Author Archives: rob

malaysia chronicles: kuala lumpur

Posted by rob on

it took me a less than an hour flight from penang going to kuala lumpur.  i did not meet any difficulties in the immigration counter in lcct (low cost carrier terminal) and saw an air asia booth inside the airport and asked for directions where the skybus is located outside.  i easily found the parked bus and was the last passenger to board.  the bus took about an hour to reach kl sentral.  from kl sentral, my plan was to take a taxi to my booked hotel in chowkit, i saw a signage that says “taxi” and just walked by till i saw a taxi coupon booth and there was a note posted on the window glass saying that waiting for a taxi can take about an hour – wtf?  i observed a swarm of people walking in one direction and assumed that following them can get me somewhere else outside.  i did followed them and found myself in the streets of kl.

i was carrying with me my laptop backpack and my decade-old, leatherette duffel bag.  i did packed light when i left manila but the stuff that i have bought from kota kinabalu and penang has added weight in my bags.  i was having a hard time walking around with such weight.  one mistake i did during my trip to malaysia was i did not have a map, not even a print-out of directions how to get to the hotel.  in kuala lumpur, all i know is my hotel name and where it is located – citrus hotel, in chowkit.  how to get there, i didn’t have a clue for the original plan was to take a taxi and let the driver take me there.

the first person whom i asked for directions does not even speak full english but was able to let me understand that the best way to get to chowkit is not by the bus but through the monorail.  i did followed his suggestion and he was correct, the kl monorail is very efficient and cheap.  i made it to chowkit and by asking around again (like for 30 sweat wrenching minutes), made it to citrus hotel.

a few days before my trip, i pre-booked at citrus hotel through their website.  they have a promo of a 40% off for a 3-night stay and i took that offer.

my room had a great view of the petronas towers.  it included a 32″ lcd flat screeen tv with cable and satellite channels and a good wifi connection.  room is clean and they even changed the linens and used towels everyday during my stay.

breakfast buffet at citrus café is included in the room package and it was okay.  i also had access in their club lounge at the 10th floor where whole day free snacks like sandwiches and dim sum with free flow soft drinks and fruit juices were available.

malaysia chronicles: menara petronas

Posted by rob on

gin (to connery) : i give you the world’s tallest building ..

mac (to zeta-jones) : .. and we’re going to steal it?

in the notable, blockbuster film “entrapment“, gin and mac (as played by actors sean connery and catherine zeta-jones), was in petronas twin towers for their final heist.  it was one of the best caper movies i have seen.

menara petronas may no longer be the tallest building in the world, but still it holds the title of being the tallest “twin” building.

 

started in 1992, i have read that it took 7 years and about 7,000 designers, engineers and planners to complete the design of the building and an additional 7,000 construction workers and a cost of 1.6 billion u.s. dollars to build this famous malaysian landmark in the city of kuala lumpur.

 

a quote by the building’s main architect, césar pelli:

“according to lao tse, the reality of a hollow object is in the void and not in the walls that define it. he was speaking, of course, of spiritual realities. these are the realities also of the petronas towers. the power of the void is increased and made more explicit by the pedestrian bridge that … with its supporting structure creates a portal to the sky … a door to the infinite.”

 

malaysia chronicles: vistana hotel

Posted by rob on

i stayed for another night in penang after i bade goodbye to docgelo, tina and gabby as they went back home to their rented condominium in butterworth. my flight to kuala lumpur is scheduled at mid afternoon the next day so i had the chance to check the nightlife at georgetown. from tune hotel, i decided to transfer to another accommodation for a one night stay in vistana hotel.

this hotel was suggested by an indian cab driver after asking him which was the nearest hotel at the airport. he drove me to the hotel and i checked in as a walk-in guest, i was given a deluxe room number 1602.

the room is clean and has complete amenities that one needs for an overnight stay.

i slept comfortably on their king size bed that i almost missed breakfast the next day, likely that i was tired from my temple visits with docgelo or had to blame the local beer i chugged at a nightclub in georgetown. 😉

satellite television with entertainment channels and high-speed internet was available in the room. the buffet breakfast was average and pescetarian friendly.

the gym was fully equipped and they also have a swimming pool which are all well maintained.

the staff at vistana are all courteous and helpful. the limousine service to the airport was quite expensive for RM29 but i did not want to sacrifice myself being drenched in the rain that suddenly poured when i was about to check out – i noticed the rain had always followed me during my trip!