Walking Walking Kuala Lumpur -FREE WiFi @ KL

Today  I am out in Kuala Lumpur city to take photos for my Blog4FT contest. I was planning to a series of blogs tittle Walking-walking Kuala Lumpur literally translated from Bahasa Malaysia Jalan Jalan Kuala Lumpur.

I am blogging now from Station Kopitiam using Wireless KL internet connection while enjoying salted fish fried rice and a glass of iced lemon tea. This is my first posting and using the FREE internet access. You can check the coverage HERE.

To learn more about wirelesskl, one can visit their website but if you feel lazy to click and link, I copy and paste the information from the  website here:

 ......an innovative wireless broadband Internet access service that keeps you connected all the time, wherever you may be in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

Whether you live in KL, work here or are simply visiting this vibrant city, you can now take advantage of a FREE* wireless broadband service with speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second (kbps) anytime, almost anywhere in KL.

The KL Wireless Metropolitan Project or Wireless@KL is a FREE wireless broadband internet access service that is brought to you by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and theMalaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration withPacket One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd in a pioneering effort to transform Kuala Lumpur into a world-class wireless city.

Users would be able to access speeds of up to 512kbps, taking advantage of some 1,500 Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points implemented throughout KL's commercial areas, offices, tourist attractions, residential areas, community centres, DBKL offices and countless other public areas.Once you register as a Wireless@KL user, you will also be able to access the Wireless@KL portal where you'll find useful information on where to go around KL city, the latest news on KL happenings and much more.

I am accessing this wirelesskl at Station Kopitiam, City Bazaar outlet along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. This cafe is located opposite the Pertama shopping complex. Visitors who are  planning to visit the city of Kuala Lumpur can register for a FREE account HERE. 

First Visit To Kota Kinabalu

Strabucks Coffee, Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Waiting for flight bound for Kuala Lumpur.

This is my meal for breaking of fast at Starbucks KK International Airport. Just a few cents to make it RM 20.00.  

No! Not actually a first timer to this Land Below The Wind but a first time this year. Have travel to Labuan earlier of the year and this time back to Kota Kinabalu. 

Stayed at the Kompleks TH in Sembulan. Did not know that the complex has hotel facilities with 108 rooms. It has three type of rooms ; Standard (Triple), Superior (Twin) and Deluxe ( Twin). Besides it also has Executive Deluxe Room. All rooms are provoded with facilities such Astro, Fridge and coffe making facilities. The tagline for the hotel is "Berorientasikan Hotel Islam". 

Beside accomadation, the complex also has 8 rooms to cater for functions suh as seminars, conferences, meetings and banquets. 

 

The reception

I stayed on the 8th floor facing the sea. Its a view with Sutra Harbour  Resort.

The view from the room and on a clear day can view the sunset.

Harbour View - Kuching

Harbour view hotel is one of the most convenient place to stay when you are in Kuching if you are looking for a cheaper alternative place to sleep. Located at Temple street it is near to the waterfront and market street where one can buy local Sarawak handicraft. I was told that the hotel is a favourite for visitors from West Malaysia and one must pre book because it usually full house.

There is also Free WiFi for guest and you can ask for the password from the reception. However during my stay I can't get logged on to the network and the problem is with my laptop not the service I think. However since I subscribe to Celcom Broadband, I have nothing to regret about not being able to get connected to their network. The only thing is that Celcom's signal is not very stable and speed is slow.

Rooms are with breakfast and I can tell that food is excellent and on a rating of 5 I can give 4.5. However there is not much choice for breakfast but with a hotel like it, what more can we expect.

Taxi's is always available and if you want cheaper meals for your lunch or dinner, there's a Malay restaurant just at the back of the hotel. Its Molly's Place and serve excellent Malay food with a reasonable price. Five to ten minutes (depend on your walking speed) away is the waterfront, D place to hang at night. There's food stall but price is quite expensive. Just sit and enjoy a glass of teh tarik. Read more here.

The single standard room with one single bed

The view from my room. Sarawak River and the istana in the background. The dome shaped building in the background is the Kuching North Local Council

If you are a night owl, nightlife is just five minutes away from the hotel. Cafes and Bistro can be found along the road opposite The Hilton. Walk out of the hotel and go left. Walk up the hill and the next junction is the place. If you are the kinky type, you might find transvestites as company (LOL) over there.

Mega hotel, Miri

It is my second stay at The Mega Hotel situated at the heart of Miri town. Well, I get a government rate for my stay here. It is situated at Lot 907, Jalan Merbau, P .O. Box 1165, 98008 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
Tel: (6) 085 -432432, Fax: (6) 085- 433433. Website : www.megahotel.com.my Mega Hotel is ideally located in the business and entertainment hub, within easy reach to gastronomic and shoppers' delights, with easy access to commercial complexes and government buildings. Miri is Sarawak's bustling Oil Town and a melting pot of different races and culture, a harmonious mix of indigenous and with a notable expatriate community. Whether in Miri for business or pleasure, MEGA HOTEL is the choice of accommodation and starting point to an exciting stay.

Down there you can sit and relax over a cup of tea of have light meals from evening till midnight. Just walk across the road from the hotel.

A view from my room.

The WiFi signals that my laptop detected from my room on the 9th floor. However I was connected to the onternet using Mega Hotel's own WiFi signal and it is FREE.

The swimming pool on the 4th Floor. There's also a Jacuzzi at the other end of the pool.

View from the pool

Alor Setar- The Rice Bowl Capital

Alor Setar is the capital of the state of Kedah. The name derived from the activities concentrated on a small river tributaries which in Malay named as Alor. At the place there are Setar trees hence the combination of both names give the place her name Alor Setar. Its difficult to find the Setar tree nowadays. Back in 1982, the Sultan of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah planted the Setar tree at the town square opposite the Mesjid Zahir to commemorate the opening of the square and to symbolically represent the name of the town. But since the actual tree planted by the Sultan did not grow as expected and a replacement tree was planted. I took the picture of the actual tree a few days after it was planted but not sure where the album is after I transfered and work in Kuala Lumpur.

This monument was erected at the place supposedly where the Alor town was first born.

Monument marking the official declaration of Alor Setar town to city status in 2003. the building in the background is a two unit double storey building with a date on it as 1324. Maybe its one of the oldest building in Alor Setar. The unit on the left house Thean Teik Printer and is still in business. As far as I can remember the printing shop was there and until today.

Monument marking the history of 250 years of Alor Setar in 1985 (1735-1985)

Going to Alor Setar

Alor Setar is accessible by air, road and rail. Malaysian Airlines and Airasia fly daily to the town from Kuala Lumpur. Express buses also ply from Kuala Lumpur daily. From Penang one can go to Alor Setar on Transnasional and the service is povided hourly from morning till night. KTMB also connect the city to Kuala Lumpur.

The city centre revolves around the Setar Walk where Holiday Inn is situated. The hotel is on the same building of City Plaza, the most popular shopping centre in the city. Staying at The Holiday Inn , one can have easy access to the popular Pekan Rabu for local and traditional foodstuffs. A walking distance away around the Hotel are banks including Maybank, Bank Simpanan Nasional, RHB and CIMB. The Railway station is also situated just about 5oo metres away.

What you can do in Alor Setar?
Pekan Rabu is one place tourist must not miss. Mesjid Zahir, Balai nobat (where nobat musical instruments are kept) Clock tower, Balai Besar are all situated at the same location. Don't forget the Menara Alor Setar for a birds eyeview of the city and on a clear day one can even see the Straits of Malacca. From a top the tower you can see the breathtaking view of the Kedah plain and know why it is called the Rice bowl of Malaysia.

What else?

Go to duty free island of Langkawi and travel into the legend of Mahsuri. The highest peak in Kedah is Gunung Jerai (1200 m) and feel some adventure going to the top. At the foot of the mountain on the south is Lembah Bujang, a historical site where it is believed the first Hindu settlement started. So if you are into history, do not miss this valley.

Shopping will usually be on ones itenary and if you want to buy football jerseys of any popular soccer team in the world or corporate uniforms of the F1 teams, drive up to the border town of Bukit Kayu Hitam, about an hour away using the PLUS Highway. Of course its not the original but imported from over the border and ad a glance nobody will say its imitation. Oh, you want to buy imititation apparels? Hmmmmm.....its individual taste and preference. Theres also a Duty Free complex at Bukit Kayu Hitam. See the online album here

Free WiFi Access in Miri

Read about it here.

First Travel in 2007 and FREE WiFi

This is my first travel on official duty in 2007. Started on 16th Mac 2007 and the trip is to Alor Setar, Kedah. A normal 5 hour journey took me thirteen and a half hours. Well of course including sleeping in the car along the journey. I will stop at RnR to sleep whenever my eyes couldn't stand it anymore. A three lane on the highway appears to be four and sometimes merge into one. So rather than meeting any consequences I better park my car and sleep.

In Alor Setar, I stayed at the Kedah Institute of Management accommodations at Jalan Sultanah. The Institute was set up by the Kedah State Government to upgrade the knowledge and efficiency of the public sectors.

After my duty in Alor Star completes, I move down to Ipoh. Stayed at Park City Hotel which is nearby the Perak Sports Complex. The hotel is a budget hotel but room is spacious and the rate is affordable. I took a Superior room on the new block at RM98.00. Another plus for staying in the hotel is that it provide free wifi internet which is available at the lobby. The last time I stayed at the hotel I can manage to access the internet from my room. However the signal is quite weak and I could hardly get 54Mbps. Just enough to get connected to the internet .

This time around I stayed at the 6th floor and could get access from a few spots of the JARING-Redsnapper. I am not sure who provide the FREE access but I think its the Perak Government initiavites to set up that coverage. It I am correct then this is the third effort by the governement to setu up FREE internet access for the public. One is at MITC in Air Keroh, Malacca. Then the Sarawak Government is doing the same for Miri resident.

I think I can lift my hat to the Perak State Government for providing this FREE access. Even this blog is written and posted from Tapah RnR along the North South Highway (PLUS) which is also FREE. This is one of the FREE wifi access zone along the highway. Another one is at the Sungai Perak RnR.

It is high time that the government provide FREE internet access at all government buildings to boost the internet usage capacity and spur Malaysian to be more computer literate and internet savvy. The internet is an ocean of knowledge which is waiting to be harvested and tapped.