New Electric Train Service (ETS) for KL-Ipoh Route

It is a good news for commuters from Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur because now they can commute safely and at a very cheap price from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur vice versa. This is made possible with the introduction of five new Electric Train Service (ETS) trains providing eight returns trips for the Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh route daily.

The trip from Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh only takes two hours as compared to three hours previously according to this report because the train can reach the top speed of 140 km/h. The new ETS trains will start operating in the first week of August and KTM Berhad will charge a fare of between RM30 and RM35 for the trip. The first train will leave at 5 am and the last train at 11 pm. 

Rapidpass Flexi

A New Eight Couches of the Putra LRT.

Malaysia really needs to have an integrated transportation system in order to provide efficient services to users. Congratulation to RapidKL for its initiative to introduce a new ticketing system namely Rapidpass Flexi. The new ticketing system was introduced on 1st June 2010.

In order to use the system one needs to have a Touch and Go card. The Touch and Go cards are available at most of the LRT stations. Rapidpass Flexi can be loaded to the Touch and Go card. Rapidpass Flexi can be used specifically for RapidKL buses, LRT as well as monorail. Users can also purchase an integrated Rapidpass which can be used for all three mode of transport (RapidKL buses, LRT and Monorail). Users can purchase the Rapidpass Flexi based on number of days such as one, three, seven, 15 or 30 days. The rapidpass can be purchased from customer service counters at LRT stations. For more information, please refer to this web site http://www.rapidkl.com.my/.

Personally, I really like the ticketing system because of its convenience to the users. However, RapidKL still needs to improve the reliability and timing of their bus services in order to attract more users to use the services.

Earthquake

There are two major earthquakes occurring today, one in the Philippines and another one in Sumatra. Some of my friends living in high rise building in Kuala Lumpur felt sort of dizzy due to the tremors from the Sumatran earthquake. According to news report, there are no threat of tsunamis surrounding the affected areas.

Bookworm

Happen to see this book store named "Bookworm" at Miri International Airport.  I think this is the only store bearing that name. I might be wrong to say that this store is not one of the chain stores which has similar name at other locations in the country. Until I find one bookstore with such a name later, I have to update this entry.

Hornbill Skyways Private Jet

Recently, while transiting at Miri Airport, I had an opportunity to snap pictures of a private plane owned by Hornbill Skyways parked at the airport taxiway. The plane is obviously waiting to depart to certain destination and the plane is waiting for some dignitaries to board the plane. Beside dignitaries, such a private plane is frequently used by businessman for their business dealing. You can visit this blog if you wanted to know the experiences of using the private plane and how much it cost to use the plane inclusive of the in flight services.

Travelling using the private plane seemed to be hassle free and you can depart and arrive at your own convenience. As of now, I could only afford to snap pictures of the private plane and see it from afar.

View of the private Jet from the front. Since the private jet is small in size, just wondering why the jet needs to have two jet engines. From my wild guesses, it might be due to aesthetic reason (because symmetric is always associated with beauty) or due to safety reason (if one engine fail then there is always that extra engine on stand by).

Majestic view of the private plane sitting on the tarmac.

Beautiful Bintulu's Water Front

Recently, I had an opportunity to visit Bintulu, a fourth largest town in Sarawak. Bintulu is a major industrial area which is located about 650 kilometers from Kuching and about 215 kilometers from Miri.

Bintulu has one of the longest water front along its river as well as its sea front.


View of the Bintulu's water front. Several anglers waited patiently for their baits to get fruitful results. After spending some time along the area, it seemed very difficult to get any fish along the area.


Another view of the water front facing toward the river.


View of the water front facing toward the open South China Sea.



A lonely fishing rod waiting for its reward.




Another role of the water front is as a flood mitigation measure.




The water front is an ideal place for recreational activities such as jogging or brisk walking.



For those who are really adventurous, they can try paragliding at the water front area.



Sunset at the Bintulu's water front area.

New Low Cost Carrier Terminal

The current Low Cost Carrier Terminal LCCT terminal in Sepang will soon be converted into cargo terminal once the new LCCT terminal is completed by the year 2012. I am looking forward to the new terminal since it will be connected to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) terminal via Express Rail Link (ERL).

Also the new terminal can handle more flights and also can accommodate more parked vehicles.


Picture of buses parking in front of the current LCCT terminal. Soon it will be part of history.


Passengers boarding the Air Asia Flight at the current LCCT terminal.

Essentials for Rural Folks

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Originally uploaded by wanhashim

Water and electricity are two essential items which would not be easily available for rural folks staying far away from national power grid. To overcome the electricity scarcity, a solar system can be utilized as shown in the picture. The solar panel is connected to a battery used to store the solar energy into electricity.

For water supply, the areas can be supplied using rain water which are harvested throughout the rainy days and the rain water is stored in the big water storage tanks as shown in the picture.


Water storage tanks used for storing rainwater to be made available to the rural folks.

Simunjan Town

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Originally uploaded by wanhashim

The following picture shows one of the famous coffee shop in Simunjan town center. The shop was establised since 1979 as indicated by the name of the shop. It seemed that the shop is frequently visited by Simunjan folks.

Sadong River Ferry Crossing

Sadong River is one of the largest river in Sarawak. To build a bridge crossing the river might be too expensive considering the small traffic volume using the facilities. The only alternative is to use ferry services as discussed in this blog. The ferry service is a vital link to access road linking Simunjan, Pantong, and Sebuyau area.

From Kota Semarahan, it takes only one and a half hour trip to reach Simunjan using the Kota Semarahan-Sadong Jaya highway via the Sadong River ferry service and also Semarahan river ferry service.

Alternatively, it took more than three hours to reach Simunjan using the TransBorneo highway via Serian.


Row of stalls selling essential items at the Sadong River ferry crossing (on the Sadong Jaya side). Visible in the picture is a couple of toilets if you need to ease your self. But the toilets only open very late during the day and the entrance fee is 20 sen. The toilet depends on rain water for its water supply. So, you can expect what happen during dry season and you better be prepared for the worst. Visible in the picture also ferry waiting for vehicles and for your information, the ferry will not move until the ferry is at full carrying capacity. Meaning to say that the departure time is dependent on the number of vehicles is waiting in the queue.




View from inside of the ferry. The ferry is large enough to carry several lorries.





There is no toilets in the ferry, it is up to your own courage to relieve yourself if you need to.




The majestic view of Sadong river. The current is very strong and the river is very big but as big as the Batang Lupar river.




View of ferry terminal at the other side of the river.





Another view of the Sadong river.





Inside view of the ferry.




View of the ferry terminal at the Simunjan Side. Turning right is the direction to Simunjan whereas turning left is the direction to Sebuyau area.




View of the ferry terminal at the simunjan side.




View of the ferry terminal at the Simunjan Side.




Anotehr view from the ferry terminal.




You can replenish your stocks by purchasing the relevant items from the stalls beside the road.




One of the ferry is crossing the river in the direction to the other side of the river while another ferry is going to this side of the river.


View from the ferry.


Another view from the ferry.




One of the flood light on the ferry for night trip because the ferry operate from early in the morning until 10 pm at night. In case that you are late, you have no choice but to find some where in the area to stay for the night.




Ferry passengers while waiting for the ferry to arrive to the other side of the river.





Vehicles waiting in the ferry.


View of one of the two ferry crossing the river.