KLIA2

Went for a quick tour of the newly opened KLIA2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport #2 ), a dedicated terminal for all low-cost carrier to replace the temporary LCCT terminal.

It was packed with people, a whole lot more congested than the main KLIA. Perhaps, due to low-fares, more people can fly-travel?!

Overall design of the terminal was a simple ok, however I still prefer the main KLIA

Sunset upon arrival

I have to be in Kuantan today to coordinate a scheduled night-inspection of a particular project. Travelling an approximate 250km to the east of peninsular Malaysia via air can be accomplish in less than an hour, but on overall getting there by car could turn out as a speedy solution if you take into the consideration of those time that you have to spend getting yourself at the airport and being there an hour earlier if you got luggage to check-in, and wait-up for your luggage upon arrival and getting somebody to fetch you or hire a car to get you around Kuantan. However, it should be the only option if you are tied-up with tight schedule and you have to be in another place, that is 400km away early of the morning of your very next day. It will definitely allow you to save up some energy, and channel it to a better use. Well, life is not always easy!

KLIA: Isolated time zone

(see full image)

The best way to enjoy your time at airport is to get yourself isolated from other people and get into your 'own world' !!

Sent from my iPhone

Your 'coffee time' of Airport time zone

Uplifted image for Kota Bharu Airport, NOT?

Actually, (as shown by the photo above) I was just referring to the Departure lounge's washroom. The rest of the area for this airport still remain intact without any changes whatsoever like a year ago (but still, Kota Bharu's Airport ergonomic and spatial organisation stands out better in comparison to Kuantan's!) The washroom appear to be in better condition (thanks to the refurbishment of its interior, that is) compare to the last I time I was here which is in October 2011, but I still have a problem with the size of its cubicle which is not design to be 'traveler-friendly'!

Imagine, if you are traveling on your own (without any single soul accompanying), where do you think would you stuck your hand luggage (okay let me be fair - your laptop back-pack for instance)?? There aren't any particular space within the cubicle for you to stash your back-pack without getting it all wet. Those hooks behind the door were not sufficient in terms of size or weight-durability for you to hook your back-pack on. So, what choice do you have?? You can't leave your bag laying around unattended, can't you? So despite having all the glitters for its walls and its new set of basin bowls, it still lack of practicality!! It's a self-reminded for me NOT TO DESIGN as such.

KLIA

KLIA International Departure with its modern architecture and detailings.

Fly again

I'm flying again for second consecutive days but a longer airborne than yesterday. My day has been hectic, being that at 1030am I'm attending a visit in Kuantan some 250km away from Kuala Lumpur, and reach my office in Subang Jaya some 5hrs later for a quick project briefing to my project team before heading for KL International Airport for a 2.5 hrs flight to Kota Kinabalu which I'm guessing, a couple of thousands km away from Kuala Lumpur across the South China Sea.

I'm writing this at thousands of feet above ground simply because, I've completed a 172pages of book that I just bought at the airport (titled, How to Read a Person Like a Book) and other than listening to FT Island of Kpop fame, I don't have anything else to do; I can't sketch, my sketch book is way up on one of those compartment and I don't feels like creating anymore visible noise to others who seems to have soothe themselves down under the dim light of the cabin and the weather wasn't as smooth as the first hours, so it's basically nothing much to do to kill time! And my battery is running low..perfect timing to be so (okay, am just being sarcastic there) but not to worry by the time I upload this on my blog, I may have reach my hotel room and ready to go sleep (as non-challenging as it may sounds, I bet I would not be having an early retreat tonight even though I could already felt the soreness eating up my muscle..am getting to uptight for this)

Misery Service of Kuantan's Airport Departure Lounge Cafe

I have problems with people doing business today; was it my karma of bad luck or simply because they all have zero business-brain? I have the slightest clue how 'professional' there are at doing their business but having a cafe at the departure lounge but not operating it at the peak's hour, it would seems a very lame excuse not to do so, for whatever excuse they may have. I think Malaysian Airport Berhad had to something about their business operator. It's giving the whole airport a bad reputation!!

Alor Star - Subang within a day!

Alor Star - from the air

Arrived in Alor Star safely at 945am after departed from Subang Skypark at 830am. The airport is far off better than Kuantan Airport, almost equivalent to Subang Skypark, but it is rather quiet, with less than 10 people on this whole departure floor. What am doing in departure level since I've just arrived? Haha..simply because the arrival hall is far more deserted than this!

Alor Star Airport from the runway

Alor Star Airport - the departure hall

Kota Kinabalu: Day 3

We finally come to our last day in Kota Kinabalu. I think a brief 3 days were not sufficient to cover the magnificent Sabah, let alone Kota Kinabalu. We have yet to venture into those museums, do some snorkelling or island hoping and enjoy the sunset!  as the conclusion - we shall return to get the feel of more places!! Till then, thank you for such warmth welcome!! We did enjoy our stay!!

Jesselton-here I come!!

My family and I are taking a leave from our routine activity and made our way through the South China Sea to Kota Kinabalu (of course it didnt mean we swim through but we fly over it!! ;)

Check-in was smooth, boarding was smooth, flight with slight turbulance..but most of it was smooth.. So, hopefully everything gonna turn out smooth for the 3days-2night stay, here in Jesselton!

Kuala Terengganu: end of march excursion

My Terengganu excursion will end in couple of hours. Packing things up from what supposed to be 'I'm-not-going-to-buy-anything-at-Pasar Payang' which turn out to be plenty compare to the size of my backpack. Time seems to fly so fast with so many things to do and too little to rest. By the time twilight sets in I'm all ready to 'fly' back home again. Hopefully the journey would be smooth..

Oh..Terengganu Airport has to take immediate action on the F&B issues here at the airport. No. 1 issue - passenger deliberately has no choice, it's either you snack on whatever they are selling at the tit-bits shop or any cold leftover meals that they don't bother to heat up at the only F&B outlet. If you are damn hungry and not wanting to be late for check-in, that, would be the only choice you had!!

Also, the management have to do something about the maintenance of washroom/toilet facilities, most of the time they don't bother to clean the floor regularly and those cleaners would linger around within the complex and enjoying a good chat among themselves.

Flying off to Kuala Terengganu

There are already crowd of people at each domestic check-in counter when I make my way at 6am to Skypark. Neverthelessly, it only takes not more than 5 minutes for each passenger to register at the counter provided they don't have any luggage to check-in as well, so I would consider the man behind the counter as efficient.

Anyway, if you are early, you can grab your breakfastor your cuppa from the Starbucks or McDonalds or any other kiosk which has already operating at that hour. I noticed, the waiting lounge of Skypark today was crowded with passenger-to-be of 5 domestic routes. Everybody is about to embark the earliest flight available to major domestic destinations in Malaysia, be it Penang, Kota Bharu or like myself to Kuala Terengganu. I think for travelling on a budget or if you prefer a low-cost carrier, taking Firefly would be a better choice over Air Asia since you don't have to travel all the way through to LCCT and the parking rate here is only RM1.50 per hour (of course if you don't mind the ticket being slightly more than Air Asia), plus it is not overly crowded unlike LCCT. But of course, if you prefer 'posh' environment that taking up MAS at KLIA should be your pick.

Screening the crowd, I would say that, almost everybody were 'dressed' in their 'working suit'. As previous trip, there would be a bunch of people that I saw here whom would share the same return flight at the end of the day - just like myself .. So, lets home our journey today would turn out well. Ameen..

waiting lounge of Kuala terengganu Airport after check-in

Terengganu Airport taxiway

more than a decade..but we made it at Skypark

It's an opportunity hard to be missed - meeting up my old buddy after more than a decade being 'away' from each other company..
an hour is not enough to do the catching up...

Interesting Aviation Info

I didn't know that these figures actually mean something in aviation..  ;)
it only make sense when the tip of the wings elevate at certain degree in comparison to those units of degree.

Through and forth KL-Besut

I was on the earliest flight from Subang Airport to Kuala Terengganu, luckily the weather upon departure was clear which enable me to capture the morning sun creeping through the skies saying hello to the world! But there's a heavy, dark cloud at the landing horizon - scares me out a bit and luckily it was just a light rain upon landing in Kuala Terengganu.  The weather was kept being gloomy entire day.

On my way to Besut, driving through the coastal road I could see the South China Sea leashing on its wave to the coast line-the water was murky, and I think any person in their clear state of mind would not risk it for the sake of having fun on the beach - totally NOT! And for some rivers, the water has risen up. Anyway, meeting was fast and managed to get back to airport on time to catch my return flight which would be landing in KLIA instead of Subang (long story - due to change of itinerary) and on top of that - back to office!! road-runner going for a mad-rush...

breathtaking sunrise

look at those clouds!!

it's started to rain..

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Kota Bharu vs Kuala Terengganu

I have been to Kota Bharu before, but this would be the first time I'm flying over to Kota Bharu. Via Firefly, it was only an hour journey - hey, it really saves time and energy compare to the idea of driving up all the way from KL. The Kota Bharu airport is basically small in scale, I would say about the same footprint as Skypark, but still carries the 80s signature interior with tremendous need to refurbish its washroom facilities! I would say - euww!!


Am actually heading for working visit to Besut which is roughly an hour journey from Kota Bharu and it would only be a day trip for me. I was scheduled to fly back to Kuala Lumpur that very evening from the Kuala Terengganu Airport.


Kuala Terengganu Airport!! What can I say - I was struck by the mammoth of its size, I mean architecturally it's a giant upscale mimic of 'terengganu traditional house' as their Airport! Am strongly feels that an airport should not be designed in such manner just to make sure it belong to certain state or country. It was nothing grande for having so 'grande size of everything'! I'm not sure about other people, but I was struck in awe!! This is what we call as 'mammoth architecture'.

Another 'first impression' that I receive was the view of collapsed roof of the Main Stadium right in front of the Airport!!

Mammoth Architecture of Terengganu

I have been to Kuala Terengganu before, but never with airplane. So the first time I travel to Kuala Terengganu with plane I was shocked with the giant upscale mimic of 'trengganu traditional house' as their Airport.. this is what we call as 'mammoth architecture'.


 

Another 'first impression' that I received was the view of collapsed roof of the Main Stadium right in front of the Airport!!

Skypark Subang

Well, to those whom has not been to the old Terminal 3, you are sure to be surprised with the new look of it. Now known as Skypark, where it provides a better environment  as well as better facilities for travelers, and most of them would be Firefly's frequents. It is not as jam-packed as LCCT and if you are really in rush because you actually being late (haha..tell me about it), the environment will actually help you to cool down, it's much shorter journey compare to driving all the way to LCCT. Also, you can grab your cuppa from Starbucks if you reach there early (yess..they're open even at 6am) or you can enjoy your cuppa McD's style ;)

Skypark terminal from its taxiway

check in counter

ample space as waiting area

link-bridge connecting the car park to terminal

The waiting area is the sort of typical waiting lounge that you can see at any other airport and most importantly, it has always been kept clean (the washrooms too).


Also, Firefly nowadays fly with new plane (believe me, it's no longer those old fokker plane!) and it's comfortable (well, what can you expect for being economical traveler?). Most importantly, I don't have to wakes up as early as 4am to catch a 7am flight..it's just a 15minutes drive from home..  :D