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Published: January 3rd 2009
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Handsome Bus Driver
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur Friday 12th December The journey through Malaysia was quite civilised. It's a three lane motorway cutting through very green (possibly tropical?) palm tree forest. We're a little uncomfortable in our posh business class seats. We've noticed quite often that when air-con is paid for it appears to be the law to stick it on full blast so everyone is cold. I'm so cold my willy has shrunk to the size of a baseball bat and Aimee has Bruce Lee's (hard nips) that could cut glass! Arrived Kuala Lumpur as it's just getting dark, though still warm. It is lightning, but not raining and the tall skyscrapers are briefly lit up as it flashes. We hostel hunt and find a private, double room with shared facilities for 33RM (Malaysian Ringgits) which is about 6.30 quid. It's quite late so we take a quick look through Chinatown and eat at a street vendor where we have soup, chicken and rice, pork (or duck - we can't tell) and noodles, a can of pineaple juice and a root-beer for 13.20RM (2.50 quid). We noticed that the surrounding shops around us are playing Christmas songs but not Slade or Whizzard or "that bloke from the
pogues with teeth like coco pops" and "that bird who lost a fight with a jetski," but proper Christian Christmas Carols like "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." Nothing strange about that except
it's a muslim country and we're in Chinatown!! After Muslim the second most common religion is Hinduism yet here they are "joyful and triumphant" at Christ's birth. I wonder if somewhere in a secret underground bunker Mr. O B Laden and his henchmen are tucking into their Turkey and cranberry sauce, belting out
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Probably not but I get excited and just go on about something!! Ah well. Merry Jihad everyone........
Saturday 13th December Went to see the Petronas Towers which were the world's tallest buildings, before being surpassed by the Taipei 101 in 2004. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings and office building in the world. As we walked to see them we notice that a lot of Malaysian words are like the English words but spelled as they sound so for example a bus is a
bas, a taxi is a
teksi, a restaurant is a
restoran and a (shopping) complex is a
kompleks.
It's quite odd! We then saw a few temples including KL's principal Hindu Temple, the Sri Mahamariammam and wander through Chinatown. We try a few random Chineses things for lunch (not sure what though) and buy some sunglasses which I proffessionally bartered down from 120MR to 20MR. It rained heavily this afternoon. Went to Little India for the Saturday Night Market. It's mainly Indian clothes and food. Smells great though! We got two curries but not sure what sort with rice served in a banana leaf for 8MR (1.50 quid). Watched Liverpool vs Hull. What a match! How on Earth did Hull hang on?
Sunday 14th December Travelled today. 6 hours in Business Class coach from KL to Penang for 35MR each. Had to get another bus from Penang terminal to central Georgetown. It was raining quite hard when we got off the bus but we had no option other than to go and find a hostel. We're staying here for a couple of days so plenty of time to dry our wet clothes. Got a lovely, clean, double room with shared facilities for 25MR a night (4.80 quid). Beer is WELL expensive here. Even a 330ml can from
the supermarket costs more than a meal out! A beer in a pub costs more than a nights accommodation!!!
Monday 15th December Lazy day. Lie in then bus down to BATU Ferringhi which is Penang's best beach area. It was OK but nothing special. It was slightly damaged by the Tsunami in 2004 but only a little bit. The locals say "it cleaned the sand." Drank rum and coke in the hostel tonight (cheap).
Tuesday 16th December Did a few sights today: The muslim Kapitan Kolling Mosque, the Chinese Khoa Kongsi (a clan house) decorated with colourful dragons, statues, paintings and lamps. Took a wrong turn and ended up in a wooden village on stilts over the sea! It was well cool! Saw the Victorian clock tower and then went to put Aimee in bed - she's hungover! Bought tickets for tomorrow's trip to Phuket. 75MR for air-con minibus (better wrap up warm then) on a 14 hour journey. Budgetted very wisely and only ended up with 20c of unspent money!
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