Blogs from Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia, Asia - page 8

Landed in KL from Christchurch late Tues night, bus driven at, tortoise pace by driver who nearly produced his kidney by his coughing. Hotel Sentral found after asking 2 people, happy to see us despite almost being 1am, small but comfy room with working air-con, fridge and great shower. Hot and humid, BBQ Malaysian for breakfast and off to colonial area. Some impressive buildings but tend to have great facade but not the interior to match. Food stalls on street or down alleys are cheap and tasty, sometimes just have to wait until it's in your mouth until you know what it is you're eating. Chinatown is mixed bag, several temples worth viewing, Buddhist & Hindu , but otherwise old shops with original Chinese frontage selling hardware or Christmas decorations. Several helpful entrepreneurs offered latest DVD's ... read more

There's something about humid climates that compels you to stay cool and unmoving much like a reptile that's found shade on a hot summer's day. One such day in Kuala Lumpur, three of us were lazing about and watching 2001: A Space Odyssey, which two of us had never seen. When we reached the end credits, my friend said, "I feel that WTF feeling you get after a David Lynch movie." I laughed in agreement and felt chills run up my spine, literally. As I prepared for bed, I realized those chills weren't just a reaction to the movie. I felt odd. Not quite sick, but uncomfortable as the chills persisted. Am I getting the flu? I wondered. In the middle of that Sunday night, I woke up with a hot fever and the chills spread ... read more

So, last night turned out to be a little bit eventful. Why? Because I pulled back the bedsheets to find a fat, crawling, blood-sucking bed bug, that's why. So, at midnight, I found myself picking up my suitcase and heading for the exit. I know I'm not the best of backpackers - glampacking is far more my scene and, having done so much solo business travel in the past, being by myself and not meeting fellow travellers is a small price to pay when you're staying in a luxury hotel. However I've got to draw the line at having blood drained from my already-pickled-with-mozzy-bites legs by this little critter. The man on reception was shocked, sympathetic and showed me to another room - this time an en-suite garden apartment. I didn't want to stay a minute ... read more

The journey from Samui was via a three hour propellor driven plane. It was tiny! I had been on a plane of its size before, when travelling around the Caribbean with my squash buddies in 2007. But, unlike me, this was Charlie's first experience of being on a plane so small.. The Fireflyz plane had two comfortable seats either side of a central eisle. We were given chocolate muffins and a drink during the flight! Malaysia is a richer country than Thailand and therefore, the currency is stronger and things cost more to buy. Thailand is geared towards the traveller/tourist as people have been flocking there for many years to see the culture and beautiful scenery. KL is a city of many tall skyscrapers that is trying to pull the whole country forward to becoming a ... read more

I have only been to foreign land a few times before. I have been to USA, Los Angeles and Colorado Springs besides Macau and Hong Kong. To neighbouring country, I have been to Thailand up to Haadyai, Singapore and Brunei. In November 2011, I will be going to make my first step on Indonesian soil, to attend the 26th Sea Games to be held at Palembang. This will be my first visit to the most populated country in South East Asia. ... read more