Playground Fun!

Conquering the playground should be included as one of the developmental milestones for babies.It was at that point where you feel that they are not so fragile anymore and that they can tiptoe their way to the world of playground fun.

It started when she turned a year old and her Owa (lola,dad's side) treated the grandkids to a playhouse in Rockwell to kill time while they do some business. She was instantly at home with the playground.

Never mind if it was rowdier than the playpen that she’s used to. She welcomed the more exciting environment, with open arms! Even if she was just starting to learn how to walk, she wanted to rule the place already, to roam around it, to touch every nook and cranny and  basically to just explore and enjoy everything as much as she can.

Kaydee and cousin Ysa trying out some rocking toys

Playtime cousins Rafa and Ysa

Now this what I call FUN!

Because of this, we always aim to visit the playground in places we go to, or better yet, we  aim to visit places with playgrounds. I realized, it's also one way for kids to learn how to be mobile. They see kids running around and they are enticed to also do the same, or at least try.

At the KLCC playground. Her first ever swing ride and boy did she have the time of her life there!

Neighborhood Plaground @ SG

Children's Playground at SG's Gardens by the Bay

UPDATE: Kaydee finally learned how to walk on her own! And guess what? She took these first independent steps in a playground!

Kaydee @ KL Pt.2

Second day in KL is a Good Friday.Ironic that we are in a Muslim country but I believe that as long as your faith in Him is steadfast and you stay away from sin, it doesn't matter where you are and what you do on this Holy day.

Fortunately, Malaysia also observes this day as a public holiday so Ninong Denis is free to tour us around the city.Kung kami lang,baka hanggang Petronas lang kami haha! 

Thanks Ninong Denis for making our KL trip a truly memorable one!

Yesterday we saw a bit of modern KL and marveled at the architectural beauty that is Petronas. So on our second day, it was a welcome change to be immersed to KLs/Malayia's culture and history.

First stop was Merdeka Square, which is located at the heart of downtown KL and is literally and figuratively the heart of Malaysia nationalism. It is said to be the place where Malaysia's independence was proclaimed.It's like being transported to the past because the structures around the area are mostly historical.

The majestic Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad as our backdrop.

"The Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad houses the offices of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia and its design is inspired by the Muhgal architecture, much like the Taj Majal." 

Streets around Merdeka Square

The tallest flag pole in the world (top left)...the modern KL Gallery (top right)...Moorish-inspired Muzium Tekstil Negara (bottom left)...the Queen Victoria Fountain (bottom right)

Native dolls (top left)...the KL miniature AVP (top right)...KL City Gallery model (bottom left)...the ARCH designs (bottom right)

The KL City Gallery is a free museum which features the history and development of KL as a city. The highlight of the gallery is KL City Model which showcases city’s past, present and future. You can distinguish which structure belongs to which era by the material that it’s made of:  Wood for old colonial buildings..Colored acrylic for present buildings..Crystal for future development. There was a brief audio visual presentation which was synchronized to the LED lights projected to the city model for maximum effect. Nkaka-impress considering that the show is free for all. It really says a lot about the efforts of its government in terms of city planning.

Master craftsmen at work for all to see

Another notable feature is the actual Making of ARCH souvenir items. You can actually see the master craftsman at work, carving souvenirs like miniature versions of the Petronas Tower and other notable structures and symbols of the city and Malaysia. As in you can see the process of how each little bits and pieces are done and put together, galing! The craftsman have solid skills in what they do and by solid, I mean decades of experience! I know because their nameplates indicate their years of experience and most of them have been doing it for more than ten years already.

After the history lesson, next on our agenda is shopping and eating! And Bukit Bintang is the perfect place for these.

Chinatown and Bukit Bintang (KL's Orchard, me thinks)

One end of Bukit Bintang are rows of mid and high-end shopping malls, the other end are rows of eating places which is like SG's hawker and PH's dampa. We were so famished after hours of walking and sight seeing so we were really excited for some food feast.

We ordered deep fried pork cheese, salted egg prawns, sambal stingray and pineapple fried rice...promise! I swear these are what we ate! We just wiped it out before we can take pictures hahaha!

Obvious ba na gustom kami? Gone in 60 sec!

We were bound to SG early the next day via Tiger Airlines. From the condo, we took a train to KL Central where the KLIA (KL International Airport) Transit was located. We were taking off from their budget terminal so we had to take a shuttle from the train station before KLIA  to get to the budget terminal. It was quite a long but fast train ride, where we saw the sun rise while travelling through the KL outskirts. The bus ride took longer, about 30 more minutes from the train station. Distance is parang Manila to Pampanga, but the transport system is really efficient so you are comfy all the way and you won’t be inconvenienced by the distance. 

To the airport via KLIA transit

Actually airports should really be some distance away from the city center, in case of any threat to the country’s gateway. Kailangan lang the government should also provide for an efficient transport system to connect the airport to the city. In PH case, this is quite a feat to achieve considering the airport pa lang needs major improvement na. By the way, KL has already launched KLIA2, a spanking new terminal which will now house the budget carriers. Impressive ang terminal na to, saying di naming inabot cause it opened 2 weeks after our flight. Hope Pinas will also make such development in our airport and travel system.

Let me conclude this post with the pix below...

We love you KL!

See part 1 here, in case you missed it.