On the second week of December 2005, Air Asia (www.airasia.com) had a zero fare promo to Kuala Lumpur. I grabbed the opportunity and purchased 2 roundtrip tickets for only PhP 4,578.00. What a bargain! The funny thing is I booked our trip 6 months ahead. I even resigned at my new job then just to accommodate this trip. They didn’t allow me to be absent for 2 days in the training period so I just disappeared when I had to take this trip. Hey! I only live once and I have to set my priorities. Hahaha! I didn’t like the job, that’s why I had to escape for awhile to reflect about my life.
Anyway, I was on a budget so I opted to try a budget hostel, Trekker Lodge (1 Jalan Angsoka, Off Jalan Nagasari, Bukit Bintang). The total charge for 3 nights stay in a double bed with private bathroom was RM 225.00 (PhP 3,010.90).
I prepared an itinerary again for this trip as I love doing it.
July 29, 2006 (Saturday)
What Airline
Air Asia, Departure from Clark – 11:45am; Arrival in Kuala Lumpur – 3:40pm
Where To Stay
Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to Trekker Lodge
How To Go There
Budget Taxi & Limousine service can be found at Taxi Rank just outside of Gate 3 (International Terminal, Arrival Level). Taxi vouchers can be purchased at Taxi Counters found as you exit the Baggage claim area.
Budget taxi costs about RM 59.90 per cab from LCCT to city center.
If queue is long for budget taxi, ride the KL Express train to Sentral Station Interchange. Board the Monorail going to Bukit Bintang then walk towards Trekker Lodge.
*** While I was on the plane, I found out that there’s a new shuttle (SkyBus) service that would ply between the terminal and Sentral Station half-hourly, charging RM 9.00 each way. Obviously, we chose this one over the taxi.
Where To Go
Eat at Jalan Alor.
Kuala Lumpur is all about eating, and the best eating isn’t in the air-conditioned restaurants. The best place is eating in Jalan Alor. Formerly known as the Red light district of Kuala Lumpur. The area has since undergone a number of face lifts and the hosts now cater more to delight the gastronomical passions of its patrons. The stalls are parked all along the street. It is quite an overwhelming experience for the first timers, who may have some difficulty on deciding where to eat. Jalan Alor Bukit Bintang, one short walk away from the modern shopper’s paradise of the BB Walk and its many malls and plazas.
Kuala Lumpur Tower. (Menara Telecommunications Tower)
How To Go There
Ride the Bukit Bintang Monorail and alight at Bukit Nanas.
Walk up the hilly road to the base of tower then catch the free shuttle service up to the entrance of the tower.
Opening Hrs: 9am – 10 pm
Admission Fee: RM 20 with audio guide
*** Don’t go here at night. We didn’t appreciate the view from the deck because what we saw were city lights.
Just walk to go back to Trekker Lodge.
July 30, 2006 (Sunday)
Where To Go
Petonas Towers
How To Go There
Ride the taxi to Petronas Towers. Tell the driver to use the meter or you’ll be overcharged.
Queue at around 8am to get the scheduled passes. Viewing starts at 9am. 10-12 persons are allowed to enter for every 15 minutes.
*** We were scheduled at 3:30 pm.
See the Central Market.
How To Go There
Board the Kelana Jaya Rail Line KLCC then alight at Pasar Seni.
The building, previously a wet market, is now home to many arts and crafts shops showcasing the work of local artists and craftsmen. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs and T-shirts in addition to more elaborate handicraft and artwork. Central Market can be found just across the Klang River, opposite the Dayabumi Complex, on the fringe of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown.
Visit the Batu Caves.
How To Go There
Board Bus Intrakota #11
The Batu Caves are situated thirteen kilometers (seven miles) north of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. They are the sacred place for the Hindus in Malaysia. They consist of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. The caves are made of limestone and 400 meters long and 100 meter high.
Go back to Petronas Towers for viewing.
How To Go There
Ride the taxi from Batu Caves to Petronas Towers.
While waiting for your turn, you may look around at Suria Mall which is situated at the foot of Petronas Towers.
Check out Chinatown.
How To Go There
Board KLCC Kelana Jaya Rail Line then alight at Dana Wangi. A short walk from Dana Wangi is the Bukit Nanas Monorail. Alight at Maharajalela station.
Petaling St/ Chinatown is a 5-minute walk from Maharajalela station.
The center of Kuala Lumpur’s original Chinatown. Petaling Street maintains much of its traditional atmosphere, particularly at night when vendors spread their wares out on the street. While it is possible to purchase anything from gems and incense to toys and t-shirts here, enjoying the night market is really a matter of just wandering about and enjoying its sights, sounds, and energy.
To go back to Treker Lodge, board from Maharajalela Monorail station to Bukit Bintang.
July 31, 2006 (Monday)
Where To Go
Stroll around Lake Gardens/ Taman Tasik Perdana.
How To Go There
Board the Monorail from Bukit Bintang to Sentral Station. Transfer to RapiKL Bus #R115 or just take a taxi to Lake Gardens.
The Lake Gardens, located off Jalan Parlimen, is a large and scenic city park with a host of attractions, many of them unique to the region. For example, there is the Orchid Garden, which displays various species of orchids; the Hibiscus Garden; and the Bird Park, which features many colorful and exotic tropical birds. There is also a deer park, butterfly farm, lake with rental boats and several jogging paths — all located among lush, well-kept gardens. Also at the Lake Gardens are the Tun Razak Memorial, once the official residence of Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the National Monument, which depicts the victory of Malaysian soldiers over the “Communist insurgents” and mirrors precisely the famous monument depicting the fall of Iwo Jima. The Lake Gardens are a perfect place for an early morning or late afternoon stroll.
Opening Hrs: 9am – 6pm
Admission: Bird Park – RM 28.00
Butterfly Park – RM 5.00
Have fun at Berjaya Times Square.
How To Go There
Ride a taxi outside Bird Park to Berjaya Times Square.
It is tagged as the ‘world’s largest building ever built in a single phase’, with 7.5 million square feet (700,000 m²) of built up floor area. It is set to become an international landmark offering shopping, luxury accommodation, business, food and abundant entertainment.
Currently, it has more than 1000 specialty retail shops, 1200 luxury service suites, 65 food outlets to suit many tastes and entertainment attractions such as Asia’s largest indoor theme park, Cosmo’s World and Malaysia’s first-ever IMAX 2D & 3D theatre which is located on the 10th Floor. In April 2005, Borders Group opened its first franchise store here. Currently, the store is the largest Borders store in the world.
Sightseeing at Bukit Bintang.
How To Go There
Imbi station is linked to the Berjaya Times Square by a footbridge. Board the Monorail from Imbi station to Bukit Bintang.
Part of the excitement of Bintang Walk is the experience of people-watching but apart from that, we suggest a walkabout to truly qualify that you have “visited Bintang Walk”.
Just walk back to Trekker Lodge.
August 1, 2006 (Tuesday)
Air Asia, Depature from Kuala Lumpur – 7:20am; Arrival in Clark – 11:15am
How To Go There
Ride a taxi to Sentral Station then board the Skybus going to Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT).
backpacking itinerary category.