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Published: March 29th 2006
The Batu Caves
It was way too hot to look enthusiastic16th Feb Today we get up early to make it to the Batu Caves. We got held up as the banks were a nightmare for Karen to change some of her money. We weren't really going to argue though as the security guard was walking around with a shot gun!! We then couldn't find our bus but ended up getting on one that went all through town before going to the Caves. It was only morning yet i was sweating like nothing else! The caves from the outside were huge with a giant staircase to get to the top. There were food stalls and market stalls everywhere, and also quite a bit of rubbish. We headed up the stairs (where i powered it up leaving the Karen's behind). The view of KL from the top was pretty good but pretty smokey as well. The caves were heavily littered and stunk (just as bad as the city streets), and then i realised that we were there a few days after the Thaipusum Festival (look it up on the web and you mght get some very cool photo's!!) which might have been the reason for all the crap everywhere. When the Karen's got
The Batu Caves
At this point i was hoping the top was worth it! to the top we had a walk around. There were Macaque monkeys everywhere and they ended up going for the ladies carrying their babies. The ladies were screaming at the monkeys which made me say to another tourist 'the only reason the monkeys are going for them is because they are screaming at them'. Ha. I remained where i was standing and next thing i look down and there is a monkey right at my feet, mouth open, hissing at me, and then it comes for me scratching me. I too scream like a little girl and take off away from the monkeys, freaking out along the way. Luckily it didn't break the skin but only left mud on me. I was a little shaken up but waited for the Karen's to tell them 'the monkey attacked me' story. We then walked back down the stairs, trying to avoid all the monkeys along the way. I now have a fear of these feral creatures which sucks as they are everywhere. I never would want to hurt any animal but i seriously have to stop myself from kicking them when they get too close. We walked around the markets but it
The begining of the steps
A few heads to entice you to enter!! was way too hot so we decided to go back to the city. We walked around China Town where i tested my skills in bargaining and got myself 2 cheap shirts. We had lunch where the Karen's burnt their mouths off and had the locals laughing at us. We couldnt help but laugh either, (between the skulls of water). On the way back to our neck of the woods i got the Karen's to teach me some German naughty words. We had quite a laugh at my lack of speaking German and only knowing how to say 'shit house!' in German. Don't worry, i too gave them some Aussie slang to take back home with them (you can only imagine the words!!). We decide to check our emails and we had a young boy next to us looking at some heavy porn, charming i know! After dinner (Indian again) we walked the streets and had the locals pestering us to give us a foot massage, but we kept walking and came across some kids jamming away on the side of the street. They even had a didgeridoo and it sounded awesome. On the way back to the green hut the
The Top
Almost there...C'mon moo girls commented me on my navigational skills (without me they would have been completely lost!!) and told me i was like Indiana Jones. I laughed and told them my story about loving him. Thanks Karen's, i will never forget that.
17th Feb We got the last of our KL sightseeing done by visiting the Petronas Twin Towers. We had to wait for a while and then we only got to spend 3minutes up their! Quite Bizarre but i always like to see a city from above as it puts everything into perspective for me. Here are some Petronas Facts:
*500 truck loads of earth were moved out every night for months
*2000 workers on site at any one time working 12hr shifts
*60% local content
*88 storeys high and at the time of completion was the tallest structure in the world
We got our ticket to the Cameron Highlands and walked back to get our bags and some lunch (a tuna sandwhich that looked very much like the ones at 7eleven!). We then head to the bus station after getting a cheap cab and tried to find our bus. We got approached by this guy (lets call him
The View from the Top
KL is to the left, if you can see through the smog. Charlie). He was asking us where we were going and as i had had enough of these guys i didn't answer him at first. He then asked if i was going to Melaka and i said yes just to get him off our back. He left us alone and i was quite proud of myself. We were still looking for our bus when he popped up again. He told us we looked like charlies angels where the Karen's decided i was Lucy Lu (i was cool with that!), but this guy kept hanging around like a thirsty mozzie. Karen then asked where the bus to Cameron Highlands was and then he kept going on saying 'why did you lie to me'. He was so annoying but the bus finally arrived (after Charlie showed us where to get it (go figure!)) and we headed off into the mountain air. I had a good time on the bus listening to my music and laughing at this boy with his two sisters across from me who were laughing and teasing each other so much that they kept breaking the seat! As i don't sleep for fear of missing something the scenery on this
The Karen's finally made it!!!
Competitive streak in me!! sorry girls leg of my journey was the best so far. I almost got bus sick as on the way up i saw quite a few landslides, 2 car accidents and the driver was hugging the corners where i couldn't see the road below, only the lush green trees which i was hoping would catch the bus if we were to join them down the mountain. This was the windiest road i have ever been on and adding to my fear there was also a loud banging noise coming from under the bus. There were some cute little huts along the way with probably just one room in each, which was enough for these villagers to survive on. Inspiring really. I then thought to myself 'what do these villagers do all day' and i then came across some younger boys playing soccor on a tiny field, it looked great and i would have loved to have stopped the bus and got down there to watch. Before reaching the top some locals got on and one sat next to me. It was great to chat with him as he didn't speak much English so you can imagine how our conversation went. He talked
A personal Fav Photo
Looking out from the caves to the sky about his life and it was great to listen to him, even though at times i couldn't understand him. I am sure he couldn't understand me either, but we just laughed and enjoyed the ride up.
Our transfer to our accommodation "Fathers Guest House' arrived late. He told us the bus driver mustn't have been drinking tonight as we arrived early! We instantly loved it when we arrived as it had a lounge to hang out and watch movies, a bar, cafe and our room was huge with 2 double beds (i got one to myself). We ate straight away and i am positive that the beef on my burger was not beef! We pretty much went straight to bed as we were stuffed. The weather at night was so much nicer that it helped me sleep better too. It was dark when we arrived but i loved it straight away.
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Donna
non-member comment
Looks like FUN!!
Glad to hear all is good, those monkeys are psycho, love the photos, and the journal, Judy sent me the link, I will check to enjoy your travels and be envious :), Judy n I are planning some travel next yr, hope 2 meet up with you>