KL trip

Two weeks ago today, I just visited my soon-to-be university, and was holidaying with my family at KL. Okay.. let’s start from the beginning, on 19^th August, a Sunday. Flight was on schedule, the holiday seemed to be getting off on a good start. One of the things I noticed was that now Air Asia sells Digi starter packs and RM30 reload cards during the flight, now if only one day they can find out how to let us safely use handphones on flight.

Truth to be told, this whole trip was a last minute thing, accommodation wasn’t even booked till a few days before we left. Thus, we were lucky to find a room. We stayed at The Royale Bintang Damansara, a Family Suite worked out to be the best option, being cheaper than having two rooms. The locality of the hotel was great, right behind the hotel was The Curve, opposite the road was Ikea and Ikano Power Centre. One Utama was just a short drive away. Splendid. How could I not know this place existed until now? The room was spacious enough, the bathroom however was huge. Even bigger than the master bedroom.

Here’s the living room area. I didn't know there would be a DVD player

And behind the couch are two blissfully comfortable single beds.

The master bedroom is separated from the common area by a sliding door. Hmm.. wonder what’s my brother looking for. Perhaps this?

The name’s Blund. Jamie Blund. Well, this cutie from Ikea had a tag on it saying it’s name is Blund, then we joked and called it James Blund, a spoof off the 007 agent. Then my sister said James seemed too serious a name for it, hence Jamie Blund.

View far out from the window, One Utama, so near yet so far. And you can see Ikea and Ikano Power Centre right across the street, easily accessed by underpass or the sheltered pass over the road linking The Curve and the other side.

We were in KL just in time for the last day of the Ikea sales. =_= The shopping experience that can turn any kid, or even older people, mad out of impatience. Imagine frenzied packs of families looking for sales items, kids pushing along their kid size trolleys, or some being pushed while sitting in the giant trolleys. Cacophony of noises. Bright industrial style lights. Shopping layout designed to force people along one single track and thus entice them to spend more upon seeing the goods. I’m glad I got out in one piece, and before the closing time. I think that experience tired me out more than walking a day in KL’s largest shopping centre.

Next day, off we went to visit my university. Long ride it was, from Damansara to Semenyih it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. First thought upon entering Semenyih town... “Hahhhh?! Am I really just one hour from KL? Is that forest I see? Oh gosh. The uni is so far from anywhere”

Yup, I was shocked, no doubt. But things were a little better when we arrived at the campus. “Okay.. it doesn’t seem too bad,”I thought.

My future home away from home.

See how they name the hostels, Langkawi Hall, Redang Hall, Tioman Hall, Pangkor Hall. All named after holiday islands, is that supposed to be mood uplifting? Heh.

My faculty labs are in the building on the left, or so the sign says.

The main building. The gigantic clock chimes SOOO loudly every hour.

On the way back, we went to the Subang Jaya area, where there are so many colleges. Drove into Monash Uni, seems like a metropolitan city campus, the people there look rich, for lack of a better description. A short stop at Sunway Pyramid where we had the oh-so-nice Secret Recipe cakes that I mentioned at the UGS blog, and then watched people ice-skating, just watched. On the way back to the hotel, stopped by One Utama, where my parents spent like forever at the Marks & Spencers shop. A place we always walk away from with at least the divine cookies. Fattening but oh so good.

Third day at KL had got to be the most time-wasting yet carefree day. Went to KLCC, of all places. Mainly so my brother could visit the Petrosains place. Well, it was the second time for me and my sis and we were a bit unfazed by it. But there was nevertheless fun to be had.

I love infinity mirrors...

After stops at the Kinokuniya bookstore, and after that the time where my sister and I wandered off to find the Japanese books section on another floor. After which our further wandering led us to the exhibition mentioned in the previous post. Wandering is good...

Upon evening, had a walk around the KLCC park. Where, my sister I think, took this lovely photo.

Somehow, it just seems like this could be a scene from any big city in the world. My dad said that the two buildings on the left are designed by Norman Foster, if I did not hear wrongly. Supposedly very high-end residence.

And this photo is by me, taken at 6.58pm, as I can tell from that huge digital clock.

Fourth day was enjoyable, almost half a day spent at Low Yat. Found my new love, he goes by the name Toshiba. My little power machine, except lacking on the memory space part, like me. Hehe. And I got myself another new companion. Goodbye my two years old Nokia 3120, hello to my SE w610i. First time I have bought a phone in my whole life, since my old phone was a free gift. Gee.

I think my brother quite liked the 4^th day too, for a different reason. We got to take public transport! My brother just loves trains. We took the RapidKL from Kelana Jaya all the way to Sentral, then the monorail to Bukit Bintang area. And roughly the same way back, after which we took a taxi to One Utama for more shopping. Yay. Still couldn’t finish exploring the place.

Last day at KL, it rained... With the little time we had, we could only do a bit of last minute shopping at The Curve. Oh yea, I did not mention that the days before, we managed to sample the Big Apple Doughnuts, or whatever they are called, nothing particularly special. I can kick myself for not going to Krispy Kreme at Bali when I saw it, slipped my mind that that’s the famous one. Haiya. And at The Curve also got to have the Xiao Loong Pao at Dragon-I restaurant. Finally get to taste what it’s like after reading so much about it in blogs.

Quick snapshot of The Curve before hurriedly leaving to pack and check out at the hotel.

Still raining as we left the hotel. Still raining when we arrived at LCCT some time later. Still raining when we had lunch at the terminal at McD. Rain rain rain. The rain which got our flight delayed almost an hour.

This ice-cream is so unlike the McD ice-cream in Kuching. I just had to have it, after remembering how good and creamy it tasted the last time I had it upon returning from Bali.

And so ended the KL trip. Much better trip than last time I’d say, we certainly have learnt from past experience. Heh. So, another week or so before I go to KL, this time alone. Jittery...