1 Utama - Getting There by Public Transport

A major suburban retail therapy centre in KL, the area has been a bit tricky to reach previously by public transport.  Ikea [at The Curve complex nearby] had a special bus service previously, but with developments surely there is public transport now.

There is not of easy to find information on getting around Kuala Lumpur easily by public transport, but it is getting better.

Yes……you can get to 1 Utama by public transport, quite easily now.  A couple of options to consider.

From Stesen Central in KL, take a U89 bus, which goes to the Damansara interchange just about 100m from 1 Utama.  And you can also take the same bus in the reverse order, back to Stesen Central.  The travel time is about an hour.

Even better time wise, is to catch the train to Kelana Jaya which is the last station on the line that operates between Gombak and Kelana Jaya.  Go across the overpass and down to the street, and wait for a U82 bus, which goes to the Damansara interchange about 100m from 1 Utama.  There are a few other bus routes also going to the same location, including U43.  Do not be confused as some of the bus routes to 1 Utama are a bit convoluted, with sidetracks to pick up within housing areas.

For the return trip, catch the U43 at the interchange, or you can also catch the bus directly in front of 1 Utama, at the bus stop there.  You stop directly in front of Kelana Jaya rail station.

Best of all, these buses now operate with the same Touch N Go preloaded card that can be used on the trains……no hassle with fares at all.

Be prepared though………do not expect to see many non-Malaysians on the bus!!

But hey, why not??   Buses are air conditioned, seats okay and available and an easy option.  Be adventurous, and use public transport.

Buying Tickets on Malaysian Railways

The online booking system works well, allowing booking and paying online.

For journeys originating in Singapore a much higher charge is paid.  BUT…. There are some ways to overcome that.

Buy your ticket from Johore Baru to say, KL and get to JB independently – on the cheap with the 170 bus from Queen street in Singapore.  Or, buy a separate ticket from the KTMB counter at Woodlands for the trip to JB, and then use your online bought and paid for ticket from JB to KL.  Price is S$ 11, for either class from Woodlands to JB.

Or, buy a return journey from KL to Woodlands and back to KL at Ringitt prices, and do not travel on the KL- Woodlands journey.  It is a cheaper option than originating in Woodlands, Singapore at S$ prices.

There are further discussions on line about ticketing and prices – search for the “man on seat 61".

Kuala Lumpur Public Transport - Getting Around

Access to the train system around the Kuala Lumpur greater urban area used to be horrible, with multiple operators and multiple ticketing systems meaning journeys involving multiple operators required multiple tickets. 

A few years ago, that started to change, and finally a single touch’n’go preloaded touch card was introduced which not only provided access to the train services, it could be used for toll roads, fuel, and other services.  Improvements have continued, with more recent changes seeing the introduction of use of the card on many of the public buses in KL.

Prior to that, the local bus service was a bit of a magical mystery tour.  Information on routes and pricing was difficult to negotiate and even find in some cases.  Buses were at best pretty crappy, and mostly non air-conditioned although windows did open, and very crowded.

Now that the touch’n’go cards are being used it is easier, although getting route details is not always any better.  More improvements to the bus system are planned.

The trains within the near city area can be crowded – and getting back from MegaMall on a Sunday afternoon can be a very crowded experience, with one train we were on once so over full that occupants were not sure it would move between the Mid Valley station one stop back to KL Sentral. [Yes, you can get to and from Mid Valley MegaMall by train easily].

Finding information from hotels is not always easy either.  Many people only know the route numbers they use regularly and as far as is known no comprehensive guide is available.  But a few hardy souls are sussing out some of the more useful ones for tourists……….including us intrepid old fartz.

With around 4 million people in KL, many using public transport regularly, there has to be some logic in the system.  That is the start point!!

 

Touch'N'Go cards can be purchased at KL Sentral, as well as many train station and a few other locations, and are topped up at ticket windows at many train stations.  You need to pay a small deposit or fee for the card, and the balance on the card is valid for up to 12 months.  Some old cards are no longer operational due to some access changes,  and can be redeemed at a special ticket centre at KL Sentral.  A bitof a hassle if it happens to you, but is fixable.

Definitely an easy way to move around the city, and they operate on all city trains and many buses.  Easy access to many of the shopping and tourist areas in the main city areas can be achieved via one of the train systems of public transport, if you want to be a bit adventurous.

Test it out..........the trains work just fine.

Derailment - KL to Singapore

The trains do run on time - sometimes - between KL and Singapore and vice versa.  I have not really experienced that however.

Now that the trains only go to /from Woodlands in Singapore it is somewhat easier to make the journey, at least south.  That way the cost is in MYR, not SIN $$.  There are a few tricks to get a deal going north in MYR, which is about one third the cost of SIN$$, but that is already out there.

More recent news however, from last week was that the day express was derailed, about one hour  south of KL, with quite a few cars toppling over and major track damage.  No one was killed although a few seriously hurt, but not necessarily major injuries.

Quite a large news article in the Strait Times in Singapore last week and photos, and the article below was in Channel News Asia.

"A train heading to Singapore derailed and overturned in Malaysia on Saturday [ 26 January 2103], causing six people to be injured.

Train service between Kuala Lumpur and Woodlands has been suspended until further notice.

The KL Ekspres train derailed just before reaching the Kempas train station in the afternoon.

The driver was believed to have sustained leg injuries and was trapped in the wreckage.

Local media reports also said that some passengers suffered minor injuries."

- CNA

A derailment would surely be a significant event for any old fartz!

 





Renato's at Coogee Sydney - Good Italian Eatery

Recently spent a few days in the pleasant beachside suburb of Coogee.  Weather generally warm, afterall it was November, and quite relaxing.  Have had a few stays around Coogee this year, so the place is familiar........but had not eaten out locally.

Decided it was an opportunity to meet the locals.  Some confusing signals - ate at a decent italian eatery - in Sydney, with Italian staff, but run by a Singoporean.  But it was good!

 In Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, a few steps up from the beachfront. 

Italian food that is excellent quality and value.  Busy to very busy on the few times visited, and especially Saturday evening.  Has the standard Italian mains – pizzas, pasta dishes with a wide range of sauces, lasagne, cannelloni as well as all the usual favourite scaloppine choices, and an excellent prosciutto wrapped veal fillet as mains and a modest choice of seafood.  Salt and pepper squid [really good] and fried zucchini flowers among the entrees – both recommended.

Does a decent garden /Italian salad and the olive oil is good too.  BYO and a bottle shop close by, if you forgot. 

Good atmosphere. Not Italian fine dining, but a good choice – more upmarket trattoria, and family groups of Italians were eating there, as well as a number of obvious locals back for a repeat visit  - that would seem to be a good recommendation in itself.

Can be a bit noisy if full and closed up [hence the trattoria tag], but also has al fresco dining, weather permitting.

Christo's Fish Cafe - Darwin

Good restaurant operators tend to do it well, whether it be a hamburger take away or a swish upmarket a la carte restaurant. They just seem to have the knack!

Christou Phillipou has run restaurants in Darwin from humble beginnings as a hole in the wall takeaway eatery to several very posh and extremely good local Darwin restaurants. Often with the moniker of “Christou’s” something or other.

Then he left town, and did his thing in SE Queensland .

He is back in town and now operates Christo’s Fish Cafe at Tipperary Waters on a marina about 2km from the Darwin CBD, just off Tiger Brennan Drive. It is hidden behind trees, and is reached from a service road [ Frances Bay Drive] so if unfamiliar with the area, a map or directions might be needed. There is usually plenty of parking inside the complex area, behind the shops on the street, rather than in the side street. See here - http://christosfishcafe.com.au/index.html

First.......it is not air-conditioned. Is that a problem? Probably not, as we have been there many times and there are good and plentiful overhead fans and the restaurant is actually on the boardwalk overlooking the marina, and there generally seems to be a breeze, even in the hot November – December period and there was a good breeze when visiting there recently at that period.

It is a fish cafe, not a restaurant, so the setting is along those lines – alfresco dining with tables and chairs to match, as well as some tables with fixed seating, down closer to the water on a lower level.

Our experience with fish meals has been excellent. They do a fantastic calamari – based on a recipe of his mother’s , Kate’s Calamari - and probably our favourite. But we have been with other who have had barramundi, threadfin salmon and other fish dishes and been extremely satisfied. A neighbour recently visited and had bugs......which were not to their liking. Our own experience has been very positive. Even the souvlaki and the Caesar salad were very good.

Meals are of a good size, entrees are also, and the greek dips with flat bread are a well liked entree option of many customers. There is a modest selection of desserts including some of the usual greek delights such as baklava and milleefa .

Contrary to some comments on the internet, cold water – yes, from the tap in a bottle – is readily available and free!! And you are not expected to buy from the drinks menu either......water is just fine, if that is your tipple.
The menu is here - http://christosfishcafe.com.au/menu_1.html .

Would I go back? Very definitely, particularly if looking for a feed of calamari. And I am probably a bit biased.......as have been there a few times over the past few months.

Should you try it? Well, Darwin is a fish town. It is on the harbour, this restaurant is about 200m from the fish markets and there are local fish trawlers operating out of Darwin supplying fresh fish, and above all, Darwin is THE home of the mighty barramundi, a great eating fish.

And the locale is attractive.

But remember........the whole Tipperary Waters area can have bad midge problems at some times of the year. Be prudent and wear long trousers or slacks and use some DEET on potentially sensitive skin before arriving if you are a bit sensitive to insect bites, especially round the lower legs and ankles, as you will be seated outside. They cannot control the midges, I am sad to report. That said, have not had a problem myself, but know others have.

Oh......of course, as is the thing today, Christo’s is on Facebook too.

A map is here - http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/christos-fish-cafe/stuart-park

And for you yachties........they do a pretty mean breakfast too.

They can be busy, especially in the Dry Season, so a check is worthwhile to ensure a table. You can have takeawy too.

Out To Pasture???

No posts for a while.......but definitely not out to pasture, nor in the long yard today [ Slim Dusty song about old horses].

Activity and travel has been restricted due to post operative dramas and an incomptent and uncompromising hip that has stubbornly refused to shape up after hip replacement surgery in Adelaide. That is where the hip operation took place and so the posts on Adelaide places in November happened then........a few weeks to really try them out!!

All is not lost however, as there have been some short visits to local eating houses in Darwin. That has had to happen quite a a few times during the hip replacement repairs - standing and preparing food has been an issue at times, as has some really crappy hot weather over the past two months. Can be very hot to stand and prepare and cook food with a gammy hip!

So, will post a few comments on some Darwin eateries, from a local.

Watch this space over the next week or so.