Post Birthday Celebration in Kuala Lumpur 2019

My heart is so full!!! Aging is inevitable but I love the woman I am becoming through this journey! Indeed, with age, comes wisdom. I'm gratefully blessed to have turned a year older. 

I look forward to this year and see what is to come, I am very excited for the many memories I will make with my friends and family but even more excited to learn more about myself. Thank you so much to each and every one of you who took time to reach out and wish me a happy birthday. 

Another chapter of my life was ended and a new beginning. I'm sure it'll gonna be better because I'm surrounded with good people. And the cool thing is that you all played a part in molding me into my greatness! LOL ♥

Here are some of my favorite post birthday celebration photo and places I visited in Kuala Lumpur. So happy to be back here, KL now holds a special memories in my heart that I will forever treasure in this earth and beyond eternity. 

• PETRONAS TWIN TOWER - on a daylight! Wasn't able to see this beauty when I was here last year for Malaysia Fashion Week 2018, held last November 25 at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas KL. So, I made sure i get to see them on this trip.

with my friends during Malaysia Fashion Week 2018

• CHINATOWN KUALA LUMPUR -  there is really nothing interesting to see in here, for me, but a few steps away from this street is a Hindu temple.

• SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE -  is a famous and oldest Hindu temple Malaysia, dating back to 1873. There is no entrance fee on this site, but you will have remove your shoes and cover yourself when you get in. They shawls or balabal for rent outside the temple so, worry no more if you have missed out their dress properly upon entering the vicinity code.

• KUAN TI TEMPLE -  just at the opposite side of Sri Mahamariamman Temple is a 121 year old Taoist Temple.

• CENTRAL MARKET KUALA LUMPUR - is my favorite haven of mine in KL! This is were I brought my pasalubong, and no tourist leave in Kuala Lumpur without visiting this famous and popular landmark that was built since 1928. You will find almost everything in here, with good price, from artisan craftsmanship of Malaysia, to their handmade products like batiks, etc.

from last year during Malaysia Fashion Week 2018

• JALAN ALOR NIGHT MARKET - another favorite spot of mine is this one!!! especially if we are talking about food!!!! OMG!!! Jalan Alor is the best place to go to, if your hungry at night and craves for authentic street foods, from hawker stalls and seafood restaurants, they have it all. So, make sure you guys should include this in your itinerary.

• THE PLATINUM SUITES KUALA LUMPUR - Their infinity pool at the roof deck holds an amazingly spectacular views of KL. 

So, there you have it, if you find this blog really helpful, please share this on Facebook, RT on Twitter or follow me at The Travelling Hopia. 

Thank you, mga ka-hopia! 😊 ♥ 

Diplomat Hotel Baguio

MALAYSIA FASHION WEEK 2018

I am still in awe! Remembering my Malaysia Fashion Week experience. It's was mind blowing meeting, the famous international fashion designer Jimmy Choo. 

with Jimmy Choo

Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW) is the nation’s premier design, lifestyle and trade fashion event, featuring designers from over 15 countries, which include Philippines, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Singapore. This year’s participants from our country are Randolph Keith Jinky Petalcorin of Agusan del Norte, Jor-el Espina of Iloilo City, Dong Omaga Diaz, Adante Leyesa of Batangas, Jet Salcedo of Iloilo City and Dodjie Batu of Davao City and Len Nepomuceno-Mortel a Filipina based in Bangkok, Thailand. 

with Adante chan

Two of this year’s Filipino designers are my good friend, Adante Leyesa and Jor-el Espina, so that sums up why I’m here and was able to witnessed this stylish gala.

with the whole gang, who fly all the way to Manila just to support Momshie and Adante

with Momshie Jor-el, Heizel Comia and Adante chan

Malaysia Fashion Week is organized by the local government agency in partnership with Malaysia’s private sector and collaborative effort between national trade promotion agency, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysia’s leading lifestyle fashion event organizer, STYLO International Sdn Bhd and luxury automaker, Mercedes-Benz. 

This year MFW was held at The Boulevard Publika, Kuala Lumpur last November 25, 2018. 

Before we head home and call it a night, team Philippines bagged the most important awards of the night, “Best Showcase of the Year”. It was overwhelming and we are so proud, with smiles from ear to ear. Philippines head of the Filipino contingent of designers, Sir Dong Omaga-Diaz, received the plaque and called all designers from the Philippines to come forward, waving the small flags I bought from Manila. What a proud moment of camaderie! 

Team Philippines with Jimmy Choo: Randolph Keith Jinky Petalcorin of Agusan del Norte, Jor-el Espina of Iloilo City, Dong Omaga Diaz, Adante Leyesa of Batangas, Jet Salcedo of Iloilo City and Dodjie Batu of Davao City. Not in photo is Len Nepomuceno-Mortel, based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Truly, Filipino craftsmanship are world class. This year’s Filipino contingent of designers, showed a truly world class craftsmanship, that was widely love, and applauded by the audience. 

Here some of my favorite snaps from that night.

with Miss Len Nepomuceno-Mortel

seated on the frontrow with this charming lady Illiza Ho, multi-awarded, Jimmy Choo's protege and this years Stylo Asia Best Accessories Designer Malaysia Fasion Week 2018

selfie with Kuala Lumpur's Stylo International President and Chief executive officer Datuk Nancy Yeoh

its not everyday you get to be photo bombed with Jimmy Choo.LOL

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Batu Cave Malaysia

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji! Definitely on the top of every tourist itinerary when visiting Japan or Tokyo. But not for me, Japan was not really on my bucket list, then. But having the opportunity to come here last year because of work was really a mind changing experience and I felt in love with this country. (I guess everyone who have come here can relate to this feeling).

L: Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko Station R: Mount Fuji from 5th Station

Seeing Mount Fuji is indeed on my top must see on this trip. Our plan was to see Mount Fuji at Arakurayama Sengen Park, but as I mentioned in my previous post, the mountain is not that visible at the time of our visit. Thick clouds were covering the mountain and there was no chance of us seeing it. I’m glad I had someone with me who’s really patience to all my request. Although I wasn’t making it too obvious for him about my disappointment because it’s “nakakahiya”, plus we already booked our ticket back to Tokyo from Fujiyoshida.

But he was really nice, and figured a way out for us to see Mount Fuji without worrying our ticket. Thanked God he was able to cancelled our tickets and fifteen minutes later, I was outside Kawaguchiko Station looking up Mount Fuji. Although our planned was to stay in Kawaguchiko and watch Mount Fuji from there, but the view was kinda not that pleasing. And it doesn’t make sense travelling all the way to Tokyo and not being able to see its beauty. So we decided to go up to the 5th station where in the best spot to enjoy the sight of Mount Fuji. It took us an hour travel going up to the mountain and voila the trip was so worth it! I know these photos will never do the real deal of justice of how beautiful Mount Fuji is, but we can only try! And hope you like it. 

HOW TO GET HERE:

There are plenty of book tours available online so I suggest you should plan your trip before coming here. But if you have a local friend like mine, or wanted to be adventurous and wanted to do DIY (Do it yourself) then you’re good to go. Just make sure you have internet connection with you all the times. Because even if I had a local friend with me, we still had hard time figuring out our DIY. The only advantage we had, is that he can speak the language so there was no worries of getting lost.

Book tours are way expensive! But if you want comfort and relaxation then it’s convenient, without anything to worry but just to see the Mount Fuji. Wherein DIY like ours was a bit tiring but FUN! Like really FUN! You get to be at places you never imagined you will be, you get to meet people and new friends along the way if you get lost somehow, and the lesson and experience you had encounter with DIY’s are precious and of course lastly you get to save money from it. 

I hope this post helps you on planning your future Mount Fuji trip.

Arigatou gozaimasu! Matane!😊

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine

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The Meiji Shrine

I went to visit another Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine, The Meiji Jingu in Shibuya. Aside from being known as a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, this place is also known as one of the best instagrammable place in Tokyo and one of the busiest sites in Tokyo for tourists, so I suggest you come here early to avoid the massive crowd of people coming to the shrine.

Another special sight inside the spacious grounds of Meiji Jingu that caught my eyes while walking my way in, are the rows upon rows of decorative sake barrels (Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made of fermented rice, koji often translated as rice malt or yeast made from rice and water.) lining the walkway on the way to the temple. As what I overhead from one of the tour guide, this empty sake barrels were donated by sake brewers from all over japan and offered to the shrine deities at Meiji Jingu every year.

Another important note that I would like to share while visiting this site is that NO TRIPOD is ALLOWED INSIDE the Shrine. I don’t why! I was getting ready setting up my tripod when suddenly some guys wearing white and violet skirt looking pants approach me and gently told me, that using tripod is not allowed inside the vicinity. Selfie stick is okay. So, the whole time I was inside the shrine I was asking for favors to some tourist and locals to take my photos.

ADMISSION IS FREE

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine
• Mount Fuji

Before you go: please share this blog on Facebook, RT on Twitter. Follow me on Facebook, at The Travelling Hopia. Subscribe to receive email updates. Thank you for your support!