KL Coffeshop Hunting: Pulp Coffee at Bangsar

I was in Kuala Lumpur for a few days, and I wanted to visit some best coffeeshops in town. Based on my research on internet, some names popped up including Pulp Coffee at Bangsar. 

Fell in love with the exterior of Pulp Coffee, I paid a visit using LRT from Dang Wangi to Bangsar. I was confused when arriving in Bangsar, reviews on the internet didn't tell me how to get there using LRT. Although I got google map on my phone, still I couldn't read it:p

30 minutes later, I finally arrived at Pulp Coffee. From the outside, it was seen as a warehouse, until you read the mural on its window. 

Yeah, I think I need it too :)

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Merchants Lane KL: Instagrammable Restaurant To Find Halal Food In Kuala Lumpur

I have been eying this cute restaurant in Petaling Street area for a while, and when I got a chance to go to Kuala Lumpur, this place was my number one on my itinerary.

Located inside an old building, Merchants Lane was hard to find. On the first attempt we were directed by a staff of neighbouring restaurant to the green door of Merchants Lane. 

But the effort was well worth it. This place has a beautiful interior, great ambience and yummy food. Just like the sign at the bar: "THIS MUST BE THE PLACE" 

Yes, this must be the place!

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Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur International Airport ('KLIA') With Kids

Just few weeks ago, we had a shocking airlines promo offering cheap tickets departing from Kuala Lumpur to many countries. For example, Qatar Airways offered Kuala Lumpur to Europe for only IDR 4 mio for a return trip!  

Back in January 2016, we had also bought Qatar Airways promo for our #TurkiyeFamTrip. The discount was available only for flight from Kuala Lumpur, and not from Jakarta's airport.

As all the full airline service which have been giving discount are departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport ('KLIA') and not from KLIA2, it is important to find alternative flights from Jakarta to KLIA. One of them is Malindo Air, who has just moved from KLIA2 to KLIA starting March 2016. Malindo Air is a full airline service, so you will be entitled to a 30kg luggage. Visit Traveloka if you'd like to book your separate flight from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur.

KLIA is huge, it has a train which linked different terminals. If it's going to be your first transit at KLIA for your family holiday, I will share with you things to do in KLIA with your kids.

The seats at KLIA are comfortable enough to sleep, just remember to bring your neck pillow

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Tune Hotel KLIA 2 : Where to Stay at KLIA 2 Airport

If you have a connecting flight which require one night stop over at KLIA 2 airport, you don't have to worry as they provide an affordable hotel, located adjacent to the airport. Yes, Tune Hotel KLIA 2 was our choice when we had to transit on our way from Jakarta to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur with our favorite airline: Air Asia.

The price of the room is above the average rate compared with other Tune hotel. Our twin room was MYR 140 (after tax). But it was understood because it is the only hotel at the area which is linked to the airport. Well, there's one hotel inside the airport which is Sami-sami Express. But if you had to wait more than 6 hours like us, it is better to stay outside the airport, right?

Heading to Tune Hotel from KLIA 2

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Aloft Hotel Kuala Lumpur: A Perfect Family Hotel in KL

On our journey from Sydney to Jakarta, we choose to transit one night in Kuala Lumpur, as our Air Asia flight was bound for Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route. We choose to fly with Lufthansa from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, giving us a chance to stay overnight at Kuala Lumpur.

We needed a hotel which is centrally located in KL Sentral (train station), and thanks God Google had lead us to Aloft Hotel KL Sentral. 

Before doing the research on where to stay near KL Sentral, I thought there's only Hilton Hotel which is directly linked to KL Sentral. I saw the sign to Hilton Hotel on my previous visit to Kuala Lumpur. But when I checked on Google Maps, Aloft Hotel is now the newest hotel which is directly linked to KL Sentral and to Nu Sentral Mall.

The escalator which linked KL Sentral with Nu Sentral Mall and Aloft Hotel

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Pasar Seni Kuala Lumpur

This was my first time ever visiting Pasar Seni or the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, and I must say that this place is very photogenic! I often alight at Pasar Seni LRT only to visit the Petaling Street Night Market, but never been to this place before.

To reach the Pasar Seni was easy, after alighting from LRT, just follow the sign of "Pasar Seni" and after 5 minutes walking from the station, you will find this blue building.

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LCCT Kuala Lumpur

Arriving at LCCT 

If you are flying using a low cost carrier flight to Kuala Lumpur (like our fave airline: Air Asia), you will be landed at LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) Kuala Lumpur. For you who haven't been to LCCT before, we'd like to share the pictures of LCCT from our first visit in 2011 and also from our second visit in June 2012.

After we landed, we had to walk to the customs area, the walking distance depends on your airplane whether it parked far or close to the customs area. Taking picture was prohibited, so we just walked on. After custom clearance, we found the first booth, which were Tunetalk and also Digi mobile phone provider. I bought Digi for MYR 18,50 to activate the internet service on my smart phone as well as to make phone calls or send sms.

Thereafter we continued walking to the arrival hall where I bougt a return ticket of KLIA Transit. The ticket cost an adult MYR 22, the lady gave each of us one ticket for the train, and two tickets for the bus. I would recommend you to take KLIA transit to go to the KL Sentral from LCCT, rather than taking the Skybus.

By taking KLIA Transit, we had to take bus first to Salak Tinggi station and continue taking the fast train to KL Sentral. So we walked on to the departure terminal, where the Bus called Plusliner standby for the passengers. It was a really comfortable bus.

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Ikea Damansara

Despite of its location which is outside the city of KL, we still put Ikea Damansara on our itinerary, with one reason: we wanted to try the Swedish Meatball, which is halal here! We had to take LRT all the way to Kelana Jaya LRT station. It was a 30 minutes trip from KL Sentral.


At the Kelana Jaya LRT station turn left when after the train exit counter and use the bridge to cross the road (bridge with "Mr Paint" ad on the above picture) which will take us to the bus stop at the opposite of Kelana Jaya Stn. We waited for the Ikea's free shuttle bus. The bus will be taking us to Ikano Power Center, the name of the mall. The bus interval is every 1-2 hours. The bus should have come by 10 am, but it didn't show up. And our itinerary doesn't contain which public bus to take, as we depend on the Ikea's shuttle bus!!

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Vincci Shopping at Bukit Bintang

If I travel with Rene, we don't like shopping that much, we spend most of our travel time to explore new things, taking pictures and just enjoy our quality time. Only in Hongkong, we shop a lot:D In Malaysia, I only want to buy some Vincci bags or shoes, and we thought the outlet is still open in Suria KLCC. We went there, and it was closed! So we were looking for another outlet on our last day in Bukit Bintang.

Bukit Bintang is similar to Orchard Road in Singapore. To reach this place, you may alight at Monorail station Bukit Bintang and procedd going to nearby malls: Pavillion, Fahrenheit, Lot 10 and Sungei Wang. Or you could also alight at Imbi to go to Berjaya Times Square. If you're taking kids with you, visit Berjaya Times Square as it has a fantasy land inside. This time we only visited two malls which are The Pavillion and Fahrenheit. And yes we found Vincci at Farrenheit.

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Is Putrajaya Worth A Visit?

This is one of our reason of visiting KL, to have another visit to Putrajaya. We loved the ambience there, it is so peaceful. That's why this place was on the top of our itinerary. But this time, we visited this place around 4 pm until the sunset, as it is the golden time of Putrajaya. If you are asking whether Putrajaya worth a visit? Read this post further and enjoy the pictures:)

We took KLIA transit from KL Sentral, a return ticket cost MYR 19 per person, than we alight at Putrajaya. Exit the station, turn right to go to the bus station or taxi counter. When I googling, there were limited info on how to go around Putrajaya by bus. Mostly tourist take taxi here which cost MYR 30 for an hour. But there is a cheaper way by taking Nadi Putra bus which cost only MYR 0,5. Based on my googling, bus 900 will be takung us to Dataran Putra, Putra Mosque, Selera Putra food court, which all located in Precint 1.

Arriving at the bus terminal, we couldn't find the bus number! So when your itinerary is not the same as the actual, don't panic, just relax and have an ice cream:p It's a plan anyway, and plan might change. After eating the ice cream, I approach an uniformed lady which bust will take me to Dataran Putra. She than inform me to hop on the bus 901 which was just in front of me. I confirmed to the bus driver, he said the bus is going there. So we paid 1 MYR for two person! So cheap.. After 15 minutes, the driver told us to alight and just walk down the hills.

After 10 minutes walking, we arrived at Dataran Putra. By the way to go back to the Putrajaya train station, the driver said that this is the nearest bus stop. So we have to walk to the same bus stop later that night.

We went directly to the Selera Putra food court. We tried some malay food, taste very rare. Oh nooo..so we continue taking pictures instead.

After the sunset, the view is even better! So take my tip, go there to get the sunset, and enjoy the lights of Putrajaya afterwards

written on April 22, 2011

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Petronas Tower

This is the third time that we visit KL, and this time we promised ourselves to go up to the twin towers! So when I made the itinerary, I visited some blogs to gather info how to get the ticket, where is the location of the ticket counter, etc. From what I read, the ticket is no longer free. We have to pay MYR 10 to go up until 41st level, and MYR 40 to go up until 86th floor. They also have lunch and dinner package for MYR 200 and MYR 350 respectively. We decided to take the package which will allow us going up to the top.

Other important thing is that we have to queue up very early as the daily ticket is limited. The ticket counter opens at 8.30am, but it is recommended to come as early as possible.

We planned to leave at 6am to catch the ticket, but that morning we left tune hotel at 7.15 am and were confused either to take taxi, monorail or just walk to the petronas tower. As our hotel is really close to Medan Tuanku monorail station, we took the monorail and alight at the next stop called Bukit Nanas. The lady in ticket counter suggest us to continue taking LRT from Bukit Nanas to KLCC. But when we arrived at Bukit Nanas, we didn't see any LRT station, instead the Petronas tower looks very close. So we walked along Ampang Street and turn right to KLCC. It was only 10 minutes walking distance.

It was 7.50 am when we finally found the ticket counter (which is located at the basement), there were already so many people..amazing! I wonder what time they arrived that morning.

One adult can purchase up to 5 tickets, so Rene got into the line, while I had breakfast at Mesra Shop, located just opposite the ticket counter. I had Nasi Lemak with fried chicken and a botol of mineral water cost MYR5
At 8.30 am the counter opens, and at 9.10 am no more people were allowed to get into the line. The gate is closed and there's a sign saying "sorry no more ticket available" Wooohooo!! Rene got the ticket only to go up to 41th floor (MYR 10 per person). The second package was no longer available for morning visit.

At 9.50 we entered the exhibition area where we can see movie, pictures, and some "try yorself" kind of tools. The one that I tried was to compare our height with the tower! So funny.

We were directed to a small movie, had to see a 7 minute video, than start the visit up to 41st floor.

The lift was really fast, it went by each floor by second, so it took only 41 seconds to the observation deck!

We were given only 10 minutes to take pictures. Too bad that we weren't able to go up to the top level. The view must be better. Believe it or not, but the view from the observation deck is not so breathtaking as I thought it would be. A little bit dissappointed, but at least we can say, we have been there:p

After the visit, we had lunch and did some window shopping at Suria KLCC, the mall adjacent to the towers. We were looking for Vinnci shop, too bad the outlet is no longer operate in KLCC. We went back to Tune hotel taking LRT to Dangwangi than continue taking monorail from Bukit Nanas to Medan Tuanku. We found out that the LRT and Monorail stations were separated by10 minutes walking. That's why we couldn't find it in the morning when we wanted to go to the twin towers.

written on April 19, 2011

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Jalan Hemat Kuala Lumpur

Another budget trip for me and my husband, this time to Kuala Lumpur. We have purchased the ticket a year in advance during the Air Asia Rp 0 promo (free seats). Thanks to our friend Yenni Puspo who helped us buying the ticket and also booking Tune hotel in downtown KL. Later on I upgraded the ticket with pre-purchased meals, skybus ticket, so in total the ticket cost IDR 545,196 for two person (incl two way bagage for 15 kg). Yenni recommend Tune hotel for us. At that time I had never stayed in Tune hotel before. But as the hotel were having Rp 0 promo (free rooms) as well, we agree with her recommendation. Our two night stay cost only IDR 423.000 nett. Unbelivable.

About one month I prepared the itinerary. Confused where to go in the short time in KL. First we'd like to go to Melacca, that was the plan a. But we thought that two days in KL will be too short, we go back to the original plan : just vising KL. So here's our itinerary:

Day 1: Go to Petronas tower early in the morning to queue up the tickets, visit the twin tower, shopping and lunch at Suria KLCC, visit Masjid Jamek and Dataran Merdeka, visit Putrajaya.

Day 2: Go to Ikea Damansara, visit Bukit Bintang, go back to KL sentral.

A very short visit indeed, and this time we made our itinerary with the detail budget. It's our first time ever, but we have to stay on track as this year we'll have holiday up to 5 times:)

Ok, we'll update our KL story really soon :)

written on March 4, 2011

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Train Kuala Lumpur to Singapore

Akhirnya tiba waktunya kita pulang lagi ke Spore setelah 2 hari jalan-jalan di KL. Kita udah pegang ticket KA dari KL ke Spore dengan kereta milik KTMB, yang namanya Kereta Senandung Malam. Kita milih gerbong dengan tempat tidur (they call it ’berth’) supaya bisa meluruskan badan. Harga per orang RM 43 untuk lower birth dan RM 38 untuk upper birth. Tapi jangan salah, ada juga executive rooms, dimana terdiri dari kamar-kamar gitu, dan masing-masing kamar terdiri dari satu ranjang susun dan wastafel, jadi kamar ini emang di design untuk mereka yang memiliki kelebihan uang dan butuh privacy. Harganya pun dua kali lipat dari gerbong yang kita pilih.

Jadwal KA kita jam 10 p.m. dari KL dan sampe di Spore lagi jam 8 pagi. Tempat nunggu KA adalah di KL Sentral Station di bagian ”KTM Antar Bandar”, atau tepatnya tempat tunggunya itu ada di depan Bookshop. Yang nunggu di situ lumayan banyak karena penumpangnya ga cuman ke Spore, tapi ada juga KA ke Thailand. Sebelum naik ke KA, jangan lupa untuk minta immigration card Spore yang musti kita isi dan serahkan di tempat imigrasi Spore nanti. Mintanya bisa di loket tempat penjualan ticket KTM Antar Bandar.

Lumayan lama juga kita nunggu, tapi kan KL Sentral segala ada. Musholla nya bagus, terus ada juga shower facilities yang bisa kita manfaatkan dengan membayar RM 5 untuk mandi, dan kalo pake minjem handuk kalo ga salah tambah lagi RM 5 (kmaren kita emang ga sempet mandi di KL Sentral). Mengenai makanan, jangan khawatir, di KL Sentral ada segala jenis makanan. Dari mulai traditional food sampe junk food. Kita juga sempet makan malem di sana, jadi kan di KA nanti tinggal tidur aja.
Tepat jam 9.30 p.m ada panggilan untuk penumpang KA Senandung Malam. Kita turun satu lantai pake elevator, dan KA nya udah nungguin kita, dan gerbong kita pas banget di depan elevator.

Masih seperti dua tahun yang lalu pas kita naik KA ini untuk pertama kalinya, KA nya bersih, nyaman untuk tidur. Kita kebagian di upper birth (while my parents di bawah kita tidurnya), dan kayanya kita salah milih tempat deh, karena ternyata untuk naik dan turun ke ranjangnya susah, padahal kita kan sering banget ke toilet. Tapi ya sudahlah, setelah beberapa kali naik turun, akhirnya udah cukup mahir kok. Tapi gak akan lagi ah milih upper birth, kapok ceritanya.

Jam 10 p.m KA nya jalan (ga pake acara telat nih), dan 30 menit kemudian diumumkan kalo bakal ada pengecekan karcis oleh petugas KA. Setelah karcis diperiksa, it’s sleeping time..setelah 2 hari jalan-jalan di KL kayanya pilihan naik KA malem dengan tempat tidur ini tepat banget, karena kita lelap tidur ampe jam 6 pagi, itu juga karena ada pengumuman kalo petugas imigrasi Malaysia bakal melakukan pemeriksaan passport di atas KA. Ga lama petugasnya dateng, ngambil ”Departure Card” dari dalem passport kita. Satu jam berselang, ada pengumuman lagi, kali ini bilang kalo sebentar lagi kita akan masuk Spore, dan di perbatasannya yaitu daerah Woodlands, kita harus turun dari KA with all of our lugage untuk menemui petugas imigrasi. Jadilah kita turun dulu, antri di line ”All Passports” minta cap ke petugas imigrasi Spore, terus liatin barang bawaan kita (itu pun kalo diminta, kalo ga diminta kita bisa jalan aja setelah masukin barang ke x-ray). Ngantrinya ga lama, paling sekitar 10 menit. Sementara kita ngantri, Polis spore bersama doggie nya beraksi menyisir KA kalo-kalo ada penumpang yang belum turun. Setelah pemeriksaan selesai, kita pun naik ke KA kembali, ke tempat kita semula.

Alhamdulillah sesuai schedule yaitu jam 8 pagi, kita sampe di Malaysian Railway Station di Keppel Road – daerah Tanjong Pagar. Langsung deh antri taksi untuk kembali ke NSS hotel di Rochor Road.
It has been a nice journey traveling dengan KA dari KL. Awalnya takut juga kalo my parents ga enjoy di KA, tapi ternyata mereka seneng-seneng aja pake Kereta, malah katanya enak bisa tidur. Walau memang waktu tempuhnya lebih lama 2 jam dari bis (kalo bis kan cuman 6 jam, kalo KA 8 jam), tapi dengan adanya tempat tidur, istirahat kita jadi lebih maksimal.
Sekedar tip, jangan lupa bawa bekal makanan & minuman, karena ga seperti kereta di Indonesia, ga ad atuh yang jual makanan & minuman keliling. Kalo pun kita mau beli, mesti ke restorja yang berada beberapa gerbong

updated:

You may download our ebook travel on Singapore for FREE (written in Bahasa Indonesia) here

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Two Days in Kuala Lumpur

Day one: 17 Agustus ’06

Karena kita baru sampe dari Spore jam 2 siang di KL, kita istirahat dulu ampe jam 4 sore di hotel, dan baru kita jalan ke KL Sentral dari monorail station di dareah Bukit Bintang namely Coca Cola Monorail Station. Memang di setiap monorail station ini ada sponsornya, dan every station named after sponsornya masing-masing.
Setelah membeli ticket seharga RM 1.20, kita tunggu monorailnya dateng dan langsung naik ke KL Sentral Station, stasiun kereta di KL yang jadi hub semua jenis Kereta yang ada di KL dan juga kereta Antar Bandar.

Transportasi di KL memang jauh lebih baik dari di Jkt, tapi unlike MRT di Spore, masing-masing jenis kereta (Monorail, LRT Putra, KTM Komuter, KLIA) punya station sendiri-sendiri. Jadi kalo kita mau melanjutkan perjalanan Monorail ke LRT Putra, kita harus keluar dari station monorail, dan masuk ke station LRT nya. Agak ribet memang, tapi kalo dibandingkan Busway, ya mendingan yang ada di KL ini sih.
Perjalanan kita dari Bukit Bintang ke KL Sentral ini contohnya, terminal kedatangan monorail station di KL Sentral ga pas ada di dalam KL Sentral. Jadi kita musti nyebrang jalan dulu, dan jalan sekitar 5 menit, baru nyampe di KL Sentral. Atau kita juga bisa pake shuttle bus dari monorail station ke KL Sentral. Secara waktu lebih cepet kalo kita jalan, tapi kalo lagi ujan, ya mendingan kita pake shuttel bus nya aja.

Tujuan pertama kita di KL Sentral ada untuk exchange e-tickets KA yang salah tanggal. Setelah agak diomelin dikit oleh petugas KTM Antar Bandar dengan bilang ”Next time can not Miss!” akhirnya kita udah exchange ticket, dan dapet tanggal yang betul. Beres tuker ticket, kita makan sore dulu di KL Sentral. Emang sejak nyampe dari Spore itu kita belum makan siang, jadi rasanya udah laper banget. Kita makan di Food Court nya, lumayan lengkap, kita nyoba laksa, nasi ayam hainan, dan juga nyoba Yong Tau Fu. Nah jenis makanan yang terakhir ini ada bakso, otak-otak, kakap, segala macem deh, terus kita pilih mau yang mana aja, satunya RM 0.70. Di spore kita banyak banget ketemu Yong Tau Fu, cuman kita a berani makan takut ga halal. Nah kalo di KL ini jelas-jelas ada tulisan halalnya, jadi hampir setiap makan kita milih Yong Tau Fu. They serve it dengan mie, bihun, sayur (sesuai permintaan) juga dengan kuah. Hmm seger banget rasanya.

Udah ngisi bensin, kita lanjut lagi pake LRT Putra ke KLCC, mall yang berada di Petronas Tower. Tempat berhetin LRT nya ada di mall ini, jadi kita jalan sedikit dan langsung masuk mall nya. Toko pertama yang kita kunjungi Vincci, kebetulan juga lagi sale. Penuh banget ama orang Indo. Hehhe.. Smua sibuk milih sepatu, kalo kita mah dibeliin mom kaca mata aja, karena emang kebeneran ga punya kaca mata buat jalan-jalan. Sepatu-sepatunya modelnya rada-rada terlalu feminin sih untuk kita. Tapi banyaknya ibu-ibu dan mba-mba yang bicara dalam bahasa di Vincci still amazed me. Emang Vincci ini a must visit place bagi para wanita Indonesa.

Karena udah sore, kita putuskan untuk foto-foto dulu di depan Petronas. Sebetulnya kita bisa naik ke petronas tower ini, tapi berhubung kita belum pernah naik, jadi ga mau cerita dulu ah. Tar ga first hand experience donk...

Selesai foto-foto, kita kembali ke mall nya untuk belanja dan makan malem di food courtnya, terus acara kita lanjutkan di Petalling Street. Dari KLCC kita naik LRT Putra dan turun di Pasar Seni. Petalling Street ini kalo di Jakarta kaya Sogo Jongkok nya Tanah Abang yang ada setiap minggu. Jadi bentuknya kaya pasar malem, yang emang baru buka sore-sore, dan yang mereka jual macem macem. Mulai dari souvenirs, tas-tas bermerk yang non-genuine (kalo dibilang ’fake’ mereka marah, maunya dibilang non-genuine), baju, sepatu, boneka, parfum, semua ada deh. Tapi namanya juga pasar malem, jadi emang desek-desekan di dalemnya. Di sini juga kita musti jago nawar, kalo enggak nanti ketipu lagi. Jadi untuk yang nyari belanja nyaman, jelas bukan di Petalling deh.

Sesudah dari Petalling, kita kembali ke hotel my parents di Bintang Warisan daerah Bukit Bintang dengan menggunakan taxi. Harga taxi nya dari Petalling RM 10 aja, karena emang ga jauh. Waktu udah menunjukkan jam 11 malem, pantesan aja kok rasanya cape banget.

Day two: 18 Agustus ’06

Pagi-pagi kita sengaja jalan agak siang dari hotel, supaya badan ini bisa di re-charge agak lama. Berhubung makan pagi nya kurang kenyang di Pondok Lodge, jadi kita mampir dulu ke McD Bukit Bintang untuk breakfast sebelum jemput my parents.

Terus sekitar jam 10 an, kita mulai deh jalan-jalan di mall yang ada di Bukit Bintang. Pertama kita ke MetroJaya, mall yang paling deket dengan hotel Bintang Warisan. Di Metro Jaya ini juga ada Old Chang Kee, hargnya satu tusuk RM 2, jadi hampir sama dengan yang di Spore ya. Dimana-mana lagi sale, was asyik banget. Terus kita lanjut ke mall Lot 10 yang ada Isetan nya. Di sini lebih parah lagi, Isetan lagi sale khusus tas dan dompet. Setelah diliat-liat harganya jadi sama ama di Petalling Street. Wah..ketipu deh. Hehe...

Udah puas jalan-jalan di Bukit Bintang tiba-tiba ujan gede buanget, jadi kita naik monorail ke Mid Valley mall supaya ga kena ujan (they say it is the biggest mall in KL). Nyampe monorail station di KL Sentral masih ujan gede, untungnya ada shuttle bus yang keep us dry sampe ke KL Sentral, walopun jalanan nya agak macet. Dari sana kita melanjutkan our journey dengan KTM Komuter ke Mid Valley. Nunggu KTM Komuter nya lama banget, ada kali 20 menit. Padahal dari KL Sentral ke mid valley cuman one stop aja. Sesampenya di sana kita udah kecapean, cuman ke Jusco supermarket nya beli coklat dan makanan lainnya, terus naik ke lantai atas di mana ketemu another Esprit counter. Bener aja mall ini gede banget, sayangnya kita ga sempet explore semuanya karena harus kembali ke KL Sentral untuk ngejer KA kembali ke spore. Next time we’ll come back deh.
Udah jam 7 malem, kita pulang lagi ke KL sentral, this time we take taxi, soalnya pas nanya-nanya ke information di mall, dia bilang mendingan pake taxi kalo cuman ke KL Sentral. Bener aja ongkos taxi nya juga cuman RM 5 aja.
Kita kembali ke KL sentral, solat dan makan malem di sana, terus kita nunggu KA jam 10 malem.

Pengalaman naik taxi di KL emang ga senyaman taxi di Spore, selain mobilnya yang ga begitu bagus, mereka juga ga mau pasang argo, jadi kita musti tawar menawar dulu. Terus juga di KL jalanan sering macet, jadi kalo pake taxi dan kena macet, bisa lebih lama nyampe ke tempat yang kita inginkan dibandingkan dengan naik kereta.

So, this is mijn verhaal tentang 2 hari di KL..masih banyak banget yang masih pengen kita kunjungin; Putrajaya (udah ke sana sih 2 taun lalu), belanja di Jalan Masjid India dan Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ikea, Mines World, Mesjid Negara, Orchid Garden, etc deh... pokoknya masih banyak. Cuman kmaren emang hanya kunjungan singkat jadi kita pilih yang deket-deket aja dulu. Mudah-mudahan kalo ada rejekinya lagi kita bisa kembali ke KL...

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Tiket Kereta Api KL – Spore

Via website perusahaan KA nya Malaysia yaitu KTMB , kita beli tiket KA untuk tujuan KL-Spore. Ada tiga pilihan KA; pagi, siang dan KA Senandung Malam. Kita pilih yang malem jadi kan mengurangi cost satu malam hotel, alias kita tidur di KA. Tempat tidur/ tenpat duduknya juga macem-macem tergantung budget kita. Ada tempat tidur yang mewah, tapi ada juga yang ga kebagian tempat tidur dan harus duduk . Kalo di Indonesia sih kaya KA eksekutif gitu kursinya. KA route ini cukup laku apalagi kalo pas lagi liburan. Banyak orang KL ke Spore and vice versa. Makanya KTMB melayani pemesanan 30 hari di muka.

Kita pilih yang kelas ANSD yaitu yang ada tempat tidurnya (they call it ’berth’). Nah jadi di setiap lokomotof kelas ANSD ini berjejer berth atas bawah (kaya ranjang susun tapi lebih sophisticated aja) tentunya beserta tirainya. Cukup bersih, lumayan deh pokoknya, dijamin bisa tidur nyenyak. Harganya untuk yang lower berth (maksudnya tempat tidur di bawah) RM 43, sedangkan kalo kita milih tidur di upper berth, kita kena bayar RM 38. Rene dan myself pilih tidur di atas, bukan kaena lebih murah sih, toh perbedaannya ga signifikan. Cuman kasian aja kalo my parents musti tidur di ranjang bertingkat dan di atasnya orang lain pula. Siap siap pasang seat belt deh, kalo ga jatoh pas lagi tidur...gedebum!! Kaya nangka jatoh dari puun hehe..

KA nya berangkat dari KL jam 10 p.m dan akan tiba di Spore jam 8 pagi.

From our previous experience, sesaat sebelum nyampe Spore, di daerah perbatasannya yaitu di Johor Bahru, kita musti turun untuk ngisi dokumen imigrasi. Yang keren; barang2 kita ditinggal aja di KA dan ga ada yang ilang (ga kebayang deh kalo di Indo). Tentunya kalo uang dan passport mah dibawa ya.

Terus nih, tar di Spore kita bakalan sampe di station kereta api Tanjong Pagar (Malayan Tanjong Pagar Railway Station), station ini miliknya Malaysia walaupun berada di Spore. Letak persisnya ada di Keppel Road. Jangan heran kalo kebersihannya di bawah rata-rata MRT station lain di Spore. Biaya maitenancenya beda banget mungkin, ngikutin Malaysia.

Dari depan station kita tinggal nunggu dan naik bus SBS 80 or SBS 145 dan hanya setelah beberapa bus stop kita akan sampe di Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Nah kalo udah dari situ kan tergantung kepentingan deh mau lanjut ke MRT station yang mana.

Untuk beli tiketnya via internet harus ati2 betul jangan sampe ada kesalahan. Soalnya kita kemaren ini coincidently did a stupid mistake, kita salah milih tanggal! Hal ini disebabkan sesaat sebelumnya kita nyari hotel (via internet) untuk check in di KL tgl 17 Agustus, terus nyari KA afterwards. Ga taunya salah tanggal deh malah KA nya tgl 17 juga padahal mustinya tgl 18. Untungnya kita langsung realise kalo ada yg salah. Kita email ke customer service nya, dan mereka bilang ga bisa tuker tanggal via internet! Gubrak. Mereka bilang paling kita exchange e-ticekts nya pas kita nyampe KL, dan itupun subject to availability. Akhinya kita kmaren udah merayu-rayu ke KTMB officer nya untuk bisa dituker, Alhamdulillah mereka mau bantu, jadi tar tgl 17 Agustus kita dateng aja ke counter KTMB di KL Sentral Station untuk tiker tiket. Kita sekarang udah mereka email ’supplement ticket’ to be exchanged kalo kita udah sampe KL.

Makanya catet: jangan sampe salah tanggal atau salah jumlah tiket yang dibeli kalo mau on line payment di KTMB ini

updated:

You may download our ebook travel on Singapore for FREE (written in Bahasa Indonesia) here

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Tiket Bus Spore - KL

Why akhirnya kita pilih pake bus instead of train? Karena harga train dari Spore S$ 43, sementara harga train dari KL hanya RM 43. Beda negara, jadinya beda mata uang. Terus juga naik bis ini lebih cepet dibanding pake KA, hanya sekitar 6 jam.

Hasil browsing di internet says kalo mau murah naik dulu bis SBS 170 dari Lavender street di Spore ke Johor Bahru (daerah perbatasan Spore dan Malaysia), terus di kantor imigrasi Johor Bahru nanti kita musti turun dengan semua barang bawaan plus tiket bus, isi form imigrasi, terus catch up another bis 170 sampe terminal bis nya Johor Bahru (ga usah double pay tapinya, cukup menunjukkan tiket bus sebelumnya). Nah di sini baru deh naik bis ke KL. Tentu lebih murah karena harganya pake ringgit. With this way, kita akan kena harga bis per orang kira-kira cuman Rp 90 ribu aja.

Tapi karena kita travelling with our parents, kita milih untuk pergi langsung ke KL dari Spore, supaya hassle free lah. Kita coba cari tiket Transnasional bus , tapi no on line payment. Terus kita nyoba bis yg kmaren rona with her family pake yaitu Transtar . Harganya per orang S$ 25 plus tax, jadi total seorang S$ 28. Katanya sih bis nya bagus. Ya mudah2an aja ya. Sebetulnya ada juga bis yang VIP dengan harga dua ampe tiga kali lipat. Ada bis yang double decker segala. Tapi ga usah la yauw, sayang mahal soalnya.

Their on line service juga ok. We always get a prompt reply kapanpun kita kirim email ke mereka.

Sebetulnya ada banyak perusahaan bis yang punya route Spore-KL. Ada Aeroline , Plusliner , dan yang lainnya bisa dilihat di www.journeymalaysia.com. Akhirnya pilihan bis itu akan balik ke budget masing masing sih.

Our bus will be leaving at 8 a.m., jadi hopefully kita bakalan nyampe KL by noon. Sekarang masih ada satu permasalahan; Kata rona, bis nya non-stop, kalo kita kebelet gimana ya? Hehe... musti sedia adult diapers mungkin.

updated:

You may download our ebook travel on Singapore for FREE (written in Bahasa Indonesia) here

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