Malaysia Trip Aug 2018

Malaysia diaries

Day 1 August 17th

START: After  some impulsive planning, I decided to go for vacation to Malaysia. I being an Indian tourist, the best way I found was to apply visa online from this website (http://www.windowmalaysia.my/), I got my visa in two days, that was smooth and seamless way than running behind agents, then booked my flight from AirAsia which is one of most affordable low cost airlines to Malaysia. I do recommend it if you flying to Malaysia in tight budget to fly AirAsia which is low cost carrier

Day 2 August 18th

After around 4 hours of journey from Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur(KL) went for immigration and was out within half an hour early morning at 7am. The airport is quite far from city and you need to reach the central hub called "KL sentral" from where you can go anywhere in and around KL using their metro trains which are well spread arcoss KL

To reach KL Sentral you have two options

Option 1 : take the bus from airport and reach KL sentral in 50 mins (buses are good and cheaper than train around 15 RM)

Option 2: if you are in hurry, you can take the KL express train and reach KL sentral in 25mins (Note: its expensive, you need to pay around 55RM)

I went with option 2, there is free wifi also if u go in KL express train to get connected to Internet.

My dear friend "Muzzi" (my endearment to him ) was anxiously waiting for me in KL sentral and I was equally delighted to meet him after an year. He had lost weight, on other hand I had gained what he had lost in my body weight :). He was sleepy still came to pick me up.

We chit chat our way back to home in LRT from KL sentral to Jelatek station. It was just 10mins walk from Jelatek station to his home. I travel light without any luggage with just hand bag so it was not a problem at all.

After getting acclimatize at home, I was damn tired so I slept till 3pm. When I woke up, lunch was ready by Muzzi (he is good host) had prepared himself, he is good cook (I would have surely starved if not for him), it was lip smacking rice and dal which I finished in no time. We had high tea (prepared by Muzzi, ofcourse) and chit chat for a while with the owner of the house (very pretty lady and very cordial, so I have seen first attraction of Malaysia right away). It’s almost 5.30pm, myself and Muzzi went for a swim in his apartment. Before I go into further details, (little flashback: We love swimming and we learnt swimming together in Bangalore). Now, come back, we went to swimming and we spent 3hours in pool just not coming out of that pool. It was much needed break for both of us.

We decided to go out after that refreshing swim. Any guesses where we went? Yes, you guessed right, the iconic twin towers at KLCC(Kaula Lumpur convention center). We hop the LRT from. Jelatek to KLCC. Though it’s my second visit to KL, I still at awe with glittering lights of Petronas towers at night. We clicked some MUST HAVE pictures with Petronas towers enjoyed the musical fountain and left for “Bukit Bantang street” in free tourist bus operated by Malaysian tourism. At Bukit Bantang, believe me, on Saturday night, it was most happening night I have seen after very long time, we enjoyed the music and walked towards Chinese food Street but scared to try their food. So, we went to KFC instead to have dinner. We did lose track of time and realized it was almost 12am and no trains anymore, they had stopped for the day and we didn’t have load in our phones. So, we borrowed hotspot from a someone, booked grab and reached home safely and slept. So lesson learnt, be careful with your timings while travelling at night in KL.

Day 3 August 19th

Woke up around 11am, had quick breakfast (bread and butter) and amazing milk tea and went for a swim. We had good rhythm today and finished 10laps. Got back to room and went to KL sentral for lunch. We wanted to try ABC cafe which serves sweet chicken with rice. I love that dish(shall give more details, last day in KL). After having lunch, we went to  “Titiwang park” and spend whole evening there chilling out. Booked grab and came back home ,had dinner (rice, dal) and doze off. Day well spent.

Day 4 August 20th

Its a RECORD, I walked 18366 steps today through out the day. That's a personal record in KL. So I got up today by receiving a call at 10am from a friend (Ma-an)back from Philippines who was in KL for her vacation . So, I took quick shower and went to meet her by LRT to masjid Jamek station. I was late (guilty as charged), but she was patiently waiting for me outside. We walked around and went to Chinese cafe which and had Nasi. Lemak (traditional Malaysian Cuisine) in Chinese Muslim restaurant. So, I think it was Chinese Malaysian halal restaurant. Then we walked around “Merdeka Square”, and “Jamek masjid”around area. We also went to China town and KL Gallery. It was very hot so we decided to rest in masjid Jamek where I offered my prayers. Maan left around 2.30pm so I waited for muzzi in same masjid chatting new German friend Nico who I just met in masjid. Muzzi reached masjid around 4pm. We decided to go “Batu caves”. We took KTM metro to reach Batu caves. KTM train frequency is every half an hour. We reached Batu caves around 5 pm. I was exhausted with walk throughout the day so just saw the famous Golden statue of Batu Caves and didn’t bother to climb those never ending  steps to temple which is inside the caves but instead decided to have some Indian snacks near Batu caves( I always dread trekking due to bad experience in the past). We started back around 7 pm KTM and reached KL sental. We decided to do some grocery shopping for Eid in “Sam’s Groceria” ( NOTE: this is best place to do Grocery shopping as they have all what you need to make good Biryani). We did shop for whatever was needed for Eid for almost 100 ringets, and rushed to catch the LRT back home. I did pull off miraculous mission impossible jump into the train while the doors were closing which shocked the passengers and to some extent even me (PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS EVER). We reached home around 10 pm and slept.

 Day 5 August 21^th

It was lazy day we decided to just stay at home and enjoy some movies and swim in evening.

Day 6 August 22 (Eid ul Adha)

Eid-ul-Adha (EID MUBARAK), I woke up very early, ITS EID!!!!, very excited!! I woke up around 6 am and took shower and prayed morning prayers, before waking Muzzi, he woke up around 7:30 am. We both rushed to Masjid Jamek for Eid prayers. This was my first Eid in Malaysia so I was eager to not miss this.  we skipped the breakfast and rushed to LRT to not miss our Eid prayers. After prayers, we walked a around taking photos near Merdeka square and Gallery. Then we reached home and prepared Biryani (correction : Muzzi prepared and I helped him little) it was yummmm J. And we slept in afternoon. Got up in evening and went for swim after talking to mom back in India on whatsapp. We decided to go for shopping to China town at around 8 pm. Once we got down from LRT, it started raining but we already in China town and did some shopping (shoes, Tshirts, shorts). I think this is best place to do shopping in KL as it is very affordable items here. We came back home at around 10:30 and had Biryani and slept.

Day 7 August 23

Azhar bhai (my brother in law) joined us today morning from Bangalore. We were very excited (Dil chahta hai, Zindagi na milegi Dobara feelings aroused). He reached Jelatek station from where we picked him and went back home. He slept after having breakfast meanwhile we went for a swim. We rent a city car and drive to Putrajaya from Jelatek. We reached Putra Jaya lakeside and clicked some funny and crazy photos in Azhar’s DSLR camera. We then went to Putra Jaya Red mosque.

THIS IS MOST ICONIC MASJID I HAVE SEEN IN MALAYSIA.

The color combination of everything right from Red carpet to its huge dome is just like fine piece of architecture. We offered our Magribh prayers with Jamaat and just didn’t want to go back from this place. We dragged ourselves out of this mesmerizing masjid and took pictures along the president office, via hanging bridge to reach back to KL to National Mosque of KL. It was 9:30 pm when we reached there but requested the guard to allow us to just have a peek from outside by acting like typical tourists pleading politely. He was kind enough to let us just have look and take some photos. I wish we had come here early but never mind, there is always next time. Since Azhar is new to KL , we took him to Petronas tower to take pictures with Petronas tower. We then went to nearby McD Café at interlink building to have spicy chicken burger before heading back home. Reached home at 12:00 am and slept.

Day 8 August 24

We planned to go Penang (famous for food and its hill) in car from KL at 8 AM but started at 10 :15 am (overslept). This is most amazing journey from KL to Penang (Note: We had skipped breakfast and didn’t find any outlet to have breakfast on the highway, make sure you take lot of water and eatables) while travelling to Penang highway in Car. We stopped in nearby dhaba type outlet to have food. We all were very hungry but after seeing the options both Muzzi and Azhar hunger disappeared. Though they are nonveg, the options were not appealing to them. For me, my experience in Philippines during my MBA days has helped me to adapt to any kind of food which is edible for humans, so I had my brunch with no problem while both of them were looking me flabbergasted.

Reached Penang.

Checked into our room and headed to Firangi beach in Penang after having late lunch. As usual, both Muzzi and Azhar were acting very sensitive and hesitant to go in beach. On other hand, I jumped into beach right away and spent the evening enjoying weather and salt water all over me. Came back hotel room, took shower and went for shopping. Purchased  T-shirts and had jack fruit juice on the way back and loved it, it was tasting good, so tried one more glass. Do try it if you get a chance around Firangi beach. Had McD burger and chips for dinner and slept.

Day 9 August 25

We started late around 9 am and on the way went to Penang mosque which is constructed on beach, YES, (you read right), its constructed-on the beach, never heard of any mosque on the beach, it was very peaceful to spend sometime there and had McD (safest option because Muzzi and Azhar cannot eat anything else)for breakfast. We headed to Penang hill the most spectacular destination in Penang. Bought tickets from counter for hill train and waited patiently in long queue as it crowded weekend Saturday. The train took us in less than 10 mints to top of the hill. It was just delighting to reach on top of Penang hill without going through the hassle of climbing it. Spent couple of hours there, taking some crazy poses I normally do while excited. Malaysian govt does spend lot on tourism and it was evident here at Penang hill. Once we were done around 2 pm, started our car drive back to KL and reached at 10 pm. It was best drive back home ordered pizza for dinner at home (sinful delight. Yummy!!!)

Day 10 August 26 – Plan to go Genting Islands!!

We had booked bus tickets to Genting Islands and cable car for all of us in KL Sentral. The outlet is in basement in KL Sentral ( ask for directions, if you can’t find the outlet). We were suppose to be at KL sentral at 8 am sharp to catch the bus. However, we reached KL sentral and at 8:05 am and miss the bus!!! So, lesson learnt, respect timings in KL if you have booked bus to go anywhere, they are not like Indians to wait for you even for 5 mins. They just take off with you. We booked tickets again and hopped 8:30 am bus to Genting Islands!! Reached in one hour or so. We took cable car to top of the hill in snowy morning, to reach Genting islands. They have two stops, first stop is Genting temple and second stop is to mall where we have famous Casino. Its ironical, In Casino you do sin and before coming down you visit temple and get redemption for your sins. Guess, where we went first!! Temple or Casino???  Where would you go?? Temple right? haha No, Sorry, we go to Casino first.

Before entering Casino we explored the mall, and watched balloon lights musical show which takes place every hour I think. You can’t carry camera in Casino, but it was very huge, we saw so many oldies mostly Chinese origins in that Casino. We didn’t try our luck though we were slightly tempted. We had lunch and headed to Genting temple, it’s a beautiful architecture of Chinese culture mixed with Buddhism ideology and art. Took some pics there with my signature pose and we took 3 pm bus back to KL sentral. Muzzi had some work so he left us in KL Sentral. I escorted Azhar bhai to Bukit Bintang in metro as I was staying in KL  from more than a week already and acclimatized enough. We went to Chinese Street and tried some fruits and star fruit juice (my favorite). Azhar bhai bought some mandatory souvenirs for my sister as commanded. Both me and Azhar bhai were very tied, so we took metro back home from KL Sentral.

Day 11 August 27 – So, its Monday, Muzzi was suppose to go back to work, and myself and Azhar had to take a flight in evening back to Bangalore. We packed our bags, got ready and left around 1 pm to KL Sentral in metro. I took Azhar bhai, to ABC café which I had gone before to try there famous chicken recipe. If you food lover like me, then this café is must visit for you. Anyways, after having good lunch, we hopped in airport bus from KL sentral and did some shopping in duty free before we boarded the flight.

Flown back to Bangalore and back to reality!!!

THE END!!!

Video link:

Here is a quick video of our Malaysia trip

https://gopro.com/v/DzN5XDLlKKJR