Malaysia Vacation – Kuala Lumpur & Genting Highlands 6 Dec – 10 Dec 2009

6^th Dec 2009 Day 1 Sunday


Changi Airport Singapore Airport Tower

Beginning another 5 days, 4 nights Malaysia vacation today and going up to Genting Highlands for two nights, we started this holiday by booking with the budget airline, Air Asia. Travel to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore is convenient as there are many Singapore Kuala Lumpur bus companies that ply the route and you can get rates as low as S$30 (USD21.55) one way to S$98 for a return journey on board a much more comfortable bus. Paying just a few more dollars allowed us to travel by the budget airline at a total cost of S$1050.08 (USD754.90) for 8 persons inclusive of services and advance seat request fee so that all of us could be seated close to each other.

Changi Airport Singapore Terminal 1

Christmas in Changi Airport

Changi Airport Skytrain that connects Terminals 1, 2 & 3

Checking in for our Air Asia flight

Budget flights on Air Asia

Our flight to Kuala Lumpur (KL) was on AK750 which was scheduled to depart at 1820 hrs. On arrival at the Changi Airport Singapore at 1630 hrs, we checked in and proceeded through immigration into the departure area to await our boarding time.

Proceeding to the boarding gate

Air Asia flight

As the Air Asia flight was delayed in coming in, our outgoing flight only took off at 1845 hrs. A smooth journey, our travel time was just a short forty-five minutes. Here are some sunset images whilst amidst the clouds.

Sunset images

Clouds images

On arrival at the Kuala Lumpur Airport - LCC Terminal at 1930 hrs, we had to disembark from the Air Asia plane and walk from the tarmac to the arrival hall a distance away as there was no aerobridge.

After we cleared immigration in LCC Terminal and retrieved our luggage from the luggage belt, we had to decide how to get to our KL hotel for the night, Hotel Capitol, in Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Duty Free Shop in Kuala Lumpur Airport

Upon emerging from the arrival hall, we saw some transport counters and we managed to book a family van to Hotel Capitol for a total of RM154 (USD 45.30). The travel time from Kuala Lumpur Airport – LCC Terminal to Hotel Capitol took about an hour and we finally reached the hotel at 2120 hrs.

Official LCC Terminal Airport Taxi Coupon Counter

During the journey, we managed to communicate with the driver and realized that the price we had paid for the transport was a discounted rate and if we had come in by the main airport at KLIA, the price would have been higher.

The family van that we took

We also made a booking with the van driver, Syamsuddin, for our transport to and from Genting Highlands as well as back to KL Airport LCC Terminal on our last day.

One-way transport from KL to Genting Highlands RM250 (USD 73.50)

Return journey from KL to Genting Highlands RM450 (USD132.35)

Journey from Hotel Capitol to LCC Terminal RM150 (USD 44.10)

Since we were going to book him for all our transportation during our vacation in Malaysia, we managed to knock the rate down to RM550 (USD161.75) for the return journey from KL to Genting Highlands as well as the journey back to KL Airport.

Upon checking into the hotel and freshening up a little, our stomachs were calling and we took a five minute walk to Jalan Alor which was formerly known as the Red Light district of KL.

One of the attractions in Malaysia - KL Tower - lighted up at night


If you ever visit Kuala Lumpur, you simply have to try the food there. Some of the best food can be found in back street alleys like Jalan Alor where you will find stalls parked all along the street.

Where we had dinner

Our group hungrily waiting for our food

With the great variety of local Malaysia food to choose from, it is not surprising if you have difficulty deciding on what to eat and you will be spoiled for choice. The best is to try a little of everything and this is easily accomplished if you go in a bigger group.

We tried the local food such as prawn noodle, claypot bak kut teh (pork ribs), oyster omeletter, char kway teow (fried rice noodles) and cantonese yee mee (crispy noodle).

Prawn noodle

Claypot Bak Kut Teh

Oyster Omelette

Char Kway Teow

Cantonese Yee Mee

Lien Chee Kong, a sweet dessert

They were not too bad although the prices were a little steep as it is considered a tourist area where most Asian tourists will descend upon whilst in Kuala Lumpur. Total bill for 8 hungry stomachs:- RM140 (USD 41)

Jalan Alor where food abounds

Stalls on both sides of the street

Fruits, anyone?

Or some clothes?

By the time we finished savouring the local delights, it was already past 2300 hrs and the end of the first day of our Malaysia vacation. Traveling on budget flights such as Air Asia is more comfortable than via Singapore Kuala Lumpur bus and budget flights make it so much more affordable. Another benefit of traveling by flight is that you could do some shopping in Changi Airport Singapore whilst waiting for your flight. It was good to land at the LCC Terminal - Kuala Lumpur Airport as transportation is at a discounted price and it is definitely an advantage staying in a KL hotel in the heart of the city.

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