Sweatbox

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It has been a strange couple of days. We set off alone late at night from a windy, rainy, Stansted airtport 30 mins late. The last flight of the day from a deserted place like a scene from 28 days later.

The flight was boring, no films, no tv, but i managed to sleep 4-5 hrs, Suse slept much longer it seems. On landing we got through customs with relative ease and found ourselves confused by all the people, transport and 27 defgree heat at 9pm! After buying bus tickets for 2 quid each we changed our minds and forked out for an 18 quid taxi. Seemed expensive at first but then we realised it was nearly 50 miles to the Guesthouse.

Arrived at the guesthouse at about 10.30pm. A place where shoes are left at the door. The room is great and pretty much on the doorstep of chinatown, although the air con is a little chilly. The streets here smell of a mixture of things (most bad) its busy and noisy and I like it. Suse was a little culture shocked at first though I think.

We ate at a scruffy looking chinese restaurant/stall that served us veggies and rice, duck & noodles and 2 cans of coke for less than 4 quid, lovely!

The next day we were up at 4.30am unable to sleep for no reason at all. We both decided that it was time to explore the city, so when everything came to life at 8 we decided to go out. The first hour was spent walking in any old direction just taking in the surroundings (it looked different in the daytime.) After contemplating walking into the centre of KL we decided to take the train in. Their light rail transit LRT system costs about 30p and its clean, fast and cool. I was well impressed.

The stop we got off at led into a westernised shopping mall (huge) at the foot of the Petronas towers (also huge). Outside there was KLCC park which was full of westerners doing yoga and people cleaning/gardening (sharp contrast to chinatown).

We then walked miles up to the Menara Kuala Lumpur (the worlds 4th tallest comms tower) there were amazing 360 degree views from the top over all of KL. Was definately worth the hike.

Once we got back to the guesthouse in the early afternoon we slept until the evening then went out for another delicious meal, I had sweet chille chicken, fried rice and a coke for 2 quid. Then we explored the night market in Chinatown; narrow lanes overcorwded with people and stalls selling knock off goods, though we didnt buy anything it was fun to see. Tomorrow off to Perth via Singapore... another long day awaits.

- Rob x

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Comments

[Gaz]

Hi there, great blog. Im heading out the KL myself in a couple of months and am looking for a decent guesthouse/hotel in or around chinatown. Would you recommend the place you are staying and is chinatown a good place to stay? Thanks Gaz