Whole Week of Surprises and Whirlwind Tour! (Part 2)

Continuation from the previous post!

-13 January 2010 Thursday-

My first 24 hours day in Kuala Lumpur! As Owen need to go to his lab for his thesis (he noted that this week isn't exactly convenient for him...), he left his keys and apartment security card to me and I will be spending my day with TaukeLip instead because on his side, AhJia need to go to his class too. His plan: his (now former) alma, Universiti Putra Malaysia!

But before we head over to our destination, AhJia brought both us to his favourite place for lunch.

Highlights of the lunch: Claypot Pork. Pork, pork delicious pork!

This is what this particular restaurant is famous for: Buttered Tilapia, with deboned fish fillet for those who can't deal with fish bones (like me, shamefully)! The butter was so rich and flavourful and it goes great with rice!

After we had our lunch, we headed straight towards KL Sentral while AhJia went off to his class. Passed by the Parliament Building where the nation's largest circus is situated!

Reached KL Sentral and apparently YES4G really took the grandiose way to make their presence felt here, complete with HUGE BANNER proclaiming their cause! To go to UPM we need to take KTM Commuter to Serdang first!

Ladies coach, now implemented across all mass transit railway here in Greater KL.

It looks like the train is zipping fast but actually it's just because of low lighting, grimy condition here at the Commuter platform.

One major reason for KTM to establish a Ladies only coach is because that KTM Commuter is notorious for being extremely overcrowded especially during morning and evening rush hour. I experienced the horror of KL rush hour the last time I head down to KL with the SISTAHood. This scene right here is not even rush hour and it will get worse!

Reached Serdang KTM Station, walk across the pedestrian bridge across a six lane highway to the other side of the road to catch a bus to the campus. It was hell waiting for bus that enter UPM to come under scorching evening sun and dusty air filled with exhaust fumes. Little did I know that I can get worse. It all started with this FUCKING RAPIDKL T416 bus. Originally AhLip planned to wait for the UPM's own (free) shuttle bus to come over but as time slowly ticking away, we ran out of patient and boarded this RapidKL bus instead. What installed for us instead is not smooth ride but long wait. Waited for the next driver to come, waited for the new driver to finish smoking and ready to depart. And just then, a UPM bus went pass us and head straight over campus! FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!! In other word, RapidKL is out of control here. The trip itself is longer too according to AhLip because the bus went to Sri Kembangan first to pick up more passenger before heading towards the actual campus. Then, thunder strikes, raing started trickling down along the window...

...and it evolves into full blown tropical downpour. Oh dear. We braced the rain to head towards the bus stop waiting for the UPM internal commuter bus to come.

Not too long after, the bus finally came. All the campus commuter bus is operated by private contractor, Suasana Edaran. While its buses are very large and new (and much better than the junk operated by Scully over here in USM main campus), it's frequency is lower in my opinion and they stop at every single bus stop. Granted they are not equipped with bells (USM buses have bells) hence the need to stop at every single bus stop. Another thing about UPM: IT'S FUCKING HUGE THAT IT'S INHUMANE TO WALK. If they ever need to venture out campus or to their faculty, they MUST TAKE THE BUS (OR DRIVE). Walking is not an option here in UPM! Another thing that I found inhumane: INTERNAL INTER-SECTOR GATES. SO MANY OF THEM. EVEN EACH RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES HAVE GATES! There no where to run at all during midnight! Student are trapped in the huge campus! This is a crime against student life! The only good thing that I spot about UPM: Marrybrown in campus. The nearest Marrybrown for USM is over Ivory Plaza near RST but we have McDonald and KFC and Pizza Hut and Baskin Robbins and Food courts and Mamaks right outside Sungai Dua Gate. Beat that, UPM (same thing too to other universities)! USM sentiasa memimpin! Humaniversity! Anyway, we finally reached our destination, Kolej Serumpun (12, 13, 14, 15, 16). Taukelip's college is the 14th.

USM's White Coffin lead, UPM follows. WE LEAD!

Same event, different message. UUCA/AUKU has been amended last year and certain provision has been made for the students. While USM actively reported the new found freedom for student to engage and participate in activities by NGO's without prior approval from Vice-Chancellor (rulebook says it's a must last time), UPM has instead choose to remind the student not to involve in politics. (Prohibition of student joining political activities still stands which I don't really mind.) Hmm.

As it was still raining, AhLip suggested that I stay around the cafe while he head back to his room to get a change and pack his luggage. Since this cafe serves five residential colleges, it's quite huge with all too many stalls too choose from. None of them catches my eye. Further survey around the environ reveals the lack of covered walkway connecting the buildings and mind you all the building here are sparsely apart from each other due to the extra space! Yet another reason why it's inhumane. Not too long later, the rain finally stopped and AhLip dragged his roller bag down from his residential college and we're ready to head back downtown!

The hostel building over Kolej Serumpun is huge consist of five storeys block! Five storeys with no elevator! This is inhumane! And AhLip told me that he dragged his huge luggage up five storeys to reach his room! Inhuman, very inhuman!

We took the commuter bus back to the place we started our journey. We're getting more nervous than ever as time ticks closer to evening rush hours which means hell in commuter. The commuter bus heading out is not in sight and we are (well mostly Taukelip) is loosing his patience quickly. Then out a the blue, a taxi appeared and acts as our saviour! One good thing about Kuala Lumpur: the taxi here actually use meters! Unlike the conniving taxi gang over Penang! Anyway, we boarded and head towards Serdang KTM station (as the taxi driver don't really like the idea of going to KL Sentral during rush hour. Think taking the train will be much faster anyway than being stuck in traffic).

Waited for the KTM Commuter to come while KLIA Express/Transit Train zipped pass us all too many times. The next time if I ever end up in Putrajaya, I am definitely taking this to do downtown. No more indignity!

Commuter, finally arriving while both us gulped in nervousness of the impending rush hour traffic in KL Sentral. The train heading toward downtown is smooth and by the time we reached KL Sentral, huge crowd formed at the platfrom and we immediately took our escape.

We head out of KL Sentral first to have the Sentral Capati that Taukelip strongly recommended. Good enough to be taken as a filler for tea time. After that we head back into KL Sentral to take Putra LRT to Wangsamaju, where it's close to Setapak.

Rush hour.

While the train is crowded with rush hour commuter, the condition on board is much more tolerable because of it's speed and the new four car train. Not too long later, we reached Wangsamaju, took a cab and head back to our apartment. A arduous day finally come to an end.

Dinner time! We head towards Petaling Street where it's full of shameless hagglers, counterfeit bags and watches and local (and sometime overpriced to cheat the foreigner) food establishment!

We went for this one located somewhere at the back alley where the locals actually eat.

This shop is famous for claypot rice noodle with mincemeat! A very filling dish!

As a side dish, we ordered marmite chicken. Yum! More photos here. We had our dinner and we took the ever ridiculous Metrobus home. Worse than Milan (which is pronounced DEAD in Penang ever since RapidPenang arrived. Hurray for the death of SHITBUS!) for being a total road hog!

-14 January 2010 Friday-

Owen went to lab again in the morning while I stayed at home, waiting for Taukelip and AhJia to go to UPM to pick up the remainder luggage and stuff before returning the hostel key and say adios to the inhumane UPM. While waiting, Owen messaged me whether I wanna go for a movie at Pavillion after his lab. (Yes.) Meet at Chow Kit Monorail Station. (OK.) Just as I was ready to go out, I message the taukes about it and they offered to fetch me over there when they're back and they will reschedule with Owen about it. OK then. One thing though: I was right at the gate ready to head out when their message came in. Do I really have to go back to the apartment again?

Looking up from the central courtyard. The apartment here's brand new, complete with swimming pool.

I spent my time eating pocky instead while waiting for the taukes to come back from UPM. Roughly about half an hour later from the last call, they came back, they find me, I helped them move stuff back to AhJia's apartment and then we're are ready to go!

Istana Budaya or the national theater.

National Library.

Cosmopolitan KL.

Lunch gang: AhJia and AhLip.

Owen, who reached much earlier than us and did us a favor by ordering in advance.

Our lunch: heavily soy sauced version of nga choi kai...

...and the shops famous signature Charsiew. Look at the glorious fat. After lunch, AhJia bid farewell to us while the rest of us head to Pavillion for movie.

The famous Bukit Bintang.

The huge Yes4G TV Cube right outside Lot10!

As Lot10 is owned by YTL Group, it's adorned with huge Yes4G banner and the flagship store is located in there too.

Another thing that makes it's presence over Bukit Bintang: Uniqlo, a Japanese hip fashion brand located at the newly renovated and refreshed Fahrenheit 88 Mall, managed by Pavillion!

Pavillion and the iconic Hibiscus Fountain!

Camwhore!

GSC Pavillion. Originally we planned to watch Green Hornet but apparently we're a week to early or something. So we watched...

天天好天, yet another local production from Astro and MyFM. It's a touching dramedy talking about family (especially fatherly) love. There are a few touching moments which I feel a lump in my throat before I laugh at the funny line again. I wonder hows my dad doing.

As it was two more hours to go before the movie start, we went down to Food Republic and had Taufufa.

Taukelip.

Owen.

Moi.

Head back after we watched the movie. Spotted this interesting graffiti at the Bukit Bintang T-Junction: KILL FRIED CHICKEN. Owen had to go off to another appointment while me and Lip head back to the apartment to wait for Ahjia to come back for dinner.

Dinner place, against hidden somewhere around Imbi or something.

Famous for its beef horfun/rice noodle. The beef's very smooth! AhJia and I had this...

...while AhLip, a devout buddhist ate seafood noodle. While the portion is filling, the price tag was prohibitively expensive. I spent like RM10++ per person here!

Just to cleanse our digestive system, AhJia brought us to yet another place famous for it's juicy and CHEAP fruit juice! The restaurant is actually a Thai Restaurant but it's fruit juice and iceblended is famous too. I ordered honeydew...

...while AhJia ordered Papaya Iceblended. Fruit juice is really made of mostly fruits that you can actually feel the pulp and yet it's only RM2! What a bargain! More photo here.

And thus, yet another two days concluded without a definite answer to a key question: when am I going to head back to Penang? Gosh, I am actually my time here in KL and it's all because of the MATEYS!