Since the hotel is literally smack in the center of the city, exploring is as simple as going out and walking into any direction. Kuala Lumpur is really great to explore on foot. The shopping center is just a few minutes away and on the way there there's a lot of eateries and street food that we just had to try. We stopped by Ain Arabia  or Arab street which  is packed full of Arabian restaurants and shops. To top it all off, it seemed like they were having a food fair that day. The street was shut off from motor traffic and hawker stalls were up on both sides, with people selling different kinds of food from kebabs to samosas and the popias. Of course, I had to try whatever I could. It was also fun, asking how much for one piece and paying by myself. There's something different about being in another country and holding a piece of currency in your hand that is totally unfamiliar. But the food was great! I tried their version of the taho, the samosas, and a few multicolored desserts. After having the ultimate Malay fare nasi lemak for breakfast, trying out a few of their delicious street food was a great way to carry on with the day. 

My latest visit to CDO was spontaneous, unexpected, and very short, so I wanted to get the most of my trip. Fortunately, JP was game enough to cater to my whimsies. I wanted to walk everywhere, see museums and visit all the places that were just a few rides away from the city (I'm saving river rafting for a longer trip!). On my second and last day I wanted to go to see a museum or two, but since it was a Monday and the schools looked pretty busy and crowded, we went nature tripping instead. 

JP took me to Malasag, but this time we veered off the road that leads to the Ecopark and headed straight up to Mapawa, where another nature and conservation park was located. The road up reminded me of Baguio and soon enough I began to see pine trees in the fog. I could also see the city from where we were. Since it was still early in the morning we didn't see too many motorists so the ride up was peaceful and quiet. A few meters away from the park the road got muddy and slippery so I had to get off the motorcycle and make my way on foot (my poor, poor shoes!)... believe me, walking in muddy clay is not anyone's idea of a fun time with nature, especially if you are wearing flats. We got to the gate, paid the fee and proceeded down. The road looked even scarier since it was downhill, so much so that after a few steps we decided to turn back and take our chances somewhere else instead. The guide at the gate seemed sorry to see us go without seeing the park, so he told us that we can head to the viewing deck where we can have an amazing view of the park and their reforestation project instead.

I'm glad the guide recommended that we spend a few minutes here because the view was absolutely gorgeous. Stone steps lead up a small hill and over that you will see another set of steps leading down to an observation deck, where you can get an unobstructed 360 degree view of the park. So OK, we were perhaps the most unadventurous nature-seekers that anyone would have seen on that day, but we saw what we came there for nonetheless. Of course, I would want to visit the park itself but perhaps when the roads are all fixed or when I'm wearing better shoes ;) 

The boyfriend and I went for a short weekend in Coron last week. It was two days of swimming and taking walks in an unfamiliar town, and for a few days after that I felt like I was in a Coron hangover, the trip being so much fun and all. I didn't expect Coron to be what it was, it was the right mix of small town (or barrio, take your pick) and a small city... it reminded me a lot of the town in Boracay, with its narrow streets flanked by restaurants that had foreign tourists for the majority of its patrons, and the distinct energy that you only feel in small resort towns in the Philippines. 

And the food! Man, I could stay a week there and just sample the food. Fresh seafood, cashew that's boiled or peeled or sugared, plus Italian, Korean, Japanese, and virtually any kind of food that you can think of having cravings for--- it's there. I liked how small it was... just the right size for walking, and if you get tired, there's a cafe nearby for drinks. 

first plane ride together

touchdown Coron!

He has his own snack shop at the terminal

blue against green... and I look so brown!

the view from the Sunrise Inn balcony

the inn has these shell things all over the inn... so beachy!

We took a day tour that took us to this gift shop

the town park

these locals are so lucky to be living here... they get to enjoy this view every afternoon. Awesome.

A cyclist climbing his way to the Mt. Tapyas Hill Viewdeck... 700 steps, and we only got to the 100th...

view from 100 steps (and that's where we stayed haha!)

Coron kids after school.

early morning walk! This is a strip of road on the way to the town from the port

early photowalks allowed us to stop whenever and take pictures without getting stared at.

I love these green benches!

There was a schoo parade on our way back. There's a lot (and I mean a LOT) of kids in this town

Ah.. this view is Coron.

That sign!!! I wish we had something like that here...

I love this shot... this view got me excited... we were finally starting our island tour!

enjoying the lake after a tedious climb.

Look at that blue-green water!!!

Thank You for this amazing view!

Sunrise Inn verandah. Tita Glo also serves free coffee! :)

JP before our post-island hopping trip.. sleepy and nursing a headache...

Coron in the afternoon. Wanted to go on a motorbike ride but it wasn't meant to be...

so we went shop-hopping instead.

early dinner at Lolo Nonoy's

bamboo tubes filled with seeds... if you flip them up and down they produce a sound that resembles trickling water.