It took about 27 hours including 1-hour stop @ Taiwan and 4.5-hour waiting for connecting flight @ LAX (Malaysia Airlines & Continental Airlines). Tight security check at LAX.
Jet Lag
It's quite a big problem due to 11-hour time difference. To overcome it quickly, restrain yourself from sleeping during day time.
Weather
Mar-Apr: The average temp is about 17 degrees. But some days are quite hot. Google it for update.
Food
It's quite difficult to get Halal food but, you can have fish, vegetables, cheese pizza etc. USD12 lunch coupon @ Marathon Oil cafeteria is enough for the main meal, dessert and drink. However, you need extra allocation for dinner & weekends since you can't get something like at the cafeteria nearby the hotel. Plus the 15-20% tip.
My 10 weeks stay @ Hyatt
Full kitchen with refrigerator, cooktop, microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker
Free high-speed wireless and wired Internet access
32" flat-panel HDTV + Hyatt Grand Bed
Large workstation with task lighting and private voicemail
AM/FM alarm clock radio with MP3 connection
Portico® SPA products
Large safe box + Hair Dryer + Iron and ironing board
Cable TV with DVD player + Weekday newspaper
Note: Hotel laundry is expensive. Self-service laundry is only USD1 each for washer and dryer. Sometime, detergent is provided. There is also 1 free washing machine (if lucky).
QHSE Alert! USD200 fine for smoking in the room. My friend got one!
Walking Distance:
- Shops: Food Mart (Smelly)(2 mins), CVS (Good)(3 mins), TJMaxx (Cheap)(4mins)
- Subway (4 mins)
- Dimaasi Restaurant (Halal buffet lunch/dinner) (4 mins) (Okay)
- Chinese Restaurant (5 mins)
- India's Restaurant (Halal) (20 mins) (Excellent and expensive)
- English Pub (15 mins) (Free Entry) (Live Band)
- Wendy's (15 mins)
- BestBuy (10 mins)
- Galleria Shopping Mall (15 mins) - Try the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant!
- DoubleTree Hotel (18 mins)
- SLB Office @ San Felipe (35 mins)
By Bus #25 @ USD1.25
- AMC Cinema 30 theatres (USD9 weekdays, USD7.5 weekend) (Watch as many movie as you want) (12 mins)
- Walmart and Sam's (Same stop)
- Jerusalem Shop (Sells Halal meats) - last stop of Richmond-Hillcroft avenues
Note: Public transport is quite a problem here. If you go outside the uptown, always bring cab's phone number and please be patient to wait. They may take 30 mins to reach us.
Tax and Tip
It is good to know that what you see is NOT what you pay. All the prices do not include tax. The tax here is about 8.25% and the tip is between 15-20%. Mmmm...expensive!
For certain items, you may get 5% back if the purchases are made 3 weeks prior to departure.
Cheap to Call Malaysia
It's recommended to use Diamond Texas/Diamond Asia to call Malaysia & other asian countries. USD5 for about 1 hour 20 mins. You may buy it at Marathon Oil Building (next to SLB Building) or online @ http://www.ring123.com/ . I bought a USD10 phonecard (different provider) @ LA airport and only allowed me to talk less than 7 mins. Thanks to Kelvin for the recommendation.
Some Items are Cheaper Than Malaysia
Electronic items like camera, GPS Navigation device and Ipod are cheaper. For example, Sony DSC-H50 is about RM1250 here and RM1599 in Malaysia. You may also go to factory outlets where you will get VERY cheap branded items like CK and Hugo Boss shirts. I don't know in which area of Houston.
Every Saturday, I'll seat for 2-3 tests. Below are some activities I did after the tests. Just giving you ideas:
Note: The cab here is very expensive (much more expensive if converted to RM). Make sure you go in group. It's not only safer but, you can save money.
QHSE Alert! It's advised to bring your passport anywhere you go. But, do not put it in your jacket's pocket. It may drop!
1) Rodeo @ Reliant Park
It is held on every day of March where Reliant stadium will be fully seated by people from Texas and other states to watch the Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, Bareback Riding and many more. It's very good! USD16 for the cheapest seat + USD60 return by cab.
2) Houston Museum of Natural Science @ Hermann Park
It's a good museum. This is my first time seeing a place named museum to be very crowded. USD15 for Main Exhibition Halls + USD10 for 3D show + USD30 return by cab
3) NASA Johnson Space Center
There is a 50-min tram tour where you can see closer the NASA building and facilities and got opportunity to enter their real space training center. But, the exhibition hall is quite disappointing. Not many exhibits plus, they are fake. If you wanna come here, don't put too high expectations. But overall, it is a worth visit. USD20 + 20 miles away.
4) Galveston Island
Mmmm...Not much you can do there especially after the big cyclone last year.
5) Houston Zoo @ Hermann Park
It's a very good zoo. The way they display the animals especially at the primates and wild area is something to follow. There is also a quite big park to relax. USD10 + USD40 return by cab (Quite close to the Museum but this time, the taxi driver took a longer route).
6) Basketball Game @ Toyota Center
April is the month of Basketball and Baseball. My friends & I managed to watch a final home game between Houston Rockets (2x NBA Champion) vs a team from New Orleans. It was a great match. Yao Ming (one of the tallest people in the World) from China is in that team. USD25 for the second highest seat @ eBay.
7) BBQ @ Memorial Park
The park is very huge and purposely designed for barbeque area. We held a small BBQ party since we are going home soon (before we know our training is extended for another week). Plus, no more interesting places to visit.
Hope, this post is helpful!
By HafizHashim
