Kuala Lumpur First Impression

Getting out at KL LCCT airport was hassle free. The hardest part was trying not to cough and sneeze while walking through the Swine Flu screening area. Once I was outside, I was promptly reminded I was in Asia again when I was whacked in the face by the heat and humidity. After a bit of stuffing around I was able to get some money changed and ready to try and find my way into the city (the airport is a long way from the city centre).

I was convinced by some guy to catch the “Aerobus” to KL Sentral. It seemed a little dodgy, but was cheap so I got on. It worked though, and in just over an hour I was at KL central. This is where the challenge of finding my hotel began. In hindsight, having a map at this point would have been beneficial, but was not essential.

KL Sentral is much like Melbourne’s Spencer St Station – which connects normal trains with V-line, long distance busses etc. The only problem is it’s doesn’t’ seem to be located as centrally as its name suggests, so a small trek is required to get anywhere useful. After wandering around KL Sentral for a while trying to find the monorail (which was supposed to lead me to my hotel) I asked some guy and he pointed somewhere around the corner. I followed his vague (but accurate) directions, to find that the monorail station is not actually located within KL Sentral, but just around the corner and across the road.

After the exciting monorail ride, I was able to locate my hotel (the Classic Inn) quite easily.

The Classic Inn is a pretty cool place. It is a sort of a hotel sort of a hostel. Hotel quality with hostel atmosphere. Definitely one of the cleanest places to stay.

The complementary breakfast is worth noting here. There is no “restaurant” here, so anytime in the morning, all you have to do is go and sit in the lobby/outside area and someone first comes up to you and asks you if you would like coffee or tea. After the prompt beverage, a three course breakfast is unexpectedly brought out to you. First what I think is a toasted palm sugar sandwich (delicious), followed by a selection of fruits (I had, and was impressed by, star fruit for the first time), then the main course which is an egg/rotti thing with some kind of curry (also good). A great was to start the morning – all at no extra cost.