Day 1: 24 September 2005 (Saturday)
After about ten hours on the plane (Malaysian Air) with surprisingly decent food but crappy legroom (and I am pretty petite, minus the iccky gut), we arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
After proceeding to the arrivals hall and immigrations, we spent some time trying to figure out how to fill in the many facets and questions on the immigrations card. Noticed that the card said: Africans must report to Health Quarantine Services AND Plant Quarantine Services.
Marched off to the small little office, only to be told that they didn't REALLY care for us South Africans...only the central African states.
Hopped along to immigrations.
My Professor and colleague had no problem...immigrations officer apparently had some problem with me...(or maybe he was just super curious or friendly)...detaining me for a few minutes, he asked me several questions like where I was from (my passport has this information, doesn't it?), purpose of my visit, followed by instructions on how to get to the KLIA Express train.
After obtaining our baggage and exchanging money, we proceeded to the express station where we took a ride into Kuala Lumpur...my sharp eye for [irrelevant] detail caught sight of a Jusco shop in some mall en route.
Arrived at some station (Central Station, I think), we took a cab to the JW Marriott hotel. Stepping out into the streets was pretty much murder on me...the humidity was pretty hard to handle for someone used to hot temperatures which were also super dry. Managed to arrive at the hotel and made a dash into the hotel lobby where aircon prevailed.
Had some trouble communicating our situation with the desk guy at the hotel in English. Eventually got it right. He told us he had to charge us...surprise.... 15%, 10 of which went towards service charge and 5% towards government tax.
Nice one...we'd barely hit any shops and my credit card had been used...oh well, at least my Mom knows I have arrived in KL safely... *rolls eyes*
I was assigned a room on the 19th floor. The view from there is pretty good, considering I have an awesome window looking out at Menara Tower and the KL Twin Towers (or whatever it is they are called). Also discovered they have some Hong Kong tv channels and NHK. Plus complimentary high speed internet connection! If only I'd bought my laptop! Ugh!
Headed downstairs into the heat again. Dropped by McDonalds. Followed by my mad search for [classified]. Went as far as beyond the borders of the tourist map before I finally found it. Thankfully, I speak Cantonese because queries in English usually returned only confused glares and stares and whatnots.
At least in exploring KL east side...I had scouted out a few malls and so forth...to my surprise...Andy Lau was having a concert. Well...in December. No loss to me though...I am not a super Andy fan.
Returned to the hotel super tired and signed up for the Malacca Historical (YEAH!) tour. Set back by 200 ringgits...ouchie....well, ouchie to me...my wallet was pretty slim to begin with.
Had dinner at Planet Hollywood.
The End of Day 1.
After proceeding to the arrivals hall and immigrations, we spent some time trying to figure out how to fill in the many facets and questions on the immigrations card. Noticed that the card said: Africans must report to Health Quarantine Services AND Plant Quarantine Services.
Marched off to the small little office, only to be told that they didn't REALLY care for us South Africans...only the central African states.
Hopped along to immigrations.
My Professor and colleague had no problem...immigrations officer apparently had some problem with me...(or maybe he was just super curious or friendly)...detaining me for a few minutes, he asked me several questions like where I was from (my passport has this information, doesn't it?), purpose of my visit, followed by instructions on how to get to the KLIA Express train.
After obtaining our baggage and exchanging money, we proceeded to the express station where we took a ride into Kuala Lumpur...my sharp eye for [irrelevant] detail caught sight of a Jusco shop in some mall en route.
Arrived at some station (Central Station, I think), we took a cab to the JW Marriott hotel. Stepping out into the streets was pretty much murder on me...the humidity was pretty hard to handle for someone used to hot temperatures which were also super dry. Managed to arrive at the hotel and made a dash into the hotel lobby where aircon prevailed.
Had some trouble communicating our situation with the desk guy at the hotel in English. Eventually got it right. He told us he had to charge us...surprise.... 15%, 10 of which went towards service charge and 5% towards government tax.
Nice one...we'd barely hit any shops and my credit card had been used...oh well, at least my Mom knows I have arrived in KL safely... *rolls eyes*
I was assigned a room on the 19th floor. The view from there is pretty good, considering I have an awesome window looking out at Menara Tower and the KL Twin Towers (or whatever it is they are called). Also discovered they have some Hong Kong tv channels and NHK. Plus complimentary high speed internet connection! If only I'd bought my laptop! Ugh!
Headed downstairs into the heat again. Dropped by McDonalds. Followed by my mad search for [classified]. Went as far as beyond the borders of the tourist map before I finally found it. Thankfully, I speak Cantonese because queries in English usually returned only confused glares and stares and whatnots.
At least in exploring KL east side...I had scouted out a few malls and so forth...to my surprise...Andy Lau was having a concert. Well...in December. No loss to me though...I am not a super Andy fan.
Returned to the hotel super tired and signed up for the Malacca Historical (YEAH!) tour. Set back by 200 ringgits...ouchie....well, ouchie to me...my wallet was pretty slim to begin with.
Had dinner at Planet Hollywood.
The End of Day 1.
posted by Masters Lab People | 2:08 PM
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