EN ROUTE | MANILA TO KUALA LUMPUR TO PENANG FLIGHT

It was the eve of our month-long tri-country journey with our toddler—our first overseas with the child. There was nonetheless hesitation inside me, understanding how laborious this journey would in all probability be—our son being on the peak of his Energizer Bunny section. However crossing fingers, we’re certainly pushing forward with Backpacking With A Child 2023.

ALL OUR BAGS ARE PACKED AND READY TO GO

Penang is our first vacation spot. We’ve been to this Malaysian metropolis numerous occasions earlier than, however we actually don’t thoughts. We completely love Malaysian meals, and Penang is likely one of the gastronomy facilities of the nation, as we will attest with our earlier Penang meals journey. Additionally, we’re visiting the Akira’s grandparents who resides close to Georgetown, its historic middle. We’re hitting two birds with one stone, so to talk.

Solely downside is, there’s no direct flight from Manila to Penang. We’d have to do that the great distance. It’s gonna be a litmus take a look at of what’s to return for the following thirty 5 days.

MANILA TO KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHT

AKIRA AND HIS NON-STOP ANTICS AT NAIA TERMINAL III

Cebu Pacific Air has a each day night flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur (5J501). It’s at 9 within the night, excellent for individuals who desires to maximise a weekend off in KL. However for us with youngsters, it’s a little bit of a combination.

The professionals, our toddler can sleep the four-hour flight off—one much less downside for fidgety youngsters. We, in fact, must take care to not wake him as our airplane lands in KL for our connecting flight to Penang. The cons, properly, he wouldn’t have the ability to take pleasure in using the airplane and seeing the map from beneath and the fluffy clouds. Effectively, there’s at all times subsequent time. We now have loads of flights within the coming days for all of these issues.

CHECKING IN AT CEBU PACIFIC AIR

As is our customized, we arrived early at NAIA Terminal III. We made our verify in on-line, however we got random seats, so we requested for adjoining ones on the verify in counter—which they simply obliged to. Effectively, except another person is prepared to care for our child whereas we benefit from the flight, we actually don’t thoughts, lol. We additionally dropped our baggage with no problem.

RELAXING AT MARHABA LOUNGE

We initially considered doing our ordinary Jollibee route earlier than flying out, because it’s gonna be a month of no Chickenjoys for us, however we determined to make the most of the airport lounge as a substitute, since I’ve free entry. Free meals wins, lol.

In all equity, the Marhaba Lounge, even with its restricted alternative of dishes, at all times has glorious meals.

FLYING TO KUALA LUMPUR VIA CEBU PACIFIC’S AIRBUS A321 NEO

We flew on time. Like our Manila to Boracay flight, we boarded an Airbus A321 Neo. I actually like this airplane, even with its non-reclinable seat, it feels much more snug and spacious. And extra importantly, it has a USB charging slot, excellent for recharging our telephones whereas watching a Star Wars sequence en path to KL.

A SELFIE IS IN ORDER

We even have meals for our flight—this may be pre-ordered 24 hours earlier than touring—and was promptly served to us because the seatbelt button was turned off. Spam Nori for me, Char Siu Rooster for Blissfulguro, and Pinoy Spaghetti for Akira.

CEBU PACIFIC AIR’S INFLIGHT MEALS

I like the Spam Nori, which has a thick slice of Spam and scrambled eggs with nori. The veggies balanced the meal. The Char Siu Rooster was simply okay for me, whereas the Pinoy Spaghetti is what it’s—candy spaghetti topped with hotdogs and grated cheddar cheese. Our son cherished it.

As anticipated, Akira slept the flight away. And as anticipated, he woke the second we landed at Kuala Lumpur, lol.

KLIA2 MALAYSIA LAYOVER

TOUCHDOWN KUALA LUMPUR AT ONE IN THE MORNING

We arrived in KL at previous 1AM, and our flight to Penang was nonetheless at 6AM. We roamed the empty halls of the large KLIA2, previous closed retailers and some open ones.

JOLLIBEE OPENING SOON AT MALAYSIA’S KLIA2

We had been wanting ahead to this a part of our journey, as we miss Marry Brown’s fried hen, however alas, there’s no extra Marry Brown in KLIA2. We noticed an enormous tarp with Jollibee’s Chickenjoy overlaying a store although, Jollibee is lastly opening in Malaysia! However, it’s nonetheless below building.

SLEEPING AT AIRPORTS WITH A TODDLER

We determined to easily sleep the remaining hours off till the gates opened for our flight.

KUALA LUMPUR TO PENANG

We flew through AirAsia from KL to Penang, since there’s no Cebu Pacific flight to Penang. It went with no hitch—fast and uneventful.

PENANG, FINALLY!

Inside an hour, we had been touching down on the tarmac, getting our baggage, and at last boarding a Seize cab to the hilly suburbs of Tanjung Bungah the place BG’s aunt lives. Seize, by the way in which, is absolutely low cost in Malaysia!

FIRST LEG OF BACKPACKING WITH A KID 2023

I might hardly preserve my eyes open, being too drained and sleepy from virtually ten hours of touring. However lastly, we’re on our first leg of our journey, and to date, our toddler has been a really well-behaved boy. A very good begin, positively.