Interchange Stations

KL transportation is undergoing some changes under the new management of RapidKL. It has taken over the LRT (Ampang, Sri Petaling and Kelana Jaya lines) and the bus system in the city.

Throughout this year RapidKL has been introducing new routes, systems and also new buses. I must say they are trying hard to improve the public transportation service in KL. However, there are still much things needed to be improved.

RapidKL new bus

First, is the use of common ticket. Instead of buying tickets are seperate counters for different LRT lines, why can't we just use the same ticket from our origin place to our destination?

Eg, if I have to get from Pandan Indah station to KLCC station. I have to interchange at one station, Masjid Jamek. So I'll have to buy a ticket from Pandan Indah to Masjid Jamek (For Ampang LRT line), then buy another ticket from Masjid Jamek station to KLCC (Kelana Jaya line).

Masjid Jamek is suppose to be an interchange station. Interchange station means we do not to exit the station and then purchase another ticket to continue our journey.

the green colour word says 'walkway'

Maybe is the lack of interconnecting between the 2 stations. Maybe the government of Malaysia should do some proper planning before carry on with the project.

The gap between the Masjid Jamek 'interchange' station

There are some other 'interchange' station which are actually not connected. Such as:

-Hang Tuah Station (connecting Ampang line and KL Monorail)

showing the distance of covered walkway

-Titiwangsa Station (connecting the Ampang Line and KL Monorail again)

walkway with without pavement

-KL Sentral Station (Connecting the KL Monorail and Kelana Jaya Line/KTM/KLIA Transit).

covered walkway over the open air carpark

It should be called 'Interchange stations with walking distance' instead.

Here is a short story about young couple from Singapore having their vacations in KL:

Anyway, we reached Royal Bintang Hotel at around 2pm, after battling the traffic jam, with the uncle honking at the crazy taxis. Then we checked into our room, located at the NON-SMOKING level. We were finally smoke-free!

We blasted the air-con in our room and scooted out to jalan jalan. KL is damn warm, but Singapore is worse. Trust me.

Midvalley Megamall was our first stop. But first, we gotta figure out our way there and the hotel staff were kind enough to help. Heh heh. We're really lucky.

We walked a short distance to the KL Monorail, Bukit Bintang Station. We needed tickets to bring us to Midvalley station.

Boy: "We need to get to KL Sentral first."
Me: "Ok, we go there to change train?"
Boy: "Yeah, but I think we need to get the tickets to KL Sentral."
Me: "HUH? Not to Midvalley?"
Boy: "No leh, the guy said go to KL Sentral first."
Me: "Not cross the platform at the Interchange meh?"
Boy: "We not in Singapore lah dey."

alfresco and freaking hot.

Me: Yea, we not in Singapore lah dey. We were in KL. Where transport SUCKS!!!
Big time.

try pronouncing all those.

5 stops for RM2.10 per ticket. Summore cannot cross the platform one, nabeh.
We alighted at KL Sentral, and we had to find our way to the KTM Komuter. We were told it was just across the road from the Monorail station, but no dude, we don't see no KTM Komuter!!!
Nevertheless, we braved the traffic and crossed the road. My boy loves the traffic light's green man. Unlike Singapore's flashing of the green man, it RAN. The legs could move, holy shit. Hahahahaha! Kawaii!
Anyway, we found our way after walking through this pasar malam and crossing not just one road but 3? Quite scary, because the cars just zoomed everywhere. So we actually crossed 3 ROADS instead of just crossing one platform, after reaching their so called "Interchange". I'm stunned.
I'm so thankful for Singapore's transport. At least I know I'm not paying the hefty adult price for crap transport.
We bought 2 tickets to Midvalley Station (1 stop only lor!) for RM1 each.
So much trouble just for ONE STOP to Midvalley Station. Nabeh. Malaysia, please implement the cross the platform thing. Makes things easier, ok?
They really need to put some brains into their transport facilities.
Firstly, we had to wait for 15 long minutes (!!!) just for ONE train to bring us to our destination which is just ONE STOP away (can't get over this).
Secondly, it was warm (no air-con, just industrial fans) and dark (lousy lightings), without much seats (I think they damn budget).
Thirdly, we had to run after the train because it overshot our waiting area. Yes, the fucking train was shorter than the platform. What the fuck?!
Grr.
Anyway, we got to Midvalley Mega Mall and I was a little grouchy already. Wasted so much time just to get there.
Not that I support Singapore so much but hey, I think the Malaysian gorvernment can at least learn something from our neighbour country.
I have relatives staying in Singapore and my university is in Johor Bahru so I am a frequent traveller to Singapore. Their public transport system is well-organised. From detail signboards to digital displayboard showing the arrival times of trains at every stations.
Just see this. You'll understand.
Back to the common ticket. Well, perhaps the government ARE doing something about it.
Is Touch'n'Go familiar to you? It is a stored value card introduced years ago for Malaysian drivers so that they won't have to queue up paying at the toll plaza.
And don't forget that this card can also be used at LRT, Monorail and KTM stations. However everytime when I passed by the stations ticket counter I could see people queing up buying the single trip ticket.
Getting a stored value card for the benefit of yourself isn't very difficult, is it? Every Malaysian should have their MyKad by now, so everyone should have their own Touch'n'Go card.
Maybe there aren't many Touch'n'Go service counter for people to top-up their value in their card. And there was once my dad trying to use the Touch'n'Go card at a station but the service was out of order on that day.
There is still much work for the government and rakyat to do. Remember, Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is coming in a few days time! =)

Sunday Haircut

TODAY is a typical boring Sunday. The weather is cool after a heavy downpour last night. A SMS woke me up at 9 in the morning. Mum and dad went to Petaling Street to have breakfast. While waiting for them to ta pao my breakfast back, read the newspaper and then online.

Then sister wanted to use to computer, so I played the piano. Haven't touch the keyboard for don't know how many weeks! And I could hardly play a smooth continous song =/

Had two pieces of bread for lunch then watched National Geographic on TV. They were showing how the Petronas Twin Towers were built. I enjoyed the show.

At the same time, online, chat and blogged. Suddenly decided want to cut my hair since it is already long and today is the only day I will be free.

Mum suggested I go to Avenue K where there is this 10 mintunes haircut for only RM13. So I decided to give it a try.

While on the way to the Pandan Indah LRT station at 4.45pm, saw one man sitting by the big longkang...FISHING!

Got down at the KLCC station, headed to the barber shop, called EC Cut. There were no customers inside. A lady barber helped to cut my hair. I don't mind if she take more than 10 minutes to cut my hair, as long as my hair looks fine. After the haircut she gave me to keep the comb that she used for my haircut.

Before the haircut

After that walked in KLCC, joined the crowd, looked at stuff etc. Bought breads from Delifrance. 3 pieces for only RM5! Then went into Isetan. Discounts could be seen everywhere. 10%, 20%, 50%...
So I bought myself a Wrangler jeans. From RM99 -> RM49.50. Fifty percent less!! Wanted to get the Lee Cooper but tat one costs RM15 more.
Before going back, bought a copy of KLue magazine at the newstand. Kenny Sia is in it!

When reached Pandan Indah station at 7.15pm, I still could see that guy sitting by the drain waiting for the fish to be hooked.

Last but not least, my new haircut!

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Suprise! ;)

Uni Interview + Test

PREVIOUSLY I chose University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)'s Bachelor Degree of Architecture as the first choice for my local university course.

A week ago I received a letter from (UTM), asking me to go for an interview and a test on yesterday.

So took a day leave from work yesterday (Wed). Although I did not have to go to the office but yet I had to wake up earlier than I usually do.

Went to school in the morning to meet up with Tan Choon Wah. He also received the same letter as I did. Both of us got our drawings (we have to show our art works during the interview) certified by Mr Wong, our MBS school principal. We also saw Chin and Gilbert in the school.

Actually we were not suppose to get this thing done on the very last minute. However Mr Wong is a nice guy. He spent his time on us despite that he had a meeting with the teachers on that time.

After that Choon Wah's dad fetched us to UTM (KL Campus, not Johor!) and we reached there at 8am.

We walked around the university compund. Well, abit dissapointed to see that some of the area were not up to the standard from what I had in mind. Many students were doing revision and discussion on the park. Looked like they were going to have their exam.

Anyway, then we went to the waiting area outside Dewan Jumaah and when it reached 8.30am, a guy came and asked all the candidates (27 of us: 20 malays, 7 chinese) to enter the hall.

Test papers were already on the table when we walked in the hall. We took our seats and then starter the one hour test. Basically the questions required us to draw stuffs like perspective, shadow etc. There were also some question about art and design.

During the test I noticed that there were only two lefthander and they were also the ONLY chinese guys in the hall: Choon Wah and I.

After the test it was the interviewing session! The candidates were called out by their names in alphabetical order.

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And my surname is Tan. I was the last 7th -_-"

While waiting for our turn, Choon Wah showed me his wonderful piece of art! His drawings were almost like REAL! As if it was printed out from a high quality printer. It will be big a waste if he doesn't get selected for the course.

Choon Wah's drawing

My drawing

Haha. Just kidding. This is mine actually.

After waiting for about two and a half hours after the test, they finally called me in for the interview.

During the interview there was a guy and a lady. Basically they just looked at my drawings and certs. Then asked me some basic questions like why do I choose architecture, what are my hobbies, which architect I admire the most etc etc.

Before the interview, I heard from others that they asked them IQ questions. Eg, how a blind can tell the time without touching and hearing. Stuff like that.

The interview didn't take me for long compares to the others. Feeling abit worried. Either I totally do not have the potential at all or, I am too perfect already. =p

After everything was over, Choon Wah and I waited outside the UTM entrance to wait for his dad. His dad fetched me to KLCC and then fetched him back home.

Met up with Sharon, Wai Luen, Collins and Gilbert outside Maxis Tower and went for lunch at Wisma Central. However Collins did not join us as he was feeling sick. He went to eat vegetarian food on other place.

All of a sudden while eating...I had gastric! DAMN!!!

After the lunch we went to Maxis Center to lepak for awhile until their lunch break finished. Trying to tahan my pain in the stomach. Later went up to office (hoping not to bump with my supervisor) to collect my earphone that I left there a day before and refilled my water bottle before going back home.

It rained so heavily when I reached Pandan Indah station. Couldn't walked home although I had an umbrella. So had to wait until the thunderstorms stop and the rain wasn't so heavy.

Pandan Indah Swimming Pool LRT Station

NO DIFFERENCE! By the time I reached my doorstep, my leather shoe already soaked with water and my hair, shirt, pants was half wet. Blame the holes on my umbrella and the flood on the road!!!! Bloody... *&^%$#@!

Dried myself up and took a 3 hours nap. My stomach was still paining! =/

At night after dinner, followed my parents to the Tmn Connaught pasar malam. It claims to be the country's longest night market. It was my parents' first time and my 2nd time there.
Back at 11 something. Ate some supper that we bought. Then went to sleep.