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Published: July 17th 2007
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Ok hi once more this latest installment is from Perhentian Islands to Kuala Lumpur, where we are at the moment.
After leaving the islands we were dropped off in Kuala Besut, a small village by the sea. We were planning on catching a bus directly to KL but the only departure that day was at midnight. We didnt want to hang about for 10 hours so we got a bus to Kuala Terranganu instead, which is on the way to KL anyway. We then wanted to get straight on another bus to KL but they were all full until the following morning, so we found a hotel to stay over. The hotel was minging and the bedsheets were filthy so we asked them to change them for us, which they did thank god.
We were just in the room getting changed when this wailing sound started coming from outside our window, it was a man singing on top of his voice and through a microphone. It went on for about a half hour and drove us absolutely insane, we noticed that there were speakers on the mosque over the road from our hotel and presumed it was mass
time.
That evening we wrote our beachlife blog and had an early night, there was not a right lot going on and we were tired from the journey. At 5.30am the next morning the same droning man gave us our wake up call and did not shut up till about 7.15am. We were fuming as it was so loud and he was screeching and sounded as though he was posessed. We later found out that he was singing for muslims to come and pray with him, which is fine but not so good for our ears!!.
We went for breakfast and were on the bus to Kuala Lumpur for 10am. We did not arrive in KL til 8.30 pm and the first hostel we tried to get a room in was full, and then the second hostel was full too. This is the first time we have been unable to get a room so we were surprised. The second hostel was called Green Hut Lodge and we booked that for the friday (the next day) and stayed in the hotel over the road which was quite expensive but sooo worth it. Room service, phone, telly and a bath
what a treat!! Nothing exciting happened that night, just went for food and had a few drinks.
We both really like KL, its clean, the buildings are amazing, the shops are amazing, in fact everything here is great, if there was work here for us it would be a good place to live.
The next day we hit the shops, me and laurie were sick to death of wearing the same clothes day in day out, and we were ahead of our budget so we decided to splash out. Laurie got new trainers and 2 t-shirts and i got 2 pairs of cropped trousers, a bra and a new top- all of that for under 40 pound!!! The clothes are really nice quality and so cheap. We have never seen shopping malls so big one of them actually has a theme park on the 5th and 7th floor, its crazy but very cool!
That day we also left the Allson Genesis Hotel and checked into the hostel. Oh my god what a shithole(excuse my french) but it was. First of all we had to check in late as the room was not ready. We paid extra for
our laundry to be done in 6 hours- it wasnt and some of laurie's tops have shrunk. There was no blanket on the bed and you had to rent a towel. When we were getting ready to go out the bulb went in the room and the place was not even that cheap to stay in. One more thing there was no mirrors in the entire place either ( anyone who is reading and going to KL soon ignore the lonely planet and skip this place).
So when we eventually got ready we had a few cheap beers in the hostel garden(that was the only good thing about it) and went to a lively kareoke bar. The drinks were really expensive but it was a nice place and we got talking to a few old men from Australia who were on a golfing holiday,for some reason old people love us. I decided i would have a go on the kareoke then laurie had a go too, it was good fun and quite addictive. At the end of the night there was us two and a group of young chinese people left in the club, all wailing away, maybe we
scared the other customers away.
The next morning we checked out of faulty towers and went back to the posh hotel. We couldn't resist. That day we just relaxed in our nice room and that night we went for an indian and to the cinema to see Die Hard 4.
Monday afternoon we decided to go to the Batu Caves and check it out. It's free entry and the taxi there cost 20 ringitt. To get to the caves you walk up the steps which are numbered i think there was about 283. On the stairs is a family of monkeys which are free to roam about and they are not shy or fearful of humans at all which was nice to see.
The actual cave was nothing magnificent, for some reason the cave had been painted yellow, pink and green on parts of it. The scenery would be so much better if the cave did not have stairs built into it, stalls selling souvenirs and shrines everywhere. Although the huge gold Bhudda at the bottom of the stairs was really impressive, i think it must be the biggest we have seen so far.
After the
Batu caves we headed over to Chinatown for a little look around. We had intended to go to the muslim arts museum but its closed on mondays. The market on Pettaling Street was a bit dissapointing, just more touristy tack and rows and rows of watches and bags.
After dinner at Nandos we went to the pub for a few games of pool while we waited for it get dark so we could check out Petronas Towers by night. However when we left the bar it started pouring with rain so we had to duck into a cafe and sat around waiting some more for the rain to stop. Eventually we got going and arrived at the towers, which are amazing, very impressive at night when they are lit up. We got some nice pictures there but we cant get them all on here unfortunately, takes too long.
So today we have been to the Menara KL Tower, which is the communications tower. I think it stands at about 430m in total, and we went up the observation deck at about 350m. Luckily it was really clear this morning so had a great view across the whole of
the city. There are free binoculars at the top so we were trying to spy on people on the street below! Nothing interesting was going on unfortunately! Peeping Toms!
Afterwards we caught a taxi to the Muslim arts museum, which was just as exciting as we had expected - we are not big fans of museums - but at least it gives you a bit of a feel for the culture and religion. When we came out it was raining again and now we are here writing this. Hopefully it will stop for us tonight as its our last night here then we head to Melaka in the morning.
Catch up again soon..
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Dad
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Beeston Blog
Hellooooooooooooooo from the homeland - Massive breaking news - the Malvern's shut - all the windows are covered by steel shutters - Investigations have revealed that despite a modest rise in revenue from when I turned up it's unable to sustain it's feasibility - Bottom line is you won't be able to utilise your new found pool skills on yer doorstep. City kids at heart eh! You both sound hugely impressed by KL - there must be work there ( not that I'm tryin to pinch your flat or anything!) - there'll be a poker game somewhere Laurie! Fantastic advert for the Hotel du Ming Donna - bet you've cost 'em a shedloada ringgits ( now theres a currency I'd struggle to take seriously)- if I ever get to KL I'm gonna stay there but take my own sheets. Loved your comment about the museum - yes we have to do our touristy duty don't we! Speaking of museums yer mum and I took Callum to the City gallery the other week - he ran straight up to an Old Master and poked it - good lad. That's it for now - loads to tell you but it'll keep - see you both soon Love Dad x x x p.s. Let me know what date and time you're home and I'll make sure everything in the flat works again ( only jokin!)