Songket Restaurant

According to its website, Songket is a hand-woven fabric in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with gold or silver threads that stand out against a background cloth to create a shimmering effect. For authentic Malay flavours, Songket is your restaurant-to-go. Everything is served with that shimmering effect as the name suggests, all too flavorful!

Table adorned with songket



While waiting for our order, here is La Familia Zaragosa photo peg.

Bahay Kubo in Malaysia...

Apart from the enjoyable dinner, please don't mention about the foods. There's nothing I can say to justify the foods, everything's delectable and  of course spicy. Diners will also be treated to a cultural show performed every 7PM. 

We were also surprised to see a group of Koreans set-up their cameras, and Mr. John, the owner approached us to say some shooting will happen for The Running Man  (which I have no idea!  Lols.)  

I personally enjoyed to witness Malay culture although for a brief moment through music and dance. A table laden of good foods, dance and music, good conversations all between a songket. Such a remarkable night. This is Malaysia in my mind,  I keep falling in love with this lovely country.

Happiness & love,

itsmelory (^.^)

Alive Museum @ Genting Highlands

Part of our tour includes free ticket to Genting Highlands, Alive Museum. Actually, the entrance is a small door within the The Ripley's Believe it or not area.

The Ripleys Believe it or Not

Welcome to the Alive Museum

That awkward pose.

Big catch!

Ahem, reminiscing my K-dream.

I'm so lucky! Thank you fortune cookie.

Happiness & love,
itsmelory (^.^)

Genting Highlands

Genting Highland known as Genting Highlands Resort is a 35 km drive from Kuala Lumpur. An integrated resort comprising of hotels, shopping malls located at the peak of Mount Ulu Kali at 1,800 meters high nestled between the states of Pahang and Selangor.

Genting Highland is a popular weekend getaway from the city being mainly connected by major highways, trunk roads and cable cars service and is accessible by car within an hour drive from KL , or accessible by two different cable cars, Genting Skyway which at its opening was the world's fastest and South East Asia's longest gondola lift, and the newer Awana Skyway.

Awana Skyway

Launched 2016, the new Awana Skyway system can carry up to 3,600 passengers per hour with 10 passengers per gondola at maximum speed of 6 ms/s  (21.6 km/h), the 2.8-kilometre journey up the mountain peak takes about 10 minutes. 

On our way to the gondola...

The cable car system is 3.38 km to the Skyway and is recognized as the World's Fastest Mono Cable Car System" with a maximum speed of 21.6 kilometres per hour (13.4 mph) and the "Longest Cable Car in Malaysia and probably in Southeast Asia. 

Such a smooth ride, and lucky we have a nice fair weather.  Genting Highlands has a spring-like climate, with yearly temperatures no higher than 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely falling below 14 °C (57 °F) yearly. 

Ate Ann's nice pose wondering what time we shall take off.

Trying to copy Ate Ann's  I wonder pose.. which was badly done.

That ended in a terrible laugh. Epic fail talaga.

Approaching..

Shopping starts.

And this is where we had lunch. Another buffet in another day! 

Good luck to me :)

Happiness and love,
itsmelory (^.^)

Batu Caves

Batu Caves is a popular attraction in Selangor which is approximately 13 km North of Kuala Lumpur. Batu or similar to our dialect- means stone cave. It's main attraction is the large statue of Hindu deity of war and victory , commander of the Gods- Lord Murugan and beside it, a 272-step-stairway to lead you to the main cave. If you've been to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and climbed the 252 steps on top, then it should be easy peasy.

The statue of Lord Murugan is famous for Pilgrims. 
It's hard not to notice that people going to the top are on bare feet, 
carrying kadivas or offering as their penitential act.

And whew! finally, reached the top

Graceful defined is when you manage to look cool, not a streak of hair out place, no sweat after reaching your goal no matter how small even a 272-step-stairway. But truth of the matter is it's so difficult,  and esp. you'll find it hard to breath in elevation! 

When the will is strong, everything is achievable. Sometimes you have to climb up high to get an excellent view of everything you've been missing below. Ok, #hugots101. Indian deity Gods is so interesting to know, I'm thankful for all the Bollywood movies I've watched with matching full production song and dance numbers! But coming to Batu Caves, I can't help but be awed by people's faith, it was indeed a good stopover!

Happiness & love,
itsmelory (^.^)

The Central Market & Old Town Coffee

Malaysia's central market has been classified heritage site by the government. From a simple wet market it was converted into a souvenir shop by 1980's. This flea market offers wide selection of local products like batik, coffee, handicrafts, all kinds of souvenir- at a very cheap price!  Everything on sale.

Old Town Coffee

Malaysia's famous coffee shop with its traditional Ipoh setting and ambiance, we couldn't miss it!  Ipoh "white" is a popular coffee drink from Ipoh Perak, made by roasting the beans with palm oil and served with condensed milk! To be honest, I am a black coffee drinker but for the love of  culture, I'm on the go! 

Warm and comforting treat after all the walking!

Happiness & love,

itsmelory (^.^)

Istana Negara & KL City Gallery

Translated as National Palace, Istana Negara is the official residence of Malaysia's monarch. The first time I learned that Malaysia has a monarch! Malaysia has Yang di-Pertuan Agong as head of the State.

Quick history from Wikipedia: after the world war the conference of Rulers (made of 9 Sultans of the Malay state) have established a cycle of reign based on seniority and each of the 9 Sultans can hold the position as King up to 5 years. By seniority, Ibrahim, Sultan of Johor was first in line but declined due to old age, next in line Abu Bakar Pahang, Sultan of Pahang was however rejected 5 times. 

The most striking head of state was  Abdul Halim of Kedah, first Sultan from 1970-1975 at the age of 43, and then his 2nd term between 2011-2016, the only and first Yang di Pertuan Agong to have hold the position twice!

Shades mode on, all gold and yellow for the Royalty. 

Ang saya-saya sa Malaysia 

  To KL City Gallery

Next we went to City Gallery, a tourist information boutique and souvenir shop for a quick walking tour. In here, you'll get a good insight of the past, present and future of Malaysia. Old photos of KL from being a tin manufacturing town, during the world war and after the take over of UK and looking forward to the future.  It is the ideal "starting point" to your KL tour, so please expect crowd and long lines!

Yes, feeling like Hercules on this side of the shop!


Colorful street pillar reminiscent of Indian culture, ever vibrant and colorful!
Ok, maybe the next country to go to? Hmm.

Across the KL Gallery is the former National Parliament Center

 


Can you guess what's in the background?

But of course, Kuala Lumpur itself, the muddy point where 2 rivers meet! 

So that ends our city tour. We went next to Saisaki Restaurant for some sushi and maki(s)! Time to recharge not only the phones but the body and spirit before another series of walking tour, and (shopping maybe!)

Happiness & love,
itsmelory (^.^)

The Petronas Towers

Selamat pagi KL! Another day in the lovely Malaysia. I feel so blessed to be waking up on a bed so comfy, and a buffet for breaky. Such grace!  By 9AM, we are gathered at the lobby for our City Tour to visit KL's most iconic landmark- The Petronas! Known as the Petronas Twin Towers, it  is the tallest building from 1998-2004, and to date, still remains the tallest twin towers in the world.

Sorry for the blur photo, I haggled for a lens for MY15.

You get what you pay for. Lols

Standing in a height of 451m, Petronas Towers is an 88-floor tower which was inaugurated 1999. During design phase, the government specified the building must be completed within 6 years therefore 2 construction companies were hired in order to meet the deadline; the Tower 1 by the Japanese Hazama Corporation and Tower 2 by the South Korean Samsung C&T Corporation. Imagine that when each floor is completed, a flag of the construction country is raised, a friendly competition on the race to finish the first tallest twin tower!

Nady & Lory

Located at the base of the tower is Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur's upscale mall.
According to our guide, they have an underwater aquarium and science center but we did not get that far since we're only there for a quick toilet break. Haha.

Happiness & love,
itsmelory (^.^)

That Carl-Ritz moment

So after our Putrajaya tour and snaps were done, time to find our home away from home in KL. We were supposed to check in at Marriot Hotel, but some sort of miscom. between the agency so we were left with no rooms daw! Everyone's a bit tensed like seriously, where to stay? Finally before we could finish the jar of refreshments they've prepared we were told the only available rooms are from their adjacent hotel which is Ritz Carlton- this tour proves to be full of surprises, how does one say no? Insta-upgrade!  

Carried our luggage to the next hotel passing luxurious boutiques to Ritz Carlton. Checked in and finally, freshen up for our next program- another stomach development program. But first, let me tour you around this plush hotel. 

Welcome to  Carl-Ritz KL

The Ritz-Carlton is a luxurious residence in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle District, a 5-minute walk from Pavilion Mall and other nearby malls.

Happy to be sharing the room with May! It's easy to go around her, like I just met her today and yet, I almost know her all my life! She is very friendly and very open about her life story, love story and who knows what more in the coming days, hmm. 

Probably my (most) favorite brand- of all the toiletries I collected from traveling.  

Every night, fruits and brownies. Such a sweet gesture!

And a nice poem too.

I like this area, reminds me of a-mini-round-about accented with sharp lines,
white paints, and soft lights. I always take my kunwari-lakad pose, here like everyday! 

  Dinner @ Muzeum Palace

So after we have completely settled in and freshened up, we walked to Muzeum Palace for our Chinese dinner. The place reminds me of my favorite Emerald Garden in Roxas Boulevard, traditional Lazy Suzy table with “old smelling” table cloth (its just me), amber lighting which makes me sleepy, and that strong carpet smell which is really disturbing! We asked the waiter what's the weird smell and she said, they recently washed the floor rugs, so probably the reason for that smell. Anyway, we "tried" to enjoy the food but it was just so-s0 esp. with the smell!  The stir- fried vegetables and shrimp was well okay though!

Looks yum, don't you think?

So after dinner, and when the chismisan session was over, we went back to our hotel so we could rest for another loaded schedule for tomorrow. I'm just excited for the days to come, but for tonight, beauty rest mode on! Thank you Lord!

Happiness & love,

itsmelory (^.^)