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).
Interior of Go KL City Bus-Blue Line.
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.
Little 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.
All night my sleep was interrupted by the snoring of a guest who was fast asleep to the right of my bed. Not only myself, but I could also feel the protests of a guest who slept right under a snoring guest’s bunk bed. Over and over again I could feel him hitting the bottom of the bunk bed where a snoring guest was sleeping. Maybe he felt the same way. Upset….Because he couldn’t sleep well.
Feeling unwell, I decided to just wash my body under the hot shower in the shared bathroom. A splash of warm water could at least relax every inch of my body which wasn’t one hundred percent fresh that morning.
That morning, I had to pack all the equipment back into my backpack and then leave it at the reception desk. My stay ended at noon and at that time, I was still downtown.
After taking a shower and tidying up my backpack, I headed to the reception to check out, returned the locker key, and took the deposit. Luckily, the reception staff from Egypt was already at his desk making it easier for me to speed up the process because I had to catch the Go KL City Bus departure as early as possible.
My backpack had been neatly stored and I rushed down the stairs to get out of the inn. Once outside, I immediately looked for a seat on the terrace of shops that were still closed for breakfast. Breakfast this time was still the same as last night’s dinner menu….Yup, I could still rely on oat powder. To be honest, I already ran out of Ringgit that morning, I only had Ringgit left to take the airport bus this afternoon and have a modest dinner at KLIA2.
From this, it could be concluded that I would go around the city without spending even the slightest bit of money….Yes, I would never spend it.
Luckily, the streets were still quiet. This situation certainly reduced the burden of embarrassment when I had to sip spoon after spoonful of oat powder wet with a splash of mineral water.
Thank God breakfast was over….The adventure began.
I headed to the Pasar Seni Bus Hub to look for the Go KL City Bus Purple Line. The free purple line bus would take me to the KL Tower complex.
KL Tower is a telecommunication transmitter tower, broadcasting tower, altitude culinary tour, and city viewpoint from above.
From a distance, I saw clearly that the bus was already in position. So as soon as I arrived at the platform, I just got on it from the front door. Only a few passengers were already occupying the seats. This was what makes me have to wait about ten minutes….At least to fill the empty seats with passengers who were slowly arriving.
At eight in the morning, the Go KL City Bus Purple Line finally departed….
While sitting, I thought that KL Tower was a tall building, so I just relaxed. Of course, I only needed to stop at any bus stop near the KL Tower building which would be visible from a distance because it was so high.
The Go KL City Bus slowly ran in Sultan Street to leave the Pasar Seni area. As soon as I arrive along Raja Chulan Street, KL Tower was visible from the bus window. I just needed to make sure when to get off at the nearest bus stop. Several times the Go KL City Bus stopped at the bus stop, but I still couldn’t get off. I still hoped that the bus would stop at a shelter that was closer to KL Tower.
That was the bus with free service.
The interior was nice and clean of course.
There was an exception, instead of getting closer, the Go KL City Bus was getting farther and farther away from KL Tower. “Ahhhh, damn….I’d gone too far and instead of slowing down the bus was getting faster and faster”, I leaned against the bus window. Due to that stupidity, I just gave up following where the Go KL City Bus went. I decided to return to the Pasar Seni and repeated the journey from scratch….Too bad.
After 40 minutes of travel, the Go KL City Bus finally arrived at Pasar Seni.
“Ridiculous….”, I cursed myself.
Now I got off the Go KL City Bus and moved to the bus in the front which was ready to depart. Luckily for me, the Go KL City Bus left immediately when a few seconds earlier I stepped inside.
Now I put on a wary attitude when sitting on one of its seats. I would decide to just get off when I saw that KL Tower could reach within walking distance.
That moment has arrived….
The bus stopped at a bus stop and I jumped down from the middle door.
“THE WELD….”, I read the signboard on a skyscraper that stood right behind the bus stop where I got off.
Now I was on Raja Chulan Street and THE WELD itself is a 26-story office complex located 800 meters east of KL Tower.
From THE WELD, I cut off P. Ramlee street to then took fifty steps into a smaller street, Puncak Street. This was the main road to get to the KL Tower which was built on higher ground.
Panting for a quarter of an hour, finally I arrived at the courtyard of KL Tower. Back in 2014, I had the opportunity to cross this tower when I tried the KL Hop On Hop Off to get around the city. Only, at that time I went down for less than five minutes to see it. This was all because KL Hop On Hop Off rushed to explore the city.
THE WELD….Besides offices, there is also a modern supermarket.
Taking the Peak Road.
That time I would be a little longer in enjoying the charm of this communication tower that wasn’t less than a quarter of a century old. How could I not be happy, when I finally had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a tower whose height was included in the ranks of the ten tallest towers in the world?
The uniqueness that could be seen for the first time was the roof of the basic building which used a series of tapering patterns. My mind then referred to the roof of the Sydney Opera House. Meanwhile, at the upper end between the mast and the antenna, there was a round building that was the center of broadcasting, telecommunication, restaurant, observation deck, and sky deck activities.
As far as I knew, to enjoy the observation deck, visitors must pay 49 Ringgit….While the sky deck tour price reached 99 Ringgit….Woouuooww.
I stepped towards the KL Tower entrance gate to see the activity there up close. Of course, I won’t go up to the top for a tour, it’s too expensive for a visitor like me who just stopped by in Kuala Lumpur.
It wasn’t that crowded, so far only a few European tourists decided to buy tickets and went up to the top of the tower, while I just watched the remnants of the programming competition that was held the day before yesterday. The competition was titled HR Hackathon.
Shifting to the right of the tower, there was another attraction. On that side stood a ticket sales counter for visiting the KL Tower Mini Zoo (KLTMZ). Existing information boards said that KLTMZ contains no less than fifty native and exotic species. And to see these unique species, visitors needed to spend up to 30 Ringgit.
Move again towards the front of the tower. There was a KL Tower F1 Zone which provided a Formula One simulator for the public. Visitors could feel the sensation of driving the land jet by paying 20 Ringgit for six minutes of driving in the simulator. The walls of the KL Tower F1 Zone were bright red, in harmony with the colors of one of the leading racing teams in Formula One’s premier racing event. It’s just that, when I visited KL Tower, the KL Tower F1 Zone was still closed. Maybe I arrived too early.
Oh yes, the KL Tower F1 Zone was also equipped with a Formula One Cafe & Mart…
But just looking at the cafe & mini market from outside for a moment, I saw the arrival of the white KL Hop On Hop Off with the upper deck partly open. Suddenly I ran towards it, it’s been six years since I’ve ever met up close with that tour bus. It turned out that in the courtyard of the tower, there was a KL Hop On Hop Off shelter. No wonder the tour bus stopped to drop off the tourists.
The Entrance gate of KL Tower .
The Ticketing Counter of KL Tower Mini Zoo.
KL Tower F1 Zone.
It was at this spot that I took some pictures of tourists from Surabaya.
Foreign tourists often called it the KL Forest Eco Park.
It didn’t take long to stop, dropping only 5 tourists, the bus stepped on its gas pedal again. But not long after, there was a familiar accent when the five female tourists were talking to each other after getting off the bus. “That’s the Surabaya accent….”, I concluded. I decided to say hello and spoke for a while. I hadn’t met Indonesians for four days, so there was nothing wrong with speaking for a moment. Because of that incident, I knew that the five were female workers who were traveling to Kuala Lumpur. From our conversation too, I knew that they were working in Penang.s
As usual, Indonesians always have their characteristics. They finally asked me to take a photo with the KL Tower as a background.
I? ….Yes, of course, I also asked to be photographed….I was originally from Indonesia….The Republic of Indonesia exactly…Hahaha
I was at the end of a visit to KL Tower. To close this short visit, I entered the front half area of KL Jungle Eco Park. Formerly known as the Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas, it was one of Malaysia’s oldest permanent forest reserves. To enter this forest reserve visitors must be willing to spend 40 Ringgit.
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).
Interior Go KL City Bus Blue Line.
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.
Para penampil cilik.
Melihat pertunjukan lewat lensa kamera.
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.
Semalaman tidurku terinterupsi oleh dengkuran seorang penginap yang terlelap pulas di sebelah kanan ranjang. Tak hanya diriku, aku pun bisa merasakan protes dari seorang penginap yang tidur persis dibawah bunk bed. Berkali-kali aku bisa merasakan, dia menghantam dasar bunk bed yang kutiduri. Mungkin dia merasakan hal yang sama. Kesal….Karena tak bisa tidur dengan nyenyak.
Merasa tak enak badan, kuputuskan saja untuk mengguyur tubuh di bawah shower air hangat di kamar mandi bersama. Guyuran air hangat setidaknya bisa merelaksasi setiap inchi tubuh yang pagi itu sedang tak seratus persen segar.
Pagi itu juga, aku harus mengepack kembali semua perlengkapan ke dalam backpack untuk kemudian harus menitipkannya ke meja resepsionis. Waktu menginapku purna tengah hari nanti dan saat itu pula, aku memastikan diri masih berada di pusat kota.
Usai mandi dan merapikan backpack, menujulah aku ke resepsionis untuk check-out, mengembalikan kunci locker dan mengambil uang deposit. Beruntung, staff resepsionis dari Mesir itu sudah berada di meja kerjanya sehingga memudahkanku untuk menyegerakan proses karena aku harus mengejar pemberangkatan Go KL City Bus sepagi mungkin.
Backpack telah tersimpan rapi dan aku bergegas menuruni anak tangga untuk keluar dari penginapan. Sesampai di luar, aku segera mencari tempat duduk di teras pertokoan yang masih tutup untuk bersarapan. Sarapan kali ini masih saja sama dengan menu dinner semalam….Yups, serbuk oat masih bisa diandalkan. Jujur saja, aku sudah kehabisan Ringgit pagi itu, hanya ada Ringgit tersisa untuk menaiki airport bus sore nanti dan makan malam sekedarnya di KLIA2.
Dari sini bisa diambil kesimpulan bahwa aku akan berkeliling kota tanpa keluar biaya sedikitpun bahkan seringgit sekalipun….Ya, tak akan pernah kukeluarkan.
Beruntung sekali, jalanan masih sepi. Keadaan itu tentu mengurangi beban malu ketika harus menyesap sendok demi sendok bubuk oat yang basah oleh guyuran air mineral.
Aku melangkah menuju ke Pasar Seni Bus Hub untuk mencari keberadaan Go KL City Bus Purple Line. Bus gratis jalur ungu itulah yang akan mengantarkan ke kompleks KL Tower.
KL Tower adalah menara pemancar telekomunikasi , menara penyiaran, wisata kuliner ketinggian dan wisata sudut pandang kota dari atas.
Dari kejauhan, aku melihat jelas bahwa bus itu sudah berada di posisi. Jadi begitu tiba di platform, aku langsung saja menaikinya dari pintu depan. Baru sedikit penumpang yang sudah menduduki bangku. Hal inilah yang membuatku harus menunggu sekitar sepuluh menit….Setidaknya untuk mengisi bangku-bangku kosong dengan penumpang yang perlahan berdatangan.
Pukul delapan pagi, Go KL City Bus Purple Line akhirnya berangkat jua….
Dalam duduk aku berfikiran bahwa KL Tower adalah bangunan yang tinggi, jadi aku merasa santai saja. Tentunya aku hanya perlu berhenti di halte manapun di dekat banguan KL Tower yang akan tampak dari kejauhan saking tingginya.
Go KL City Bus perlahan menyisir Jalan Sultan demi meninggalkan daerah Pasar Seni. Begitu tiba di sepanjang Jalan Raja Chulan, KL Tower sudah terlihat jelas dari kaca bus. Hanya saja aku perlu memastikan kapan harus turun di halte terdekat. Beberapa kali Go KL City Bus berhenti di halte pemberhentiannya, tetapi aku tetap saja bebal tak kunjung turun. Aku masih berharap bahwa bus akan berhenti di halte yang lebih dekat dari KL Tower.
Itu dia bus dengan layanan percuma*1)
Interiornya bagus dan bersih tentunya.
Terjadilah pengecualian, bukannya tambah mendekat, Go KL City Bus semakin lama semakin menjauhi KL Tower. “Ahhhh, sial….aku sudah kebablasan dan bus bukannya melambat tetapi semakin kencang”, aku bersandar lemas di kaca bus. Akibat kebodohan itu, aku hanya pasrah mengikuti kemana Go KL City Bus pergi. Aku memutuskan kembali ke Pasar Seni dan mengulang lagi perjalanan dari nol….Parah.
Dalam perjalanan 40 menit, akhirnya Go KL City Bus tiba kembali di Pasar Seni.
“Konyol….”, aku mengutuk diriku sendiri.
Kini aku turun dari Go KL City Bus dan berpindah ke bus terdepan yang sudah siap berangkat. Beruntungnya diriku, Go KL City Bus langsung berangkat ketika beberapa detik sebelumnya aku melangkah masuk.
Kini aku memasang sikap waspada ketika duduk di salah satu bangku. Aku akan memutuskan untuk langsung turun saja ketika melihat KL Tower bisa dijangkau dengan berjalan kaki.
Pucuk dicinta ulam pun tiba….
Bus berhenti di sebuah halte dan aku pun melompat turun dari pintu tengah.
“THE WELD….”, aku membaca signboard pada sebuah gedung pencakar langit yang berdiri tepat dibelakang halte tempatku turun.
Kini aku berada di Jalan Raja Chulan dan THE WELD sendiri adalah kompleks perkantoran 26 lantai yang berada 800 meter di timur KL Tower.
Dari THE WELD, aku memotong Jalan P. Ramlee untuk kemudian dalam lima puluh langkah masuk ke sebuah jalan yang lebih kecil, bernama Jalan Puncak. Inilah jalan utama untuk menuju KL Tower yang dibangun di tempat yang lebih tinggi.
Terengah-engah selama seperempat jam, akhirnya tiba juga di pelataran KL Tower. Sebetulnya pada tahun 2014 silam, aku berkesempatan melintas di menara ini ketika menjajal KL Hop On Hop Off untuk berkeliling kota. Hanya saja, kala itu aku hanya turun kurang dari lima menit untuk melihatnya. Ini semua karena KL Hop On Hop Off terburu-buru untuk menjelajah kota.
THE WELD….Selain perkantoran, ada pasar swalayan modernnya juga loh.
Meniti Jalan Puncak.
Kali ini aku akan sedikit lebih lama dalam menikmati pesona menara komunikasi yang berusia tak kurang dari seperempat abad itu. Bagaimana tidak bahagia, ketika akhirnya aku berkesempatan menikmati keindahan menara yang ketinggiannya masuk ke dalam jajaran sepuluh menara tertinggi di dunia.
Keunikan yang pertama kali bisa dilihat adalah atap bangunan dasar yang menggunakan deretan pola meruncing, pikiranku lalu merujuk pada runcingan-runcingan atap Sydney Opera House. Sedangkan pada bagian ujung atas antara tiang dan antena terdapat bangunan membulat yang merupakan pusat dari kegiatan broadcasting, telekomunikasi, restoran, observation deck dan sky deck.
Sepengetahuanku untuk menikmati observation deck, pengunjung harus mengeluarkan biaya sebesar 49 Ringgit….Sedangkan harga wisata sky deck mencapai 99 Ringgit….Woouuooww.
Aku melangkah menuju entrance gate KL Tower untuk melihat aktivitas di sana dari dekat. Tentu aku tak akan naik ke atas untuk berwisata, terlalu mahal untuk pengunjung sepertiku yang hanya sekedar singgah saja di Kuala Lumpur.
Tak begitu ramai, sedari tadi hanya beberapa turis Eropa yang memutuskan untuk membeli tiket dan naik ke atas menara, sementara aku hanya mengamati sisa-sisa kegiatan kompetisi pemrograman yang diselenggarakan kemarin lusa. Kompetisi itu bertajuk HR Hackathon.
Bergeser ke kanan menara, ada atraksi lain ternyata. Di sisi itu berdirilah konter penjualan tiket untuk berkunjung ke KL Tower Mini Zoo (KLTMZ). Papan informasi yang ada mengatakan bahwa KLTMZ menyimpan tak kurang dari lima puluh spesies asli dan eksotis. Dan untuk melihat spesies-spesies unik itu maka pengunjung perlu merogoh kocek hingga 30 Ringgit.
Berpindah lagi menuju arah depan menara. Tersedia KL Tower F1 Zone yang menyediakan simulator Formula One untuk umum. Pengunjung bisa merasakan sensai mengendarai jet darat itu dengan membayar sebesar 20 Ringgit untuk enam menit mengemudi di simulator. Dinding KL Tower F1 Zone ini berwarna merah menyala, menyeleraskan diri dengan warna salah satu tim balap terkemuka di ajang balapan premier Formula One. Hanya saja, saat aku mengunjungi KL Tower, KL Tower F1 Zone itu masih tutup. Mungkin aku tiba terlalu pagi.
Oh ya, KL Tower F1 Zone ini juga dilengkapi dengan Formula One Cafe & Mart loh….
Tetapi baru sejenak melihat seisi cafe & minimarket dari luar ruangan, aku melihat kedatangan KL Hop On Hop Off warna putih dengan deck atas sebagian yang terbuka. Sontak aku berlari menujunya, sudah enam tahun lamanya aku tak pernah bersua dari dekat dengan bus wisata itu. Ternyata di pelataran menara terdapat shelter KL Hop On Hop Off. Pantas saja bus wisata itu berhenti untuk menurunkan para wisatawan.
Entrance gate KL Tower.
Ticketing Counter KL Tower Mini Zoo.
KL Tower F1 Zone.
Di spot inilah rombongan Surabayan itu aku foto.
Wisatawan asing sering meyebutnya dengan KL Forest Eco Park.
Tak lama berhenti, hanya menurunkan 5 wisatawan, bus itu tancap gas kembali. Tetapi tak lama kemudian, ada sebuah logat yang tak asing di telinga ketika kelima wisatawan wanita itu saling bercakap usai menuruni bus. “Itu logat Surabaya….”, aku menyimpulkan. Aku memutuskan diri untuk menyapa dan bercakap sejenak. Sudah empat hari lamanya aku tak bersua dengan orang Indonesia, tak ada salahnya untuk berbincang sejenak. Atas peristiwa itu, aku tahu bahwa kelimanya adalah Tenaga Kerja Wanita yang sedang berwisata ke Kuala Lumpur. Dari percakapan kami pula, aku tahu bahwa mereka sedang bekerja di Penang.
Seperti biasa, orang Indonesia selalu memiliki ciri yang khas. Mereka akhirnya memintaku untuk mengambil foto dengan latar KL Tower.
Aku? ….Ya tentulah aku meminta juga untuk dipotret….Kan aku orang asli Indonesia….NKRI harga mati.
Aku sendiri sudah berada di ujung kunjungan ke KL Tower. Untuk menutup kunjungan singkat ini, aku memasuki setengah area depan dari Taman Eko Rimba KL. Dahulu taman ini dikenal dengan sebutan Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas, yang merupakan salah satu cagar hutan permanen tertua di Malaysia. Untuk memasuki cagar hutan ini pengunjung harus rela merogoh kocek sebesar 40 Ringgit.
A flight to Kuala Lumpur, which was barely caught due to race with time along Jakarta-Serang toll road, was added with pale faces due to the bitter interrogation of Malaysian immigration staff because of my inconclusive appearance, then making my heart and spirit go high together with my success first steps to leave the KLIA2 immigration counter.
Guys …. My journey in Kuala Lumpur for first time began. Very happy at that time. My fridge magnet will add to be three. Yes like that, number of fridge magnets in my house shows how many countries I have visited….Later when I have visited 100 countries, I will buy a refrigerator as high as my house ceiling. So I can put all fridge magnets on it….Hahaha.
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The trip that had been planned since 9 months before departure was finally realized. Still couldn’t believe when I really entered this neighbor country. The itinerary which I detailed in three sheets had taken me to the following 24 destinations:
1.KL Sentral
KL Sentral is the first stopover which is often used by travelers before exploring Kuala Lumpur. Yes, most public transportations from KLIA will end here.
KL Sentral was indeed built by Malaysian government as a transit-oriented transportation building. No wonder, this transportation center is never empty of visitors.
Beware, Donny…Your zippers.
For the first time, arriving here on the first day of my journey, at exactly 11:23 hours. I took time to explore Nu Sentral which is a shopping mall which is integrated with this modern building.
2. Batu Caves
The time that was too late to begin my trip to Genting Highlands made me choose this Hindu temple as my next stop. Located in Gombak area which is 15 km north of KL Sentral with a distance of 40 minutes travel time making the yellow statue of “Dewa Murugan” as the favorite icon in Kuala Lumpur after Petronas Twin Tower.
So, if you can’t use a tripod….Ask someone else to just take a your photo, Donny!….Huh.
90 minutes is more than enough time to dispel my curiosity about the cave which is located in a 400 million-year-old limestone hill.
3.Suria KLCC
After returning from Batu Caves and after hunting for hotels in Pasar Seni area which ended with staying at Agosto Inn, in a light drizzle I hurried to Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). KLCC is center of Kuala Lumpur which offers a modern shopping mall i.e Suria KLCC, a row of five-star hotels, iconic view of Petronas Twin Tower and a large urban park (KLCC Park).
Even though I don’t like shopping, I’m just curious to see this mall which has 350 tenants. The Suria KLCC architecture is in crescent shape when viewed from above….Cool, huh. And you need to know that Suria KLCC construction is an integrated project with Petronas Twin Tower.
4.Petrosains
Before leaving Suria KLCC, I made time to visit Petrosains in 4th floor. Petrosains is Petronas’s petroleum education site, a Malaysian oil giant. Simply set aside Rp. 35,000 to study in Petrosains.
What are you doing….?
5. Petronas Twin Tower
Right to the left of Suria KLCC exit, I finally found the phenomenal twin building. Soft drizzle which accompanied me to enjoy Petronas Twin Tower was unable to drive me out of front yard of the tallest twin building in the world.
Security: “Get Downnnnnnn…..!”
Petronas Twin Tower is the last destination on the first day of journey. Rest faster at Agosto Inn to prepare myself for Genting Highland tomorrow.
6.Genting Skyway
On 6:30 hours, seeing my presence at dining table made hotel staff seem rushed to prepare breakfast which was only oatmeal, orange sunkist, toast and warm drinks which I could take as much as I could from tea and coffee pots.
A morning that was still very quiet I passed to KL Sentral to catch the first bus to Genting Highlands which will depart at 08:00. By paying for a round trip ticket from KL Sentral to Genting, USD 5.5 (price in 2014, in 2019 price have gone up to USD 6.3) I arrived at Genting Highlands 1 hour 15 minutes later.
First time riding a cable car….
That price includes Genting Skyway ride. While the one-way price for this transportation mode is USD 2. The gondola’s lower station is in Gohtong Jaya and its Upper Station is in Maxims Hotel, Genting Highlands.
7. Genting Highlands
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at Genting Highlands after hanging in the eight-persons seat gondola
The main purpose of second day journey, which had to give up my all time in second day was taken away. Deprivation which absurdly excites me . Hope, there was a repetition like this at another time.
Watch out, Donny! Don’t be in the middle of way!….Many people want to pass.
Two hours I explored the resort at top of Mount Titiwangsa in northeast of Kuala Lumpur. If you have much money, you can spend the night in Genting. But passing every mall without shopping, restaurants without taking lunch and casino without gambling, surely that’s me who has never had enough money to do all that.
8.Bukit Bintang
I just needed to reverse my departure way so I could go back to KL Sentral.
15: 30 hours….”Wow, I can still explore,” My thought cheering. Bus, done!….LRT, done!….Commuter, done!….MRT, not yet Donny!, they werw still seen dredging the ground next to Pasar Seni. So what will you ride next?
I decided to try the only monorail route in Kuala Lumpur. When else can I ride it if not now?. This is also my first time riding a monorail which three years later I rode the same mode for free at Sentosa Island, Singapore….Yup, that was Sentosa Express.
Don’t be too long, Donny!. Many people in your back, wait for took photos too.
The famous destination on KL Monorail Route is Bukit Bintang. Bearing a title as the most famous shopping and entertainment venue in Kuala Lumpur makes Bukit Bintang as the most popular retail center which is always hunted by shopping enthusiasts, from housewives, office workers to young women and even tourists.
Aren’t you a tourist, Donny? … No, sir. I’m just a fortunate wanderer who was given a chance to travel around 25 countries….Plakkkk Plakkkk Plakkkk…I hit you, Donny!
9.Taman Tasik Titiwangsa (Titiwangsa Park)
Killing time in a city park at north of city center was my journey’s closing on second day. Founded in former of tin mining during British colonialism made it reasonable by existence of a large lake as former of mining activities.
Sorry viewers….I ran out of battery when in the park….That was better picture.
At four o’clock in afternoon, I was present in the park in a crowd of extraordinary citizens’ activities. Until maghrib pray call reminded me that I wasn’t in “Bluntas Park” (the park name which is closest my home in Jakarta….Hahaha). The mean was, time began to expel me to immediately leave Taman Tasik Titiwangsa (Titiwangsa Park) and better spend my evening near hotel where I stay overnight.
10.Hop On Hop Off Bus
Time is indeed unfriendly when confronted with curiosity. Suddenly I was pushed into last day of journey. Long exploration time is successful in compromising with my tired calf veins in affecting my brain. Then my brain whispered, “Just relax in spending last day in Kuala Lumpur, Donny!“.
USD 11.6, I was forced to give it to double decker bus tour guide…. It’s called HOHO bus….Or, Hop On Hop Off bus.
Hurry up!….Don’t trap in the evening.
HOHO Bus Stop No. 09, located in Central Market, made it easy for me to catch it….It took less than 5 minutes to reach it from Agosto Inn. Not accepting loss, I insisted on visiting several tourist destinations along HOHO bus line.
11.Istana Negara
“Only 15 minutes. After that, every ladies and gentlemen can go back to bus or join to next bus“, her voice became clearer with presence of a mic under guide’s lips. Her face was beautiful within hijab (girl moslem wear ). She Made me melt.
Beware don’t cling to wall !….You could make the wall dirty, Donny….Huh
I rushed away as fast as I could to approaching palace gate. Took a picture with palace guard who stands like a statue and a very tame palace horse even though dozens of different faces took turn taking pictures with it.
12.Dataran Merdeka
A large square adorned with an iconic Mughal-Moor building becomes my next stop. Sultan Abdul Samad is name of the building. Sultan Abdul Samad himself was the leader of Selangor state which was famous for moving capital city of Selangor from Klang to Kuala Lumpur.
Yes….Not bad pose.
The plain is known as Dataran Merdeka, the place where Malaysia independence from British colonial government was declared.
13.KL Tower
HOHO bus which didn’t stop for long time at that communication tower, didn’t make me give up. I nimbly jumped out of bus and a second later HOHO bus left me in KL Tower yard.
Hurry up got in bus!…. Don’t be long time.
I would explore KL Tower before heading to Muzium Negara (State Museum).
If you have more guts, go to Sky Box!, if you want to lunch in an elegant way then try revolving restaurant! ,then go to observation deck to catch beautiful view of Kuala Lumpur city closer to your eyelids!.
Me?….I missed the first two parts. My wallet was only able to put me in the last part….It was better than nothing.
14.National Museum of Malaysia
Want to quickly know about culture of a nation?….Come to its national museum!.
For this reason I was present at Muzium Negara (National Museum of Malaysia). The journey of Malaysians from time to time is clearly displayed in this museum. Starting from prehistoric life….Kingdom life….Even the story of Majapahit Kingdom (Biggest Kingdom in Indonesia) is here.
Like I’ve never seen train before….Huh.
The nuances of Kuala Terengganu kingdom seem to strongly influence this museum architecture which looks so magnificent.
The Malaysian struggle session from British colonialism closed the history learning session at this building which is located on Jalan Damansara.
15.Taman Tasik Perdana(Perdana Botanical Garden)
Hop On Hop Off slowly entered into Kuala Lumpur green area….Amazing, this was the famous Taman Tasik Perdana (Perdana Botanical Garden).
Known as Lake Garden, this park was my best solution to stay away from hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur city which gradually made my ears noisy.
Hi, don’t stick!….Hahaha.
I saw how happy Kuala Lumpur people picnic as a family, swinging their feet along jogging track, rowing a boat on a beautiful lake and I was dissolved with my steps to enjoy green trees which cooling surrounding air.
16.Kuala Lumpur Orchid Park
The colors of flowers were like a magnet which pulled me closer. I was cheerful when a park signboard whispered information that I didn’t need to pay a cent to enter it.
Hi, don’t step on the grass!….Wew, ask for a fight.
A woman with wide hat greeted me with a happy smile. Her duty in arranging the park was finally visited by a thin-pocketed traveler. Without embarrassment, the traveler also posed in front of camera which held by the woman….Already entered, free of charge, also gave an order to catching a picture…. Beuh, plaaaaaakkkk#hitmyface.
17.Kuala Lumpur Deer Park
“Ma’am….Is there something where doesn’t require an entrance ticket in Perdana Botanical Garden?“, I asked without shame
“There, Sir….There is deers across. At the end of this road then turn right “, She said mixed with a smile.
Beuh, if it’s free, don’t ask….Donny is the best searcher and Donny will be the fastest to visiting. As fast as lightning, I was already inside Kuala Lumpur Deer Park.
Hahaha….Similar
All visitors who all quickly entered the park and also quickly left it. In contrast to me who really enjoy behavior of those deers whose its brothers like to steal cucumbers in Indonesia (Indonesia have famous story about a deer that love to steal farmer’s cucumber).
Beuh….Those deers dung beat my bad habit….Free attraction hunter.
18.Kuala LumpurBird Park
The biggest bird’s nest in the world. Home for three thousand birds. This time there was no mercy for my wallet. USD 10.2 flew just to see birds freely roam in the park.
Don’t touch the sign, Donny!….It can collapse….Huh
If you go there, you will find a mandarin duck which for the first time I saw it. Don’t forget to also take part in feeding program for KL Bird Park “residents“!.
19.National Mosque
Exiting Perdana Botanical Garden, HOHO bus drove me to perform Asr prayer at National Mosque.
Be polite!….
National Mosque, which is capable of accommodating 15,000 worshipers, was established to give thanks to God for country’s independence from colonial government without bloodshed.
Feel coolness of main room with soft carpet while worshiping in this mosque. Guaranteed peace and make sleepy.
20.Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
I slowly moved away from Perdana Botanical Garden area to return to city center. Apparently, I had circled the city 360 degrees, because I had arrived again at Dataran Merdeka. This time I was visiting Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.
Like a villager.….Hahaha
Do you want to know about Kuala Lumpur city development plan?
Want to know also how much Malaysia’s income from tourism?….Fantastic.
Want to know too, what building which they want to build to defeat Petronas Twin Tower which actually has also become the tallest one in entire world?
Just pay USD 1.2 and enter into it….It’s great, I guarantee.
21.National Textile Museum
Yup, there was still a little more time…..
Crossing road in Dataran Merdeka, I was shocked by existence of National Textile Museum. No need to spend money to visit it.
Be saw by security guard from inside…..
The museum, which is placed inside a building which is more than a decade old, offers historical and cultural journeys through a series of typical Malay fabrics which are displayed therein. Also some of relics of Kuala Terengganu’s artistic objects which must have been luxury items in its era
22.Petaling Street
Goodbye Hop On Hop Off bus, thank you for taking me to know Kuala Lumpur.
I immediately headed to hotel to pick up a backpack which I had left in receptionist since morning because my stay finished at 12:00 hours.
But yes, back to the habit….Not wanting to lose against time which kept rolling, I pushed toward Petaling Street which is close to hotel.
You want to shop….Do you have money, Don?
Petaling Street is center of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. Quite crowded when I enter it and explore each stalls which offer a variety of souvenirs and food.
You have to eat roasted chestnuts….It’s delicious, oath!
23.Pasar Seni (Central Market)
It was getting darker….No need to worry, my flight was still tomorrow. A thing which limited me was LRT’s last operating hour, which was 23:00 hours.
I only needed a few minutes to move from Petaling Street to Central Market. Sitting and enjoying culinary time in Petaling didn’t make me realize that the dark had begun to acquire the day. Maybe it was also because of my tiredness which had conspired with the dark to make me forget
Borrowing pictures from someone (year 2019).
“Ma’am, what can i get with this amount of money?….Just packing as avail as possible, ma’am. Just a souvenir, Ma’am….Don’t pack foods. I want to go back to Jakarta” words which indicate that I was tired and couldn’t think anymore to choose souvenirs.
24.Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2)
Only a few minutes before 21:00 hours, I closed curtain of my journey in Kuala lumpur. It was time to head to airport which will be my bed on the last night. Combination of traveling using LRT Kelana Jaya and Skybus made me arrive at KLIA2 at a little over 22:00 hours.
He who had a Central Market picture above….He came from future….Wow!
Hi, man….Airport is not a tourist destination….Yakss, for you maybe not….For me is yes, because I often invest time in exploring airport which for the first time I visited.
For me, KLIA2 is an exotic place like a seven star hotel which has contributed to taking me around the world.
Already finish….Need three days to write this article. The longest article which I’ve ever written. This article have 2,679 words, Wow.
Penerbangan ke Kuala Lumpur yang hampir tak tertangkap karena beradu cepat dengan waktu di sepanjang tol Jakarta-Serang, dibumbui dengan pucat pasinya wajah akibat interogasi staff imigrasi yang judes karena penampilanku yang tak meyakinkan, membuat hati dan asaku malambung tinggi bersamaan dengan langkah pertamu meninggalkan konter imigrasi KLIA2.
Gaes….Perjalananku di Kuala Lumpur untuk pertama kalinya dimulai. Seneeenggg banget waktu itu. Magnet kulkas ku akan bertambah menjadi tiga. Begitulah adanya, jumlah magnet kulkas di rumahku menunjukkan berapa banyak negara yang sudah kukunjungi…..Nanti kalau sudah mengunjungi 100 negara, aku akan beli kulkas setinggi langit-langit rumah. Biar muat nempelin magnet-magnet itu….Hahaha.
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Perjalanan yang sudah direncanakan sejak 9 bulan sebelum keberangkatan ini akhirnya terwujud. Masih tak percaya ketika diriku benar-benar memasuki negeri jiran itu. Rencana perjalanan yang kutuangkan secara detail di tiga lembar itinerary telah mengantarku menuju 24 destinasi berikut:
1.KL Sentral
KL Sentral adalah persinggahan pertama yang sering digunakan para petualang sebelum menjelajah Kuala Lumpur. Ya iyalah, kebanyakan transportasi umum dari KLIA akan berujung di sini.
KL Sentral memang dibangun pemerintah Malaysia sebagai bangunan transportasi berorientasi transit. Tak khayal, pusat transportasi ini tak pernah sepi pengunjung.
Awas mas….Resleting.
Untuk pertama kalinya, tiba disini di hari pertama kelayapanku, tepat pukul 11:23. Aku menyempatkan diri untuk sejenak mengeksplorasi Nu Sentral yang merupakan shopping mall yang terintegrasi dengan bangunan modern ini.
2. Batu Caves
Waktu yang terlalu siang untuk memulai perjalanan ke Genting Highlands membuatku memilih kuil umat Hindu ini sebagai persinggahanku berikutnya. Berlokasi di daerah Gombak yang berjarak 15 km di utara KL Sentral dengan jarak tempuh 40 menit menjadikan patung kuning “Dewa Murugan” menjadi ikon terfavorit di Kuala Lumpur setelah Petronas Twin Tower.
Makanya, kalau ga bisa main tripod….Minta orang lain fotoin aja….Huh.
90 menit menjadi waktu yang lebih dari cukup untuk menghilangkan rasa penasaranku akan gua yang terletak di sebuah perbukitan kapur berusia 400 juta tahun itu.
3.Suria KLCC
Sekembali dari Batu Caves dan seusai berburu hotel di daerah Pasar Seni yang berakhir dengan hinggapnya langkah di Agosto Inn, dalam gerimis ringan aku bergegas menuju Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). KLCC adalah pusat kota Kuala Lumpur yang menawarkan shopping mall modern yaitu Suria KLCC, deretan hotel bintang lima, pemandangan ikonik Petronas Twin Tower dan taman kota yang luas (KLCC Park).
Walau tak gemar berbelanja, aku hanya penasaran ingin melihat langsung mall yang memiliki 350 tenant ini. Arsitektur Suria KLCC konon berbentuk bintang sabit jika dilihat dari atas….Keren ya. Dan perlu kamu tahu bahwa pembangunan Suria KLCC adalah proyek terintegrasi dengan Petronas Twin Tower.
4.Petrosains
Sebelum keluar dari Suria KLCC, aku sempatkan untuk mengunjungi Petrosains di lantai 4. Petrosains adalah tempat edukasi perminyakan milik Petronas, raksasa minyak milik Malaysia. Cukup menyisihkan Rp. 35.000 untuk belajar di dalam Petrosains.
Ngapain siiih….
5. Petronas Twin Tower
Tepat di sebelah kiri pintu keluar Suria KLCC, aku akhirnya menemukan bangunan kembar fenomenal itu. Gerimis lembut yang menemaniku menikmati Petronas Twin Tower tak mampu mengusirku segera dari halaman depan gedung kembar tertinggi di dunia itu.
Security: “Turuuuuuuunnnn…..”
Petronas Twin Tower adalah destinasi terakhir di hari pertama kelayapan. Lebih cepat beristirahat di Agosto Inn untuk mempersiapkan diri menuju Genting Highland di keesokan harinya.
6.Genting Skyway
Jam 6:30, Melihat kehadiranku di meja makan membuat staff hotel itu terkesan tergesa-gesa menyiapkan sarapan pagi yang hanya berupa oatmeal, jeruk sunkist dan toast serta minuman hangat yang bisa kuambil sepuasnya dari tea and coffee pots.
Pagi yang masih sangat sepi kulalui menuju KL Sentral untuk menangkap bus pertama menuju Genting Highlands yang akan berangkat pukul 08:00. Dengan membayar tiket pulang pergi dari KL Sentral ke Genting sebesar Rp. 73.000 (harga pada tahun 2014, tahun 2019 harga sudah naik menjadi Rp. 85.000) aku tiba di Genting Highlands 1 jam 15 menit kemudian.
Pertama kalinya naik cable car….Clingak-clinguk, ndeso!
Harga segitu sudah termasuk naik Genting Skyway. Sementara harga sekali jalan untuk moda transportasi ini adalah Rp. 28.000 (Tahun 2019). Lower station gondola ini berada di Gohtong Jaya dan Upper Stationnya berada di Maxims Hotel, Genting Highlands.
7. Genting Highlands
Dua puluh menit kemudian, aku tiba di Genting Highlands setelah bergelantungan di dalam gondola berpenumpang delapan orang itu
Tujuan utama hari kedua yang harus merelakan waktu sehariku dirampas begitu saja. Perampasan yang membuatku girang bukan kepalang. Berharap ada repetisi seperti ini di lain waktu.
Awas, bang jangan di tengah jalan !….Kasian orang lain mau lewat.
Dua jam aku menapaki resort di pucuk gunung Titiwangsa sebelah timur laut Kuala Lumpur. Kalau kamu punya uang berlebih bisalah bermalam di Genting. Tapi melewati setiap mall tanpa berbelanja, restoran tanpa menyempatkan makan siang dan casino tanpa berjudi, pastinya itu adalah aku yang tak pernah memiliki uang cukup untuk berhura suka macam itu.
8.Bukit Bintang
Tinggal membalik cara berangkat maka aku bisa pulang kembali ke KL Sentral.
15:30….”Wuih, masih bisa ngelayap”, batinku bersorak. Bus, sudah….LRT, sudah….Komuter, sudah….MRT, belum jadi bang, mereka masih terlihat mengeruk tanah di sebelah Pasar Seni. Naik apa lagi dong?…..
Kuputuskan mencoba satu-satunya jalur monorail di Kuala Lumpur. Kapan lagi aku bisa menaikinya. Ini juga menjadi yang pertama kali aku menaiki monorail yang tiga tahun kemudian aku menaiki moda yang sama secara gratisan di Sentosa Island, Singapura….Yup, itu Sentosa Express.
Jangan lama-lama, belakang nungguin mau foto juga tuh.
Tujuan terkenal di Laluan Monorel KL adalah Kawasan Bukit Bintang. Menyandang predikat sebagai tempat perbelanjaan dan hiburan paling terkenal di Kuala Lumpur menjadikan Bukit Bintang sebagai pusat retail terpopuler yang selalu diburu para penggemar belanja, dari ibu rumah tangga, pegawai kantoran hingga pemudi pemuda bahkan para wisatawan.
Bukannya kamu wisatawan, Donny?….Bukan, bang. Aku cuma tukang kelayapan yang beruntung diberi kesempatan keliling dunia hingga 20 negara…..Geplaaakk-Geplaaakk-Geplaaakk.
9.Taman Tasik Titiwangsa
Killing time di sebuah taman kota di utara pusat kota adalah penutup petualangku di hari kedua. Didirikan di bekas pertambangan timah semasa kolonialisme Inggris menjadikannya maklum dengan keberadaan danau besar bekas galian pertambangan itu.
Maap pemirsa….Aku kehabisan batre pas ditaman….Itu aja ya.
Pukul empat sore, aku sudah hadir di taman itu dalam keramaian aktivitas warga yang luar biasa. Sampai-sampai adzan maghrib mengingatkanku bahwa aku sedang tidak berada di “Taman Bluntas”(nama taman terlayak yang dekat dengan tempat tinggalku). Artinya, waktu mulai mengusirku untuk segera meninggalkan Taman Tasik Titiwangsa dan lebih baik menyambut rasa aman di hotel tempatku menginap saja.
10.Hop On Hop Off Bus
Waktu memang tak bersahabat ketika dihadapkan dengan rasa penasaran. Mendadak aku di dorongnya memasuki hari terakhir petualangan. Waktu yang tak sedikit berhasil berkompromi dengan urat betis dalam mempengaruhi otak. Lalu otak berbisik, “Santai saja menghabiskan hari terakhir di Kuala Lumpur, Don”.
Rp. 157.500 terpaksa kuserahkan kepada pemandu wisata bus tingkat macam Routemaster milik negeri ratu Elizabeth itu. Bukan Routemaster ….Itu namanya HOHO….Atau kerennya Hop On Hop Off.
Buruan naik….Keburu soreeee.
HOHO Bus Stop No. 09 yang terletak di Central Market memudahkanku untuk menangkapnya….Tak sampai 5 menit untuk mencapainya dari Agosto Inn. Tak terima merugi, aku bersikeras mengunjungi beberapa destinasi wisata sepanjang jalur bus HOHO.
11.Istana Negara
“Cukup 15 menit saje, setelahnya tuan-tuan dan puan-puan bise kembali ke bus atau ikut bus berikutnye”, suara itu semakin jelas dengan keberadaan mic di bawah bibir sang pemandu. Duh cantiknya wajah melayu berhijab itu. Membuatku luluh.
Awas jangan nempel-nempel….Bikin kotor tembok.
Aku bergegas melarikan diri secepat mungkin mendekat gerbang istana. Berfoto dengan penjaga istana yang berdiri bak patung dan kuda istana yang sangat jinak walau berpuluh-puluh wajah berbeda silih berganti berfoto dengannya.
12.Dataran Merdeka
Lapangan luas dihiasi gedung ikonik bergaya Mughal-Moor menjadi persinggahan berikutnya. Sultan Abdul Samad adalah nama bangunan itu. Sultan Abdul Samad sendiri adalah pemimpin negara Selangor yang terkenal karena memindahkan ibu kota Selangor dari Klang ke Kuala Lumpur.
Ya….Mayan lah posenya.
Dataran itu dikenal sebagai Dataran Merdeka, tempat dimana kemerdekaan Malaysia dari pemerintah kolonial Britania Raya di deklarasikan.
13.KL Tower
HOHO yang tak begitu lama berhenti di menara komunikasi itu, lantas tak membuatku menyerah. Aku melompat dengan gesit keluar dari bus dan sedetik kemudian HOHO meninggalkanku di pelataran KL Tower.
Sonoh naeekkk….Jangan lama-lama.
Aku akan mengeksplorasi KL Tower sebelum menuju Muzium Negara.
Kalau kamu punya nyali, masuklah ke Sky Box, kalau mau makan siang dengan cara elegan maka cobalah revolving restaurant lalu pergilah ke observation deck untuk menangkap pemandangan kota Kuala Lumpur lebih dekat di pelupuk mata.
Aku?….Dua bagian pertama kulewatkan. Dompet hanya sanggup memasukkanku ke bagian terakhir….Lumayan lah daripada tidak sama sekali.
14.Muzium Negara
Mau mengenal budaya suatu bangsa dengan cepat?….Datanglah ke museum nasionalnya.
Untuk itulah aku hadir di Muzium Negara Malaysia. Perjalanan bangsa Malaysia dari waktu ke waktu terpampang jelas di museum ini. Mulai dari kehidupan prasejarah….Kehidupan berkerajaan….Bahkan cerita tentang Majapahit pun ada disini.
Kayak ga pernah liat kreta aja….Huh.
Nuansa kerajaan Kuala Terengganu nampak kuat terasa mempengaruhi arsitektur museum ini yang tampak begitu megah.
Sesi perjuangan bangsa Malaysia dari kolonialisme Britania Raya pun menutup sesi belajar sejarah di bangunan yang terletak di Jalan Damansara itu.
15.Taman Tasik Perdana
Perlahan Hop On Hop Off memasuki kawasan hijau Kuala Lumpur….Warbiasah, ini Taman Tasik Perdana yang tersohor itu.
Terkenal dengan sebutan Lake Garden, taman ini adalah solusi terbaikku untuk menjauhi hiruk pikuk kota Kuala Lumpur yang lama-kelamaan membuat bising telinga.
Nempel….Denda.
Kulihat betapa bahagia warga Kuala Lumpur berpiknik sekeluarga, mengayun kaki di sepanjang jogging track, mendayung perahu di danau nan cantik dan aku pun larut bersama langkahku menikmati hijaunya pepohonan yang mendinginkan udara sekitar.
16.Taman Orkid Kuala Lumpur
Warna-warni bunga itu bagai magnet yang menarikku mendekat. Riang tak berkira ketika papan nama itu membisikkan informasi bahwa aku tak perlu membayar satu sen pun untuk memasukinya.
Dilarang menginjak rumput!….Wah, ngajak berantem.
Seorang ibu dengan caping lebar menyapaku dengan senyum karena bahagia. Karyanya menata taman itu akhirnya dikunjungi seorang pengelana berkantong tipis….Tanpa malu pula si pengelana berpose di depan kamera yang dipegang Sang Ibu….Udah masuk gratisan, nyuruh-nyuruh pulak….Beuh, plaaaaaakkkk.
17.Taman Rusa dan Kancil
“Bu….Ada sesuatu yang tak memerlukan tiket masuk untuk berwisata di Taman Tasik Perdana?”, pertanyaanku yang tak berkemaluan.
“Ada, Dik….Ada kancil di seberang. Di hujung jalan tu belok kanan”, ucapnya bercampur senyum.
Beuh, kalau gratisan jangan ditanya….Donny jagonya cari dan paling cepat hadir. Secepat kilat, aku sudah berada di dalam Taman Rusa dan Kancil.
Mirip….
Para pengunjung yang semuanya begitu cepat memasuki taman itu lalu dengan cepat pula meninggalkannya. Berbeda denganku yang begitu menikmati tingkah para kancil yang saudara-saudaranya suka mencuri timun di Indonesia.
Beuh….Bau kotoran kancil itu mengalahkan kebiasaan burukku….Pemburu wisata gratisan.
18.Taman Burung Kuala Lumpur
Sarang burung terbesar di dunia katanya. Rumah bagi tiga ribu ekor burung. Kali ini tak ada ampun buat dompetku. Rp. 138.000 melayang hanya untuk sekedar melihat para burung bebas terbang berkeliaran di dalam taman ini.
Jangan pegang-pegang plang….Awas rubuh….Huh
Kalau kamu kesana coba kau cari bebek mandarin yang baru pertama kali juga aku melihatnya. Jangan lupa ikuti juga acara pemberian makan bagi para penghuni KL Bird Park.
19.National Mosque
Keluar Taman Tasik Perdana, HOHO mengantarkanku untuk menjalankan ibadah shalat Ashar di National Mosque.
Sok sopan…..
Masjid Negara yang mampu menampung 15.000 jama’ah ini, didirikan untuk mensyukuri kemerdekaan negara dari pemerintah kolonial tanpa pertumpahan darah.
Rasakan kesejukan ruangan utama dengan karpet lembut saat beribadah di masjid ini. Dijamin damai dan bikin ngantuk.
20.Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
Perlahan aku menjauh dari kawasan Taman Tasik Perdana untuk kembali ke pusat kota. Rupanya aku sudah mengitari kota 360 derajat, karena aku sudah mendarat kembali di Dataran Merdeka. Kali ini aku menyasar Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.
Kek orang kampung….
Pengen tahu rencana pengembangan kota Kuala Lumpur?
Pengen tahu juga berapa pendapatan Malaysia dari pariwisata?….Fantastis.
Pengen tahu juga, mereka mau bikin gedung apa lagi untuk mengalahkan Petronas Twin Tower yang sebetulnya juga sudah menjadi satu yang terhebat di seantero jagad?
Bayar aja deh Rp. 17.500 dan masuk ke dalamnya….Kagak rugi, kujamin.
21.Muzium Tekstil Negara
Yup, masih ada waktu sedikit lageeeee…..
Menyeberangi jalan di Dataran Merdeka, aku tertelisik dengan keberadaan Muzium Tekstil Negara. Tak perlu merogoh kocek untuk mengunjunginya.
Diliatin Satpam dari dalem…..
Muzium yang ditaruh di dalam bangunan berusia lebih dari se-dekade ini menawarkan perjalanan sejarah dan budaya melaui sederetan kain khas Melayu yang dipajang didalamnya. Juga beberapa peninggalan beberapa benda kerajaan Kuala Terengganu yang artistik dan pasti menjadi barang mewah di zamannya
22.Petaling Street
Selamat tinggal Hop On Hop Off, terimakasih sudah mengantarkanku mengenal Kuala Lumpur.
Aku segera menuju ke hotel untuk mengambil backpack yang sudah kutitipkan sejak pagi karena memang masa inapku sudah selesai jam 12 siang.
Tapi ya kembali ke sifat dasar….Tak mau merugi melawan waktu yang terus bergulir, aku merangsek menuju Petaling Street yang dekat dengan hotel.
Sok mau belanja….Emang punya duit, Don?
Petaling Street adalah pusat pecinan di Kuala Lumpur. Cukup ramai ketika aku memasuki dan menelusuri setiap selasar yang menawarkan berbagai souvenir dan makanan.
Kamu harus cobain kenari atau chestnut bean yang di sangrai dalam pasir panas….Beuh itu enak, sumpah!
23.Pasar Seni (Central Market)
Semakin gelap….Tak perlu khawatir, penerbanganku masih esok hari. Yang membatasiku hanyalah jam operasional terakhir LRT, yaitu pukul 23:00.
Aku hanya perlu waktu beberapa menit untuk berpindah dari Petaling Street menuju Pasar Seni. Duduk menikmati kuliner di Petaling tak menyadarkanku bahwa gelap mulai mengakuisisi hari. Mungkin juga karena kelelahanku yang sudah bersekongkol dengan gelap untuk membuatku khilaf.
Minjam gambar orang yak (gambar tahun 2019).
“Bu, uang segini dapat apa saja ya?….Bungkusin aja sedapatnya, Bu. Souvenir aja ya, Bu….Jangan bungkus makanan. Saya mau pulang ke Jakarta”, perkataan yang menandakan aku lelah dan tak bisa berfikir lagi untuk memilih oleh-oleh.
24.Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2)
Hanya beberapa menit sebelum jam 21:00, aku menutup tirai petualangaku di Kuala lumpur. Sudah saatnya menuju ke bandara yang akan menjadi tempat tidurku di malam terakhir. Kombinasi perjalanan menggunakan LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya dan Skybus membuatku tiba di KLIA2 jam sepuluh lebih sedikit.
Tuh yang punya gambar Central Market….Itu kan guwe dari masa depan….Wah!
Hi, man….bandara bukanlah destinasi wisata….Yakss, buatmu mungkin bukan….Buatku iya, karena aku sering menginvestasikan waktu untuk menjelajah bandara-bandara yang baru pertama kali kukunjungi.
Buatku KLIA2 adalah tempat eksotik bak hotel bintang tujuh yang berjasa mengantarkanku berkeliling dunia.
Udah yeee….Tiga hari guwe bikin tulisan ini. Tulisan terpanjang yang pernah kutulis. Ma’ap, kuketik. 2.333 kata, mamen. Njirrrr.
