Relax - Weekend trips less taken

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GOING away for the weekend is such a fun notion.

The ideal weekend break should start on a Friday night and you should be back home, refreshed and ready for work on Sunday night.

The usual places come to mind, such as Bangkok, Bali, Penang or Kuala Lumpur, but if you think "been there, done that", it's time to look for new playgrounds.

Kuching

East Malaysia's capital Kuching is under two hours away by flight but you'll feel like you've stepped into another world.

This is the land of virgin rainforest, so expect to do a lot of walking and climbing.

Here are three things to do when you're in Kuching:

1. To really give yourself a good workout, climb Fairy Cave (top photo), located an hour from Kuching City near the border town of Sirikin.

It takes about 30 minutes to get midway up the cave, and you already get some great views.

But be warned: It will be slippery and you will perspire like mad, so keep a towel or change of clothes ready.

2. Near Fairy Cave in Kampong Duyoh in the Bidayuh area is a quaint farmer's market.

You'll find many interesting mountain vegetables and the sellers are more than happy to share their knowledge. But it will help if you speak Malay.

And be sure to try a delicious rice snack called pitcher plant hill red rice.

3. When I arrived in Kuching, a friend who lives there insisted I take a water taxi across the Sarawak River.

"You cannot come to Kuching without taking the 'bot tambang'," she said. So, I did.

It costs 50 sens (about 25 cents) and the journey from the waterfront to the main bazaar takes about five minutes.

At the bazaar, you will find plenty of food, including the crazily-coloured kek lapis (below), the iconic Sarawak laksa and kolo mee.

If you're visiting Kuala Lumpur and want to go to Kuching, www.fireflyz.com.my has flights that should cost under RM$30 (about $12.60).

>>Next: Manila

Manila

Manila is closer than you think. It takes under four hours by flight to get there.

It is such a sprawling city that you will need a few trips to get a feel of it. If it's just a weekend you have, you might want to head to Manila's latest attraction - Resorts World Manila (below).

It is located in Newport City, just across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

It is like a self-contained city, so you may not even leave the resort at all.

What can you do there?

1.Catch a show. There is more to a casino than gambling.

Of course, you must visit the casino when you are there but you don't have to hit the tables.

Hang around and catch a few performances. Bar 360 has a roster of performers that will make you tap your toes and before you know it, you'll be dancing in public.

2. Eat - it's every Singaporean's favourite pastime, and you can eat well without paying too much.

Top Hong Kong chef Jacky Yu (of the restaurant Xi Yan) has a restaurant there and the food is top-notch.

You can get special packages for Resorts World Manila at the upcoming Natas Fair (Friday to Sunday) at the Star Cruises Booth at 5H35.

Photos: TNP, Yeoh Wee Teck, Resorts World Manila

This article was first published in The New Paper.

Weekend trips less taken

By Yeoh Wee Teck, The New Paper | Tue, Feb 22 2011

If you think you've 'been there, done that' in Bangkok, Bali, Penang or KL, it's time to look for new playgrounds for the ideal weekend break.

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