Kuala Lumpur for a few hours

Waking early is not something I do but today I’m up early, coffee’d, showered, dressed and now sitting at Melaka Kentral Bus Station waiting for my bus to Kuala Lumpur for the day. 

What a massive, organised, clean terminal. Electronic gates, great information, easy to find your way around. Perfect. There are literally dozens of busses here mainly parked up waiting for their turn at one of the gates. They are in and out of the gates in 15 minutes. Super organised. 

My bus today is orange hues. Same swanky style as the other day. Its a short trip and I should be at the KL terminal in about 90 minutes. 

Everywhere I look there is green. Green Green Green Palm trees. The I had a nap. 

We approach KL where there are modern sky scrapers right next to shacks. The roads are amazing, it’s spotless. 

I grab a GRAB (Malasias version of Uber) and head into the city. I am surrounded by tall buildings including the famous Petronas Towers that up until 2004 were the tallest twin towers in the world. It was hard to see just how high as they are surrounded by other tall buildings but from below are certainly impressive. 

I went for a wander past a cute temple and trying to keep cool found myself in a mall. Apparently small by their standards but still had all our favourite? International brands and a huge selection of eating places, Pizza Hut and KFC included. 

Of all the places I have been Malaysia seems the most diverse, not only do they have influences from so many countries from their past but they have maintained food choices from everywhere. 

I was surprised though to see a Syrian food stall selling my favourite Kunafa and it didn’t take long for me to order a piece. Downed within a few minutes and thoroughly enjoyed. 

I needed real food so at the moment am in an “authentic chinese food” restaurant. Very spick and span and very Western but also very cool. 

My rose drink is divine as were my lemon grass skewers. Ha ha and I was on the look out for street food.  

I saw a few Mamils. First cyclists I’ve seen since I left home and now realise I am missing my bike as are my joints. I think tbis is the least active trip I have ever done. 

I keep walking and there in front of me are the towers and walk in thinking I am going in to one of them but find myself in a massive mall that sells everything that is international. It is soooo busy and I suspect most of the shoppers are tourists from surrounding countries. A few half dressed westerners are amongst them. 

Even I cant cope with too much malling but am desperate for an espresso so go exploring. A number of places with espresso machines don’t do espressos. They only do americanos. Go figure. Eventually I found a place (Godiva Chocolate shop) that even did me a double and it’s sitting in front of me. First sip and I’m happy. A stiff shot, slightly sweet but with a definite chocolate after taste. 2 of my favourite things in one cup.  Woohoo. 

I made it to the lobby of the towers but no further. I have no desire to see the city from above but I did venture out to the two gorgeous gardens surrounding the towers. 

I expected KL to be like ugly Bangkok but from what I have seen on the drive in and through my wandering it is anything but. Green, pretty, westernised but still retaining its culture. I think I could live here. Even the heat isnt too bad here. 

She says. Well it was ‘t till I stepped outside. That solves that. Back in to the Mall I go. I’m only here for a couple of hours and I’m not sure where to explore. I thought of a hop-on, hop-off tour but reviews said they were terrible. 

The Mall is hilarious. There’s a fairground in the centre and a luck of the draw game where each day one person wins 5,000RM (less than $2,000). Someone won while I was there.

One of the stall struck me. They sell devices to ensure smooth balls. Of course my mind went straight to the gutter but it turned out there was nothing wrong with my mind. A machine that ensures smooth balls!!!

Time to leave and I go to catch a cab. The driver quoted me 100 riggit (about NZD30). Ride share (GRAB) got me to the Bus Station for 25 (less than NZD10). 

The ride share driver was awesome. I learned more about KL in 30 minutes than the time in SL with a guide. 

Malaysians are entitled to free education. Indians and chinese only get tertiary free if the get good secondary good grades. 

Medical services are largely free for all citizens. 

Many of the sky scraper apartment buildings I saw are govt owned (with an option to buy if you live there long enough. Tenters would pay rent of about 150 riggit monthly (NZD 50) of a place with 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

The Bus station is insane.  People are everywhere all neatly lined up. No squawking, no shouting, just lines, waiting. 

I go for something to eat before boarding. Char Kway Teow and a coke NZD7.00 at a little stall. I’m sitting waiting for my meal and listening to water running. I look down to see a drain right under under my table 🤣🤣 as you do. 

I follow the signs and get to my gate in plenty of time and wait and wait and wait. It’s Sunday evening and the place is throbbing with people. Maybe people are on their way home after a weekend in the big smoke. My bus eventually arrived 40 minutes late and theres a bun fight to board. Hold on guys. We all have allocated seat numbers. We are all checked in. It wont leave without us. What a hoot. This afternoon we are in a tall bus with a delicate (NOT) orange and maroon colour scheme. Same same as the other busses. 

And I’m home!  Home sweet home.