Sunday, November 13

I'm finally back, washed up and ready to yak. Yak, I will. I have 26 hours of stuff to tell, you know. Pictures clickable.

Getting There

Getting there was smooth, though I had to make an extra stop at Woodlands Centre Rd to get a money changer, and I decided that I might as well settle my dinner. Claypot noodles, so called in Chinese, has got nothing to do with claypot! It should be called Ee Mee plus egg, soup, prawns and vegetables. Nevertheless, it's nice.

Hop over to Larkin. I was there, idling since 11, but my bus will only come at 12.30am. Lols. So had to bunk in at McDonald's, while trying very hard not to fall asleep. It's difficult.

But when the bus came, whoa, no regrets. I noticed that since my last visit in July, intra-state bus services have improved in big leaps. The RM25 economy fare we paid last time would get us a "lao kok kok" (or propular known as "LKK", which means very old and run-down) bus with standard seats, which are not soft at all, and freezing air-con, all squeezed in a 40-seat configuration. Now, that same fare gives you a 24-seater, with carpet finishings right to the front, plane-style overhead cabins, big legroom, comfortable ride and get this, foot rests. Yes, it has become a standard feature.

I had the privilege of taking a single-seat on the left row, which were never seen on buses of the economy class. The suspension was very quiet and the ride was comfortable. No more leaf springs which give the irritating 'yak yak' sounds from the Nissan buses of yesteryears. In fact, it felt like a high-speed train ride - the engine was quiet, the suspension was quiet, yet the bus is blazingly fast - that we reached the KL Toll Plaza at 4am sharp, and it didn't take long for it to arrive at Puduraya. I think they must be reacting to the increasing competition from premier intra-state and cross-border coaches.

Anyway, upon reaching the road outside the bus station, we could see these taxi drivers hoping to grab some business from us, in the wee hours. It's a bit crazy to see these fellas running to us at 4.45am. They work really hard. I hopped across the road for breakfast at this Malay kopitiam. An interesting conversation ensued.

"Excuse me. One egg," I mentioned to the guy frying the roti prata.
"One 'yeg'?"
"Yes, one 'yeg'."
He pointed to the egg. "You want this?"
"No, egg prata, lah."
"Orh, okie okie," he smiled before turning back to his flip-flopping.

Culture shock, right?

In Singapore, we just need to mention "one egg" to the roti prata stall and they will get you the stuff you need. But there, you must mention the word "prata", even if it's the prata guy you are ordering from. Maybe roti prata not so popular over there, lah.

Another interesting stuff. You won't quite believe what paper the guy is reading. It is TODAY. Whoa. But he brought it over from Singapore one. No kick. Yeah, I mean, I'd very much appreciate a copy of Weekend Today while in KL.

After breakfast and a lonely walk down the dark alleys, I made my way to catch the first Monorail train to KL Sentral. See, the whole trip actually just evolves around a thrilling plane ride, so I need to find stuff to do. Good. I thought of going to Genting, but they weren't open at 7.

Daybreak

So while getting a bottle of water at 7-Eleven, I was awakening from my half-slumber by the tune of "Numa Numa Iei". Eh, Chicken Little is already showing in Malaysia? Hmmm. Oh yes, in case you didn't know, the 7-Eleven cashiers (the machine, not the man) in KL got TV screen with advertisements. More advanced than us, huh?

Anyway since I was still clamouring for more sleep, and the New Straits Times I bought was probably soporific and have a drowsiness effect, I got myself a cheap RM1 KTM Kommuter ticket to the next station at Midvalley, but I took all the way to Seremban (almost 90km away) and back, just to have some good air-conditioning for my sleep. Whoa. I don't really trust hostels when I'm alone, you know. So I took some nice pictures while I was there.

Midvalley Mall

Apparently the biggest mall in Kuala Lumpur City, I did not waste my time walking from one end to the other - I had done that before and it's like.... yeah. Bought my Sensodyne toothpaste here from the supermarket, which is about 1 Sing dollar cheaper.

Kuala Lumpur has changed a lot over the past 4 months. It's amazing how fast they are catching up in the race for tourism dollars and also for the image and experience it gives to the inhabitants and visitors.

The McDonald's outlets here are no longer the old KFC-style restaurants. No, they have also been given the makeover and indeed, the people there can now be proud. Even the McDonald's at Larkin Bus Terminal, they open till late and have the 'i'm lovin' it' taglines. No joke, man. Next time, Ronald McDonald's will speak Behasa Melayu on TV for their advertisements. Lols.

My Kommuter train was late today. 'Fret not, it does not happen very often. Transferred to Putra LRT at KL Sentral, and made my way to KLCC.

Chicken Little!

The first thing to do when I reach KLCC is to get up to the Tanjong Golden Village there to get my Chicken Little ticket. Not so bad, they are having almost 20 screenings today so the cinema wasn't very packed. Watching movie alone can be quite quirky, but what can I do, right? I think if I buy a big stuffed toy to accompany me (I'd do that anytime - buy a big and cute stuffed toy, that is) then people will think I'm "siao" and "san-tiam-long". Lols. Anyway, the thin crowds could be due to another reason, because you shouldn't be shocked to see snaking queues outside this theartes with hundreds of movie goers eagering waiting for their turn.

Anyway, it is nice! I recommend everyone to watch it. Be warned that it has an extremely short (80mins) and straight-forward plot, but is easy on the brain and designed to make you relax and laugh at the silly jokes. It is something you'd expect of a Disney show, like Finding Nemo and Lilo & Stitch. On any day, I'd recommend that you head to City Square at JB and catch it, since they should be showing it as well. It's cheap too, at RM10. KLCC's tickets are RM8, though.

Actually, the Chicken Little is so un-cute with its spectacles and tiny body. If not for the advanced screenings and the 7-Eleven advertisement.... I think must be fate. Lols. What I find is most cute in the movie is Kirby! (Fish Out Of Water comes in a close second place.) Kirby is the three-eyed, three-legged, orange furry alien that is so adorable, I wished I had the real thing. Interestingly, there are practically no pictures of Kirby on the net, nor was it part of the prmotional posters. How can? Lols.

So hor, don't wait. Run to JB to watch.

Photos from KLCC



Taman KLCC



KLCC Convention Centre



To be continued. Only halfway through. :) Up next is about my lunch, joy rides on Express Rail Link, Putrajaya and KLIA.

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