Go KL City Bus Blue Line

Twenty Minutes at the Petronas Twin Tower

2 February 20235 February 2023travelingpersecond

Time show is at half past twelve….

I stood on the edge of Bukit Bintang Street waiting for the Go KL City Bus-Green Line to arrive. That time I intended to revisit the Petronas Twin Tower. That would be the fifth visit to the famous twin towers.

“Do you bore, Donny?”, is a question that might arise.

“It’s not a matter of being bored or not, I have to fulfill a sponsor’s message at that famous spot”, maybe that would be my answer.

Go KL City Bus physically had the same color on each lane. Therefore I was always alert if the bus started to look slow in the distance. I had to quickly catch the path information printed on the LCD screen mounted right on the top of the windshield. The Go KL City Bus had come from other routes twice, it was understandable that the Pavilion bus stop was a stop where three Go KL City Bus lines passed, namely the Purple Line, Blue Line, and Green Line.

After ten minutes of waiting, it was clear at the end of the road, a Go KL City Bus unit was trying to approach the bus stop by breaking through the traffic jam. I just wished it was a green line bus. Getting closer, the writing on the LCD screen was visible, it was indeed Go KL City, Bus-Green Line. So get ready to get in it.

I got on it from the front door as soon as the bus finished dropping off some of the passengers. The number of passengers who entered made me not got a seat, and had to stand in the middle.

From the Bukit Bintang area, the bus moved towards the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) area. But before arriving at the destination, the bus would first turn from the south side and then turned towards the north side. I arrived right at the KLCC bus stop which was on the edge of Ampang Street.

I came down from the middle door….

The immediately visible sight was the existence of the giant legs of the Petronas Twin Tower which felt so close. Not lingering, I rushed to the courtyard of that giant twin buildings.

Shady pedestrian pathway in front of the Petronas Twin Tower.

*Petronas Twin Tower from the other side.*

The heat of the sun had forced me to find a place sheltered by trees. I found that place on the pedestrian walkway on the right side of the tower. From that point of view, I also started completing sponsorship messages, namely sponsors who at least helped pay for my trip at that time.

Visiting the 88-floor twin buildings always invited admiration, how could it not be, for six years that twin buildings have claimed themselves as the tallest buildings in the world? At least that had made Malaysia proud in the world economic arena.

The twin towers owned by a giant property company, namely KLCC Property Holdings, appear green when observed closely. Another feature that was easy to remember was the existence of a sky bridge that connected the two towers on floors 41 and 42.

That time, my stop-by time at the twin towers took place quickly, no more than twenty minutes. Therefore I tried to enjoy it by paying attention to the scenery around the tower area. Let’s see, what were the spots around the Petronas Twin Towers. Here it was:

Public Bank was right opposite in front of Petronas Twin Tower.

From right to left: Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN/National Savings Bank) Building, Menara TA One (37 floors of offices), and Prestige Tower (40 floors of offices).

Tropicana The Residences (apartment with a rental price of 2,500 Ringgit per month).

I wished my adventure at the Petronas Twin Towers had ended with the finishing of a sponsor’s message. I would not sit longer in the courtyard of the twin towers.

Then I stepped into the expanse of Green Open Space which was located right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of business activities taking place in Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

Came on…..

Next Story—->

Stucking in the Lion Dance at Bukit Bintang

1 February 20235 February 2023travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

A quarter past ten….

I decided to leave the courtyard of KL Tower. My feet stepped following the contours of the road winding down the hill. A quarter of an hour later I was at the south end of Puncak Street, right where it intersects with P. Ramlee Street.

Standing on a sidewalk, I was still thinking, “Should it be better to reach THE WELD bus stop to go to Bukit Bintang?”.

But as soon as my feet stepped, a Go KL City Bus Blue Line quickly passed in front of me and then stopped a hundred meters north to get on and off passengers. I quickly decided, “There’s nothing wrong with going around the city using the Go KL City Bus-Blue Line, that way I can explore the north side of the city before arriving at Bukit Bintang.”

Stepped my feet towards the bus stop and in five minutes I arrived. This was the Menara Hap Seng bus stop, one of the stops where the Go KL City Bus-Blue Line stops. Meanwhile, the Menara Hap Seng (Hap Seng Tower) is a 22-story office building right across from the bus stop.

Hap Seng Tower bus stop with sponsor advertising of MSIG (a well-known insurance brand from Japan).

Shortly thereafter, the bus arrived and I boarded it from the front door. I was getting ready to explore the north of the city using this free bus. Thanks to the bus services, I finally had the opportunity to explore the streets in the Bukit Nanas and Dang Wangi areas to then arrived at the Terminal Transit Antar Bandar (IUTT/Inter-city Transit Terminal) – Tun Razak Street.

This is the Hub Terminal for Go KL City Bus-Blue Line located in the Titiwangsa area. The bus I was on apparently had to stop for a while and the driver directed me to move to the front bus which was ready to depart along the Blue Line route.

I got off and changed to the Go KL City-Bus Blue Line at the forefront which was already on standby by starting the engine and filling every seat with passengers. Luckily there was still a seat available for me. Shortly after I got on, the bus slowly left IUTT Terminal – Tun Razak Street.

Now the bus was headed south along the streets in the Kampung Baru area and after that, the bus started to enter the area I was headed for, namely the Bukit Bintang area. I was familiar with the streets in this area because that was the fourth time I have been to that famous shopping and entertainment center in Kuala Lumpur.

As expected, the bus slowly started to stagnate in the traffic jam. While I began to shift to a bench near the door. I would get off at the Pavilion bus stop. The pavilion itself is a shopping center integrated with office buildings, apartments, and hotels. Consistent pushing through traffic jams, the Go KL City Bus finally arrived at the place I was going.

I descended from it and rushed across Bukit Bintang Street to arrive at the Pavilion’s courtyard.

There was something very different, if usually this courtyard was enlivened by mall visitors passing by, now the crowd had turned into a lion dance stage. Apparently at that time “The World Dragon & Lion Dance Extravaganza” was taking place. Unmitigatedly, the event was attended by YB Tuan Haji Khalid Bin Abdul Samad, the Minister of Federal Territories of Malaysia….The show was a big event and I was thankful that I was accidentally able to enjoy the show.

That day, the courtyard of the Pavilion was red with the typical ethnic Chinese colors, which were also the typical colors of the lion dance. Many members of the performing troupe busied around the Pavilion preparing to take the stage.

The child was very strong standing for a long time on a pillar.

The excitement of the audience mingled with the performers.

Seeing the show through the camera lens.

Meanwhile, the rhythm of the drum beat being played by one of the groups made anyone’s adrenaline go up when they hear it. I, who had been curious, could never push forward to the front. The front area was already filled with spectators who must have arrived earlier.

I, who could not watch the show with my own eyes, could only raise my camera high and recorded the show so that later I could replay the show from the camera screen.

After half an hour I tried to enjoy the show. Time slowly crept towards twelve o’clock as the air raised its temperature.

Unable to stand under the scorching sun, I went back to the Pavilion bus stop.

I went……

Next Story—->

Dua Puluh Menit di Petronas Twin Tower

21 September 202125 September 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Setengah dua belas….

Aku berdiri di tepian Jalan Bukit Bintang demi menunggu kehadiran Go KL City Bus Green Line. Kali ini aku berniat mengunjungi kembali Petronas Twin Tower. Ini akan menjadi kunjungan yang kelima di menara kembar kenamaan tersebut.

“Ga bosan apa, Donny?”, pertanyaan yang mungkin saja muncul.

“Bukan perkara bosan atau tidak, aku harus memenuhi sebuah pesan sponsor di spot terkenal itu”, mungkin itulah yang akan menjadi jawabanku.

Go KL City Bus secara fisik memiliki warna yang sama di setiap jalurnya. Oleh karenanya aku selalu waspada jika bus tersebut mulai tampak lamat di kejauhan. Aku harus segera menangkap informasi jalur yang tertera pada layar LCD yang dipasang tepat di kaca depan bagian atas. Sudah dua kali Go KL City Bus yang datang berasal dari jalur lain, maklum halte bus Pavilion adalah pemberhentian yang dilewati oleh tiga jalur Go KL City Bus, yaitu Purple Line, Blue Line dan Green Line.

Setelah sepuluh menit menunggu, tampak jelas di ujung jalan sana, satu unit Go KL City Bus yang berusaha mendekati halte dengan menembus kemacetan. Aku hanya berharap itu adalah bus jalur hijau. Semakin mendekat, tulisan di layar LCD jelas terlihat, itu memang Go KL City Bus Green Line. Maka bersiaplah diriku untuk menaikinya.

Aku menaikinya dari pintu depan begitu bus selesai menurunkan sebagian penumpang. Banyaknya penumpang yang masuk, membuatku tak kebagian tempat duduk dan harus berdiri di bagian tengah.

Dari kawasan Bukit Bimtang, bus bergerak menuju Kawasan Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). Tetapi sebelum sampai di tujuan, bus memutar dahulu dari sisi selatan untuk kemudian berbelok arah melewati sisi utara. Aku tiba tepat di halte bus KLCC yang berada di tepian Jalan Ampang.

Aku turun dari pintu tengah….

Pemandangan yang langsung tertampak adalah keberadaan kaki-kaki raksasa Petronas Twin Tower yang terasa begitu dekat. Tak berlama-lama, aku bergegas melangkah ke pelataran gedung kembar raksasa itu.

Jalur pejalan kaki yang rindang di depan *Petronas Twin Tower*.

Teriknya matahari telah memaksaku untuk mencari tempat yang terlindung oleh pepohonan. Aku menemukan tempat itu di jalur pejalan kaki sisi kanan menara. Dari sisi itu pula aku mulai menuntaskan pesan-pesan sponsor, yaitu sponsor yang setidaknya ikut membantu biaya perjalananku kali ini.

Mengunjungi gedung kembar 88 lantai itu selalu saja mengundang decak kagum, bagaimana tidak, enam tahun lamanya gedung kembar ini pernah menasbihkan diri sebagai bangunan tertinggi di dunia. Setidaknya hal tersebut telah membanggakan Negeri Jiran dalam percaturan ekonomi dunia.

Menara kembar yang dimiliki oleh perusahaan property raksasa, yaitu KLCC Property Holdings tampak kehijauan jika diamati dengan seksama. Ciri khas lain yang mudah diingat adalah keberadaan sky bridge yang menghubungkan kedua menara di lantai 41 dan 42.

Kali ini, singgah di menara kembar ini berlangsung dengan cepat, tak lebih dari dua puluh menit. Oleh karenanya aku berusaha menikmatinya dengan memperhatikan pemandangan di sekitar area menara. Yuk kita lihat, ada spot apa saja di sekitar Petronas Twin Tower. Ini dia:

*Public Bank* tepat berseberangan di depan *Petronas Twin Tower*.

Dari kanan ke kiri: Gedung Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), *Menara TA One* (perkantoran 37 lantai) dan *Menara Prestige* (perkantoran 40 lantai).

*Tropicana The Residences* (apartemen dengan harga sewa 2.500 Ringgit per bulan).

Sekiranya petualanganku di Petronas Twin Tower telah usai dengan tersampaikannya pesan sponsor. Aku tak akan duduk lebih lama di pelataran menara kembar tersebut.

Kini aku melangkah menuju hamparan Ruang Terbuka Hijau yang berlokasi tepat di tengah hiruk pikuk aktivitas bisnis yang berlangsung di Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

Yukkkzzz…..

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Terjebak Barongsai di Bukit Bintang

19 September 202131 January 2023travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Lewat seperempat dari pukul sepuluh….

Kuputuskan meninggalkan pelataran KL Tower. Kakiku melangkah mengikuti kontur jalanan yang meliak-liuk menuruni bukit. Seperempat jam kemudian aku sudah berada di pangkal selatan Jalan Puncak, tepat berpotongan dengan Jalan P. Ramlee.

Berdiri di sebuah trotoar, aku masih berfikir, “Apakah baiknya menuju ke halte bus THE WELD untuk menuju Bukit Bintang?”.

Tetapi baru saja kaki melangkah, sebuah Go KL City Bus Blue Line melintas cepat di depanku untuk kemudian berhenti seratus meter di utara demi menaik turunkan penumpang. Aku cepat memutuskan, “Tak ada salahnya berkeliling kota menggunakan jalur biru, dengan begitu aku bisa menjelajah sisi utara kota sebelum tiba di Bukit Bintang”

Melangkahlah kakiku menuju halte bus itu dan dalam lima menit aku sampai. Inilah halte bus Menara Hap Seng, salah satu halte yang menjadi pemberhentian Go KL City Bus Blue Line. Sedangkan Menara Hap Seng sendiri adalah sebuah gedung perkantoran 22 lantai yang terletak persis di seberang halte.

Halte bus Menara Hap Seng dengan sponsor MSIG (brand asuransi kenamaan asal Jepang).

Tak lama kemudian, bus tiba dan aku menaikinya dari pintu depan. Aku sudah bersiap menjelajah utara kota menggunakan bus gratisan ini. Atas jasa bus tersebut, akhirnya aku berkesempatan menjelajah jalanan di daerah Bukit Nanas dan Dang Wangi untuk kemudian tiba di Terminal Transit Antar Bandar (IUTT) Terminal Jalan Tun Razak.

Ini adalah Terminal Hub untuk Go KL City Bus Blue Line yang terletak di daerah Titiwangsa. Bus yang kunaiki rupanya harus beristirahat sejenak dan aku diarahkan pengemudi untuk berpindah ke bus depan yang sudah siap berangkat untuk menyusuri rute Blue Line.

Aku pun turun dan berpindah ke Go KL City Bus Blue Line terdepan yang sudah standby dengan melangsamkan mesin dan memenuhi setiap bangku dengan penumpang. Beruntung masih tersedia bangku untukku. Tak lama setelah aku naik, bus pun perlahan berjalan meninggalkan IUTT Terminal Jalan Tun Razak.

Kini bus menuju selatan menyusuri jalanan di daerah Kampung Baru dan setelahnya bus mulai memasuki daerah yang kutuju, yaitu kawasan Bukit Bintang. Aku sudah familiar dengan jalanan di kawasan ini karena ini adalah kali keempat aku berada di pusat perbelanjaan dan hiburan terkenal di Kuala Lumpur tersebut.

Sesuai dugaan, bus perlahan mulai tersendat di kemacetan. Sementara aku mulai bergeser ke bangku dekat pintu. Aku akan turun di halte bus Pavilion. Pavilion sendiri adalah pusat perbelanjaan yang terintegrasi dengan gedung perkantoran, apartemen dan hotel. Konsisten merangsek di kemacetan, Go KL City Bus pun akhirnya tiba di tempat yang kutuju.

Aku menuruninya dan bergegas menyeberangi Jalan Bukit Bintang untuk kemudian tiba di pelataran Pavilion.

Ada sesuatu yang sangat berbeda, jika biasanya pelataran ini diramaikan oleh lalu lalang para pengunjung mall, kini keramaian itu berubah menjadi sebuah panggung pertunjukan barongsai. Rupanya saat itu sedang berlangsung event World Dragon & Lion Dance Extravaganza. Tak tanggung-tanggung, acara itu ternyata dihadiri oleh YB Tuan Haji Khalid Bin Abdul Samad, Sang Minister of Federal Territories Negeri Jiran….Rupanya pertunjukan itu adalah acara besar dan aku bersyukur secara tak sengaja bisa menikmati pertunjukan tersebut.

Hari itu, pelataran Pavilion dimerahkan dengan warna khas etnis Tionghoa yang juga menjadi warna khas dari barongsai. Banyak anggota kelompok pertunjukan sibuk di sekitar Pavilion demi mempersiapkan diri untuk tampil di panggung.

Anak itu kuat sekali berdiri berlama-lama pada sebuah tiang.

Kemeriahan penonton yang berbaur dengan para penampil.

Sementara itu irama tabuhan gendang yang sedang dimainkan salah satu kelompok membuat adrenalin siapapun akan naik jika mendengarnya. Aku yang sedari tadi merasa penasaran, tak kunjung bisa merangsek ke bagian depan. Area depan sudah dipenuhi para penonton yang pastinya sudah tiba sedari awal.

Aku yang tak bisa menyaksikan pertunjukan dengan mata kepala secara langsung hanya bisa mengangkat kamera tinggi-tinggi dan merekam pertunjukan itu, sehingga nantinya aku bisa menikmati ulang pertunjukan tersebut dari layar kamera.

Lewat setengah jam aku berusaha menikmati pertunjukan. Sementara udara semakin menaikkan suhunya, waktu merambat pelan menuju pukul dua belas.

Tak tahan dengan sengatan matahari, aku pun memutuskan undur diri dan kembali melangkah menuju halte bus Pavilion.

Aku pergi……

Kisah Selanjutnya—->