January 5, 2011 The Flight to KL from Manila
I was so excited for my first trip abroad. I kept pestering my friend Jomel of fixing his schedule. He was my host for my Malaysian trip. Two months before this trip, everything was already planned except for the booking of flight ticket. I had to rebooked my flight out due to changes in Jomel's schedule. Being a first timer, it was not that difficult to process my boarding pass and paying the corresponding travel taxes. The immigration officer was quite strict but I answered honestly his questions with the assurance that I will go back in the Philippines after 4 days. I boarded the 855PM Cebu Pacific flight to KL with my estimated time of arrival 35 minutes past midnight. That was already January 6. From KLCC airport after going through Malaysian immigration, I went to the taxi booth where I paid RM99 (with toll fee) going to the Petaling Jaya. I had my first glimpse of Malaysian scenery as the taxi drove off from the airport. Finally I arrived at the meet up point with Jomel with constant texting of my whereabouts. Then it was sleeping time.
January 6, 2011 Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers
I woke up around 9AM. Jomel was on vacation still so worries. At daylight, I got to explore his condo unit. I loved the interior and the space of his unit. By 1030AM, I had my first taste of Malaysian coffee from a local kopitiam. We just had to walk several blocks to this coffee shop. After brunch, we headed to the train station getting off at KL Sentral for train transfer.
From KL Sentral we bought train tickets to Batu Caves. I knew this place because it was here where the first challenge of Amazing Race Asia S4 took place. Batu Caves is a cave complex with Hindu shrines. Alighting from Batu Caves Komuter train station, a tall monkey god statue stands on the left beside the entrance gate. We walked passed through a shrine and a pond garden to get to the caves.
Below the caves was the world's tallest statue of a Hindu god, Murugan, standing at 42.7m high. A flock of pigeons feed on the grounds from the bird food given by visitors. Climbing up the 272 steps of the caves was not easy. It was energy draining. I had a rewarding sight on my last step up. Stalactites jutted out of the caves ceiling with different formations. Several artworks and shrines also line up the irregular walls of the cave. Be warned of the monkeys inside the cave for they grab water bottles and food bags. Sunlight gets through the cave on the upper end.
From Batu Caves, we took the train to Kl Sentral then changed to another train dropping by Dang Wangi station. At Dang Wangi, we hopped into a taxi going to KL Tower. We were supposed to dine at the revolving restaurant but we we did not make it to the cut off time. We just went to KLCC Mall instead at Petronas Towers for an early dinner.
Since it was still early, we just explored and window shopped at the mall. Jomel told me that the view outside gets better when it was dark with the lights on.
By 7PM we went outside and the simple glass and stainless steel building came to life. We took a shot first from the mall side. View was magnificient.
Jomel mentioned a better spot at the other side to take a photo. We went inside the mall again and from the ground floor we went outside the fountain area. I faced the building and looked up. Spectacular sight was in front of me. The spires of the building were sparkling like diamonds. There and then I was in front of what was once the tallest buildings in the world. We spent around two hours at the fountain area until i had my fill of gazing at its grandeur.
January 7, 2011 Going up the Petronas
That day Jomel had to report back to work. I quite knew my directions already with just train transfers. Anyway, I got already a Malaysian Sim to contact him. For my itinerary, I will go up the Petronas. I went with Jomel to his office for a while before taking the train to KLCC station. From there, I walked to the direction that leads to the Petronas Twin Towers Visit. Jomel had shown me previously which way I was supposed to be going.
It was only 830AM but the queue was very long. I waited patiently with other visitors.
By the time I got to the ticketing counter, the ticketing staff gave me a 3PM ticket amounting to RM10 since that was the available slot for my part. I was still on queue by then when a staff said the next group of visitors need one more person. I wasted no time, I presented my self and immediately I was directed to this next group of visitors. I learned that each group should be composed of 20 persons. Bags had to be X-Rayed and left on a locker at the security group. After two hours, finally I was going up to the skybridge at level 41.
The elevator was really fast. We were given color coded ID's so as to identify which group were we. We had to take photos as many as we can for a limited time of 10 minutes. An in-house guide was also their to brief us and answered our questions. I had to asked the guide to take photos of me in the skybridge like 5 times. How was that asking me a favor? Who would even thought that one day I would be able to step on the skybridge not only did Catherine Zeta-Jones did in the 1999 movie Entrapment.
The elevator was really fast. We were given color coded ID's so as to identify which group were we. We had to take photos as many as we can for a limited time of 10 minutes. An in-house guide was also their to brief us and answered our questions. I had to asked the guide to take photos of me in the skybridge like 5 times. How was that asking me a favor? Who would even thought that one day I would be able to step on the skybridge not only did Catherine Zeta-Jones did in the 1999 movie Entrapment.
The skybridge connects the two towers at level 41. I learned more of the architecture of the Twin Towers from the brochure that was given earlier that the Two Towers each had a different contractor. The in-house guide upon asking her told me that one tower is for different tenants while the other tower is solely that of Petronas. I was able to witness a worker cleaning the glass windows right in front of me. Not a good job for persons who have acrophobia or fear of heights. Ten minutes was up and we were told to get down.
After getting back my backpack, I went to this gallery. I did not noticed it earlier since I was ushered immediately to the next group of visitors. On the gallery were interestingly cool exhibits. One was the demonstration of what happens when lightning strikes a tall building. Another exhibit lets you compare your height via a sensor to a tall building. But what made me stay there was solving the puzzles at the activity area. Made my brain really work hard.
After getting back my backpack, I went to this gallery. I did not noticed it earlier since I was ushered immediately to the next group of visitors. On the gallery were interestingly cool exhibits. One was the demonstration of what happens when lightning strikes a tall building. Another exhibit lets you compare your height via a sensor to a tall building. But what made me stay there was solving the puzzles at the activity area. Made my brain really work hard.
Soon it was lunchtime. I had my lunch inside KLCC mall. I was supposed to go back to rest at Jomel's condo since I have the keys, I decided to do some mall hopping as advised by Jomel. Just to kill time and to look for Malaysian find There was this chocolate fair exhibited in the mall in mid Valley Mall where I gladly tasted some delights for free. I bought keychains from Mid Valley Mall which Jomel stated that it was expensive when we met later after his work. He then took me to Mydin mall in Bukit Bintang to buy cheap souvenirs and pasalubongs. I bought two shirts for my self and lots of keychains for my close friends at work.
Partying in KL
After going home, we went for a quick swim at infinity pool on his condo. We decided to go try the party places in Selangor. The night was still young anyway.
We took a taxi going to Sunway Pyramid. This mall is Egyptian inspire. There was even a huge lion head in front of the mall.
After going around the mall searching for a nice place to stay, we finally settled in at Coco Banana. At first we had a few bottle of beers at their live band area but we transferred to the dance floor area via a neon lit passage connecting the two halls of the establishment. We partied hard but there was tomorrow.
We went home past 2AM. A fastfood chain was open near his place so we bought some food to eat. It was tiring day for me however I enjoyed every minute of it. I was getting the most of my stay so be it.
January 8, 2011 A Trip to Putrajaya
Earlier Jomel accompanied me at KL Sentral to book a flight so Singapore via Air Asia. We had a quick breakfast at a coffee shop before taking the KLIA transit and alighted ourselves at Putrajaya. We then took a taxi and dropped us at the pink mosque, the Putra Mosque. I loved the architecture in this place. Buildings differ from each other on designs. Manmade lakes surround the central island where beautiful bridges connect them to different precincts or districts. Putrajaya is the administrative center of Kuala Lumpur. Jomel briefed me on the area before going back to work leaving me to explore the place alone.
Some interesting sights were the following.
1. The Putra Mosque or the Pink Mosque
2. The Seri Wawasan Bridge.
3. The Putra Bridge
4. Other bridge of great design across Seri Gemilang.
5. Seri Gemilang Bridge
6. The Perdana Putra housing the offices of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other high ranking officials.
7. The Ministry of Finance Building
8. The Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC)
9. The Palace of Justice
10. Monumen Alaf Baru (MIllenium Monument). A pencil like structure beside the lake.
11. Dondang Sayang Perahu (gondola) of Putrajaya Cruise Tasik
There was free tour by the Tourism Office daily. I signed up on one of this tours giving me a glimpse of the best architecture in the "Intelligent Garden City".
Here are other photos from the Putrajaya.
Soon dark clouds loomed over the horizon giving me a hint that I should go back to the city. After all, my feet aches already from walking.
A Walk in Chinatown
From KLSentral, I hopped on the train and alighting at Pasar Seni station. I found my way to Petaling Street where KL's Chinatown is located. The stretch of the street were lined up of stores selling cheap commodities ranging from clothes, shoes, bags, and electronics. There were some hotels and restaurants too around the area.
A few yards from Pasar Seni train station is the Central Market. The building houses stalls that sell Malay, Chinese and Indian items like sarong, batik, textiles, art and crafts. I managed to take photos with my camera and camera phone in near battery empty state. I took the next train from Pasar Seni to Dang Wangi station where I got a taxi going to KL Tower.
View from the Top
I am supposed to meet Jomel by 430PM. As soon as I arrived at KL Tower, I went to information desk and asked for a charger. The lady staff was so kind enough to help me. Was the prince supposed to rescue the princess and not the other way around? I survived my phone and while charging I sent Jomel a text informing of my situation in KL Tower. He was caught also in a traffic jam making us miss again the last serving hours of the revolving restaurant. We just went to the observation deck to check the view of the city from the top.
An audio guide is available to use for free. The audio guide talks about the famous landmarks and some history of the city. It was just a distraction for me considering, we have to move around with other visitors plus I have to use the binoculars.
An audio guide is available to use for free. The audio guide talks about the famous landmarks and some history of the city. It was just a distraction for me considering, we have to move around with other visitors plus I have to use the binoculars.
Sidetrip: Plaza Low Yat
From my research, I found out that the best place to buy cheap yet quality gadgets in Kuala Lumpur was Plaza Low Yat. The whole building is dedicated to electronics ranging from appliances to the simple mobile phone. Here in this IT mall, I was able to buy a Canon DSLR in a good price.
Coming from Plaza Low Yat, we dropped by a Giant Grocery Store to buy some Malay coffee which I would like my mom to taste. Once I had set my grocery bags, I went to play with my new toy. I took last minute shots of the place before I packed all of my things ready for the adventure the next day in Singapore. Matter of fact, I only had a few hours sleep since the Jomel arranged a taxi to fetch me and take me to the airport by 4AM. My Air Asia flight was 6AM the following day. Jomel no longer accompanied me to the airport. I bade farewell and thank him for the showing me around.
Life is either a great adventure or nothing. -- Helen Keller