I did not and I noticed not many people send Chinese New Year cards nowadays as most either sms or send e-cards. What the heck, even I don't mail out cards anymore!
I did receive a few though, like these three cards below. If you notice, one of the cards were from Pakatan Rakyat politicians, thanking me as a voter, though whether I voted for them or not in the last election shall remain a secret : )
The days leading up to Chinese New Year were terrible for me as far as the traffic on the roads were concerned. There were traffic jams everywhere! I was cursing and cursing like mad.
Did you know I was trapped on this road near the Sin Chew Roundabout (formerly Rothmans Roundabout) for almost one hour? Somehow, I don't think roundabouts are effective anymore in dispersing traffic.
And then, thinking I could escape the jam after passing that roundabout, I got caught again in another huge jam in SS2. This is the road in front of Poh Kong SS2 leading towards the LDP.
It took me about 2 hours to reach my destination when normally it would have just taken a mere 20 minutes! Next year, I am going to stay off the road the week before Chinese New Year!
However, it was totally different during the Chinese New Year holidays. Driving then was a breeze. There were hardly any traffic jams as most people had already 'balik kampung'. Since my 'kampung' or hometown is in Petaling Jaya, I had an enjoyable time driving around town!
With the low number of cars on the road, I took the opportunity to drive to KL just to discover new places. I drove around with my Street Directory map book and learnt some new roads in the process! While some people like to depend on their GPS, I prefer to rely on my useful Street Directory!
My friend from Penang came to visit me and asked me to bring him to KL Tower as he had not been there before. Actually, I have not been to KL Tower before either, but as I was too embarrassed to tell him that, I decided to play along and told him it would be my pleasure to bring him. I hope he will never get to read my blog. Haha!
We went to KL Tower on the first day of Chinese New Year. It was after dinner and I drove down to KL with him beside me. Luckily, I've passed by the place before so I knew how to get there and had absolutely no worries of him knowing I've never been up that tower before!
I was just a little surprised to find that the entrance fee was RM38 per person. Don't you think that's a little too expensive? I mean, what can you find up there except maybe a good view of Kuala Lumpur? Besides, the Tower would be closed to visitors at 9.30pm, and it was already 9pm! Half an hour tour for RM38? In my mind, I was thinking, I might as well spend that money on a delicious dish of yee sang!
But as my friend was very eager to visit this place, and since this was my first time going up the Tower, I guess I would just be fine with it. Furthermore, I found out that the RM38 also covers the entrance to the Winter Park, F1 Simulator and Animal Zone. So not too bad after all!
I managed to take a picture of the KL Tower against the night sky.
Each of us was given a bottle of mineral water that looked like the Tower itself. Not too bad as a souvenir item!
We took the lift and was met by a guide in the lift who told us that KL Tower is the 5th tallest communication tower in the world. He also mentioned that it would take about 50 seconds to reach the Observation Deck, which is about 276 metres from the ground floor. Me and my friend timed it and the guide was right - we reached the Observation Deck in 53 seconds!
From the Observation Deck, we were able to see how KL looked like from high up. Not a big deal really, as I could easily get such views at Look Out Point in Ampang, KL or at Genting Highlands, albeit much smaller views. The only good thing was, we were each given a portable MP4player that guided us as we walked around the tower. We also made use of the telescopes which were provided free to view close-up scenes of KL city.
After spending half an hour at the Observation Deck, we took the lift down and visited the Winter Park. It was really nothing much to shout about as you can see from these shots I took.
We did not go for the F1 Simulator as it was already closed by the time we went there. However, we went for a quick tour of the Animal Zone which was like a mini zoo complete with snakes, rabbits, turtles, birds, and racoons.
So was my RM38 worth it? My friend thought it was worth it, but I still prefer to spend the money on yee sang! Luckily for me, I managed to act as if I have been to KL Tower many times before, so my friend did not even have the tiniest suspicion that this is my first time there! Ha ha!
CNY everywhere also jam... haha.
They are trying to lure the Chinese voters. I hear in KK, they put up billboards wishing people Gong Xi Fa Cai. The money would have been better spent if used to help the needy!.....Ah! So if I go KL, I will have an experienced tourist guide, but I would rather go places...to eat! LOL!!!
wah, RM38 for a visit to KL Tower is quite steep for me! Imagine wanting to bring the whole clan there. I can get broke! :D
I haven't been to KL Tower yet! So ashamed!
p.s. enjoy the jam next week. LOL
I remember I received a card from Pak Lah few years back also and I am not sure whether that helped me to remember them! :D
About the jam, huh every road was so jam and it took me an hour just to go to Subang Jaya from my house at USJ one week before CNY. That was terrible.
I live near Sin Chew roundabout. I definitely know the traffic there...
There were proposals to replace the roundabout with flyover, but I am afraid there isn't enough space.
Chinese New Year cards! Yeah, That's something long time ago!
Still miss the days in school, we can receive so many cards during charistmas day to chinese new year festival. That's our everyday surprise!
The only good thing about the traffic before CNY is the traffic DURING CNY, which is nonexistent :)
I've been to the revolving restaurant in KL Tower years go, but have not seen the rest of the place. RM38 for all that is not bad lah, I guess - better than 30 minutes of you feeding dead-skin eating fish, anyway. I'll probably try to go there either next year or during the Raya exodus, haha.
RM38.00 i doubt i will go there. i didnt receive a single CNY card this year. all sms n online cards :)
day-dreamer, yeah, so next year I'm not going to drive the week before CNY! Haha!
suituapui, they have billboards over here too wishing Happy CNY, Selamat Hari Raya, Selamat Deepavali and Merry Christmas! Oh, I can be your tour guide to places to eat in KL too! You just pay for my food, that's all! LOL!
lina, if bring whole family there, definitely go bankrupt! Haha! Maybe you should just go there at least once - then can tell people you've been there.
Or just be like me and pretend you've been there. Anyway, I've provided enough info about the place for you to bluff your way through. LOL!
Traffic jam next week? I'm going to avoid the road as much as possible! Maybe I'll just walk. Can lose all the pounds I put on during CNY! : )
molly, I doubt people will remember about the cards politicians send out. I mean, they will remember during the festival, but fast forward a few months later, nobody cares!
Subang Jaya and USJ are places I will definitely avoid cos the roads there are jammed even during normal days! : )
RM38 is indeed quite expensive... but for the experience of it perhaps I will still go... never been up there before too.
The mineral water bottle is cute.
khengsiong, so you live near Sin Chew Roundabout? Next time, can visit you lah! You are married or not? If not, quickly get married this year so next CNY can visit you and collect angpow! LOL!
Oh, there were plans to build a flyover at the roundabout? Too bad not enough space, so I guess we'll be stuck in traffic at that roundabout forever! : (
I think you don't have to pay if you eat at the revolving restaurant or do you now? Nice pictures of the Winter Park, Foong.
Everytime there are major celebrations/festivals...traffic jams abound. Roundabouts should be dismantled...they never work in KL.I have seen on tv a huge roundabout with many lanes in France but it works..and has been since some centuries ago!
iwalk, yeah it's fun to receive CNY cards but like most people, I'm too lazy to mail these cards. So only sms greetings or send e-cards only : )
synical, haha! CNY hols are the perfect time to drive around KL. Another other perfect time is of course Hari Raya hols. If you've been to the revolving restaurant, I think there's no need for you to go other places there. Been to the restaurant, been there! : )
bengbeng, no CNY card at all? Well, at least I still received some, though I did not send out a single card! : )
neo, yes should go there at least once. But for photographer like you, must go! Can take lots of photos and post on your blog! I like the mineral water bottle too : )
happysurfer, really? I didn't know that, otherwise I will sure go to the revolving restaurant for my dinner. But I don't think so, cos it's not mentioned anywhere.
my bug life, how come roundabouts work in France and not in Malaysia?
Hahaha... has that bottle been on diet or what? That's the slimmest bottle of water I've ever seen! lololol
Hey, at least you can audition to play a role in a movie thanks to your pretending talent ;)
rad, haha! Yes it's a very slim bottle indeed only 300ml. Audition for a movie? Pretending is one thing, memorising lines is quite another! LOL!
That is expensive for a 30 minute tour. Here in the US, they cut the entrance fee in half if you come in after 5 PM. For your friend the entrance fee may have been worth it since he doesn't live in your city. I remember when we were in Venice, the gondola rides cost us $100 Euro. It is steep but we still did it since it's part of the whole Venice experience. We don't know if we'll be back but at least we saw and experienced the city. Btw, the word 'balik' means going back in Filipino. Is it the same in your language?
haha let me tell him!!! i never been there too just that i have been to petronas tower :P
so would you take me to this tower? is it ok for you if yee sang price replaced by taking me to this tower? :P
babette, yes expensive even though they throw in the Winter Park and Animal Zone. Yes, I guess it's worth it for my friend, but since it's my first time going there, I think it's worth my money too (just trying to comfort myself - haha!)
Yes, 'balik' means going back too in Malay language. Surprise it's the same for Filipino language! : )
faisal, if you come to KL, I will take you up the KL Tower. No problem, but since I've been there before, you gotta pay for my share as well. Haha! : )
tak baik wor buli penang boy especially kuai one like me.. :(
And I have not visited KL Tower. So can you take me there?!! hehe... Why the pakatan rakyat never send card to me one?!!!
i've only received 1-2 cards this yr.
i hate traffic jams and i agree with daydreamer 101%. i was caught in the infamous Penang Bridge bumper to bumper crawl during CNY for an hour, very frustrating indeed.
faisal, I'm not bullying you. Read what I'm going to say to eiling next!
eiling, sure! But to be fair to faisal, you have to pay for my share of the entrance fee as well. Haha!
Actually, I thought I read somewhere in your blog you've been to KL Tower, no? About the CNY card from Pakatan Rakyat, I guess you did not get a card becos you didn't vote for them? OK, just joking! : )
life ramblings, me too. Cards are no longer the trend these days. It's all sms and e-cards! Oh, Penang Bridge very famous for traffic jams! No need CNY balik kampung to trigger it!
alamak :(
what about we exchange... you come to penang and i take you to fort Cornwallis and eat pasembor? or you can change with penang asam laksa? :P
i have only receive one chinese new year card from khalid and lots of new year greetings from my haiku friends.
faisal, that's a good idea. Actually, I'm not so calculative one lah : )
renaye, not bad, at least you still get some CNY cards! Most people don't get them anymore : )
winter park in kl tower? WOW. that's news. :D
the last time we went to kl tower, we spent only about 20 minutes there before dad asked me to take them to brickfields for dinner. and i dun even know where the shop is! hahaha. well anyways, managed to find out in the end, and i'm actually promoting the shop to friends now. hahaha
medie007, only 20 mins? That's about right, since there's nothing much to see there anyway. I don't think they have the Winter Park last time : )
Rothmans Roundabout sucks! I used to work there, a building called Menara Merais. It's time for traffic lights.
Nice pictures of KL Tower. Ya, I agree RM38 better spend on Yee Sang, LOL!
gallivanter, yes it definitely sucks. Too bad they can't build a flyover over the roundabout.
pete, thanks. Well, since this is my first time visiting KL Tower, I won't complain so much. But no second time, unless they offer more attractions : )
I did not get any cards...
T____T
I think I'm like you, more willing to spend on yee sang than on going up the KL tower! :) You did not post any pictures that you took from the top :(
josephine, but you did get lots of CNY greetings via sms, right? : )
iamthewitch, haha! Yes, better spend on yee sang - more worth my money! Sorry no pictures cos I'm just using a handphone camera and pictures of KL city in the night just won't turn out nice! : )
I would pay RM38 to experience KL Tower. The last time I was there, there was a long queue, so I miss it.
Happy Chinese New Year!
i came back early. So no jam.
gong xi gong xi.
The only CNY cards I received are from my Insurance company.
eastcoastlife, RM38 is equivalent to only about SGD16. So cheap for Singaporeans like you! If I go Singapore and spend like how I spend in Malaysia, I can go bankrupt! : )
keeyit, lucky you are smart to come back early. Haha!
dead_cockroach, come to think of it, my insurance company did not send me any CNY card this year! Wait - I think they didn't send last year too : (
Errrr I oso haven been to KL Tower, how la like dat? He he!! Thanks for taking me there with ur post. :):):)
I haven't got a chance to go there. But the entrance fee sounds very pricey!
mariuca, never mind, With ample info from my post, you can also act and pretend like you have been to KL Tower many times! LOL!
irenelim, yes like I said, it's better to buy yee sang with that amount! But then again, it may be worth going there at least once : )
38bucks for this i think is quite ok
i paid 20bucks to have a ride on menara taming sari in mlc.
7minutes only, 20bucks burnt niao
i paid for da experience lo...
no more second time, unless someone paying it la :P
annant, well I guess I will pay the RM20 too for the experience. So yeah, the RM38 is not expensive if you look at it like that. Having said that, I still prefer to spend on a yee sang dish. LOL!
I have been living in KL all this while but I have never went up KL Tower before haha It just never crosses my mind. And RM38 is a bit too steep a price to pay. Don't you get a discount for being a Malaysian?
Btw, if you want a nice view of KL, why don't go to the bridge on the 41st floor of KLCC? It's absolutely free, but you have to queue up early for the limited tickets.
acura, no discount for Malaysians : (
Now that you mention this, I think they should give discounts to Malaysians like what the Bird Park at Lake Gardens are doing - they charge different entrance fees for Malaysians and foreign tourists.
I know about the KLCC bridge, but the queueing up early puts me off : )
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