Foodie – Maldo Travels

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 HKD¹ 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 Grab². Our hotel was about an hour away near KLCC Park and cost 74.80 MYR³. 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.

Kuala Lumpur – A Modern City Break

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 21:42:00 +0000

From Ao Nang, it’s a short 1-hour 30-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur. The airport is huge and it took us about 30 minutes to get through the customs control point. Our bags then took another 20 minutes to come out. When we exited the baggage claim area, it was like walking into a shopping center. There are lots of retail shops everywhere and we went to the lower floor to look for transportation into the city. There are several taxi offices there and they quoted about 80-90 MYR¹. We had researched the night before and it was a little more expensive than usual. So we went back upstairs to connect to the WiFi and downloaded an app called Grab². We got a Grab to our hotel in Bukit Bintang which took about an hour and cost 71.50 MYR. Once at our hotel, I found out the room had been paid but I still needed to pay the tax, and this could only be paid in cash. So I went looking for an ATM and found one in a nearby mall.

Once we had settled in, we went for a walk around the area. First, we went to get some food in the Bukit Bintang area. We were staying next to the famous Jalan Alor night market but during the day most of the places were closed. There are several malls and other restaurants in the area though. After getting food, we headed to the KLCC Park which was a short 15-minute walk away. The weather was very hot though at around 30 degrees Celcius and also very humid. So despite being a short walk, we stuck to the shade where possible. When we got close to the park we went into the KLCC building to cool down. There is an aquarium in this building as well as a food court. We then walked to the Petronas Twin Towers to see if we could get tickets to go to the top. Upon entering, there is another large multi-level mall. The ticket office is on the lower level but it was closed since it was a public holiday. Therefore, we decided to head to the Sky Deck KL Tower.

It was a 25-minute walk away, but at this point, we found out about the air-conditioned passageways. Part of the walk was still out in the open though. When we got to the entrance, the security guard said there’s a free bus service to the top every 15-30 minutes. There was some seating space in the shade and some fans at the bus stop, so we waited here for about 10 minutes before deciding to walk up. The ticket office is inside the tower and we bought tickets for the Sky Deck which cost 99 MYR each. It was around 5.30 PM by the time we took the lift to the Sky Deck. We took some pictures and then waited for the sunset at around 7.20 PM. There is a glass box for a photo opportunity with a professional photographer. You have to grab a ticket at the entrance which we found out later. Every group is given 60 seconds for pictures with a buzzer going off when time is up. The photographer takes a couple of pictures and you can also take pics with your camera. It was a great view of the sunset as you see the buildings turning on their lights as it gets dark. Next, we walked back to our hotel which took about 20 minutes. Even though the sun was down, it was still quite hot and humid outside. On the way back, we stopped by the Alor Night Market to check out the food stalls. Compared to the day, it was very busy at night with all the restaurants and food stalls open. The main road Changkat Bukit Bintang also has several restaurants, bars, and clubs. We headed back to the hotel for a bit before heading out at night to check out the nightlife. We were surprised to have found a Salsa night with some very good dancers. There were also several bars with shisha and happy hours.

The following day, we went on a trip to the Battu Caves which are to the north of the city. First, we went to the metro station and asked how to get there. They told us to first go to KL Sentral and then take a train from there. We decided to get a one-day travel pass which cost 25 MYR. At KL Sentral, we then got a return train ticket to the Battu Caves which cost 5.20 MYR each. The whole journey took us about an hour. Once at the Battu Caves, it’s a short 5-minute walk to the foot of the steps up to the cave, where a massive Hindu statue stands. Entrance to the temple caves is free and you simply have to walk up the 272 steps. Several monkeys are roaming free on the way up and inside the temples. There are several shrines inside the caves and they’re all very colorful. Once we got back down, we went to look for food in the area. We found an Indian restaurant/buffet who served meals on leaves. We decided to try it out and it was very good. We then headed back to KL Sentral which took about 40 minutes. In the afternoon, we went souvenir shopping in the Central Market. It’s a nice area with several arts and crafts stalls. We also checked out the nearby Petaling Street Market before heading back to the hotel.

In the morning before our flight, we went for a quick walk around the malls in the Bukit Bintang area. There are many huge multi-level malls and some are connected with underground passageways. It’s quite easy to get lost in but they’re a good way to get around whilst avoiding the heat. At around 3 PM, we called a Grab to take us to the airport before rush hour. It took about an hour to get to the airport from Bukit Bintang and cost 91.80 MYR. Once we checked in, we walked around the shopping mall-like airport while waiting for our flight.

Mexico City – Sightseeing By Bus

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 02 May 2018 21:55:00 +0000

Mexico City is massive. The official population stands at 9 million, however, it has grown so much that its city limits have joined with towns in its outskirts which to the locals, are considered to be Mexico City. A guide mentioned that the estimated population stood at 20 million and it continues to grow. The city has metro lines and buses to get around, however, I’d recommend taking a tourist bus. Tickets were between 180 and 200 MXN⁴ and can be purchased online but it is a little cheaper at the stalls the operators have in the Zocalo plaza. The operators have bus stops in all the popular tourist destinations which is why this service is ideal in contrast to taking the bus or metro. You will likely not be able to cover all the tourist stops in one day given the size of the city and traffic. Also, avoid taking the tourist bus during peak hours since we were stuck in a 1-hour bumper to bumper traffic which is normal during those times periods.

Bosque Chapultepec

If you’re short on time like I was, then getting off at Bosque Chapultepec is one not to miss. This is a huge park home to memorials, museums, lakes, a zoo, and a botanical garden. If I had to choose one site in this area to see, then it would be the National Museum of Anthropology adjacent to Bosque Chapultepec. A modern indoor and outdoor museum with excellent artifacts and exhibits. The museum is masterfully laid out for you to explore different civilizations following a chronological timeline as you progress throughout the museum.

Bosque Chapultepec is divided into three sections and most of the attractions can be found in the first section known as Bosque Chapultepec I. A key highlight is Castillo Chapultepec at the top of the hill. A former fort where the last of the Mexican resistance fought US forces before surrendering. This fort has now been converted into a national museum and has great panoramic views of the city. There is also a monument at the park entrance dedicated to those who gave their lives to protect the country.

Mexico City – History And Culture

Jean Maldonado — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:09:00 +0000

Ciudad de Mexico was the beginning of what became almost a six-month journey of adventure through Central and South America. A five-hour flight from New York City and similar or less for the rest of the US, it’s a convenient short vacation getaway to a land that is rich in history and culture. The Benito Juarez International Airport is in the city itself with a number of transportation options to all parts of the city. The cheapest is public transport, followed by bus/shuttle, and the more expensive taxis. Uber⁵ is also available, however, the driver will ask you to sit in front as it appears it hasn’t been completely legalized yet. There are several cash ATMs in the airport and they charge between 18 and 30 MXN⁶ to make a withdrawal. The airport also has a 15 minute free WiFi session which I took advantage of to order my Uber to my hostel in the Historic City Center in Zocalo.

A 30 minute Uber ride later and I was at my hostel two blocks from Zocalo plaza. Other than the plaza and Metropolitan Cathedral, there are several sites and attractions that are walking distances from the Zocalo area. Around the corner from the cathedral lie the Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor. The ruins are visible from a balcony like structure but there is also a museum and guided tours of the excavation work done on the site.

From the Zocalo plaza, there is a nice walk down Av. Francisco I. Madero which is a pedestrian-only zone. There are several high street shops, restaurants, and bars on this road which leads to the Alameda Park. In here we can find the El Palacio de Bellas Artes and La Torre Latinoamericana. From here, it is also a short 10-minute walk to Plaza Garibaldi also known to the locals as the “Plaza de los Mariachis”. However, you should probably take an Uber to this place as the walk was through an area which is very run down, deserted, and didn’t feel safe.