Yup, I will be going to Kuala Lumpur again but because this will only be a day trip to visit MOFEW, Malaysia’s Online Fashion Entrepreneurs’ Weekend, because I am too cheap to pay premium for a hotel room in KL over the weekend, I decided to buy my KTM tickets early. Yes, I bought both ways so as not to have to pay MYR40 just to come home like what happened the previous trip.

Anyway, media gave conflicting reports on when the electric train services will begin; The Star said on Wednesday, 11th but Ipoh Echo said Thursday, 12th Aug, instead. I thought that I could go and get a refund on my tickets even though I would only be getting 50% of what I paid earlier and go to KL on KTM’s new electric train.

Unfortunately, the special ETS (Perkhidmatan Tren Elektrik) counter was closed when I arrived at KTM Station just now. I understand from the Station Master that a lot of Government staff went on a free ride to KL this morning. No wonder it was empty at the station.

** click on image to enlarge **

In any case, I managed to get hold of the schedule and fare, which I think a lot of people are interested to know. The promotional fare, which will last for 6 months, is MYR30 for an Ipoh – KL Sentral ride. From what I understand, children, senior citizens and the disabled will get to enjoy a 40% discount on fare.

** click on image to enlarge **

I just checked the website of ETS Electric Train Services http://www.ets-train.com.my/ and am disappointed to note that the fare is not posted online, though the complete route of ETS is. Anyway, this is the gist for Ipoh – KL Sentral – Ipoh electric train services:

Ipoh to KL Sentral
Express services – Estimated travelling time: 1 hour 50 minutes
(5 stops – Batu Gajah, Kampar. Tanjung Malim, Kuala Lumpur and KL Sentral)
1st: 4am
2nd: 2pm

Transit services – Estimated travelling time: 2 hours 15 minutes
(10 stops – Batu Gajah, Kampar, Tapah Road, Sungkai, Slim River, Behrang, Tanjung Malim, Rawang, Kuala Lumpur and KL Sentral)
1. 5.30am
2. 11.15am
3. 6.30pm

KL Sentral to Ipoh
Express services – Estimated travelling time: 1 hour 50 minutes
1. 6.20am
2. 6.48pm

Transit services – Estimated travelling time: 2 hours 15 minutes
1. 8.30am
2. 2pm
3. 9pm

Do note that schedule and fare are subject to change as and when ETS, a subsidiary of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, deems fit.

If you plan to ride on the electric train, why not read about my first hand experience first?

My friend told me that PC Fair started yesterday at the KL Convention Centre. Unfortunately, the one in Ipoh that is organized by PIKOM, will only begin on 27th August. However, for people who cannot wait, there is a similar PC show right now at Stadium Indera Mulia (indoor stadium), Jalan Stadium Perak, Ipoh. It also started on 6th August and will be there from 11am to 10pm over three days until 8th August.

I visited PC Show 2010 yesterday afternoon and managed to catch the official launching ceremony of PC Show 2010. This PC Show, not organized by PIKOM, is co-sponsored by Kelab Anak Malaysia and MBI. It seems that this is the second year that has been held. Where was I last year?

My friend told me that there wouldn’t be much to see since many vendors are already committed to PIKOM’s PC Fair but the vendors at PC Fair are also at PC Show; the usual suspects like Redcom, Superb, ICT, Megamate, Kiasu, SNS and the like.

This is not to say that I didn’t see anything new. I was tempted to get a GPS device and a JVC video camera. Vendors are running promotions so we would be able to buy these at a discount and we would be given lots of freebies too, though freebies are only given while stocks last. Boy, was I tempted.

In the end, I didn’t buy anything since I am someone who would need to think a thousand times before buying, needing lots of justification, especially gadgets since technology moves too fast. And I can’t help but think that if I miss the good deals this time around, there will always be better ones just round the corner. PIKOM PC Fair, here I come!!

Whilst in Johor, one of the places that we visited was Kukup in Pontian, Johor. No, we did not cross over the Kukup island to visit the Johor National Park due to time constraints but even so, Kukup Laut itself has so much to offer its visitors.

Welcome to Air Masin Village

entrance to Air Masin fishing village

Kukup reminds me of Pangkor Island in Perak but then Pangkor is an island but Kukup Laut is not. Still, both are Chinese fishing villages and both have managed to capitalized on their quaintness to attract tourists and their moolah.

Kukup floating chalet

Kukup International Ferry Terminal, Johor

Kukup may be just a small town on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia but there is a Kukup International Ferry Terminal (Terminal Feri Antarabangsa) here that is an exit point to Tanjung Balai, Indonesia. Ferries ply the waters three times a day, every day of the week, except for Fridays, when there are only two trips out.

Otak-otak hawker in Air Masin Village

a restaurant in Air Masin Fishing Village

To be frank, as a “free and easy” traveller, I would have hopped on the ferry (we arrived just in time for the last boat that evening) and sailed to Indonesia but my friend reminded me that with all the gadgets we had on us, it would be a hassle going through Customs and tax may be imposed even though they are obviously used items and not newly bought from Indonesia. So there went the chance of visiting Indonesia, albeit just Tanjung Balai, which probably looks just like Kukup, except for the skin colour of locals. For your information, a trip out to Tanjung Balai, a 45-minute trip, if not mistaken, is about MYR90+ per adult per trip. Worth considering.

where there are Chinese, there are huge Chinese temples

Chinese temple in Air Masin fishing village

I had such a enjoyable time here in Kukup and in the one hour that we were there, took so many more photos than the entire three days that we were in Singapore! We went to Air Masin fishing village (Kampung Nelayan Air Masin) on foot walking from one end to the other end of the village.

…. and there are dogs

bag porters where no luggage is too heavy

Although I would like to spend more time in Kukup, I definitely am not brave enough to put up at one of the many wooden home-style resorts on rickety stilts, termed “floating chalets” here. Well, I have second thoughts even if the building was concrete, like the many that have undergone massive renovation.

typical wooden houses on stilts in Kampung Nelayan Air Masin

slightly modern house in Kukup’s Air Masin Village