Bus Again

After what seemed like forever, I boarded a direct bus from Dengkil straight to KL today.

I guess the last time I took the bus was probably in July. And that's already an on-off thing, irregular.

Nothing eventful happened. Less jam too. School holidays and tomorrow's public holiday helped too today.

Come next month, probably need to do something on STELLAR's road tax. I need to be mobile still, even while regularly car-pooling.

WM To CM

I feel so bored waiting for the LRT, I suddenly thought about this impromptu test I had wanted to do since long ago, but forgot.

I wanted to see how long is the whole trip from Wangsa Maju to Central Market LRT.

I even counted how long the doors opened for all stations.

These are the results.

Stopwatch starts when the doors slam shut at Wangsa Maju, till the door opens in Central Market.

Total time: 21 minutes and some seconds.

Duration of door longest: 45 seconds at Masjid Jamik

Duration of door shortest: 14 seconds at all stations from Setiawangsa to Damai, and Kg Baru

Duration of door others: 40 seconds for KLCC, 35 seconds for Ampang Park, 20 seconds Dang Wangi

Thank you and good night.

Blissful Normal

After quite a period of serious daily driving, I finally hopped on a bus tonight

And this is because I am just back from two almost straight weeks of working at site. And I dare not leave my car at the office, for fears such as parking fine, and the rest you all can imagine yourself.

But leaving it unstarted for a long while can be troublesome too. Lucky my mechanic swapped my mechanical fuel pump with an electric unit. Thus no fear of petrol starvation.

And it started the first time, though the cranking needs about 5 seconds.

Tomorrow it shall be another long 43km ride to the office, and another one at noon. Yes, it's half day tomorrow. All thanks to the company family day starting in the evening.

Arriving In Style

I finally did it!!

I got the first bus today, after more than a month of trying.

Since my car is still under repairs, I use my bike, as usual, and departs from home at around 5.45am.

At 6.05am, I arrived at the bus stop, and just waited for the bus, which arrived at 6.11am.

Phew!

The LRT ride was very relaxing too.

And I arrived in style, just like in those days within this years' fasting month, at 7.40am.

Let's do it again already!

River Of BNM Notes

All four of us went outing today.

Where did we go? Sungai Wang Plaza.

Actually there are two highlights.

One. The Monorail ride. The kids love it. They can't help but look outside and see things like buildings, cars down there, or the rail stations.

Two. The wife's new phone. Err this one's classified. No more to say. Hehheh...

There are hiccups as well.

I was irritated mainly by my sinusitis, which worsens in the afternoon.

And of course, both of them kids displayed their usual antics, which was fine up to a point.

And the most disappointing thing to me is, bringing my camera while forgetting the quintessential memory card. This, adds an extra 1kg of burden to the ancilliaries bag without any purpose at all. Major breakdown this.



Muzzammil practising public transport tips, before going to work later next month..

The Rain Will Always Be There Anyway

Of all times, the rains usually occur around the time I travel to and from work.

So, it coincides with, most of the times, my biking trips to and from the bus stop.

Then, I cannot cycle. Thus, I have to wait for the bus.

And the buses were unreliable. At 6.50am, the first bus arrived. And I wanted to catch the 6.30am RapidKL at Precinct 9.

Fat chance.

I don't really mind enduring the rain after work. But it's a no-no when I am going to work.

The last thing I need is fever, from the rain.

NGV No More

Lucky I did not install the NGV tank, especially inside the passenger compartment at the rear seat.

Coz if I do, it would be an illegal installation.

The people at Nice Network in Gombak never told me about this small fact. Only thing is, they encouraged the installation to be in the boot.

But then again, it's the people at Malaysia NGV in Balakong that informed me instead.

I know I don't need to go to Puspakom, but I 'fraid that should STELLAR went through a roadblock, the questions will be raised. So there...

So now, a Hydrofuel installation is the next alternative.

Or maybe the very expensive "Hi-Pa Electric Motor In Wheels" like the one by PML. Which should set me back at least one or two hundred thousand in Sterling Pound.

Or I should take a bus.

Or I should work nearer.

Dizzying I know...

6 A M

Hearing stories from a bus mate on Friday, I decided to try out the 6am bus this morning.

For one, the bus is relatively late. I expect it to arrive the latest 6.10, but it turned out at 6.15. But small matter, I am too early anyway.

The bus arrived at KL Central at 6.50, which is fine.

I managed to board the LRT that arrives straight away. The crowd is similar to the one at night, but all seat's taken anyway.

I arrived to Wangsa Maju at 7.15. Managed to board the 301 bus without any rushing. It departs at 7.30 anyway.

Phew, I am early at 7.40am.

Wishing to do more of this, hoping I would not be so exhausted of the crowding I usually endure by traveling late.

And I shall sleep at inopportune times at the office no more.

Should It Be Rapid-Something-Else?

Is KL The City "Rapid", Or The Bus? Or The LRT?

I tried the Putrajaya Central - KL Central bus route. It was okay, except for the traffic jam after the Sungai Besi Toll, that is. And the traffic jam is guaranteed to happen everyday. And KL Central is pleasing too.

Then I tried the Putrajaya Central - Kelana Jaya LRT bus route. It was okay, and the traffic was way better than the former.

And both have long queue lines to board the LRT.

It's just that, the LRT ride seems to double the time taken, when compared to boarding at KL Central.

I don't know, but I guess rotating route is okay.

Come Friday (hey, it's tomorrow), I will drive. All these public transportation business is way too monotonous.

So Rapid

I think RapidKL's update on Klang Valley transportation is better than previously.

I have, though, some personal opinion on the drawbacks.

• I have to park further than before.
• The route used by the bus near TUDM is too prone to traffic-jam, which is observed to start as early as 7am.
• The seats are awkward, and are not comfortable for sleeping anymore.
• Mydin seems to be a cool spot already.
  

And I have the good points at hand too.

• The bus is more frequent. I hope this fact stays put.
  
• The transit between LRT and bus is nearer, and I am prone to do more window shopping.
• The surau is definitely better in KL Central than in Kotaraya Complex.
  
• The bus are positively separated from its private company peers Sri Indah, Metrobus and Maraliner.
• The buses are new. Yay!

I should try it in a week, and observe the consistency. And I will decide if I like it.

Window Shopping

The last weekday of any week (read: Friday) will have me witnessing a very long jam, especially heading out of the city.

Since this almost always happens, I usually prepare myself before such trips. I will spend some time window-shopping anywhere near the bus stand, such as Petaling Street, Kotaraya, Mydin or maybe stopping early at LRT KLCC for the same purpose.

Afterwards, its Maghrib prayer time, and I usually performed at Masjid Jamik or Kotaraya's tiny musolla.

And then, off I hop on to the bus. The end for the day.

Warmed Up Way Too Much

Sometimes you stepped in a bus that has a faulty airconditioning.

I have for several times.

I feel like suing the bus company. (read: RapidKL)

Almost everytime, I would end up having runny nose the day after. It's that hot.

We are paying for airconditioned bus. So maintain them!


PS: Why are we, the customers, always seem to be on the losing side?

Parental Discretion Advised

I have seen an article on mixing pure acetone in your car petrol for gas mileage.

It seems that, when 3 ounces (90 ml) is added to 10 American Gallon of petrol, the savings can mean almost 20 to 30 percent.

I'm still contemplating whether to really do this.

Now, to find 1 liter of pure acetone, and a durable-enough portable burette.


PS: Nope, I won't leave my RapidKL pass anytime soon, regardless of whether this works or not.

So Very Rapid

Every morning at 6.30am, I started my car and drive it to the nearest bus stop where a RapidKL always pass through at 6.40am.

Usually there's a NadiPutra feeder, but I can't rely on it just yet.

Sometimes, it passed through at 6.30am. Sometimes 6.35am, sometimes 6.50am etc.

With the two latter happening, I won't make it to the 6.40 RapidKL passing time.

I will have to wait for another RapidKL, which may arrive from 7.20am to 7.50am

I desperately want to stop driving so much. But the inefficiency of the NadiPutra made me drive everyday.


PS: When is that one fine day when I can drive without worry?

A Week Of Public Transportation

It's been a week, and some, since I used the public transport. I can only say it's been good, apart from some drawbacks. RapidKL has not let me down just yet. And the LRT-Bus combo pass, is indeed useful.

Some advantage of using public transport:

• Able to take a nap on the bus.
  
• On the LRT, you will arrive there ON TIME, guaranteed.
• Able to wear as big a stereo headphone as possible, and not worry about cops flagging you down for not paying full attention to traffic.
• With a pass, you can go anywhere, and I mean, anywhere, in KL. And with no extra cost, you can literally bring no more money.
• Able to feast your eyes on anything panoramic, beautiful or sexy.

Some disadvantage of using public transport:

• Waking up too early is necessary.
  
• Have to be content with sharing spaces with lots of other occupants.
• Queueing and more queueing.
• Too many transits in between transportation.
• Double or triple time wastage in total per day.
• Extra time wasted while waiting for the bus.
• Exposure to natural and manmade elements, e.g., rain, sunlight, exhaust smog, etc.
• Inability to sing loudly anymore. You can only lip-sync.
  

Well, you cannot have everything.

I did though, find the chance to do my full-fledged karaoke singing, while walking the 5-minute transit between Sungai Besi LRT Station to the imaginary bus stop (no proper roofed and seated facility) beside the Sungai Besi Highway. That means belting out at least one song.

But I guess, I won't stop at Sungai Besi anymore. I found Salak Selatan LRT to be nearer to a bus stop where RapidKL 868 passes. The rain at 7.30 yesterday evening had me good.

Won't See Much Of Road

As soon as I entered 7-Eleven at Projet Wangsa Maju this morning, it had already caught my eyes.

"Petrol Price Up 30 Sen."

Some people's instinct can be very accurate I guess. (read: mine)

It's very timely that I bought the Bus/LRT pass for March. It's priced at 125RM. I hope to use the pass for this whole year.

I have high hopes that the pass price won't increase another 18 percent like the petrol price. The LRT pass increased already late last year from 70RM to 90RM.

No words can describe what I feel about this. STELLAR won't see much of roads anymore.

And I can only see the roads from way above, when I ride the LRT of course.

Thrift Consideration

Been contemplating on using the public transport.

It might commence come next month, and lasts for a whole month.

At least I know that the fastest time to arrive at work is 8.05am, and the latest by 9.30am.

And I usually procrastinate when it comes to going back, even by using public transport. So I may arrive at around 9pm, or a bit earlier.

But I'd like to try out at least once before I do, how fast can I get home. It's more important than how fast I can get to work. Using just RapidKL and NadiPutra.

This is my planned route to work.

• NadiPutra from Precinct 16 to JPM Precinct 1
• RapidKL Bus 868 from JPM Precinct 1 to Central Market
• RapidKL PutraLine from Central Market to Wangsa Maju
• RapidKL Feeder Bus from Wangsa Maju to KLSC

This is my planned route to home.

• RapidKL Feeder Bus from KLSC to Wangsa Maju
• RapidKL PutraLine from Wangsa Maju to Masjid Jamik
• RapidKL StarLine from Masjid Jamik to Sungai Besi
• RapidKL Bus 868 from Sungai Besi to JPM Precinct 1
• NadiPutra from JPM Precinct 1 to Precinct 16

As I see it, the Mydin stop where the bus picks us up to Putrajaya may be overpacked. Thus the detour.

The cost, about 145rm. That should save me some bits.

Now to find one very fine day to time-track.