Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

         Stepping off the plane into the city in a sauna I began chatting with a Floridian called Dorothy, who was meeting a friend from Nashville Uni, who lived in Malaysia. The airport was enormous, there were gardens inside and I'm pretty sure we walked about a mile in one direction until we asked someone where to go (though that could have been the onset of jet lag). Turns out we were going the wrong way, which I think was my fault as I had followed a group of people thanks to my inherent duckling instincts. So we got on the shuttle to the main airport (!) and went to collect Dorothy's luggage, which hadn't arrived and was due in 12 hours later (loving my backpack!). We milled about for a bit and went to find the train to the city so I knew where to go, she was being picked up by her friend so I was just keeping her company and enjoying marvelling at the scenery instead of taking selfies in front of funny shops. Her friend arrived and I asked her about the train and she very kindly offered me a lift to the city as she was going to take Dorothy on a little tour on their way home.
       So me, Dorothy, Anice and her younger brother drove around Malaysia singing along to the radio (well, they were singing, I was still British) and Anice took us to a big mosque, as she said it was a big tourist attraction. It was a big mosque and I took a few pictures...and that's all I have to say about that. Here it is.

Dunno what this guy's photographing

Me and Dorothy

 

Anice's brother, I want to say Hameesh or something similar, was hungry so we went to a mall to get some cheap food. I was feeling adventurous (again, possible jetlag onset) so I bought some sharkfin dumplings and a bundong lychee beverage and both were delicious! Took the picture on my phone which is all the way upstairs so you shall have to make do with a screenshot, but look at that neon bundong beverage!

 

We left the mall and drove into traffic, apparently football was on in the city and everyone there loves a bit of footie, and drives like an absolute mentalist! Even though it was a nice car we were riding in Anice kept patting the steering wheel and asking the car to keep going, which unerved me a little, so I got dropped off at a train station to avoid the traffic and a possible breakdown. I got the train to the Patronus Towers which was above a giant underground mall. Turns out you need to get a ticket first and the queue starts around 8am, so i just took some pictures from the outside. There was not much going on around the area, just tall bank buildings and very hot weather.



 

Seeing as it was el scorchio outside and I was a bit tired after my 12 hour flight with no sleep I decided to head to the airport so I could wait for my flight. On the train journey back I had to change at another station and saw that trains to the Batu Caves ran from there, after a quick enquiry I found out the train takes 30 minutes and stops right outside, so as I had 3 hours to spare I thought I would risk it. Arriving at the cave I thought I wouldn't go inside as it would take to long but then I thought I probably wont be here again and I could do it! There were a lot of steps though...as you can see.

 I think the stairs go up to this guys shoulder

the view from the top

 

Yes it was warm, yes  I still had my 15lb backpack on and yes there were loose monkeys running under my feet but I made it to the top! (I took breathers and drank water, just to stop you worrying). The cave was enormous, and apparently 3 caves in one. Though  they had shops in the entrance which took away a little of the awe. Also the monkeys were quite aggressively cheeky, and it was a little sad to see them jumping about with bottles of water in there hands, not sure what David Attenborough would have to say about that.

So after this little adventure I got the train to the airport and managed got my connecting flight to Auckland, ready for my real adventure to begin!