Go KL City Bus Green Line

Heading to KLIA2 from KL Sentral

26 April 2023travelingpersecond

It would take a little longer to take a free service to the inn than riding the LRT “Laluan Kelana Jaya”. But in order to get around for the lack of Ringgit, I still decided to just take the free service of Go KL City Bus.

Hurrying to leave KLCC Park, I headed towards the KLCC bus stop which is located right in front of Suria KLCC. Arriving under the bus stop auspices, the green line of the “Free Bus Service” had been waiting for its passengers.

I rode it to reach the interchange point between lines, namely the Pavilion bus stop. From there I would catch the Go KL City Bus purple line to reach the Pasar Seni Bus Hub, the closest bus stop to my accommodation, namely The Bed Station.

—-****—-

Cheating underhandedly, I stepped up The Bed Station stairs, hoping not to be spotted by the receptionist when I crossed the inn’s front door. It was because I had checked out that morning, but that time, I forced myself to take a shower in the inn’s shared bathroom on the 3rd floor.

I made it through the reception room on the 2nd floor, at a glance I saw the reception staff were busy serving the inn’s guests who seemed to only just be arriving, indeed I arrived when the check-in period had opened.

Quickly moving, I immediately took a shower to clean all the sweat after walking around town that morning.

As soon as I finished bathing, I immediately went down to the reception desk to pick up the backpack I had left since morning.

The long queue at the reception desk made me invisible when I just came down from the top floor which wasn’t my right to enter it again, let alone to do any activity on that floor….Damn, Donny.

—-****—-

Succeeding to get a backpack, I rushed to Pasar Seni LRT Station which is only 200 meters from the inn.

When I arrived, I rushed to the automatic vending machine to exchange 1.3 Ringgit for a round blue token. That token would guarantee me to move toward KL Sentral.

The LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya with four wagons arrived to pick me up on the second-floor platform, and then I was following its spinning wheels heading to KL Sentral, which wasn’t even one station apart.

Within 15 minutes, I arrived at KL Sentral….

Down the escalator, I arrived at the first floor, and without long thinking, I immediately rushed to the basement level. I had an advantage in that I memorized the whole layout of KL Sentral, at least I had visited that famous transportation hub seven times. That was what made that so easy for me to reach the Aerobus ticket sales counter.

Aerobus is transportation from KL Sentral to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) which offers cheap travel when compared to using taxis, the KLIA Transit train, or the KLIA Ekspres.

I handed over 12 Ringgit to get a ticket to the airport.

—-****—-

A quarter of an hour past four in the afternoon….

After traveling for 45 minutes, I arrived at the 1st floor of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. I was dropped off at one of the platforms at the transportation hub at Gateway@klia2.

Even though my flight would take place at nine in the evening, that didn’t stop me from going straight to the 3rd floor to see more detailed flight information. As usual, I was always detailed and strict about flight schedules, at least that afternoon I had to find out the number of the check-in desk I would exchange my e-ticket for a boarding pass and at what gate my plane would take off.

I couldn’t hide a slight smile from my lips when I managed to get that information on the giant LCD on the 3rd floor.

“17:20, it turns out….”, I thought when I found out when the check-in desk would open.

I decided to do the last congregational prayer in the mosque on the 2nd floor and of course, planned to have dinner afterwards.

Not as usual when I was looking for food at KLIA2. That afternoon the regular restaurant serving cheap Indian food was closing. Was NZ Curry House whose location was covered by renovation boards.

But I don’t bother….

In 2015, I ate at a food court located on the 2M floor. I slightly forgot the position of the food court. But I intended to look for it until I found it. There was a padang-typical restaurant that offers cheap food in the food court.

“That’s it….”, I cheered inside when I saw the food court from a distance.

“Quizinn by RASA….”, I recited the name of that food court.

“Restoran Padang Kota Group….”, yupzzz I saw the restaurant I was looking for.

Presumably not able to linger, I headed for the Padang-typical restaurant and then looked for a menu according to the condition of my wallet. That was when my Ringgit would run out.

Fifteen minutes before checked-in, I was finally able to enjoy a portion of rice for 5.9 Ringgit. That was the rice I ate after I last ate it a day before.

So, that was Quizinn by RASA food court.

My menu that night: White rice, hard-boiled eggs, and vegetables.

Taking a seat, I enjoyed the dinner and then got ready to take my flight.

Was I going home?….

No….The real adventure was about to begin.

I would fly to a city in southern India….KOCHI.

Twenty Minutes at the Petronas Twin Tower

2 February 20235 February 2023travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

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—->

Menuju KLIA2 dari KL Sentral

27 September 20212 October 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Akan sedikit lebih lama menempuh jalur gratis menuju penginapan dibandingkan menunggangi LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya. Tetapi demi menebus ketiadaan Ringgit, aku memutuskan untuk mengeteng saja dan memanfaatkan jasa Go KL City Bus.

Bergegas meninggalkan KLCC Park, aku melangkah menuju halte bus KLCC yang terletak tepat di depan Suria KLCC. Tiba di bawah naungan halte, deretan armada “Perkhidmatan Bas Percuma^*1⁾” jalur hijau telah menunggu para penumpangnya.

Aku menunggangnya untuk menggapai titik pertukaran antar jalur, yaitu halte bus Pavilion. Dari situlah aku akan menangkap Go KL City Bus jalur ungu demi menggapai Pasar Seni Bus Hub, halte bus terdekat dari penginapanku, yaitu The Bed Station.

—-****—-

Mengendap-endap curang, aku menaiki tangga The Bed Station dengan penuh harap tak terpergok resepsionis ketika melintas di depan pintunya. Itu karena aku sudah men-check out masa inapku tadi pagi, tetapi kali ini, aku memaksakan diri untuk mandi di kamar mandi bersama lantai 3.

Aku sukses melewati ruang resepsionis di lantai 2, sekelebat kulihat staff resepsionis itu sedang sibuk melayani tamu-tamu penginapan yang tampak berdatangan, memang aku tiba ketika masa-masa check-in telah dibuka.

Bergerak cepat, aku segera mandi untuk meluruhkan segenap keringat setelah sedari pagi tadi berkeliling kota.

Begitu selesai berbasuh, aku segera turun ke meja reception untuk mengambil backpack yang telah kuititipkan sedari pagi.

Penuhnya antrian di meja resepsionis membuatku tak terlihat ketika baru turun dari lantai atas yang sebetulnya sudah bukan menjadi hak bagiku untuk menaikinya lagi, apalagi untuk beraktivitas apapun di lantai itu….Dasar, Donny.

—-****—-

Berhasil mendapatkan backpack, aku bergegas melangkah menuju Stasiun LRT Pasar Seni yang berjarak hanya 200 meter dari penginapan.

Begitu tiba, aku bergegas menuju automatic vending machine untuk bertukar 1,3 Ringgit dengan token bulat berwarna biru. Token itulah yang akan menggaransiku untuk bisa berpindah menuju KL Sentral.

LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya bergerbong empat tiba menjemputku di platform lantai dua, untuk kemudian aku larut dalam putaran roda kereta menuju KL Sentral yang jaraknya tak berselang satu stasiun pun.

Dalam 15 menit, aku tiba di KL Sentral….

Menuruni escalator aku tiba di lantai satu dan tanpa berfikir panjang segera bergegas menuju basement level. Aku punya satu keuntungan bahwa segenap denah KL Sentral telah kuhafal di luar kepala, setidaknya sudah tujuh kali aku menyambangi transportation hub kenamaan Negeri Jiran tersebut. Hal itulah yang membuatku dengan mudah menggapai konter penjualan tiket Aerobus.

Aerobus adalah transportasi dari KL Sentral ke Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) yang menawarkan perjalan murah jika dibandingkan menggunakan taksi, kereta KLIA Transit ataupun KLIA Ekspres.

Aku menyerahkan 12 Ringgit untuk mendapatkan selembar tiket menuju bandara.

—-****—-

Seperempat jam lewat dari pukul empat sore….

Setelah menempuh perjalanan 45 menit, aku tiba di lantai 1 Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. Aku diturunkan di salah satu platform di transportation hub di Gateway@klia2..

Walaupun penerbanganku akan berlangsung pukul sembilan malam, hal itu tak menyurutkan langkahku untuk segera menuju lantai 3 untuk melihat informasi penerbangan lebih detail. Seperti biasa, aku selalu detail dan strict perihal jadwal terbang, setidaknya sore itu aku harus mengetahui di check-in desk nomor berapa aku akan menukar e-ticket dengan boarding pass serta di gate berapa pesawatku akan di lepas.

Senyum tipis tak bisa kusembunyikan dari bibir ketika aku berhasil mendapatkan informasi itu di LCD raksasa lantai 3.

“Jam 17:20, ternyata….”, aku membatin ketika mengetahui kapan check-in desk akan dibuka.

Aku memutuskan untuk melakukan shalat jamak takhir di surau lantai 2 dan tentu berencana mencari makan malam setelahnya.

Tak seperti biasanya ketika aku mencari makan di KLIA2. Sore itu restoran langganan yang menyajikan makanan murah khas India sedang tutup. Adalah NZ Curry House yang lokasinya tertutp oleh papan-papan renovasi..

Tapi aku tak ambil pusing….

Pada 2015, aku pernah makan di sebuah food court yang berlokasi di lantai 2M. Aku sedikit lupa posisi food court itu. Tapi aku berniat mencarinya hingga ketemu. Ada restoran ala padang yang menawarkan makanan murah di food court tersebut.

“Itu dia….”, aku bersorak dalam hati ketika melihat food court itu dari kejauhan.

“Quizinn by RASA….”, aku melafal nama medan selera^*2) tersebut.

“Restoran Padang Kota Group….”, yupzzz aku melihat restoran yang kucari.

Kiranya tak bisa berlama-lama, aku menuju restoran ala padang itu kemudian mencari menu sesuai dengan kondisi dompet. Inilah saat dimana Ringgitku akan habis.

Lima belas menit sebelum check-in akhirnya aku bisa menikmati seporsi nasi seharga 5,9 Ringgit. Inilah nasi yang kumakan setelah terakhir aku memakannya kemarin siang.

Pemandangan dari Gateway@klia2 Lantai 2M.

Nah, itu dia Quizinn by RASA *food court*.

Menuku malam itu: Nasi putih, telur rebus kandar dan sayuran.

Mengambil sebuah tempat duduk, aku menikmati makan malam itu dengan khusyu’ untuk kemudian bersiap diri melakukan penerbangan lagi.

Apakah aku akan pulang?….

Tidak….Justru petualangan sesungguhnya baru akan dimulai.

Aku akan terbang menuju sebuah kota di selatan India….KOCHI.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Keterangan kata:

Perkhidmatan Bas Percuma^*1= Layanan Bus Gratis

Medan Selera^*1)= food court.

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—->