Penang Travel Diary

Star Team decided to have a side trip in Penang, Malaysia. So right after our workshop in Kuala Lumpur, we traveled to Penang via Air Asia, airfare only cost SGD60. We spent 3 days and 2 nights in the city. …

Putra Jaya Travel Diary

My first out of the country in 2014 is all about work…

We fly directly to KL via Malaysia Airlines, it’s my first time with MAL. Take note, the week after this, when Malaysia Airlines Flight from KL to Beijing  was found missing. IS/Sustex workshop is my first regional meeting in Syngenta. Being part of Regional Sustainable Excellence team, working as regional BPA in Syngenat allows me to work with colleagues from different countries. Some I regularly worked with over Telecon, some I already met in Singapore and Philippines, and some are really new faces. The workshop was held last February 24-28, 2014 in Pullman, Putrajaya Malaysia.

Pullman Putrajaya has 4 wings, Jasmine Wing, Rafflesia Wing, Bunga Tanjung Wing and Lotus Wing, each wing was differentiated by it’s themed interiors . I was assigned to stay in Bunga Tanjung wing, which has traditional Malay interiors, while friends were assigned in Jasmine Wing (Indian Architecture) and Lotus Wing (Chinese Architecture).

My room size is just right, I think it’s a modern Malay architecture rather than traditional.

I got a good view right here

They prepared a welcome dinner cruise on our first day, we enjoyed the night cruise around Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside.

Second night is a free time, so the team went to Kuala Lumpur for dinner,

and to see the famous Petronas Towers lighten up at night. With me are fellow BPAs Ros, Liberty, Yijing and Jenny.

After a long day meeting on the third day, the team gathered us for African Drumming lesson. Syempre lahat excited pumalo, so maingay lang… Then when the two instructors from Singapore started the lesson, konting practice, and we finally got to beat it right! Perfect!

Of course, teambuilding ito, so may lesson pa rin applicable to work. It’s all about teamwork. Everyone in the team should get into the same boat so we can produce a great harmonious sound. Everyone should listen and learn to be sensitive to other members of the team and not work on his own because if someone do that, it might prevent the team in achieving our goals.

And on our last day, we had the chance to drive a Go-Kart at Sepang International Circuit. This circuit was being used by F1 drivers, naks! Feeling F1 agad… I’m really excited to drive again, kasi naman, my first and last is 7 years ago in Subic during Kimberly Clark Teambuilding. Hindi pa ko driver nun pero naka-drive naman, kasi pangarap ko talagang maging driver. Excited ako ngayon, kase driver na ko, so I want to challenge myself, how fast can I go?! (may ganun, lol)

I was teamed up with Rosanne, my colleague in Philippines and Cris, an IS guy from Australia. Surprisingly, Cris, drives a motorbike, so he’s really good at speed driving. Bilang competitive kame, we end up in 3^rd place, and it’s all because of Cris. Siguro, if Rosanne and I didn’t drive, kame na ang winner!

During our meeting, we are surprised by this noised outside our meeting rooms. We found out, na ang mga rich kid from Singapore, has grand touring from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak. Drivers and their girls, checked-in Pullman, so they park their cars right outside our meeting room. Ayun, naging instant car show agad-agad. Syempre, tuwang-tuwa ang mga boys sa mga sports car. Ang gwapo lang ng auto!

I definitely enjoyed the 4 day conference with Sysngenta’s IS/Sustex team. Though I know, this workshop is all about transitioning us to the new business model. I’m still thankful for this opportunity. I will always be grateful that my jobs brought me to different cities, check-in to various hotels, fed me with scrumptious meals, introduce me to people of different race and culture, and allow me to new and exciting experiences.

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Love your job, but never fall in love with your company, because you never  know when the company stops loving you.

-Narayana Murthy

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KL Hop-on Hop-off Tour Bus

To maximize our Singapore trip, we decided to visit KL and spend a day around the city. Going to KL from SG is easy, you can choose various mode of transportation such as bus, train and plane. For us, we choose the 40 minutes flight via Tiger Airways, which cost around SGD 38.

While the best way to tour the city (if you have only have 1-2 days) is through “KL Hop-on Hop-off Bus.” It’s not like the ordinary tourist bus who brings you to places and give you specific time when to come hop-on and hop-off. With this you can freely manage your time. You can choose places where you want to visit and you can decide how much time you want to spend in that place at your own pace.

The KL Hop-on Hop-off bus arrives every 3o minutes.

You can find KL hop-on hop-off stop.

Here’s the KL hop-on hop-off tour map, for more information visit: http://www.myhoponhopoff.com

Merdeka Square

The Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square) is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957.

Dataran Merdeka was the usual venue for the annual Hari Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade).

The architecture of the building around Merdeka Square is a work of art.

My sister standing tall in Merdeka Square.

KL Lake Garden

Taman Tasik Perdana or KL Lake Garden is a 91.6 hectare of parks and gardens at the heart of Kuala Lumpur established in 1888.

The gardens incorporate the National Monument, Deer Park, Butterfly Park, Bird Park, Carcosa Seri Negara, The Forest Research Institute, Orchid garden and Hibiscus garden.

“Petronas Tower” Worlds Tallest Twin Building

One of the reasons i want to visit Kuala Lumpur is to see and capture one of the worlds tallest tower, the “Petronas Tower.”

Incredibly built!

Sister Jelome in her signature Yoga Photo!

Woohoo, finally, I’m in Petronas Tower!

Facts: he Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or Twin Towers), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are the world’s tallest twin buildings. Tower 2 was built by the South Korean multinational Samsung Engineering & Construction and Tower 1 by Hazama Corporation of Japan. They were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top, the original height reference used by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from 1969 (three additional height categories were introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996).

source: http://www.myhoponhopoff.com

Hop-off: KL Tower

Menara Kuala Lumpur stands majestically a top of Bukit Nanas at 421 meters and 515 meters above sea level.

KL Tower is considered a main feature of the city skyline one and perhaps most enduring images a visitor to KL will encounter. This is the 5th tallest telecommunications tower,  you can manage to get a bird’s eye view of the city either at an observation deck or from the revolving restaurant,.

Hop-off: Istana Negra

Istana Negara or National Palace is the official residence of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. It stands on a 28 acre (110,000 square meter) site, located at a commanding position on the slope of a hill of Bukit Bintang overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra.

There’s a lot of tourist visiting this place to take photos, unfortunately guests cannot enter the palace for security reasons.

Security Guards are all over the place. I think they are fortunate because tourist take pictures with them, i guess they’re enjoying the fame.

Istana Negra black and gold logo.

 

My sister and I 🙂

My mami bestfriend Mami Myrns & I, in front of Istana Negra.

My travel buddy “Pink Flash Havainas” visit’s Istana Negra

Shopping in Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is our last stop in the KL Hop-on Hop off tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is the shopping district in area, so if you’re a shopaholic, you shouldn’t miss this place in your KL trip.

Sephora diamond shape  flagship store is love.

KL Pavillion is one of the largest shopping malls in KL.

Wishing fountain in Royal Serangoon.

Locals performing their native dance.

School’s out, Adventure’s In. Watch out Spiderman.

Evil’s Sale?