Weekend in KL: Trains, Tech, and Tumpang Bas

What started as a simple weekend plan quickly turned into an adventure. After my morning JMB meeting, My All decided we needed a trip to KL. Her one request? Public transport, pheww.. solid choice. Little did I know, the city was buzzing with a running event, the Sarong Run if I’m not mistaken, right around KLCC and Bukit Bintang.

First Stop: TRX & the Apple-Samsung Rivalry

We parked at Putrajaya Sentral, free parking, always a win. We found about this when using that for CNY holiday last month. From there, we hopped on the MRT to TRX. My All, ever the Apple loyalist, had one mission: visit Malaysia’s first Apple Store at The Exchange TRX.

Now, here’s where it gets funny. The MRT station is officially named Samsung Galaxy TRX. Yep, the moment Apple announced their store, Samsung went into full rivalry mode, taking over the entire station with ads. Not just banners but everything. Auto gates, escalators, walls, floors… I half expected a guy walking around with a Samsung billboard strapped to his back.

At TRX, I didn’t expect the crowd to be that ramai. The store spans two levels, with rooftop access. That day, they were hosting a session on iPhone photography tips. My All checked it out for a bit but quickly decided she didn’t need it. Why would she? She’s got me as her personal photographer. Duh.

As expected, the store had real, working Apple products, no dummy units. From iPhones and iPads to Apple Watches and MacBooks, everything was available to try. And try, we did.

From TRX to Kampung Baru—A City Alive

After TRX, we took the MRT to Persiaran KLCC and walked through KLCC Park toward Kampung Baru. The city was alive. Runners finishing their event, music blasting, good vibes all around.

We eventually made it to Kampung Baru for dinner. That’s when the real challenge hit, o-o, getting back home. The Kampung Baru LRT station was an option, but it required switching multiple lines. Not ideal. Instead, we opted for the Go KL Blue Line bus to Bukit Bintang.

As we waited, traffic built up. Then, the bus appeared. Perfect timing? Nope. The driver didn’t seem like he was stopping.

But luck and traffic was on our side. The bus got stuck right in front of us. Without hesitation, we waved it down like we were hailing a cab in a Bollywood movie. The driver, probably amused, opened the door.

He told us Bukit Bintang was still closed due to the run and that he’d be diverting to Jalan Raja Laut. I asked if we could tumpang to the nearest station, and he agreed to drop us at Medan Tuanku. Win.

From Medan Tuanku, we took the Monorail to Bukit Bintang, then the MRT to TRX, switched to the Yellow Line, and finally reached home by 11:30 PM.

Another Day, Another Adventure

We ended the day with an unintended thousand-calorie burn by walking, sprinting for transport, and navigating the city. But hey, that’s a story for another post.

Till next time, keep moving, keep exploring, and always be ready to wave down a bus when needed.