We land (thump!!!) into KL at 7.40pm on Saturday 16 July. Day is turning
into night.
I definitely make up for sitting around Kota
Batru airport with the looooong walk from the plane to baggage claim.
The trip into KL Sentral is fairly painless. I
end up taking the train one stop, getting off then buying a ticket to KL
Sentral. More than half price than from the airport….one needs to save where
one can given no income coming in 😃 I meet two men on
the platform, they give me some tips for my travels.
The free travel within KL seems to have stopped.
It costs me MYR 1.30 for my ticket (to go one stop).
On arrival at my stop I feel like there are a
million lines all connecting to this station! I find the nearly ticket booth
and get pointed in a direction. Just before the barrier to exit there is
another ticket booth. I ask the lady if she knows what direction I need to go.
Google maps told me the hotel is 450 m from the station so totally walkable!
She very kindly comes out of her booth and takes the escalator up with me and
points to the hotel. I’m told walking a little further will be safer as it’s
more lit up. Fine with me!!
Wow this part of town (Chinatown) is super
buzzy! So many people out and about and so many cool cafes / bars /
restaurants. I can’t wait to explore tomorrow!
It’s a fairly painless check-in then the fun
begins with the lifts. I clearly didn’t press the right one as I can’t get to
my floor. I call out to the guy at reception who very helpfully comes and
explains which lifts I can use and gives me a wee gift in a box. He tells me
what they are but I’m so tired (been traveling now for just over 10 hours) so
don’t catch what he says. I’ll find out soon. So kind of him!
Wow the view from my room is amazing. I enjoy
staring outside while eating one of the chocolates from the box I was given.
Sunday 17 July I wake just after 7.30am, first thing I do is open the curtains to look at the view.
Last night I had left a mask on the door as I
knew I would forget I was now in a place that you needed to wear them all the
time when inside. It was so nice not wearing it on the island.
The first thing I notice on the breakfast buffet
is the cheese selection. Thank you, I’ll be getting mine right now!
My mission today is laundry - yes I know it’s
exciting but needs must.
First stop though is coffee. I had already done
some research on where to go around me.
When I arrive at the laundromat there is a man
helping someone - excellent! He kindly helps me. It’s his first time here he
tells me.
I sit back and relax, 36 minutes for the wash.
Once some of my clothes are in the dryer I
decide to take the clothes that aren’t going in the dryer back to my room. I
walk back through the Petaling Street Market. Lots of look at.
There is definitely a lot more people around now than a couple of hours ago. The heat and humidity has also increased! When I get back to the laundry the dryer has 10 minutes to go.
Laundry all done! I wander back to the hotel via the bus / train station. Unfortunately I need to go to KL Sentral to purchase my train ticket.
Feeling much cooler I decide to head to KL Sentral. There are SO many people around!
After getting directions I head to the ticket
counter. I’m asked to show my MySejahtera app to to the security person.
Queue ticket received, now I wait. There are 4 staff but only one counter
open….go figure!
Wowzers the train is pricey (😊), MYR 38. Basically 170% more expensive than taking the bus. Better be
good! Anyway I have my ticket.
I head to the mall which is attached to KL
Sentral and locate a money exchange place. Rate not the best so I decide
against it.
I stumble across the same sushi place that I
found last time I was in KL. Time for a late lunch / small bite.
When I arrive at my train station I follow the
signs to the Central Market. Central Market was founded in 1888 and originally
used as a wet market. Over the years there has been development to both what’s
in the building and the building itself.
I wander through - it’s nice and cool in here!
Lots of art galleries, shops and cafes.
When I exit I see a sign for money exchange. It’s the same rate as what I got when I was last in KL so move ahead with the exchange. At least now it’s done!
I wander back to the hotel through the Petaling Street Market (there are more people and stalls around now) then along an alleyway.
As I leave the hotel at 5.55pm it’s still just as hot as it was a few hours ago! I wander the streets / alleys in front of the hotel before deciding on stop one for tonight - DaBao.
The bar area (upstairs) is very nice but super dark and no outside light! Next place I must be able to see outside, especially as it’s still day light.
Beer and bao (spicy chicken) ordered.
I sat down at the restaurant across from the hotel but wasn’t feeling it, so made my apologizes and left. Decided to head to my room to watch the sunset instead.
As I’m walking out of the hotel a guy comes running up to me “do you remember me?”. I’m like ummm what on earth is happening!! Once he takes his mask off I do. It’s the family from the resort that was on the boat out with me. Totally didn’t expect to run into anyone I know here. We stood chatting for awhile. I got a few tips for tomorrow.
I’m craving veges / salad so decide to head to the vegetarian / vegan restaurant. With no booking I’m sat at the bar.
Very pleased with my selection - a delicious salad. And I even have leftovers which I’m taking back to the hotel with me for tomorrow.
I wake just after 7.30am on Monday 18 July, a great change from the awful hotel at Kuala Besut.
I’m not paying enough attention and get off on the wrong floor. Clearly coffee is needed! I had pushed the wrong floor too. Hey ho.
I make it to breakfast a couple of minutes later.
I had researched somewhere to go for coffee. On the way stopped at Chan She Shu Yuen.
Chan She Shu Yuen opened back in 1908, is a Cantonese style temple which primarily serves/ed immigrants with the surname Chan.
It was nice to be out of the sun for a few minutes!
I continue my journey, up stairs, down stairs (to cross the motorway). Not as many people out and about today which is nice. Google maps let me to the destination but no coffee shop. Hey ho. I decide to head back to where I went yesterday for coffee.
It’s crazy hot already and it’s not even 11am. I try to walk in the shade as much as possible. Aah the cafe is closed today. Right back to the hotel to google somewhere else. Unfortunately it’s not as cool in here as I would have liked. Think I’ll be swimming this afternoon. Coffee shop located….it says it’s open. Fingers crossed!
Third time lucky! Vintage 1988 Cafe is open.
Feeling like my body temperature is back to normal I decide it’s time to leave and head outside into the head and humidity.
I take the long way back to the hotel. Wandering along new (for me) streets.
I was thinking it was a little strange I hadn’t heard from Eric but also know what the first day back from leave can be like. Lin sent me an email saying he was trying to get hold of me - I called him immediately. He had dropped off my cans this morning (I’ve heard nothing from reception….). What a shame we couldn’t meet up!
I’m so engrossed with downloading my photos that I’m shocked when I turn around and notice it’s absolutely pouring outside.
The thunder begins as soon as I leave the cafe. Let’s hope the rain stays away!
After doing a spot of packing I decide to head out for dinner. Nothing in the vicinity really catches my eye so I decide on a two tier evening again. Japanese to start with then I’ll head back to the hotel restaurant.
The pork dumplings and chicken bao are delicious!
I’m quite surprised that there is next to no one on the streets when I leave the restaurant. I’m glad it’s still light, if not I’d be taking the shortest direct route back to the hotel.
When I return to the hotel I drop my bag then head to the bar where I get a window seat. It seems you need to be more than one person to get service. Very poor.
The service doesn’t get better, in fact worse. Really unimpressed. The view from the balcony though is amazing!!
Monday 19 July I wake before 7.30am. Two weeks since I arrived in Malaysia! For whatever reason I didn’t pack up last night so decide to do it before breakfast.
Not such a long chilled affair at breakfast as I have a train to catch…..and to fit in a stop for coffee before getting to KL Sentral.
Check-out is nice and easy.
My coffee has just been delivered and the thunder starts. Eeks alive! Thankfully it’s only a 2 minute walk from here to the LTR / MYR station entrance but I could get super wet!
Ooh my goodness me, it’s absolutely pouring and in all directions. This isn’t going to be fun. Thankfully I have a little bit of time on my hands so I’m really hoping the rain stops or at least eases off.
Standing staring at the rain isn’t going to help. And the thunder just keeps on coming. I think I just need to go…..
As I go to leave one of the staff says that he’ll come with me - brilliant! I’m given an umbrella and off we go. Such a big difference!!!
The train arrives on the platform as I’m about to get off the escalator, talk about timing.
I of course arrive far too early at KL Sentral. There are people lining up to get into the gate I need to go. No thanks, I’ll sit down for now and just wait. At least there is a fan.
We move from one waiting area (outside the gate) to another waiting area (inside the gate area). I find a spot to stand by a fan. Within seconds they call us to go through the gates. On entering the train I notice that some seats are sitting forward and some backwards. I’m praying that the train is going in the direction of my seat…..but it makes no sense given I’m in carriage A. I get talking to the lady in front of me, she thinks the same. All going well we’ll be able to move seats if we are going backwards.
Goodbye KL, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks!
No comments:
Post a Comment