" My Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in Kuala Lumpur City Center (Pasar Seni, Petaling Street / Chinatown, Petronas Twin Towers / KLCC & Bukit Bintang); wearing a face mask on Day 2 (Monday May 25 2020) of the Malay New Year (Hari Raya Aidilfitri); travelling by Rapid KL LRT train rides from Subang Jaya > Pasar Seni > KLCC > Bukit Bintang > Subang Jaya (4 train rides=US$1.35), Selangor, Malaysia (09.30 > 14.30) - wishing all Muslim readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri; my 1st visit to KL after the imposition of the Covid-19 Lockdown by the Malaysian government on March 18 2020 ie a stay home confinement of over 71 days ! The 4th extended MCO (Movement Control Order) is due to end on June 10 2020 "
Total costs incurred (4 LRT train rides): Rm5.70 (US$1.35 - Senior 50% discount)
" Learn from YESTERDAY Live for TODAY Hope for TOMORROW "
Covid-19 Current situation in Malaysia (as of May 25 2020) :
Total cases - 7,417
Total recovered - 5,979
New cases - 172
Total deaths - 115
Most new cases involve illegal (undocumented) migrants, new quarantine venue to house infected illegal migrants in Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), Selangor
International tourist arrivals - Malaysia records more than 20 million tourists in the first 9 months of 2019, an increase of 3.7% compared to the same period in 2018.
The Top 10 countries with the highest tourist arrivals were:
Singapore - 7,868,755
Indonesia - 2,792,776
China - 2,413,956
Thailand - 1,442,224
Brunei - 929,789
India - 539,167
South Korea - 508,080
Vietnam - 323,393
Japan - 321,283
Philippines - 317,294
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be a big challenge to nurse Malaysian travel industry back to health & the Good Old Days ! A New Normal in travel & hospitality industry is about to born from now on !
Hari Raya Aidilfitri - May 24 & 25 2020 (pubic holiday) - A different Raya ! Celebrating Hari Raya in a closed door manner !
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak & MCO (Movement Control Order), Muslims in Malaysia (my home country) are celebrating the Malay New Year (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) with a difference this year (2020) - so no balik kampung (no returning to hometowns / villages), "no visiting" notices, motorists trying to cross interstate borders for Raya will be turned back & fined, keeping the spirits of Syawal alive despite a scale down in Aidilfitri celebrations, facing a modified Raya, low key Raya decorations at malls, the spirits of Aidilfitri in New Normal, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is eerily quiet during the Ramadan, making best of the trying times, feeling closer & connected this Raya
LRT train rides in Kuala Lumpur under MCO (Movement Control Order) & social distancing rules at LRT stations, lifts & inside the trains, lesser crowds travelling during the Raya
Home made traditional food for Hari Raya (Malay New Year) - Malaysian Delight ! Ketupat (rice dumpling packed inside a diamond shaped woven palm leaf pouch), lemang (Indonesian traditional food made from glutinous rice, coconut milk & salt in bamboo stick with banana leaves), nasi dagang & nasi ayam, Malay kuih (seri muka, puteri mandi, puteri dua sebilik, lompat tikam, serabai & badak berendam); festive delicacies (biskut makmur, bahulu, biskut teratai layu di tasik madu, kuih bangkit, kuih goyang, London almond & pulut tai-tai)
The start of my Rapid KL LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) Train Ride from SS15, Subang Jaya > Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur
1) Pasar Seni LRT & Bus Station, Kuala Lumpur City Center - gone with the madding crowd ! No more rushing & long queuing during the peak office hours !
2) Central Market & Kasturi Walk, Kuala Lumpur City Center - my brief visit during the 2nd day of Hari Raya, most stalls were closed for business
3) Jalan Sultan / Jalan Panggong / Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur - absence of tourists, streets were quiet & light traffic
4) Century-old Indian & Chinese temples, Kuala Lumpur City Center - all religious sites are banned from opening during the MCO
5) Hotels / Backpackers Hostels / Guesthouse in Chinatown area, Kuala Lumpur City Center - business badly affected due to border closings & planes grounded
6) Kwai Chai (Ghost) Lane, Lorong Panggong, Kuala Lumpur City Center - an alley in Chinatown offering a glimpse into the city's rich heritage, Covid-19 has "chased" away the local & foreign tourists at the time of my visit during the New Normal !
7) Chee Chiong Gai (Petaling Street), Kuala Lumpur City Center - shopper's haven, bustling shopping district but now quiet like a "mouse" !
