K M Cheng-Travel Journal: Malaysia (Covid-19- My Staycation No 31 to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur & LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre, Kuala Lumpur) Deepavali Eve 23 Oct 2022

Happy Deepavali (Festival of Lights)
Malaysia Grand Bazaar (MGB)
BBCC Hub, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Happy Deepavali (Festival of Lights)
Royale Chulan Hotel, Mutiara Damansara
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Majestic Deepavali (Festival of Lights)
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, KL

" May this Deepavali light up new dreams "

" My Staycation No 31 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy solo visit (09.30 > 13.30) to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur & LaLaport Bukit Bintang Centre, travelling by Rapid KL LRT train from SS15, Subang Jaya > Bukit Bintang (via Pasar Seni) > Merdeka & return; my 64th outdoor trip 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 2 over years of battling the pandemic "

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur

Total costs incurred (3 train rides): Rm4.60 (US$0.98)

How time has flown ! The Deepavali (Festival of Lights) is near the corner; today is the eve of Deepavali (Festival of Lights) a major festival celebrated mainly by the Hindu populace in my home country, Malaysia. But in Munich, Germany, the biggest beer festival in the world ie Oktoberfest is probably celebrated in a grand scale at this time of the year (in May 2014, I made a solo visit to Munich, Germany but I did not bring along an Oktoberfest mood with me) ! October 2022 is perhaps best described as a mini Oktoberfest to me as I had so far attended two wedding dinners ie "wine & dine food fests" with family members & relatives, a bit of wine drinking instead of beer & a visit to two premier shopping malls to get a feel of the Deepavali festive mood in the October month !

What a wonderful Sunday for me taking a leisure LRT train ride (45 minutes) from my home place, Subang Jaya > Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur & the main purpose of this visit is to take some pictures of Deepavali festive decor in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a premier shopping mall in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur & a revisit to LaLaport Mall in Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) focusing my visit to bookXcess, Japanese Street, Central Rooftop Garden, WOW Plaza & Malaysia Grand Bazaar - all are nice Instagram spots to wander around & taking selfies & pictures !

Another of my beautiful Sunday, small life pleasure style of staycation in the capital city of Malaysia amidst a Deepavali festival & a wet rainy season ! Happy Deepavali & for those who love travelling, Happy travelling !

1) Sunday, Oct 23 2022 (09.30 > 13.30) - the start of my Rapid KL LRT train from SS15, Subang Jaya > Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur (via Pasar Seni) > Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Merdeka MRT Station - 5 minutes walk
to Lalaport Bukit Bintang Centre

Monorel Hang Tuah Station
linking Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre

2) Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - a premier lifestyle shopping mall, I enjoy visiting this mall especially during the festive seasons of Chinese New Year, Raya Aidilfitri Malay New Year, Deepavali (Festival of Lights) & Christmas (the 4 main festive seasons in a multiracial & multi-religious country of Malaysia) !

3) LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur & the surrounding - my 3rd visit !

4) LaLaport Mall, BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - the latest modern & lifestyle Japanese (Mitsui) shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

5) Japan Street, LaLaport Mall, BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

6) BookXcess, Level 1, Mitsui Shopping Mall LaLaport, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

7) Art Pieces & sculptures by Malaysian artist Ono Kang, BookXcess, Level 1, Mitsui Shopping Mall LaLaport, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

8) Malaysia Grand Bazaar (MGB) & Food Empire, BBCC Hub, Ground Floor & 1st Floor, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

9) Grand Steps, LaLaport Mall, BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

10) Central Rooftop Garden & Light Artwork, LaLaport Mall, BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - best time to visit is in the evening so as to experience & capture light, sound & nature, an exhibit by teamLab Art Gallery, free admission

11) Gourmet Street, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur

12) WOW Plaza (South Entrance), Gourmet Street, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport BBCC, Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur

Saturday, Oct 22 2022 (09.00 >12.30) - attended a church wedding of my niece, Prisca Leong & Jeremy Yeo in DUMC, Dream Centre, Section 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor followed by a refreshment.

Nasi Lemak

Meehoon Siam

Curry Puff & Kuih Talam

Saturday, Oct 22 2022 (17.30 > 22.30) - attended a wedding dinner of my niece, Prisca Leong & Jeremey Yeo in Royale Chulan, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tea Ceremony at a Reception Room, Royale Chulan, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Wedding dinner (Chinese Set Menu) in Mutiara Grand Ballroom, Royale Chulan, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Deluxe Four Hot & Cold Combinations
Braised Eight Treasure Soup
Crispy Boneless Chicken with Thousand Island Sauce
Steamed Red Snapper with Minced Ginger
in Soy Sauce
Wok Fried Butter Prawns with Grated Coconuts
Braised Vegetarian Treasures
Mushrooms with Green Vegetables
Yi-Fu Noodles with Mushrooms
& Shredded Chicken
Iced Yam Cream with Sago
Lotus Shanghai Pancake

Saturday, Oct 15 2022 (16.00 > 22.00) - attended the wedding dinner of my brother Weng's youngest daughter (Krynn Cheng & Farrel) in The Chow Kit - Ormond Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur - this stylish hotel has been awarded Malaysia's Best Boutique Hotel 2022 for the second year in a row ! over 70 guests from both side of the families attended the wedding ! Wishing the bride & bridegroom a long & happy marriage !

A glimpse of The Chow Kit & the surrounding - a suburb in central Kuala Lumpur, named after Loke Chow Kit, a well known miner, municipal councilor & public official, the place is also known as "Little Jakarta" having a large Indonesian community, traditionally been known as a notorious red light district in Kuala Lumpur, the Chow Kit wet market is the largest in Kuala Lumpur.

Makan Makan (Eating) - small eats with my wife & ex-travel buddy (Choy) near my home place in Subang Jaya & Kota Damansara (KF Wong & Thompson), Petaling Jaya, Selangor in the month of Oct 2022, KM & my wife's delight (chee cheong fun, pan mee, dosai, pork dumplings & yau tau fu, petai fried rice, pig maw pepper soup, Balinese sweet soy pork set lunch, Sarawak Curry Laksa & Noodle !)