A Malaysian Adventure - CX, MH, AK, D7

[moa999]

A somewhat belated trip report of my March adventures in Malaysia.

Prompted to finish the report tonight by the MH/AK split news.

Lots of photos - click on them to blow increase the size!
(Note whole trip goes over 2pages - about 16 posts)

2012 Malaysia Diving F1 Trip | moa999's Travel Blog

Airlines
CX Business - SYD-HKG-TPE
MH Economy - TPE-BKI-TWU-BKI-KUL-LGK
AK Economy - LGK-KUL
D7 Economy - KUL-PER
QF Economy - PER-SYD

Hotels
Conrad Hong Kong
Amba Ximending Taipei
Le Meridien Kota Kinabala
The Holiday Inn Semporna
The Andaman Langkwawi
DoubleTree by Hilton KL

Lounge Reviews
Qantas First Sydney
Cathay The Arrival Hong Kong
More Lounge Taipei
Plaza Premium Langkawi
Plaza Premium KL LCCT

Adventures
Around Kota Kinabalu
Climbing Mount Kinabalu
Diving Sipidan and Mabul
F1 Sepang

 

[loobloke]

Mount KK climb - best fun I've had in a long time. It really is amazing at the top and one of the most rewarding things I've done, congratulations for making it up there!

I did the night climb - forgot to bring a head lamp ... thought I was going to die ... multiple times.

 

[Ric]

Glad to know that you both enjoy BKI......cool mountains and tropical islands!! Paradise eh?

 

[jetlagger]

moa999

beautiful TR.. loved it! Great work

 

[Must...Fly!]

Apologies for the big topic bump, but a google turned up this thread believe it or not!

moa999 would you recommend the Malaysian F1 GP to attend? I am seriously considering going in 2013, always wanted to go to KL.

 

[moa999]

Must...Fly!

I enjoyed the experience (2nd GP after Melb a number of years ago)
Is also the cheapest GP around - both in terms of ticket prices and accomodation
KL is a pretty decent city - good shopping, hotels, restaurants and clubs
KL is generally pretty cheap to get to from Aus

Main disadvantage is the track is a long way out of the CBD - it is right next to the airport which is 5min out.
They do run special deals on the Airport train including buses to/from the track.
I did this on the Friday (P1/P2) where track is pretty empty but shared cabs with a few friends (about A$60-70 each way). So long as you left quickly it wasn't hard getting a cab.

Out at the track there is not much - the stands, some average food outlets and beverage outlets (that ran out of cold beer on the Sunday!)

They were meant to have an F1 Rocks event under Petronas Towers last year but it got cancelled two days out after one of the main acts pulled out (rumoured to be Kylie) but still enough on to have fun.

Went with a mate who lives in Asia who has been to 15+ GPs and loves KL - mostly because he thinks the Turn 1 stand is one of the best there is - you see the whole of the main street, Turn 1, Turn 2 and the mini straight to Turn 4.
It is pretty darn hot out at the track though.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Mm I know of the heat, but it goes with the territory.

Thank you for the wonderfully informative post - I think I will go, I have always wanted to and now have the opportunity to do so, it would seem foolish to let such an opportunity lapse! The hotels are amazingly cheap too, I will investigate where to stay at a later date, but I think the Traders hotel is an early favourite - even though Sepang is a long way out I think staying in the city would be best.

I have flights to Singapore booked for later this month I cannot use - so I am going to swallow the $200 change fee and book for the GP, and just grab cheap 3K flights to KL

 

[moa999]

Assume you saw the calendar has just been published:
Formula 1

Malaysia again clashes with HK Sevens...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Assume you saw the calendar has just been published:
Formula 1

Yes I did, and have changed my flights

Won't have any time to explore KL though. In late Thursday, out early Monday afternoon at this stage. My SIN-PER flight isn't til 2335, but I tend to be cautious when not on one itinerary. In any case, I can always go back to KL!

 

[moa999]

Plenty of time to explore - last yr I was in Thu night out Sun night (midnight flight to Perth, had left luggage at airport on Sun then out)
As I said there is not much to see at the track so as long as you make it on time no worries
Traffic is much much worse on the Sunday so leave plenty of time that day, Fri is almost dead and Sat maybe half full

 

[Simo]

Who did you travel with,

Was it a boys trip?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Plenty of time to explore - last yr I was in Thu night out Sun night (midnight flight to Perth, had left luggage at airport on Sun then out)
As I said there is not much to see at the track so as long as you make it on time no worries
Traffic is much much worse on the Sunday so leave plenty of time that day, Fri is almost dead and Sat maybe half full

Ah, good news. I shall endeavor to explore some of it then! Always wanted to see the Petronas Towers myself since I saw a documentary on TV (must have been about 10 years old). I will definitely make time for that at least!

 

[moa999]

Who did you travel with,
Was it a boys trip?

Assume that was directed at me. The F1 was a boys trip... Diving wasn't.

Ooh just got an email from AirAsiaX
Five year five hour sale starts Mon.

 

[KLN]

Yes, agree. Sepang F1 is the cheapest race to go too. have been to Melbourne for years, Japan, KL many times, Shanghai many times, Singapore a few times and Bahrain. also Catalunya and Monaco this year too. check the Sepang F1 website for tickets. the last couple of years if you book your seats before NYE, they are half price. haven't actually booked them myself yet, but it has been this way for a couple of years now. too hot for Mr. KLN, but myself and Ms KLN junior (17yo F1 fanatic) and myself are going without him. we all love F1 but just too hot for him. fly in wed night and leave monday night. that way get a couple of hours by a pool. we have a group of friends who go too, some of them on a boys trip, but just leave them to it and see them out at the track. there's only so many years of the Beach Club and the Rum Jungle that you can take. but yes love Sepang F1

 

[amaroo]

Looks like a good trip. Nice TR