Haridas & Shantha were in town for 4 days and I took this opportunity to sight-see Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Putrajaya once again after many years.
The four days were packed.
DAY 1: 31 July 2011
Arrived at 5.30am; Unni and I picked them up from KLIA.
Rani made breakfast - idli & chutney & podi.
After a mid morning rest we went for lunch at Nirvanas.
Then Veena took us around Glenmarie Club and Shah Alam mosque while Unni took a map.
Unni took us to Batu Caves and all of us climbed the 272 steps into the Murugan temple in the cave located in the limestone caves. The weather was beautiful; no sun and no rain.
We drove around the lighted city on our way back. First, Unni stopped at the confluence of river Gombak and river Klang where the Masjid Jemek is located and gave a history lesson to Hari & Shantha. Then we stopped at our famous landmark, the twin towers by night. In fact, the towers could be seen from afar, its steel glowing in the lights majestically.
It was dinner time by then so we stopped at Gems where my family were meeting up - Venoo & my niece Ragini, my brother Gobi & Dr Dewi, and children Rohan, Gowrie, Ashwin & Asha. We were disappointed we did not get thosa or appam there that night! Good thing, there was beer!
DAY 2: 1 Aug 2011
Rani came early to prepare breakfast. Lunch was with Vijayan & Asha in Puchong. As usual Asha had a large spread of some 10 dishes or more with dessert!
Today, being the first day of Muslim fasting, there were 'buka puasa' stalls in SS 18 so Rani, Shantha and I went by and bought some local sweet dishes.
In the evening we drove to Putrajaya and watched the sunset and the lights come on. Unni gave a detailed account of the development of this planned administrative capital.
Dinner was in Kajang at Nalinakshy's place and it was convenient to drive from Putrajaya to Kajang. We could hand over the medicines for Ammayi too. Again Nalini's sumptuous spread was inviting and filling. I took with us a 1/4 bottle whiskey (knowing well that Unni and Vasu cannot keep Haridas company) and kept Haridas company!
On the way back, Venoo had requested us to stop by in Happy Gardens for a few drinks so Hari and he 'celebrated' while Ragini and Shantha caught up with news. I was out on the sofa, tired and not used to whiskey!
I had enquired about the tours from Fifty One Sdn Bhd. They required us to be at MATIC, the tourist association building in Jalan Ampang between 8.30 - 9.00am. So Unni & I took Hari & Shantha at 7.30am and dropped them there at 8.30am. The whole day tour cost RM120 per person without the boat ride in Melaka. They had a good experience with an experienced tour guide.
On the way back they were dropped off at Bukit Bintang at 6.00pm where they walked around and then took a cab at 7.00pm (on the advise of the tour guide to avoid traffic jam and paying more for the ride). By 7.30pm they were home.
Rani had prepared dinner for them at home. Later in the night Venoo and Ragini came by and they had some drinks together. The ladies had wine which Hari had brought from Australia. Good wine.
Veena dropped us at the Taman Jaya LRT station and we took the 10.30 am train to KLCC. We headed straight for the ticketing counter and managed to get tickets for the 3.40pm bridge visit. Soon after we bought the tickets the counter was closed for today's tickets!! Thank goodness we just made it in time.
We took some photographs of the tower by day, then shopped a bit inside. Shantha got a handbag and some gifts. Then we took the LRT back to Pasar Seni station and shopped at Central Market.
Later we took a taxi to Sentral station to meet Unni at 1.45pm. He took us to the national monument and the lake Gardens, then dropped us back in KLCC at 3pm. We had some snacks while waiting for our turn up to the skybridge. Hari liked the 3 in 1 tea packets and bought some to take back home.
The finale of the Malaysian visit was going uo the twin towers to the skybridge for a breathtaking view of the city. We met many Indians tourists from Bengal. Shantha was very comfortable chatting away in Bengali with them.
By 4.30pm we were on our way back to the LRT station which is located underground of KLCC. We dashed to get the train before the rush hour jam. By this time our feet were aching and I just wanted to get a seat. We were lucky as seats were plenty and we sat all the way back to Taman Jaya where Veena picked us after the office at 5pm.
However, the crawl started from there all the way to Subang Jaya and we reached home only at 6.15pm. Back home we quickly did an online check-in and printed the boarding passes.
Rani had prepared dinner so after shower & packing we had dinner. We left for the airport at about 8pm.
The days passed so quickly and we bid farewell. Wished there were another 2 days more so that we could do a bit more of Malaysia. But never mind..... keep some places for the next visit!
The four days were packed.
Arrived at 5.30am; Unni and I picked them up from KLIA.Rani made breakfast - idli & chutney & podi.
After a mid morning rest we went for lunch at Nirvanas.
Then Veena took us around Glenmarie Club and Shah Alam mosque while Unni took a map.
Unni took us to Batu Caves and all of us climbed the 272 steps into the Murugan temple in the cave located in the limestone caves. The weather was beautiful; no sun and no rain.
We drove around the lighted city on our way back. First, Unni stopped at the confluence of river Gombak and river Klang where the Masjid Jemek is located and gave a history lesson to Hari & Shantha. Then we stopped at our famous landmark, the twin towers by night. In fact, the towers could be seen from afar, its steel glowing in the lights majestically.
It was dinner time by then so we stopped at Gems where my family were meeting up - Venoo & my niece Ragini, my brother Gobi & Dr Dewi, and children Rohan, Gowrie, Ashwin & Asha. We were disappointed we did not get thosa or appam there that night! Good thing, there was beer!DAY 2: 1 Aug 2011
Rani came early to prepare breakfast. Lunch was with Vijayan & Asha in Puchong. As usual Asha had a large spread of some 10 dishes or more with dessert!
Today, being the first day of Muslim fasting, there were 'buka puasa' stalls in SS 18 so Rani, Shantha and I went by and bought some local sweet dishes.
In the evening we drove to Putrajaya and watched the sunset and the lights come on. Unni gave a detailed account of the development of this planned administrative capital.
Dinner was in Kajang at Nalinakshy's place and it was convenient to drive from Putrajaya to Kajang. We could hand over the medicines for Ammayi too. Again Nalini's sumptuous spread was inviting and filling. I took with us a 1/4 bottle whiskey (knowing well that Unni and Vasu cannot keep Haridas company) and kept Haridas company!On the way back, Venoo had requested us to stop by in Happy Gardens for a few drinks so Hari and he 'celebrated' while Ragini and Shantha caught up with news. I was out on the sofa, tired and not used to whiskey!
DAY 3: 2 August 2011
This day was the Melaka tour, a historical town 1 1/2 hours away from KL. Breakfast was bread & jam, packed with some other snacks.
I had enquired about the tours from Fifty One Sdn Bhd. They required us to be at MATIC, the tourist association building in Jalan Ampang between 8.30 - 9.00am. So Unni & I took Hari & Shantha at 7.30am and dropped them there at 8.30am. The whole day tour cost RM120 per person without the boat ride in Melaka. They had a good experience with an experienced tour guide.On the way back they were dropped off at Bukit Bintang at 6.00pm where they walked around and then took a cab at 7.00pm (on the advise of the tour guide to avoid traffic jam and paying more for the ride). By 7.30pm they were home.
Rani had prepared dinner for them at home. Later in the night Venoo and Ragini came by and they had some drinks together. The ladies had wine which Hari had brought from Australia. Good wine.
DAY 4: 3 August 2011
The last day kept for KL sight-seeing and some shopping.Veena dropped us at the Taman Jaya LRT station and we took the 10.30 am train to KLCC. We headed straight for the ticketing counter and managed to get tickets for the 3.40pm bridge visit. Soon after we bought the tickets the counter was closed for today's tickets!! Thank goodness we just made it in time.
We took some photographs of the tower by day, then shopped a bit inside. Shantha got a handbag and some gifts. Then we took the LRT back to Pasar Seni station and shopped at Central Market.
Later we took a taxi to Sentral station to meet Unni at 1.45pm. He took us to the national monument and the lake Gardens, then dropped us back in KLCC at 3pm. We had some snacks while waiting for our turn up to the skybridge. Hari liked the 3 in 1 tea packets and bought some to take back home.The finale of the Malaysian visit was going uo the twin towers to the skybridge for a breathtaking view of the city. We met many Indians tourists from Bengal. Shantha was very comfortable chatting away in Bengali with them.
By 4.30pm we were on our way back to the LRT station which is located underground of KLCC. We dashed to get the train before the rush hour jam. By this time our feet were aching and I just wanted to get a seat. We were lucky as seats were plenty and we sat all the way back to Taman Jaya where Veena picked us after the office at 5pm.
However, the crawl started from there all the way to Subang Jaya and we reached home only at 6.15pm. Back home we quickly did an online check-in and printed the boarding passes.
Rani had prepared dinner so after shower & packing we had dinner. We left for the airport at about 8pm.
The days passed so quickly and we bid farewell. Wished there were another 2 days more so that we could do a bit more of Malaysia. But never mind..... keep some places for the next visit!
Hello Reema,
ReplyDeleteHaridas was a classmate of mine back in '66. I would like to get in touch with if I could. Kindly email me regarding this on priyapat1948@gmail.com.
Thankyou.