Kuala Lumpur (translated as Giant Shopping Mall in Bahasa Melayu)

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This blog by Lucas:

We spent over a week in KL on accident, as we got our first introduction to the vaunted bureaucracy of India while trying to secure our travel visas at the venerable Indian High Commission. Hundreds of US greenbacks, 3 separate (costly) taxi trips, 5 days of waiting, and countless hours waiting in line, and we had what took a bureaucrat probably 3 seconds to place a stamp in our passport.

In the meantime, we enjoyed this city for what it is: a giant modern shopping mall (with a few remnants of muslim architecture and old chinese shophouses set amidst the stunning skyscrapers and shopping megaplexes). Having had our fill of cultural sites and monuments throughout the rest of asia, we decided it was high time we went to the movies 9 DAYS in a row in order to get a taste of the west and escape the rainy, steamy humidity outside. Before and after the flicks we people-watched the punk Malay and Chinese youth amidst the indoor roller coasters, drank Dunkin' Donuts coffee (this Malay franchisee must have got the recipe wrong...), and (I hate to admit it), ate some delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I must admit we weren't complete a-cultural consumerist Western sellouts. We had an excellent day trip to the Hindu pilgrammage site at the Batu Caves (see pics), which was quite spectacular, and we had a great time walking through the Malay neighborhood of Kampung Baru, exploring the various Chinese and Indian neighborhoods, checking out the Majsid Jamek mosque, and having a little taste of Argentina at a steak restaurant in the happening enclave of Bangsar Baru.

It was in KL that we stumbled on a great airfare on Orbitz, and quite shocking though it may seem, we now have tickets all the way back to US soil, with stops in Nepal, India, England and Scotland before heading to Denver. From there we hope to do a Rocky Mountains tour via Idaho and Tahoe on our way to the promised land of Northern California (don't worry Aussie readers - Australia holds equal 'promise land' status in my mind).

It was also in KL that we learned of the Virginia Tech massacre on CNN, and heard that all the rape charges were dropped against the Duke lacrosse players. The news is crazy no matter what country you live or travel.

Next stop Kathmandu (after a luxurious night on the metal beds at Bangkok airport).

Recommendations in KL:

Go to the top of Menara Tower for spectacular 360 views of the city

Mid Valley Megamall has the best movie theatre

Definitely visit the Batu Caves - it is an easy and inexpensive cab ride from the city

Check out the crazy fake designer goods market on Petaling Street in Chinatown, then eat at Nonya restauraunt 'Old China Cafe'

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Photos

Petronas Towers
You'll recognize this building from 'Entrapment' with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones

The Train Station
A great example of Muslim architecture

Masjid Jamek
One of Malaysia's famous mosques

Entrance to the Batu Caves
One of the holiest Hindu sites in Malaysia

Lord Murugan
The Hindu God of war and the patron deity of the Tamil land

Hindu Temple Statue
I forgot this guy's story, but he is a well-fed, fine-looking god

The old and the new
mix freely in KL architecture

Sushi!
Jac got a little carried away at the sushi boat - her first fix of raw fish in 6 months...

Luxurious accomodation...
...in the Bangkok airport