Pink Fox Patrol: My Travels

Arriving at KL Sentral and Off to My Hotel Near PWTC

I enjoy riding in trains and every time I arrive in a new city abroad, I try avoiding using the taxi and just use the train service of the city to get to my hotel. That way, it allows me to see the real city! I have done that in many cities - Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, London and of course, in Kuala Lumpur. I enjoy the experience immensely because I get to interact with the locals especially when I have to look for a place.

So when the bus deposited us at KL Sentral, there were already many taxis in the bus area asking for our fare, but I stuck to my guns and decided to lug my baggage around and enter KL Sentral.

The freakin' escalator that was not functioning!

One minor hardship was the escalator was NOT working. Que horror! So I had to carry my luggage on this really steep non-functioning escalator! Soon as I reached the top, I rested for a bit, and once again, took some pictures.

I entered the KL Sentral mall and it's quite busy since it was a Saturday night. I went straight to the LRT ticket booth and asked for a stored card. It costs 12 ringgit (188 pesos) and it had a stored value of 10 ringgit (156 pesos), enough to take me to my hotel.

The stored LRT card was very easy to use. You just tap it and then the barrier opens.

My stored LRT and Monorail card. I learned how to use the machine where I could top this up! Pretty easy to use since it had English in it, as well!

It looks like a mall, and it is a mall which houses the central station of KL, very impressive!

Like these ladies, I was lugging my stuff around. Good that I only packed 9 kilos!

This is where I am going to change stations to go to PWTC!

Yup, their stations look like the once you see in HK, with large TV screens which even featured an 'It's More Fun in the Philippines' ad!

First Time at LCCT (Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, Kuala Lumpur)

There are money changers inside the airport near the baggage claim area. Just change a little bit of money though because they give fairly low rates. For example, 1000 Philippine pesos in the airport is just 64 ringgit, but in the city, in a money changer near my hotel, Hotel Wira, in Jalan Putra, the same amount is 75 ringgit!

Don't even bother to change at KLCC since it's also low there, but a bit higher than the airport. They gave me 69 ringgit for the same amount.

One funny incident during this flight happened during the baggage claim. There was no advise to us, passengers from Clark, as to where we could get our luggage. I checked all the baggage counters and none said Clark. I waited for another ten minutes and also observed my co-passengers - who were also nonplussed. Finally, a girl approached one of the airline staff and asked about our luggage and the guy pointed us to where they were - already downloaded from the plane but no marks saying that these luggages came from Clark.

In this conversion table, check out the lower amount since that is the one you will get.

There are many restaurants outside so don't worry about getting hungry.

It is only airconditioned inside the airport. Outside it's not, so wear comfortable clothing.

There are many ATMs outside just in case you want to withdraw. I haven't tried it though, darn!

This airport goes to a lot of places and this photo includes the airlines flying here.

There are shuttle buses to KLIA as well as to the city center. The airport is pretty organized.

Enjoying Air Asia's Cabin Experience

I was sitting at the Exit seats, like always, because I'm fat hehe, and for the first time, I really read the instructions! It's fairy easy to open the door but what I don't get is how we are supposed to 'slide' down the plane! These are not cheap seats though! They cost 450 pesos each!

It was a fairly empty flight, maybe we were just 50-60% full.

I love what I was wearing during this trip. It was really comfy! I will always wear this if I travel - I just felt very comfortable!

My seatmate on the other side of the plane!

Air Asia also has a magazine and I did keep one even if they said not too haha

Trying to get some zzzzz'ss

I guess I'm really getting older. I'm a bit averse now to crowds and people crowding in in airports and airlines - so it was a bit refreshing to fly Air Asia since it was far from the madding crowd - and I had to get off at Clark, although a far drive from Manila, there was no traffic to contend with - and no nerves about being late or anything like that, since it was just a small airport.

I don't know if it's just perception but flying Cebu Pacific is like flying in a cage! Or maybe I'm just getting the wrong seats. My Air Asia experience was more relaxed, and since I flew from Clark, I did not have to contend with many people while getting my stuff on the locker above - I could actually 'sleep' since I had no seatmates!

Also, the plane appears much cleaner and the aircon much cooler. I pre-ordered chicken in their website and make sure you cool it off a bit first because they serve it very hot. I was not able to enjoy my first chicken since I found it too hot, so on my return trip, I cooled it off for a bit - and that's when the flavor came out!

However, boarding is through the tarmac though and since it rained hard when we arrived in Clark, we just had umbrellas to shield us from the fierce rains! But a bus fetched us and brought us down directly at entrance.

On my way to KL, I had to run in the tarmac as well, no umbrella even if it was drizzling. I thought I would miss my flight! But the plane waits pala till everyone is in the plane.

I will definitely ride Air Asia again because they have flights to cities in Indonesia and of course Malaysia. I actually want to discover both countries very well.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Arriving at KL Sentral and Off to My Hotel Near PWTC

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