Sunday, May 28, 2006

See you again, Kuala Lumpur

Friday, 19 May 2006
Admiring the sky as Uncle Ni, Sister Monica and myself flew towards Miri.

KLCC from Cheras

Tuesday, 16 May 2006
I could see the KLCC from our condo, but most time it was hassy. Tonight the sky seemed to be clear. This was what I had caught on my digital camera.

Eating from a Banana Leaf

Tuesday, 16 May 2006
Try eating your food from a real banana leaf. It is fun! And that was exactly what we did at Petaling Jaya this night. It is normal to eat with your hands, so Lian and her aunty ate with their hands while Uncle Ni preferred to use the spoon. I used the spoon as well!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Zoo Negara

Friday, 12 May 2006
Senior Citizens (60 yrs and above) 5 MRinggit, Aduts 10 MRinggit. They should let Senior Citizens free entry!!

It has been a long time since I visited the National Zoo! I think, probably more than 10 years ago! I am glad I brought Uncle and Sister there today because I enjoyed the visit! I don't remember what I saw last time.

Shortest of these 3 giraffes, was born on the 30 December 2005 at 4:55 pm!

The birds on the lake!

My Uncle Ni and his bird friends!

It is looking at me! The Deers!

This lion family is not real.

The 4 MRinggit Bus Fare

Friday, 12 May 2006
We bought the RM4.00 1-day bus ticket (which was introduced on the 18 March 2006), with the intention of visiting as many places as possible. We were told that there is another better deal - RM7.00 1-day 'rapidKL" ticket, which was just introduced, and that allows you to travel on the LRTs as well - isn't that fantastic? Can't change the RM4 tickets that we have already purchased to RM7 tickets. Next time, I would definitely buy the RM7 tickets for my visitors to Kuala Lumpur.

First place of visit - KLCC. I have been there but not my Uncle nor my Sister. We boarded the first bus, whereby the driver said he would drop us to a bus stand, where we could catch another bus to the KLCC. We waited and waited, thinking that the 'rapidKL' buses that uses that route would automatically stop at our bus stand, but none stopped! We were still there when the first driver who was driving back to his station, stopped at the bus stand, opposite the road to us, and saw us! He beckoned us to board his bus. And so we returned to where we started! That is okay, we are not in the hurry and we don't have to pay!

As instructed, we boarded the '106' bus. It would take us to the KLCC bus stand. My sister was hungry and we thought we eat first somewhere cheaper before we go to KLCC (you got to pay more to eat there). A passenger helped to press the bell, to a bus stand, that will lead us to food! We found ourselves at a place called Masjid India. That was what I was told and I believe her because I see most of the people eating (there were plenty of food stalls there but unfortunately no Chinese food, nevertheless we ate) and shopping there are Indians.

Came out of the 'Masjid India' and boarded '106' bus again to KLCC. From there we decided to visit the National Zoo. We boarded 'T20' bus to hub "AU3 Jentayu" then boarded "303" to the National Zoo.

Glad to left the National Zoo before the rain started. It was raining heavily when we waited for "303" or "305" to take us to hub "Giant Permata" so that we could take the "T20" back to the hub "Titiwangsa" in the city. My Uncle stretched out his hand a couple of times but "303" and "305" wouldn't stop! Why? Why? Why?

I was told later by the driver that probably Uncle did not stretch out his hand early enough for the driver to see to stop! It was not easy to see the number of the bus from a distance because it is not big and furthermore it was raining! I wondered how long the 3 of us waited! Asked a family of 4 waiting and they didn't offer much help either. They don't know why the bus did not stop for us!! Obviously they were not waiting for bus and not experienced with bus! Thanks to the 4 young girls who joined us later. One of them stretched out her hand only once as soon as she saw the red coloured bus approaching! The bus stopped! We should have stretched out our hands as soon as we noticed the bright red bus because only "303" and "305" uses that route! We thought there were other numbers! How would we know?

It was still raining when we arrived at the "Titiwangsa". If it was not raining, we would have gone on some more bus rides! Since it was raining, we decided to call it a day and buy the train ticket from the 'Titiwangsa" LRT station, which is at the same location to "Salak Selatan" LRT station.

What a day of public transport!! I don't mind to try again! Batu Caves was one of the places I wanted to bring my Uncle and Sister today as well, but we could not make it! Another time! The RM4 ticket was worth it! Next time, I buy the RM7 ticket!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Genting Highlands

Tuesday, 9 May 2006
Where should I bring my uncle? He is from China and this is his first visit to Malaysia! We decided to visit Genting Highlands. A visit to the Genting theme park, is a must for tourists! A place, away from the bustling Kuala Lumpur city. One of the places where the city folks would escape to, during holidays and weekends. And the children would love the many rides in both the outdoor and the indoor theme parks. For us, it is just to 'see see' the place. I enjoyed the cable ride up to the Genting Highlands Resort.

My paternal uncle, my sister and me, before boarding the cable car.

Enjoying the sceneries!



View of the part of the outdoor theme park from the Genting Indoor Arcade.

Petaling Street

Monday, 8 May 2006
One of the places of interest in Kuala Lumpur. It is called Petaling Street and every evening/night it is packed with people (local as well as overseas tourists) either window shopping or hoping to find something cheap (either food, clothing, shoes, bags, etc.)

Normally I would go at night but today I got to visit the place around 4 pm, for the first time. The vendors were already at their respective stalls, doing their businesses.

The only difference was, the stalls were outside the shops (on both sides of the road) and they would only be moved to the middle of the road at 5 pm. Business would close around midnight. And start over again the next afternoon.

There were some cars going through the street at this time but come night, it is not accessible to cars.

My sister and me exploring the Petaling Street!

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Views from Menara KLH in Jalan Ipoh

Saturday, 6 May 2006
Views of the Kuala Lumpur city from the 20th floor of Menara KLH, Jalan Ipoh.

The Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) in the centre.The Kuala Lumpur Tower on the right.
The other parts of the city on the left.
Zooming on the KLCC.
To the far right is a new highway, in construction, above the train rails.At certain hours of the day, I could hear sets of 'tong tong tong' and I found out that it came from the temple below and I saw a priest hitting something (I don't what, can't see!)Not far away from the above temple is another temple.

Air Stewardess for 15 Minutes!

Saturday, 6 May 2006
She works as an air stewardess for the Malaysian Airlines, and a niece of my friend, whom I have the opportunity to meet up with and staying overnight with. As we were both packing to return to our respective homes, I asked whether I could wear her beautiful batik kebaya uniform for a couple of minutes! Luckily I could fit in her clothes except that the skirt was too long! I am now too old and I do not have the right physique for that profession but it is fun pretending to be one, just for a few minutes.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

See Kuala Lumpur by Bus

Friday, 5 May 2006
With the increase in petrol prices, I think the cheapest way of moving around Kuala Lumpur is by bus!

She works at the KLCC and lives in Jalan Ipoh. If she doesn't leave by 5 pm, then she has to wait until the traffic is cleared and that would be 730 pm! It takes her less than 15 minutes to drive home, if there is no traffic jam!

I am not a Kuala Lumpur resident, and during my visits I have never tried the bus. Tonight, I have a feel of what it is like to ride a bus in this city. Thanks to my friend for the experience.

"Rapid KL" offers a smart way to travel! You only pay a fare of RM2 for unlimited travel on any of the 15 KL City Shuttle routes. Tickets can be purchased in all the buses and is valid on the day of purchase only.

It is cheap and there are buses every 5 minutes! And you may take city shuttle from any of these hubs: (1) Titiwangsa - located between Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Pekeliling Lam - Route 101, 102, 103 (2) Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) - located in front of Suria KLCC (Jalan Ampang) - Route 104, 105, 106 (3) KL Sentral - located between Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Tun Sambanthan - Route 109, 110, 115 (4) Maluri - located in front of Maluri LRT, Jalan Cheras - Route 111, 112, 113, 114 (5) Medan Pasar - located along Jalan Hang Kasturi (Pasar Seni) until Medan Pasar (next to the HSBC bank) - Route 101, 102, 105, 108, 111, 113.

I bought a MR2 ticket from KLCC to Titiwangsa. From Titiwangsa to Jalan Ipoh, I had to buy another ticket, which is only MR1. I cannot use the MR2 ticket because it is outside the city shuttle routes. Likewise the MR1 ticket is valid for the day of travel, anytime, no limit, both ways.

Later, we decided to visit Petaling Street, a must for tourist! The street is lined up with stalls selling all sorts of things every night.

In order to get there, we have to go to Titiwangsa first, so we board a 'RapidKL' bus from Jalan Ipoh to Titiwangsa. I didn't have to pay any more. I only need to show the driver my MR1 ticket.

Then we board another 'RapidKL' bus from Titiwangsa to Medan Pasar (one of the 15 KL City Shuttle routes). I didn't have to pay either. I just show the driver my MR2 ticket.

Time to go back home. We decided to pass the KLCC before returning to Jalan Ipoh. So we board the 'RapidKL' bus from Medan Pasar to KLCC with the MR2 ticket, board another bus from KLCC to Titiwangsa with the MR2 ticket, then finally another bus from Titiwangsa to Jalan Ipoh with the MR1 ticket.

What a cheap way to travel! 7 bus rides or even more, with only 2 tickets totalling only MR3.

I understand there is a better deal and that is to buy a MR4 ticket and that allows you to travel, unlimited, on the day of purchase, to 57 routines (inclusive of the KL city 15 routes, KL trunk 7 routes and KL local 35 routes, ).

Best part of the whole system is that you do not have stress from driving. You get to relax and enjoy the rides, talk to your friends! However it is not recommendable for people who are in the rush, children or elderly people because sometimes, there are so many people rushing into the bus! I saw that on my first bus from Titiwangsa to Jalan Ipoh as it was the time when everyone is going home from work!