Rail-ly Change

As announced by KTM, the Kommuter service will now have a new ticketing structure. Finally they are introducing the weekly pass, which offers saving of 28%. Although restricted to the source and destination station purchase, unlimited rides and in-between route embarkment & disembarkment are allowed. Sadly, the "Anywhere" (Mana-mana) and "Travel" (Kembara) tickets will no longer be issued. Those tickets are fantastic package, coz it allows anyone to travel unlimitedly on the same day of purchase to go anywhere there is covered by the Kommuter service. Mana-mana cost RM5 when it started, but up RM1 when the fare structure revised. Kembara costs RM10. Both actually works the same, but in order to get the Mana-mana RM6 offer, the following condition must be fulfilled :

1. It does not fall on the school holiday.
2. It does not fall on a weekend.
3. It does not fall on public holiday.
4. Purchasing of ticket only started after 9am [but traveling ends on the last train of the day]

So, you might think that you cannot fulfilled all of the above, there's where the Kembara card comes in which you don't have to fulfill the condition above, but you have to pay for RM10. Even for RM10, is totally worth it, especially doing the long distance travel. I have used this offer for 4 times. Here's what can be done in case you wonder :

1. Checking out Seremban town, walking in Seremban lake garden which also has a little zoo-like thing which displays various bird.
2. Eating Kajang sate in Kajang itself
3. Seeing old rail depot in Sentul. Check out the building around it.
4. Visit the old part of Klang town, which has a Sultan palace near by the station, Gedung Raja Abdullah (i think it's the oldest building in Selangor), "little India". Nice food and great Ais kacang as well. There is a little cake shop at the end of the old shop houses which is very cheap and delicious! You can have a look at the infamous Klang river as well which looks different when seeing it in KL.
5. Go to south port of Port Klang which you can have a view of the sea and sun set if you want. Note: it is scorching hot in the afternoon, esp around 3pm. You can get a ride to Pulau Ketam from here as well.
6. Rawang town is a town with heavy traffic so walking around the town requires skill. Also, it is famous for a deep fried fish dish, which I have yet to try.

Too bad that the offer will ends on 31 December 2004. Reason given? Lukewarm response. I'm gonna miss this very much, unless I want to pay for high price for it [Forget it!] Also, annoucement through loud speaker informed passengers that trail basis of direct route Rawang ↔ Port Klang will commence today.