TheWalkingDeng

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Universal Studios Singapore

September 18, 2013
Sentosa and Universal Studios Singapore

We arrived late in our hotel the night before and we started our day late again. Our first stop for this day was Universal Studios. Though we (Coeli and I) are not really fans of extreme rides, the moment that we entered USSg is really something worth while.

GETTING THERE (From Hotel 101 Geylang)
1. Walk to Kallang MRT.
2. Change trains in Outram Station to Harbourpoint Station.
3. Take bus RWS from Vivo City

GETTING TICKETS
We got our tickets online thru Asiatravel. We got our tickets at SGD 74 with SGD 10 meal coupon and free SGD 5 retail discount for every SGD 30 purchases in USSg store.

From the Vivo City Bus Drop off, make your way downstairs to the parking area. Asiatravel booth is located here where you will claim your actual tickets.

COVERING UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

A Map is required when you get inside, just as to cover properly the whole of Universal Studios. For the three of us, we decided to take this route: Left from the Main Avenue covering Hollywood, Madagascar, Far Far Away, Lost World, Ancient Egypt, Sci-fi City and New York.

One that would greet you in the entrance: Popcorn Truck!

Madagascar

Shrek and the Far Far Away

Lost World

Lost World rides. I didn't ride the Canopy flyer.

Treasure Hunter's ride before the Ancient World

Ra's kingdom at the Ancient World

More of Ra's statues

Revenge of the Mummy Ride. Amae tried this and she looked like a happy
little girl after. She even wanted a second time!

Sci-fi City: Battlestar Gallactica (Permanently closed), Transformers (not to miss)
and the dizzy Accelerator ride.

I have to take this roller coaster shot with Far, far away kingdom at the back.

Cookie Monster Cookie Truck!

Musical Theater

What not to miss:

Waterworld. Amazing! But be prepared
to be wet (especially when you are sitting in front).

More of Waterworld stunts. Fire and Water.

The Rockefellas aka The Streetboys.

WAAAH!!! Bumblebee. He is for real.
We are lucky we were able to take pics with him.

Marilyn Monroe (cute little lady) and Betty Boop.

Singers and Dancers. All time american.

We finished our USSg day at around 7pm and decided to walk back to Vivo City via Sentoso boardwalk.

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Crossing Borders from JB to Singapore

September 17, 2014
Crossing from Malaysia to Singapore

After our Legoland adventure, we were bound for Singapore on the same day. We went back to Larkin Bus Terminal and took CW1 bus to Johor Bahru checkpoint or the Malaysian Immigration.

The bus will drop you off the basement of the Malaysian Immigration building. Do not forget to bring your bag along with you since you will be transferring from one country na to another. Carry them with you as you will go to security checks on both borders.

No cameras allowed in the Immigration building so bear with me as I only document our border crossing by merely words. :)

After your Malaysian immigration clearance, walk your way to the basement again for your transfer to the Singaporean border. No worries, you do not have to pay the driver as long as you have your bus ticket (from Malaysia) with you.

Upon arrival to the Singapore Immigration building and passing through the IOs, make your way to the bus station and get on bus CW1, show your tickets if it will be checked and you're bound for the nearest MRT - Kranji Station.

Our Singapore hotel is located at Geylang Road, known to be the red light district in Singapore. It was a 10 minute walk from the station and you will pass by several restaurants and pub houses. Though we were all girls, we were able to walk safely to our hotel every night.

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Route to Johor Bahru and Legoland Malaysia

September 17, 2014
Our Last City in Malaysia

We are on our last leg of our Malaysian trip before we finally settle down in Singapore. :) Our day started a bit earlier than usual, since we have to be in the first bus bound for Johor Bahru. We arranged our service at our hostel's front desk for a pick up at 5:30 in the morning. After several minutes, we were back in Melaka Central Terminal and looked for a ticket booth that would bring us to Johor Bahru.

Travel time from Melaka to Johor Bahru is about 3 hours. We managed to be on the road a little after 8:00 (the first trip of De Lima bus). We were in Johor Bahru at 11 in the morning. Since our itinerary for the day is Legoland, we decided to leave our bags at JB Larkin Bus Terminal for a fee of SGD 4 for big luggages and SGD 2 for a bag.

ON ROUTE TO LEGOLAND

You just have to take Bus CW1 to Legoland which would take you directly to Legoland. Our initial plan is to visit Hello Kitty Town as well, but it is closed on Tuesdays. The bus will drop you off the Legoland Park and you just have to walk towards the entrances. Legoland is open from 10:00am to 5:30pm.

Legoland has lockers as well. But in very limited numbers.

LEGOLAND MALAYSIA

We didn't miss Legoland for this trip because we have been fans of Legos. And we would love to see the famous landmarks made up of Legos. Though the park is seemingly for kids, when you are kids at heart, why not?

After a quick visit to Legoland, since it was not yet complete during our trip, it just took us about 4 hours and we were bound for JB Larkin bus terminal, using the same bus, CW1 before 5 in the afternoon. Our last road transfer to Singapore.

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Walking Tour of Melaka

September 16, 2014
Melaka

After a tiring transfer from KL to Melaka (we arrived late the night before), we are ready with our day. Since our hotel is more like a homestay, we grabbed our breakfast at Voyage - a quirky, small vintage restaurant that makes you feel at home.

The weather during our visit is very much like what we have in summer in the Philippines. Scorching hot and very dry. Its maybe because it's near bodies of water. Anyway, we started our walking tour in Jonker Street. Amae wasn't able to join us for the night stroll the night before, so we decided that we stop first at what we were able to cover last night.

Museum 1

The Father of Body Builders in Malaysia

Cute bakery in Jonker

Beryl's House in Jonker

Our next stop was Melaka Sari. Since Melaka is just a small town, you can just walk around. After Jonker Street, we did make a left turn and made our way to Herren Street. There was a small museum and art center along Herren called Malaqa Museum where various Malaysian stuff and vintage items.

Malaqa (Malacca) House in Herren Street

Many cravings in Malaqa House

Native art and crafts in Malaqa House

Old Barber Chair and Antique Desk in Malaqa House

After a quick visit to the art center, we went along our stroll headed to several museums along Melaka river. One of the famous spot in Melaka is the waterwheel.

The Famous Melaka Waterwheel (still working)

A Fraction of the Old Melakan Fortress

Our next stops were Customs Museum and Marine and Navy Museum (with a huge ship replica in front of it). Here are some of the shots inside the museum.

Custom Museum houses some of the prohibited items in Malaysia.

The Custom Service

Some of the artworks - particularly those of female inspirations are covered
with fabric. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so these kind of art are strictly
prohibited.

We walked back to our hotel passing by another famous Melaka landmark - the Stadthuys or the Red Brick House. At the side of it, there is Melaka Museum for Youth and the Arts. Walking further down the road, you can see St. Francis Xavier Church.

The Stadthuys or the Red Brick House.

The Melaka River

Church of St. Francis Xavier

We had lunch at the famous Rice Ball House near Hard Rock. Mind you, this rice ball restaurant has a long line when we get there. About 50 meters when we get there, and a lot of people in line. :(

We went back to our hotel for a little rest since the sun was very terrible that time. We decided to go back by 5 in the afternoon. Melaka doesn't dim until 8:00 in the evening.

Our next stops were Fort de Santiago which was the center of the British government when Melaka was under them. The Independence Park is now the center of the Malaysian government in Melaka.