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Published: August 28th 2008
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The election has been a BIG topic all around the world ... this sign was in an LRT station. And back to Kuala Lumpur we go!!
First time around we landed in KL due to the Chinese visa mishap, but then left the city after a few days to continue onto Singapore and Indonesia. After Borneo we wanted to hit up some of the islands around peninsular Malaysia, but ran into a brick wall! At the time it was "school holiday" and every bus or train to the islands were full ... or the only available seats where premier first class. Out of frustration we bused back to KL, thinking maybe we could catch ride from there, but we ended up stranded for a whopping ten days.
Operation "Nowhere Else To Go" didn't turn out so bad! Kuala Lumpur doesn't really have anything original or unique to do, but we put some effort into finding creative/cheap activities and before we knew it ten days disappeared! Malaysia is really expensive compared to all other Asian countries that we've been to and because we're nearing the end of our year, we've become a bit ruthless in our penny pinching skills.
Besides Singapore, KL is spiffy clean compared to any other city we've seen in Asia. It was a huge
Big Fishie
... also known as the reason we're snorkellers and not divers! shock the first time around to leave Hanoi (and it's crazy, dirty, and noisy streets), then to arrive where the streets are organized, people only honk if they're going to run you over, and garbage for the most part is under control. The city is also an incredible melting pot of cultures and religions. There are Indians, Chinese, Malay, and many tribes people mixed in with Islam, Christianity, Hindu and Buddhism. There really seems to be an attitude of tolerance and acceptance amongst the people, however we're not locals and are sure our perception barely scratches the surface.
One of the coolest opportunities we came across was the Malaysian International Fireworks Competition. Canada was competing, but we missed the show by a few days and ended up catching Spain instead. What a performance!!! It was basically just like fireworks at home, but bigger, grander and choreographed to blaring music. We waited outside for 2.5 hours for the show to start and luck would have it that a downpour started just as the performance began. We did have our trusty raincoats, but one was cushioning for Trevors knees and the other became shelter for the camera. Humpf!
Just like
all the other tourists, we lined up for the obligatory Petronas Towers photo (which was once the tallest building in the world and has been made famous by the movie Entrapment). The towers are ginormous and are very pretty at night; they actually light up the sky! Neither of us are architecture buffs, but these buildings were impressive!! They hog the view from just about every corner of the city and make up the KL skyline.
Our last night in KL turned out to be a reunion with the bed bugs. We'd been getting bites since the first night, but because they were nothing like the time in Vietnam (fewer bites and only on our arms and legs) we had just assumed it was mosquitos or ants. On the last night we actually saw one cross the bed and started a hunt which turned up dozens. We came across their egg filled nest and it was disgusting!!! Now we know what to look for though, and you can bet we'll be searching each bed from here on in!!!
So, a bit of a random thought ... some people have asked us how we decide what we're going to
do or where we want to go, and really, for the most part, we "go with the flow." When we got to Thailand, we knew we wanted to eventually go to China, and that we had to be back in Bangkok to meet our friends, but anything else was unwritten. What we've noticed quite a few times now is that when we've changed our minds or don't end up going to a certain country, things have happened that we would have been caught up in.
For example, we had thought of Burma after Thailand, but chose Cambodia instead, and if we'd have been in Burma, we'd have been in the country at the time of the cyclone. Another route we talked about was Thailand, Laos and then China, and the route we would have taken would have put us in the earthquake zone. Instead we went Thailand, Cambodia, Vietam, and if we had gotten the visa to China, we'd now be in Laos, where the Mekong River recentlly flooded 45 feet above it's lowest level in the dry season.
What we're saying is that "chance" has had us sidestep disasters a few times now and it really makes
Rape The Wall, Not The Kids?
... with graffiti like that, you have to wonder what the hell goes on in this city!!! us think! Aside from some nasty travellers sickness, we've been safe and healthy! It sure feels like My Momma and Trevors Grandpa are looking out for us!! We're really learning that everything happens for a reason and that it all works out the way it's supposed to!
We're back in Bangkok now, where we'll meet our friends Maria and Dan at the airport in a few hours!! We can't wait!
Cheers, Mates, Cheers!
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J8mes
James Caroll
KL
Hey, nice to read your blogs. I'm a 19 year old UK student who just arrived home a month ago from a six month trip. I also visited KL on my travels and was just curious to read other traveller's views. Sounds like you guys have had an amazing journey so far. Enjoy it while you can! James