Kuala Lumpur Day 1

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Itinerary planned. Visas received. Currency arranged. The time finally arrived for BJ and I to take our two week SE Asia trip we planned earlier in the year. The trip itself was only spurred on by a fantastic AirAsia promotion so we booked flights from Gold Coast to KL, then KL to Bangkok, then on to Ho Chi Minh City before returning to KL for the last leg home back to Gold Coast. With fares under $30 for the Bangkok and HCMC flights, I was eager to see as many places as possible. Those well-travellled would probably suggest otherwise and as I write this anticipating the days ahead, I am inclined to think one country for two weeks might be more appropriate. Note to self for future travel!

I was a little hesitant about the quality of AirAsia facilities and service given we had never flown with them before but while the plane is certainly 'no frills' (which was to be expected) we couldn't really fault the service or facilities. We arrived and it took about 45 minutes to pass through customs. I had read up on catching taxis but no amount of research can guarantee how travel pans out. Expecting a 75 Ringett Taxi after reading up many posts, we were charged 104 Ringett as our luggage was too much for a budget Taxi to take. No big deal in the end.

Travelling at 110kms down a 60 km highway, treating the white lane lines merely as decoration and not actually a guide to stay in certain lanes, our taxi got us to our hotel safely - Anggun Boutique Hotel in Bukit Bintang. Service was great from staff - they ventured out into the storm to take our bags.

After checking in, we freshened up and waited for the storm to go before venturing one block away to the renowned Jalan Alor for street food. After dinner we checked out the Pavillion and thought this was a big shopping centre. Well, that was momentarily lived as we later stumbled upon Berjaya Times Square which is the big mamma of all shopping centres! If a theme park, cinema and bowling alley can all fit under one roof, you know it's big! BJ was devastated to realise we arrived 5 minutes after the theme park's closing time so it is on the agenda for tomorrow. Instead we found the Foot Master fish spa and gave it ago. I have never felt anything quite like it before. If you can hang in there for the first minute or two, and close your eyes, the sensation actually starts feeling like your feet are in a vibration tub. Then you open your eyes and remember reality is that you have 40, 50 maybe 60 fish sucking on your dead skin cells. BJ chickened out first time round after the first 'nibble' but after a bit of coaching from myself and the amused spa attendant, he succeeded the second time around.

With feet renewed and fatigue setting in, we headed home to our retreat just minutes away from the neon lights and the crazy traffic. And the snake handling guy. And the mime dressed in glitter. And the spectacle of the world's tallest man and shortest man standing side by side. Bukit Bintang - this is home for the next few days!

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Photos

Pavillion
The Pavillion Shopping Centre in Bukit Bintang

Foot Master Fish Spa at Berjaya Times Square
Foot Master Fish Spa at Berjaya Times Square