This
trip was planned with my old girlfriend, C, since July last year. Tickets were
bought (I had some problems while buying our tickets online and had to spend 30
minutes calling MAS 40 hours before departure), hotel reservation was made and
all we had to do was to wait for the departure date. Unfortunately, C found out
in December that her husband would have to travel outstation on the day we were
returning so she had to buy a single ticket back a day earlier.
The
day before departure, we were both feeling poorly. I felt a slight fever coming
up and had trouble swallowing. C had a bad tummy upset and hardly slept. What a
fine couple of travellers we made! I made sure I drank lots of water, didn’t
eat any chocolates and had an effervescent tablet of vitamin C the night before
our departure. Oh and I tried to turn in early too.
I
arrived at KL Sentral on Thursday morning to find C already waiting for me. I had
dropped by McD earlier to get some chicken porridge for C as I was worried she
was deliberately avoiding food because of her purging. I dropped off our bags
at the City Air Terminal and we lingered a bit before taking the train to KLIA
(no point arriving too early, I pointed out to C). She finally bought some
carbon pills at Guardian Pharmacy and had that. It helped somewhat, thank God.
Our
flight took off on time but I couldn’t sleep so I ended up watching a German
movie instead (the title was in German and I can’t recall it now). It was a
good fun movie. We landed at 1515 and were among the first ones out of the
plane and clearing the immigration. Our bags came out early too.
We
saw adverts of an airport shuttle so we headed to the counter to enquire. The bus
leaves Terminal 1 on an hourly basis and it will stop by Terminal 2 en route to
the city. We were told it only takes 20 minutes to the city and we could get
down at any of the three stops (Centre Point and another two more which I can’t
recall. Sorry). We got to chatting with the driver who enquired where we were
staying. When we told him, he actually made a detour and dropped us at the
hotel lobby! Amazing!
We
checked in and after enquiring the shuttle times to the city (it costs RM3 return
trip per person now; it used to be a complimentary service. Boo hoo), went to
our room to perform prayers and rest. We took the 1810 shuttle (it was late
though) to the city, got down at Plaza KK and went to find dinner. We had
dinner at the night stalls by the waterfront and after that dropped by the
dried seafood market as I wanted to buy anchovies. We had a slight problem with
the shuttle going back to the hotel as it was full save for the tour operator assistant
seat (I sat there) and I had to ask a lady from China if she wouldn’t mind
having her little son sit on her lap.
On
Friday morning, we had a late and long leisurely breakfast. Well, what this
means is that I ate a lot and C had to wait for me. We were waiting for the
shuttle when *pom* the electricity went out. It turned out that the whole of KK
had the electricity supply cut (and it lasted about four hours). We got down at
Centre Point and walked to SEDCO where we were meeting SK, our old schoolmate,
for lunch. SK took us for lunch at Hyatt as it had a generator working. Lunch was
slowly served but it didn’t really matter as we had to time to catch up with
each other.
We
bade goodbye to SK who had to return to office, blackout notwithstanding. After
performing prayers at Hyatt, we walked to the various markets (including SAFMA,
the local wet market, the seafood market and the Filipino Market). We spent
close to an hour at the Filipino Market before checking out the stalls (C
bought some grilled seafood for dinner, I was still full) and then returning to
the dried seafood market for me to buy dried prawns. We then walked to Centre
Point to catch the shuttle back to the hotel.
Back
at the hotel, we had some problems with our lights which we later found out was
due to a trip. Electricity was finally restored and we spent the evening resting
and relaxing.
On
Saturday, we had another late and long leisurely breakfast (correction: I had a
long breakfast, C waited for me patiently). We left at 1130, C having arranged
for one of the hotel staff to drive her to the seafood market and then to the
airport. In the end, C bought frozen prawns from SAFMA – easier as it was
already packed. You can buy it from the seafood market but you would also need
to buy the ice and the Styrofoam pack to pack your purchase in. It would take some
time for sure.
After
bidding goodbye to each other, I walked to Wisma Merdeka where I did blood
cupping. There was a new shop that offered it at RM200 with massage thrown in
before and after the cupping. Brilliant! I didn’t need to go for a separate
massage session then. The Kadazan-Dusun shop I visited previously charged RM260
and no massage thrown in. I also bought some USD at Wisma Merdeka. The best
thing is they have a few moneychangers who sell small denominations of USD
notes ($1, $5, $10 and $20) at a different rate compared to the larger notes ($50
and $100).
After
that, I walked to the Filipino Market and I spent long enough time to buy some
souvenirs for my officemates. I then walked to Centre Point and traipsed around
while waiting for the shuttle back to the hotel. The shuttle was late and I only
got back to my room after 7 pm. I spent the night packing, reading and watching
a bit of TV and football (fell asleep after our two goals).
On
Sunday, I went for an early breakfast for a change. I checked out at 0830 (I needed
two trips to lug my purchases) and was in a cab heading to the airport within 3
minutes. I reached the airport at 0845 and dropped off my bag and two boxes. An
hour is enough at an airport for me.
We
took off on time and I watched a French movie this time. We landed at 1215 but
the bag and boxes took a while to emerge and I was only able to take the 1300
KLIA Express train back to KL Sentral. Thank you to the porter who helped me
carry my boxes onto the train!
So
that was my sixth trip to KK. I wouldn’t mind another return trip or two.
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