Genting Highlands -First World Hotel .

First world hotel is one of the largest hotels that loom over first world plaza that spans over 500,000 sq. feet area. Lush green yard, theme parks, shopping mall, food courts, casinos, golf course, gymnasium and a lovely Spanish courtyard would make you enamored. The greeting by the tropical rainforest at the gate of First World Hotel would make you feel special.

The first World Hotel-Genting Highlands.

I stayed at the First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, the biggest hotel in the world in terms of number of rooms - over 6,000 of them.

The first world hotel lobby.

 I don't have to go to the lobby for  check-in.Since I already have my online booking number and my bill paid thru my debit card etc.etc.I proceed to check-in/check-out kiosk..all done. Isn't it fast now a days and no welcome greeting  from the hotel staff.

Standard Room.

Our room was in tower 2 on the 22nd floor.Our room was OK but cramped, just as I'd read in numerous reviews of this hotel. Our room was a standard unit.  It's okay for sleeping, provided you are immune to the altitude, but not for spending large chunks of the day in.
But we are very thankful that we took up the special offer to stay at the biggest hotel in the world. It was clean and tidy not until we are in...

The temperature at night dropped as low as 15-17C while it was just 20C during the day. Way too cold to be doing anything outside.

Just outside the lobby of the First World Hotel stands a beautifully crafted model of Genting Highlands, and since I didn't have the time or the energy to get around the whole city, this model provides some great views.

In-door theme park of the first world hotel.

Out-door theme park of first world hotel.

In-door  entertainment of first world hotel.

We spent the bulk of our time at First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, at the Indoor Theme Park located on the first floor above the lobby. It's quite spectacular with myriad sights and sounds, trains trundling slowly through the air, shops lining the paved streets, and a boat ride through a mini-Venice.
Photo shoot with my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Genting Highlands with Cable Car Ride .

On the 4th of August 2011,I enjoy the amidst the freshness of cool, crisp mountain air about 6,000 feet above sea level,I take a skyway cable car ride, with the sky above me and a tropical rainforest below, ride up to the hilltop on the longest and fastest cable car in southeast Asia.

Now, I've always had it in my head that cable cars are dangerous and extremely risky and I've kind of had somewhat of a fear of them.

The cable car ride up to the summit.Admittedly I was a little scared of the looming ride but I kept my fears to myself.

 The dramatic view.

Swirls of mist and fog covered our cable car as we neared the top. I began to feel hot so I moved across to

the open window at the top of the cabin. We were hovering through the air into the abyss.Really scared  it just stopped and left us hanging 5,000 feet in the air due to heavy rain and windy.

The skyway ride, I was relieved when the ride was over, but it wasn't that bad at all really. Quite a smooth ride. I'm glad I experienced the classic way the Genting Highlands with cable car ride..

Photograph with my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

RapitKL Rabbit Card.

RECENTLY, RapidKL came up with a new card called Kad Rabbit. When you enter the bus, you have to touch the card on a screen once, and again when you alight.During my recent trip to KL I  enter this  RapidKL bus service from KLCC to Bukit Bintang. The driver (women driver)  ask me to purchase a 'Kad Rabbit' from the machine near to her driving seat.

 Please slot in Rm5.00 to this machine and the rabbit card is yours..
Why must I be forced to buy the card at a minimum price of RM5 even though I will be using this bus only once? The bus driver gave me two options either a card for MYR5 with MYR3 value or MYR10 with MYR8 value. Basically its MYR2 for the card.

RECENTLY, RapidKL came up with a new card called Kad Rabbit. When you enter the bus, you have to touch the card on a screen once, and again when you alight. Even though this system is meant to make things easier for passengers, there are some issues that Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd should look into.This card is supposed to be used on all buses, trains, at parking lots, fast-food outlets, dining establishments and even movie outlets. But it can't be used at toll gates.



If we are talking about interoperability and standardising the technology and mechanism for easier operation, the card should be usable at toll gates as well.
Why do commuters have to buy a different Touch 'n Go card for the toll gates?
Another issue is that buses will not accept exact change any more. So, if you don't have this card, you will not be able to board the bus. Is this fair for commuters who are not well informed?

If RapidKL is trying to make things easier, there should be more promotions and awareness campaigns on this Kad Rabbit.What if a senior citizen or a disabled person who does not have a Kad Rabbit wants to board a bus?

What if the commuter is taking the bus only once for the day?Why must they be forced to buy the card at a minimum price of RM5 even though they will be travelling only once?

Let us say the cost of two-way travel is RM4. If your card has only RM4.30, you would not be able to use the card as you would need to have a minimum of RM5 to travel. This is based on a complaint received by the National Consumer Complaints Centre from a commuter.The managements of some fast- food outlets, dining establishments and cineplexes do not even know this card exists. So, how can consumers use it when these places are not prepared for it?RapidKL bus drivers should also be more considerate when handling passengers who are not aware of the card. They should explain the situation and not shout at them. Some drivers get annoyed and do not let the commuters board the bus. It would be good if commuters were given the choice of using cash or the card.

Ramadhan Chinatown Walkthrough.

Petaling Street in Chinatown Kuala Lumpur may be a visual treat but the traders can be a little aggressive. They do not like a camera in their face. Which is quite reasonable, considering almost every product sold there is a counterfeit. And don’t forget that nervous worker is probably a foreigner with a counterfeit work permit.That night I chose to arm myself with only Panasonic compact DMC Lumix LX3.  The low light capability of this little machine is quite amazing, as you will see.

Panasonic Lumix LX3 with Leica Lens.

KL Petaling Street or KL China Town.

Petaling Street is the center of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown. It's the place that never sleeps. Adventurous visitors should not miss a walk on Petaling Street.Even in daytime you have great bargains. Petaling Street is not open for the traffic. It is a great place for locals to get some goods at bargain prices and certainly an eye-opening experience for tourists.

Imitation Branded Perfume.

Petaling Street is particularly famous for its all-day parade of stalls, that sell imitation goods of all sorts, like: wallets, handbags, t-shirts, watches, shoes and many other things.

Petaling Street @ Night.

It is also great place for foreign tourist to get some goods at bargain prices and certainly an eye-opening experience for tourists.

Petaling Street.

It’s worth a trip to Petaling Street just to see the sheer madness of it all, people running up and down screaming out the names of the products that they’re selling.

Local  delight.

Although the retail in Petaling Street gets most of the attention, there is plenty of really good Chinese food within the area, so browse around and ask the local merchants (buy something if you have to) and they will guide you to hidden alleyways of local culinary delights!

The crowd @ Petaling Street.

Getting into Petaling Street is free, however, if you plan to buy something, then we’re not really sure how much you can spend. Though budget about RM 50 if you’re planning to check out the sites and grab a bite in the area. The rest is on your own account!
Cheers......

Ramadhan Break Fasting.......

The festival of Ramadan (Ramadhan, or Bulan Puasa in Malay) is an important event in the Muslim calendar, a time of personal reflection and bonding with one's family.

At the end of the day, Muslims break their fast (buka puasa) with a huge meal called iftar, usually eaten communally at home or at bazaars that are set up specifically for Ramadan.

Ramadan Bazaars in Malaysia

The Muslim majority in Malaysia (Muslim Malays constitute about 60% of the population) eagerly anticipate the Ramadan bazaars that help them break their fast at the end of the day.

The shoppers in the bazaars aren't all Muslim, though; Malaysian Chinese and foreign tourists also benefit from the bazaars' great eats and bargains.

For Ramadan, the Ramadan bazaars all throughout Malaysia operate the entire holy month, opening at 4pm every day. 

KIM SOYA BEAN @ Petaling Street.

The third day of Ramadhan,I'm still in the city of Kuala Lumpur @ China Town or commonly known as Petaling street.It's almost time for break fasting.So what i did was I went to KIM SOYA BEAN and bought (take away) a soya bean drink and tau foo fah then heading to central market for break fasting.

Tun Mahathir like their soya bean.

Kim soya bean is famous with their tau foo fah & soya bean drink.Even our Malaysia former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir love their soya bean(it was shown at one of the newspaper cutting).

Central Market Food Court KL.

 

All the above photos shot from my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Greatest Ramadhan Bazaar.

Indian Muslim Mosque in Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Masjid India (or Indian Mosque Street in English) is one of the oldest streets in the city, named after the Masjid India mosque beside the street. The mosque is about 140 years old, built in 1870 for the Indian Muslim population that originally lived there.

Ramadhan Bazaar @ Masjid India Street Kuala Lumpur.

 

Jalan Masjid India has a reputation of being a shopping haven since a century ago and is still going strong today. The official site at jalanmasjidindia.com describes it as a shopping paradise for locals and foreigners alike and it is well known for both wholesale and retail shopping and famous among locals as well as foreigners for shopping, food and discovering the real Malaysia.

locals as well as foreigners for shopping,

 

Despite being busy during normal times, the street really comes to life during the Ramadhan (Islamic month of fasting) season, where it will play host to an exciting and happening Ramadan Bazaar every year.

Police and Local City Hall Officers monitor the traffic @ Ramadhan Bazaar.

   Stall selling food to cater to the fasting Muslims@Ramdhan Bazaar.

An innumerable number of traders (mainly selling food to cater to the fasting Muslims) will set up their stalls on the street. Together, they turn Jalan Masjid India into one of the biggest and most colourfull Ramadan Bazaar in Malaysia-stretching all the way from the Masjid India Mosque till the end of the street or in every back lane of the street.

Another part of Ramadhan Bazaar @ Jalan Masjid India KL.

Other than food, visitors can easily find Hari Raya-related goods such as textiles, clothes,  Raya decoration and cake/cookies in the bazaar, aimed at those celebrating Hari Raya  which happens at the end of the Ramadhan fasting period 31 August 2011.

Leica Flagship Store in Kuala Lumpur.

I visited the Leica shop at the Avenue K lifestyle mall in Kuala Lumpur. They had a  M2 on display and the titanium M9. Stock is no more impressive than local shops. I expected to see a full line of lenses, but was disappointed. The M9 was around 32,000 MYR,(Malaysia Ringgit) so no price break. So this is the KL version.
The store space is designed to suit the lifestyle of Malaysian who like to be in a relaxing environment .It is also a space for Leica  enthusiasts to get together and engage in friendly chats while sharing images,techniques and insights as user of the brand.

Am i holding a Leica M9..

Leica M9 in Black paint finish.

Leica M9 available in steel-grey paint or black finish

The Malaysia store,is the world's largest Leica store .

The latest store has typical Leica shop features such as red leather adorning shelves showcasing cameras.

The history of 35-mm photography began almost 100 years ago with the legendary Ur-Leica.To-day,it is the Leica M9,a landmark camera that carries the proud heritage of Leica M camera into the digital age.You can find more information about Leica accessories online at www.leica-camera.com