Day 7 - Free Day, Departure

This was our last day in Malaysia. Everyone could do their own thing because the official programme had already ended. We departed for the airport early evening. We were to spend quite some time on the airport because our flight was at 1am. Most of us spent the last of our ringgits at Burger King at the departure terminal.

Traders Hotel checkout lounge

KLCC station ticket purchasing machines

KLCC station

KLCC station

KLCC station

View from back window of train

Pasar Seni station. You get off here to go to Central Market and China town

Pasar Seri station

Masjid Negara (aka National Mosque of Malaysia) seen from Pasar Seni station

Masjid Negara (aka National Mosque of Malaysia) seen from Pasar Seni station

Day 6 - Feedback Session

This day involved sharing our experiences with each other. Our meeting room was on the level 70, Tower 1, Petronas Twin Towers.

The meeting started off with a team building session. We were given a sketch of a simple single room house with a triangular roof. We were given a bunch of sticks and masking tape and asked how many houses we could build using our building materials. Once all the groups had given their estimates, we were then blindfolded, then asked again how many houses we could build

 now. All the groups estimates dropped. We then had the build as many houses using the sticks and masking tape, all while being blind-folded. A good team building exercise for sure. This

 concluded the official programme. Business cards were exchanged and our last goodbyes were said to some of the Petranas staff because not all would be seeing us off at the airport. Some of our group members left to extend their trip to Singapore as well.

The rest of the day was free time. I went to Sungei Wang, Bukit Bintang and Low Yat plaza. These malls are known for their good prices on electronics especially. But the electronics were about the same price as in South Africa though, probably because of the weak Rand currently. I actually got lost trying to find Bukit Bintang, but actually I was inside it already without knowing. Sungei Wang and Bukit Bintang are inside the same physical structure. Once inside you can walk, unknowingly, from one mall into the other.

The night one of the Petronas staff members took us to Little India with the train. We boarded from the KLCC station, then passed a few stations to arrive at Masjid Jamek station. 

Commuting by train is very quick and convenient. At each station you can either by your ticket from automated ticket machines or from a manned counter. Using the automated ticket machines you enter your destination, the number of tickets required, then it calculated a fee which you then insert. A plastic ticket is issued. Its thinner than a bank card. The ticket is inserted into the access gate ticket reader, the gate opens, and your ticket is returned to you. At your destination station you ticket is kept in the ticket reader.

Little India is a night market similar to China town. Here there is majority Muslim shop owners.

View looking down from level 70, Tower 1, Petronas Twin Towers, showing the top of the tower.

View looking down from level 70, Tower 1, Petronas Twin Towers, showing the KLCC park in the centre, Masjid Al Syakirin to the left and Axion Mobil building, Traders Hotel and KLCC convention centre to the right

View looking down from level 70, Tower 1, Petronas Twin Towers, showing KLCC park to the centre and Axion Mobil building, Traders Hotel and KLCC convention centreto the right

Petronas Twin Towers seen from Traders Hotel

Suria KLCC and park seen from Traders Hotel

KLCC park, Masjid Al Syakirin seen from Traders Hotel

KL Tower seen from Traders Hotel

KLCC convention centre

KLCC Convention centre and Suria

KLCC station

Little India market

Little India market

Masjid Jamek station

Automated train ticket machines

Train station gates

Inside train

Water feature in front of Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers at night

Day 5 – Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix Race

Race day had arrived. This was to be the highlight of the trip. Just as we approached the circuit it started raining. Some of us took a chance and got out of the bus to their way into the circuit, hoping the weather didn’t get worse. It actually rained more heavily and the rest of us waited on the bus for the rain to stop.

 

A while later the rained stopped then the rest of us made our way into the circuit. Just in time for the lunch serving.

 

The race started on a dry track. The previous storm could be seen in the distance but the wind at the time was taking it away from us. All that was about to change when the wind switched direction. I could see from the Malaysian flag that was flying above the main building. This happened half way into the race. The storm was approaching fast. This time a thunderstorm broke out.

 

The race was called off after 32 laps. Jenson Button was declared the winner, Nick Heidveld (Petronas, BMW Sauber) took second place, and Timo Glock took third.

Day 4 – Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying

We boarded a bus to take us to the Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix. The circuit is in the same facinity as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). We came to see the qualifiying of the grand prix. On sale at the entrace was headphones that could receive the race commentary. This was going for 150 ringit. They do come in handy and I recommed getting one if your budget allows. Its difficult to follow the race from the stand. I also saw some spectators had portable TV screens that receives the race broadcast with commentary. I didnt get a price on this but this is definately more expensive. We had the best seats in the house! Diamond stand right next to the start line. It seemed as though this area is reserved for BMW Sauber team supporters probably because Petronas is also one of the major sponsors, and there was mainly the white shirts of Petronas BMW Sauber. We were also given team shirts but we could only wear it the next day for the race. We were taken in groups to the pit lane. There is a passage that leads underneath the track to get to the main building where the pits are also located. Jenson Button of BRAWN GP took pole position.

Day 3 - Melaka, Petronas Refinery, Mini Malaysia

It was a 2 hour journey by bus to the Petronas Refinery in Melaka.


On arrival we had light refreshments. We were given a briefing about the refinery. The refinery staff from Engen probably paid more attention to the details. The refinery is situated right at the coast. We were taken on a tour around the refinery by bus. We could take pictures on the viewing hill as they call it.


After the refinery it was lunch at the Equitorial Hotel. The muslim males first attended Jumu'a at Masjid Selat. The masjid (mosque) in built on the shoreline extending into the sea.

Once lunch was done, we walked around in the city. We saw the Dutch fort and old related buildings. There was a small market where souvenirs and interesting items could be bought.

We were then on our way to Mini Malaysia. This venue hosts cultural shows and has replicas of indigenous houses. The show that was booked for us was about the Malaysian marriage and ceremony. We could also go inside the various replicas of the indigenous houses. It started raining heavily. We were served with sandwiches and stretch tea. Stretch tea is made similar to normal tea but using condensed milk and the tea is mixed (stretched) by being poured from one container kept high above into another. This stretching process is repeated. It is served a glass container. There was also a variety of informal traders at the venue for shopping.

It was then time for the long drive back to the hotel.

Day 2 – Putrajaya, Central Market, Chinatown, Sungei Wang

Our journey to Putrajaya took about an hour by bus. Putrajaya is known as the intelligent garden city. It is made up of various man-made sections of land and water, connected via bridges. It is the new governmental administration centre of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur performed this function previously. We visited the Putrajaya Convention Centre and the Putrajaya Masjid (mosque). The mosque is also called the Putra Mosque. We could also see the Crystal Mosque which was still under construction. After leaving Putrajaya we went to Central Market. This is a shopping mall. There was an interesting shop inside where they had a certain type of fish swimming in a pond. You put your feet in the pond then the fish eats away on the dead skin! Then we went to Petaling street, Chinatown. This is just a few minutes walk away. Chinatown is a major tourist attraction. It consists of a few streets that has vendors on each side of the road. Petaling street is the longest and busiest. The basic rule here is the price you see is definitely not the price you pay. You are going to have to bargain for the price you want. Our last stop for the day was at Sungei Wang Plaza. This is a multi-storey shopping mall. It was then back to the hotel.

The Putrajaya International Convention Centre

Grass embankment by the Putrajaya International Convention Centre

One of Putrajaya's many bridges

A main road in Putrajaya

The Crystal Mosque as they call it, still under construction

Government complex

The Crystal Mosque

Palace of Justice

The Sultan's Palace - Istana Darul Ehsan

The Putrajaya Mosque (aka Masjid Putra)

The Prime Minister's office

Day 1 - Introductory Meeting

The first meeting took place at level 30, Tower 1, Petronas Twin Towers.

We visited the Skybridge on level 42. Level 42 is reserved for Petronas staff as a route between the towers. Level 41 of the Skybridge is open to the public free of charge. A limited amount tickets are made available each day where the public can collect from the visiting office of the Skybridge. These tickets can be collected from the Skybridge visitors office. To get there you have take the ground floor escalotor on the concourse level going 1 level down. Visiting is closed on Mondays.

Opposite the visitors desk is also the official Petronas souvenir shop.

We then visited the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS). This is located exactly between the Twin Towers on level 1. It has an adjustable roof to cater for various types of performances.

We visited the Petronas Gallery (Galeri PETRONAS). It is located on level 1 of The Suria KLCC mall.

Our meeting with the BMW Sauber was coming up. There was an exhibition setup on the concourse level of The Suria KLCC for this event. The event was coupled with a win-a-BMW competition which took place and the winner was to be announced here. A replica of the BMW Sauber team car was there, along a shop for branded goods. An interview and autograph session took place.

We then went for lunch and had the rest of the day off as free time.

BMW Sauber F1 car replica

Traders hotel lobby

View from Suria KLCC mall entrance, with KLCC park off to the left

View from level 30, Tower 1, Twin Towers

View from level 30, Tower 1, Twin Towers

View from Skybridge, level 42, with Traders hotel in background centre

View from Skybridge, level 42

View from Skybridge, level 42 , of Suria KLCC entrance and KLCC park

View from Skybridge, level 42

Inside Skybridge, level 42

Inside Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, located on level 1, directly in-between Twin Towers

Petronas Gallery

Petronas Gallery

Petronas F1 exhibition inside Suria

View from Suria entrance with Traders hotel in background right.

KLCC park

KLCC park

KLCC park with KL Tower in background

KLCC park

Petronas Twin Towers at night