Kuala Lumpur
Sat 4th Apr
Travel day…I was pretty excited. I awoke an hour before the alarm, so had plenty of time to get ready. I checked out of Choice after 08:30 and was at Sierra for chai before 09:00.
I wasn’t sure what time the bus left, but it left at 10:00, 15 minutes after I reached the hub. A good journey to the airport….. 25 minutes only, and at my reduced senior citizen fare of 13.50Nzd. At least now I’m sure of the route to take from the bus stand to International Departures terminal.
It took over an hour to get through immigration and customs…a smooth process though. I bought a chai and went to the boarding gate after 13:00. We boarded half an hour later and took off just after 14:00.
The 10 hour flight was surprisingly unpainful and passed quite quickly. I talked to the guy next to me. I ate my 2 tasty meals, firstly a biryani then a spicy chicken curry. I also closed my eyes but didn’t manage to fall asleep.
On landing we were told to get or luggage from carousel C. I remembered from August that it wasn’t that straightforward. What they didn’t say was that you have to get on a little train to the main building, follow the signs to ‘exit/baggage claim’, then you arrive at immigration, and after that you get to collect your luggage.
Because I’d completed my MDAC form on line, I just scanned my passport, the gates opened, and I was through…easy. I collected my rucksack; I walked through customs; I had to ask, but I found my way to the railway station; I tapped my monzo card; the train came after 10 minutes; it was 30 minutes to KL Sentral; I tapped out; I took the wrong turn initially; then I knew where I was within the shopping centre; I reached Cozy and checked in.
I was greeted very warmly…well, I’d stayed there twice before. I was expecting to pay 228Myr, which was similar to what I paid before, but this time I got a room not only with a window but also with a little balcony. The concierge and receptionist apparently had a quick discussion behind my back and gave me the upgrade because I’m a ‘regular’ customer..!!
The room is actually a little bit smaller than the previous ones…but I’m not complaining !! It’s costing me £21.50 per day, and I’m very happy with that. I put my rucksack into the room and immediately walked over to my favourite pub…the Supper Club…just 5 minutes away.
As I walked in, the barman smiled, picked up a pint glass and put it towards the Connor’s tap. ” Yes please “, I said. Actually, I had 2 pints as I was so happy to be back. I went back to my room to try to sleep, as for me on NZ time it was about 3am.
Sun 5th Apr
I woke up much too early; I probably only had about 3 hours sleep. Something was bothering me…I got through the airport so quickly, that I didn’t get an entry stamp in my passport…Should I have ? Nobody questioned or stopped me.
The first hour was spent finding where the immigration offices were in the city, an alternative to going back to the airport. Then, how to get to the closest one which wasn’t in the city centre. Needed to get to Semantan on MRT line, then shuttle bus, then a walk. Of course all offices are closed on Sunday. But I thought I’d better come clean and not be accused of being in the country illegally; but I do have an MDAC and onward flight…
I went across the road from Cozy and had a milk tea. I filmed the process of preparing it…pouring from a great height…presumably to get it to really mix well.
I washed my socks and sat with them on the rooftop terrace for an hour. They dried quickly and I got some sun before the clouds came across. The terrace is absolutely great. I’d taken a video of my bedroom and my view and balcony; boring view of just a back street..!! But at least I had natural light coming through the window.
Over at the Mall I had a kopi (coffee). There are different types; mine was
milky with a bit of sugar. A rich, aromatic, and deeply cultural experience characterized by beans roasted with butter/margarine and sugar, resulting in a dark, caramelised brew.
I looked for the tourist info office, I was only there in the morning…could I find it. No !! I so easily get lost in the KL Sentral Mall.
I went to the newly refurbished eatery not far from Cozy and had rice, chicken curry and a vegetable dish. It was quite spicy and quite tasty. Costing 11Myr or 2Gbp…filling and cheap.
Over to the Supper club I went for happy hour. 2 pints of Connor’s cost 54Myr or 10Gbp. I was on my phone whilst charging it up. Lack of sleep was catching up with me. Back to Cozy after 17:00.
I told reception I wanted the room for 2 more days and that I would pay there and then. I didn’t ask for any favours but he said he would drop the room price from 114 to 100. So the price dropped from £21.50 to £19.00…it was unexpected and very welvome.
Then I went up to my room to relax, write my blog and put the TV on. In the meantime there was a heavy rainstorm, so my timing was good again. I forgot to mention the haircut. Same guy as last time and was charged the same 15MYR…or about 3 quid.
Mon 6th Apr
I think I caught up on most of my sleep. I got going before 9:00 to visit the Tourism office, and possibly immigration and Digi sim shop, but waste of time as shops don’t open until 10:00. I felt a little bit hungry, and although my plateful was small, it didn’t sit well in my stomach and I felt uncomfortable for the rest of the day.
After 10:00 I went first to the tourist info office. What a relief that I didn’t need to get an entry stamp in my passport; I can be tracked through the ‘system ‘ by means of my MDAC. I also discussed getting the transit train to Bandar Tasik Seletan and a bus from the bus hub to the east coast…Kuantan. The lady was incredibly helpful.
From there, and still in the Mall, to the DigiCelcom shop for a new Malay Sim card. I got it very quickly. Back at Cozy I grabbed 4 shirts, my jeans and a pair of socks to put through the washing machine next door. Annoyingly it had to be a cold wash as no hot or warm water.
I didn’t bother with a dryer. I draped my jeans over a chair on my little balcony. I took the orange/white shirt to the terrace with me to absorb some rays. The other shirts went on hangers in the cupboard.
I asked Allaudin for a top up of water and coffee/creamer/sugar; he gave me 3 waters and nearly 10 of each of the others. I showered, then before 16:30 I was at Supper club. I was starting to feel a bit better, but needed to go easy on food and drink.
I had 2 beers followed by a plate of 2 samosas and a lentil dish with sprinklings of cabbage and chillies. It was enough, I didn’t need any meat, and that brought the cost right down. So, dinner cost 4RM …or 75 pence ! Still not feeling great, so time to relax in my room.
Tues 7th Apr
Not a great sleep, but I probably caught up on some of my lost sleep. I showered/dressed and went into the corridor to iron my 3 shirts.
I went somewhere different for breakfast and chose something light; one dosa with 3 small dips. Nice. Then to a street nearby where I knew there were some temples; that was the extent of my sightseeing in KL. I was politely told off for going into the 1st temple wearing my shorts; I didn’t see the sign. I took my flip flops off though…!
I called into the Space hotel to check their price. It was the first time I’d seen a Pod hostel; shared facilities but secluded looking pods with decent steps…unlike bunk beds in dorms. Cost…70RM…not bad.
The sun had come out, so I went back to Cozy and up onto the terrace for an hour. Across the road I went for a milk tea. I checked where and how to buy a train ticket to the bus stand.
Then my mission was to find a place that could explain why I was having difficulty creating Afnan’s contact on my Monzo so that I could send money to her Mpesa account. I tried a phone shop, a currency exchange, a bank…the best suggestion was to ask Monzo ‘help’.
I was feeling peckish and bought a few little snacks for 3RM from a street stall. After eating them I popped into the Supper club from where I carried on my Monzo research. I had zero success; I kept getting the same error message. I told Afnan. We tried using her friend’s phone no…..nothing.
I felt bad. I went to my room. But I tried.
I did a FB post covering my 4 days in KL.