Quick Numbers
Travelers: 3 (Misha, Urooba, and Muzzammil)
Duration: 3 weeks (February 28, 2011 to March 20, 2011)
Countries Visited: 4 (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka)
Cities Visited: 7 (Singapore, Bali, Cameron Highlands, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Pinnewala)
Airlines Traveled: 2 (Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Asia)
I planned this itinerary for our family trip to South East Asia in February-March 2010. The trip had been planned from our hometown, i.e. Karachi.
We chose Sri Lankan Airlines as it was not only the cheapest option but was also giving us the liberty to land into Singapore and then fly out of Kuala Lumpur with almost the same price if compared to a simple return ticket to either of these cities. All Sri Lankan Airlines go through Colombo so we took the stopover in Sri Lanka also for a small addition in the fair. We bought the ticket from a local travel agent.
Rather than going directly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, we put Bali in between and booked the economical Air Asia through the internet for Singapore-Bali and Bali-Kuala Lumpur.
This way we managed to visit four countries in three weeks without breaking our pockets!
Here goes the Itinerary of this happening trip:
Transit stay in Sri Lanka due to change in flight schedule. A horrible experience!
The flight was via Kuala Lumpur so reached SG late afternoon rather than in the morning as was initially planned and started using the Metro, or the MRT, right away to get out of the airport. In Singapore, we stayed with a friend Jeffery in the Woodlands neighborhood, far from the city center but authentic and peaceful. Dinner around Ang Mo Kio food court with friends Khalid and Hadi.
Following Wikitravel’s Day 2 Morning Walk we first visited Chinatown where we mainly saw Sri Mariamman Temple (Entry free, Camera fee: SG 3) and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Entry free). Had late lunch at a Hostelworld.com recommended eatery, Yum Cha. In the second half we took the monorail (Return ticket SG 3) to the Sentosa Island to watch the beachside laser light show Song of the Sea (Entry SG 10). Dinner at Vivo City food court.
In the morning, we visited the Central Business District following the Wikitravel’s Singapore Day 1 Evening Walk with some modifications to see the city’s skyline. Also hit the only Casino in Singapore (Passports required for free entry) then walked around and made some snaps including one with the Merlion. Heavy pouring started on our way back home to packup for the next destination and then reached airport just in time. Reached Bali past midnight; it was raining there too but that’s pretty routine in these tropical islands. Forgot to pick our luggage so had to return back from one way doors with the Police help! In Bali, we stayed in Villa Purnama (an upgraded version of Dana Guesthouse) which we booked through the Hostelworld.com (USD 35 per double room including reasonable breakfast and internet).
It was the New Year evening in Bali as per the local lunar calendar so we attended the world’s famous Ogoh-Ogoh parade with local friends. It was quite an experience; the entire island was on the streets with extra large size monsters. The crazy evening continued around the midnight. Dinenr at a local eatery with friends. In Bali we used the motorbike which was part of the guesthouse deal!
Balinese celebrate the New Year by keeping silent to keep the island free from the evil spirits for the next year. So nothing much to do that day except for replenishing the sleep quota.
We biked around the island along the West coast and traversed around all the way to its Southern end. First we took some solar energy at the tranquil Jimbaran beach then headed to the Uluwatu temple in the South to watch the traditional Kecak Kecak dance and fire show around the Sunset (Motorbike Parking Fee IDR 1000, Monkey Forest Entry Fee 3000, Kecak Kecak ticket 70000). Dinner at Madinah Restaurant.
Did water sports at Nasa Dua which we booked from one of the promotion leaflets we picked from the airport (USD 20 for the Jetski, Banana Boat, Pick and Drop, and light lunch). Roamed around Kuta in the evening and had dinner with Hassan, a local friend, and his wife.
This time we headed North to the cultural town of Ubud for Spa, Massage, and some shopping (One hour traditional spa IDR 150000, Massage only 100000)
First took the early morning flight to Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT where we took the direct Yoyo bus to Ipoh rather than going to the city center which is 70km away from the airport (LCCT to Ipoh RM 43, Bali airport transfer USD 10, Bali airport departure tax IDR 150000). Then hailed a taxi to the other bus station (RM 15) before boarding on the Cameron Highlands bus (RM 17). In total, it was 15 hours on the road and in the air! For Cameron Highlands, I booked KRS Pines through Hostelworld.com (RM 70 per double room ensuite without any frills).
Did Trek # 4 which till Parit Falls without a guide. Had Naan and Paratha from the main market after a long time.
Booked a countryside tour with CS Travels, one of the many CH tour operators, which included visit to the BOH Tea Farms, Rose Center, Strawberry farms, Butterfly and Insects Garden, Sam Poh Temple, and pick and drop from the hotel (Tour RM 25, Rose Center Entry RM 5, Butterfly Garden Entry RM 5). Gave a try to do it ourselves but quit the idea because of the transportation uncertainties and lack of time.
Attended a local Malay wedding at Mardi before having the hot and savory Steamboat in the evening from Rosette (RM 38 for two persons)
Took the early bus to Penang (RM 34) to reach the island in the afternoon where we first shopped around for a place to stay. Finally found the Red Inn Heritage off Lebuh Chulia for our satisfaction (RM 50 per double room with breakfast); a good deal indeed as the hotel was under final renovation and yet to start officially. Had Chiken Tikka at an Indian eatery around sunset to make up for both the lunch and the dinner. We used the Red Bus there to reach places where we could not reach by foot.
Mostly walked around to appreciate what the island is famous for, i.e. the cultural and religious diversity: we saw Kuan Yin Teng (or the Goddess of Mercy Temple, a Hokkien temple), Aceh mosque, Cheah Kongsi (a Chinese clan house), Wat Chayamangkalaram (a Thai temple which hosts world’s largest reclining Buddha), and the Burmese Temple then spent some pennies in the Prangin Mall and had a lot of street food!
Before leaving Penang we met a group of students from the US and had random discussions especially with the group leader who had already visited Pakistan and then took the bus from the Prangine Mall to the KL Sentral (RM 35). From Sentral took the local train, or the LRT, to Wangsa Maju where we would stay with our friend Umair. Visited the famous Petrnoas Twin Towers in the evening.
Visited the mammoth Mid Valley Shopping Mall with a local friend Nasser and had local food before doing some shopping. Afterwards we headed to Bukit Bintang for more shopping!
Another full day of traveling; in the morning made it to the out-of-KL-airport just in the last second and then reached out-of-Colombo airport in the morning again as we gained some time (KL Sentral to airport bus RM 9). After reaching Sri Lanka back, first took the free shuttle to the nearest town to catch the city bound bus. Reached the city center Pettah around afternoon and tried to catch public bus to reach to Dharshana’s place in Pita Kotte. Finally we had to negotiate with a Tuk-Tuk as no bus was stopping for us, because of the luggage. The Tul-Tuk driver overcharged (LKR 900) citing long route and a couple of enroute stops to buy the mobile SIM (Dialogue LKR 250) and food.
Visited the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage as a Day Trip from Colombo. Took the bus from near the Fort Station (LKR 200) which dropped us at the Pinnewala junction at Colombo-Kandy road where we took Tuk Tuk to reach to the destination. The Tuk Tuk driver tried to rip us off by first taking first to the wrong and expensive place but fortunately we smelled that and then reached to the Orphanage. The Elephant Orphanage proved to be one of the best experiences of our trip, a must do in my opinion (Entry LKR 500 for SAARC nationals, 2000 for others, 500 for the video camera).
March 19, 2011: Colombo (the Cricket World Cup)
Watched Pakistan playing with Australia in the Cricket World Cup fixture and winning at Premadassa Cricket Stadium.
March 20, 2011: Colombo – Karachi
Booked the metered Tuk Tuk for the airport transfer (LKR 1500) to catch the morning flight. Back home around the evening!
