorated with colorful paintings, woodcarvings and ceramic fixtures. Built in 1906, the temple was actually the major place of residence during the early days. It is located at the famous Petaling Street and is also known as the Green Temple due to its striking green exterior and Kwang-Tung style roof. It is still a place of worship amongst the Chinese community (kuala-lumpur.ws, 2018). So if you want to feel an ambiance of Chinese worship and temples, then you may visit this place. Plus, it wouldn’t cost you anything.

Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Inside Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Inside Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Inside Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

Central Market

Opening Hours: 10:00AM – 10:00PM Daily

Central Market is considered a one-stop market for Malaysian collectibles, handicrafts, and souvenirs. A Malaysian cultural landmark, Central Market has been classified as a Heritage Site by the National Heritage Department (kuala-lumpur.ws, 2018). Inside, we saw nice-to-have items which cost less compared with those in shopping malls. You can actually enjoy window shopping as you see rich cultural handmade crafts. On the other hand, the second floor has several restaurants and a food court serving Asian cuisine. So you don’t need to worry about exhausting yourself strolling around as you can conveniently dine in at any affordable restaurants in this place.

Central Market

Inside Central Market

Central Market

Inside Central Market

Inside Central Market

Art House Gallery Museum Of Ethnic Arts

Opening Hours: 10:30AM – 7:00PM Daily; Admission: FREE

You can find this museum inside Central Market on the second floor.  It’s a private gallery, owned by Mr. Leonard Yiu, filled with treasures and very strange objects of all kinds and origins. So if you are into tribal pieces, then this is definitely your place. Whether you are looking for some fine pieces to decorate your home or you are just interested in the ethnic arts of Borneo, this place should be the highlight of any trip to Central Market. It has been described as the best antique shop cum art gallery in town (Malaysia-traveller.com, 2018).

Inside Art House Gallery of Ethnic Arts

Inside Art House Gallery of Ethnic Arts

Inside Art House Gallery of Ethnic Arts

Art House Gallery of Ethnic Arts

Masjid Jamek

Opening Hours: 8:30AM-12:30PM & 2:30PM-4:30PM Daily; Admission: FREE

Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque), officially Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is situated at the confluence of Klang River and Gombak River. It is just actually a few minutes away from Central Market. The mosque is always packed with devotees and also tourists. This is definitely a must-visit place to appreciate the ancient architecture with a combination design of different cultures. It may not be something special to Muslims but for all other religions, this is indeed a place worth a visit. The locals dubbed Masjid Jamek as the “Friday Mosque”. If you intend to visit Masjid Jamek, unless you are a Muslim coming to perform your Friday prayers, Friday will not be a good day to visit as worshippers mostly fill in the place on this day. Ensure that you observe the decorum of the place as this is a place of worship. Take off your footwear when entering the mosque and be sure that you are dressed appropriately. Muslims are generally conservative when it comes to dressing, so revealing clothes will not be appropriate, no matter how comfortable you might feel in them (Kuala-lumpur.attractionsinmalaysia.com, 2018). 

Masjid Jamek

Masjid Jamek

Masjid Jamek

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building used to be home to several government departments. Its uniquely Moorish designs and clock tower are widely photographed. It is located opposite Merdeka Square and it’s a few minutes walk from Masjid Jamek.

sultan abdul samad building

sultan abdul samad building

sultan abdul samad building

Merdeka Square

Merdeka Square is located just opposite of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It has been the venue for annual National Day parade and celebration. Merdeka Square is a giant field with perfectly green lawns and a centerpiece of the tallest flagpole in the world (95m) proudly displaying the Malaysian flag. Beside the flagpole is a giant TV screen with a mix of flashing advertisements and religious messages (kuala-lumpur.ws, 2018).

Merdeka Square

KL City Gallery

Opening Hours: 9:00AM-6:30PM Daily; Admission: 10RM

Found just beside the Merdeka Square, KL City Gallery is a little air-conditioned museum that provides a history of KL  where you can get some great photo opportunities and be able to take home souvenirs from the gift shop. The 10 RM entrance allows you to spend the 5 RM at the coffee shop. So it is actually worth the visit especially when you come by at a time that there are fewer visitors. Anyhow, never miss taking a  photo opportunity at the giant I Love KL signage.

I LOVE KL photo-stop

National Textile Museum

Opening Hours: 9:00AM-6:00PM Daily; Admission: FREE

National Textile Museum is located in front of Merdeka Square just along the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It is a heritage building previously occupied by various departments and institutions. The exterior is definitely a nice picturesque photo opportunity. Inside shows all the various nation’s costumes, how they are made as well as the jewelry worn in those days. The costumes were beautifully designed and embroidered. It’s definitely a must see place.

National Textile Museum

National Textile Museum

National Textile Museum

Dayabumi Complex

Dayabumi Complex is a major landmark in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It houses several commercial facilities and is one of the earliest skyscrapers in the city. The building was designed in a modern Islamic style (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). As tall as 515ft, the building can already be seen while you are at the Central Market. However, to get a better view, Dayabumi Complex is just a few walks away from National Textile Museum.

Dayabumi Complex view from the Central Market

KL Tower view from Pasar Seni

KL Trip would never be complete without seeing the KL Tower. I mean, it is the seventh tallest telecommunication tower in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, due to a tight schedule of listed places to visit and budgeted itinerary, we were only able to see the KL Tower from Stadium Negara, Pasar Seni station and from KLCC. There are a lot of attractions and activities to do in KL Tower, of course, accompanied by expenses. The observation deck alone costs Php 500 – Php 600 so if you’ve got enough budget and time then you can go for it.

KL Tower from Pasar Seni Station

KL Tower from Pasar Seni Station

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station/Old Railway Station

The Kuala Lumpur railway station or old railway station is notable for its architecture, adopting a mixture of Eastern and Western designs. The building is a favorite sightseeing attraction in the city due to its gorgeous façade for beautiful photo opportunities. It used to be KL’s main railway hub until 2001 when KL Sentral took over much of its role (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). Just near Pasar Seni station, you don’t want to miss dropping by this place for a good photo.

Old Railway Station

Old Railway Station

Old Railway Station

Batu Caves

Opening Hours: 7:00AM-8:00PM Daily; Admission: FREE

Batu Caves, just a few kilometers away from KL, is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu (Stone River), which flows past the hill. It is the tenth (Pattu in Tamil) limestone hill from Ampang. Batu Caves is also the name of a nearby village. The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is said to be around 400 million years old (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). Here are the directions to get there. And if you want to see a glimpse of what’s inside, then you can also check this vlog.

Lord Murugan Statue In Batu Caves

Entrance to Batu Caves from the Station

Entrance to Batu Caves from the Station

NU Sentral Mall

Opening Hours: 10:00AM-10:00PM Daily

NU Sentral is easily accessible from KL Sentral, Malaysia’s largest rail transport hub with a direct link to Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal where over 160,000 commuters frequent the transit daily. It is an eight-storey mall with large green rooftops and a multitude of entertainment spaces and alfresco dining. So if you want an exciting shopping experience, then you can come to this place (kuala-lumpur.ws, 2018).

Inside NU Sentral Mall

Inside NU Sentral Mall

Inside NU Sentral Mall

Inside NU Sentral Mall

Suria KLCC

Opening Hours: 10:00AM-10:00PM Daily

KLCC Mall is another popular shopping destination you’d want to visit in Kuala Lumpur. Found under the famous Petronas Twin Towers, you can actually visit this place not just to shop but to check on PETRONAS Art Gallery, also known as Galeri PETRONAS, Aquaria KLCC, a world-class oceanarium, and Petrosains Discovery Centre, a high-tech science discovery center within the mall (Suriaklcc.com.my, 2018).

Suria KLCC

Inside Suria KLCC

Inside Suria KLCC

Inside Suria KLCC

KLCC Park

KLCC Park is a 50-acre garden set close to Suria KLCC shopping center where you can relax and enjoy the view of the famous Petronas Twin Towers.  On the park grounds is a 10,000 sqm manmade lake (Lake Symphony) with a 43m bridge that cuts across. Definitely, Lake Symphony is the reason most people frequent the park; it has water fountains that can shoot water up to a height of 42m. These daily water shows occur at noon and in the evenings and are popular with kids. Besides the various waterfalls, fountains, cascade and reflecting pools scattered around the park, there are a variety of facilities at KLCC Park including a  children’s playground, a 1.3km-long jogging track, shelters and benches, patterned footpaths and sculptures. On KLCC Park’s western stretch is a public children’s swimming pool (kuala-lumpur.ws, 2018).

KLCC Park

KLCC Park

KLCC Park

KLCC Park

Menara Public Bank

Menara Public Bank is among the tallest building in Malaysia. Standing at about 558ft tall, this building might be just an ordinary Malaysian structure at day. However, during the night, you will be captivated by its lights. Found in front of the Petronas Twin Towers, every tourist will never miss a photo opportunity with this beautiful architecture.

Menara Public Bank at night

Menara Public Bank at night with many tourists

Menara Public Bank at night

Petronas Twin Towers

Opening Hours: 9:00AM-9:00PM Tue-Sun; Admission: See here

The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers (Malay: Menara Petronas, or Menara Berkembar Petronas), are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world. The buildings are a landmark of Kuala Lumpur, along with nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). You see, KL trip will never be completed without this attraction so undeniably this attraction almost runs out of tickets in a day. So if you’d really want to climb up the tower then better book tickets online ahead of your trip.

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers

Food For Filipino Taste Buds

I am a picky food eater, sorry! 🙂 For some reason, though I’d really want to explore Malaysian cuisines, my body won’t just take it. This is definitely one of my weaknesses when going to places. So for anyone who’s like me and you’d want to make sure you are spending on a food you will definitely eat up then you can consider these:

Malaysian Roasted Chicken, Chicken BBQ and Milk Tea in Chinatown

First night in KL and we have no idea where to eat. The good thing was that just near our hotel there are multiple affordable food stalls offering roasted chickens and ducks. Well, one thing I know is that as long as it is chicken, then I’d be able to eat it up. P.S No Roasted Chicken photo available, I’ve eaten it up before remembering to take a photo of it 🙂

Chicken BBQ

Milk Tea & Sort of Sugar Tea

Wok Rice

This is actually Chinese cuisine. As mentioned, Malaysia is a melting pot of different cultures and definitely, you’d see many Chinese around KL. It’s a dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or a frying pan and is usually mixed with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood, or meat. Actually, we’ve mostly eaten WOK Rice while in KL.

Crispy Chicken Rice

Salted Fish Fried Rice

Chinese Fried Rice

Chicken Dry Chili Rice

Yong Chow Fried Rice

Chicken Fried Rice

Nasi Ayam Uncle Chin

It is a Chinese Malaysian favorite of fluffy seasoned rice served with roast chicken and accompanied by special chili, ginger, and garlic sauce.

Nasi Ayam

Nasi Ayam

Fast-food Chains

McDonald’s

I first thought that McDonald’s menu is entirely the same across different countries. When I entered the fast-food chain and looked at the board, I had a hard time choosing what to eat. Lol! One reason is that they don’t serve chicken meals (chicken + rice) for breakfast so I have to choose something else and two, I don’t trust the aroma of all other breakfast meals. Well, one thing I could say for a fact is that Malaysia uses really strong spices and herbs in their cooking. So to save time and avoid a “don’t-know-what-to-order” look at the counter, you may want to try these meals which are manageable for your sensitive Filipino tongue. I’d say manageable because you can still tolerate the taste in spite the strong flavors of the chicken, sausage, and bun.

Bubur Ayam (Porridge) + Chicken Muffin + McCafe Premium Roast

Bubur Ayam (Porridge)

Big Breakfast

KFC

Same with McDonald’s, meals in KFC have strong aroma too especially the rice. Chicken meals are served with Malaysian rice and unfortunately, there’s no option for an ordinary homecooked rice. However, I’d say it is still manageable for a Filipino tongue because for me, only the rice tastes different. Other than that, you can dive in for a decent Filipino meal of chicken, fries, and salad.

Chicken Meal + Fries + Salad

Wendy’s

Among the fast-food chains I’ve eaten in KL, Wendy’s has the most decent Filipino taste. There’s an option for a homecooked rice so it was way better than KFC. The chicken tastes a lot better than the other two above.

Golden Chicken Rice Combo & Nasi Ayam Combo

Other Than That…

Here are the two things you’d want to try in KL. These are really good treats 🙂

Mango Feast of Hui Lau Shan in KLCC Suria

I love mangoes. So for those who want to chill after a hot sunny walk looking around the Petronas Twin Towers, then you can try this treat. It’s a three-menu mango dessert – and my favorite is the third one, the ice-cream-cake-like Mango Crisp 🙂

Hui Lau Shan in KLCC Suria

Mango Feast

Mango Chewy Ball

Mango Sago

Mango Crisp

Hot Malaysian Kopi of Quizinn in KLIA2 Gateway

I’m a coffee lover, and a day without coffee is really not my thing. I don’t want to exaggerate it, but this is the best coffee I’ve tasted so far. Literally, this is my top 1 as of this writing. It is so rich and it really fitted my taste, enough bitterness, and sweetness. I can’t say anything more, but YOU MUST TRY IT. You’ll be surprised how a delicious coffee like this was made so affordable.

Hot Malaysian Kopi

Breakdown Of Expenses

Here’s a breakdown of my whole KL trip in Philippine Peso. 

Well, I guess I didn’t break my bank account just to travel to Kuala Lumpur. 🙂 How? 

Personal Budget Tips

Here are some of my personal tips to spend less on a DIY Budget Itinerary:

Don’t travel alone, the more the cheaper.

Prioritize FREE attractions; unless you really have that one attraction you’d die for, so if you have the extra budget then go for it.

Draft your itinerary with a seamless affordable route. (See my DIY Itinerary)

Use your feet, WALK more. (Well, for free rides KL has this Go KL bus! Try this.)

Stay in an accessible, ‘nearest-to-attraction’ hotels (Check inns in Petaling Street)

Ride on public transportation, instead of taking taxis, etc. (Use KTM Trains & Uber)

Eat on time – when you get hungry you crave for anything and it tempts you to spend more!

Buy souvenirs in Chinatown.

This wraps up my Kuala Lumpur trip. Hope this will help you with your future budget travels. Feel free to leave a comment!

#livefreelovehard 

Kuala Lumpur DIY Budget Travel Guide & Itinerary (Don’t Break The Bank!) Visit Kuala Lumpur without breaking the bank! See 20 attractions/landmarks for free. Spend less than Php 8000 for the overall trip (Airfare, Accommodation & Everything).

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Learn To Play Keyboard/Piano - Locate The Keys Easily In One Look (Lesson 1)

Learn To Locate The Keys In The Piano In One Look (Lesson 1)

  How To Play the Piano? Note, please start with the introductory lesson to understand Lesson 1 properly. Learn to play the keyboard/piano easily by knowing some strategies and tips. When you know the concept of how the keys are structured on the instrument, you will find playing the chords and keys simpler. In this lesson, you will…

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How To Go To Batu Caves

How To Go To Batu Caves Vlog

Here is a vlog of my Batu Caves trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last March 2018. This is the cheapest way to commute from KL Sentral. Batu Caves is free. So you would only spend 10RM for your transportation to and from KL Sentral. And also, get a chance to see what’s inside the Batu Caves. Excuse me for the (BTS) Fire background 🙂…

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Learn To Play Keyboard/Piano Easily (Introduction)

Learn To Play Keyboard/Piano Easily (Introduction)

How To Play the Piano?

Learn to play the keyboard/piano easily by knowing the basics. When you know the concept of how the keys are structured on the instrument, you will find playing the chords and keys simpler.

This will help you understand everything and be able to play the keyboard much faster than with traditional keyboard…

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Learning How To Pray

Learning How To Pray

As shared in my previous blog post, when you want to grow in your relationship with God, you must spend time in prayer. Prayer is spontaneous, and it is personal. Often times, people believe that it is just talking to God, thanking Him or saying our requests. But actually, the Bible is clear when it said in Matthew 6:9, “ In this manner, therefore, pray…” (NKJV). Does this mean that we ought not…

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Together with my friends, we went for a Sagada trip in April 2017 after the holy week. We only planned to go to Sagada. Fortunately, we found a travel agency (Gear Master Travel & Tours in Binan, Laguna) which offers a 3-in-one trip for just P2000 each. It was actually a “joiners” travel so it was really cheap. It covered the transportation, driver’s fee, and accommodation for 3 days-2 nights. Thus, it excludes food expenses and entrance fees, which were very affordable. Well, good enough for a travel experience.

The assembly place was at SMX convention parking lot at 9PM. Due to anticipated traffic in Metro Manila, we went there earlier and spent time strolling at MOA.

Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

Our first stop was at Banaue Rice Terraces and we arrived there around 7am. It was indeed a long trip. Of course, we did not miss taking a photo of the signage. After few more minutes, we drop off at a viewing area where we could good view of the carved mountains. Plus, you’ll be able to see some animal bones displayed. Surely, you’ll be mesmerized by the man-made rice terraces.

  Sagada In Mountain Province

If you long for a real mountain retreat, then this is a place to be. After spending our first day morning in Banaue, we went to Sagada and arrived there at noon. The accommodation was really nice (Sorry, I was not able to take a photo of it). Definitely, you’ll know you are at a high mountain peak due to its cool breeze. There are a lot of activities you can enjoy in this place. This was actually the highlight of our trip. We spent one and a half day in Sagada. Caving, trekking, swimming, seeing attractions, eating known restaurants, sunrise & sunset viewing and seeing a glimpse of their culture are few of the things that we were able to experience. (I’ll share with you more of these in my next blog post).

  Baguio, the “City of Pines”

Our last stop before going back to Manila was Baguio. It was actually just a quick trip and what we mostly did was just picture taking and buying of souvenirs. We went to Mines View Park, Burnham Park, and Good Shepherd Convent. Maybe all our energy were poured out on the Sagada trip so we haven’t taken the effort to really explore Baguio that much. We were happy enough to set foot in this place. However, my memorable experience getting there was when we drop off at Strawberry Farm Benguet. It was my first time harvesting strawberries and I really enjoyed it. Plus, I got to eat my own fruit of labor.

  The trip was indeed tiring but awesome – one of my best trips ever 🙂 I actually wanted to go back to Baguio so I could enjoy again the attractions with all my nerves and senses. Maybe, in God’s time.

Hope this inspires you to visit these places. Feel free to drop some comments/suggestions.

#livefreelovehard

Banaue – Sagada – Baguio Trip for P2000 Together with my friends, we went for a Sagada trip in April 2017 after the holy week.

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I’ve been living in this place but it is just recently that people have come to take notice of it due to new emerging beach resorts that gone up trending online.

I’ll be sharing some of the places to visit in Misamis Oriental. We’ve made this trip during the holy week, thus one important consideration is the number of people in the place. We prefer to stay on a less crowded resort which I would recommend as one of the value-for-money beach resorts in Misamis Oriental.

We went to Mastersons Reef and Nature’s Park located in Initao, Misamis Oriental. Entrance fee is just P50 and different sizes of cottages are available inside. Some people tend to book or reserve some cottages ahead. Good thing one family size cottage got free up and we were able to use it for only P500. However, if you have tents on your own, you can just set it up on the grounds for free and there are small cottages good for small groups.

    The place is not yet fully developed. However, you can already enjoy the pool, the volleyball area, the relaxing atmosphere and especially the clear beach and the view.

    After a long day, you may want to have dinner at a seafood restaurant in Libertad, Misamis Oriental, located just along the hi-way upon going back to Cagayan de Oro city. Actually, we’ve done this on a different day however it is good to note this for your trip plans in the future.

We dined in at Lins Kinilaw Halal where you could see a very beautiful sunset view while eating with your family. The food price is same as an average restaurant. But what you could really enjoy the most is the scenery. Good time to visit the place is around 6pm so you could get a glimpse of the sunset.

  That’s it! Looking forward to updating this post soon once I get a chance to visit other different places in MisOr.

Hope this helps when planning your small trip in Misamis Oriental. Feel free to leave comments!

      Places To Visit In Misamis Oriental I've been living in this place but it is just recently that people have come to take notice of it due to new emerging beach resorts that gone up trending online.

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How To Spend Time In Prayer

How To Spend Time In Prayer

As our lives become too busy, we sometimes miss out important things like having deep conversations and pausing for a while to listen. This is not just an issue with your loved ones or family, but also with God.

Why pray? Well, it is our vital breath. Prayer is our communication with God. As long as you are talking to God, you are praying, we know that and I bet anyone could do that easily. Even…

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Exactly two years ago on this day, we had a memorable trip with my friends to Alaminos, Pangasinan. It was actually our first trip together and we had it during the Holy Week. (Sorry, I could have shared this sooner. I was just reminded by Facebook today :))

It was a long tiring trip, as we travel immediately from our work and then to the crowded bus terminal for Pangasinan. What would you expect at a time like this?! Nevertheless, everything was worth it.

Our friend already booked an affordable camp-type inn where we could stay for 3 days and 2 nights. The place was really simple yet comfortable and it was one of the first best experience ever. We slept in extraordinary cute nipa huts and tents 🙂 The place allows bonfire and karaoke too. A value for money stay for sure. 🙂

  Anyway, if you’d like to book ahead for your stay, you can always check for any perfect accommodation in Booking.com (I always recommend this as I have used this for all of my trips & staycations). Plus, you’ll get a 10% cash reward upon checkout when you book through my link!

We arrived in Alaminos, Pangasinan by noon. Our day one then started. We immediately went to Bolinao Falls, Pangasinan. We spent the whole afternoon splashing the clear waters, jumping from the falls and rowing the bamboo-made float. Just like the old childhood days. We fell ourselves to sleep after dinner on this long, long day.

  Our day two was jampacked with hundred islands tour. We rented a boat for this island hopping activity. One thing I’ll never forget though was meeting a new friend from Australia. He was a lone traveler.

  And the tour went on. Our first stop was at Governor Island where we saw a view of the hundred islands. Sorry, I can only remember the name of this island.

The island hopping continued – swimming, going into caves, and snorkeling.

I really saw a very beautiful natural design as we hopped from one island to another. We’ve also hopped on an island where other activities like banana boat riding, parasailing, helmet diving, etc. were available. However, we no longer opted to spend more on those activities as there were many people lining up for those as well. So maybe a piece of advice would be to schedule your trip on non-peak days.

Nevertheless, what we’ve actually gained on that island were more foreign friends whom we shared our lunch with. That was unexpected yet fulfilling.

What we’ve brought home were not just experiences but memories.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t give you any other more helpful information about traveling to Pangasinan as I can’t remember the details about our trip such as expenses. However, I hope that this post is able to give you a glimpse of Pangasinan that certainly you would love to see and experience.

Hope this motivates you. Feel free to drop a comment or suggestion.

Hundred Islands & Bolinao Falls – Pangasinan Trip Exactly two years ago on this day, we had a memorable trip with my friends to Alaminos, Pangasinan.