Kuala Lumpur

On our extremely long train journey (10 hours) we saw some very poor areas, dirty rivers, a derailed train, buffalos, cows and lots of plantations. Due to a train that had derailed the day before! - we had to wait a while for the ramaining pieces to be removed. When we finally made it we got a cab to our hotel. Our hotel was really nice! For 128pound for five nights, we had a buffet breakfast, a roof-top swimming pool, good size room and BATHroom and a great location with a view of the tallest twin buildings in the world. Once settled we wandered around our surrounding streets, went to a night market and went to bed.

The next day we went to explore the city. We went shopping in Sogo and around Little India. We saw a five aside football tournament taking place, teh International Mosque, gardens and monuments. We then went back to the train terminal to book our tickets to Phuket. On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the bread shop in Sogo and bought a feast for dinner (including donuts hehe). We firstly went for a sim then enjoyed our selection of bread. Later in the evening we went to look around Chow Kit wich was a poorer area and lacking in tourists. We had a quick look around the market and then returned for bed.

On Monday we awoke early to visit the Petronas Twin Towers as you have to be there at 8.30am to receive a ticket. But a quick look in the Lonely Planet guide made us realise it was closed to the public on Mondays! So after more sleep we went and had pancakes for breakfst and went for a swim. After numerous lengths rather than walk we caught the train to Chinatown (for just 20p). We looked around the huge and claustrophobic market and managed to get some bargains. It was very funny bartering with the stall holders. We then caught the train to Sogo to buy a bigger feast this time and returned to our room. We were really looking forward to the Kuala Lumpur version of Deal or No Deal that we had watched every night as it is one of the only programmes in english but tonight it did not appear. We quickly came to the conclusion that their soaps are really awfull with terrible acting so we reverted to the radio!!

On the 13th we again awoke early but this time made our way to the Petronas Twin Towers and got in the queue for free entry tickets. The gates opened at 8.30 and our slot was 9.30. First we looked in the exibition room to learn about the history of the 10 year old towers. They are the tallest twin towers in the world standing 452m above the graound. Up until 2003 they were also the tallest architectural structure in the world. The towers are a symbol of Malaysia's socio-econimc progress and achievements. We could only go to the skybridge (the bridge that joins the two towers) which is on the 41st floor at 170m (the height we bungee jumped). We had a good view on the Golden Triangle and city area. Within the towers are the offices for Petronas (the petrol company), an art gallery, a science museum, a shopping mall, a convention centre and a concert hall (Malaysia's only one). When we came back to the ground we went to wander around KLCC park. We then returened to the hotel for a sunbathe and swim. After alternative food from Sogo (in the form of a Kebab) we went again to Chinatown market for a browse hehe.

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