KL - first time in a big city for 2 months

We met Kate Morgan (Canadian travelling alone) at Father's guesthouse in the Highlands and we soon realised we were doing the same route to Singapore. So now that we are three (and another girl) it was easy to suggest shopping in KL!! And shopping is exactly what we did!! After the touristy stuff that is.

Man it is humid here, and after a very bending bus journey down a very long mountain pass (I had to sit on the floor of the bus at one strange to prevent an up-chuck!!) a nap was the first thing on the cards. Followed shortly by the discovery of Roti Canai...oh lord, this stuff is dangerously good and I can feel and new jean size coming on!

Before we go any further I need to explain how we found the hostel. After the three of us had walked around in very hot circles (in China town, where everyone is helpful, but they all point you in the wrong direction) Kate and I sat down with bags at a bar for a diet coke while Simon roamed the streets looking for our abode for the evening. Turns out we were missing an ´-ie´ at the end of our road name all along...and we had arrived at a completely different bus stop from the one we were supposed to (= never going to find it on our own with 20kg backpacks!)

Civilisation brought with it a glorious cup of Starbucks and the timing of it was perfect. As we approached the door, the 3pm KL showers which had been threatening with lightening and thunder for 10min, came down. We nursed our drinks for 60min...trying to stay out of the rain, but not spend more money while the rain came down in bucket loads. We gave up in the end as the rain showed no sign of letting up and we just ran through the rain from street corner to covered porch all the way home.


Starbucks!!

Dinner in China town that evening was fun (and wet again) and we did the tried and tested ´point and eat´ tactic for ordering. We did well and discovered the covered clay pots on the fire held delicious chicken and rice - a feast in anyones language. This budget, road-side eating has been mostly successful, but I fear as we get into bigger cities and more developed countries the trend will change.

The touristy sights meant we dragged ourselves out of bed at 6.30am the second day in order to get to the Petronas tower free ticket queue by 8am (I thought this was a holiday!!) But the early queue was worth it and the view amazing. I did want to play ´Catherine Zeta-Jones in a catsuit - Entrapment style´ on the bridge, but security is too tight!


Watching the 3D safety video - more like corporate Petronas propaganda!!


Twin towers in KL

And the towers are in the middle of the shopping district, so Kate and I did our worst, while Simon found a cup of tea, book and nap spot. Not too much damage done as I still have no cards and had to choose items and then take Simon back to pay for them (much less fun)

For dinner we trekked to little India and a Lonely Planet recommended curry shop...no Roti Canai!! But we did manage a great budget meal and ate too much for our trouser size. We need to get back onto a beach and into our swimming gear as it may shock us into a diet!