How to Commute & Travel Tips When In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

My plan with my recent trip to KL, was unexpected some friends just asked if I want to tag along, and days after I was able to book a plane ride via MALAYSIA AIRLINES courtesy of my dad who works for an airline (company benefits). I came like 2 days after my friends arrived at KL. For the past several years, KL has been my layover when there wasn’t a straight flight going to Oman from Manila  that’s why KLIA has been a familiar place for me. BTW, Malaysia gives 30 days free visa for tourist. Recent travel articles I read, Malaysia has beaten the other Asian countries as the most visited this year and I agree. Everything in Malaysia is so hassle free and accessible especially for a tourist like me- all I did was commute and I enjoyed it. I traveled solo on the first and third day, on the second day I traveled alone before meeting up with my friends.

DAY 1: STILL FIGURING THINGS OUT

The first you do when you land at Malaysia, is ask for a MAP, It will be your bestfriend & guide to go around – You can ask at any counter or go to the Malaysia Tourism office, You can get different maps and guides for free. You can be updated with any upcoming events and promos (vouchers for discounts).

Click to view MAP

Link to Map: http://www.spad.gov.my/klang-valley-rail-transit-map

Phot creds: http://www.kuaby.com/kl-sentral/
Phot creds: http://www.kuaby.com/kl-sentral/

Opening hours of the train:

KTM COMMUTER (ktmb.com.my) 5:40 AM- 10:30 PM – Going to Batu Caves

KELANA JAYA (PUTRA) LINE (rapidkl.com.my) 6 AM- 11:30 PM – Going KLCC/WANGSU MAJU

AMPANG LINE (rapidkl.com.my) 6 AM- 11:15 PM

KL MONORAIL (monorail.com.my) 6 AM – 11:30 PM – Going to Bukit Bintang

KLIA EXPRESS (kliaekspres.com) 5AM – MIDNIGHT – Going to airport

TIP: If you plan to exchange money from dollars to ringgit, better at the airport. Higher rate/ exchange if you have dollars.

HOTEL GEO

I’m glad my uncles booked me a hotel at JALAN HANG KASTURI, “HOTEL GEO”  via www.booking.com- It is so convenient because it is in front of central market, beside Little India and China Town (Petaling). Also, just at the back of the hotel the TRAIN STATIONS and a nearby BUS STATION. – Highly recommended when it comes to the accessibility and the front desk people are so helpful and they give you good advice on how to get to places plus near by money exchange in case and a 24 hour Texas food chain down stairs.

TIP: Bring a universal charger (Malaysia has the 3- socket outlet/ 220-240) but some of my friends were able to use their charger that they used here in the Philippines, better to be prepared 🙂

Upon my arrival at the airport, I took the airport taxi from KLIA to my hotel which cost around 150 ringgit. If I just understood how to take the KLIA Express to my hotel I would have done it. The thing is you need to know the places that are accessible with each station.

TIP: If you plan to ride taxis make sure they have a metro. If you plan to save take the RED OR YELLOW Taxi. The BLUE ones have a higher rate.

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At the train station, you get your blue chip or pass via a machine. It’s very easy to manipulate you just need to be aware and ask around what kind of train are you riding. The first thing that pops out is the 4 different category of trains and then once you chose your destination comes the specific amount. The place where you get your chip is where your change will be dispense.

Black - PASAR SENI Pink - KLCC
Black – PASAR SENI Brown – KLCC

So from HOTEL GEO, literally at the back is the PASAR SENI STATION ( KELANA JAYA (PUTRA) LINE ), I was planning to go and see the Petronas Towers so my destination should be at KLCC, it’s like 3 stations away from PASAR SENI and it takes about like 5-10 minutes. Going back to the 4 different train categories, its the 2nd box from the left- color red and I remembered transit number 5. Just ask people around nicely and they are very accommodating and helpful incase you ain’t sure. From PASAR SENI to KLCC cost like 2.10 RM

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Petronas Towers

From KLCC station, you will be arriving at the underground of  AVENUE K MALL. Across Avenue K Mall is the Petronas towers and there is a mall beside it KLCC SURIA. Another thing for me to love about KLCC Avenue K MALL, since I have an International pass from fitness first (P200), I can go to the gym anytime and it is near my hotel. Fitness First Avenue K is located at the 4th or 5th floor opens from 6:40 AM – till 11 PM on weekdays and till 9 PM on weekends.

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DAY 2: PANDA LOVE and CITY

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Green- PASAR SENI Orange- DANG WAGI Red - WANGSA MAJU Yellow- BUKIT BINTANG
Green- PASAR SENI
Orange- DANG WAGI
Red – WANGSA MAJU
Yellow- BUKIT BINTANG

When my friend send me photos of panda statues at Genting, I wonder if there are pandas here in Malaysia. There was at ZOO NEGARA. I met up with my friends at ZOO Negara apparently its was close to their hotel. From PASAR SENI to WANGSA MAJU Station cost around 3.40 RM. As I arrived at the station, I took the metred taxi (color red) to Zoo Negara which cost around 7 RM.  Entrance fee at Zoo Negara for Asians/Aseans cost 65 RM inclusive of the Panda Conservation visit – you could check Zoo Negara’s official website for the price rates. A map at Zoo Negara cost 1 RM but it will go to a good cause.

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From WANSA MAJU, we decided to go to Bukit Bintang because my friends would like exchange money. They say “mataas ang palit” – or higher rate. We stopped at  DANG WAGI (still on the KJ Line) because it is the nearest transfer (Interchange station) heading to Bukit Bintang. as we arrived at DANG WAGI we have to walk to BUKIT NEMAS station (KL MONORAIL ), to take the KL MONORAIL to Bukit Bintang. Bukit Bintang is like the greenhills version of the Philippines. From Wangsa Maju to Bukit Bintang cost us around  6 RM

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From Bukit Bintang, we plan to head to China Town (Petaling) not China Town, Jalan Alor. Btw, JALAN means STREET. Be careful when you visit Chinatown, word has it is not safe lately so always have a companion with you. If you plan to visit JALAN ALOR, Chinatown – stalls open from 6 PM to 2 AM, I think.

We took a free shuttle bus, that has free wifi to China town (Petaling), we rode the purple bus- you can ask directions how to get the nearest station to avail this free bus ride. All I can remember it is across TOUS LES JOURS, Bukit Bintang.

SRI Mahamariamman temple
SRI Mahamariamman temple

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I was unable to go to China Town, Jalan Alor HUHU, I really wanted to eat Sting ray, Oh well maybe next time. But were able to spot a nice Chinese restaurant along Petaling and tried their noodles.

TIP: Malaysian food are kinda spicy.

Central Market
Central Market

From China Town Petaling, a few minutes walk to CENTRAL MARKET which is beside the so called LITTLE INDIA- You can see the famous SRI Mahamariamman temple. Central market is the go to place to shop for affordable souvies and gifts “pasalubongs”. It is like the SOUK of KL. Glad we were able to meet some Filipino vendors working at the CENTRAL MARKET. (Visit G/F ADAM JewelsN Handcraft). Things I got were hand made batik, chocolate oats and my fave malysian milk tea “Teh Tarik”.

 

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DAY 3:  LAST MINUTE THINGS TO DO

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Pink - KUALA LUMPUR Black- BATU CAVES
Pink – KUALA LUMPUR
Black- BATU CAVES

Across PASAR SENI is the KTM COMMUTER, KUALA LUMPUR STATION (Blue line)- just have to take the overpass. 6 stations away from Kuala Lumpur is the Batu Caves station. The ticket cost around 2.50 RM, I think. It would take about 20 minutes. As you arrived at the BATU CAVES station, there is it.

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TIP: When you get to BATU CAVES, know the time of the arrival of trains- just head over the ticketing booth.

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After my morning jog at Batu Caves, decided to head back to PASAR SENI and go to KLCC to workout and last minute shopping at Avenue K Mall. Got back to my hotel an hour before my check-out which is 12 nn.Then I requested a taxi from the front desk going to the airport. If I only had a few load on my luggage I would have taken the train to transfer to KLIA (Purple line)

TIP: Its cheaper if you ask your hotel to fix your service going to the airport if you plan taking a cab. In the Philippines its fixed rate or “kontrata”.

Hope this guide would help you and you’ll definitely enjoy Malaysia 🙂

 

 

 

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