K.L

So we arrived in another capital city. Kuala Lumpur... or K.L as everyone says here is a great city. Very modern with fantastic transport links give plenty too do! On arriving we were met by a crazy guy who dragged us to his Chinatown guesthouse, 'wheelers' . Considering every other guesthouse had got a crap write up we followed him apprehensively but it turned out to be a wise choice! Box rooms but a nicely layed out place and half the price we were going to pay too.( pity there is no window, lack of sunlight makes it impossible to wake up !)
Its even got a sun terrace at the top of th building showing the football... and you can sip beer while admiring the view accross the city! You even get chicken satay with every beer bought here! The guy offering it is very enthusiastic and wont stop till you have had loads of chicken!

First day we explored the capital. Where we are staying, in chinatown is a crazy bustling place to be but the market is absolutely amazing. You can buy anything here!!! Trainers, brand new ones that you would pay 80 pounds or more... ten quid here and thats without bargaining!

The skyline in KL dominates you. Firstly you see huge shopping centres joined by light railway system and monorail. Seriously.. very efficient and extremely cheap enabling you to get anywhere you want over the city. The monorail even runs into the shopping malls!

The next thing that wil capture your attention in the distance is the KL tower (4th tallest in the world) and the mezmerising Patronas Towers (now the tallest twin towers in the world)

We visited the KL tower on our first morning here and it proved to be really good if a little on the expensive side. The lift shoots you up to the observation deck where you can see all over KL and to the caves and mountains in the distance! You get given a tape commentary as you go around taht explains everything as your looking! The weather here is scorching hot with few clouds and so you can get a fantastic view!

After the tower we headed over to an area in called the golden triangle, KL's version of knightsbridge! Its here where all the glitzy bars, restaurants and mall's are and so we headed to the areas biggest... Times Square.

Times Square is a monster of a mall. Its a huge square nuilding on 13 floors and houses every shop going... even Debenhams! More amazing still it houses a giant indoor themepark with some really good rides... great to watch but didnt go in as a bit too expensive!

After some serious... and i mean serious window shopping we headed back to Chinatown and grabbed some food... can you believe they have Nando's here!!! The local food is fantastic but you cant beat it once in a while can you!

Next day we headed to the national museum which is quite interesting and even better free. Much is said about Malaysia gaining its independence from us Brits in there but the influence weve had over the place is quite amazing.... from the architecture to roads.. we're everywhere!

The food here is something else and the Malay/indian community will stop at nothing until your well fed! Rich curry's with every spice going lapped up with gorgeous flaky Capati... it gets us every time!

People here are incrdibly friendly and always willing to stop and chat. It can get a little annoying when the staring gets out of hand though especially when your eating! In a similar vein to Dubai its not done in a disturbing way, more inquizitive and i think Frances having her legs out has alot to do with it!


16th

This morning we got a bus about 10k out of town to the Batu Caves! Not many cities can boast their own caves but KL can and they are well worth going to see. You walk up over 300 steps to the top but getting there can be a problem as the staircase is ruled by gangs of monkey's. They fight each other and sure as hell dont want us to get past. You have to make a run for it but several people were unlucky and fell down a few steps during the chase! Little buggers!

In the afternoon we visited KL Park a huge place and brand new. A massive effort has obviously been put in to the park to make it enjoyable for people young and old and we had a really nice time. Great views accross to the city as well! While walking in the park we came across the biggest lizzard i have ever seen. We disturbed its nap and it promptly legged it up a tree but i managed to get a photo before he dissapeared! The park houses its own planetarium. Unfortunately it wasnt open today but hope to visit before we leave.

Spent the evening walking around the golden triangle and hob nobing with the wealthy of K.L

17th Jan

An early start today! The Petronas towers offer free tickets to go up to the viewing platform but you have to go and que early to get them. The viewing platform is a bridge built between the two towers, it is on the 41st floor, not that high considering it has nearly double that but offers a good view of the city. The towers are so moden and seem to have tight security so we couldnt explore too much but we did spy that it even has its own fitness centre!

After visiting the towers we decided that a spot of retail therapy was in order....now that we are in a trendy city we are noticing how scruffy we both look! (speak for yourself Frances) I was overjoyed to find that there were 2 topshops in close proximity....i was very excited! unfortunately the prices are the same as back home...my enthusiasum was dampened when i realsied that the normal fashion bargins no longer look like bargins when you compare to the prices we have been paying in asia!
trawling these enormous shopping centres in KL, which seem to be on almost every corner
I have also learnt something new about myself...'i am a consumer'. There, i have said it! After trying to convince myself that i dont care about material goods, how i look or where we live....I DO! I want to look fashionable, i want the latest gadgets and I WANT MCDONALDS...or nando's chicken..... Yes i am disgusted with myself, for so long now i thought i could live in a hut with the gecko's dressed in cloth but i cant! Maybe the first stage of recovery is to admitt to the problem....or is that just for alcoholics?


A small update to let you all know that our flights to Malaysian Borneo are all booked up and we fly out of K.L on Wednesday and arrive in Miri on the other island that evening. The following day we're heading into Brunei which should be really interesting, before making our way to Kota Kinnabalu in Malaysia and preparing ourselves to climb the mountain!

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