Typhoon Jebi Hits Japan

Typhoon Jebi

(Jebi means "swallow" in Korean)

WARNING to those who are in Japan right now, please be careful and stay safe, and for those who are planning or have already made bookings to Japan, I recommend you to cancel your trip because the Typhoon Jebi hits southern Japan very badly.

It is the worst, strongest and most terrifying typhoon that made landfall in mainland Japan in 25 years. 700 domestic and international flights have been cancelled. Several towns and cities issued compulsory evacuation orders by the authorities. Kansai International Airport is flooded.

The typhoon causing storm surges, lashing buildings with heavy rain and wind. So please stay close to the news to follow up on more updates.

CLICK HERE to watch the video of the typhoon on CNN.

Brazil's 200-year-old National Museum Destroyed In Fire

Image credit: BBC

I woke up this morning reading a very shocking news. The Natural History Museum or known as the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which was founded in 1818 was hit by massive fire on Sunday. A collection of more than 20 million artifacts of dinosaur bones, mummies, meteorites, insects, fossils, including a 12,000-year-old human skeleton of a woman, the oldest ever found in Americas.

I felt so sad that a national museum was destroyed in such unfortunate event. I was even planning to visit Brazil one day and I love to visit museums, and to know that the national museum is destroyed in fire is aching deep down my heart.

It is not only a loss to Brazil but it's a loss to all mankind when artifacts, fossils, and many other important valuable collection are destroyed as these items could never be replaced or bought again. The cause of fire and losses are not known yet at the moment.

Batu Caves Got A New Look

If you have never been to Batu Caves, then this is the time to visit with the brand new look of the colourful 272 steps stairs leading up to the top of the cave with a temple inside the cave. Let the photos do the talking...

Photo credit: Seenivasanrajoo

Photo credit: rojakdaily.com

For all the Instagrammers and professional/amateur photographers out there, this would be your new place to get those beautiful, colourful, vibrant shots for your profile.


HOW TO GET TO BATU CAVES

From KL Sentral, take the KTM Komuter Train towards Batu Caves. Batu Caves KTM Komuter Station is located on the left side of Batu Caves across the car park area. Upon arrival, just walk across the car park to get to the main entrance.

DRESS CODE

No short pants or skirts above knee-level is allowed as the temple is a holy, religious site for worshippers.


ADDITIONAL NOTES

There are wild monkeys romaing freely around the area and they can be aggressive. Do not try to play or tease them. Do not give them food as the whole bunch of monkeys will all come to you and follow you around.


UPDATE!!!

NO DIRECT KTM KOMUTER TRAIN OPERATIONS TO BATU CAVES STARTING FROM 3 FEBRUARY 2018.

STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO GET TO BATU CAVES FROM KL SENTRAL BY BUS & KTM KOMUTER

• Get to KL Sentral Railway Station 
• Get a FREE Shuttle Bus Ride to Sentul Station 
• Buy a ticket to ‘Batu Caves Station’ from the KTM Komuter Line 
• Look for the Sign ‘Batu Caves’ on the Platform 
• Batu Caves Station is the 4th Station from Sentul Station 
• Exit Batu Caves Station & find the Lord Murugan Statue

Are Travel Guidebooks Still Relevant?

I used to buy travel guidebooks whenever I am planning to visit a particular city or country but over the years, I have come to some realisations about researching and getting information about my travel planning.

For a starter, travel guidebooks are a good start-up point for those who are new or inexperienced in planning their itinerary. It has everything from what to see, where to stay and eat, and lots of information about each destination but it might be costly as you travel more and more as travel guidebooks don't come cheap!

After travelling to over 30 cities around the world, I have had enough experience when it comes to whether or not to buy more travel guidebooks to places I want to travel in future. For my first Europe trip, I brought three travel guidebooks with me as I was travelling across Germany, Austria, and Italy. The result? It was not only heavy and add weight to my backpack, I realised that I didn't really need to rely on the books when I'm actually there.

If I'm lost, I would just approach strangers to ask for directions. As for food, I would just eat wherever it's cheap (I'm a budger traveller). And for accommodation, I would search online at home before flying and booked the room, so I don't really need to use the guidebooks.

The only time I need to refer to the guidebooks is the city map but I soon realised that most cities around European countries would have free map for tourists and if you're staying in Airbnb homes, your host would probably give you free city map and subway/metro map.

Another factor I come to realise is that even though I have the guidebook of a particular country, I won't be reading the entire book from cover to cover because most of the time, I would only be interested in visiting one or two cities and I won't be reading about other cities from that guidebook, so I felt that it's kind of a waste if I purchase so many travel guidebooks only to read and refer about one or two cities, and remember that travel guidebooks are NOT cheap!

Other than that, I am also considering about the space, when it comes to put all those travel guidebooks I have collected over the years of my travelling. After I reached home from my travel, I won't be needing that guidebook anymore, so it's gonna be a "white elephant" on my bookshelf.

With the Internet, you can now search for anything online for free and look up the images/photos of the places you want to visit. I would search for travel blogs to read, google images on interesting places to visit and read about it to see if I'm interested to visit before adding it into my itinerary.

As for map, I am using Google Maps on my smartphone when I'm travelling to get to the places of attractions and also to get to the nearest subway/metro station and after I'm done sight-seeing, I would use it to get myself back to the hotel without wasting time trying to find your way in a foreign city.

Lastly, information on travel guidebooks may change such as the admission fee for museums, palaces, the food price, so don't trust what you read because once it's published, things can change and that is why most of the travel guidebooks publish a new edition every two years to keep up-to-date information. With the Internet, you would get the actual price if you visit the official website of the museum you are interested.

So, if you're planning to replace your travel guidebook when you travel, I recommend you to get connected to the Internet with your smartphone when you're travelling. Make sure your telco gets you connected or you could buy a SIM card when you're in that country, or purchase the pocket Wi-Fi device to get you connected everywhere you go.

In my recent travel, I didn't bring any travel guidebooks. All I brought was a notebook and a pen. Inside, I have written all the places I want to visit and its admission fee and I also researched on how to reach each place (which subway/metro to take, which station to stop, how much is the fare). All you got to do is do your homework months before you fly and write it all down in a notebook.

But if you still need your travel guidebooks, I can teach you a trick. Snap a pic of the pages from your travel guidebooks with your smartphone. With that, you can read about it from your phone and don't have to carry that heavy book around. Everything is in your phone.

In conclusion, I am going to stop buying travel guidebooks and just do my research online for my future trips. What about you?

Malaysians Entering EU Countries Need To Apply For Visa From 2021

Starting from 2021, Malaysian citizens who plan to visit Europe will need to apply for an ETIAS visa online. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) was created to improve the screening of travelers to the region. The system was designed by the EU to strengthen border control and to protect both Europeans living in the Schengen zone, and visitors traveling to it.

Up until 2021, Malaysians do not need to apply for a visa to enter Europe for trips up to 90 days, however, this will change starting from 2021 when this new immigration rule is implemented. Why is there a new visa rule, you ask? Well, the ETIAS is an effort to curb the recent terrorist attacks and uncontrolled migration flows in the EU.

The ETIAS will thoroughly check every application using various EU security databases like the Schengen Information System, the Entry/Exit System, Europol, and Interpol databases before approving an applicant. So, this will prevent any dangerous or unauthorized people from entering the EU.

Apart from Malaysia, this system only applies to 60 countries.

Is your country listed in this list?

Source:ETIAS Visa

HOW TO APPLY ETIAS VISA?

Applicant needs to have:

• a valid passport
• an email address (the approval or rejection of the visa status will be sent to this email you provided)
• a debit or credit card (to pay for the application fee which is estimated at 10 Euros which is roughly RM48) *applicants under the age of 18 do not need to pay the fee 

The ETIAS application requires applicant to complete the following details:

• full name
• date of birth
• country of residency
• home address
• contact information
• travel document information
• security questions (Inform authorities of any convictions for serious criminal offences. Examples: include terrorism, sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in human beings or drugs, murder and rape.)
• health-related questions

If your application is approved, you will receive an authorisation directly by email and in case of denial, you will receive an email explaining the reason for refusal so you will know why your application was rejected. Once approved, it is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance or until the expiry date of the passport, whichever comes first.

Currently there are 26 countries in Europe that will require an ETIAS Visa authorization as an added security measure.

If you're entering any of these country, you will need ETIAS Visa

NOTE: EU countries Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Cyprus and Irelandare not part of the Schengen Area and have their regulations regarding visa authorizations.

The ETIAS visa is a travel authorization for business or touristic purposes, and will not be a substitute for a student or working visa.

Any third country nationals who wish to live, study, work, or remain in Europe longer than 90 consecutive days, will have to apply for a different type of visa.


WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AFTER YOUR APPLICANT IS APPROVED?

1. Make sure you carry a printout of your ETIAS authorisation, even though it is linked to your passport.
Without the email printout, you might be denied boarding at the airport.

2. Do check the status of your ETIAS few days before your departure date as it can be revoked and annulled if the conditions for issuing it no longer apply.

3. If you're visiting multiple EU countries, you will have to pass through the first country you have stated in your application. For example, if you're planning to visit Portugal, Spain and France, and you have written in your application that the first country you will visit is France, then you must go through France before visiting Spain and Portugal.

The Pros and Cons of Travelling Alone

I like to travel on my own because I like the freedom to plan my own itinerary. I don't like being rushed by tour guides or having to quickly get onto the tour bus to rush to the next site. Therefore, I have been travelling alone ever since my first attempt at it.

No doubt, everything you do has its pros and cons but since the pros weigh more than the cons and I don't mind the cons at all, hence, I enjoy my holiday all by myself. I get to meet and talk to new people, other fellow solo travellers when I stay in a hostel in a shared room. It's a nice feeling to get to meet and know a little bit about the cities they come from and we would share our travel experiences and stories.

So, here's a list of pros and cons on travelling alone.

PROS:

1. You get to plan your own itinerary on where to go, what to see without worrying sacrificing  your wish just to accommodate others.
2. You can spend as long as you want at any place you like. You can sit and enjoy the nature in a park the whole afternoon, or you could visit all the museums the entire day without worrying having to see so little just because your friends don't like museums.
3. If you don't like a place, you can just walk out and go visit another place without having to wait for your friends if you're travelling with them in a group.
4. You have the freedom all to yourself on what to eat, where to eat without compromising just to get everyone else's approval.
5. You get to meet new people along the way, other solo travellers or a couple/family if you stay at places such as hostel or a shared room.
6. You learn more about yourself when you travel alone. It opens up not only your eyes but your mind too.
7. You will learn to be more alert and careful of the surrounding when you're alone in a foreign place.

CONS:

1. You may be paying more for your accommodation if you're staying alone because if two persons stay in a double bed room, the cost could be split because you're both sharing.
2. You have no dining companion and it could be difficult to get a table in a restaurant in which each table is normally cater for at least a couple rather than single diner.
3. You have no one to talk or discuss to about the sights you visit.
4. No one to take photos for you. All you could do is selfie if you're travelling alone.

Berlin Travel Guide

Brandenburg Gate

[Photo taken with my Huawei smartphone]

10 Fun Facts about Berlin

• Berlin has the largest train station in Europe. 
• Berlin is nine times bigger than Paris. Yup! That is why sometimes you feel you are the only one walking alone in the whole park/garden because it's so huge and spacious!
• Berlin is the only city in the world with three active opera houses. The auditoriums of the Berliner Staatsoper, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Komische Oper can play to a total of 4,411 audience members.On top of that, Berlin has over 150 theaters and halls for every type of event. 
• There are nine castles in Berlin. These include the Schloss Charlottenburg and the Köpenicker Schloss, as well as six former manors and mansions, which are also called Schlösschen (little castles) in common parlance. 
• The East Side Gallery is the longest open air gallery in the world and also has the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall at 1,316 km. The section showcases 100 murals that were painted by 118 artists from 21countries.
• Did you know that over 60 tons of kebab meat are eaten in Berlin every day? There are more kebab stores in Berlin than in Istanbul.
• Berlin has more bridges than Venice – around 1,700 of them. But because Berlin is huge and it's all spread out, the bridges are not as close as those you see around the tiny island of Venice. It is also said that Berlin has more waterways than Amsterdam, Stockholm and Venice combined!
• The Berlin Zoo is not only the most visited Zoo in Europe but also hosts 1,380 different animal species and over 18,662 animals. The Zoo is said to have the largest stock of animals in the world.
• With almost 200 museums, Berlin is said to have more museums than rainy days as according to the weather analysis data, Berlin has 106 rainy days per year.
• Street musicians are only allowed to play in 42 out of 173 underground stations for up to 1 hour or up to 15 minutes on pedestrian zones.

My Experience In Berlin

Berlin being the largest city and the capital city of Germany is actually a very multi-racial and world-class city. It has attracted so many foreign expats and tourists each year that only 1 in every 4 people in Berlin is a local. And if you're worried about language barrier, you can put your fear aside because people under the age of 40 can speak English although with heavy German accent.

Germans may seem unfriendly with that cold expressionless look on their face but they are actually very helpful and kind. I still remember the first day I was in Berlin, I had no small notes to buy the ticket at the ticket machine and when I ask a local who was buying his ticket next to me if he has any small notes to change with my big note, he just pull out his wallet and handed me some small notes without saying or asking anything. It was that trust and kindness that is shown by the people there.

On another incident, I was supposed to walk to a bus stop to take a bus to Dresden but I got lost. I approached a lady at a random bus stop and she took out her tablet to open the map and search for me the direction from where we're standing. She showed me the map and taught me how to get there. In order to get reassurance, she asked another lady who was also waiting at the bus stop. I was so touched by their kindness to help a lost tourist.

Initially, Berlin was not really at the top of my choice of city to visit in Germany because I prefer to visit old towns, seeing old castles, palaces, somewhere more towards the old German sights but I'm glad I didn't skip Berlin because Berlin is a city that shows you the past, the present, and the future.

If you like to know about the past, Berlin offers great, beautiful palaces, many big museums filled with historical stuff and paintings that you can never finished visiting. And if you like something futuristic, you can see lots of modern architecture and high-rise buildings and towers with unique and out-of-this-world design. In short, no matter which type of traveller you are, Berlin has something to offer for everyone.

Here are 10 places that I recommend for those who are visiting Berlin for the first time.

1. Brandenburg Gate
2. Humboldt University (Berlin's oldest university where Marx and Engels studied and the Brothers Grimm and Albert Einstein taught)
3. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (also known as Holocaust Memorial)
4. Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral; a majestic 1800s cathedral with an organ with 7,000 pipes, royal tombs and a dome for city view)
5. Tiergarten Park (the largesst and oldest park)
6. Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace, Baroque summer palace with huge garden and rooms filled with paintings, tapestries, and porcelain exhibits)
7. Gendarmenmarkt (It's a beautiful square with 3 promiment buildings; the Konzerthaus, Deutscher Dom, and Franzosischer Dom)
8. Pergamon Museum (if you only have time for one museum, this is the one!)
9. Zoologischer Garten Berlin (The Berlin Zoological Garden is the oldest and best-known zoo in Germany. Opened in 1844 it covers 35 hectares and is located in Berlin's Tiergarten)
10. Galeries Lafayette (a futuristic looking shopping mall with glass funnel that reflects light like mutated hologram designed by architect Jean Nouvel. This mall offers food with high quality and good brands of clothing and other merchandise products)

REMINDER: Please check online or the official website for the opening and closing time, admission fee for palace/museum you wish to visit.

Is Paris Really That Romantic and Classy?

First of all, the media (TV, movies, books) and advertising marketing really has done a great job in portraying Paris as the most romantic city in the world. No wonder it ranks as the top tourist destination.

But is Paris truly as what you see and hear from the media? Have you heard the term "Paris Syndrome"? It is a transient mental disorder in describing an extreme cultural shock to some tourists that Paris is absolutely nothing like what they expected it to be.

Here's the truth, not everyone smells like Chanel No.5, not everyone dressed like they walked off a ccatwalk on the street, and not all the places are clean.

Even the Parisians complain about their own city, so what do you as a foreign tourist expect the city to be like with millions of tourists flocking to the capital of France? Paris, just like any other city in the world, has its share of homeless people sleeping on the street or park, pickpockets in tourist spots, people trying to scam you with roses, hand bracelet in exchange of some money from you.

The metro and buses are old and dirty, not every metro station is new, most of the tunnels are dark, unlit with lights, some with graffiti on the walls and inside the train. When I was there, I have experienced metro breakdown, smoke coming out resulting in sudden stop and all passengers have to step out to the platform, the labour union strike making no train available, and many more.

These are the things that you will only experience first-hand if you're there. Honestly, every city in the world has its beauty and ugly side to it, so my advice is, don't go to Paris expecting it to be all romantic and classy or you'll be disappointed when the truth hits you.

Paris has many beautiful historical architecture, great food, huge park for you to walk and relax, and the locals that I met are very helpful whenever I'm lost asking for direction. On the first day after reaching the city centre from the airport, the metro that I was supposed to take to my hostel was not running so I had to take a bus but I didn't know where's the bus stop and what bus number to take. A local woman took me to the bus stop and told me to wait for bus number 31 and my destination is the 4th stop.

It was so kind of her and I'm so grateful and thankful for her help. So, like I said, there are always both sides to everything in this world. If you're planning to visit Paris, just go with an open mind and enjoy every moment with a positive mindset.

Countries That Malaysian Do Not Need Visa To Visit

In a news article published by The Star on January 2018, Malaysian passport ranked the 4th most powerful in Asia and no. 12 in the world according to The Henley Passport Index which allows Malaysians to travel to 166 countries visa-free.


LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT MALAYSIANS MAY VISIT VISA-FREE

1. Albania
2. Algeria
3. Andorra*
4. Anguilla
5. Antigua/Barbuda
6. Argentina
7. Austria
8. Bahamas
9. Bangladesh (visa on arrival, fee USD 51)
10. Barbados
11. Belarus
12. Belgium
13. Belize
14. Bermuda
15. Bolivia (visa on arrival)
16. Bosnia-Herzegovina/Sarajevo
17. Bostwana
18. Brazil
19. British Virgin Islands
20. Brunei
21. Bulgaria
22. Cambodia
23. Cape Verde (visa on arrival)
24. Cayman Islands
25. Chile*
26. Colombia
27. Comoros (visa on arrival)
28. Cook Island*
29. Costa Rica
30. Croatia
31. Cuba
32. Curacao
33. Cyprus
34. Czech Republic
35. Denmark
36. Dominica
37. Dominican Republic
38. Ecuador*
39. Egypt*
40. El Savador
41. Estonia
42. Faroe Islands
43. Fiji
44. Finland
45. France
46. French Guiana
47. Gambia
48. Georgia
49. Germany
50. Gibraltar
51. Greece
52. Grenada
53. Guatemala
54. Guam
55. Guinea-Bissau (visa on arrival)
56. Guyana
57. Haiti
58. Honduras
59. Hong Kong
60. Hungary
61. Iceland
62. Indonesia
63. Iran
64. Ireland
65. Isle of Man
66. Italy (Official Visit requires visa)
67. Jamaica
68. Japan
69. Jersey
70. Kazakhstan
71. Kenya*
72. Kiribati
73. Kish Island
74. Kosovo
75. Kuwait (visa on arrival, fee KWD 3)
76. Kyrgystan
77. Laos
78. Latvia
79. Lebanon (visa on arrival, must NOT have Israeli visa or stamp in the passport)
80. Leeman Islands
81. Lesotho
82. Liechtenstein
83. Lithuania
84. Luxembourg
85. Macau
86. Macedonia
87. Madagascar (visa on arrival, must have return/onward ticket)
88. Malawi
89. Maldives (visa on arrival, must have hotel reservation)
90. Malta
91. Marshall Islands (visa on arrival)
92. Mauritania (visa on arrival)
93. Mauritius
94. Mexico
95. Micronesia
96. Moldova
97. Monaco
98. Mongolia
99. Montenegro
100. Morocco
101. Montserrat
102. Mozambique (visa on arrival, must have onward ticket)
103. Namibia
104. Nauru
105. Nepal (visa on arrival, fee USD 15)
106. Netherlands
107. New Zealand
108. Nicaragua
109. Niue*
110. Norfolk Island*
111. N. Mariana Islands*
112. Norway
113. Palestine
114. Palau (visa on arrival)
115. Papua New Guinea (visa on arrival, must arrive through Port Moresby (POM) or Rabau (RAB) airports)
116. Peru
117. Philippines
118. Poland
119. Portugal
120. Qatar
121. Romania
122. Rwanda (visa on arrival)
123. Samoa* (Entry Permit on arrival)
124. San Marino
125. Senegal*
126. Seychelles (Visitor's Permit on arrival)
127. Singapore
128. Slovakia
129. Slovenia
130. Solomon Islands
131. Somalia* (visa on arrival)
132. South Africa 
133. South Korea
134. Spain
135. Sri Lanka (visa on arrival)
136. St. Kitts-Nevis
137. St. Lucia (visa on arrival)
138. St. Vincent & Grenainnes
139. Sudan* (visa on arrival)
140. Surinam
141. Swaziland
142. Sweden
143. Switzerland
144. Taiwan
145. Tanzania*
146. Thailand
147. Timor-Leste (visa on arrival)
148. Togo* (visa on arrival)
149. Tonga (visa on arrival)
150. Trinidad & Tobago
151. Tunisia
152. Turkey
153. Tuvalu (visa on arrival)
154. Uganda* (visa on arrival, e-visa may be obtained online before departure)
155. Ukraine (visa on arrival, Visa on arrival for business or tourism purposes is available at Kyiv Boryspil Airport, Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) and Odessa International Airport)
156. United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) (visa on arrival)
157. United Kingdom
158. Uruguay
159. Uzbekistan
160. Vanuatu
161. Vatican City
162. Venezuela
163. Vietnam
164. Yemen (visa on arrival)
165. Zambia*
166. Zimbabwe

*COUNTRIES CLASSIFIED UNDER YELLOW FEVER INFECTED/ENDEMIC

REMINDER: The countries listed here are correct at the time of publication. You are encouraged to check again with the embassy of the country you want to visit to know if you need to apply for a visa to enter prior to departure.

How Much Is Food and Public Transport in Europe?

Since I just came back from my Europe trip, I can share the price of food and public transport fares with you. The price in RM is based on the currency exchange rate of €1.00 = RM4.765


FOOD

• Pasta: range from €7.50 -- €18 / RM35.80 -- RM85.80 (depending on the whether it's a small shop by the corner or a fancy restaurant in the city centre)
• Sandwich at supermarket: €2.30 -- €5.30 / RM11 -- RM25.30 (depending on if it's a ham sandwich, tuna sandwich, chicken and egg sandwich, etc.)
• A bottle of mineral water (1.5L): €0.62 -- €2.00 / RM 2.95 -- RM9.53 (depending on which brand you're buying)
• A can of Coke (300ml): €1.50 / RM7.15

REMINDER: Always remember to bring along your own bag or reusable/recycle bag when you buy groceries or food in supermarket because they charge you around €0.15 / RM0.71 for one plastic bag.

Metro/Subway ticket is valid for one hour on that day only. If you're taking the metro to go back to your hotel after one hour from your first purchase, you have to buy another ticket.

• Paris: €1.90 / RM 9.05
• Brussels: €2.10 / RM10
• Amsterdam: €3.00 / RM14.30
• Milan: €1.50 / RM7.15
• Express train from Paris CDG Airport to city centre: €10.30 / RM49.08
• Express train from city centre Amsterdam Centraal station to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: €5.30 / RM25.25
• Express train from city centre to Milan Malpensa Airport: €13.00 / RM62

REMINDER: All tickets in every city need to be validated. Some are validated by the ticket machine when you purchase it, in other cities, you have to validate the ticket by touching the sensor in the metro, tram, or bus and others are validated when you insert the ticket into the gate barrier to get through it.

In Amsterdam, the public transport there is going towards a cashless movement where you cannot buy tickets inside the bus or tram anymore. You cannot buy when you board the bus, tram, metro. You MUST buy from a ticket machine or at the ticket counter in advance and ticket machines DO NOT ACCEPT CASH. The machine only accepts coins, credit/debit card. So, it's safe to bring along your credit card and please make sure it can be used overseas without your bank blocking the transactions.

My Expenses and Hostel Reviews From My Recent Europe Trip

Hello everyone!

I'm back from my Europe trip. This is actually my second trip to Europe. The first one was in year 2015 where I travelled to 8 cities: Berlin--Dresden--Munich--Vienna--Venice--Florence--Rome--Vatican City.

This time, I went to 4 cities: Paris--Brussels--Amsterdam--Milan. I took a flight by Oman Air from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle) airport. After spending 3 nights in Paris, I took a bus (Flixbus) to Brussels and from there, I took another bus from Brussels to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam, I took a budget flight (Vueling Airlines) to Milan and lastly, from Milan, I took Thai Airways back to Kuala Lumpur.

In total, I spent 10 days for this trip, from June 11th to 20th, and if you're interested to know how much I've spent, look no further as I will break it down for you below.

Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Paris: RM 1,562
Bus from Paris to Brussels: RM 64.25
Bus from Brussels to Amsterdam: RM 54.47
Flight from Amsterdam to Milan: RM 225.08
Flight from Milan to Kuala Lumpur: RM 1,691.48

*Please note that prices varies according to the time you book the flight/bus tickets and the amount depends on the currency exchange rate.

Now comes the accommodation part......

Paris, France
Le Montclair Montmartre by Hiphoshostels
Address: 62, Rue Ramey, 18th arr., Paris, 75018, France
Contact no: +33146064607
Price: RM 357.89 (€74.43) €67.66 1 bed in 6-bed Mixed Dormitory + 10% VAT €6.77
*PAY €0.88 City Tax per night is excluded (€2.64 for 3 nights)
Website: Booking.com
Total for 3 nights: RM 370.50


Brussels, Belgium
ES Hostel
Address: Square de l’Aviation 22, Brussels 1070
Contact no: +3225270130
Price: €36 (RM 167) 1 bed in 3 twin bed bunk male only dormitory
*PAY AT THE HOTEL City tax: €8.48 for 2 nights
Website: Hotels.com
Total for 2 nights: RM 211.95 (€44.48)


Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hostel Centraal 
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 19, Amsterdam-Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1018 S2
Price: 1st night: €65, 2nd night: €25.50, City Tax €5.43 = €95.93 (€65 paid by credit card = RM 306.50) remaining €30.93 paid by cash at the hostel 1 bed in 30-bed dormitory
Website: Agoda
Total for 2 nights: RM 453.88 (€95.93)


Milan, Italy
Babila Hostel
Address: via Conservatorio 2a, City Center, Milan, Italy 20122
Price: RM 285.90 (RM 130 per night) City Tax: €4 (RM 19.06)
Breakfast included
Website: Agoda
Total for 2 nights: RM 304.96


EXPENSES 
Total for 3 flights: RM 3,478.56
Total of 2 Flixbus: RM 118.72
Total of 4 accommodations: RM 1,341.29
Food/Public Transport: €198.62 (RM 946.42)
GRAND TOTAL: RM 5,885


Most of my friends thought I would have spent at least 10k for this trip. Let's face it, when you talk about travelling around Europe countries, one would have expected to at least spend 10k but like I always tell my friends and relatives, that's one of the reasons why I prefer to plan and travel on my own.

Who would have thought you could visit 4 cities under 6k? Well, for one, I don't eat at those tourist areas, I don't go for fine dining restaurants. I eat cheap and don't splurge on shopping. I'm not those shopping type of traveller. I'm more into seeing how the life of the local people there, visit old historical architecture such as palaces, castles, cathedrals, churches, and some museums.

Now let's talk about what I think of each of the hostels I stayed. Let's start with Le Montclair Montmartre in Paris.

Room size: Small

Number of beds: 3 bunk-beds which can accommodate 6 people.

Level of noise: Quite noisy whenever people walking fast or running upstairs, you could hear it and when they talk, you could hear it too, so it's not a quiet place to sleep if you're a light sleeper. But for the cheap price, that's what you get. Every room in Paris is small for budget stay.

Reception: The staff was helpful and polite and speaks English well. They will try to help you in every possible way to make sure you're comfortable with everything.

Amenities: There is no bathroom or toilet inside the room. The whole building must share a common shower room and toilet which there are only 2 very tiny shower stalls, 3 very small toilets, and 2 sinks. There is a kitchen for anyone to use. You can even cook meals there but you have to buy your own groceries from a supermarket. They provide electric kettle, tableware: plates, bowls, cups, glasses, cutlery (forks and spoons), and even pans, and pots for you to cook.

Would I stay there again or recommend you? Err... if you're just for 1 or 2 nights, I think it's fine but if you're spending more nights than that, I don't recommend because although it is very near to a metro subway station but it's not an ideal place for a long stay. For me, I don't mind going back if the price is cheaper than other hostels.


Let's move on to the hostel in Brussels, Belgium.

Room size: A normal standard hotel room

Number of beds: 4 single beds

Level of noise: Quiet. Very nice.

Reception: The staff doesn't look friendly or warmth because he doesn't smile and doesn't try to engage in a conversation with guests but he's not arrogant or what. Just doesn't seem easy to approach.

Amenities: There is a big bathroom inside the room but on the downside, the bathroom door has no lock, but that's fine because they will arrange all male guests to stay in the same room and female guests in another room. The bathroom is very clean. I am impressed. On the downside, there is no kitchen area for guests to use. So you cannot cook or even boil hot water to have a cup of tea/coffee. The lobby area is very classy, elegant, and you don't expect to see such design and furniture in a hostel. It definitely looks more like a hotel than a hostel.

Would I stay there again or recommend you? Yes. Although the room has not much space for you to walk around after putting 4 beds but it is quiet, clean, with a bathroom inside the room and the overall feel is nice. I would definitely stay there again if I ever go back there.


Next is the hostel in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Room size: Big

Number of beds: 15 bunk-beds which can accommodate 30 people. Yes! All 30 beds in one huge hall and you feel like you're an immigrant sleeping with other immigrants in a locked up area. Hahaha! The bed is very small and you may fall off if you're those who turn around a lot when you sleep.

Level of noise: Can be noisy if you have noisy guests who talk and laugh so loud with no consideration of other guests who sleep early. All males and females in the same room.

Reception: Quite friendly. I suspect they're originally from Arab country or Middle-East because they speak in Arabic among themselves. The young guy was very kind and helpful although they don't talk much to the guests.

Amenities: There are 2 shower stalls, 2 toilets, and 2 sinks in the same room but in another partition, away from all the 30 beds.

Would I stay there again or recommend you? Definitely NO! It is noisy, bed too small, too many people in one room, and it's not cheap!


Lastly, the hostel in Milan, Italy.

Room size: Normal queen size hotel room

Number of beds: 4 bunk-beds which can accommodate 8 people.

Level of noise: Quiet.

Reception: Very helpful and friendly. I couldn't connect to the free Wi-Fi so the girl used my phone to connect to their private internet line so that I can get online. It was so thoughtful and kind of her to do that.

Amenities: There is a nice middle size bathroom with 2 shower stalls, 1 toilet, and 2 sinks. Breakfast buffet was included in the price when I book. The breakfast spread were mini croissants, some very delicious jam type of pies, toasts, butter, cheese, cold cut meats, fresh tomato juice, orange juice, milk, cereal, granola, coffee and tea. This hostel has a chef which you can order dinner from their menu and dine in the dining area next to the lobby. There is bar and a kitchen on the 3rd floor for you to use. When you arrive for check-in, you're given a key to your own locker in the room and a coupon for you to get a free drink at the bar (wine or beer).

Would I stay there again or recommend you? Yes. It's nice although it's 10 mins walk from the nearest metro station but it's easy to locate if you use Google Maps for direction.


Overall, I like the hostels in Brussels and Milan. It's comfortable, clean, quiet, great vibes, friendly staff and good amenities for the guests.

Airbnb in Japan Removes Many Listings Ahead of New Rental Law

More than 62,000 apartments, homes, and rooms were pulled out from Airbnb on Monday in response to Japan government's new law that requires all vacation rentals owners to apply for a registration number from the federal or local government.

The Japanese Hotels and Inns Act, a law that has been on the books since 1947 to home rentals, and were scheduled to take affect on June 15. Airbnb team has confirmed that, "Any reservation scheduled for guest arrival between June 15 and June 19 at a listing in Japan that does not currently have a license has been canceled." If you are booking a place that is still available on Airbnb in Japan, you have to make sure to contact your host and get their governmental license number to confirm.

The new law limits owners to rent up to 180 days only per year. At some places such as Kyoto, owners are restricted to rent out their homes during off-peak season, and at other places, some of the homes are not permitted to rent out to foreign tourists for the safety of local children who are on their way to school.

"Unfortunately, the Japanese government issued a sudden announcement on June 1 instructing any host without a license number to cancel upcoming reservations that were booked before June 15—even though many of these hosts are actively engaged in the registration process or awaiting their license," Airbnb said in a statement. "This announcement came as a surprise to us. It was contrary to the guidance our team had previously been given by the Japanese Tourism Agency (JTA) and put the travel experiences of thousands of visitors to Japan at risk."

Some tourists were quite disappointed for not being able to stay in a real neighbourhood as they would like to experience the life of a local by going out to a local cafe for morning coffee, buying groceries at nearby supermarket. The feeling of staying in a local's home and staying in a hotel is not the same.

Have you booked an Airbnb in Japan? Make sure you contact your host and ask for his/her registration number to ensure his/her home is approved by the government for rental or you could be staying illegally.

My Booking Got Cancelled

I received an email at 6:30pm today from the website I booked my hotel for my upcoming Europe trip, and according to the content, I was informed that my booking cannot be honoured due to the hotel closure situation.

My first reaction was like... WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Why is this happening to me? Why now? Why so last minute? I'm flying next week and now you're telling me this? What do they mean by hotel closure? Why is the hotel closed all of a sudden? What is happening? How can they just close the hotel? What will happen to all the other guests? If you know you're going to close the hotel, then you shouldn't have allow anyone to book your hotel in the first place, right?

The customer support agent gave me two options; ONE, they can book a room from another hotel for me at no extra cost but the alternative hotel is 4km away from my original hotel, OR OPTION TWO, I can decline the option one and get a full refund.

My decision? I decided to take the option two where I ask them to cancel my booking to get my full refund because I do not want to stay so far away from the city centre. I quickly went online to book another hotel on my own which is nearer to the city centre. Although it's a bit more expensive than the inital booking but I'm glad I found a place in such a short time before my flight.

Have you ever met with such incident before?

How CouchSurfing Doesn't Work For Me

The following article is written based on my personal experience with using CouchSurfing.


I was introduced by a friend to try out CouchSurfing but after trying to request for a local to host me at his place, all my requests were declined. There are several factors that contribute to my failure in getting a place to stay.

1. Most of the hosts cannot answer me if they could host me or not because they told me it's too early for them to know. I am a person who prefers to plan and book everything in advance before my travelling date because I do not like to do things last minute.
2. Some hosts asked me to ask them again two weeks before my arrival to check if they could host me at their place or not but that would be quite stressful for me. I mean, what if they told me at the very last minute that they couldn't host me and I'm left with no place to sleep. That would mean I am left with two weeks to find another host.
3. One of the hosts asked how come I do not have references in my profile. References are reviews written by hosts whom have hosted you at their place or guests whom have stayed at your place. I told the host that I'm new at this and therefore, I have not stayed in anyone's place before and no one has stayed at mine. That is why there is no references in my profile yet. I mean, everyone starts from zero, right?

And so, that is why I didn't get anyone who are willing to offer me a place to stay at their place. Giving up at CouchSurfing, I decided to just get my own accommodation at budget hostel which is near to the places I want to visit. 

This time, I'll be visiting 4 cities around Europe. In year 2015, I have visited 8 cities namely; Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Vatican City. Which are the 4 cities I'm going to visit this time? Stay tuned for my next post!

Travel Packing List

If you're a budget backpacker/traveller and do not wish to carry so much in your backpack, here's a list of things for you to check. You can cross out those which doesn't apply to you.

• Passport
• Print-outs of flight tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, confirmation email from the hotels / AirBnb
• Credit cards (remember to inform your bank the country you're going)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste (bring the small tube)
• Facial wash
• Shampoo
• Soap (for body wash, some prefer to bring shower gel)
• Small towel (because it's easier to dry and lightweight)
• 4 T-shirts (the 1st one to wear, 2nd one for the next day, 3rd one is for spare and the 4th one in case the one you wash doesn't dry the next day)
• 4 pairs of underwear
• 4 pair of socks
• One pair of jeans (usually it's the one I'm wearing on board)
• One pair of shorts
• Sleepwear (some like to sleep in pyjamas, or an old T-shirt, so bring whatever you prefer)
• Sweater / Jacket (in case the weather is cold)
• Hand gloves / mittens (if you're travelling during winter)
• 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of sandals (shoes for walking out sight-seeing and sandals for walking to the nearby convenience store)
• Smartphone
• Phone charger
• Universal adapter for the charger
• Power bank (for your phone)
• Money belt (to carry your cash and to be worn inside your shirt, not outside)
• Medicines (if you need)
• Contact lens casing & contact lens solution (for those who are wearing contact lens)

Now the following items are optional depending on the needs of individuals:

• Deodorant / Cologne / Perfume 
• Map (if you need one)
• Travel guidebook (like those from Lonely Planet)
• Camera (if you're an avid photographer, either an amateur or a professional one)
• Small blanket (I do bring one to cover myself when I sleep because in some countries, the temperature may drop very low at night)
• Cutlery set (some prefer to use their own fork and spoon when they travel)

CouchSurfing

Have you tried using the CouchSurfing when you travel?

For those who do not know what it is, let me explain briefly what's a CouchSurfing is all about. I'm sure most of you have already know about AirBnb, right? Well, CouchSurfing is almost like AirBnb but without payment.

Yes! You heard me right. No payment. No charges. It's like a local offering you a place to sleep at their home but there are a lot of differences from AirBnb. In CouchSurfing, you will be staying together with the host or the host's family in the same house. As for AirBnb, most of the time, you could rent a private room or the entire house/apartment to yourself but in CouchSurfing, you will stay with the host under the same roof.

A major difference is in CouchSurfing, you may not get a private room for your stay. The host is allowed to offer you anything from just a couch in the living room, or an air mattress in the same room as the host. Now you know why it's free of charge. Although some may offer you a private room with a proper bed, but most of the hosts I checked are only offering a couch in the living room or asking you to sleep on an air mattress.

Another factor that I do not feel comfortable and safe with CouchSurfing is that many of the hosts do not show the photos of the place or sleeping area for you (the guest/traveller) and so, you do not know what you're getting until you reach their house on your first day. Some don't even specify in the description section on whether you are sleeping on a couch or there is a proper bed for you. Well, if you're not fussy and adaptable to any situations and environment, then it won't be a problem but for me, I have to at least know if I will be sleeping on a couch or on an air mattress.

Speaking of sleeping, some hosts do specify that you have to share the bed with him, meaning that you will be sleeping on the same bed with the host. Err... I don't really feel comfortable doing that. I don't mind sleeping on a couch but it's a big no to share a bed with a stranger.

I have read quite a lot of good references by travellers about their hosts whom cook breakfast or dinner and share the food with them while others will take the effort to bring you to some good restaurants for dinner. Apart from the good hosts, there is a huge shocking part in some hosts in which they specify that they are nudist and they expect you to be naked too when you stay in their home.  I have read one whom he requests traveller to sleep naked on the same bed with him even though he mentioned it's not a sexual intention.

I'm actually in the midst of looking for accommodation for my upcoming trip but up till today, I have yet to receive good news because most of the hosts declined to my request as some said it's too early for them to know if they would be around at that time and others said they won't be around as they are going somewhere too.

On the last note, most of the hosts do not provide you with the key to their house and they specify that you leave the same time as they go to work in the morning and you're only allowed to come home after they have reached home from work. So, this is another disadvantage compared to AirBnb where you will have a set of keys to the premise.

If I still fail to get a host, I will have to resort to book AirBnb. So, what do you think of CouchSurfing? Would you try? For those who have tried, let me know how was your experience in the comment.

New Tax For Travellers Departing Japan From 2019

Starting from 7 January 2019, all travellers departing from Japan by ship or plane will have to pay a 1,000 yen (RM36) departure tax named as the "Sayonara Tax", (What a cute name, though!). This tax applies to both Japanese and foreign travellers. However, children under the age of two and transit passengers leaving Japan within 24 hours of arrival will be exempted.

The tax is a part of an effort to raise 40 million yen annually in tourism sector. Japan's Parliament, or the Diet, enacted on Wednesday (April 11) a Bill to introduce the departure tax which will be charged at the time the travellers buy air or sea tickets.

The revenue generated will be used to improve on tourism infrastructure, promote travel destinations of rural parts of Japan, technology advancements such as the facial recognition at airport gates, electronic payment options, free Wi-Fi on public transportations, and to fund global tourism campaigns

Japan attracted a record of 28.69 million tourists in 2017, 19.3% increase from the previous year. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to increase that figure to 40 million by 2020, when Tokyo will be hosting the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to 60 million by 2030.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), travellers from Singapore made around 400,000 trips to Japan last year. China and South Korea are the top two tourist sources for Japan, each accounting for around 25% of the total number of visits last year.

Within Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Osaka Prefectural Government charge a lodging tax of 100 to 300 yen per person per night respectively to finance local tourism promotion and other measures. Kyoto plans to follow suit from October this year.

Some critics fear the new tax could dampen the travel appetites of budget tourists but Japan is not the first country to charge a departure tax on travellers. What do you think? Would you visit Japan lesser after this?

An Open Letter To Mikey Bustos

Dear Mikey,

After watching most of your videos on YouTube for some time, I thought I should let you know how I felt. Don't worry, everything's good. I first got to know you from your parody music video of Meghan Trainor's "No" singing about the general characteristics of a Filipino. Your cover of that song was so funny that I re-watch it so many times. The way you spell out "F to the I-L-I-P-I-N-O" was so cool, creative and catchy too. And I thought to myself, "this guy is so funny and is good at singing too".

So, it's from that video that I first got to know you, and from there, I started to notice your other videos until recently, I was hooked on your daily vlogs especially those you travelled to Japan, Korea, Cambodia visiting the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, your Canada Tour, and of course, Malaysia, my home country.

It was such a joy to watch how you enjoy the food in Malaysia and I'm glad you like it. Malaysia is a multi-racial country with so many different ethnics and races, one could never get bored or run out of food to explore with so many varieties of food out there. I always anticipate to watch your vlog regardless of where you travel as I know it would be fun and exciting and learning new things about the place you visit.

I just want to let you know that I find you humble, down-to-earth, funny, and creative. Oh, there's one more thing. I have never seen anyone so into ants like you do. Hahaha. I guess you're the first person I came across whom is so knowledgable and passionate about ants. Before I end my letter, here's wishing you nothing but the best in everything you do. May all your dreams come true!


Your new fan from Malaysia,
Calvin

Food You Must Try In Malaysia

Here are some of the food you must try if you're visiting Malaysia. Please note that the price stated here is just an average price as it may differ from one area to another area. And another reminder is that some of the food listed in this article is non-halal.

NASI LEMAK

If you're in Malaysia, you have to try nasi lemak which is claimed to be the national dish of Malaysia. Nasi lemak is a fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf and served with sambal, hard-boiled egg, anchovies, fried peanuts, slices of cucumber. Locals usually eat nasi lemak as breakfast. Price: RM6. 

CHICKEN RICE

The best version of chicken rice is the Hainanese chicken rice or the Ipoh chicken rice which you could hardly get the authentic ones anymore around KL but if you have a local friend, he/she might be able to take you to a good one. RM6.50 to RM7 at ordinary coffeeshop/hawker. If you eat chicken rice in restaurant situated inside a shopping mall, it might costs RM10 or more.

ROTI CANAI

This is the cheapest and tasty breakfast you can have in Malaysia. It's only RM1 and you can get this at any mamak stall or mamak restaurant. There are many versions of roti canai: roti telur (with egg around like an omelette), roti planta (made with butter), roti bawang (sliced of onions inside), roti pisang (slices of banana inside), and many more. Other versions of roti canai costs RM2 to RM3.

WANTAN MEE

(Non-halal)

There are two versions of wantan mee; dry and soup. The photo above is the dry version with some gravy. You can choose the thickness of noodles from thin to thick. It is served with charsiew (barbequed pork). Price: RM6.50-RM7

PORK BALL NOODLES

(Non-halal)

A noodle dish served with pork balls, pork sausages, and minced pork at the side. You can choose the type of noodles or mix between two different noodles like shown in the photo above. RM5.50-RM6

YUET KWONG HOR

(Non-halal)

Stir-fry kway teow served with raw egg. You can get this at Chinese coffeeshop. Price: RM7

RAMLY BURGER

It may look unappetizing but trust me, it tastes so good that you will get addicted to it. You can choose from chicken burger, beef burger, single or double patty, with or without egg. You can only get this at night by the roadside because this burger stall will be parked at random roadside only known to the locals around the housing area. It's hard to see one if you're in the city center. RM5-RM6

BAK KUT TEH

(Non-halal)

This is a pork rib dish cooked in a herbal soup broth served with rice. The locals usually order this for 2 pax or more but you can also order it for yourself. Just remember to tell the seller it's for one person. Price: RM11-RM15 depending on area.

CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE

You may wonder what's with Malaysian with chicken rice, eh? Hahaha... yes, we love chicken and we love rice, hence, this is another version of chicken rice but cooked in a claypot but the difference between the Hainanese chicken rice and claypot chicken rice is that the latter is cooked with Chinese sausage, spring onions, Chinese wine, and salted fish (optional). Price: RM7

CURRY LAKSA

This is a spicy noodles, usually the yellow noodles and beehoon (rice vermicelli) in a broth cooked with coconut milk, curry powder/paste served with variety of toppings such as raw cockles, shredded chicken, shrimps, fried tofu, and bean sprouts with sambal chilli and a slice of lime.

ASAM LAKSA

This is a spicy and sourish dish with lime and a spoon of shrimp paste which you have to mix it with the broth. The noodles used in asam laksa is different from those in curry laksa, curry mee.

ROJAK

Rojak in Malay means "mixture". It is a traditional fruits and vegetables salad mixed together with a thick sweet-savoury dressing and lots of grinded peanuts on top. There are two different types of rojak in KL, the Chinese rojak and the mamak rojak. The Chinese rojak is usually fruits, while the mamak rojak uses fried dough fritters, prawn fritters, hard-boiled egg, shredded cucumber and shredded yam bean drenched in thick and sweet peanut sauce. 

CHAR KWAY TEOW

(Non-halal) *But you can find halal version in shopping malls

This is one of the Penang's pride! You will know the difference in taste if you try it both in Penang and in KL. If you ask me which is the best, you have to go to Penang for sure. You will see some KL sellers use the Penang Char Kway Teow sign as their business sign but not all char kway teow in KL is good but you still get a decent ones. Price: RM6-RM7

SATAY

Satay is like a skewer food, or meat on a stick which is barbequed. You may choose the meat from chicken, beef, mutton. It is served with peanut sauce with slices of cucumbers and red onions on the side. Price: RM1.80 -- RM2 per stick.

Onsen Etiquette In Japan

1. When you enter the onsen (bath house), pay the admission fee at the counter and you will get a key to your locker.
2. Put all your stuff including your shoes and clothes in the locker and lock it. Yes, you have to completely undress and be naked to enter the onsen. No bathing suit, swimwear, or sandals allowed inside the onsen. Usually, the key has a wrist-band that can be worn around your wrist.
3. You will be given one large towel and one small towel (some onsen charge for the towel). The large towel is to dry your body and should be left in the changing room together with your clothes. You can only bring the small towel into the bathing area.
4. Once you're inside the onsen area, you must first bathe and clean yourself before stepping inside the pool. There will be a small stool for you to sit in front of a shower hose. Use the soap to lather your whole body and rinse it off with the shower. You can also wash your face and hair. If you have long hair, remember to wear a hairband or wrap it with the towel. 
5. After you have cleaned yourself, you may now walk to the pool and enjoy the onsen. Remember that you should put the small towel on top of your head. 
6. NEVER immerse or dip your head/face into the water of the onsen. NEVER wash the small towel into the water. In fact, towel is not allowed to touch the water.
7. DO NOT swim or dive in the onsen. It is only used for soaking your body.
8. After leaving the bath, wipe off excess water and sweat from your body as much as possible with the towel before entering the locker room to get your clothes.
9. Remember to walk slowly as the floor is wet and slippery.
10. No food or drinks are allowed inside the onsen. 

Washing yourself before entering the onsen

Kyoto Trip: Day 3 Itinerary

Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)

Admission: 500 yen
Opening Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (9:00 to 16:30 from December to February). No closing days.

How To Get There: Take the bus number 5, 17 or 100 from Kyoto Station in about 35-40 minutes and for 230 yen one way. Alternatively, you can reach Ginkakuji by foot along the Philosopher's Path from Nanzenji in about 30-45 minutes.

Shimogamo Shrine

Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:30 to 18:00 (summer), 6:30 to 17:00 (winter). No closing days.

How To Get There: Take the bus number 7 or 203 and stop at the Demachi-Yanagi Station, then walk for 15 minutes from Demachi-Yanagi Station to the shrine. Alternatively, Kyoto City Bus number 4 bound for Kamigamojinja-mae can be taken from the station to Shimogamojinja-mae bus stop (5 minutes, 230 yen) directly beside the shrine.

The Kamo Shrines, Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, are both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are two of the most important and oldest shrines in Kyoto.

Kamigamo Shrine

Admission: FREE
Opening Hours: 5:30 to 17:00. No closing days.

How To Get There: Can be reached in 30 minutes from Demachi-Yanagi Station or Shimogamo Shrine by Kyoto City Bus number 4 (230 yen). Get off at the last stop, Kamigamojinja-mae. Alternatively, the shrine can be reached in a 15 minute walk from Kitayama Station on the Karasuma Subway Line.

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)

Admission: 400 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00. No closing days.

How To Get There: Kinkakuji can be accessed from Kyoto Station by direct Kyoto City Bus number 101 or 205 in about 40 minutes and for 230 yen. Alternatively, it can be faster and more reliable to take the Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station (15 minutes, 260 yen) and take a taxi (10 minutes, 1000-1200 yen) or bus (10 minutes, 230 yen, bus numbers 101, 102, 204 or 205) from there to Kinkakuji.



Below is a map of the places of attractions in Kyoto.

Kyoto Trip: Day 1 & Day 2 Itinerary

DAY 1: Flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Osaka-Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Flight: Air Asia
Depart: 15 October 2018, Monday
Time: 08:00 (KUL) -- 15:25 (KIX) 6 hours 25 mins
Price: RM549

Return: 19 October 2018, Friday
Time: 16:40 (KIX) -- 22:25 (KUL) 6 hours 45 mins
Price: RM445.40

Total air fare: RM994.40
*price checked on 17 March 2018, Saturday. Please note that price may change without prior notice by the airline.

Once you have reached the Kansai International Airport and got your luggage cleared from the custom, you can head to the Tourist Information Counter to buy your Kansai Thru Pass.


HOW TO GET TO KYOTO FROM KANSAI AIRPORT

BUS: At Kansai Airport you can board buses at bus stop 8 on the first floor of Terminal 1, and bus stop 1 at Terminal 2. Ticket windows are open by these bus stops at which you can buy tickets. Tickets cannot be reserved and boarding is on a first-come first-served basis. The Kansai Airport website has maps for the bus stops at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

The fare between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport is 2,550 yen (RM 94) for adults and 1,280 yen (RM 47.20) for children and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The earliest departure from Kansai Airport is at 6.05 am from Terminal 2, and 6.20 from Terminal 1. The latest departure from Kansai Airport is at 23.40 from Terminal 2, and 23.55 from Terminal 1. It reaches Kyoto Station at 1.20 am.


TRAIN: The Limited Express Haruka operated by JR West is the only rail service between Kyoto Station and Kansai International Airport. It covers the distance in about 75 minutes stopping at Osaka City’s Shin-Osaka Station and Tennoji Station on the way. It does not stop at Osaka Station.

At Kyoto Station the Haruka departs mainly from platform 30, though some early trains depart from platforms 6 and 7. At Kansai Airport Station the Haruka departs from platform 4.

The Limited Express Haruka runs about 30 round trips between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport Station every day. The earliest Haruka service from Kyoto Station is at 5.46 am getting into Kansai Airport Station at 7.11. The latest Haruka service from Kyoto Station is at 20.15 getting into Kansai Airport at 21.43. The earliest Haruka service from Kansai Airport is at 6.30 am (6.40 on weekends and holidays) and the latest is at 22.16.

This train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass you might consider getting the “ICOCA & HARUKA” discount set of an “ICOCA” prepaid rail card with a reduced-fare ticket for the Limited Express Haruka. The ICOCA card can be used on a lot of the railways and buses in the Kansai area. You can find out more about it at the official JR West website. The normal fare for the journey between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport Station is 2,850 yen (RM 106).


DAY 2: Sight-seeing

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (April to August) 9:00 to 16:30 (September and March) 9:00 to 16:00 (October to February) Admission ends 40 minutes before closure.

Closed Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), December 28 to January 4, occasional closures when the palace is used for some events

How To Get There: From Kyoto Station along the Karasuma Subway Line and get off at Marutamachi Station or Imadegawa Station. Subway fare: 270 Yen

Heian Jingu

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 6:00 to 17:30 (closing time varies seasonally by half an hour)

How To Get There: You can walk 30 mins from Kyoto Imperial Palace OR take the Bus No.17 (only 2 stops away approximately 27 mins), after you alight at the bus stop, walk another 15 mins (1.3km) to Heian Jingu.

Yasaka Jinja

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: Everyday, 24 hours. No closing days.

How To Get There: You can walk from Heian Jingu to Yasaka Jinja OR take Bus No.203 towards 錦林車庫前行 and stop at 祇園 , and walk for another 2 min (160m) to Yasaka Shrine. 

Nanzenji

Admission: 500 yen

Opening Hours: 8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December to February)

Last admission: 20 minutes before closing time.

How To Get There: Walk to Higashiyama Station and take the Tozai Line towards Rokujizo and stop at Keage Station. Then, walk for another 8 mins (700m) to Nanzenji Temple.

Nishiki Market

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: Varies by store, typically 9:00 to 18:00

How To Get There: From Keage Station, take the Tozai Line towards Kyoto Shiyakusho-Mae and stop at that Kyoto Shiyakusho-Mae station and walk for another 12 mins (1.0km)