Cheaper Way to Get to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

The official one-way express rail fare from Kuala Lumpur Central station to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is RM 35.00. It's expensive, but it's possible to as low as RM12.50 to travel from KL Sentral to KLIA. It's all due to the fare structure different between so called KLIA Express and KLIA Transit. Basically, KLIA Express is the direct express rail service to KLIA from KL Sentral, for RM 35.00, while KLIA Transit stops at several station along the way, with cheaper fare because it mainly caters for locals. A closer examination on the ERL fare structure at Express Rail Link will reveal some interesting fact. The fare is listed at KLIA-Transit section.

KL Sentral --> Bdr. Tasik Selatan RM 4.20
KL Sentral --> Putrajaya RM 9.50
KL Sentral --> Salak Tinggi RM 12.50
KL Sentral --> KLIA RM 35.00

But,

Bdr. Tasik Selatan --> Putrajaya RM5.30
Putrajaya --> KLIA RM6.20

So to save money on fares:

1. Either take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM9.50. Get down and buy another ticket from Putrajaya to KLIA for RM6.20. Total cost works out to RM15.70 instead of RM35.00 The inconvenience is having to wait for the next train for about 15 mins(peak) or 20 mins(non-peak). But the substantial saving of RM19.30 per person may be worthwhile.

2. Take the Komuter to Bdr. Tasik Selatan for only RM1.00. From here take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM5.30. Get down and buy another ERL ticket to KLIA for RM6.20. The total costs add up to only RM12.50 instead of RM35.00. This option is cheaper by RM3.20 but the additional hassle may not be worth the additional saving.

ERL is banking on the fact that despite this apparent weakness in the fare structure, nobody will take advantage of it mainly because everybody is in such a hurry nowadays!

Lost, and Found Again

I read a news report about where on earth, when you lose an item, you will have the highest chance that somebody picks it up and returns it to you. In that report, Singapore ranked among the highest. Today, it seemed like it's a bit proven.

I lost my PDA on the bus. I believed the PDA just slipped down my bag, but I didn't notice it. I alighted the bus halfway the bus route, and when I noticed that my PDA was gone, the bus was long left.

I suspected that the PDA was left behind in the bus. But to be certain, I called back to office to check if the PDA was there, as I pretty sure that I took it with me when I left home this morning. It's not in the office. I called SBSTransit hotline, the office was closed. Finally, I called the TransitLink hotline (1800-CALLONE), and was given the phone number for SBSTransit Lost & Found (63837211) and Tampines Interchange Control Centre (67811360).

As the bus was heading to Tampines Interchange, I called them first. The first guy who picked up my phone thought I was his friend or something, kept telling me where is the Tampines Interchange. The second guy took my phone number, and promised me they will call me IF somebody returns the PDA. At this point, I decided to give up any hope of recovering the PDA.

As I was on the bus back home, somebody called me. He picked up my PDA! Victor Aw picked up my PDA on the bus. The PDA does have my number, but it's hidden. So Victor Aw found Aki's phone number. I wrote her phone number, together with her chinese name in the PDA's note when we volunteered for 117th IOC session. Luckily, Aki could recalled that I am the one wrote her name in Chinese.

So, thanks to Victor Aw, the nice guy, with her wife, and Aki indirectly, I got back the PDA. Victor Aw actually waited me at Han's at Century Square. He is such a friendly guy. Too bad I didn't have much thing for him, except some drinks.

Well, guess Singapore rating might go up a bit?

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Hillary Clinton

Oh no, I really want to throw away my camera phone. She is HIllary Clinton.


Everytime a famous celebrity walked out of the Esplanade's theatre, sure will caused a human traffic jam. So did Hillary Clinton.


Here's a better one of Hillary Clinton, taken by other on another occasion.

Fellow Volunteers at 117th IOC Session

With Ke Yun. First met her with Aki and Sandy together at the bus stop after the first briefing.


2 pretty volunteers Aki and Sandy


With Charles, IC of Circle 2. The photo took with my low end mobile phone camera.


All volunteers in Circle 1 and 2 of the Esplanade ushers, thanks to camera phone of Raffee.


Another photo of our group at Circle 1


At the end of the opening ceremony, directed guests from Roof Terrace to bus at Raffles Avenue.

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Jacque Chirac

I think it's time to upgrade my handphone, as the camera quality is sucked. Anyway this is Jacque Chirac.


Jacque Chirac taken from the staircase to Foyer Stall. The lady in front of me is actually from the 117th IOC Session organizing committee. She said I will be safe for taking these photos. Hopefully.


More of Jacque Chirac


Jacque Chirac was giving pretty long interview at the Foyer Stall, causing massive human traffic jam.

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Sven Goran Eriksson

He was walking down, nobody seemed to know who is he.


He is Sven Goran Eiksson, the coach of England football team. Later in the night we saw him again going into Equinox, but too late to catch him up.

At the Volunteers Lounge of 117th IOC Session

After the rehearshal on 4th July 2005, a group of us went to Volunteer Lounge and met some other volunteers.


Another photo of the group.