Getting From Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre

The cheapest way from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre is by bus, which will take 1 hour to reach KL Sentral and 1.5 hours to reach Puduraya, the Chinatown area. The fastest KL Airport transfer is taking a KLIA Express Train to reach KL Sentral Station in 30 minutes.

KL Sentral is the heart of the MRT Station in Kuala Lumpur where all the train lines connect. MRT stands for ‘Mass Rapid Transit’ and also known as subway or metro to others. The distance from KLIA to KL Sentral (city) is 57 km by car. Hence, the Airport Express Train is a preferred option for most people to overcome the traffic jam and to arrive at a shorter time to downtown.

That is even more critical when you need to catch a plane and be on time at KLIA. However, a one-way ticket express train ticket is more costly (RM55 / €11.50 / US$13.20) than a bus ticket (RM12 / €2.50 / US$3). Taking a cab is generally the most expensive of all for one traveller but yet, the most cost-effective for a family of four.

*The exchange rate is correct at the time of writing.

There are two airport terminals in Kuala Lumpur International Airport – KLIA and klia2. Terminal M is the main terminal at KLIA (aka KLIA1). It serves most of the international airlines. klia2 terminal (fka LCCT) started its operation in 2014 to service low-cost airlines such as AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Scoot, Cebu Pacific Air. Thus, it will be easy to know which terminal you land without looking at your booking slip.

TIP: Do you know that you can order your Malaysia Prepaid SIM Card online and collect it at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA) for as low as 4.50 Euro/USD?

Airport Shuttle Bus Service

Free airport shuttle bus service is available for passengers with inter-connecting flights between KLIA and klia2. The distance is about 1.8 km. The waiting time is every 10 minutes and is available 24/7.

Waiting Area

• KLIA: Door 4, Level 1
• klia2: Bay A10, Level 1, Transportation Hub, Gateway@klia2

Here are three ways to go downtown easily, stopping commonly at KL Sentral Station which is the principal connecting line of the metro. The train is the most convenient method whereas taking a bus is the cheapest way to go from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the City Centre.

1. By KL Airport Train to KL Sentral

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) operates both the KLIA Ekspres and the KLIA Transit train services. Travellers can take these trains from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre, getting off at KL Sentral. The trains are said to be the fastest in Southeast Asia equipped with 4G WiFi.

① KLIA Express Train

You can purchase the KLIA Ekspres ticket at the KLIA Ekspres Ticket Counter, self-service kiosks at KLIA, KLIA2 and KL Sentral Station, online or via the KLIA Ekspres mobile app which you can download from their website. (The phone app does not include tickets from the KLIA Transit.)

» Journey Time

The KLIA Ekspres train service is a non-stop airport transfer that took 28 minutes to reach KL Sentral from the KLIA terminal and 33 minutes from klia2 to KL Sentral.

» KLIA Express Fare

I have converted the Malaysian Ringgits to Euro and US Dollars to make it more convenient for international travellers to know the conversion rate at one glance without reaching for their calculator.

» Ticket Validity

The validity of a single trip ticket and round-trip tickets is 1 month. They have to be used within 30 days from your selected travel date.

» KLIA Express Time

For a more precise train timing from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City and vice versa, you can refer to the KLIA Express Schedule.

② KLIA Transit Train

The KLIA Transit has the same ticket price as the KLIA Ekspres from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre. Check the rates above.

» Journey Time

The total distance from klia2 to KL Sentral is 59 km which takes 39 minutes of travelling time. There are 3 more stops in between klia2/KLIA to KL Sentral that lengthen the overall journey. Hence, it is advisable to get tickets only from KLIA Ekspres to speed up the travelling time.

klia2 ⇔ KLIA⇔ Salak Tinggi ⇔ Putrajaya Cyberjaya ⇔ Bandar Tasik Selatan ⇔ KL Sentral

2. By KL Bus from KLIA/klia2 to KL Sentral or Puduraya

If you decide to take a bus from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City and want to cope with a presumable traffic jam, the good news is that you get to see more of KL centre which you will miss if you choose to take a train.

There are bus ticket counters in KLIA and klia2 terminals to go to Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia. It is important to note the departure airport terminal of the bus ticketing company that you want to buy as not all will operate at both locations to the same destination.

Bus ticket counters can be found at Level 1 bus bay of both terminals. At klia2, the location is at Transportation Hub of gateway@klia2 mall. Three bus companies go from Kuala Lumpur Airport to KL Sentral and the last one to Puduraya in Chinatown vicinity.

① Express Coach

Express Coach leaves only from the KLIA terminal. Their two-way trip ticket fare is RM18.00 for adults and RM10.00 for children. A single fare ticket would cost adults RM10.00 and children RM6.00. The travel time from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre by bus is approximately 1 hour. The operation time is 24 hours and runs at a 30-minute interval from:

• KLIA to KL Sentral Schedule
• KL Sentral to KLIA Schedule

You can also buy the bus tickets from their counter at KLIA, Level G, Block C STCP (Annexed to Main Terminal Building – MTB) at the bus station area. From KL Sentral Bus Station, you can purchase tickets at the Ground Floor, Express Coach Counter A (between Aerobus Counter and Police booth).

② Aerobus

Aerobus departs only from the klia2 terminal from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre. The one-way ticket from klia2 to KL Sentral is RM12.00 for adults and RM5.00 for children below 12 years old. However, the single trip ticket for children is RM6.00 from KL Sentral to klia2.

According to the table below reflecting Aerobus Schedules on their website, their buses run for 24 hours. When I make random checks on their booking site from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City, certain hours were not in operation between 03:00 – 07:59. You can see the actual bus timing when performing a search.

③ SkyBus

SkyBus operates daily from the klia2 terminal. Buses run at 15-minute intervals during peak hours and depart every 30 minutes at the off-peak timing at KL Sentral. The advantage is that you can ride on any bus on your selected date by looking at SkyBus Schedule. Free seating. Children below the age of 3 can travel for free.

From the international arrival hall of klia2, walk straight for about 3 minutes until you see an escalator. Once down on your left, you will see the SkyBus terminal. You can also purchase the Skybus tickets inside both International and Domestic Arrival Halls. Additionally, there is also a Skybus counter just in front of the Bus Terminal on Level 1.

④ Star Shuttle Express

Star Shuttle Express departs from both KLIA and klia2. Their online booking bus tickets range from RM10, RM12 to RM18 for adults and children after a random check to several destinations. You may not be able to see the departure schedule online if the selected date is too far away. You can check the location of Star Shuttle ticketing counters at both terminals.

One of the destinations in Kuala Lumpur departing from both airport terminals is Puduraya Bus Terminal (Pudu Sentral), which is 400 metres away and a 6-minute walk from Chinatown in Petaling Street Market. You skip the hassle of taking additional transport from KL Sentral if you are staying around the Chinatown area. Other drop-off points are KL Sentral, Classic Inn Hotel at Bukit Bintang and an unnamed hotel in KLCC.

3. By KL Airport Taxi

Taking a taxi from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre is the most expensive option of all but is still considered cheap if you are coming from Europe and America as the cab fares there are even more costly. Quite a practical choice to take you directly to the hotel especially when there are small children around or when your flight lands late at night.

Here in KL Airport, the ride to downtown would take at least 45 minutes and approximately RM75 (€15.60 / US$18) for a small Budget Taxi and over RM100 (€20.80 / US$24) for an executive model. If you have a minimum of 2 people sharing a cab, the taxi fare might even be lower as compared to the total cost of all individuals taking a train (RM55/pax ≈ €11.50 / US$13.20).

When you return to Kuala Lumpur Airport from the city centre, do not expect to get the same metered rate as most taxi drivers will quote you an inflated price instead of running the fare on a meter. Count yourself lucky if you get one who is willing to turn on the meter. Some unscrupulous taxi drivers may also detour from the original route to make the distance longer when going by the meter.

They can earn more cab fares from innocent tourists knowing that they are unfamiliar with the roads. Either encounter that you chance upon should not deter your sparkling holiday mood as such shady culture has been going on for decades in KL that it becomes a norm. Furthermore, it is also a matter of luck if you would meet unethical taxi drivers like them. Alternatively, you can also get an inexpensive airport transfer by car or van that is equivalent to the price of taking a taxi (less than €30).

① KLIA Taxi

In  KLIA, there are 4 types of taxis or limos to choose from – Budget Taxi, Premier Limo, Super Luxury and Family Service according to the car model for accommodating passenger capacity from 3 to 8. The taxi can be found in:

1. International Arrival Hall (just after Customs, before the public arrival area)
2. Domestic Arrival Hall (public area after Domestic Baggage Clearance)
3. Domestic Baggage Reclaim @ Arrival Level

» Metered Taxi

• Available at level 1 and 3 of the Main Terminal Building (MTB).

» Budget Taxi Fares

» Executive Taxi Fares

② klia2 Taxi

For klia2, There are 3 types of taxi available in Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre for 24 hours similar to the those discussed above. Coupon Taxi, Metered Taxi and Premier Taxi at the Transportation Hub located at Level 1 of the Gateway@klia2 building.

» Coupon Taxi

Get a coupon from the counter after informing them of your destination. After making the payment, go to Door 4 to queue and wait for a red Budget Taxi. Pass the coupon to the taxi driver to proceed with the journey to your destination.

» Metered Taxi

Go to the metered taxi counter and get a coupon for RM2.00. Queue up for the Metered Taxi at Door 4. The taxi meter will start running after you hand it to the driver. You will pay the fare displayed at the meter plus other additional costs like toll charges if any.

» Premier Taxi

The colour of the Premier Taxi is blue. They are more pricey and spacious than the Budget Taxis. Beware that you have to pay double the price for a more comfortable ride than the smaller ones. They are readily available at all time.

Other than restricting yourself to stay only in Kuala Lumpur, below are some ideas to hop on a bus to get to other cities in Malaysia. It can also be a good travel plan to discover other stunning parts of Malaysia without burning a hole in your pocket. You can go to Penang, Johor Bahru, Port Klang and Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur. Genting is the nearest to KL and takes approximately 1hr 10 mins to reach.

Finally…

After giving you three choices above, you have to decide ‘time versus cost’, which is the most appropriate mode of transport for you from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre. Next, follow me to take a look at our 4-star hotel room at Impiana KLCC Hotel and how my Belgian friend working in Singapore and I spent 2 days in Kuala Lumpur with 4 MRT Stations.

Getting to Tioman from Singapore and Mersing

Just two weeks later after spending a weekend in Pulai Springs Resort (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) in my last blog with my friends, I went to Pulau Tioman (also known as Tioman Island) in Pahang, the largest island situated in the South China Sea. I had been to nearly all the islands in the South China Sea region when I went fishing with my friends ten years ago.

The islands around the South China Sea are renowned for their diving spots and fishing. The area experiences the seasonal monsoon from November to March and with limited water sports during this period. Please check the schedules and activities if you are planning to go during the monsoon period as the water is very choppy.

A word of caution: It is dangerous to take a ferry or do water sports during monsoon season as the waves can go up very high and the water is very choppy. Many of my friends vomited non-stop due to severe seasickness. The boat could capsize and therefore, please think twice before taking the risk to go during this period.

I remember that I stayed in a budget and rundown resort when I went fishing in Tioman Island. I did not know the name of the resort. I did not know the name of the resort. We stayed there for a night or two just to shower. Most time, we stayed on board the fishing boat. We used taxi boats to ferry us to the centre of Tioman so we could see more people and feel its vibrancy.

How to Go to Tioman Island from Singapore to Mersing Jetty?

Berjaya Air, the only commercial flight carrier serving Pulau Tioman had ceased its operation in March 2014. One can reach Pulau Tioman by chartering a private plane.

1.By Car from Singapore to Mersing

The distance from Singapore to Mersing takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, 150 km of driving. One can park at Mersing Harbour Centre for RM15 per day. I have heard stories about people losing their car, tyres, theft, vehicle damage while parking overnight at the old car park of Mersing Jetty, especially vehicles and accessories that were perceived to have a higher value by the thieves. Park at your risk.

You can also book a private charter from Johor at your designated pick up location and have him send you to Mersing. Alternatively, for people arriving at Senai Airport in Johor, you can also book a private car to bring you to Mersing.

2.By Coach from Singapore to Mersing

Booking a coach ticket online from Singapore to Mersing from 4 departure points – Golden Mile, Singapore Flyer, The Plaza and Boon Lay. The price ranges from SGD 21 to 35 (RM 67 to 113) for a single trip and is available at different timings.

*Bear in mind that it takes 5 hours from Singapore to Mersing by bus. There are approximately three ferries per day departing from Mersing Jetty to Pulau Tioman with no fixed timing. Read more on the ferry from Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island in the next section below.

Assuming you choose to take the earliest coach departing at 6.30 am from Golden Mile Complex shown from the image above, it will first go to Singapore Flyer, then to Boon Lay pick-up point. It will arrive at Mersing between 11.00 am to 12 pm.

I took the earliest coach from Boon Lay pick up point and arrived at Mersing Jetty around 11 plus (5.5 hrs bus trip). The Singapore to Mersing coach did not stop during the journey for the passengers to take their breakfast, which was unusual. Therefore, eat some food before the trip or consume it on the bus.

It is not possible to select the 10.30 am Mersing Ferry departure time unless you plan to take the night coach from Singapore at 10 pm and stay for a night in a cheap hostel that will cost you RM $ 10 to 20 per person. (It is not difficult to find lodging there but book in advance because you will arrive in the middle of the night).

3.By Ferry from Mersing to Pulau Tioman

Many years ago, I was afraid not to get any ferry tickets in Mersing Ferry Terminal. Hence, I called up the only ferry company to Tioman, Bluewater Express (+607 – 799 4811 / 799 8518) to ask about the ferry schedules before booking my coach tickets. They gave me three ferry timing from Mersing to Tioman (10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm) and advised me to book the 12.30 pm slot based on the earliest departure time from Singapore.

Each ferry ticket from Mersing to Pulau Tioman cost RM70 then. The trip took about 1.5 to 2 hours to your departing ferry destination, depending on the hotel that you stayed at as there were many ferry stops on Tioman island. Upon arrival, I went straight to the Bluewater Express Counter in Mersing Ferry Terminal. It was very packed, messy, noisy and disorganised at the ticket counters. The feeling arising from the crowd and making sure that no one cut into my queue was unpleasant.

How to buy ferry tickets to Tioman from Mersing?

Nowadays, it is so easy to book a ferry ticket online. As mentioned above, there are at least 3 ferry schedules per day. If you take the first bus from Singapore to Mersing, you should arrive between 11 am to 12 pm. You can catch a ferry in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the timing is never fixed daily and you can get a ferry as late as 3:00 pm in the afternoon. The adult ferry ticket to Tioman costs RM 40.25 or SGD 14.26.

Make sure you select “Mersing Jetty” as your departure point. There are 5 ferry stops in Tioman Island – Kg Air Batang, Kg Genting, Kg Paya, Kg Salang and Tekek Ferry Terminal. You will book the one nearest to your hotel/resort. If you have not decided on your hotel yet, you can select “Pahang” and look at all the timing. Anyway, all the ferry terminals have the same departure time and the same cost. So, get your ticket online here.

» Tioman Marine Park Fee 2020

With effect from January 2017 and remaining unchanged till 2020, all visitors to Tioman Island has to pay a Tioman Marine Park Fee, which is a conservation fee that goes to a trust fund for managing and maintaining the park. Non-Malaysians will have to pay RM30 for adults and RM15 for both senior citizens and children. The fees for Malaysians remain the same at RM5 for adults and RM2 for children. This is a fee that is compulsory to pay. If you do not pay it, you will be rejected of boarding.

» Johor National Fee

There is another fee that is supposedly mandatory to pay. I have not come across it in the past and wasn’t sure if it is really compulsory to pay. The fees for adults is RM30 and RM10 for children. Locals will pay RM5 and RM3 respectively. Anyway, make sure you have brought enough cash (ringgits) to pay both types of charges which are not included in your ferry ticket. Look for the counters inside Mersing Harbour Centre. If you forget to pay, you will be rejected during the ferry boarding after queuing for so long.

4.Lunch at Mersing Food Centre

If you have time to get some food, there is a food centre beside the Mersing jetty called “Plaza D’Jeti” to get lunch. If you follow the map below and scroll left further down the road, you can see the hawker centre entrance. In the middle of the building are some travel agencies, clothing shops and toilets. Be careful of what you order at the hawker stall as some do not come with any menu or price tags. 

That is to say that the seller can quote you any price they want and you may be overcharged. I had chosen a large sotong (aka squid), prawns and egg from one stall there – Restoran Sutera Emas. The plate of food cost me MYR 40+, which I did not expect! However, the seafood was very delicious and fresh, especially the chilli, which somewhat compensated for the expensive food and left me with a little regret.

5.Inside the Ferry to Pulau Tioman

The queue was long but orderly. The ferry tickets had seat numbers allocated. We were assigned to sit on the top deck, which had fewer seats compared to the lower one. When we found one of our places occupied by someone else, we sat at other seat numbers as we did not want to make a fuss about it and asked the person to shift away. Shortly, a couple approached us telling us that we had taken up one of their seats.

Disorganised Seating Arrangement on Board the Ferry

We told them nicely that someone else had also taken our place, hinting that they should just find another available seat on the top deck. The man was unhappy upon hearing our explanation and exclaimed that he didn’t care. Well, we didn’t care either since that was the result of poor management. The woman walked down the lower deck to get another seat while the man sat in one corner sulking.

Soon, another family of three came and faced the same problem because the man had sat in their place. However, they did not kick up a fuss and found two seats for themselves while the husband sat on a container top as there was no more seat left. From this incident, we could see that passengers did not bother to respect the seat number, and the ferry staff might even count wrongly and issue duplicate seat numbers.

Overall, it was very disorganised on board the ferry as everyone was moving around trying to locate their seat numbers. It came as no surprise that some people would sit anywhere they wanted in this state when the direction was not clear. The whole process of boarding the ferry can be quite a nightmare watching such an arrangement from the start.

6.Arrival in Tioman – Kampung Tekek

Whenever the ferryboat arrived at each stop on Tioman Island, the staff would announce the name of the terminal for the passengers to alight correctly. The ferry terminal of our hotel, Berjaya Tioman Resort was in the middle of the island, so it took some time to reach. The correct ferry stop to alight for Berjaya Tioman Resort is Kampung Tekek.

Upon crossing the road, there would be a bus shelter right in front of a food centre where the shuttle bus from Berjaya Tioman Resort came and picked us up at the assembly point. There were also people distributing flyers for the various activities and things to do in Pulau Tioman such as diving, island hopping, and visits to nearby islands for snorkelling.

Getting Back from Tioman to Mersing

7.By Ferry from Pulau Tioman to Mersing

Going back from Tioman Island to Mersing to take a coach was another tricky decision. You have to know the ferry departure time from Pulau Tioman to decide the coach ticket timing back to Singapore. At that time, I had to call Bluewater Express first as their ferry schedules were never fixed. Therefore, the ideal way was to book your bus and ferry ticket online so you can coordinate the two modes of transport together.

Shuttle Bus to Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal

The shuttle bus left from Berjaya Tioman Resort to Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal at 10 am. It was a long queue at the ferry terminal when we were collecting the boarding pass. During passenger boarding, the passengers were more orderly this time as compared to the boarding situation at the Mersing Jetty. There was nothing to see or do at this place – no shop and no eatery. It was plain boring waiting for the time to pass.

Where is my Travel Bus back to Singapore from Mersing?

It was tough to guess the parking position of the coach in Mersing going back to Singapore as there was no signboard indication. The reservation slip did not state the Mersing pickup point too. Moreover, the area around Mersing Jetty was quite big. The coach could park anywhere. We walked around hunting for the travel bus and asked many people and travel agencies, who did not know either where the travel buses would park.

It was a very scorching and humid afternoon in Malaysia, as always. The thought of walking back again with luggage on hand irked me. A man told us confidently that he knew where the bus we were searching for was parked and offered a taxi ride for RM10. We rejected him politely because we had spent all our money (ringgits) away. The friendliness diminished on his face like lightning.

So, one has to be careful being approached by overly warm and helpful people there as their intention was to find ways for you to pay for their assistance. Finally, after asking a dozen people, some young chaps pointed to us in the direction of the coach on the photo below. The location was opposite the Mersing Harbour Centre.

We boarded the bus and saw the same friendly Malay driver who drove us to Mersing on the first day. We requested to alight in Boon Lay. He said he would stop at Golden Mile Complex first, before proceeding to Boon Lay. Eventually, we decided to alight at Golden Mile Complex to have Thai dinner first before taking a cab back home. As we had left a few dollars of Malaysian Ringgits with us, we gave the leftover to him as tips.

Conclusion

Booking a coach ticket online to Tioman Island was a breeze. The challenge was buying a ferry ticket and it has to be purchased in Mersing Ferry Terminal unless you want to spend more money buying Tioman ferry tickets online which might not be too secure either.

Pulai Springs Resort Review in Johor Bahru (JB)

Pulai Spring Resort is a country club for golf lovers located 42 km from Singapore by driving according to Google Map. My friends and I spent one weekend driving to Pulai Springs Resort from Singapore to celebrate a friend’s birthday away from bustling city life. No, we are not there for the golf. Such a short trip was what I was looking forward to once in a while.

I like the idea that we can get out of Singapore to somewhere near for a staycation like Johor Bahru (JB) to rejuvenate ourselves over the weekend without taking any annual leave from the company nor spend a bomb on some lavish places just for a night stay. I did not want any adventures or weekend shopping to exhaust my energy for such a short get-away. Ideally, such a trip is to relax and catch up with friends for some light activities and a value-for-money makan (eating) session.

Best and Cheapest Hotel Website to Book Pulai Springs Resort

We booked two rooms for 2 couples on two separate dates because I was not sure at that time if I could go. My friends did their research and compare the hotel price of Pulai Spring Resort for the lowest cost online and eventually booked with Expedia Singapore for a 1-Bedroom Suite Room for S$81, three weeks before the departure date.

If you book early and during the off-peak season, you would most likely get a price as low as S$52/night on Agoda. The best method to get the lowest rate is to make a comparison between a few hotel websites and book your hotel as early as possible. After procrastinating for a while and finally decided that I could go. I booked with Expedia Singapore at S$106 a few days before departure as the hotel price shot up.

Pulai Springs Resort has bedrooms with different configurations to suit a large family nucleus too. It is perfect for a group of friends or several families for quality bond-building time from Studio Suite, 1-Bedroom Suite Room up to 4-Bedroom Suite. The room size is spacious too. From the smallest Studio Suite of 40 sqm to 193 sqm of a 4-Bedroom Suite with three bathrooms, one is ensured of sufficient space to move about and be comfortable.

What to Expect in Pulai Spring Resort?

1-Bedroom Suite Room *2 Different Sizes and Layouts

On that Saturday, after having a hearty Japanese lunch in Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant, we proceeded to Pulai Springs Country Club for check-in at 3 pm. Parking was free here.

The Pulai Spring reception arranged for us to stay on different floors. The lift only stopped on the level of where the guest stayed. We only discovered the difference in layout and size of our 1-Bedroom Suite Room in the late evening when we visited each other.

Although my friends and I had booked online on the same type of room, theirs was obviously smaller in size and less attractive in the layout. My 56 sqm room looked exactly like the one shown in the advertised photo online. It was too late to request a change of room though it was disappointing for my friends.

I was overjoyed when I saw my room. The 1-Bedroom Suite was large, clean and neatly organised. It was perfect and very well-maintained that I could not find fault with it. I wished I had stayed more than a night. The bedroom was spacious. The spongy king-sized bed was incredibly comfy as we had a peaceful sleep.

There was no bathtub in the 1-Bedroom Suite Room in Pulai Spring, but it was not necessary for me. There was wifi in the room. I also recalled that only one person could log in at any one time. Check with the reception again as I might be wrong.

Sauna Room and Jacuzzi Pool at Pulai Spa & Sports Centre

After settling into our hotel room, we planned for our next activity – swimming. There were two pools in Pulai Springs Country Club, one indoor and one outdoor.

We went to the indoor pool located in the Pulai Springs Spa Centre and requested pool towels from the reception on the first floor. To access the indoor pool on the second level, we had to go up from the gents and ladies changing room separately.

We were thrilled to see a lovely jacuzzi pool and not the rectangular pool anticipated in our mind. There was a small sauna room big enough to accommodate the four people comfortably. After 15 minutes of sweating and detoxification inside the sauna room, we went to the jacuzzi pool.

I think the water temperature was too high that I had a problem adapting to it. My friends also found the water to be rather hot but still, got inside the water slowly. I had to force myself to sit on the edge of the jacuzzi pool throughout the time as I could not take the heat, unfortunately.

There were shower taps located on the big rock beside the jacuzzi pool. The water was supposed to be cold, but it felt warmer due to our tropical weather. In similar places in Europe where I had been, the water was icy cold. An ideal approach for the body to benefit from the water temperature difference is to alternate between hot and cold water under the tap.

Fun in Jacuzzi Pool

Outdoor Swimming Pool

After the jacuzzi, we went outdoor. Pulai Spring Resort has three swimming pool sizes. We placed a big inflatable mattress onto the largest pool and was told to remove it by the lifeguard. We shifted it to the medium-sized pool where no one told us off this time. The depth of the biggest pool went beyond 1.8m or more gradually.

Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant Food Review

After swimming, we were famished. We were deciding between two dinner promotions at Cinta Terrace and Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant and went for the Chinese food which cost RM$65.00 per pax for the “All You Can Eat” buffet. The entire food menu was presented right in front of us. Everything there was inclusive in the “All You Can Eat” promotion and not limited to just some dishes.

The price temptation was unbelievable for such a buffet promotion! We ordered some of the most expensive Chinese cuisines such as Peking Duck, Fish, Salad Prawns, Cereal Prawns, Shark Fin etc. The waitress forewarned us before ordering that the food serving of a dish was a lot, and the portion size was meant for four people.

If we could not finish any food that we ordered, we would have to pay the full price of that dish. We then tried out one fish first as we intended to order two different types of fish later to make our money worthwhile. On the other hand, we were also worried about not being able to finish the food and get penalised.

The first dish was Salad Prawn. After eating all the prawns, the waitress told us that we also had to finish all the fruits that came with the prawns, which were mostly honeydew. Moreover, the serving was a lot. We got bored eating so many fruits as we knew that they would fill our stomachs up quickly. We had no choice since it was the rule of the buffet.

Another dish came. It had the same type of fruits again underneath the meat. We felt annoyed as we did not want to eat the same thing all the time. We asked another staff who looked like the Captain or Manager if it was necessary to finish the fruit as we had finished a big plate earlier. Fortunately, she said, “意识意识吃一点” (literally translated – to eat a bit out of courtesy) which meant that we did not have to finish everything. Phew!

We ordered an entire Peking Duck. The skin was tasty. We requested the remaining meat of Peking Duck to fry in dark soy sauce (宫保式). Shortly, we were dumbfounded for a while when we stared at a pile of black mountainous-looking food served on the table. The duck meat looked unappetising this way.

On closer inspection, I estimated that half the dish used You Tiao 油条 (Chinese Cruller) to cook with the duck. Most ducks nowadays do not have a lot of meat. Thus, the restaurant resorted to adding You Tiao 油条 to augment the dish. Supplementing with You Tiao油条 (made of flour and fats) was another smart move to make the diners full quickly so they would order less food.

We were almost full after eating a few dishes. The next surprise was the large Sea Bass with Nonya Sauce served on an ultra big plate. It was rare that we saw such a big fish served in a restaurant. Perhaps, the large plate intimidated us or our almost full stomach distorted our size analysis. The Nonya Sauce was sour and sweet. The seemingly good taste was somewhat overpowering when one was feeling full. We banished our initial enthusiastic thought of ordering another fish because the size of it was intimidating.

A waitress served someone’s fish to us while we were waiting for our desserts. Before she could place the plate on our table, my girlfriend and I waved her off affirmatively and said that it didn’t belong to us. There is a Singapore joke that goes like this. Whenever someone served a plate to the wrong table, the one sitting on the table would say jokingly, “If someone had already paid for the food, please put it down.”

Apparently, this time, this joke could not come out of our mouths as it was not funny anymore. We were eager to brush the waitress away. Just imagine our hilarious and idiotic reaction.

Here are two photos of the food dish that we had, Chicken Meat and Deer Meat. The Deer Meat was noteworthy as the meat was delicate, easy to chew and very mouth-watering.

We tried all the desserts on the menu. Peanut Dumpling 汤圆 was the most distinctive among all and highly favoured by all of us. Despite being full, my friends and I ordered a few rounds of it. Very heavenly! The other desserts were sometimes too sweet for our liking.

Verdict

At first, I had anticipated that the food for the buffet was generally of lower quality due to mass cooking and smaller portions to cut costs. It was commendable that the dishes in Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant at Pulai Springs Resort conformed to a high standard as it was sumptuous. We had no problems finishing all the food eventually.

Imagine if the food were not tasty at all, would it be torturing to force it down into our stomach? Maybe at times, it would be better to order à la carte dishes instead to avoid circumstances when the food was not palatable, and one has to force himself to finish it for the sake of avoiding a penalty. Eating should be pleasurable and freedom of choice to stop as and when we want.

Outside the Building of Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant

Pulai Springs Resort Breakfast

The breakfast at Pulai Springs Resort wasn’t fantastic. Just good enough to fill up the stomach and start the day. The coffee was bland like water.

Pool Games at Pulai Spa & Sports Centre

After breakfast and before checking out at 1 pm (we extended one more hour for check out), we had two rounds of pool games at Pulai Spa Centre to pass the time.

Strolling around Pulai Springs Country Club Vicinity

I think Pulai Spring Resort was a beautiful place to spend a weekend and the best value for money. The surrounding was well maintained and peaceful as there were not many people around. It was a golfer’s paradise overlooking the lush golf course from a distance.

My friends had differing opinions. While I appreciated the serenity of the greens for a short weekend, they felt that it was boring to stay there with nothing much to do. Neither could one walk out of Pulai Spring to explore somewhere more exciting as it was somewhat isolated.

I would recommend others to stay at Pulai Spring Resort, especially families or friends who are not seeking adventures or shopping in mind but would prefer quiet and precious moments bonding together. I was most satisfied with the hotel room agreeing with their motto of Pulai Springs Resort “Home Away from Home” because that was my exact sentiment when staying there.

Tranquillity in Pulai Springs Resort

Time to Say Goodbye at the Hotel Lobby in Pulai Springs Resort

Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant | 二重丸 日本料理 is no doubt one of the best Japanese restaurants in JB (Johor Bahru) at Skudai with the best sushi. The journey is approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour by car from Singapore Tuas Checkpoint to JB (Show Map).
If you are searching for uncompromised Japanese food quality in JB at a reasonable price, don’t miss Nijyumaru!

We planned a weekend stay at Pulai Springs Golf Resort to celebrate my friend’s birthday. The check-in time for the resort was 3 pm. Thus, we made a lunch booking at 1 pm at Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant. My friends strongly recommended the food there as they went there before. They raved about how value-for-money it was. Before going to Pulai Spring Resort, the four of us first drove to Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant at Skudai Johor in Taman Sutera Utama.

Although the seating capacity of Nijyumaru restaurant was almost full, the noise level, on the contrary, was very soft to my amazement. Unlike the restaurants in Singapore that are always noisy and sometimes irritable, I would say that the whole dining ambience made me extremely comfortable to dine there. Hmm… maybe Malaysians are more soft-spoken than Singaporeans.

Our Delicious Foodstagram @ Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant

Sake Haru Cheese Maki, being the first on the list looked really appetising. It tasted as good as its presentation – fresh and delicious. This Japanese sushi had one of my favourite cooking method of half-cooked salmon topped with a piece of cheese, catalysed the mouthwatering effect.

The two bowls of chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg) were full of nourishment in it. Ikura Chawanmushi had salmon roe topping (left), and Fukahire Chawanmushi had shark fin on it (right). Having tried both as I’m a sucker for chawanmushi, the left one, Ikura Chawanmushi was tastier than Fukahire Chawanmushi if you have to choose between the two.

Domori is a platter of raw fish that all sashimi lovers should order. An alluring assortment of fresh sashimi that would make all sashimi fanatics salivate! Moreover, the evaporating ice ensured the highest quality of freshness for sashimi at Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant.

Sushi

Just having sashimi alone is never enough to fill up the stomach unless you kill all the fishes and go for “Eat-All-You-Can” buffet. Whenever I go to any Japanese restaurant, my top choice will always be plates and plates of sushi rather than a bento set. As sushi has rice, it keeps your stomach fuller. Man, I’m a big sushi eater than your average girl and can swallow a whale since this is the best sushi restaurant in JB.

My friend had gracefully shared her Nijyumaru Bento set with me. She claimed that she could not finish all her food, especially sushi. Having an elastic stomach and an enormous craving for Japanese food, I gladly gobbled up any delicious leftover that she offered me.

The dripping brown sauce from Sake Kawa Salad and the crunchy sound of Soft Shell Crab Tempura are two Japanese plates that never failed to stimulate the taste buds and the ears to make you say “yummy” at Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant!

All of us ordered as much food as we could in Nijyumaru Restaurant as the lunch was very delicious and well-worth its the price. Coming from Singapore, we were also exploiting on the weak Malaysian currency exchange of Ringgit against Singapore Dollars at that time when the exchange rate was SG$1 to RM$3.

Japanese Food Cost @ Nijyumaru

We spent a total of RM$ 372.25 / S$ 124 for four people inclusive of service charge and tax. The average cost for one person is RM$ 93 / S$ 31. I usually pay around the same price in Singapore when I dine in Japanese restaurants like Genki Sushi, Sakae Sushi and Ichiban Sushi. However, the quality of food was not as high as Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant, and the quantity ordered was not as much too.

Below is the breakdown of cost for the menu that we ordered at Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant. The price stated here is correct at the time of writing and may be subject to change by the restaurant. The exchange rate used is S$1 = RM$3.

Nijyumaru Reservation Tips

• Reserve in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Be punctual.
• The queue will be long over the weekend. The staffs may release your reservation to someone else if you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your booking time.
• We anticipated ourselves to be slightly late on that day. So, we called up the restaurant, just to play safe that they would not release the seats to others.

I will recommend you or the adventurous Singaporeans to drive to JB and try out the food in Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant. Unfortunately, they do not have a website to check their food menu. Their Facebook Page is not active either. However, you can refer to Nijyumaru Google Page to know that they are still alive and kicking in the market by reading the reviews left by others and the food photos. Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant must be one of the best Japanese restaurants in JB.

Do check out my other posts as well if you are going to Kuala Lumpur.

Bus Ticket Booking Tips & Cross Border at Singapore Malaysia Customs

How to go from Singapore to Malaysia by bus?

Buying Singapore to Malaysia bus tickets is what most locals like Singaporeans and Malaysians would do as it is cheaper than taking a flight. Or rather, we are more familiar with using a tour coach from Singapore to Malaysia cities despite long travelling hours and perceived horror stories by taking a bus from these two countries.

Decades ago, it was very inconvenient to go from Kuala Lumpur Airport to City Centre as the transport network of train and buses was inadequate. The only mean was taking a taxi which we were often ripped off by the inflated price. Now the transport infrastructure is well-developed and easy to travel from point to point.

Recently, I went on a weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur (KL) from Singapore with one Belgian friend working in Singapore. We stayed in a very chic Impiana KLCC Hotel. I suggested that we took a travel bus to KL though we could also take cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore as an alternative. It would then be a memorable experience for her to take a bus from Singapore to KL with someone experienced like me on a road trip to Malaysia.

Both countries are neighbours connected by two bridges in two different customs. Hence, the easy accessibility has brought me to Kuala Lumpur countless times. Eventually, I bought our Singapore Malaysia round-trip tickets online at SGD36 per person (€22.50 / US$26.10). Other than the advantage of being the least expensive, travelling by Singapore to Malaysia bus has several drawbacks that you should be aware of it.

Follow My Kuala Lumpur List on Google Maps

Buying Bus Tickets from Singapore to Other Malaysia Cities

Online Bus Booking from Singapore to Malaysia KL

Online bus booking has made travelling from Singapore to any part of Malaysia very easy. The website that I always use is Easybook.com. If I run out of idea where to go in Malaysia, I would just browse for destinations to see where their buses go. Founded in 2006, Easybook.com was established as a one-stop platform that sells bus tickets in Singapore and Malaysia. They are the largest online booking platform in Southeast Asia with more than 5 million tickets sold online.

• If you are going to Kuala Lumpur, Easybook.com has several departing points all over Singapore. Thus, you can find the location most convenient for you.
• If you are a tourist in Singapore and want to buy a ticket at the counter, go to Golden Mile Complex. The place has a long-standing reputation for travel coaches going to Malaysia.

Many bus companies put up their offer on Easybook.com. Some buses have WiFi, English movies on TV to keep passengers entertained whereas some of them even provide meals with higher bus fares. The features are represented by the icons on the website. I think the above features are not significant when it comes to buying Singapore to Malaysia bus tickets. Roomy seat space that can recline for a good rest during a long journey is more vital. Fortunately, most travel coaches travelling to Malaysia are spacious and even have double-deckers.

» Cheap Bus Travel Insurance

The online bus booking from Easybook.com also pre-ticked cheap travel insurance protection at SGD 1.20 per trip. You can uncheck if you do not want it. I would advise you to buy the insurances considering they are so cheap and affordable. Furthermore, you do not know what will happen on the way with a Singapore to Malaysia bus as many travel coach drivers are reckless. Additionally, I have also heard a lot of nasty accidents about it. Here is what the insurance company covers: –

1 EURO = SGD 1.60    |    1 USD = SGD 1.38

Buying Singapore to Malaysia Bus Tickets at the Counters

There are several bus ticketing agencies in Singapore where you can buy bus tickets to Kuala Lumpur and to other cities in Malaysia. The most well-known location is again at Golden Mile Complex as mentioned above. You can walk around the perimeter of the building and select from a few bus ticketing companies there.

The bus ticketing agencies in Singapore and Malaysia do entertain last-minute bookings if there are still available seats. However, do not try this during peak seasons like the Public Holidays in Singapore and in Malaysia. The buses are usually fully booked during these periods.

Is it cheaper to book Singapore to Malaysia bus online? Likely yes, but it also depends on special service on the bus. Premium services like meal onboard or WiFi will be more expensive. Most travel coaches provide standard services with no food and no internet.

Some bus ticketing agencies charge the same rate at the counter as what they advertise on Easybook.com whereas some do not sell their tickets online. Booking online brings more convenience by saving time. If the website gives discounts during promotions, then you will get a lower bus ticket price from Singapore to Malaysia.

① At the Departure Point

Arrive at the pick-up point 30 minutes before the departure time. Bring along your passport and the printed booking confirmation. Many bus companies accept bus booking confirmation shown from your mobile. The office of my last trip to KL was not open at 8.45 am. Having a printed slip to show the bus driver may make things easier.

② At the Singapore Customs

The bus from Singapore will stop at the Singapore Customs which is either at Tuas Checkpoint or Woodlands Checkpoint. You can leave your bags inside the vehicle while you carry your passport with you for checking. Take your valuables with you.

③ At the Malaysia Customs

When the bus crosses the causeway and reaches Johor Bahru Customs in Malaysia, you have to bring down ALL your belongings to go through scanning in the X-Ray machine. Your passport will be stamped. Make sure the stamp is there. There were past incidents where the customs officers did not stamp on the passports. It caused big problems to the travellers when they entered Singapore later.

④ At Yong Peng Coffee Shop

The travel coach will typically stop at a coffee shop for a 30-minute break in a Malaysian city, Yong Peng. That would be 2 to 3 hours later from Singapore. You can take your meal here or use the washroom. There are usually bus announcements in Malay, Mandarin, and English with the bus number called at the coffee shop. Hence, always remember your vehicle number when before getting down the bus.

Yong Peng Coffeeshop

⑤ On the Way to Your Destination

I would advise you not to drink so much water. Some insensitive drivers will not stop for toilet breaks if no one tells them. They are always rushing to complete the journey as quickly as they can. Inform the driver if you need to use the toilet on the way so he can stop somewhere. Most of the time, the driver will give appropriate toilet breaks, but you can’t always count on that.

⑥ At Kuala Lumpur or Other Cities in Malaysia

After the short pause at Yong Peng, the bus will usually proceed all the way to the destination. However, there are times that the bus will stop at 1 or 2 stops for people to alight in Malaysia.

All the above procedures exist in a reversed manner. This time, at Singapore Customs, you are expected to remove ALL your luggage and shopping bags for scanning. I would like to caution you about bringing duty-unpaid cigarettes from Malaysia to Singapore if you are not aware of Singapore laws.

Prohibition to Bring Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes into Singapore without Declaring at Singapore Customs

The cost of cigarettes in Malaysia is cheap, much cheaper than in Singapore. Thus, it is common for people to buy more than usual in Malaysia. According to the Singapore Customs, one is prohibited from bringing in any duty-unpaid cigarettes from Malaysia into Singapore without declaring.

Either you declare the pack of cigarettes and pax tax at the Singapore Customs even when it is less than half a pack, dump it away, or risk being caught in possession and pay a fine of SGD 200 per packet of cigarettes. Checks are conducted randomly at the Singapore Customs.

What most tourists do not realise is that Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarettes are all marked with the letters ‘SDPC’. In the past, people swapped the cigarettes purchased from Malaysia and put them in a Singapore cigarette pack when SDPC marking was not implemented yet.

People can avoid detection this way as there is no way to differentiate the cigarettes from Malaysia other than the packing. Later, the government became smarter and came up with the idea of marking the cigarettes. Now, the Singapore Customs officers will check the content and watch out for the ‘SDPC’ mark.

After Singapore Customs Clearance

After the passport and baggage clearance at the Singapore Customs, take the escalator down to the bus bay on the ground floor. Look out for your coach number as there will be several buses there. During peak hours, weekends & Public Holidays, security checks on the tour coach generally take some time so be patient. The drop-off point for most buses in Singapore is at the Golden Mile Complex.

How Many Hours to Reach from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by Bus?

The distance from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on Google Maps (Show Map)

is approximately 350 km and 4 hours of driving. The bus booking website reflects 5 hours of travelling time. That is only true if you are driving a car at reasonable high-speed non-stop and change lanes on Malaysia road from time to time to a faster-moving lane.

Additionally, there must be no traffic jams on the way too. Well, if you take a Singapore to Malaysia bus, I’m afraid you have to add 2 to 3 hours to the estimated travelling time above. The last Kuala Lumpur trip took me 8 hours with some additional pickup point, traffic jams, etc. I’ll reveal 10 Ugly Truths on Malaysia Express Buses from Singapore You Can’t Avoid.

Ugly Truths: Malaysia Express Buses from Singapore You Can’t Avoid

So you want to book an express bus to Malaysia from Singapore or the other way round? The cheapest mode of transport from Singapore to Malaysia is to take an express bus. However, there is a price to pay with a little bit of suffering when you book a Malaysia-licensed coach online or from travel agencies. That is what I am going to disclose now to reduce your expectation on this budget way of travel.

I have already experienced all the unpleasant circumstances listed below after travelling to different parts of the cities for the past two decades with Malaysia express buses. My last trip was with Star Qistna Express Singapore and StarMart Express taken from Berjaya Times Square during my recent weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur. The incidents do not happen with just these two bus companies who happen to be the parent and subsidiary companies.

Problematic incidents can arise with any travel bus company that you book. Particularly the ones that offer a cheaper bus ticket price, it hints at a higher chance of more troublesome encounters. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid them. My advice is to stay cool if it happens and accepts it. That is what most Singaporeans and Malaysians do unless you choose to book an economical flight to eliminate these incidents instead of taking a Malaysia express bus.

Express Coach Bus Travel in Malaysia

1. Late Bus Arrival Due to Various Pickup & Drop-Off Points

Malaysia Express buses have been known to arrive late at their pickup points. Sometimes as late as an hour or more. Nothing can be done even if you complain to the counter staff as they are not the ones driving the vehicles. All they could reply is that the drivers are on their way, or they are caught in a traffic jam.

When one buys cheap bus tickets to Malaysia from Singapore, two things are likely to happen. Firstly, there will be a few pickups or drop off points in Singapore or Malaysia, which will delay the estimated time of arrival due to the driver’s detour. Exercise some patience when taking travel coach buses.

2. Changing of Express Bus in Malaysia

Secondly, the drivers will ask the passengers to change the bus somewhere in Malaysia. One business survival strategy for travel bus companies with low-cost bus fares is to combine their resources to operate more efficiently. Thus, the changing of express buses can also take place more than once. When passengers are asked to change buses, they no longer can retain the old seat numbers which they choose upon booking.

There may already be other passengers sitting inside when the ‘new’ tour bus arrived. You might not be able to find double seats to sit together with your friends or family members anymore. Even when a new coach comes empty, it becomes ‘free seating’ with no seat number restriction like the previous one. People can now sit anywhere they want. Some passengers choose their favourite seats when they first make a bus booking. Suddenly, the desirable place is taken by others on a transferred bus.

Sometimes, passengers quarrel over the seating arrangement themselves or with the driver because it is not what they expect or being informed in the first place about the ‘free allocation’ of seats. Oh yes, it happened to me once when someone was not happy that I had taken their seat numbers on a transferred bus. I had no choice. Other passengers had robbed away my seats as well.

3. Smoking inside the Bus

Smoking inside the bus could be the number one turn-off for many people, especially non-smokers. Most of the Malaysian bus drivers smoke inside the travel coach to Malaysia! Yucks! They usually do not have the guts to smoke when they are still driving in Singapore due to the strict law.

The moment they cross the Malaysian Customs, BOOM! The drivers whip out a cigarette immediately. You can smell a whizz of the disgusting cigarette smoke entrapped in the bus even if you are sitting behind. I didn’t mention Singapore drivers because the express buses to Malaysia from Singapore are Malaysia-licensed.

4. Incessant Talking on their Mobile

Most Malaysian bus drivers are chatterboxes. I had three drivers for my return trip on Singapore to Kuala Lumpur bus recently. All of them talked non-stop on their mobile for hours, at least 50% of the journey! Some will use the hands-free device when chit-chatting, whereas some will hold on to their phone with only one hand.

I had taken a video of one driver who had a hand holding on to his phone while the other hand was covering his mouth to talk in a way that his receivers can hear him more clearly. He used only his elbow to support the steering wheel all the while and chatted for a few hours in this manner. Gosh! That’s dangerous driving!! (*Google Maps video can only be played on a desktop at the time being.)

5. Incredible Long Traffic Jam at the Customs

Anyone who takes express buses to Malaysia from Singapore will typically experience a long traffic jam daily during peak hours, and especially on Sunday evenings from 5 – 8 pm. The Singaporean travellers and Malaysians working in Singapore will choose to return on Sunday so they can go to work the next day.

The traffic jams worsen horribly on Public Holidays. One can be stuck in a traffic jam for hours for that few kilometres of road nearing the Malaysia Customs and stretching throughout the way to Singapore Customs. The queue of both the Singapore – Malaysia border has a notoriously long waiting time too.

6. Road Traffic Accident along North-South Expressway

The North-South Expressway (NSE) is the longest expressway in Malaysia with a total length of 772 km. It starts from Kedah at the Malaysia-Thailand frontier to Johor Bahru nearing the Malaysia-Singapore border. All the express buses to Malaysia from Singapore will take this road. Road traffic accidents are common but not that frequent along this expressway if you want to meet a major one.

A minor vehicle breakdown on the road shoulder is bad enough to cause a long traffic jam to occur in the middle of nowhere. I had witnessed years ago that an accident happening on the opposite side of the road perpetually froze all the vehicles. The horrendous standstill was as long as an hour from estimating the time of my coach driving from one end to the other end. It was indeed unimaginable the time taken for the opposite drivers to reach their destination!

7. Strong Aircon

Singapore and Malaysia have a similar hot climate. Thus, the aircon is mostly blasted to its maximum with powerful, cold air blowing uncomfortably on the head, sometimes causing a headache. Seasoned travellers taking a bus trip from Singapore to Malaysia will identify this fear.

Even when the aircon ventilator tap has been shut off completely, one can still feel the chill and hear the noise from the top. Sadly, many bus drivers are rather insensitive to reducing the aircon on rainy days. Therefore, bring along a jacket, shawl or even a cap to keep yourself warm and comfortable for that few hours of journey.

8. Loud Noise from Movies and Music

Some express buses provide English movies on a TV for entertainment. However, the kind of movie played may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The location of the TV is at the front of the vehicle. Naturally, the volume is blasted so that those sitting at the back of the bus can hear.

Many people would fall asleep on the bus when they travel back from Malaysia to Singapore after their holiday. The noise from the TV would then be irritating instead of entertaining. When there is no TV or movie played, some drivers will blast the music on their radio loudly. How inconsiderate! The driver of my last KL trip was playing loud songs when what I desperately needed was just peace and silence after being tired after a holiday.

9. Dangerous Driving

One practical way of making good use of your precious time in Asia is to select a late evening coach departing from Singapore to Malaysia. You can then sleep inside the coach. By the time you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Genting or other cities in Malaysia, it is already 4 to 6 am in the wee morning. But do not worry. All the Malaysia express bus seats are generally spacious and ultra-comfortable with reclining seats and generous legroom.

The issue here is that you would not be watching the road when you are sleeping or merely closing your eyes for a rest. Drivers are sometimes caught dozing off while driving at night. Genting Highlands Casino in Pahang is a hill resort with curvy roads. Some drivers ramp at high speed on these spiral routes. As the altitude increases, the visibility reduces due to the foggy road condition. Sleepiness and dangerous driving are your concerns at night due to numerous reported accidents at Genting.

10. Urgent Need to Go Toilet

Point 1 to 9 above is beyond our control. Deal with the unexpected as it comes. Many of us including myself are most concerned about having an embarrassing stomachache and the need to answer the call of nature at the wrong time. The worst thing is we are praying in our hearts that the drivers would stop for a toilet break soon.

We feel embarrassed to approach the driver out of the blue requesting a pause with many pairs of eyes watching us. We are just ‘so Asian’, perpetually feeling self-conscious about our behaviour. You need to know that there is no toilet inside the buses going to Malaysia from Singapore. If you want the driver to stop for a toilet break, tell him. Avoid eating and drinking too much on the bus journey.

Conclusion

There is no perfect or best bus company around in my opinion. It will be hard to control the drivers if there is a shortage in the market. It is likely that you might meet some of the incidents above. The more you know, the better you manage your expectation. Tell us, which ugly truth above irks you the most?

How to Go to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore with Low-Cost Airlines?

Cheap Flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore (SIN to KUL) is not a dream as Malaysia is the neighbour of Singapore. Being a Singaporean, I can suggest two methods which you can travel to various cities in Malaysia easily especially if you would like to spend some days there such as a weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Tioman, etc.

The first way to KUL from SIN is with low-cost airlines with AirAsia, Scoot Air, and Jetstar Asia. I will reveal in this article their hidden costs and what to look out for when you book with these low-cost airlines. Subsequently, you can also read 3 Easy and Cheap Ways to Go to Kuala Lumpur City Centre from KL Airport.

The second way is to go by bus from Singapore to Malaysia in a separate article. However, there are some drawbacks by bus when choosing the less expensive option.

Going to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore is generally inexpensive thanks to the depreciating Malaysian Ringgits (RM) over the last few years. With a good exchange rate, you can spend your weekend in Kuala Lumpur at a 4 or 5-star hotel in Malaysia such as Impiana KLCC Hotel for less than €100 a day. You spend lesser on hotel rooms in most cities in Malaysia.

Cheap Flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore with AirAsia, Scoot and Jetstar

If you are looking for cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore for low-cost airlines instead of international carriers, purchase your air ticket to KL from the three prominent budget airlines from Singapore. Compare the prices and the departure times between them that are most suitable for you. The travel duration from Singapore Kuala Lumpur Airport is 1 hour.

The prices would not differ much between the three low-cost airlines as they are always actively running a promotion. For me, there is no loyalty or preference to these airlines for an hour short trip. Whoever offers the lowest price with my preferred timing would get the deal. The return air ticket to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore starts approximately €70 onwards.

① AirAsia Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia is a low-cost Malaysian airline based in Kuala Lumpur. It has won numerous accolades for being the world’s best low-cost carrier for 9 years in a row for international travel and airline awards, including the latest in 2017. The AirAsia Group operates flights to more than 165 destinations spanning 25 countries. They are the largest airline in Malaysia by fleet size and travel destinations. The operation focuses on the domestic regions of Malaysia.

② Scoot Singapore to KL

Scoot Air, formerly known as Tigerair, is a low-cost airline owned by Singapore Airlines through its subsidiary Budget Aviation Holdings. Headquartered in Singapore Changi Airport, Scoot operates 24 Airbus 320s and 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Scoot is also Asia/Pacific’s Best Low-Cost Airline for 2015. The flight operation starts in June 2012 on medium and long-haul routes from Singapore, predominantly to China and India.

③ Jetstar Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

*Jetstar Asia will cease operations on 31 July 2025 due to restructuring.

Jetstar Asia is an Australian low-cost airline whose head office is in Melbourne. Each week, Jetstar schedules more than 5,000 flights to over 85 places across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Pacific. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qantas to cater to the low-cost market. Even though the highlight of Jetstar air routes prevails in the Australian cities, they have many unbeatable airfares from Singapore to KL which I had booked the most in the past.

9 Tips for Booking Cheap Flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore for Low-Cost Airlines

Budget airline companies such as AirAsia, Scoot, and Jetstar earn more revenue when you purchase their additional add-on items. There are so many pushy advertisements on every page that you have to screen them carefully to uncheck the unnecessary before hitting the payment page. Here are 9 tips for you to understand and avoid the hidden cost in them for your ultimate frenzy cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore.

|1| Airfare will increase sharply nearer to your planned date

Book your cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore at least 3 weeks in advance. The air ticket prices increase gradually on the second last week of your desired date. It is different from international air routes from Europe to Asia because the low promotional airfare can maintain even if you book a few days in advance before the departure date.

|2| Cheaper to book directly from the budget airlines

I had done the research several times when I used these airlines to travel to KL or other parts of Asia in the past. Each time, it was cheaper to book the flights from the low-cost airline directly than from the travel comparison websites. For international flights from Asia to Europe or vice versa, it was cheaper to get the air ticket from a travel comparison website.

|3| Avoid Public Holidays and School Holidays like a plague

The airfares are going to increase two to threefold higher if your range of travel dates coincide with either the Singapore or Malaysia Public Holidays as most people like to go for holidays on these dates. Pick a low peak season, flying at odd hours like 6 am or on a weekday will give you some price advantage.

|4| Pay attention to sneaky, inconspicuous checkbox

Some items are pre-ticked for you online which will add to your overall airfare cost if you are not paying enough attention. Travel insurance, checked-in baggage, seat allocation, and even membership sign-up are a guilty bunch. You have to uncheck items you do not want before paying so as not to pay for them unwittingly.

|5| Free meals are not provided

This point is understood by most people. Avoid buying your food and drinks onboard the low-cost flight because it is expensive. The destination from Singapore to other cities in Malaysia are at most 3 hours of flight time. The duration from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur takes precisely 1 hour. Prepare your own food and drinks to take with you for a short flight.

|6| Selection of seats is not free

Random seats will be allocated to you. When you book for two or more people, all may sit apart. To avoid this, you can purchase ‘preferred seats’ at the start of the booking. The legroom and seat space are smaller compared to standard airlines. They are probably built for petite and shorter people. If you have long legs and need more space, you can buy seats with extra legroom at a low cost.

|7| High credit card processing fees

Unfortunately, you do not get to see the amount of the credit card processing fees upfront until you proceed to the payment checkout where it will be reflected. The cost is SGD 10/flight/person. For example, if you have 2 people travelling to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore on a return trip, it will cost SGD20 (€12.50 / US$14.50) per person, SGD40 (€25 / US$29) in total.

|8| Check-in online where possible

AirAsia charges passengers counter check-in for domestic and international flights in some countries. Similar to RyanAir who imposes an exorbitant fee of €50 on all their flights. However, you can get your boarding pass printed at the airport or via email after checking in online. I have yet to know at this point in time that Scoot and Jetstar do the same thing.

|9| Travel light to cut costs

That goes to say no baggage check-in which can save you some money. For short trips, pack all your clothes in a hand-carry haversack or use the laundry facility in a hotel if you are staying longer. If you have travel luggage to check-in, book it online in advance to avoid a higher cost if you purchase an upgrade later at the counter.

Baggage Fees: AirAsia, Scoot & Jetstar

The baggage fee of AirAsia, Scoot, and Jetstar in Singapore Dollars (SGD) on a table for comparison. I have also converted the currency rate from SGD to EURO and USD for international travellers to refer easily.

• 1 EURO = SGD 1.60
• 1 USD = SGD 1.38

*The baggage fees and conversion rates are correct at the time of writing and may be subject to change.

① AirAsia Luggage Price

② Scoot Airlines Baggage Cost

③ Jetstar Baggage Price

Conclusion

I have to confess that among all my trips to Kuala Lumpur and other Asian cities, Jetstar was the airline that I booked most of the time as it offered the lowest airfare to all my destinations so far after a price comparison. Still the same old trick – No loyalty to any of the three airlines. Whoever gives the cheapest airfare with my preferred timing gets the deal.

Reviews Revealed: Hotel Impiana KLCC & Sumptuous Buffet Breakfast @ Tonka Bean Café & Deli

Elegant 4-Star Business Class Hotel with Spacious Room

Impiana KLCC Hotel is a 4-star business hotel in the location of Kuala Lumpur City Centre which I have stayed for the last trip with a Belgian friend working in Singapore. If you go to Malaysia, stay in a hotel with at least a 4-star rating because that is one country in South East Asia which you can have a bit more luxury without burning a hole in your pocket.

The cost is relatively similar to good star rating hotels in Thailand. The less developed country like Vietnam has hotels that are more expensive than that Malaysia and Thailand. I paid more to stay in a 3-star hotel in Ho Chih Minh than hotels in Malaysia and Thailand. Even my Belgian friend had the same opinion to stay in a better hotel and not some budget ones.

I have stayed in some cheap hotels like 2-star and 1-star in Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia. The bed had a deep indent in the middle. The room condition was filthy. The wall had an ugly green painted. The toilet had a lot of dark stains on the floor and looked disgusting. The room was so polluted that my friend and I had developed allergies on our eyes and nose while talking to each other in the room.

Lesson learnt. As I grow older and have more spending power, I want to pay more to stay in a better hotel that fits into my budget. That is not to say that all cheap accommodation would end up in a negative light. I had equally pleasant encounters staying in hostels and guesthouses in Malaysia. Hotel Impiana KLCC review was definitely positive with outstanding customer service from the staff.

We travelled to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore by bus with some displeasure about our travel coach trip. Maybe we should have taken a low-cost flight instead. Nevertheless, the express bus stopped at Berjaya Times Square. We took a taxi from our arrival point to Impiana KLCC Hotel instead of a train as we did not want to spend time figuring out how to get there. The cabs there did not want to operate on a fare meter and quoted us an inflated rate of RM20 (€4 | US$4.80).

I knew that was the culture for getting a taxi there in Kuala Lumpur city. Seemingly, it has never changed for decades. The taxi drivers were operating like some sort of syndicate swhere most of them would not use the fare meter even if you requested them to do it. They would rather not do your business especially if you really look like a tourist.

We went with it anyway since it was only €4 after an exchange rate conversion. How would we be able to get a 15 minutes taxi ride for that dirt cheap amount in Belgium or in any part of Europe? Impossible! Nonetheless, when we took another cab back to Berjaya Times Square from Impiana KLCC Hotel by metered fare, it was only RM7.90 (€1.65 | US$1.90) a 50% fare increment.

We were delighted with the size of the room and the toilet of Hotel Impiana KLCC. The room was larger than many other hotel rooms in KL. It was also clean and well-maintained. The smallest room of Hotel Impiana KLCC is Superior Plus at 30 sqm which only seem to have queen-sized beds and no twin beds. Therefore, the hotel staff gave us a Deluxe Room which had twin beds when we requested double beds. The Deluxe Twin room was spacious at 36 sqm for €65 inclusive of breakfast!

On top of that, it had everything of what a 4-star hotel ought to have. Items like a hairdryer, safe, slippers and bathrobes were provided. We were on the 6th floor of Impiana KLCC Hotel and had a beautiful rooftop swimming pool view. When my friends and I had some spare time, we would watch people having fun at the swimming pool as the distance was so near to our room. Furthermore, the night view outside the Impiana KLCC Hotel was astonishing. One could see the luminous Petronas Twin Towers and capture a few good pics from there. My profile image was one of them.

The next day, we passed by a counter selling chocolates and cakes in Impiana KLCC Hotel. Although the hotel room was not that expensive for such a size, the desserts were relatively expensive. It cost €0.60 for a piece of praline, €3 for a tart or a slice of cake and €18.75 for the whole cake. If nobody wanted to buy them because they were expensive, I wondered how long can they keep the food and if they were also fresh enough to be sold.

Pool View from our 6th Floor Hotel Room

Delicious Buffet Breakfast @ Impiana KLCC Hotel

Our breakfast in Impiana KLCC Hotel was at Tonka Bean Café & Deli located on the ground floor. The buffet breakfast began from 6.30 am to 10.30 am. The buffet had a wide spread of Malaysian and international cuisine. My recommendation is the omelette and the Chinese congee which had one of the most delicious turnips (菜脯) that I had ever eaten.

Very tasty indeed! Instead of having the typical black coffee placed on the table, you can ask for a cappuccino, latte, espresso or more from the bar counter. In Europe, salad is always the first thing I will eat because there are always not many food choices. In Asia, sorry, you are no longer my first choice because my stomach has no room for you. Overall, it was a satisfying breakfast experience because all the food that I tried was delicious and very impressive!

Tonka Bean Café & Deli also has a buffet lunch and dinner with local and western delights. The buffet lunch is Monday to Friday from 12 pm to 2.30 pm. The nett cost is RM78 (€17 | US$16) per adult and RM39 (€8.50 | US$9) per child. The buffet dinner is on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm with sumptuous cuisines. Both buffets also serve limitless scoops of Baskin Robbins ice cream. The nett costs are RM88 (€19.20 | US$21) for adults and RM44 (€9.60 | US$10.50) for children. Senior Citizens get a 50% discount at Impiana KLCC Hotel.

Hotel Impiana KLCC Nearest Metro and Places of Interest

Impiana KLCC has an ideal location for walking to the famous Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC for under 10 minutes. The nearest MRT station is ➊ KLCC or ➋ Bukit Bintang (SBK), which both are 15 minutes walk away. Visit Petronas Twin Towers and go shopping for branded goods in Suria KLCC mall. Explore the Bukit Bintang area on a weekend evening to experience the vibrant nightlife full of street music performances! For more things to do in Kuala Lumpur, I will show you the places of interest in the same area by taking the subway train.

Follow My Kuala Lumpur List on Google Maps

Spending 2 Days in Kuala Lumpur Sightseeing and Visit Attractions

How to spend 2 days in Kuala Lumpur? Finding the top 10 things to do in Kuala Lumpur in 2 days is a breeze with a KL MRT map. The abbreviation for MRT is ‘Mass Rapid Transit’. For some people, it is a subway or metro in the city. Another common mode of transport is the monorail which runs overhead.

Here are some suggestions on what to do in Kuala Lumpur (KL) so you would not miss the fascinating places to visit. My notion here is to visit as many points of interest in Kuala Lumpur as possible around an MRT station to save travelling time. If you are taking a flight to Kuala Lumpur, you may also like to check out how to get to Kuala Lumpur city centre from KL Airport.

My Belgian friend who works in Singapore and I went on a weekend trip from Singapore to KL by bus recently. We could have taken a 1-hour cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore, but she chose to be more adventurous. That is following most Singaporeans and Malaysians traditional method of travelling. Especially with someone like me who has been to Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia umpteen times with nasty travel bus stories to share, it sounded less foreign to her.

We stayed in Hotel Impiana at KLCC which was 15 minutes walk away from the famous Petronas Twin Tower and Suria KLCC Shopping Mall. Hence, the two tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur would be the first two things to do in Kuala Lumpur. If you are not staying around KLCC, take a train and alight at KLCC MRT Station.

Map Your Kuala Lumpur Travel

• Google My Maps: I have customised the Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide on Google Maps itinerary for you in number sequence according to all the posts listed in Kuala Lumpur.
• Google Maps List: Alternatively, you can follow my Kuala Lumpur in 2 Days List on Google Maps so you always have something to refer to on your mobile. (Followers are anonymous as I cannot see them.)

Follow My Kuala Lumpur List on Google Maps

The KLCC MRT station was busier than others due to the influx of visitors to the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC shopping mall. Some ticket machines accepted RM5 or RM10 dollar notes and some only allowed RM 5. We found it annoying that 3 ticket machines continually rejected our new Malaysia Ringgits (RM) dollar notes. The 4th one accepted it finally. You will get a token instead of a paper ticket. If you have only big-dollar notes, you can change it at the customer service counter for smaller ones. One cannot buy the token from there.

1. Tour in Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers designed by Argentine architect César Pelli are the most majestic symbolic skyscrapers standing in awe of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). It has a sublime sight, especially in the evening. One could fall in love with it when the dark night falls. The Malaysians said that if you do not visit the Petronas Twin Towers, you have never been to Kuala Lumpur before.

Non-Malaysian tourists can buy tickets at RM80 | €16.60 for a semi-guided 1-hour tour from the Concourse basement level to the 42nd storey skybridge and 86th-floor observatory tour for a panoramic view of the stunning city. The entry up to the Petronas Towers is every 30 minutes. Do note that there is usually a waiting time for the Petronas Twin Towers tour due to the limited visit capacity and the overwhelming response from visitors over the weekend.

In the meanwhile, you can go shopping in Suria KLCC if you get a later schedule. The ticket counter is at the Concourse which is at the basement level. Upon entering Suria KLCC Shopping Mall main entrance, the escalator to go down to the ticketing counter is on the left side. There is also a signboard.

2. Luxury Shopping in Suria KLCC

Suria KLCC is the leading shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur comprising of 6 floors with 4 wings of shopping outlets. It specialises in congregating branded boutiques under one roof. A perfect shopping trip for people who love splurging on branded goods and the best thing to do in Kuala Lumpur.

If one is not going for the dazzling brands in Suria KLCC, there are also megastores like Isetan and Parkson for the budget-conscious shoppers. Isetan is a Japanese owned company, and Parkson is a Malaysian establishment. These departmental stores have good quality products with mid-range prices among the high-end products in Suria KLCC that would not burn a hole in the pocket.

You can also find branded cosmetic stores in Parkson and Isetan similar to the ones at the boutiques in a consolidated area. Thus, it will be easier to compare prices or decide which brand to purchase by simply hopping around the megastores in a smaller sphere. The shopping experience here is a twist from the high-end atmosphere.

There is also a big Isetan Foodmarket at the basement level of Suria KLCC with a great selection of sushi and other mouth-watering food at a reasonable price. The price of the products may not be the cheapest, but the choice of food is extensive. I had to try some of it to ease my greedy mouth because I could not resist what I saw.

3. Watch Musical Fountain in KLCC Park

Exiting the back entrance of Suria KLCC is the KLCC Park which has an enormous 50-acre garden. It doubles up like a wonderland for children to play with water in the 10,000 sqm Lake Symphony. The water fountain shoots water to a height of 42 metres during the day and night. The spectacular musical fountain emits beautiful light patterns with the music. It gives the environment a magical touch at 8 pm, 9 pm, and 10 pm nightly.

One word of caution is to avoid strolling in the afternoon. The heat intensity in KL is a strong deterrence to walk further into the KLCC Park. We did not see many people wandering far due to the hot weather. Apply enough sunblock for protection if you are keen to explore a distance away.

4. Drink Belgian Beer at Delirium Café

My Belgian travel partner was unquestionably delighted to discover Delirium Café as it originated from Belgium. Over here, one can indulge in Belgian food specialities and an assortment of Belgian beers! You can find the restaurant at the far end corner at Suria KLCC back entrance. You’ll get a scenic view facing the KLCC Park and the newly opened Police Station not far from it.

Delirium Cafe, established in Brussels, was a Guinness World Record holder in 2004. It holds a smashing beer stock of 2004 brands! Now the enormous beer collection has grown to 2,500 offering Belgian beers as well as other international brands. Over at the Delirium Cafe @ KLCC, you can still relish a wide selection of Belgian beers with high alcohol percentages to go with your favourite mussels. For beer lovers, give it a go in Kuala Lumpur!

5. Greet Marine Animals at Aquaria KLCC

The mysterious blue water Aquaria KLCC is an oceanarium less than a 5-minute walk along the perimeter of KLCC Park. The world-class aquarium has two levels which are homes to 5,000 aquatic animals from Malaysia and all over the world. Watch 250 species of marine animals swimming around you in a 90-metre water glass tunnel and catch their feeding time in the underwater world. Picture taking is allowed but no flash. The entrance fee is RM64 | €13.30 for adults, children from 3 to 12 years old are RM56 | €11.60, and senior citizen is RM46 | €9.60.

In Suria KLCC, we got to know 2 new Malaysian friends who advised us to go to Central Market first, followed by Petaling Street in Chinatown. That was our planned itinerary for the night. The Central Market would close earlier than the night markets in Petaling Street. We stopped at Pasar Seni MRT Station and crossed the road to go to Central Market first.

6. Buy Local-Made Souvenirs at Central Market

Central Market is just opposite Pasar Seni MRT Station. People come here for Malaysia local-made souvenirs, art and crafts. We reached there around 8 pm on a Saturday night. There was almost no customer at that time. It enabled us to look around freely at the beautiful items. We felt comfortable that the sellers were not pushy there. But, it also meant that they were not aggressive to push their sales. Maybe it was about time for them to close shop. Hence, they were tired. It was lovely looking at pretty things, but I did not any of these souvenirs back. The environment was cosy lit with warm lights.

7. Bargain at Petaling Street Market

After Central Market, we walked over to Petaling Street Market in Chinatown which was just under 5 minutes. It is a top place of interest in Kuala Lumpur if you want to feel integrated with the locals. Petaling Street KL is a tourist spot infamous for selling counterfeit products like clothes, bags, perfumes etc.

I have been there several times over the last two decades as a tourist. Many stalls sell identical things. So, it can be quite boring to complete the full shopping activity of looking at similar fake items. They might even be run by syndicates who take the goods from the same source. I like to shop for sunglasses whenever I am here.

» Losing Vibrancy Over the Years

Chinatown KL has also lost most of its appeal and liveliness over the years with fewer customers, even on a Saturday night! Walking amidst the stalls now is more leisure than in the past. Back then, it was difficult to look at something for long without being jostled or blocked.

I noticed that foreigners were the ones who managed most of the stalls there as they certainly did not look like Malaysians. They were pushy and over-enthusiastic to sell you something to the point of being irritating. Part of the charm was diluted. In the past, the Malaysian Chinese would be the ones tending the stalls. So in my eyes, I had lost the familiarity of the original touch of Chinatown which was supposed to be run by a Chinese community.

Haggling is a powerful tool here where you can get 50% off the quoted amount. When the sellers offer you a high price, just walk away. The value will be slashed down immediately. Sellers here are desperate to sell, and it can get overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, it is still a great place to negotiate some cheap bargains. Chinatown is a top attraction in Kuala Lumpur, especially for first-timers. The area has an entirely different facet from the glamorous KLCC which carries authentic brands.

8. Have Dinner in Chinatown

When you go to Chinatown Kuala Lumpur, how can one not try some Chinese food there? We reserved the space of our stomach searching for a comfortable food corner to dine in Chinatown. We were drawn to a Chinese restaurant, Kim Lian Kee 金莲记 at one of the busy streets. I reckoned having dinner sitting by the road was one memorable experience for my friend. She could indulge in the lively ambience of Kuala Lumpur Chinatown and watch the surrounding activities.

We strongly recommend the Stir-Fried Beef with Spring Onion. The meat we tried was so tender and delicious! My friend could not help but praise the dish vehemently. The Salted Egg Prawns were another excellent choice too. The other two dishes were bland and less tasty. The waitress came over and talked to us when there were not many customers. She was rather spot-on when analysing the type of tourists from different countries. I tipped her at the end of the day for her excellent service.

Our last destination for the day is the Bukit Bintang night entertainment area. There were 2 Bukit Bintang MRT stations on the signboard. Choose the name marked with SBK (Sungei Buloh-Kajang). We had a pleasant surprise when we exited from Bukit Bintang MRT station Pintu C (Exit C) on a Saturday night. There was a live band performance by Sentuhan Band with an excellent acoustic sound system. We stayed there for a while. Later, I realised such band performances were everywhere on the street.

9. Indulge in Bukit Bintang Nightlife

Bukit Bintang is a top-rated tourist attraction for things to do in Kuala Lumpur at night for partygoers and night owls. The street was bustling with people on late weekend nights. You get to listen to free music from the various groups of live bands. Bukit Bintang nightlife generates a strong presence of energetic vibes with a lot of entertainment as there are so many things to see in Kuala Lumpur.

I loved the alluring stretch of Middle Eastern restaurants at BB Park. The screaming LED lights was the reason why l crossed the road to demystify it. The loud colours were like magnets, beckoning me to unravel and stay. Good marketing strategy. We had some drinks in one bar while other customers were smoking shisha. Many shops and restaurants opened till late at night. During the day, people can come here for shopping in the departmental stores. From day to night, there’s always something to do in Bukit Bintang Walk.

If you want to try the monorail in Kuala Lumpur, you can alight at Imbi Monorail Station. There are only 11 monorail stations in KL which operates mainly in the vital commercial and touristic areas. The monorail system is supplementary to the MRT lines for better transportation accessibility in some places. At some stations, both the MRT and the monorail trains inter-connect to each other. Since the monorail run overhead, it allows tourists to have sightseeing of KL city. One tip is to take a monorail from one end to the other end. Refer to the KL Monorail Map.

10. Frenzy Shopping in Berjaya Times Square

Berjaya Times Square is a classy shopping mall with a pretty remarkable interior structural design. That goes without saying when the top of the shopping centre is the Berjaya Times Square Hotel which has a 5-star rating. Shopping here was more affordable than Suria KLCC. You can shop till you drop dead in this 10-storey shopping mall. Yes, 10 floors high!!

Eateries are mostly on the third level. On the 5th and 7th floor is the Berjaya Amusement Park which is the largest Indoor Theme Park in Malaysia. The whole place is a twin complex which comprises of corporate buildings too. Imbi Monorail Station is right in front of Berjaya Times Square. If you want to go by MRT, stop at Hang Tuah MRT Station. Walk 10 minutes for 800 metres.

The second day was almost up. We had to take a bus back to Singapore. There are dreaded facts that could happen when you use a travel coach from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore or vice versa. The pickup point was outside Berjaya Times Square which gave us a good reason to hang around here and to have a quick lunch.