A water park made of toy bricks - LEGOLAND Water Park in Malaysia

Part of our day tour from Singapore to LEGOLAND in Johor Bahru, Malaysia today was to have some water activities. LEGOLAND Water Park is situated inside the same estates of the theme park and the hotel so we had a couple of hours before our trip back to Singapore to have fun on the pool and slides.

LEGOLAND Water Park was an optional add-on to our trip and since my son is eager to go swimming again, we decided to go here as well. The water park is accessible even to those who do not plan to go to the theme park and requires a separate ticket. Inside slides of all sizes, rafts, floaters and all can be found which is quite amusing as it still is patterned to toy bricks living into its name.

We had fun at Build-A-Raft River where a lot of kids were having fun building their own rafts using big floating toy brick pieces.

Once you're done and good to go, you just go and catch a floater or use your built raft and let the flow of water take you around like a lazy pool.

There's also the LEGO Wave Pool where swimmers may be able to experience slight waves while dipping and relaxing in the pool.

There were also a number of slides available at the water park both for adults and kids alike.

Food were also available at the water park (but not on the swimming pool of course) so before we headed back to Singapore, we grabbed some food to eat (and took a few on the way) as we ended our quick day tour in LEGOLAND.

It was a hasty trip covering both LEGOLAND Theme Park and Water park and I wish we had more time. Have I known that border crossing from Singapore to Malaysia will take some time, we should have taken the earliest bus going to Malaysia and last bus back to Singapore to maximize our time here. If there will be next time, perhaps I'll consider staying in LEGOLAND Hotel for a night.

Short walking tour of Boston at New Year's Eve

Nothing much to-do today so I headed to Boston, armed with my CharlieCard and camera, and walked and basically followed the route I took more than 5 years ago during my first time in the city.
 
Despite the cold weather and light snow, I braved my way even without the proper winter gear. I took the subway train, MBTA green line, coming from Washington Street station (in Brighton) and alighted 17 stations away at Boylston Street station. In less than an hour I was already in Boston (I fell asleep throughout the journey and woke up a couple of stations prior).

As I exited the subway station, the familiar look of the park I've been to a couple of time prior greeted me. Boston Common is said to be the oldest park in the US and the massive 50 acres space is host to a number of walking and jogging paths, playground, and for this season, a skating rink. In fact, Boylston Station where I just came from is also considered the first subway station in the country!


Boston Massacre Memorial


As it is winter, a number of people were skating this afternoon and there was a long waiting line for people to get in.



Nearby sits the TADpole Playground.



They even have ice carvings of the TADPole Playground signage too!


Benches are available to sit and relax within the park as well. I would have stayed if it wasn't for the weather.


Just across the street is the Massachusetts State House. You cannot miss this building as it features a 23 karat gold dome atop.


statue of General Joseph Hooker


another view of the statue and the state house


Nearby, walking distance, is the Granary Burial Ground. Referred to also as the Granary Burying Ground, the cemetery is a burial site for a number of key names in American history, such as those who signed the Declaration of Independence (Sam Adams, John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine).


Unfortunately the site was closed today. I was also informed that it seems to be closed most of the times already unlike 5 years ago when we were free to wander inside.


Walking further down the same street is the King's Chapel, an Anglican Parish ordered to be built by King James II.


The first public school in the US is just behind the King's Chapel. Other references also say it once served as a city hall (and thus referred to as Old City Hall).

Walking further down the street leads to these nice older structures, just across Irish Famine Memorial.


Across the memorial is the Old South Meeting House, where the famous Boston Tea Party was held in December 16, 1773. 


Following the arrows pointing to the heritage trail lead me to the Old State House, or Towne House. It is where the Declaration of Independence was read in public on July 18, 1776.



Nearby, perhaps a block or so away is the Faneuil Hall, a marketplace and meeting hall during the old colonial times. There are a number of shops housed inside this building (as well as on the North Market and South Market buildings beside it).


In front of the hall is the statue of Samuel Adams and right in front of it is an ice carving that states "Red Sox, World Series Champions" as a banner for their Major League Baseball title of Boston Red Sox.


Behind Faneuil Hall is the Quincy Market building. Today it is filled with food carts and stalls of all sorts making it a perfect stop to eat something that you may fancy.


inside Quincy Market


At the center of the building is a big dome that is a nice sight to see while you eat at the foodcourt.



I had the daily special form Boston Chowda Co. which includes a lobster roll (cold), soup or clam chowder (but of course!) and a small soda cup for $19.78. The roll was very good and the lobster meat was very plump and juicy. Great to have the hot clam chowder on the side as well to balance it all!


An 83-feet Christmas tree stands proudly just right outside as I exited the other side of the Quincy Market. Nice to look at with the Custom House at the backdrop located just nearby.


The Custom House, a 17th century structure (although the tower was added during the 20th century). It is an icon on its own and can easily be distinguished from afar, specially when you are at the waterfront. Today it operates as Marriott's Custom House, a vacation club/timeshare resort.


Walking towards the waterfront from the Custom House will bring you to see a queer looking hotel called Boston Marriott Long Wharf. 


Boston HarborWalk or also referred to as Long Wharf is the name of the place that refers to the pier/port nearby which today functions as a docking point for passenger vessels, mostly for tourism. At the end of the wharf is a plaza which has a nice view of the surrounding waters of the area.



Boston is such a beautiful, (and for me) laid-back and quaint city to visit, just for relaxing, without the usual hustle and bustle that would otherwise add stress to your visit.

Ritz-Carlton experience in Jakarta

I am writing this post as I wait for my flight back to Manila coming from here in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. I flew to the city last Monday morning from Manila with a stopover in Singapore via Philippine Airlines.

 

early morning flight!

 

Food in-flight. Little servings, but just enough to fill you in for the slightly over than 3 hours flight.

At the stop over, all passengers, including those continuing to Jakarta, has to transit thru Singapore by deplaning and boarding the same plane again so I had a chance to sneak a little time to buy some macaroons in TWG at the terminal.

 

 

 Jakarta bound!

snacks served in-flight

 

After arriving in Jakarta, I met up with a hotel personnel who led me to the executive taxi I arranged prior for transportation between the airport and the hotel. It is a first for me to finally stay in a Ritz-Carlton property. I've always longed to experience one however the price per night is usually preventing me from doing so (specially on personal travels). It was a good thing that we have a corporate rate with The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan, that I managed to sneak a few nights stay here. A sister property The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place would have been more convenient for me as it is located just across our office but the steep rates and lack of negotiated price would not permit.

 

As I enter the hotel security gates, my service car was stopped and went into the usual full physical inspection done to vehicles in most hotels and establishments in the city. Here I was greeted by a staff by my name so I must be on record. Upon reaching the driveway and ultimately at the lobby entrance, I was whisked into another security point where they do x-ray for baggage and persons entering the hotel. It has been a very pleasant experience so far.

 

As I finally enter the hotel door, I was greeted by my name by a staff named Diantika who then led me to my room on the 17th floor. Then I was awed when I saw the room. It was huge and spacious and later did I know upon checking my reservation online that I was actually upgraded as the staff didn't tell me about it. I originally booked using company rate for USD125 for a Grand room (63sqm) with 1 king bed, inclusive of breakfast and internet but I was given a Tempus Grand room, with 1 king bed, which is actually a corner room and has 75sqm of space.

 

Upon entering the room, a welcoming ambience of the closet that actually contains the honor and mini bar greeted me. On the left is a walk-in closet, connected to the bathroom and on the right is the bedroom with a space for sofa and working table.

 

minibar items

walk-in closet, walking inside and further to the right leads to the bathroom

The room is very spacious indeed! The ceiling was high at 3.5 meters which emphasizes the feeling of having a big room. The window is very inviting as well and has a view of the surrounding area outside the hotel.

The working desk is ample enough for my business duties. Wireless and wired internet is available for free (or inclusive) and for power, they even provided an adaptor for those who brought home devices with a different plug (they use rounded 2 prongs here).

 

the working desk

 

view of the room from the window

 

A big highlight of the room of course is the bathroom. Spacious and luxurious if I may say, marbled throughout. The tub is separate from the enclosed shower which I always prefer so as not to slip while climbing out of the tub when using the shower. A couple of sinks is always welcome so that a couple sharing a room wouldn't have problem having his or her own space.

 

 

bathtub

toiletries

 

welcome fruits

 
Bottled water is provided, around 4 bottles in different areas in the room. They recommend that even for tooth brushing to use bottled waters for health and sanitation purposes.

 

view from the room at daylight, overseeing the Mega Kuningan area

 

 view from the room at night

Breakfast is served at Asia Restaurant, located at the lobby level of the hotel. It features cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, American/Western and of course local Indonesian food. There is a wide variety of food available for diners, and servers does rounds on tables for freshly baked breads and pastries.

 
my breakfast plates for the first morning and second, respectively

 

I didn't get a chance to go around the city for food due to weather and for most of my meals, I just had them at the restaurants housed at the nearby Oakwood Shopping Arcade. The area is the same where I stayed 2 years ago for my first business trip in the city. I went back to a restaurant where I've eaten local food that time but I remember it was named as Waroeng Kampong at that time if I'm not mistaken. Right now, this restaurant is called Pawon Nyonya.

 
Again, I had my favorite food in Indonesia - Sop Buntut (or oxtail soup). There's another variety of this dish that I like better called Sop Buntut Goreng where the oxtail is fried and usually separated from the soup.

On another occasion, I ate at Eaton Restaurant - Ah Mei Café, who serves Singaporean and Japanese style food, together with some baked goods at the café.

 
nasi bebek

 
lumpia udang mayonaise

 

wonton soup

 
all together now!

 

 

Such a short trip. I was to stay for 3 nights but my flight falls at the wee hours of Thursday so I had to checkout Wednesday very late at night and headed back to the airport. It is regretful for me that I didn't get to experience this city much, knowing that it may be the last of my travel to this city for quite a long time due to a realignment of my job role.