Kuala Lumpur 2012 (October 10-12/October 15-16, 2012)

Another Southeast Asian Destination via Air Asia!  This booking has been waiting for 1 year and a month, but it’s definitely worth the wait.  We got this fare for an incredible amount of 1,425 Pesos each person for a roundtrip ticket.  Since the ticket did not cost that much, we were able to add meals, pick a seat of our choice, and add huge baggage allowances within a year before our flights, it’s like an installment basis, haha.  And since we also booked a 7 day stay, we decided to also book a flight going to Singapore which cost 600 Pesos one way, then we’ll just take a bus or train going back to Kuala Lumpur since return flight will cost more because of higher airport taxes in Singapore, but later on we decided to book a plane ticket back to Malaysia to save time.  It may cost higher than our roundtrip CRK-KUL flight but definitely the best rate since we only paid for Singapore airport taxes and surcharges since it was a zero fare flight.

Now let’s see how my Kuala Lumpur Adventure went.  I was with two other friends during this trip.  Since its Air Asia, we had to use Clark International Airport.  Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:05 in the morning of October 10, 2012 so we reserved a seat at Philtranco by calling them.  We waited at the pick-up station in SM Megamall Building A.  The bus came at exactly 7:00AM and our seats were reserved.  We reached Clark a few minutes before check-in gates open so we still had time to have light snacks.  Our check-in was fine and immigration clearance took less than ten minutes.  We only waited for around 30 minutes before boarding time. 

Our flight left on time and reached Kuala Lumpur on schedule.  We enjoyed our pre-booked meals onboard the plane.  We arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), this terminal is just a big plain building, nothing fancy since it’s a budget terminal.  Passengers have to walk their way to the terminal building upon alighting the aircraft.  We no longer had to fill-out immigration cards since Malaysia captures finger prints at the immigration counters; however my fingerprint were no longer scanned maybe to save time because another batch of passengers arrived at the immigration line.  It took us around 15 minutes to clear the immigration. We went straight to the baggage claim area but there were no more sign of our flights from the carousel area and our bags were all lined up on the floor to give way for the baggage of an incoming flight.  We had a hard time finding our bags. Before leaving the terminal building, I went to the tune talk booth to claim my SIM card which I also purchased online for only 70 Pesos (RM5) pre-loaded with RM5.  The airport is located in Sepang, an hour and a half away from Kuala Lumpur city center.  We had to take the skybus which will bring us to KL Sentral for only RM9 (RM7.70 if purchased online via AirAsia). 

Pre-booked meal - Chicken Rice

KLIA- LCC Terminal Arrivals

KL Sentral is where several train systems in Kuala Lumpur interconnects.  Our hotel is located in Maluri district in Kuala Lumpur, so we had to take the sky train to Masjid Jamek Station and connect via the Ampang line to Maluri Station.   Our hotel is a 10 minute walk from the station, but it took us more time finding the hotel so we had to ask the locals.

We stayed at D’ Garden Hotel due to its cheap price via agoda.com.  Our hotel room is worth 1,531 Pesos for a 3D/2N stay for 2 persons and comes with a free buffet style breakfast.  Although it is composed only of breads, pastries, and cakes, there is always a different type of Pancit every day which is enough to fill one’s tummy.  Our room was small but it is clean, the hot shower works and the water pressure is fine.  There is no cabinet but there is a clothes hanger.  There is a small TV in the room and a pair of drinking glasses and a pitcher which you can refill outside the room.  There are distilled drinking water stations in every hallways of the hotel.  Being near the elevator added to our convenience.

We were about to tour Batu caves the night we arrived because we plan to spend the next days entirely in Genting Highlands.  Upon reaching the mall near our hotel, we decided to take-out some snacks from McDonald’s before we take the train just across the highway.  Unfortunately, when we were about to exit the mall, the rain poured hard.  We were forced to dine-in while waiting for the rain to stop.  We knew that we can never make it to Batu caves so we just decided to explore the mall and I was able to buy a complete set of Doraemon stuffed characters.  It isn’t cheap but I can’t find such anywhere so I grabbed the opportunity.

My latest Doraemon Collection

On our way back, we saw a small eatery a few blocks from our hotel.  We had a hard time because no one speaks English; we were being passed from person to person, until this girl from the kitchen came to us and helped us understand the menu.  She barely speaks English but she understood us.  We took away the food and decided to eat it in our hotel room, to our surprise, the serving was huge and it tasted so good.  After that delicious meal, we decided to rest for tomorrows activities.

Delicious Nasi Lemak

Forgot the name of this dish, spicy fried rice wrapped in egg.

Day 2, we woke up early, took a bath and packed everything we needed in this day’s journey.   We headed to the restaurant area to have our free breakfast.   After a filled tummy, we walked our way to the LRT station.  We alighted at Bandaraya station and transferred to KTM commuter train which will take us to Batu caves.  The last station is literally beside the attraction so it was really convenient.  We saw huge statues of Buddhist gods, monkeys roam around the area so I kept a good watch on my belongings because some monkeys are so playful, they might take something from you.  But their monkeys were so well behaved.  To get to the caves, you have to take 272 steps on your way up to the mountain.  It was so tiring but it was nice reaching the top.

My first breakfast in KL

A Giant Buddhist Statue

The 272 steps going to Batu Caves

Inside the Cave.

The view from the 272nd step.

We took the 11:30AM train back to KL Sentral and had our lunch there. We also booked for a 2:00PM bus to Genting Highlands.  Our ticket included the Genting Skyway, the tallest and longest cable car in Southeast Asia.  One way costs RM 10.30.  The bus took us way up high to the Genting skyway terminal, and the cable car took us way higher.  We felt the cool air upon climbing Genting highlands which is literally at the peak of the mountain.  Clouds are forming right below us and beside the hotel buildings.  The travel was so exciting!

Got my tickets to Genting Highlands

The Skyway Terminal

A view from the tallest cable car in SE Asia.

Just imagine how high we are.

There are two theme parks at the highland, indoor and outdoor, we bought a ride all you can ticket for both parks for only RM66.00.  We only had almost 2 hours left before the outdoor theme park closes at 6:00PM so we decided to maximize our time outdoor.  The rides were thrilling and fun, however, we were not able to try everything because the park already closed.  So off we go to the indoor theme park.  This one is open until midnight, but rides were limited, most of which are designed for children.  There is a snow world but it is not included in our tickets, there is a separate fee for the attraction, so we just set it aside.   Night falls and we had to go back down to catch the last bus going to KL Sentral.  The night cable car ride was still thrilling.  Upon reaching the skyway bus terminal, we were surprised to know that the last bus going to KL Sentral had departed.  We were offered a taxi ride but we refused because we know that it will cost us a huge amount.  We went to the ticket booth which was already closed at that time, to ask for other alternatives.  They told us that the last bus to depart is bound for Gombak, I looked at my KL train map and found out that there is a LRT station in Gombak connected to KL Sentral.  However, they said that the booking is full for that bus but we can still wait as chance passengers since sometimes tourist opt to stay overnight in Genting.  We were relieved when the passengers boarded the bus and there were extra seats, as chance passengers, we were seated apart from each other.  Upon reaching Gombak, we were very happy to find out that the bus stop is actually beside the LRT station. 

The Outdoor Theme Park

I actually liked this one, so I tried it twice!

A high speed coaster at the Indoor Theme Park.

We bought tickets going to KL Sentral but later decided to alight at KLCC station to take a peak at the Petronas Towers.  The station is right beside the buildings so it is an easy walk to its picture perfect area.  There is also a musical fountain right in front of the towers.  After a very tiring day, we decided to take a cab going back to our hotel.  After dinner, we packed our things as we are heading for Singapore tomorrow.

The Petronas Twin Towers at Night

Day 3, freshen up a bit and went down for our breakfast.  We went back to our room to take a shower and prepare for check-out.  Double checked everything and had a final nap.  We checked-out early to make our way back to the airport.  Upon reaching LCC Terminal, we checked-in our luggage and decided to eat our lunch before proceeding to the boarding gate.  We were chatting so long until I remembered that we still have to clear the immigration, so we hurried to the immigration counter.  Luckily, there we no long lines and we reached the boarding gate a few minutes before boarding.

Breakfast Time again!

The Sepang Race Circuit

Details of my Singapore Trip can be found here.

October 15, 2012.  Upon returning from Singapore, we checked-in at Tune Hotels LCCT.  We chose to stay at this airport hotel because we have an early morning flight back to the Philippines on the next day.  After some rest, we went to the sky bus terminal and went to KL Sentral.  From there we went to Plaza Rakyat Station and had our late lunch at a nearby mall.  Here, we bought some local chocolates and other souvenir items such as t-shirts.  Walking our way back to the LRT station, we found out that we are at the end of China Town.  We walked our way to the street and buy some food for take-out.  Passing the Bus station, we saw massage chairs for only RM1.00.  It was a quick relief to our stress.  Upon reaching our hotel, we ate out take-away dinner inside our room.

Toiletries Package from Tune Hotels

KL Tower

On our last day, we woke up early and checked-out at 4:00AM.  Instead of walking, we took the shuttle to the departure hall for only RM1.00 per person.  Immigration counters are located inside the small boarding gate where we were assigned.  We had to stand in line and were only allowed to pass the immigration counters after the airline’s boarding time, so after the gates were opened, we all rushed towards our plane.  It was such a weird procedure; we didn’t even have the time to sit down while waiting for boarding.

Our flight departed on time.  Good thing we have a pre-booked meal because we had no time for breakfast while at the airport because of the weird boarding procedure they did.  We landed at Clark International Airport on a sunny morning.  It was a breeze clearing the immigration.  At the arrivals section, we saw a free shuttle to Resorts World Manila, which is beside the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  We decided to take the free shuttle as it will save us a lot.  The bus left Clark at 11:30AM and we reached Resorts World Manila at 1:30PM.  We went straight to the Taxi Terminal and we reached home for only 150 Pesos.  If we took the Philtranco Bus to Megamall it will cost us 400 Pesos per person and we still have to take a taxi afterwards.  So the free shuttle saved us almost a thousand Pesos.

I thought it will take some time before I can come back to Kuala Lumpur, but when my Macau Flight in January 2013 with my Mom was cancelled, I decided to bring her to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur instead.  So in a few months time, I’ll be back there again.  See you real soon, Kuala Lumpur!