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Published: November 17th 2007
Airbus A380
as seen walking through Singapore's Changi airportWe left Betelbox Backpackers on a drizzly tropical morning for Singapore’s Changi international airport. The highlight (for Michael at least) was seeing the new Airbus A380 parked at a nearby gate (photo). Less than an hour later, we landed in Kuala Lumpur. However it took another 2 hours to get to Michael’s friend Alan’s apartment from the airport. No wonder many people catch the bus or train between Singapore and KL!
Wednesday 7 November 2007 We undertook an improvised self-guided tour of the city in search of the American Express office to change some money only to find that there wasn’t one. However our search took us across the city and past the KL tower (in the night photo later) and its few other sights along the way. Indeed it seems that KL is a city for business and shopping and, well, not a lot else!
As in Singapore, the Indian community was preparing for a major festival, Deepavali, and buses, shops and businesses were in on it with sales, advertising and many displays of coloured rice (photo).
Our walking tour took us to where the two rivers meet, which gave KL
Happy Deepavali
One of many coloured-rice displays for the festival its name. “Meeting of muddy waters I wouldn’t swim in” is a fair description of the present, but I’m sure the scenery - and smell - was much more pleasing when the city was founded (photo).
In the afternoon we did the tour to the Petronas Tower walkway (after needing to line up for tickets about 8 hours in advance). The Petronas Twin Towers are without doubt the most impressive sight in central Kuala Lumpur. Located 41 stories up, the link between the two buildings provides a good view of the city as well as the park below where Alan and I went for a morning run (photo). However the Petronas towers look impressive at all hours of the day (twilight photo).
Thursday 8 November Thursday was a public holiday for Deepavali, so Alan had the day off work. While Vicky worked remotely (telecommuting to Australia) and Barbara nursed an upset stomach, Alan and I visiting the Batu Caves, about 12km from the city. On the way we passed a nasty scooter accident on the freeway, which dampened our spirits somewhat (most scooter drivers don’t wear helmets, and few of the others use their chinstraps). In a
way it is most surprising how few accidents there were given the number of scooters and the way the traffic moves in KL. A very large statue of a Hindu icon stands near the base of the several hundred stairs that lead to the caves (photo). As there’s no escalator, I’m not sure exactly what was intended by the “no exercise” sign (photo). But puffing to the top led to a nice view of the district and central KL, and a number of shrines in the caves (photo). The monkeys along the stairs provided entertainment and photo opportunities (photo).
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