I came across this a while ago via BuzzFeed. I thought there were some useful tips on here, so I wanted to share it with my fellow travelers!
The things I do (and find very helpful!) that are in this video:
-Rolling my clothes to save space
-Stuffing my socks and underwear in my shoes
-Putting necklaces in a straw
Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it's commonly referred to, is the capital of the country of Malaysia. On our way back to the States from the Philippines a few weeks ago, J and I did a 4-day trip here. After being there for only a few hours, we instantly fell in love with this city!
KL, or even Malaysia in general, is comprised of three main groups: the native Malay, Chinese and Indian. And you can see these influences, whether individually or mixed, all throughout the city-- from the food, to the architecture, to the people. It's a pretty clean city for being so big. There is a lot to do and it's a backpacker's heaven-- good eats for cheap and loads of affordable hostels (we stayed at Birdnest Guest House, located just a few yards from Chinatown. Great backpacker hostel, good vibes, friendly people, and the cheapest we saw in KL!). For those who aren't the backpacker type, it's still a great place to go as there are a wide-range of accommodations and restaurants to fit what you're looking for. One thing I really found awesome about KL is their transportation system. It's one of the most efficient I've seen. There are train systems and buses that can take you just about anywhere all for a very good price (an average train ride for one person is about $1USD or sometimes even less!).
Malaysia is full of history and culture. KL is a perfect place to explore it all. Here are just a few (of many!) places/sites we visited that are worth checking out:
Kampung Baru- this was our favorite place to go. We went here every night-- whether it was for food, or just hookah and a drink. Travel guides we saw say to visit this place on Saturdays, but even on other days it was great. You can find what seems like an endless amount of places to eat some amazing (and cheap!) Malay cuisine. It's easy to get to. We noticed how we were the only foreigners around-- so we knew it was a good place because it was mostly locals! Read more about Kampung Baru here.
Our first meal in Malaysia- nasi lemak from Kampung Baru
Hookah time at Kampung Baru-- with a view of the Petronas Towers in the background
Islamic Arts Museum- a beautiful place, both inside and out. I actually learned a lot about the Islamic world and it really opened my eyes & mind. It's definitely worth the few bucks to check this place out (and the nice air-con is an added bonus-- especially after walking around in the hot Malaysian sun!)
Batu Caves- This place was really awesome. It's a Hindu shrine made of caves and cave temples. You walk up 272 steps and there's monkeys everywhere! The temples/architecture/shrine are really beautiful. But for us, the main attraction were the monkeys. Batu Caves are a must-do when in KL, especially since there's a train (only 2Rm, which is less than $1USD one way!) that goes directly to it. And once you get there, going up the steps and walking around the caves is free.
FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia) - If you're a nature lover and want to get away from the city hustle and bustle, FRIM is the perfect place to go. It's about 13km away from KL, but you can easily get there by train and then taxi. It's a very well-kept, beautiful area where you can go hiking, have a picnic and walk on the canopy walkway for some amazing views. We really enjoyed FRIM. (Click here for more info)
Yes- I am indeed wearing a fanny pack. I'm bringing fanny packs back with class! =)
A traditional Malay house that uses no nails.
KL was one of my most favorite cities I've been to. It's clean, safe, affordable, there's a lot to do, food is amazing, and people are friendly. We hope to go back to Malaysia again and stay longer and explore more cities!
And if you haven't seen our Hungry Backpacker episode for KL, check it out here:
I saw this on The Washington Post and wanted to share it for my fellow travelers out there who haven't seen it yet. I found it to be quite interesting:
"A surprising map of the countries that are most and least welcoming to foreigners"
The only way to truly get a feel for what Filipino food is like is to try it, but for those of you who haven't had the opportunity yet, I'll do my best to describe the basics. Like in most Asian countries, rice is the staple food, so almost every meal will consist of steamed white rice and some type of meat dish. Filipinos love meat. Even the vegetables have meat! If you're a vegetarian (especially if you're vegan), good luck; you'll have a hard time finding dishes that let you stick to your diet.
Like the Filipino people themselves, Filipino cuisine is influenced by an eclectic mix of primarily Chinese, Malay, and Spanish heritage, and if you're familiar with food from other parts of Southeast Asia, you may find a number of similarities. The Chinese influence, for example, is especially apparent in various noodle dishes.
This list is by no means complete. The cuisine of the Philippines is as diverse as its people (did you know over 170 languages are spoken in the Philippines?). I just want to present you with a few of the most common Filipino entrees, side dishes, and desserts. If you ever have the good fortune of being invited to a Filipino party or traveling in the Philippines, this guide will (hopefully) come in handy, either in knowing what it is you're chowing down on (are you really ready for the pork innards with blood sauce?), or just to impress some Filipinos with your knowledge of their culture.
My husband and I didn't have to file income tax this
year because we didn't make enough money. In fact, we haven't made
enough money to file taxes in a few years. And still we manage to
travel. A lot. In the past six years, we've been to the
Philippines, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Spain, Ireland,
Portugal, Mexico, Palau, and Thailand. People often ask how we're
able to travel so much, so we put our heads together and came up with
some things that make our gypsy lifestyle possible—a few tips for
anyone who is looking to do a little vagabonding. Jason wrote some
of these and I wrote others, in case the narration gets confusing.
Most of these tips have to do with either saving up for a trip in
advance or staying thrifty while you're on the road. Not all of
these tips will be practical for everyone, but they work for us and a
lot of people we know.
Tiger Balm. Sounds like a crazy, Charlie Sheen-esqe type thing, right? It's actually pretty awesome, useful stuff, especially to travelers susceptible to mosquito bites.
In 2009, J and spent a week in Thailand. While there, I got tore up by mosquitoes (I mean, anywhere I go, I get tore up by those little suckers). I had no anti-itch stuff, so we went to this little store looking for something. I remember seeing Tiger Balm at the local Asian market in my hometown in California, but never paid no mind to it. But I saw it on the shelf in this tiny Thai store next to some other medicine-type stuff, so I picked it up to check it out. And right on the back of the jar, it said that it helps with the relief of insect bites. It only cost a few Baht, so I got it-- and I've been loving it ever since. I take it everywhere I go when I travel.
If you've heard about the Philippines,
it's highly probable you've also heard of Boracay. Boracay is world
famous for its pristine beaches. Tourists flock here by the hundreds,
even thousands. You'll find people from all over the world here. Some
foreigners love it so much, they stay.
We had the opportunity
to take a trip there for a few days to meet up with some friends from
the States. The first day we got there, we just hung out because we
got in in the afternoon. We ate dinner at Tilapia N Chips, located at
D'Mall. They had really good fish and chips, and the pieces of fish
were BIG. We stayed at a place called Culpepper Lodge in Station 2,
which was just a 2 minute walk to the beach. They had pretty nice
rooms, our bed was HUGE and the price was within our budget
(1,000php).
Caramoan is the name of a peninsula in the south-eastern area of Luzon island in the Bicol region of the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the main towns on the peninsula. Along the coast of Caramoan, there are many beautiful islands you can explore. The beaches are nice, white sand beaches and the water is crystal clear-- it's paradise! You can hire local boatmen to take you island hopping for a full day for cheap.
If you're planning a trip to the Philippines, Caramoan is a must-do! Largely due to the reality TV show Survivor having filmed here, it's currently gaining popularity as a tourist destination and people are saying that it could become the next Boracay. My husband and I decided to make a 3day/2night trip for our wedding anniversary. It was an amazing experience and incredibly beautiful. I highly recommend a trip to Caramoan to everybody-- from those who just like to lounge around on the beach to the more adventurous types who like to snorkel and climb rocks.
Jason and I are backpackers. When we travel, all we have are our large "backpacker" backpacks. And the only accommodations we seek are hostels. This is for a number of reasons. Here are a few:
1. They're cheap! I think the most we've ever paid to stay at a hostel was 15 Euros in Dublin and the cheapest was $6 in Bocas Del Toro, Panama.
2. The vibe is much more our style. .. and our style is chill and laid-back. Most hostels have many common areas and/or activities in which you can interact not with just the staff, but with other like-minded travelers.
