malaysia 2022 trip: melaka to KL

Day 3, time to leave Malacca for KL.

We had unpleasant experience, we ordered Grab to get to Central Malakka, but we waited sooooo long. I’ve already booked 3 bus tickets from easybooking.app for 9.15 am.

Once we got the Grab, it was an old taxi with (Maaf rasis) brown driver and he rejected us since we had big luggage and he didn’t bother to open car’s trunk. Zzzzzz it was over 8.30 am something trip to the bus station took 15 mins

Luckly, the hotel’s receptionist knew a call driver, price was higher (Grab fee RM 15 vs rented taxi RM 25), the heck…we didn’t have the choice.

Arrived at Malaka Central, we rushed to the counter to exchange the ticket. Jadi biar sudah booking via app, dapat QR code, kita masih harus tukar dengan fisik kartu / boarding pass. Ya macam tukar tiket kereta di Gambir lah. -____- Tukarnya di counter, bukan pakai mesin. Kena biaya lagi 0.70 cent /booking.

And it was a loooooooonggg line, I was so desperate and asked the young people in front of me. Is it possible to board at 9.15 am since it was 9.10 am already.

It was 3 local young adults taking break before going back to uni I guess, they let us cut the queue and suddenly another counter was opened. Kakak langsung antri di sana ( to save time) I stick to the initial counter. Saya dah gemeteran, booking tiket lagi kayaknya. Ngga mahal sih, bertiga kurang dari RM 50.

And puff…the clerk at the new opened counter was quick, we secured our boarding pass and rushed like hell to the waiting bus area!!! And we made it on time…..fiuhhh….

It was actually my third experience taking long-haul bus in Malaysia, first was in 2011 from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, second was from KL to Johor Baru with the kids in 2013, when #2 poo at the bus. What an embarrassing experience but now we laughed about that.

Off we go to the capital city through a very smooth asphalt. Kenapa di negara sendiri ngga bisa semulus ini aspalnya ya :(.

Suddenly, the bus took exit from toll road and arrived at Seramban Bus Station and many passengers hopped off.

gee I worried I hopped on the wrong bus!! I asked a young lady with her son, she had no idea where the bus is going but she was headed to Penang, I assumed the bus made several stops, not a direct one. Pantes tiketnya murah , ada yang RM 60 an soalnya.zzzzz

Seramban seems a small city but nice. Pamulang kenapa ngga bisa rapih kayak gini ya.

Seramban City – about 60Km away from KL

Another one hour, we arrived at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan. The terminal was nice back in 2013 now it even better. Kakak was sleeping the entire trip, when we arrived at TBS, she thought we arrived in airport.

The clean, modern Bus Terminal

Anyway, we took grab to hotel, the driver was an Uncle who (from what he said) would fly to Bali after Chinese new year.

Nothing special in KL, arrived around 1 pm, we couldnt check-in yet so off to KLCC. We stayed around the area.

Later the night, I met Afiza, Ejah and Aniza!!! What a great union, those 3 girls haven’t seen each other for quite sometime. We played tourist.

Skybar Trade Hotel

Pintasan Saloma

We said goodbye around 10 pm, the girls must work on the next day of course.

Kids off to Bukit Bintang by themselves. They are young adult anyway, no need chaperone anymore, wkwkwkwkwk.

day 4

I contacted Peni, my friend from college who had lived in the city for 10 years. Last time I saw her back in 2015 I think.

Since she was free, she drove us around. To have breakfast in mansion tea stall, Chinatown, Lapangan merdeka, mesjid Jamek (during praying time) later had coffee in Kenny Hills bakers.

Around magrib, we bid farewell. Hope to see her in Bintaro again ;). then spent the rest of the night near KLCC.

Day 5

Time to go home.

Flight was delayed by 3 hours due to severe weather.

I was (of course) broke :)) but it was our first trip since 3 years, kids now grow up, with blink of eyes, I have to paid 3 adult tickets for everything, everytime!!!! Hahahahah!

Malaka

We arrived before 9 am, KL Time. I only brought RM 75 with me (sisa sisa dari Langkawi) which only enough to buy DIGI Sim card RM 40. Saya pikir ATM ada dekat gate keluar. Kurang RM 5 buat beliin #2 SIM Card. hampir mau minjam uang sama orang Indonesia di sebelah wkwkwkkw (tuker sama IDR maksudnya).

My last overseas trip before pandemic outbreak was to Malaysia, and my first overseas trip after pandemic was to this country as well! Ya nasebb, mantan pegawai bank merah-nya LOL.

Imigrasi tidak terlalu ramai, cuma petugas tumben2x minta ditunjukkan tiket pulang. Ambil bagasi, imigrasi cek point, Afiza sudah di depan menunggu saya.

Kami sarapan dulu di bandara, saya cari ATM. Ngga punya cash.

Afiza menyewakan mobil untuk ke Malaka, Toyota Inova! Hish senangnya tidak perlu naik bus. Sekitar 2 jam perjalanan sampailah kami di kota Melaka.

Kami menginap di Swiss Heritage Boutique Hotel, sebetulnya saya salah booking, saya pikir ini jaringan swiss belhotel wkwkkwkwkw.

Karena belum bisa check in, saya jalan-jalan dulu sekitar hotel. Deretan bangunan-bangunan tua yang terawat baik, sebagian kosong, jadi hotel, toko, restaurant atau musium.

Saya pun mengunjungi Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Dulunya, bangunan ini rumah milik Cheng Chiew pastiny saudagar kaya raya di jamannya. Furniture di rumah ini masih asli semua makanya tidak boleh duduk. HTM = RM 18

Ranjang Pengantin

Setelah shop hopping, check in, kembali menyusuri Jonker Street. Yang menurut saya seperti Jalan Braga Bandung. Campur aduk oranf2x ras China, Melayu dan India. Seru-seru banget. Stall makanannya seru-seru, toko toko, restoran bahkan Mixue. Oh ya, cari makanan halah agak sulit di sini. Kami makan di restoran yang menyediakan Nasi Ayam, enak deh. Lokasinya di dekat pertigaan Jonker Street dan Jalan Tongko. Atau japri saya deh wkwkwkwkwk.

JONKER STREET

Oh ya, kalau malam jalannya ditutup untuk kendaraan, kiri kanan itu pedagang makanan semua.

Sorean dikit, saya ambil River Cruise HTM RM 35/person non Malaysian. Cruise-nya sekitar 5Km bolak balik menyusuri sungai yang sarat dengan bangunan tua dan bersejarah. Duh! Bersih banget! Hampir tidak ada sampah, Cisadane atau Ciliwung bisa dibuat seperti ini tidak sih

Setelah boat cruise, saya menghabiskan sisa sore berjalan sepanjang sungai yang memang ada pedestrian walknya.

Besoknya, saya jalan pagi menysuri sungai. Ish, kalau lari pagi malah lebih terlihat cantik bangunan2x tuanya. Dirawat sekali! Hotel-hotel non-chained hotels juga lucu-lucu deh!

Selesai sarapan saya ke Sky Shore Tower, untuk ke observation deck-nya. Lantai 43, antri liftnya agak parah , lama, dan tidak teratur ya. Bangunan ini hotel dan shopping mall. Cuma toko-tokonya banyak yang tutup. Efek Pandemi kayaknya. HTM RM 25/person.

Dari observation deck, kami ke St Paul Hill. Ada reruntuhan gereja jaman Portugis di sana dan nisan dari orang-orang Portugis tersebut (bayangkan! Dari tahun 1600-an).

Sekali lagi saya salut untuk para wisatawan yang membantu menjaga situs sejarah. Tidak ada sampah bergeletakan, dan masuk situs ini gratis lho. Anak-anak paling suka disini.

Terdapat juga kuburan Belanda di komplek ini.

Turun sedikit beberapa museum, Dataran Merdeka yang penuh wisatawan dan pedagang. Ah saya tidak tahan! Lelah!

Saya pulang ke hotel saja, rencana mau cuci baju di laundry mat 24 jam (saya google lokasi terdekat). Anak-anak lanjut foto-foto! Duh!

Dulu mereka kesal kalau saya foto-foto, sekarang kebalikan. Oh ya, ini kedatangan mereka kedua di negara ini, pertama kali tahun 2013.

Kami cuma dua malam di sini, si kakak tidak sabar pengen ke kota besar! Ish….saya kurang puas.

View from 43rd floor

The ruined church at St Paul Hill

The famous malaka’s landmark

Kampung Morten – the traditional Malay’s houses

My jogging track

Finally! Naik pesawat!

Yeah, you read it.

Setelah 3 tahun tidak kemana-mana (pakai pesawat), akhir tahun ini saya menghabiskan sisa cuti di negeri tetangga. Simple, karena air fare-nya paling murah 😂.

Memang sih bookingnya mendadak, baru dapat lampu hijau cuti akhir December, dahlah hajar aja! Anak anak juga kangen geret koper pasti.

So, here we are, taking 5 am flight from Cengkareng, then another 2 hours to the south…

Jadi, waktu masih kerja di bank pertama, saya suka planning mau ke sini, cuma 2 jam dari ibukota nya kan (where the HQ is). Cuma ngga sempet-sempet terus.

Baru kesampai-nya sekarang, 11 tahun setelah resign dari bank merah itu wkwkwkwk.

Tinggal satu lagi, kota yang pengen saya datangin, Ipoh.

Ntar ya update nya

(Russia Trip) the rest of the story

Our Moscow’s trip turned so-so upon our return. It is kind of horrible. I didn’t take the Jakarta’s scorching sun with me.

Anyway, we arrived around 7am local time, where the local from suburban were starting their days. Station was FULL of people! Our host in Moscow was kind enough  to allow us for early-check in.

Soon as I arrived, I think I was familiar with surrounding and  yes it was. I have walked near here when I visit Arbat Street few days ago.  This apartment is good deal, just across the mini market and had elevator. We didn’t need to drag our luggage up to 3-4-5 floor! It has elevator!

Well, our last few days in Moscow was kind of….COLD!  It was 10 – 14 degrees when we were there, as the rain pour unstoppable. But the good thing is, it was still day light until 9 pm.

After we checked in, we went outskirt of town. Farrr….far…away! We took angkot as the Pass is not valid. Then I just knew that their Big Shopping centers are located outskirt. Passing many  big shopping center or alike.

Outskirt of town where we visited CSK Moscow stadium…but unlike any stadium where the club practices, there is no stadium tour or alike, different from soccer stadiums in other part of Europe.

 

Stadium

This is the only day that weather was considered good despite the heavy cloud.  The next three days until we get home, I have to buy TWO UMBRELLAS! One I brought from Jakarta can’t even handle the heavy pour.  To make it worse, we didn’t prepare to deal with 10-12 degrees temperature! I checked around it always said usually on Summer the temperature goes between 18 – 25 degrees.

Then the rest of the days we visited  in random order)  

Bolshoi Theatre ( Большо́й теа́тр) 

 

The fascade is used for 100 rubbel bank note

Luzhniky  Stadium  ( стадион Лужники )

 

Stadium Luzhniki.

Soekarno terinspirasi oleh stadium ini dan meminta secara langsung bantuan dana kepada Uni Soviet dalam pidatonya di acara peletakan batu pertama (sekarang) GBK pada tahun 1956.

Kala itu, Uni Soviet langsung memberikan bantuan dana 12,5 juta dolar AS untuk membangun kompleks Gelora Bung Karno guna mendukung Indonesia sebagai tuan rumah Asian Games 1962.

Tak cuma bantuan dana, arsitek dan insinyur Uni Soviet pun dikerahkan untuk membantu pembangunan GBK mulai 8 Februari 1960 dan selesai 21 Juli 1962.

Di stadium ini, diselenggarakan pembukaan World cup 2018.

Source: https://m.detik.com/sepakbola/serba-serbi/d-4068378/menengok-kembaran-gbk-di-rusia-luzhniki

Moscow  State Univerity ( Московский государственный университет )

 

MSU

Founded in 1755.

The building behind them was built in 1950’s one of the 7 skyscrapers (Joseph Stalin’s high-rises)

This main building is 240m tall, translated to 36 floors (ambi banget Stalin ya?)

If you were kids grew up in 80’s, I bet you’re familiar with Mikhail Gorbacev, he was one of the alumni.

I was imagining having my pic in front of this 7/8 later with those ABG Tangsel wearing toga 😂

Ismailovsky Market  ( Изма́йлово ) 

If you hear “Cantik, Bagus, Murah” in a far far away land, means too many people from Indonesia are visiting the place. They sell souvenir, and I love the Matryoshka Doll, you will also found Indonesia president or even Ahok there.

Russia Doll

Of course, we met Friday again and I took my son for Friday Pray. So I witnessed “KEBEBASAN-UMAT-BERAGAMA” where Muslim is minority.

The  Mosque was  on the corner, and they blocked the road with local policeman making human-brigade around the mosque. It was summer and 10 degrees and I wonder how it is like on WINTER under snow storm!

See the police

Getting inside the mosque is not easy, I have to undergo several security check point. Although I wear hijab they still gave me throbe. #meh.

The last day, I had enough of Cold  Moscow but still I did my morning run under cloudy and rain the local seemed staring at me from their car

Pose

This apartment is very recommended. The host speaks English very well and responsive!

Long story short, our host ordered us Yandex (local Uber) dan meruntuhkan stereotype gw atas dinginnya orang Rusia. IN my surprise, although the driver has limited English, he still wanted to be nice with us and even act as local tour guide telling us what building that we just passed. If only we had met him earlier…

Took train back to DME, I witness dark, grey, wet Moscow.  It said grey sky gives gloomy feeling. It was what happened to me when I left Munchen. But not Russia.

Buat saya pribadi, sangat layak visit, considering it was once “negara Adi daya” full of history, advanced technology and rich in culture. But if you asked me to go back here again, I am afraid I wont. Ngga tau kenapa ngga sedih pas mau balik, beda banget waktu long-haul trip 2015 dan 2018.  Well, except Murmansk Perhaps or Trans Siberian Trip. Perhaps!

Also for me, Russia is quite affordable, even Moscow is not so pricey compare to Jakarta let alone Singapore. Food price even lower, cheap transportation cost (Rubel 55 regardless the distance), cheap accomodation as well. Jadi kalo dapat tiket murah, beli aja!

Until sikiky next trip, I bet you guys know where! Hahahahh

The Pearl of Kedah

Last Thursday, I went to Langkawi. A tiny, beautiful island in north of Malaysia. This island is quite famous among Indonesian’s triathletes because this where Ironman Event is held annually. The most affordable one if you travel from Jakarta I suppose.

People are nice, easy to get grab car service, food was ok…ok because Indonesian’s food is the best.

I met Evan, a triathlete I’ve been following since I pick up running as daily exercise 6 years ago, May, who accompanied her daughter for Ironkid event, and jeli and Lili who ran with me when I was in KL 6 years ago.

Of course I was there for my second Ironman 70.3. Recap will come later.

My group and I even stop at the famous Nasi Dagang Pak Malau before coming home.

Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures!

With Evan

Look, my name!

The Danna

Open Water Trial

Dropping Off Run Gear

Dropping of Bike Gear

Short Reunion with Jely and Lili

Waiting for Sunset

Breakfast with a view