Bathing – Maldo Travels

San Andres – Islands Tour

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 20:00:00 +0000

This was the first tour we purchased when we arrived at the island. There are several tour reps walking along the main strip in Centro advertising tours. Usually, for any tours involving boats, it’s normally cheapest to buy tickets at the pier from where they depart. The tour that we bought was scheduled to depart at 8.30 AM from a pier on the south side of Centro. There are several entrances and we were unsure what entrance to go through, but when we showed our voucher we were pointed in the right direction. We arrived at the pier at around 8.20 AM and they took our voucher to register our arrival. They told us to wait to be called to be given a wristband. After about 20 minutes of waiting we went up to ask them again and they said they were delayed so we had to wait a bit more. At around 9 AM they gave us our wristbands and told us to board one of the boats. We began setting out before one of the crew members said we were on the wrong boat and so we had to go back to the pier to change to another boat. The whole thing was very unorganized and we finally made it on the right boat at around 9.30 AM.

Johnny Cay

The tour we got was for one of the fast boats and it fit around 20 people. Our first stop was the island of Johnny Cay which is a short 15-minute journey away. The arrival to the island is very beautiful as you can see the palm-tree-lined sandy shore surrounded by the colorful turquoise water. We were left to roam the island and asked to be back at the boat at 12.30 PM to continue onto the next island. The island is very small so we decided to walk the perimeter which took us about 30 minutes. The center of the island has a couple of facilities and some seating areas in the shade of tall palm trees. You can also buy some food and drinks in this area. You can get in the water on some shallow parts of the island, but be careful because the waves can be very strong. Overall, it’s a nice place to relax during the day.

Aquarium

The boat came back on time and we promptly set out to the next destination which was the Aquarium. It takes about 35 minutes to get there and on the way the tour guide asks everyone if they want to make a stop by the ghost ship. However, they ask for an additional 5000 COP¹ contribution per person which was a little annoying, but fortunately, everyone on the boat agreed. The tour guide tells the story of how the cargo ship got stuck on the corals and was abandoned since it was too expensive to pull it out. It was a quick stop and then we continued to our destination which is known as the aquarium. The water is much calmer here so it’s perfect for snorkeling. There are several stalls there and you can rent snorkeling gear if you didn’t bring any with you. However, the highlight of this place is the sandy path that goes into the sea. The waves come in ankle-deep at most, but it’s a very picturesque walk.

Haynes Cay

There is also a safety line that connects to Haynes Cay that you can walk along. The water is waist deep and it takes about 10 minutes to walk across. This island is smaller than Johnny Cay and also less maintained. There’s a restaurant here as well to buy food and drinks which is the main attraction, but most people stay in the Aquarium. We walked back across and relaxed in the water while we waited for the boat to come back at 3 PM. We then got on the boat and one of the sting ray handlers brought a sting ray by the boat. We saw it swimming around the boat and you could reach out to touch it as it swam by.

Mangroves

Next, the tour guide took us to the final destination which was the mangroves. We cruised around here for a couple of minutes while the guide told us about the flora and fauna in the area. Then it was a quick 10-minute journey back to the pier.

Mindo – Nature and Adventure

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 23:04:00 +0000

Located only 2 hours away from Quito, this is a popular holiday spot for residents of the capital. We drove there but you can take a bus as well. The town is small but filled with tour agencies and restaurants. I’ve been on several occasions and we normally stop at a tour agency on the main road to look for activities. There are many things to do and here are some of the activities I’ve done in my last couple of visits.

Zip-lining/Canopy

There are many different places to do zip-lining in the mountain cloud rainforest terrain. You can buy the tours in the town and they normally do bundles with other activities. However, you can also go directly to the zip-lining locations which will probably be cheaper. From the town center, it takes about 15 minutes to get to the zip-lining location. As you leave the town, the route turns to narrow winding dirt roads. There was plenty of parking available at the site. The staff helped us put our gear on securely and we then set out with 2 guides. It took about an hour to go through a circuit of 10 zip-lines and it was great fun.

Whitewater Tubing

This is a more adrenaline-inducing activity as the current of the river is very strong. The tour agency provided life jackets and helmets which we put on before heading out. They also told us to put on swimsuits or clothes that we didn’t mind getting wet, since we were guaranteed to get soaked. We then hopped on a pickup truck to the riverside location for the tubing activity. It took about 20 minutes to get there and they also took the buoys in other pickup trucks. The guide then gave us a safety briefing and since we were a large group, they divided us up into 2 groups. The tubes are about 6 tubes tied together so it’s 6 people each plus the guide. Unlike rafting where you have to row, your only job in the tubing activity is to hold onto the ropes. The guide will then do the rest of the work navigating which is quite amazing to watch. You’ll see them jump around the tubes and the river to navigate and dislodge the tubes when they get stuck. It takes about 20 minutes to go down the river and everyone gets completely soaked. At the destination location of the river, the pickup truck was waiting for us to take us back. It’s only a 5-minute drive back from this part of the river.

Waterfall Rappelling

For this activity, we hopped on the pickup trucks to go into the rainforest. The waterfall is deep inside the rainforest and it took us about 30-40 minutes to get there. We first arrive at a lodge where we waited for a guide to come back with the previous group. We then hiked up the rainforest for about 15 minutes to reach the waterfall. When we got there, there were a couple of people from another group rappelling down the waterfall. We arrived at the base of the waterfall and could see it was quite high, maybe around 15-20 meters. There wasn’t much water coming down though, which makes it suitable for rappelling. Once the previous group had come finished coming down, the guides put the harnesses on us before hiking up to the top of the waterfall. It’s a short 5-minute hike up and then the guide gave us instructions on how to rappel down. Initially, it’s a little scary as you have to lean back, but once you get a hang of the technique you lose the fear. It takes about 5-10 minutes to rappel down, depending on how quickly you go. The guide rappelled down in 10 seconds which was insane.

There are many other activities which include a trail to visit waterfalls, renting buggies, visiting a butterfly sanctuary, and lots more. You can also just head to the river. The current is a little strong, but some parts are quite shallow so you could sit on some rocks and get a hydro-massage.

Papallacta – Natural Mountain Hot Springs

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 18:12:00 +0000

From Quito, it can take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes depending on where you’re staying to get to Papallacta. Public transport is an option but it’s best to go by car or organized tour. The weather varies but normally when it’s winter in Quito between October and May, it tends to be summer in Papallacta. As you approach Papallacta, if the skies are clear you’ll get to see the snow-topped Volcano Antisana in the background. It’s a great sight and the highway is in good condition for a comfortable journey to Papallacta.

Once in Papallacta, there are a couple of hot spring pools in the small town. The ones near the bottom are cheaper and have fewer facilities. We went to the one at the top of the hill called Termas de Papallacta which is a resort and spa but has pools open to the public. There’s lots of parking available and a guarded entrance. Tickets cost 9 USD² each and give you access to several pools, changing rooms, showers, and restroom facilities. You can also rent lockers available from the shop/cafe. There are several indoor changing rooms throughout the site as well as restrooms and showers. This site is quite relaxed with what you wear in the pools. It was very sunny on the day we went, so a lot of people got into the pools with a t-shirt and hat to avoid getting sunburnt.

We got there at around 9.30 AM so it wasn’t that busy. We first headed to the pools on the upper level. There are gazebos with tables and chairs throughout and we managed to grab one of those spots. It’s a nice place to relax in the pools and chill on the chairs. Around the back on the upper level, there is also a polar pool. After getting out of the hot pools, some people would jump in the polar pool since its supposed to be good for your muscles. Later in the afternoon, we went to explore the lower pools. There is a large pool and the temperature here is a little lower than the ones on the upper level. There are then some more pools around the corner and these are very hot. One of them has a warning sign and I could just about dip my toe in it. We also found an indoor area below the large pool which had 2 waterfall-like showers with the hot spring water. We stayed until around 2.30 PM before heading down to the town to get some lunch. Once we were done, we then headed back to Quito.

San Jacinto – Relaxing Beaches

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 23:25:00 +0000

From the capital city Quito, it’s about a 6-hour 30-minute drive down the winding roads that descend the Andes. We left at around 6 AM and stopped in Santo Domingo de Los Tsachilas for some breakfast at around 8.30 AM. We then continued for another 2 hours and 30 minutes to Chone where we took a small break at around noon. We then drove 1 hour 15 minutes to San Jacinto getting there at around 1.30 PM. It’s a very small town and joins with San Clemente. We stayed in a villa just off the highway which was 2 blocks from the beach. After settling in, we headed to a restaurant in San Clemente. The tide was high in the late afternoon with violent waves crashing onto the rocky shores. It wasn’t possible to get in the sea but there was a beautiful sunset on the horizon.

The following day, we headed to San Jacinto beach where there’s a colorful sign with the town’s name. The tide was low now with gentle waves so it was possible to get in. A family friend was from the area and he met us there and took us to a beach a little further south towards Crucita. This beach was on the mouth of a river so you could bathe in the river as well. There was also a protected mangrove swamp where you can go for a walk. A site official takes you around and provides info on the flora and fauna. It’s free but they sell bracelets to help with the maintenance of the site. There are several birds at the beach, especially cranes. You can also look for small crabs popping out from their burrows.

At around 4 PM, we went to get some food at Hotel San Jacinto. They have a seaside restaurant serving fresh seafood and outdoor seating. They have a viewpoint looking out to the sea that you can climb. The waves break on the banks so you’ll get wet when a large wave comes in. After eating, we headed to Bahia de Caráquez which was about a 40-minute drive away. There’s a small town in this bay which has a large bridge that crosses over to San Vicente. We drove over the bridge and walked out to a pier at San Vicente Malecon which has great panoramic views of the city. After the sun had set, we headed back to our villa.

On the final day, we headed to the beach at Crucita in the morning which was a 20-minute drive south of San Jacinto. This beach is more touristic and we had breakfast at one of the beachside restaurants. After breakfast, we went for a short stroll along the beach before making our way back to Quito.

Singapore – Marina Bay Sands

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 22:38:30 +0000

After booking my flight to Singapore, I immediately started looking at the famous rooftop infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands. There’s an observation deck next to the pool, but the only way to get pool access is by staying at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. It’s best to book your stay directly on the Marina Bay Sands website to know exactly what you’ll be getting. There are several room options and after doing some research, I found it would be best to go for a room with Club55 access. You can check the website for the privileges available at Club55, but the highlight is complimentary beverages & canapés from 5 PM to 9 PM. The price difference for a room with Club55 access would be the cost of an evening with fine dining followed by drinks at a bar, so it’s definitely worth it. A complimentary breakfast is also provided to sweeten the deal.

Once you’ve booked your stay, the hotel will reach out 3 days before your stay for you to register your details with them. The check-in time is 3 PM and early check-in is highly unlikely and pool access is only provided after 3 PM. We got there at around 4 PM for check-in and we were upgraded to an Orchid Suite with a City View. Our check-in was at Tower 1 and we had to walk across to Tower 3 to get a lift to our room which was on the 46th Floor. The suite was huge with a living room facing the Gardens by the Bay, and a massive bedroom facing the city. The en-suite bathroom was like another room on its own with a spacious bathtub and separate shower. The room truly offered premium comfort and we spent some time settling in.

At around 5.30 PM we headed up to the infinity pool to take some pictures. We then headed down to Club55 at 6 PM for the complimentary beverages and canapés. It was quite busy but we managed to get a table by the window with a city view. The waiter handed us a drinks menu and then let us know we could head up to the self-serve buffet area for the canapés. There was a good selection of alcoholic beverages including Gin, Whisky, Bourbon, Cognac, Tequila, Vodka, Rum, Wines, and Champagne. There was also a range of hot drinks, beverages, and juices to choose from. Our waiter came around regularly to take more drink orders and to collect our plates. We stayed there until around 8 PM when we headed back up to our rooms to change into our swimsuits. We then headed up to the infinity pool which stays open until 11 PM. After the pool, we got changed and went to check out the casino which was on the lower level. We played a couple of games of roulette and then headed to the rooftop bar of CÉ LA VI in the hotel. This bar turns into a club in the late hours with a DJ on set playing chart music. We stayed until around 3 AM and then headed down to our room to get some rest.

The following morning, we headed up to the rooftop restaurant Spago in Tower 2 for breakfast. This is a very popular spot and there was a queue at this time. We waited for about 10 minutes to be sat down and the waiter pointed out the options in the buffet-style layout before showing us to our table. There were lots of options available including different style eggs, dumplings, buns, noodles, rice, some meats, cereal, bread, juices, and hot drinks. It was a very tasty and filling breakfast with a great view of the city. We were done with breakfast by 10 AM and went to check out the observation deck. There are good views of the city and Gardens by the Bay from here. The checkout deadline is 11 AM so we then headed down to our room to pick up our things and checked out of the hotel.

Nusa Penida – Scenic Island Beaches

Jean Maldonado — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 23:14:50 +0000

We booked this tour in Kuta for 800,000 IDR³. The tour bus picked us up from our hotel at around 7.30 AM and it’s a 30-minute drive to Sanur Beach. We’re given our boat tickets here and have 15 minutes to walk around the beach. It’s quite empty in these early hours but some of the stalls are open if you want to grab snacks or drinks. The ride on the speedboat to Nusa Penida takes 1 hour and we arrive at around 9.15 AM. We get off on the north side of the island at Toyapakeh. There are several guides here picking people up so you have to wave your receipt for yours to spot you. We then get on another tour bus and head to Kelingking Beach. The island is quite mountainous and we drive through the winding roads of the mainland to reach the south-west side of the island. It takes about 50 minutes reaching our first destination at 10.15 AM. We arrive at the cliffside which has an amazing view of the beach and the peninsula reaching out into the sea. We only have about 15 minutes here to take pictures so we can’t head on the trail down to the beach.

Our next stop is a 30-minute drive away to Angel’s Billabong arriving at 11 AM. This is a natural infinity pool that looks over the sea. However, it was closed off so you cant swim in it and can just take pictures from around it. It is very busy here and we stayed for about 10 minutes to get some pictures. We then headed to Broken Beach which was a 5-minute walk away. This destination is a cove where an arch in the cliffs lets water flow in to form a pool. We get around 30-minutes to walk around the perimeter before heading back to the tour bus.

At around noon, we continue to our last destination at Crystal Bay stopping for lunch at a tourist restaurant. We’re done with lunch by 1.15 PM and reach Crystal Bay at 1.30 PM. This is a popular sandy beach lined with beach chairs, umbrellas, and bars/restaurants. We’re given snorkeling gear and the guide says we don’t have to swim too far to see some sea life. We head into the water and is very shallow for about 20 meters. There are corals and rocks in the shallow water so it would be best to head out with water shoes. It’s a great snorkeling spot where you’ll get to see plenty of corals, fish, and other animals swimming around. We had about 2 and a half hours at Crystal Bay and we spent most of our time snorkeling. We then also grabbed some ice-cold beers and sat on some benches in the shade enjoying the view.

At around 4 PM, we headed back to the harbor which was a 30-minute drive away. We got on the boat and were back at Sanur Beach by 5.30 PM. Our pick up was late and arrived at around 5.50 PM. This was rush hour time and after dropping off other tour groups at their hotels, we reached our hotel at around 6.30 PM.

Bali – A Full Day Tour Around Ubud

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 23:07:49 +0000

A couple of my friends who had been to Bali said that Ubud was one of their favorite places to stay. Since we didn’t have time to stay there, we took a private transportation tour which went to some of the sites around Ubud which cost 700,000 IDR¹ each. We were picked up from our hotel in Kuta at around 8.30 AM. Our first stop was at Tari Barong Jambe for a traditional dance show and we got there just in time for the 9.30 AM show. It’s an outdoor stage and tickets cost 100,000 IDR. Upon entrance, they hand out a program with the stories of the scenes for you to follow. The show lasts about an hour and it was interesting but it was a little too long and I don’t think it was worth it. Next, we continue another 10 minutes to Celuk Swing & Luwak Coffee. At this site, they sell the famous Luwak coffee. The entrance is free and one of the attendants takes you around the site on a guided tour. She stopped at several photo spots and talks about the procurement process of Luwak coffee. She then leaves us at a bench with a tea and coffee menu for us to get free samples of. We get a choice of 13 but the Luwak Coffee sample costs 50,000 IDR. There is also a swing next to the benches over the terraces and she tells us it costs 300,000 IDR. After the samples, she takes us to the shop if we’d like to buy any of the samples we tried. Overall, this was site was an interesting experience and well worth the visit. The drinks were very good and we ended up buying some, but the swing was a little too pricy.

We then get back to the car and continue another 5 minutes to the traditional Balinese Batuan Temple. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and told us we first need to pick up some Sarongs opposite the temple. This was to cover up our bare legs since we were wearing shorts. Entrance to the temple is free but there is a donation box when you pick up the Sarong. There are several shrines at the temple and the detailed carvings throughout are very impressive. We spent about 20 minutes here walking around and taking some pictures before continuing.

Our next stop is a 10-minute drive away to Tegenungan Waterfall and we got there at 12.30 PM. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and tickets cost 40,000 IDR each. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk down to the waterfall and on the way, there are several photo spots at some viewpoints. Once at the stream, you can get in to go for a swim. The water is quite shallow but it gets deeper closer to the waterfall. There are some buoys and rope to cordon off access to the waterfall so you can’t get too close to it for safety. A short walk down the stream, there is a small spring water pool you can get into. There are also some benches and toilets just outside the pool. There’s also a bridge to cross to the other side of the stream. You can then climb up the other side to a restaurant where there is a swing over the waterfall. We didn’t have time to check it out since we had to be back up at the parking lot by 1.45 PM.

The final stop is at the Tegallalang Rice Terrace which was a 35-minute drive away. This spot is very busy with lots of traffic on its 2-lane road so the driver dropped us off a short walk away. There was a guard helping people cross the road and he asked for a donation. We thought this was for entering the rice fields but after going down some steps, there was another official asking for donations to the rice terrace. We gave the guard 20,000 IDR and the 30,000 to enter the rice terrace. The views of the terraces are amazing. There are several swings but they cost around 300,000 IDR which is quite pricy. There were also locals with their tools offering photo opportunities but we didn’t ask how much. You can walk down to the stream and then climb up to the other side of the terraces. On the way up to the other side, there is another official asking for donations. We gave 20,000 IDR and continued to the top. It’s a nice place to visit but there are lots of tourists and the locals charging ‘donations’ everywhere. We finished our visit at around 3 PM and met our driver in a nearby parking lot. We then headed back to Kuta which took almost 2 hours with horrendous traffic.

Gili Islands – A Remote Paradise

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 22:01:37 +0000

Coming from Kuala Lumpur, we arrived at Bali International Airport at around 10 PM. Getting through customs was fairly straightforward and when exiting, there were several tour sales reps around. We found an ATM at the airport to get cash out and then we got a Grab⁴ to our hotel in Kuta. We didn’t have boat tickets yet for the Gili Islands so we asked our driver who gave us a Whatsapp number for a sales rep. There was no more space on the boats departing from the nearby port at Serangan, but the rep said there was a boat leaving from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan at 10 AM. This harbor was about an hour’s drive away and the sales rep said he could offer us return tickets plus transportation for 1,600,000 IDR⁵ for both of us. It was quite pricy but it was similar to what we found online for just boat tickets. The car picked us up at around 8.30 AM the following day to take us to Padang Bai. There was a lot of traffic getting out of Kuta but we made it to the harbor in time for the boat. The pier at the harbor was very busy with lots of people waiting to get on their boats. We’re all given stickers to help the staff determine who goes on which boat. As you board the boat, they take your luggage to secure onto the boat. You then head down to sit in the lower deck. The boat travels quite quickly and about 20 minutes in, the captain announces that people can head to the upper deck. Beer is also available to buy on the boat. It’s quite a long journey and we arrived at Gili Trawangan at 12.30 PM.

The Island

We stayed on the largest of the Gili islands, Gili Trawangan, which is also known as Gili T. The main strip on the east side of the island is filled with tour agencies, restaurants, hotels, and bars. There are also lots of certified scuba diving agencies, many of which also offer accommodation. This part of the island is very lively and great to relax in during the day. It has beautiful sandy beaches with crystal clear blue waters. In the evening, you can catch the sunset whilst having a drink or some dinner with a view of the sea. At night, the bars have live music and there are 2 or 3 clubs on the strip. The atmosphere is great with people dancing on the beach outside the club. There is also a night food market that does some great barbecues and fresh seafood. The west side of the island is less busy and has some resort hotels. It’s a great spot to catch the sunset and it’s a short 25-minute walk from the east side. You can also rent bikes if you’d like to explore more of the island.

Snorkeling

We booked this tour for 100,000 IDR each and the boat left the pier at 1.30 PM. The first snorkeling stop is at the shore of Gili Meno. There are some corals here and lots of colorful fishes. The main attraction is some statues on the seabed where lots of fish swim around. The water is clear, calm, and quite shallow which makes it great for snorkeling. We spend about 30 minutes here before heading to Turtle Point. The waters here are much deeper and fewer fishes are swimming around. The highlight here is that you are pretty much guaranteed to spot turtles swimming or resting on the seabed. We made 2 stops at different parts of the Turtle Point and got to see lots of turtles. We stayed in the area for about an hour and 15 minutes before heading to Gili Air for some food. We’re taken to a restaurant inland and then have some time to walk around the island. This is the smallest island and much quieter than Gili T, but it also has similar sandy beaches with crystal clear blue waters. After a short walk, we then headed to the boat and back to Gili T.

Lombok – Waterfall Tour

Jean Maldonado — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 23:21:27 +0000

After several beach days on Gili T, I looked into some adventurous tours. We found a private tour to visit some waterfalls in Lombok on a day trip for 400,000 IDR¹ each. The speedboat left from the beach at 8.30 AM and it was a short 20-minute sail to the Lombok harbor on the northwest side of the island. At the harbor, we waved our tour ticket and someone came over to take us to our transportation. It took about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the starting point of the trail to the waterfalls. The driver said he’ll be waiting there and we headed out with a guide who was waiting for us there.

First, we head to the Tiu Kelep waterfall which takes about 50 minutes to reach. On the way, we go past Sendang Gile waterfall and the guide says we’ll stop here on the way back. The trail starts by following the canal and is partly paved. When we reach a stream, the trail becomes a little more tricky and at some points, you have to climb over boulders and fallen tree trunks. There weren’t many people on the trail and when we arrived, there were only about a dozen people there. It’s a 2-platform waterfall where the lower waterfall is wide and the upper waterfall is narrow and tall. There are several photo spots around. You can also try and get closer to the waterfall but you get wet by a mist created from the water splashing down.

We spent about 20 minutes at Tiu Kelep waterfall before getting back on the trail to the Sedang Gile waterfall. It took about 20 minutes to reach the waterfall and there’s a rest area with benches. This waterfall is taller but you can also get close to it and have a shower beneath it. We also spent about 20 minutes here before heading back to the car. At the starting point of the trail, there’s a restaurant where we had some lunch. At around 2.15 PM we then begin the journey back to the harbor to catch our boat back to Gili T. We got there at around 3.45 PM and in the main pier, we asked where the next boat to Gili T leaves from. They pointed us to the beach area and we saw some people gathered around there waiting. The boat came at 4 PM and got back to Gili T by 4.20 PM.

Kuala Lumpur – 1 Day Layover

Jean Maldonado — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:52:27 +0000

Our flight from Hong Kong was scheduled to depart at 11.50 AM. We took a public transport bus from Causeway Bay to the airport which cost 40 HKD⁵ each and took about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We were there during the protests so there was heavy security at the airport. It took us about 20 minutes to get into the airport, but once inside, checking our bags and going through the usual security was quick. It was then a 4-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur and we arrived at around 3.45 PM. Going through customs was quite quick and then we connected to the airport WiFi to call a Grab⁶. Our hotel was about an hour away near KLCC Park and cost 74.80 MYR⁷. Having been to Kuala Lumpur before, I decided to spend a little more on a hotel with a view since the ticket for the Sky Deck Observation Tower was quite pricy. We stayed at the Expressionz Suites which has an infinity pool with a view of KLCC.

After checking into the hotel, we headed up to the pool to catch the sunset. At the reception, they told us there were 2 pools; one with the view of the Petronas Twin Towers on the top floor, and the other on a lower floor. We were told we first had to go to the pool on the lower floor and get a ticket for the pool on the top floor since there was a limit. There was a 10 person limit for the infinity pool with a view and we were about 20 in the queue. We waited in the lower pool for about 2 and a half hours and got to the infinity pool at around 8.40 PM when the sun had already set. It was still a great view but we only stayed for about 15 minutes to take pictures since it was getting a little chilly. We then headed out to the Alor Night Market to get some food. A Grab cost 9 MYR and took about 15 minutes to get there. The market was very busy with lots of options available. After some food, we headed a shisha bar on the main road which had a happy hour going on.

The following morning, we went for a walk around KLCC Park. On my last visit, access to the Petronas Twin Towers was closed for a public holiday, but this time it was open. It was a cloudy day but we decided to get tickets anyway which cost 80 MYR each. The tour of the Petronas Twin Towers first goes to the Sky Bridge. We get about 10 minutes here to take pictures and there are information panels with a map of the surrounding buildings. Next, we head to the observation deck on the 86th floor. There’s a small exhibition here with information on the project of building the iconic towers. We got some great views from up here despite the foggy weather. We were given about 15 minutes to go around the floor taking pictures before getting on a lift back down to the lobby. It was a nice visit but felt quite rushed as we are given a very limited time to go around.

We then walked from KLCC to the shopping malls in Bukit Bintang via the air-conditioned passageways. We grabbed some food there before heading back to the hotel to pick up our bags. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7.35 PM so we left at around 4.30 PM to avoid the rush hour.