When my high school friend Atty. Jayson Jorvina rang me up last week that his sister and son would like to visit Malaysia since they will be holidaying in Singapore, I thought he was only toying with the idea. Last Friday night it was a reality when Jasmin and company arrived in Kuala Lumpur via Five Star bus/coach from Singapore, a journey of about six hours.

When they told me that they have no return ticket yet, I had to try to find them a good means of transport and it was not easy as I have not taken any bus to Singapore before. I would normally drive. I remember hearing from a friend that there is this bus company called "Aeroline" with superb facilities and service (check at www.aeroline.com. my).

I found information on line, and I can also book online. The bus departs not in the normal bus station but from popular shopping malls and hotels in the Klang Valley (KL and surrounding areas). The nearest to my place is at Sunway Pyramid shopping mall which is a convenient 15-20 minute-drive.

The bus is double-decker with ergonomic low reclining seats on the upper deck, while the lower deck is a lounge with comfortable sofas for passengers to relax, stretch their legs or watch a movie or just read magazines and newspapers.

The fare for an adult is RM80.00 and RM50.00 for a child. This includes light meals and bottomless hot beverages, served by a full time stewardess. It's a very reasonable price for a luxurious bus trip to Singapore. When I sent them off yesterday, I saw for myself how comfortable is the bus. I was so impressed that I can't wait to try it myself in the near future.

I would highly recommend to my friends who would travel from Singapore to KL and vice versa.

Last year, I was at a quandary on what to recommend my boss, who was travelling Manila, on "must do" or "must see" in my country. I recommended a few places, including Glorietta and a week after my boss came back to Malaysia, the explosion happened. Anyway, my boss and company didn't go to Glorietta as they spent most of their time in Mall of Asia due its proximity to their hotel.

In today's travel section of The Star in Malaysia, there's a special feature on "must-do" in Manila. I took note of the recommendations in case in the future friends ask me again about Manila, although the first on his list "Baywalk" is history.

Alternatively, I can propose these activities (thanks to high school classmate Ganei who until now has not lost his humor). When he sent this email, he was actually offering himself in jest to be a tour guide to some friends from the province.

Suggested must:

Slow drive along EDSA and Roxas Boulevard (because of traffic) 

Get suspended for 3 hours in the Enchanted Kingdom's roller coaster

Get lost inside SM Mall of Asia (third largest mall in the world)

Shop for China-made mobile phones in Greenhills

Visit Quiapo and Baclaran churches and pray the mobile phone works

Try and test pirated DVD's in Divisoria (I commented this can be optional as there may be more of them here) 

For a taste of history:

The homeless in Luneta 

Slums in Intramuros and Tondo

Illegal vendors in Plaza Miranda

Colorum FX in Liwasang Bonifacio

Other spectacles:

Crocs in Manila Zoo and Congress 

Ruins of Glorietta

Courtesy calls to:

Senator Trillanes in jail

Jun Lozada in La Salle Greenhills