Kuala Lumpur
Fri 21st Nov
I woke up too early really, so had lots of time to get ready. I was in reception after 08:00, only to discover my Grab app wasn’t working, and in fact my backup phone was playing up. Mild panic.
Aznam booked a Grab from his phone. It’s great that can be done; I still get to pay the driver as usual. 20 minutes to the airport. I got there too early, but plenty of time for a coffee. Plenty of time as we were an hour and a half late leaving.
They said 2.5 hours but it was an hour and a quarter. Arrival 14:50 at terminal 2. A walk to baggage reclaim and on to the train station where my ticket on the KLIA express cost 55RM…£10. I caught the 15:35
It was a 30 minute journey. I went to the information desk to get directions put of the station and out of the mall. I managed to find my way… I went straight to Cozy hotel. Am on the 2nd floor like last time and in a windowless room like last time ! I paid the 110RM…I think 10RM less than last time. Anyway I was happy with £20.
I went around the corner to the more down market restaurant and had a pastry thing with an egg in it. If there had been some mince meat in it, it would’ve been similar to a Zanzibar mix. That with a little bowl of slightly spicy peas came to 5RM. I didn’t have anything else, so my food bill for the day came to 90pence. But I did have 2 coffees at the airport costing 19RM.
And after my food I went to the Supper club and had 3 Connor’s costing 81RM. Most enjoyable as I was watching some international cricket. In fact the first game was the first in the Ashes series between England and Australia.
That was it for the day. Nice to be back on familiar territory and having people recognise and remember you.
Sat 22nd Nov
I slept well. A fan and no window ensured there was no noise. Warm shower…so nice. I paid for another night. Restaurant opposite was not open, but went to another around the corner for a tea.
I went to the mall to the Digi shop for advice on why my Huweia phone wasn’t working properly. As soon as I walked in my Digi app worked, but other apps weren’t responding. The lady helped initially but then I waited an hour before being seen again. The problem was my screen and I should go to a repair shop. I found one on the main road but he couldn’t help and suggested I go to Bukit Bintang to LowYat plaza and the IT mall.
I went back to Cozy to figure out where the place was. In the meantime I finished washing my zebra shirt and sat on the rooftop terrace in the sun while the shirt dried.
I decided to go to Bukit Bintang, otherwise I’d only stress about getting the phone fixed. The monorail was very close by; I didn’t have to go into the mall and to the main station
The ticket machine really confused me and I needed help….The 2.50RM fare was dispensed in the form of a token not a ticket. I didn’t realise you tapped the token to get through the gate. Anyway, with a bit of help…
BB was absolutely packed with people. If you were staying in the area it would be great fun. I had to find LowYat plazza and the IT mall…which I did eventually. So many stalls/shops/desks offering every conceivable electrical/tech service.
I picked on a guy who said he could attach a new screen for 100RM and it would take an hour. I don’t think it was quite an hour but a very fiddly process; I watched intently as he dismantled my phone and attached the new screen.
A quick test, and it seemed perfect. I gave him the 100…£18 and headed back to the station. Of course it was tricky finding the light green line…no. 8…but eventually. I didn’t need help this time with the token issuing machine.
About 15 minutes back to KL Sentral, then straight to the Supper club for a Connor’s. I left there for a beef and rice dinner at the cheapy place..10RM. It was pretty tasty. Then up the road to a new bar.
After a few beers I went back to my room. Another successful day. Especially having a new phone screen put on my phone; I wasn’t aware of the seriousness of the problem, so I’m glad I dealt with it quickly. For a time I thought I might need a brand new phone.
All ended well, and I got to see a different part of the city. If I was here longer I would definitely go again…maybe in April.
Sun 23rd Nov
There was no point in getting going early, and at 09:00 I paid my 110RM for my last night. No fuss over a weekend rate this time; I don’t understand why/how rules change. As for Blossoms in KK not charging me the 10RM tourist tax…I don’t know…did they forget ?
In Cozy reception a guest was given a breakfast voucher. I cheekily asked why I wasn’t getting one. They looked at the computer monitor and shrugged, as if to say my room didn’t warrant one… I pushed for it..”oh come on, please”. Then it was a matter of “ok, just this once”.
I took my voucher to ABC next door, and from a selection of 6 options I chose a dosa with 3 curry dips and my usual tea. I did a big circuit walk to look for a barbers. The first one said haircut for 18-25RM and the second quoted 15RM.
I decided to give it some thought first and had a tea opposite Cozy. I like watching the guy there making it properly by pouring it from a height…hence teh tariq…i.e. pulled tea. And by the way, you also see the ‘tariq’ sign on doors, which means..Pull.
I called into Cozy and took my rucksack onto the roof terrace to see if there was a way of mending one of the metal supports which had fallen through a little hole in bottom of the rucksack. The track that the metal bar went up, was stiched at the top and needed a bit of work to fix it.
I went for my haircut which only took 5 minutes…which is what time it should take. A no. 2…no frills. It’s fine. I went from there to the mall. I thanked Celcomdigi staff for their help on the previous day. I stopped for a kopi…coffee.. These coffees and teas are making me bloated; I was looking at food to eat but didn’t have the appetite.
I went back to my room briefly. I borrowed a sharp blade from reception and did the necessary to fix the rucksack…I think/hope. I had hoped, to treat myself on my last night, but the appetite just wasn’t there. I had a cheap 7RM rice and veg and went to the Supper club for a couple of beers.
From there I went across to the mall and drew out 600RM. Probably a bit too much, but I’ll be back in Malaysia in April. I went back to the Supper club for one beer, then back to my room.
Mon 24th Nov
I didn’t sleep too well. I packed then went across the road for a tea. I walked to the mall to look for a travel agent or get travel info at the KLIA Express. I found that the train goes to both T1 & T2; I needed T1. Good news.
Back to Cozy to check out and leave my rucksack in reception. I shot a short video on the terrace. I decided I needed some food and went to where Laksa was being advertised. No chicken, just fish. I ordered something similar…a Soto (noodles) with chicken, and had peanuts. Very tasty.
I sat in the hotel reception for a bit, posting on FB from Malaysia for the last time. Time for the umbrella again, but only to go as far as the Supper club. Much of the way is actually under cover. The only thing to do was relax under cover with a beer as it was raining quite heavily.
I’d done the research so all that was left to do was buy a ticket for the train and go to the airport. A half hour journey arriving in plenty of time at 4:30pm. My flight wasn’t until 9pm but I didn’t want any mishaps.
I went for an expensive Jamie Oliver coffee and completed my NZ Travel Declaration document.
After that it was a matter of 3 hours of queuing. First Check in. Then Immigration. Train to the Gate at the other terminal. Security. Queue at the Gate. No Bars to be seen…no time anyway.
I thought we were going to be very late taking off, but it was only half an hour. Row 42 near the back. I switched my window seat with an old Estonian man so he could be with his wife. Otherwise uneventful trip. Lovely food…a curry and a rendang (both chicken). 9.5 hours. Very little sleep.