Coming-in
from Kota Kinabalu and with just an hour and a half for connecting time, I knew
I didn’t want to waste time. Thanks to the quick KLIA immigration (and speed
walking), I was at the Regional Golden Lounge in no time (you can check that out here.)
Malacca or known as “The
Historic City” is located about 3 hours from the country’s capital, Kuala
Lumpur. In history, it is widely known to be the capital of Portuguese Malacca
and Dutch Malacca before being part of the British’s Straits Settlements
together with Singapore and Penang.
You could say that the Majestic Kuala Lumpur is the grand old dame of Malaysia's capital; it was built in 1932 as a 51-room hotel and have witnessed many important milestones in this Southeast Asian country's history. After being restored from its 28 year closure, The Majestic Kuala Lumpur is now better than ever; with the construction of the very modern Tower Wing and a stunning facelift of the old Majestic Wing. It definitely gives you an insight of what this city has to offer: a beautiful mix of the old and the new.
Call me the details guy, but for me, it is always the small things that makes an escape extra special; a personalized hand-written letter, a welcome gift or a little something that makes you feel at home the moment you see it. I guess luck was on my side during my work slash business trip to Gaya Island Resort because I got all three.
As an art student, I am often attracted to the gradation of colors; especially when it happens in nature. On my recent trip to Malaysia, I was amazed by how a 15-minute jetty ride can change the colors in nature by a 180 degrees; from the solid color of city pavements to the turquoise blue waters of Gaya Island.
Gaya Island is located a few kilometers west of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia's state of Sabah and a two-hour plane ride from the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Its amazing how a two-hour plane ride can change the scenery; from the very modern buildings of Kuala Lumpur to the gradient blue waters of Gaya Island. This is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to Malaysia.
After an amazing stay at the Gaya Island Resort (as always) in Kota Kinabalu a few days ago, I saw myself on yet another airplane seat. This time, with a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur before taking a short 4 hour hop to Manila. Of course, with a stopover in Malaysia's capital, I just had to visit Malaysia Airlines' Regional Golden Lounge at the Main Terminal!
Kamakura, for me, is not just about the Great Daibutsu or
the Komachi-dori (all right I'm not gonna lie here, they could be part of an amazing journey) but it's more of immersing myself deeper into
the Japanese culture by getting a feel of the quiet alleys of this lovely city.
Whenever I'm here, it's always that same scenario: I never want to leave for
the city. Its actually very rare for me to get that strong feeling of
attachment when I've gone around for just a few hours and I think that's what
makes this city very special.
Kita-Kamakura
is the stop before the main Kamakura station on the JR Yokosuka Line. It’s a
relatively small station compared to the ones you see in Tokyo and I think
that’s what makes this place even more special than what its already is.
(Personalize: to change or design (something) for a particular person) If you
ask me, personalization is one of the highest forms of luxury nowadays. I mean,
who does not want a little piece of something they could call their own? Some
might even think of this deed as being a bit materialistic but for me, it’s all
about having that small connection with the object that makes it even more
unique.
On our second and final day,
we decided to see the other side of Nikko; the side that many has grown to
admire. I like calling this place as the “historic center” of Nikko because in
this area, the beautiful Nikko Temple Complex is located and with a few minutes
walk across the Daiya River, you’ll reach the Kanmangafuchi Abyss; where the
famous statues of Bakejizo can be seen.
After a very long and careful planning, I gave in and decided to see the other face of Japan. Away from the glimmering lights of Ginza and Roppongi and deep into the snow-capped mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. Over the course of one day, I saw myself walking along the snow-lined shores of both Chuzenji-ko (中禅寺湖) and Yu-no-ko (湯の湖). I can say that the first day of the trip is definitely is a success.
One of the many reasons why I keep coming back to Japan is its abundance of great coffee shops, cafés and brunch places. The districts of Harajuku, Daikanyama and Nakameguro never fails to give me that feeling of excitement whenever I see a prospective place to try and I tell you, these places never runs out of interesting places! But on a recent trip to Tokyo, I added another district on my list. And that's Kanda, specifically Obscura Coffee Roasters in the old Manseibashi Station.
If there is something I always incorporate with the word
“chilling” that would probably be coffee. Whenever I’m hanging out with friends
or having a quiet time alone, you’ll usually find me with a cup of coffee
beside me. Coffee just makes everything easy for me, you know! And then I
thought, what better way to enjoy my escapes than chilling with coffee? After
all, escaping is all about chilling out and forgetting about the world (my
world, that is.)
I don't know with you guys but for me its always the unusual that makes a place standout. Weird sculptures, gigantic landmarks, a building unusually taller than the other ones; all of these show a different kind of beauty that I really admire. And as a traveler, these are bits and pieces that I usually try to find.
Recently, I have found this deep appreciation for anything
that comes in small quantities. I noticed that these things are the ones that
are well thought of and has been made using proper art and technique. Probably
that’s one of the factors why I adore Japan so much. They make something and
continue to develop their craft every time.
I'm not gonna lie, whenever I'm faced with the question: "Who loves stopovers anyway?" I find it extremely hard to tell the truth. Call me weird, but I like my stopovers so much. Especially the ones I have in Hong Kong. I mean, who doesn't admire Chek Lap Kok's stunning architecture?!
Daikanyama is one of those places that people end up not visiting due to its proximity to Shibuya. I mean, once you see a photo of that huge pedestrian lane packed with people crossing, why would you not want to visit it? (plus that adorable Hachiko statue, of course) I didn't even visit Daikanyama 'till my recent trip. And I tell you, I loved it so much I had to go back twice!
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