Seoul-searching

Departure

Crossing Countries by Train. Okay, maybe not. (Day 1: Visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

My Kuala Lumpur via train Travel

The train ride from JB sentral Terminal to KL Sentral Terminal – Malaysia

20 October 2012

Our train tickets were purchased ahead of time via the KTM website as we want to try the overnight train sleepers.  (https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx) Our travelling time is from 23:55 to 6:00. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to reserve the premier class or even the 1^st class and ended buying the second class sleepers. Better than sitting the whole night, right?

We arrived 30 minutes before the departure time even though the instruction in the ticket is we need to be at the station one hour before. Good thing as there isn’t anything you need to do once you’re at the terminal but to wait for the train to arrive.  The train reach the terminal just in time and we were asked to queue for checking of the ticket.  

KTM Berhad Intercity Train

To be honest the KTMB train is quite a disappointment. It was old and not well maintained but I took trains before that are much worse than this so no harm trying. I’m in for an adventure after all.

Inside of KTM Berhad train

 

Second Class Sleepers of KTMB Train

The second class sleepers were not good as well. I felt like I’m in a hospital. It was clean but not sure if it is really. It has a double deck like bed. The one below has more space than the upper. It was separated by curtains. You need to place your bag inside your sleeping area or leave it in the hallway.

Outside view from the window beside the bed

Cleaning the train
First station after the train departure on JB Sentral Terminal

I thought I won’t be able to sleep the whole night as the train move, I can loudly hear its sound. I was stationed near the door, I thought this is a good spot but it isn’t. The door on our side keep banging as the lock was broken. The view outside was dark and scary. It’s like I’m in a horror movie. I shut my curtain and try to get some sleep. The sleepy head, me, was sleeping soundly before I knew it. I woke up couple of times during the trip but found myself sleeping again knowing that we haven’t reached our destination yet.

Other train in the railway

Well, I don’t have much story to tell as I was asleep the whole time and the next thing I knew the train conductor is waking up everyone as we arrive in KL Sentral exactly at 6:30 in the morning. 

Links for more information:

The Train from SG to KL

Crossing Countries by Train. Okay, maybe not. (Day 0: Visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

My Kuala Lumpur via Train Travel

From Woodlands, Singapore to Johor Bahru, Malaysia

19 October 2012

It was supposed to be a Singapore (Woodlands terminal) to Malaysia (KL Sentral terminal) via KTM Berhad railways and “my first time travelling cross-country by train”. Oh well, we can still put it that way, can we?

Train ticket from Woodlands, Singapore station to KL, Malaysia is double the price than taking the train from Johor Bahru, Malaysia station. So I decided to hassle myself and pay less. The cheaper, the better, isn’t it?

Based from my previous experience, crossing Woodlands to Johor Bahru would take around 45 minutes via bus (inclusive of walking and passing by the two countries immigration). 

Google maps and Singapore tourist guides will actually tell you to go to Marsiling station where you can ride the bus going to Woodlands checkpoint (buses 950, 856, 187, 170). As for me I decided to take the bus from Woodlands Interchange as I’m quite familiar with that route. You can take bus 913 or 912. 

View Outside Woodlands Interchange - MRT Station

There are also a couple of buses that would take you to the checkpoint. Just read the guide and make sure to take note of the bus line colour (red and blue) before riding. The bus ride will be around 10 minutes and will bring you directly to Woodlands checkpoint. It’s easy to spot as it’s like the “boarder” we usually see in war movies that separate two different countries (just urbanized).

 

Causeway connecting Woodlands Singapore
 & Johor Bahru Malaysia

Upon entering Woodlands Checkpoint, you’d be walking and going up on escalators for around 10-15 minutes. There are arrows that will direct you on where to go. You will then arrive at Woodlands immigration where you need to present your passport (same immigration process as in Changi Airport). After the immigration, you will need to take the bus right below the checkpoint. Any public bus will do, just tap your ezlink. Be reminded that the bus is only until 11PM and there's a long queue during weekends and holidays. 

Another shot of the Causeway.
Sorry for the bad picture. 

The bus ride will take you around 15 – 30 minutes sometimes longer, depending on the traffic situation of the causeway, to reach the Johor Bahru immigration. The JB Sentral train terminal is just within the vicinity outside the immigration.

 

Note:

 

Make sure you bring your two way ticket, working pass, hotel booking, and other documents that will clear you of the immigration officer. Be prepared to answer some questions regarding your stay in their country as well.

Links for more information:

Wikitravel - Singapore to Johor Bahru

Bus Guide - Singapore to Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Being a bridesmaid

I hate weddings.

Okay. Maybe not.

I just hate attending weddings.

I don't like the solemnity. The sermon. The program. The people.

The feeling... The emotions... The magic...

The happiness. The love.

Yet I don't have any option.

I am afterall one of the bridesmaids.


Bridesmaids Dress


I still cannot comprehend why I end up being one. The bride and I weren't that close.
Yet I am stuck with this role. It was like she ask me if I'd like to buy a channel bag which I gladly replied with a 'yes' not knowing she'd buy one for me. And the next day it was delivered in my front door and asking she was asking me to pay for it.


Oh well I am not good at talking things out when it comes to personal matters. So I just have to bear the consequence.


So...


Wedding it is.




Bring it on.






Oh God Why?!!






I think I am more paranoid and scared than the groom now that this event is confirmed.

What if I am not me?!

Me: Next time just tell me upfront on what should I do. I don’t really need to understand the logic behind it, I'm not interested. I’m starving here now, you know?! Beside, you’re making me look like a geek. Doesn’t suit me.

H:  :| You’re the gamer chic ehh. ;) I was thinking to have it full reformat to remove the bloatware then do the partition but we won’t make it to your deadline. Which is I know tonight, cause your dying to play.

Me:  Ow, I don’t like those stuffs, online games? Doesn’t interest me.

H: WTH?!

Me:  I prefer to go shopping and watch fashion TV. Those stuffs you're telling me are for guys and I don’t like it. I won’t stay up all night just to play online games I’d have eye bags and my skin will look dull.

H: WTH seriously?!

Me:  And don’t make me a geek like you. I don’t like gadgets and stuffs I’d rather watch gossip girl.

H: … Dafaq?!

Me:

Day 00: Bangkok, Thailand (Part 1)

Bangkok, Thailand 

(19 – 22 April 2012)

Day 00: 19 April 2012

From: Changi International Airport (Terminal 1), Singapore

ETD: 22:10

Airline: AirAsia

To: Suvarnabhumi International Airport, New Bangkok, Thailand

ETA: 23:30

Typical me, I arrived at Changi International Airport 1 hour before the flight. Yes, the queen of tardiness strikes again. I was quite confident though since I did a web check in using my mobile phone on my way home to pick up my stuff before going to the airport. The only problem is I don't have a print out email of my check in. Am I good or what? Luckily, Air Asia has this kiosk where you just need to scan the bar code of your boarding pass in your mobile phone/print out email. Thinking that luck is on my side, I immediately scan the bar code on the kiosk but to my dismay I only received an error. I tried again. Still an error. I ask an assistant and he just directed me to the counter. Since I don't know what went wrong, if it's because of my GPRS or because I am late and I can only use the barcode 1 hour before the scheduled departure, I just follow his advise and went to the counter. Now this is bad as I still need to line up. Fortunately, the queu is faster than I thought and I am able to get to my boarding gate right on time. Plus one point for Air Asia.

The plane arrived right on time. Since, it's a budget airline I'm expecting it to be crammed inside and yes I am right. The ride was quite good and comfortable though I'm wondering why they turn the plane like they were drifting a car on a mountain way. The cabin crew were accommodating and pretty but hard to comprehend as their English is not that good. The view outside when we came to Thailand area of responsibility is beautiful, the lights was way better than Manila at night from above. We arrived at Bangkok five minutes earlier than the expected time of arrival. Well if you ask me I am definitely riding Air Asia again (of course if they have promos. Hahaha!)

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is really big. I think bigger than Changi Airport but I'm not sure since it looks like they only have one terminal for international flights. We rode a bus going to the airport terminal from the airplane. Its over crowded in the bus because all the passengers in our flight squeezed themselves in. The travel time was about 5 minutes from the airplane to the terminal.

The terminal is a haven for shopaholics, there's a lot of boutiques where you can shop from Burberry, Channel and the likes to Bangkok own signature brands. It was made of glass and the design, I thought of it as typical Thai's structure. Overall the airport is nice and well lighted. They just need to add more signs to direct the people on where to go.

At the immigration, it's also very convenient. No long lines, maybe since I arrived midnight and there's not much question asked. I just find the immigration officers wearing a surgical mask a bit offending. Anyways, I went directly to where the public transportation is (2 floors down) since I won't be able to ride the airport train link as it closes midnight, I decided to take a taxi.

Upon exiting the terminal's arrival area, a long queue of taxis are waiting. There's an assistant who will assist you in giving direction to the taxi driver. But beware as they don't ensure that the cab drivers will bill you according to the meter. Once the taxi entered the highway right outside the airport, the driver charge me for 400 baht, he will pay the toll and no surcharge he said. Too tired to argue and converting the fare to SGD I just agreed (16 sgd is not bad at all plus it's safer as he might leave me in the middle of the highway). The drive was quite long, passing through long stretch of highways and bridges. It took us 30 minutes to arrived at the hotel without traffic.

Hey let's talk about the hotel and my first day on my next entry.  

Dream Interpretation

I dreamt of someone fishing using a rod. She caught a big fish which she wanted to eat so she cook it however it became a fried shrimp without the outer cover.

Weird isn't it? Well since this is one of the few moments I remember the dream I had let's just shrugged the weirdness in it. So I went to Google and look for the meaning of my dream and here's what it means.

Dreaming of Someone Fishing

A fisherman in dreams suggests the dreamer is trying to catch something in his/her waking life.

Dreaming of fishing could mean the dreamer is confronting repressed emotions and bringing them to the surface.

Dreaming of fishing for a larger fish than anticipated may mean the dreamer feels he/she may not be able to handle what he/she is dredging up from the unconscious- that the idea or information is too large for them to handle

Be careful though with over-interpreting- Fishing could also mean the dreamer has a need for leisure and relaxation.

Dreaming of a Fishing Rod

A fishing rod in dreams represents the tools and motivation you have necessary for your quest and exploration of your unconscious mind. You are ready to confront issues and emotions which you have suppressed. Dreaming of the fishing rod may indicate to you that you are going to embark on an internal journey of self-discovery.

Dreaming of a Shrimp

To see or eat shrimp in your dream suggests that you are feeling overpowered and insignificant. You feel like you want to hide from the world and be left alone for a while.

Well what can I say but sometimes our subconscious is telling us something we don’t want to admit to ourselves and is telling us what we should do.  So another vacation for me, is it?



Credits:
The meaning of fish in Dreams
Meaning of Shrimp in Dreams