Farewell Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal (KL LCCT)

It was a place full with our memories. We lost our counting on how many time that we had actually visited KL LCCT. We can't even remember when was our first visit to the terminal. But for sure, we had used the terminal for our trips to Sibu and Kota Kinabalu for quite a number of times. Other places, Kuching, Bintulu, Penang, Kuala Terengganu, Bangkok, Bali, Siem Reap, Singapore, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Yangoon, and many more. In fact, Some Story about Us is so closely knitted with this small terminal in the middle of South East Asia. 

Since the opening in 2006, the terminal had served as the "Air Asia terminal". Once Air Asia moves to new terminal at KLIA 2 on 9 May 2014, that's the time for air travellers like us to say bye-bye to the old terminal. We would like to share some photos that we took in KL LCCT with all of you. Phuket was the last destination for us from the terminal. Then, Sibu will be the first for us from KLIA 2.

The wall of the terminal was built mostly by metal. The entrance to the domestic flights was busy all the time.

The information counters. The check-in counters can be seen far at the middle of this photo, behind the information counter.

This is the waiting area for domestic arrival, stuffy and always filled with the smell of the smokes from vehicles.

The narrow walkway connecting the domestic arrival hall with other parts of the terminal. This walkway was always jammed with many people. We used to buy newspaper from the bookshop and read it in McDonald's while waiting for our flight.

The entrance to reach the international departure check-in counters was located on the left side of McDonald's restaurant.

The international departure hall (upper row). These photos were taken just before our flight to Phuket, Thailand. We took the photos of international arrival exits on our way back (lower row).

Hot & Roll was our favourite stall in the international departure hall. The food was tasty and cheap, good for breakfast and snack. This photo was taken in 2013.

Taste of Asia was famous with the exquisite and expensive local dishes (upper left), while Coffee Bean and Dunkin' Donuts served western food. Well, the eatery that we visited frequently- Chocolate. We visited Chocolate for the last time on our way to Phuket and took our change to bid farewell to the staff.

The budget taxi bay just outside of the arrival hall.

Well, our last trip from LCCT to ERL station. Interestingly, the bus company referred LCCT as Air Asia. Anyway, starting on our next trip, we don't have to use the bus service anymore. We can go to Putrajaya Central directly using the ERL service.

GOOD BYE KL LCCT. 

Want to read more about other attractions in Kuala Lumpur? Please visit:

[Aquaria KLCC] [KL Bird Park] [KL National Planetarium] [KL National Museum]
[Find out all Our Destinations here]

First Rafting Experience at Kiulu River, Sabah

Rafting was never in our to-do-list, ever, until our sister Jenny recommended it to us. She said that it was fun and full with excitement. Since we never step our foot on a raft before and we just needed to pay RM50 per person, with lunch included, so why not take a try? 

Kiulu River is around 45 km from Kota Kinabalu. It can be accessed through the nearest village, Tamparuli, on the way from Kota Kinabalu to Mount Kinabalu National Park. From KK, we drove 1 hour and 15 minutes to the rafting company, and then, the company staff brought us to the starting point, which was another 15 minutes upstream. 

From our experience, the place was not easy to reach even with GPS, unless you know the place really well. Following a tour or rafting company from KK or Tamparuli should be the better choice for tourists. However, if you don't mind to drive, please make sure you bring a most up-to-date map or GPS, and of course, with the reservation done earlier.

For us, we did our reservation few months earlier with Poturidong Tengah Bundu Camping Site. The general manager Alson Kangit (013-8145668; alson_kangit@yahoo.com) was working in medical field before he gave up his job in the hospital and embraced one of his hobbies- rafting. The price offered by him was unbeatable- RM 40 per person for rafting, and RM 10 per person for lunch at the camping site, and RM 50 for one CD containing professional photos taken by Alson himself. By the way, Jenny had joined a few rafting activities with the company before. The whole rafting took us 1 hour 45 minutes. We were served with simple but delicious buffet lunch after that.

Rafting means we have to deal with water, rapid, stones, and a lot of sunlight. Water resistant sun block is a must or else, will be roasted by merciless sun. Safety gadgets such as life jacket and helmet are required as well, and provided by the rafting company without extra charge. We were briefed by our guide on how to paddle, stabilize ourselves, some simple commands, and general safety precaution before we dipped our feet into the freezing cold water.

Well, the journey started in relax and calm.

Then, with challenges ahead.

Paddles were uplifted when we rafting down the rapid to avoid hitting the stones, while enjoying the fast and furious.

Getting wet was inevitable, especially when we cruised down the rocky rapid.

Took a break when the river turned less rocky.

When we reached the slow flowing stretch of river, we need to start paddling to keep moving.

We were not alone. We were greeted by several other groups when we headed downstream. Splashing the cold water with our paddles to other raft was another way to say "hello".

Poturidong Tengah Bundu Camping Site provided a good service to us, with relatively low price. The guide was very informative and helpful. With his encouragement, we experienced swimming in Kiulu river, body rafting, slamming the rock with the raft, and capsizing the raft. He shared his experience and his life as a villager living along the river as well. The lunch contained three main dishes- curry chicken, fried fish, and stir fried vegetable, with rice and beverage. It was simple but enough to refill our energy.

This is the camping site where visitors could stay with RM10 per night, with only accommodation provided.

The road lead to Kiulu was small (upper left), the dining hall with strong village-feel (upper right). The entrance of the camping site was marked by the white house (lower left). One thing that we wished to comment- the toilets and the bathrooms were a bit too simple.

Rafting was a great experience, especially when it came with low prices. For those who wish to raft around but unwilling to spend big money on it (like us), then Kiulu River might be a place for you. By the way, Kiulu River only good enough to provide grade 1 and 2 of challenge. Grade 3 and 4 are available at Beaufort.

In case you are curious like us about the usage of  "whitewater" in rafting, whitewater in fact refers to the rapid flowing water which is disturbed to form white colour.  There are 6 grades in rafting, which grade 5 is very risky and 6 is illegal in some places.

For more about our sharing Sabah, please read our previous posts:

[Paradise Island Next to the City] [Lok Kawi Wildlife Park] [Kota Kinabalu]

[Food in Kota Kinabalu] [KK Shopping Guide] [Hotel in KK]

[All Our Destinations]

Sibu Airport is Now Upgraded

We were proud of Sibu airport the moment we walked through the pier. We has been using the airport for many years.  The new facelift- futuristic design and fully air conditioned building is undoubtedly giving warm welcome message to all the visitors. To be frank, it is far better than many major airports in South East Asia region. I is a luxury for a town of 200k population.  The new upgraded airport building was officially operational in 2012. From the tourists' point of view- we like it very very much!

 Spacious check-in area.

Ample seat for visitors, with a few shops available for last minute shopping. Sugar Bun was available to provide meals and snacks.

 Fully air conditioned shopping and waiting area for visitors.

 Departure hall with sufficient seat for everyone.

 Cafe in the departure hall.

 Pick up and drop off area with a few transparent cover to save the lighting cost.

Taxi stand was just outside of the airport gates, with taxis lined up and ready to serve. The fare, RM 35 to Sibu town area. We didn't take bus in Sibu for more than 20 years. However, according to Lonely Planet, bus from Sibu Airport to town was available every 30 minutes, from 6 am to 6 pm. Beside taxi service, car rental service and tour service were available as well.

Sibu Airport is no more a nightmare for air traveller (believe us, it was really a terrible place). Cozy full air conditioned environment, ample of seat, systematic and easy to read signage, eateries and a few shops altogether make Sibu Airport now a comfortable place for a few hours stay. Free public Wifi? Not available yet. (Free Wifi is available in 2018, tested and confirmed by both of us)

Want to read more about our experience in Sibu? Please visit the links below.

[Attractions in Sibu] [A Day Trip in Sibu] 

[Food and Accommodation in Sibu]

[All Our Destinations]