KL trip - Day 1 (25 December 2008)

Christmas Day! Da and I were all packed by Christmas Eve and ready to go on our trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As our Jetstar flight to Kuala Lumpur was scheduled for 7.25 am on 25 December 2008 and we had to check in at least 40 minutes before departure time, we decided to go to the Changi Airport a little earlier to check in so that we would have time for a light breakfast.

We arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 1 (we had mistakenly thought that Jetstar will be departing from the Budget Terminal but were informed otherwise by the taxi driver) slightly after 6 am and checked the departure board. Our Jetstar flight 3K683 was on schedule.

The check-in at the check-in counter was a breeze.

As we had time to spare, we decided to have a light breakfast at the staff canteen. As this is a budget airline, there are no meals served on board. No, let me correct myself. Meals are served on board... but you have to pay for them.

Around 7.10 am, while we were leisurely making our way to the departure gate, we got a shock when we heard our names being announced over the public announcement system. It was the last call! We ran to the departure lounge. As we had our boarding passes scanned, we heard an airport staff say to another airport staff, "OK, can fly off now". At 7.10 am, we were the last to board when the flight was scheduled to fly off at 7.25 am? Goodness me!

Kudos to the pilot of Jetstar. The take-off and landing were both very smooth! The aeroplane took off at precisely 7.25 am and the flight took about 45 minutes.

Upon our arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport ("KLIA"), we took an aerotrain to the arrival terminal where the customs and baggage claim were located.

After we cleared customs and collected our almost-empty luggage (*grin*), we purchased train tickets (which cost us RM35 per person) for the KLIA Ekspres, a non-stop express train from the KLIA to KL Sentral station in the city.

The KLIA Ekspres was very clean and the seats were comfortable. The train ride from KLIA to KL Sentral station was estimated to take about 28 minutes.

At the KL Sentral station, we exited the train station and crossed the road to the KL Monorail station.

Our monorail ride from KL Sentral station to Raja Chulan station (near our hotel) cost us RM2.20 each.

The Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre hotel is about 5 minutes' walk from the Raja Chulan station. The hotel is located between Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (and the adjoining shopping mall (Suria KLCC)) and the shopping belt at the Bukit Bintang area. As such, the hotel is located at a very central location.

As Da and I were checking into the hotel, we heard an excited scream. Turning our heads, we saw Da's nieces (ST and MT) running towards us for big hugs. ST is 19 years old whereas MT is 11 years old. They and their parents (Da's sister, GN and her husband, DT) have been in Malaysia since 17 December 2008. Another 2 families (friends of DT) had joined them in Kuala Lumpur on 23 December 2008. The 3 families would be staying in Kuala Lumpur till 28 December 2008 (while Da and I would be returning to Singapore on 27 December 2008). We met one of the 2 families who had joined DT and GN in Kuala Lumpur - LWS and ML together with their young children, their son (AL) and their daughter (CL). AL is 8 years old and is very knowledgeable about fish (he and I had animated discussions about fish and their characteristics of different types of fish). CL is a lovely little tyke who is ever ready to pose for a photograph!

After Da and I checked in, GN's family, LWS's family, Da and I walked to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

We cut through the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and walked through the carpark to the adjoining shopping mall, Suria KLCC where the Petronas Twin Towers are located. We were not able to go up the towers to take a look at the view as you would need to book tickets beforehand.

Suria KLCC is a shopping mall with shops selling high-end products. After browsing for a short while, Da, ST and I decided to adjourn to another shopping mall while the rest of the party continued shopping at KLCC.

At that point in time, we had 2 options:-

(a) walk to the nearest monorail (at Raja Chulan monorail station) and take the monorial to Imbi monorail station, the station nearest to Berjaya Times Square (a big shopping mall); or

(b) walk all the way to Berjaya Times Square.

As the weather was fine and the Raja Chulan monorail station was already halfway to Times Square, we decided to walk all the way to Berjaya Times Square (which was about 1.3 km away from Suria KLCC).

Berjaya Times Square is a very large shopping mall with more levels than one can cover in a day. After we browsed several shops, we decided to stop for an afternoon snack (we had not eaten our lunch yet and it was tea time already). ST requested that we eat at Sushi King and we were agreeable.

Sushi King sells sushi using a conveyor belt system. Plates of sushi are placed on a moving conveyor belt and you simply lift up the plate containing the sushi that you like. The sushi is charged according to the colour of the plate.

ST's mobile phone rang. It was GN, requesting that we go back to the hotel and freshen up for dinner. On our way back, Da, ST and I walked through Pavilion shopping centre, a 7-storey shopping mall located opposite our hotel. This shopping mall was opened in October 2007.

ST wanted to buy some salad as a pre-dinner snack. As such, we went to Mercato supermarket located at the basement of Pavilion shopping centre.

There is a wide range of salad sold by weight at Mercato. If I recall correctly, the salad is charged at RM2.99 per 100g.

We met up with GN's family and LWS's family for dinner at the food court at Pavilion shopping centre. DT pointed out to us a restaurant named "Madam Kwan's Restaurant" located near the food court. This restaurant chain sells nasi lemak... at restaurant prices. We opted to eat at the food court instead.

DT also ordered dessert for everyone to share. Da, ST, MT and I shared a mango ice kachang.

Our gluttony (*grin*) did not stop at dessert. By the time dinner was over, it was way past 10 pm, too late to go to the pasar malam (that is, night market) at Petaling Street. Instead, everyone adjourned to another cafe at Pavilion, specialising in chocolate.

If you are a chocolate lover, you will love this cafe! They sell chocolates, chocolate drinks, mocca, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate souffle, etc.

By the time we all waddled out of the chocolate cafe, we could barely keep our eyes open.


Yawn! We slowly made our way back to the hotel (which was, fortunately, located opposite Pavilion shopping centre) and called it a night.


Before I end this post, here is a recap of our 1st day in Kuala Lumpur. Enjoy the slideshow!