Summer getaway? For those people na nagtitipid pero naghahanap ng magandang beach at the same time. Highly recommended po namin ng officemates ko ang Potipot Island sa Zambales. Mura na, white sand pa. Tahimik, makakapag relax ka! No need to rent a room, tent tent lang panalo na! Perfect for couples, barkada at pamilya.
SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR POTIPOT ISLAND
Day 0
11:55 PM – Departure at Victory Liner Caloocan
(Sa Victory Liner Caloocan kami sumakay namin para direcho na, pwede rin namang Cubao or Pasay pero 2 rides, MNL-Olongapo then Olongapo-Sta.Cruz, Zambales) Day 1 6:00 AM – ETA at Uacon (Plaza) Candelaria, Zambales.
From plaza, sumakay kaming tryc going to shore kung nasaan yung bangkero na contact namin na maghahatid sa Potipot Island. Mga 5-10 minutes tryc papuntang tabing dagat. Habang pini-prepare ng bangkero yung bangka na sasakyan namin, namili muna kami sa maliit na tindahan doon ng mga kakailanganin namin sa Potipot (Food, Water, Ice, Etc.) kasi medyo pricey ang bilihin sa Island. 7:00 AM – Departure going to Potipot Island 7:10 Arrived at Potipot Island! Free time!
Mga 5-10 minutes lang din yung boat transfer from shores to Potipot. As in malapit lang. Pagdating namin dun, naghanap lang kami ng spot kung saan namin itatayo yung tent namin. Tapos nagluto kami, kumain, naglaro ng cards, natulog, nag swimming, inikot yung island, nag picture taking under the beautiful sunset, atbp. Lahat ng pwedeng gawin dun, ginawa na namin. 😂 PS. Walang bayad yung tables, CR, shower rooms, grillers. Pero syempre ingatan lang natin at wag magkalat. Nakakahiya naman kung libre na nga bababuyin pa natin.
Day 2
Nagising kami around 6AM, at wala kaming ibang ginawa kundi eenjoy lang yung sunrise, nag swimming, nagluto, kumain, Etc. Same routine as day 1.
Maraming activities ang pwede nyong gawin dun like Snorkeling, Kayak/Banana boat ride, etc.
But since relaxation lang naman pinunta namin dun, hindi na kami nag ganun, less pagod less gastos! 😂 Kuntento na kami sa foodtrip, soundtrip, at kung anu ano pang trip. 1:00 PM – Tinext na namin yung contact namin at nagpasundo para makauwi na pabalik ng MNL. Pero kung gusto nyo pang mag stay dun hanggang hapon. Choice nyo naman yun. 1:30 PM – Nakabalik na kami sa shores, nag tryc lang kami palabas ng highway 20pesos each tapos nag jeep papuntang bayan ng Sta.Cruz kung nasaan yung Victory Liner, 13 pesos each. Kung medyo nakakaluwag luwag naman kayo, pwede nyo na ipadirecho yung tryc to Victory Liner, 200 yung pamasahe.
Kumain muna kami ng lunch sa mga kainan sa Bayan, at sumakay ng bus byaheng 4PM pabalik ng Manila.
That’s it!
BUDGET BREAKDOWN for Potipot Island
BUS RT – 902 (451 x 2) TRYC RT – 40 (20 x 2) BOAT TRANSFER RT – 100/head ENTRANCE FEE – 300 Overnight / 100 Day tour JEEP to Sta.Cruz Bayan – 13pesos
(400 pesos yung boat transfer round trip good for 5-6 persons, since apat lang kami 100/head kami. Meron din silang packages, including Entrance fee, Drinking water, Ice box, Kitchen Utensils, and Tent. 750/head if not mistaken.) FOOD – Di ko na isasama, depende po yun sa gusto nyong kainin. Diskartehan nyo nalang po. 🙌 ACCOMMODATION – None (Bring your own tent lang kami. Meron din namang mga rooms dun kung ayaw nyong mag tent, 1500 ata.)
IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING:
Power bank (Walang kuryente dun)
Flashlights
Lighter
Food (Medyo pricey kung dun pa kayo bibili)
Kikay kit
Papogi starter pack. Lol
Wanting to learn a new language? From being able to hold conversations with more people to securing better job prospects, learning another language is beneficial for many reasons. Sure, while the process of picking up words that are foreign to you might be daunting at first, carrying out the feat is not impossible.
In fact, there are now a ton of ways you can make your educational journey easier. From books to CDs to foreign series, you’ll never run out of options to choose from. However, if you’re after optimal convenience, portability, and interactive engagement, turning to mobile apps might be your best bet.
Here, we have rounded up the best apps you can download for your foreign language studies. From their features and prices to how they can be downloaded, here are everything you need to know about each of them. Continue reading to learn more about these helpful apps.
Best Language Learning Apps
Duolingo
It’s hard to discuss the best language learning apps without the mention of the popular app Duolingo. After all, the platform has managed to maintain its status as the most downloaded mobile language learning app for years now.
Combining gamification with learning, Duolingo helps users expand their vocabulary and ultimately learn new languages by engaging in fun and competitive mobile games and activities.
To make the platform more effective, it educates its users by starting with short and fun discussions on basic verbs, phrases, and sentences, which gradually move to more complex subjects, including correct pronunciation and accent. To help users stay motivated, the app comes with tons of interactive activities that let individuals earn virtual coins and unlock new levels as they progress through their educational journey.
To date, Duolingo is available for both iOS and Android users. Therefore, anyone can get it by simply downloading the app from the Apple Store or Google Play. On top of that, the app is totally free! However, if you want to ditch the ads and download lessons on the app for offline use, you are free to subscribe to Duolingo Plus at a price of $9.99 a month.
Memrise
If you’re the type who prefers to learn using flashcards, Memrise is the perfect app to check out. Similar to Duolingo, the platform also blends lessons with fun games and activities. However, while the former offers a diverse set of random tests, Memrise uses a science-backed spaced repetition learning style to secure faster learning and memorization of new words.
On top of that, the app even comes with memes and uses hilarious associations with the studied words to help make your educational journey more fun and effective. Through the said platform, users can also watch video clips and learn real conversational language from native speakers themselves!
Fortunately, Memrise is also available in both the Apple Store and through Google Play. However, although it does offer a standard version for free, you will need to avail its paid subscription if you want to access all its courses and features, which costs $9 per month.
Busuu
Another worthy mobile app that you should take a look at is the Busuu app. Working as an Al-powered language learning platform, this spectacular app comes complete with full courses in 12 languages.
To ensure that users will be able to learn at their own pace and level, Busuu lets them begin with a placement test. Based on the results of that initial activity, the app will determine the appropriate arrangement that will help users enjoy discussions that are suitable to their current level.
Similar to Memrise, Busuu also lets individuals connect with native speakers via the platform. However, what makes it even more special is its promise of optimal interactivity. Specifically, using the app, individuals can learn their preferred language by taking personalized study plans, receiving instant feedback on written and spoken lessons, and turning to the app’s in-built AI-powered grammar tool.
Busuu can be downloaded straight from the Apple Store or Google Play for free. However, it is only by availing its premium version, which is available at $9.99 per month, that you can have offline access, grammar tips, and official certificates from language instructors.
The Bottom Line
Have you determined which among these apps suit you best? Whether you’re a frequent traveler who loves connecting with new people or a student who needs to study for an upcoming language exam, turning to these language learning apps can help make your educational journey faster, easier, and more effective.
Living in the city has always had its perks. From the bustling economy, a wide range of shopping malls to choose from to the sleepless rendezvous. But once in a while, you’d be telling yourself that you’d need a breather! With the countless room for opportunities, the metro has its dark, looming side, air pollution that is!
So how can you escape this impending health hazard? With plants of course! Plants have this powerful ability to cleanse our air of off the harmful substances, particularly carbon dioxide. The more plants the better of course! Apart from cleaning the air that we breathe in, plants also lend a very calming and refreshing ambiance. Studies show that indulging your peepers in anything green is a form of relaxation. The Yuletide season is upon us and plants are unique and refreshing presents for your loved ones as well!
Since we are in the metro spawned by massive buildings and edifices how can we go about introducing more greeneries into our homes and environment?
The Philippine Horticultural Society Inc or PHSI is a non-profit organization of plant lovers whose advocacy is to spread, once again, the enthusiasm for plants. Some of the organization’s mission is to promote the preservation and conservation of native plant species, to promote awareness and appreciation of plant life and to promote affiliation with international plant communities. With the efforts of the PHSI, the metro will hopefully breathe fresher air again. It can always begin in our own homes and communities! In line with this advocacy, the PHSI will be holding a “grand greenery event” in February 2018!
On Feb 2-11, a massive greenery festival will showcase our own endemic and hybrid plants. Celebrated annually, the Hortikultura Filipina 2018 will also showcase several gardening and horticultural practices in Manila. If you are aching to grow out your own garden in your homes but don’t know how this is the perfect event for you! As per the organization, you need not be a plant expert or one with the so-called “green thumb “to cultivate your own garden. You just need to know the basic know’s and how’s. Looking for a unique and refreshing gift for your loved ones this Yuletide season? Christmas plant bundles are the “in” thing today. Going green is almost everyone’s goal nowadays, why not help your loved ones get a head start by giving them a Christmas plant bundle instead? This is one of the goals of the organization, to make gardening and cultivation of plants accessible to everyone! To keep up the excitement, we’ve heard that they are also going to showcase some plant species that may cost up to 2M pesos (eyes popping!) So set your calendars for one of the country’s widest greenery festival, the HORTIKULTURA 2018. Activities to expect at HORTIKULTURA 2018:
TRADE FAIR, ORNAMENTAL POTTED PLANTS COMPETITION, STREET DANCING, INSTALLATION ART, PHOTO EXHIBIT OF PHILIPPINE ORCHID SPECIES, BONSAI EXHIBIT, TERRARIUM, AQUASCAPE VIVARIUM EXHIBIT, GARDEN TOUR, DAILY RAFFLE, ACOUSTIC NIGHTS, DAILY LECTURE AND WORKSHOP, ORCHIDS ASEPTIC CULTURE EXHIBIT, DAILY RAFFLE.
For more information, can visit their Facebook page, Philippine Horticultural Society, Inc.
Heading out on a cruise is the perfect way to enjoy some new areas while not having to worry about getting from one point to the next one. And if you want to make the most of it, private cruises are the way to go.
You get a rather luxurious experience overall, and you get to visit some really stunning destinations.
That being said, picking the perfect location for a cruise isn’t all that easy. You’ve got a lot of options to choose from, and many of them are truly phenomenal. So, to make things easier for you, we’ve got a selection of the world’s finest cruising destinations.
The Amazon River
Copyright: Pixabay | CC0 Public Domain
If you’re in the mood to enjoy the world’s most amazing rainforest, with an incredible river system, the Amazon River is an excellent place to cruise through. The Amazon rainforest covers about 40% of South America, and spreads across nine countries, making it an unparalleled experience. Then there’s the fact that getting deep within the forest is only possible if you do things by boat, which makes this a perfect location.
There’s a mindblowing collection of both plant and animal life, with over 40,000 plant species and over one-third of all the animal species we know about in the world. You’ll also get to visit some incredible nature reserves where you can enjoy some of the wildlife in its natural habitat. Overall, the Amazon River in Peru is a must-visit.
Indonesia
Photo by Iswanto Arif on Unsplash
If islands are your thing, Indonesia is another must. It covers over 18,000 islands, and is one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries, with over 1,300 ethnic groups. Festivals are celebrated across the country year-round, and each region, each community has its own rituals and traditions.
If you visit Indonesia, you’ll get to cruise through exotic islands such as Bali and Raja Ampat, and even visit the Komodo National Park, where you have the world’s largest population of Komodo dragons. Indonesia has some incredible coral life, and is a divers’ paradise with so many locations to explore. There are quite a few volcanoes you can enjoy, too, and some beautiful landscapes, too.
Islands like Bali are prime tourist hotspots, while Lombok has some of the nicest surfing spots in all of Indonesia. It’s definitely a paradise for nature lovers.
The Mekong River
We’ve saved the best for last – the Mekong River is an incredible place to cruise through. The river’s flow is surrounded by over 2,000 years of human history, and you get the opportunity to visit some truly breathtaking temples and historical locations. Copyright: Pixabay | CC0 Public Domain
Ho Chi Minh City is one of Vietnam’s most important cultural and historical locations, and it’s full of temples that are a testament to everything that’s been going on in the country throughout the years. There’s also the Khmer Empire, which ruled from the 9th to the 15th century, as well as Theravada Buddhism, which is still present to this day and is Buddhism’s oldest existing school.
If you run a business that has benefited from more of your staff working remotely, then you may have already considered casting your talent nets even further and hiring individuals who are based overseas.
Managing people who are no longer situated in the same building or even the same country as you is becoming the norm, but businesses that fail to effectively manage their international and remote teams, are going to be left behind.
Engaging with overseas employees can benefit your company in several ways, from filling empty roles with highly skilled international workers to learning new languages and improving foreign knowledge – even a richer workplace culture is possible.
It’s hardly surprising that more companies than ever are venturing into the international talent pool.
But it also comes with its challenges, and if everyone isn’t working from the same page, it can lead to all kinds of issues within your business and even your customer journey could be impacted. Here we’ll look at how to successfully manage your international and remote teams effectively. Read on to find out more.
Invest in DAM software
An absolute must for any company juggling remote and international workers. DAM software available from this website is the gateway to international collaboration and streamlined processes, regardless of time zones and locations.
Not only do employees have access to your company’s digital assets in one centralized cloud-based library, but teams can share files both internally and externally without concern, and they can find the files they need within seconds thanks to its intuitive filter structure.
This searchable database of all your digital assets also comes with user permission profiles, so assets, files, and projects can be monitored step by step, and only accessed by those with the right permission criteria and for a limited period. Preserving your digital assets and streamlining your workflows effortlessly.
Communication is key
Employees who feel left out in the cold aren’t going to stick around for long, creating a nightmare scenario in terms of employee retention .
Reaching out to your remote and international employees, not only boosts contentment but also prevents misunderstandings and errors from occurring. Remember to ask questions and to listen – building trust is essential to keep your remote teams happy and content in their work. Some companies even create a separate budget, dedicated to funding meetings with international and remote workers, inviting them to the business headquarters or visiting them instead for face-to-face interactions.
And finally, continue to define your brand and core values
If your international workers aren’t made familiar with your company’s core values and your brand image, then it’s only going to pave the way for more mistakes and a confusing journey for your customers.
A good training program is essential for your international workers, so they can keep your core values and brand image fresh in their minds and at the forefront of everything they do for you.
Again, access to DAM software and integrated brand guidelines can help keep this information clear and concise – your localized employees will benefit too!
This museum in Pasay City is the only museum of its own. It can turn your world literally upside down! A new perspective awaits you at this one of a kind museum.
UPSIDE DOWN MUSEUM
Upside Down Museum is located in Pasay City, near Star City, Wensha Spa, and World Trade Center. It has been one of the favourite places that students would go to during a field tour. When we got there, it was actually filled with students from all over the Philippines. upside down museum
If you love taking photos and good at directing people, then this museum is your place to be. Be amazed when you see the magic of your photos when you turn them upside down!
If you don’t have any companion, worry not for there will be staff/marshalls to assist you in taking your photo and they will be directing you to your best position before taking the shot. They assisted us on most of these photos.
Of course, not everything is upside down. You can take photos of their exhibits that will turn into a framed picture or a display.
If you need a place to stay after a tiring day, we know a place nearby – a spanish themed guesthouse.
When you get tired and thirsty from all the picture positions you’ve made, there is a cafe inside the vicinity before you exit.
How to get to Upside Down Museum
Upside Down Museum is located in Boom Na Boom Grounds, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila. It is just beside Wensha Spa.
From Buendia (JAC Liner terminal), ride a multi-cab heading to SM Mall of Asia, tell the driver to drop you off at Wensha Spa. Walk towards the Upside Down Museum. Fare is 8 pesos. Entrance Fees and Schedule:
Adult: 450. 00 PHP (USD 9)
Senior/Student/PWD: 330.00 PHP (~6-7 USD)
FREE for KIDS 3 years old and below
Open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 am to 9 pm. Closed during Mondays. Birthday celebrant is FREEwith at least 2 paying companions. Just bring your birth certificate or valid id with birthdate. Birthday promo is valid within the BIRTH WEEK ONLY.
Here are some photos bringing you the magic of Upside Down Museum. View our other gallery on our facebook page.
The mirrored mansion was my personal favourite. upside down museum
During our trip to Niseko, we also had the chance to visit Grand Hirafu. While having stayed at Nest at the Trees, we didn’t wanna miss the snow activities we could do while in the area. If you have been reading our previous blogs about Niseko, it’s our favorite place so far in this visit to Hokkaido.
Grand Hirafu
Hirafu is the biggest village and provides the largest and most diverse selection of activities and accommodation. This resort offers the best powder snow and a wide variety of 30 courses, including wide ski trails and parks. The resort offers new and convenient facilities such as .Base (dot Base), the Grand Hirafu Mountain Center and the high-speed 8-person HIRAFU Gondola.
Our mountain pass was distributed to us when we were having skiing lessons. We are supposed to be going up Grand Hirafu to experience a higher terrain to ski. However, due to strong winds and unfavorable weather condition that day, we weren’t able to go to Grand Hirafu and experience the gondola while on our ski uniforms.
The next day, we went to Grand Hirafu early morning to see if we could go to the heights of Hirafu from Nest at the Trees. After having our sumptuous breakfast, we prepared for departure to get to the Grand Hirafu Mountain Center where the lift is waiting for us.
Niseko United All Mountain Pass
In order to ride and use the gondola or the lifts, you need a mountain pass. You can get this mountain pass at Hanazono Niseko counter or Grand Hirafu Mountain Center. You can avail of a day pass or point to point pass or even a 21-day pass according to your allotted budget. Since we are only spending a few days in Niseko, we availed the 1-day Mountain Pass.
A deposit of 1000 Yen is required when you avail of the mountain pass and is fully refundable when you insert the key card into the refund machine or ask a refund to the teller counter.
Grand Hirafu Gondola and Mountain Lifts
One of the best experience we had on our trip here in Niseko was riding the gondola mountain lift.
To get to the gondola, simply tap your key card at the gate station so you can make an entry and a number of gondolas await you there. Each gondola is good for 8 people but if there aren’t many people, you can choose to go solo or with your partner depending on your preference. There’s no fixed number of people to ride each one.
The views from above were astonishing! Being someone who lived their lives in a tropical country, seeing a mountain full of snow is a paradise. While in the gondola, you’d see plenty of skiers and snowboarders down below doing their own thing. There even are kids who play with the snow and makes a snowman. It was fun seeing them. If the skies are clear, you could also see Mt. Yotei in the background and the full of Niseko at the foot of the mountain. The ride takes about at least 3 to 5 minutes to get to the next station.
Powder of Snow at Grand Hirafu
When we got off to the next station, we were stunned by what we saw. As mentioned, in the place we are based, we are a 100% full of beaches, so when we are in one of the arctic paradises, we are just really overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how white the place is and how powdery the snow was. It’s like a giant pool of foam and we’re both excited to experience this one.
So we didn’t hesitate to go over the snow and jump on it! It was surreal, we were finally laying and playing in the snow. We’re like kids in a toy store. We’re just that excited! The snow in the field is as soft as a powder. In my mind, so this is what the powdery snow the magazines were talking about! Truly, Niseko has a world class powdery snow.
While we were in the area, it also rained of snowfall, slow-moving white particles dropping in our coats and jackets. Jane didn’t get to experience much of the snowfall so it really was a great one for her. To be covered in snow, and not care about getting wet at all when it melts. The experience was just so good we can’t get enough.
Of course, we took some photos while in the area. We didn’t get to go far though as we have a quite limited time in the place. We really would want to extend but we have a schedule to run as we are heading next to Otaru.
By the way, just a word of advice, there’s nothing much to do in Otaru especially in April because most of the attractions are closed during this time and there’s just cold winds left and never a snowfall. It’s also the end of winter season and spring is just about to start that the flowers only begin to bloom.
After having a nice time at Grand Hirafu, we went back to the lift station and refunded our tickets. We went back to Nest at The Trees via their shuttle (that’s like a personal service, kudos Nest at The Trees!) and prepare for departure to our Kutchan station.
Niseko Guide App
For updates and best experience while in Niseko, we highly recommend that you download the Niseko App so you can get the latest guides and makes the best times in Niseko. Make sure to also check out Niseko Tourism website and social media channels for on-going promotions, weather updates, and everything you need to know about Niseko.
Don’t forget to tag Niseko Tourism so you can be featured!
Contributed by: Ezabel Mariz Chica
Mga beshies di ba kayo makapag decide if pool or beach ang gusto nyo? worry no more! kasi pwede nyong mapuntahan both in just one beautiful place for only 1,000 pesos Pool + Beach = VISTA DE PUENTE BEACH RESORT
DAY TOUR: 9am to 5pm OVERNIGHT: 2pm to 12nn Entrance Fees:
•ADULT – 150
•KIDS (4ft. below) – 100
(2yrs old & below) – Free
•SENIOR/PWD – 120 For DAYTOUR:
•Picnic Table (good for 8 pax) – 800
•Group Table (good for 10 pax) – 1000
•Cabanas (good for 12 pax) -1,500 For OVERNIGHT STAY: (w/ AC and bathroom)
•Couple Room (good for 2 pax) – 2,500
•King Bedroom (good for 4 pax; 1 king bed) – 3,000
•Quad Room (good for 4 pax; 2 twin beds) – 3,500
•Family Room A (4-6 pax; 2 twin beds) – 4,000
•Family Room B (4-6 pax; 2 twin beds) – 4,500
•Group Room A (8 pax; 2 twin bunk beds) – 6,000
•Group Room B (16pax; 4 twin bunk beds) -8,000
(via Public Transport):
1. From Buendia-Taft, sakay lang kayo ng any bus bound for Batangas Grand Terminal (157 pesos)
Travel Time: 1.5 to 2 hrs
2. From Batangas Terminal tanong nyo san yung pila ng jeep pa-Balagtas then magpababa kayo sa STI-Batangas (8 pesos)
Travel Time: 5-10mins
3. From STI, tawid kayo sa kabilang side then look for Don Ramos St. (nasa right side sya banda)
4. Ride a jeep going to SM City Batangas (8 pesos)
Travel Time: 5-10mins
5. From SM City Batangas, tanong nyo kung saan yung sakayan ng jeep pa-Ilijan or Dela Paz then magpababa na kayo dun mismo sa resort (45 pesos)
Travel Time: 45mins
(via Private Transport):
•Use Waze
-pag pabalik same way pa rin TAKE NOTE lang mga besh yung last trip ng jeep na byaheng Ilijan pabalik ng SM City Batangas is hanggang 2pm lang so ang pwede nyong gawin is to rent a van or jeep pabalik ng Grand Terminal or SM City Batangas, inform nyo na lang yung front desk regarding this kasi hahanapan nila kayo ng ibang day tour guests din na pwede nyo makasabay pauwi para hati-hati na lang kayo sa gastos sa van.
OTHER INFOS:
*they accept walk-ins
*no corkage for food and drinks kaya magbaon na lang kayo para tipid or if ayaw nyo naman magbaon may mga Lomihan/Tapsihan sa labas ng resort
*PROPER SWIMMING ATTIRE mga besh kaya i-ready nyo na ang mga pangmalakasan nyong swimsuits haha
For inquiries and other details, kindly check their FB account Vista de Puente Beach Resort or you may call or text 09152892907.
We had a 9 days trip starting from Thailand and headed over to three more countries, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. bangkok to kuala lumpur
Here some information on how you could get to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Bangkok, Thailand – and crossing their borders as well.
There are more options than what I will state here. For this trip that we had, I’ll provide two options for you.
Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train and Bus
From Bangkok, go to Hua Lamphong Railway Station. By taxi is the easiest, about 60-65 baht only.
There will be two types of ticket counters – one for mixed tourists – local and foreigner, another is exclusively for foreigners – this one has staffs with better English. No matter what counter you go in, they’ll provide you same service, though.
Option 1: Bangkok to Padang Besar~
Book for a sleeper train (with aircon) from Bangkok to Padang Besar (border of Malaysia). Train number should be Train 37. For 18 hours of travel, sitting for long is not advisable so you really have to watch out for tickets for the 2nd class seats. The seats are convertible to a bed if you wish to, just ask the train staff to do it for you.
This will cost you 850 Baht ($25) for the upper berth, and 920 Baht ($26) for the lower berth (prices as of February 2016).
If you are a couple – book the UPPER and LOWER berths so you’ll get to have both seats and be with each other for the whole trip. This is what we did. Bangkok to kuala lumpur
This train departs at 3:10 pm (GMT + 7, Thailand time) and arrives at Padang Besar 8:53 am (GMT + 8, Malaysia time).
Once you have arrived at the border – Padang Besar station, you will have to undergo immigration process. This will take time especially if there are lots of people with you on the train crossing to Malaysia. Just present your Passport with the departure card, answer a few questions they will be asking, wait for the stamp, scan your bags/luggage, and you’re off to Kuala Lumpur. This process took us 2 hours to finish.
Proceed to the second floor and book your train tickets to Kuala Lumpur (if you get to have one). The train ride will just be 5.5 hours. After that, welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
Sometimes, tickets from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur are easily sold out especially on weekends and holidays so you have to book in advance. For our trip, we made a detour because tickets were sold out.
Prepare your Malaysian currency here, they won’t accept Thailand Baht as payment. For the alternate rides to the city, check Option 2. Bangkok to kuala lumpur
Option 2: Bangkok to Hat Yai~
If in case Padang Besar tickets were sold out, you may book a ticket to Hat Yai station – the last station before Padang Besar. Same scenario as the above but differently priced tickets and has more flexible time schedules. Price varies from 555 Baht ($16) to 945 Baht ($27) depending on the berth location and time of departure or train number.
If you are a couple – book the UPPER and LOWER berths so you’ll get to have both seats and be with each other for the whole trip.
The travel time from Hua Lamphong station to Hat Yai station is about 16 hours.
From Hat Yai station, look for a bus station or bus headed to Padang Besar. The travel time would be about 2-3 hours. If there are no bus available, you have to take the train by the next day from Hat Yai to Padang Besar.
Once you have arrived at Padang Besar, proceed to the immigration office, present your passport, scan your bags, and book a train ticket to Kuala Lumpur. Proceed to the 2nd floor for the ticket office.
Sometimes, tickets from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur are easily sold out especially on weekends and holidays so you have to book in advance. We are unable to do that so we didn’t get to catch tickets for train schedules that day.
So what we did (as an alternative), we booked a ticket to Butterworth station instead. Ticket cost was 11.40 MYR (<$3) each. The travel time for the train to Butterworth from Padang Besar was two hours. Bangkok to kuala lumpur
Arriving at Butterworth station, we immediately checked if tickets to Kuala Lumpur are available, unfortunately, the earliest we could have was the 10:00 pm train schedule for that day and that is not an option for us. But we have another option which is the bus station.
The bus station in Butterworth to various locations including Kuala Lumpur was just located outside the train station. The bus ticket to Kuala Lumpur cost us 45 MYR ($10) each. There are even cheaper ones but we don’t have much time so we asked the first ticket booth we saw.
The bus left after about 10-20mins – they have schedules so they won’t wait until the bus is full. The bus ride was smooth and the couch was comfortable enough to endure long bus rides. The travel time it took us from Butterworth Bus station toTerminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS)was 6 hours. The bus went off at 3 pm and arrived at the location by 9 pm. Also because we had a plenty of bus exchange and stops that it took long hours.
» All buses from other parts of Malaysia heading to Kuala Lumpur stops at TBS.
» All in, our total travel time from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur was about 30 hours which includes processing and all in between (immigration/alternate route hunting/eating/etc).
» Here’s what we have gone through to get to Kuala Lumpur by land travel from Bangkok;
Hua Lamphong (Bangkok) to Padang Besar by train > Padang Besar to Butterworth by train > Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur (TBS) by bus > Kuala Lumpur (TBS) to Chinatown (drop off to Pudu Sentral) by bus to check in at our hotel. bangkok to kuala lumpur
Note: Prices were as of February 6, 2017.
Both options will drop you off at KL Sentral station (where TBS is), as well for the bus.
If you’re headed to Chinatown, take a bus to Pudu Sentral located at the ground floor (they call it Level 1). It will only cost you 2 MYR ($0.45). This will drop you off near Chinatown which is like 100m away only.
If you’re headed to Bukit Bintang, better take the train (or Monorail) straight to Bukit Bintang station (station number MR6).
Book your Chinatown and Bukit Bintang hostels and hotels here (click me).
Traveling tips for border crossing and in general
1. Always bring your passport with you. Securely.
2. ATM withdrawals are good if you don’t mind charges on your card. This is one way to get their currency. I was charged 175.00 per withdrawal.
3. Answer the immigration officer questions with confidence.
4. Bring food before boarding the train. They have a restaurant inside but I researched bad reviews so we just brought our own food.
5. On the train to Padang Besar, someone will offer to change your THB to MYR at a very low rate – be cautious. I didn’t let myself fall for this.
6. The cafeteria on Padang Besar station offers currency changes as well, 10 Baht = 1 MYR. Not bad but still low.
7. If you don’t want to exchange currencies at the station, there’s a money changer and 7/11 store with ATM outside the station. It’s a 15-minute walk from there. This is what I did – I withdrew money from the ATM. It costs 175 Php per withdrawal so take out the highest possible money you could.
8. Book tickets as early as you could for the train to Padang Besar or try your luck for a chance passenger.
9. If you failed to book tickets because of schedule conflicts, wait until the desired date of departure as some people are backing out and refunding their tickets. bangkok to kuala lumpur
Useful experience on booking your train tickets:
On the first day that we were in Bangkok, there was just a single slot available for the train to Padang Besar when I asked them.
I booked a ticket to Hat Yai on the second day. I checked again at the station on the day of our departure (3rd day) if there are newly available tickets heading straight to Padang Besar and luckily, there were more slots by then straight to Padang Besar.
Some people are backing out and asking for a refund so it was worth checking the schedules even before departure.
I asked the staff to change our ticket from Hat Yai to Padang Besar with additional cost on how much the difference was from Hat Yai station to Padang Besar. (+190 Baht)
After a long busy day doing business or engaging in the daily 8-5 job, nighttime offers an excellent time to unwind and let go of the fatigue. Singapore comes to life at night in a big way, and as NY City, it also never sleeps. There are a lot of activities that one can do, even after the sun goes down. For expats working in this island state, there is a lot to sample during the nights. If you have any queries concerning travel documents to Singapore or require assistance with processing them, PEP –Visa Express is your one-stop shop.
Activities you can do in Singapore by Night
Are you wondering what night-time activities are available in Singapore? Below are some things you could do while you are here. singapore at night
Singapore has some great places full of natural life, where one can go either alone or in the company of friends. You will be sure to get the best of the nature-fresh air, brisk winds, and nature’s sounds. There are the Singapore Botanic Gardens whose doors remain open till midnight. There is also the Gardens by the Baythat stays open as late as 2 am. The former is spectacular at night due to the lights and the sparkling that is emanated.
Taking a stroll
Singapore is one of the safest places, thus taking a leisure walk on the streets of the city-state can be done without any fear or worry. Group walks can be such fun at night. Romantic walks are also something a couple can do. Go for a stroll on the Sentosa Bay Boardwalk which never closes down. It has magnificent views of Sentosa and Harbourfront. singapore at night
Going for a movie
You have a great opportunity to have a movie-watching experience like no other, be it as a family or with a lover to have a date night. Movie Mob makes movie-watching a marvelous and a dream event by giving you a great outside, old-style movie experience. There, free screening takes place in different places in Singapore. The concept of a drive-in cinema that doubles as a picnic event have turned to be very popular with the locals.
Night-cycling
Cycling at night in Singapore is a great experience, and you will find many that indulge in it. Due to the low traffic and relaxed atmosphere, the beauty of Singapore is best enjoyed and experienced at night. Cycling is a good workout for the leg muscles while savoring the breeze. Some places that make night cycling a memorable event include Changi Village, Ulu Sembawang Park Connector, and many others. On some days, the sky above is like a starry dark velvet making the cycling so interesting. It is crucial you have your helmet and lights for cycling. singapore at night
Going out for dinner
There are great eateries in this island-state, and their dishes are just excellent. Menus offer a range of Asian recipes to Western ones. If you have the opportunity to walk to your restaurant, you’ll be able to enjoy the fresh night air. singapore at night
😂 Kuntento na kami sa foodtrip, soundtrip, at kung anu ano pang trip.
🙌
Activities to expect at HORTIKULTURA 2018:
