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About Singapore Malaysia

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA 5

Kuala Lumpur is a prime example of a city that was not planned, per se, from a master graph of streets. Rather, because of its beginnings as an outpost, it grew as it needed to, expanding outward and swallowing up suburbs. The result is a tangled web of streets too narrow to support the traffic of a capital city. Cars and buses weave through one-way lanes, with countless motorbikes sneaking in and out, sometimes in the opposite direction of traffic or up on the sidewalks. Expect traffic jams in the morning rush between 6 and 9am, and again between 4 and 7pm. At other times, taxis are a convenient way of getting around, but the commuter train systems, if they're going where you need to, is perhaps the best value and easiest route. City buses are hot and crowded with some very confusing routes. Walking can also be frustrating. Many sidewalks are in poor condition, with buckled tiles and gaping gutters. The heat can be prohibitive as well. However, areas within the colonial heart of the city, Chinatown, Little India, and some areas in the Golden Triangle are within walking distance of each other.

BY TAXI Taxis around town can be waved down by the side of the road, or can be caught at taxi stands outside shopping complexes or hotels. The metered fare is RM2 (US55¢) for the first 2km and an additional 10 sen for each 200m after that. Between midnight and 6am you'll be charged an extra 50% of the total fare. If you call ahead for a cab, there's an extra charge of RM1 (US254).

Truth be told, many cabbies in KL are really lousy. Government regulations have made it compulsory for cabbies to charge the metered fare, but many still try to v price, which is invariably higher than what the metered fare would be. The 1,t is during peak hours or if its raining, when they'll jack up the price panding on how badly they think you need their services. There are times h, ii empty cabs will just pass you right by or when cabbies will refuse to take n to your destination if it's "out of their way" The city's been trying to crack and on the poor quality of service; as a matter of fact, a government minister i into some hot water when in late 2002 he suggested errant cabbies be shot it I haven't noticed any change for the better. To request a cab pickup, call KL Teksi at 03/9221-8999 or Comfort at 03/8024-2727. Maybe they'll show up. Maybe they won't.
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