4-DAYS IN KL AND MALACCA WITH JAPANESE FRIEND

I met this Jap early of this year when both of us were travelling alone staying at the same guest house in Siem Reap, Cambodia. And we decided to go to travel around Siem Reap together fow few days. In the mid of this year, I got an email from him saying that he planned to come to Malaysia and for few days. So I spent few days with him to travel around KL and Malacca.

23 December 2009 - Wednesday.
Syed Restaurant near Bangsar. Had chicken sate - one of the famous local couisins. It is marinated chicken and grilled over charcoal. He managed to finish around 10 sticks of sate.

After short rest in my apartment, headed to KL Twin Tower Park and Bukit Bintang.

Had some Thai seafood in Jalan Alor (Alor Street).

Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) and Sultan Abdul Samad Building. And the naughty (and dirty) area of Haji Taib Street, a street filled with numerous social problems.

24 December 2009 - Thursday.
KL Twin Tower again in the morning to get a ticket to the skybridge. It was full and decided to KL Tower.

After KL Tower, we were leaving to the downsouth, Malacca which took us 2 1/2 hours journey.

Stayed in Tang Guest House in Jonker Walk - RM 70. Very good hospitality and Tang's black coffee and nasi lemak was superb. Place visited in Malacca: Jonker Walk, A Famosa, Studhuys Building, Cina Hills, Maritime Museum. The handsome Shigeru bought me a seafood; black pepper crab, grilled prawn and fried squid for dinner. We had a famous chicken rice ball in Jonker Walk but I can't remember name of that Chinese restaurant.

25 December 2009. Friday and we didn't care about Christmas.
Back to KL and straight to Batu Caves - one of the famous Hindu shrines outside India and we climbed a sets of more than 200 stairs to the end of the cave. (20 minutes from KL). China Town / Petaling Street. Shige was compensating himself for tiring Batu Caves climbing with Tiger Beer here. hehe

Kampung Baru - the oldest Malay residential area in the KL city.

26 December 2009. Saturday.

Shige was leaving to Mindanao, Philippines. And I got this email after few hours of his departure...

TRANSPORTATION IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY

Few alternatives for you to travel around KL city. But, I will only share with you the reliable and the most efficient public transportation for budget traveller during your stay in KL.

From KL International Airport (KLIA) to KL city, the best option is KLIA Transit which costs you RM 35 (USD10). It operates from 6.00am to 12.00am and takes you to KL Central. If you arrive in Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) near KLIA by budget airlines, the best option to KL city is by bus which costs you less than RM 8 (USD 2.50). There are a number of bus operators to KL city such as Aerobus. Just go to the left side of LCCT (you should pass Coffee Bean), and you will see a ticket counter. If you fly via AirAsia, I would recommend you to book the ticket when you buy the air ticket. It saves few bucks!

You should avoid taxi to KL city as the charge is double or more.

KL Central is the largest transit hub in the city. It connects many areas within the city as well as suburban area surrounding the city.

1) Train: KTM Komuter
It is less used by traveller because of the route is more to locals. It connects suburban areas of KL.

2) Train: Putra Line and Star Line (recommended!)
This is the most important public transport if you are in KL. Putra LRT and statations are in many signicant places for tourists such as:

- China Town, Central Market (Pasar Seni Putra LRT Station)
- KL Twin Tower (KLCC Putra LRT station)

- Kampung Baru - the oldest Malay residential area in the City (Kampung Baru LRT Station)

- Masjid India (Masjid Jamek Putra LRT station)

- Puduraya bus station (Plaza Rakyat STAR LRT Station)

3) Bus: RapidKL
RapidKL covers almost all areas in KL. It consists of 6 areas of KL. If compared to a dozens bus service in KL, RapidKL is the most reliable as it operates by government owned company. Tickets are cheap but if you are in hurry, please don't use RapidKL. Putra Line and Star Line is better. Or just take taxi.

4) Monorail
This is another intracity public transportation. It links many key destinations in KL. It stretches from Brickfields (Little India) and ends at Titiwangsa terminal. It passes via Bukit Bintang which is the top business district, shopping and tourist spot.

5) Taxi
All taxis in KL are metered. You must insist them to use meter. Many cases taxi driver don't want to use meter to foreigner and they charge unreasonably high. If this happens, take the taxi number and lodge a report to Road Transport Department hotline at 03 88884244 or email to salim@jpj.gov.my , They can be charged up to RM 300 by the relevant authority. Dont worry that you won't get another taxi, taxi service is quite easy to get. However, in some circumstances especially late night, you have no choice if they ask you to pay more.

Some tips:

- Expect heavy traffic from 7 to 9am and 5-8pm

- Extra careful for snatch theft and pick pocket while using public transportation
- KL Central is a central for almost all public transports in KL

- You can 'check in' in KL Central if you fly with Malaysia Airline System (MAS)

- Opt for KL Hop On Hop Off if you have a limited time in KL, say one day.

- KL has tourist police personnel in major areas of the city.