Malaysia (Covid 19 - Transition to Endemic Phase - My Staycation No 6 to Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, The Curve & 1 Utama, Selangor) Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Malay New Year) Wednesday May 4 2022

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Festive Decor
KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Festive Decor
1 Utama, Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Festive Decor
The Curve, Mutiara Damansara
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

" Very little is needed to make a happy LIFE; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking "

" My Staycation No 6 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy solo visit & Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in Kuala Lumpur (KLCC) & Petaling Jaya (The Curve & 1 Utama), Selangor on Wednesday May 4 2022 (09.30 > 14.00), travelling by Rapid KL LRT & MRT trains from SS15, Subang Jaya, my 39th outdoor trips after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 6 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases; a National Vaccination campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021), as at Feb 5 2022, a total of 22.9 million individuals or 97.9% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations; Malaysia is now under the Transition to Endemic Phase starting from April 1 2022, an exit strategy that could allow Malaysians to return to near-normal life after nearly over 2 years of battling the pandemic "

Travel itinerary (4 LRT/MRT train rides): SS15, Subang Jaya > KLCC > Mutiara Damansara > Bandar Utama >  SS15, Subang Jaya (approx 56km round trip)

Total expenses incurred (4 train rides): Rm1.80 + Rm1.60 + Rm0.60 + Rm3.10 = Rm7.10 (US$1.60, Senior 50% discount)

Hari Raya means "celebration day" & Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the day that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of dawn to sunset fasting. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is considered one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims, the other being Hari Raya Haji - the festival of Abraham's sacrifice. 

Hari Raya is one of the biggest holidays in  Malaysia, and many Muslims (even non-Muslims) return to their family home (balik kampung) to be with their families & loved ones. 

This year ie 2022, Hari Raya falls on May 2 & 3 (Monday & Tuesday) & together with a preceding weekend & Labour Day (May 1) & May 4 declared as a public holiday, Malaysians will be able to enjoy a long stretch of public holiday on the 1st week of May ! Major shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur & Klang Valley put up colorful decorations to replicate the ambience of their hometowns usually with traditional kampung setting to attract shoppers ! 

Easing of health protocols, air & land borders opening, long weekend, festive season - all these have led to a pent up demand for local tourism ie visitors throng popular tourist spots eg UNESCO sites of Georgetown (Penang Hill) & Melaka (Jonker Street); Ipoh (Concubine Lane); Selangor beach & seaside resorts of Sekinchan, Pulau Ketam, Tanjung Sepat, Morib etc; in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Street, Bukit Bintang), thousands flock to tourist hotspots with families so the city has become more bustling & lively again compared to the dismal number of visitors I experienced during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period of 2020 & 2021 ! 

Wednesday May 4 2022 (3nd Day of the Hari Raya & a public holiday) - my solo visit to Suria KLCC, The Curve & 1 Utama.  

My 1st Rapid KL LRT train ride - SS15, Subang Jaya > KLCC, Kuala Lumpur (Rm1.80 = US$0.40 Senior 50% discount)

1) Suria KLCC Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur - a 6 storey shopping mall located at the foot of Petronas Twin Towers, a premier shopping destination with over 300 flagship stores. 

2) Suria KLCC Shopping Mall - Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Malay New Year) festive season decor, exterior 

3) Suria KLCC Shopping Mall - Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Malay New Year) festive season decor, a colorful kampung house porch, a chicken coop, a well, fruit trees & a pushcart & baskets filled with local tropical fruit ! 

My 2nd Rapid KL LRT train ride - KLCC, > Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur (transit)  > Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya (Rm1.60=US$0.35 Senior 50% discount). 

1) The Curve - a suburban shopping mall in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, The Curve is accessible via 5 ways namely the North Klang Valley Expresway, Lubuhraya Damansara Puchong, Sprint Highway, Damansara Perdana & Persiaran Surian. 

2) The Curve - Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Malay New Year) festive season decor 

My 3rd Rapid KL LRT train ride - Mutiara Damansara > Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya (Rm0.60=US$0.13 senior 50% discount, one stop)

1) 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1, City Centre, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - the largest shopping mall in Malaysia with an area of 5.6 million sq ft & containing over 700 stores, the 1st phase of the mall known as the "Old Wing" was opened in Sept 1995, the New Wing is packed with high street & upscale brands, a large shopping crowd was seen at the time of my visit in the late morning !  

2) 1 Utama Shopping Centre, -  Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Malay New Year) festive season decor, "Minangkabau Village" theme, a 41 feet tall show house was built to pay homage to the Negeri Sembilan & West Sumatra architecture. 

6) Rainforest Zone, 1 Utama Shopping Mall, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - a great place to enjoy your meals in the Rainforest Zone, Malaysia 1st indoor rainforest in a shopping mall, features koi  ponds, a waterfall & a suspension bridge, lush foliage & a number of alfresco dining setting areas.  

My 4th Rapid KL MRT train ride - Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya > Pasar Seni (transit) > SS15, Subang Jaya (Rm3.10=US$0.70 senior 50% discount, Home Sweet Home)