We started thinking about writing this blog during our much dreaded stop over in the Delhi domestic terminal. Delhi airport wasn't nearly as actually as bad as we thought it would be and as we sat waiting for our domestic flight to Chennai we drunk sweet hot chai.
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| Off to the airport |
The stop over in Chennai however didn't quite go as planned as for the first time moving between the domestic and international terminal the security turned us away at the door. Apparently you can only enter four hours before your flight so we were left stranded sitting outside in the cold night air from 11pm to 5am when the security took pity on us and decided to let us in so we could get another few hours sleep on the cold hard lino floor. It wasn't a fun experience, and actually we got quite peeved off but eventually we could check in and were on our way.
The last three months traveling through India and Nepal has been like a roller coaster. We've have had some ups and downs (most of them climbing Everest trek) and we are walking away with some amazing experiences and new friendships.
As we sat finally relaxing onboard, our mid-day plane jetted away over the blue Bay of Bengal and we thought all about the amazing people and places we have visited. The delicious food we feasted on and how we will miss our favourite masala dosas and sweet spicy chai tea.
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| Making new friends |
During our adventure, we have learnt a lot about ourselves and a little bit more about the way the world works but above all we can confidently say we are ready for our next journey! We are ready for clean toilets, rubbish bins and all those things we took for granted (like beef, pedestrian crossings and clean feet).
In the city we had planned to met with our local couchsurfing host Nizar. But arriving at the bus terminal we had to have a quick burger stop. The smell of frying meat (we NEEDED meat) was too enticing. Meeting Nizar later on was like being welcomed by a long lost friend. His apartment was just a short commute on the LRT line out of the inner city. Located in an older area of the city we were well off the tourist trail. He kindly offered us his large air conditioned room, took us out for dinner and left us to sleep off our jet lag.
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| Nasi Lemak- Authentic Malay food |
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| Clay hotpot- black pepper chicken |
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| Tea tasting at a Chinese street shop |
Since our arrival we have taken the opportunity to explore the city and surrounding attractions (John pointing out changes since his last visit in 1996).
Assuming Kuala Lumpur would be like neighbouring Singapore we were very surprised how attractive the city was. There are similarities, like a small china town and even a little India but generally KL is laid back and feels less fast paced.
We have really been the most quintessential tourists, doing those tourist type activities. We've visited the big six story shopping malls, galleries and the markets (including joining Nizar to a Friday night market). In the mornings we walk with Nizar to a small outdoor street side stall for breakfast. Here they have the most amazing dish, roti bread it's oily but soft and fluffy and goes amazingly with a fresh mango juice.
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| Waiting for the train |
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| Frozen yogurt in the mall |
On our second day in Kula Lumpur we took a taxi to the Batu Caves. We felt so grown up sitting in the back the taxi, scouting over the city. Batu Caves is a limestone hill full of cave temples, dedicated to Hinduism and Lord Murugan and believed to be over 400million years old.
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| Entrance to Batu Caves |
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| Heading up the stairs |
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| Monkeys watching everyone |
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| Hindu avatars inside Batu caves |
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| Monkey family on the steps |
At the base of the caves, was a small courtyard where pigeons flocked by the hundred. The most magnificent sight, a large golden statue of the Hindu deity, Murugan stands over 42.7m high at the base of the 272 (we counted) steps which lead into the Temple cave.
We begun our assent and were surprised that the pale pink stairs were covered in monkeys, quite happy just sitting and watching us puff on up.
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| Temple Cave |
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| Temple cave |
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| Shrines inside the caves |
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| Hanuman the large green monkey |
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| Looking out towards the Petronas towers |
Over the following days, we went to watch a movie with Nizar were they served us satay popcorn!
We visited the iconic Petronas twin towers, which dominate Malaysia's skyline.
Two massive skyscrapers which held the tallest buildings in the world ranking from 1998-2004. From the Traders Hotel sky bar across the KLCC park we got the best view!
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| Cool garden tree, KLCC Park |
The best part of the city is that it seems no one's in a hurry to be anywhere, yet unemployment is very low.
The public transport system is fantastic, we just hopped off and on the trains all day without any trouble reading the maps. In some of the stations they even give free breakfasts to workers.
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| Shopping anyone? |
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| Watching the water fountain |
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| Outside Nizar's house in the government compounds |
We were surprised that in the country 60% of the population is Muslim. This impacts a large degree of the city's infrastructure and there are some amazing architectural works and some quite funky mosques (if we do say so ourselves!).
Luckily everything is air conditioned because in Kuala Lumpur it is hot and sticky!
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| Watching the carp, Botanical gardens |
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| Nizar and Kara in the Botanical gardens |
On our final day as Nizar saw us off, we stopped for a breakfast of Nasi Lemak and a tour of the Kuala Lumpa Botanical gardens. Our stay in Kuala Lumpur had been fantastic and our host Nizar has been the best!
Tot siens,
John and Kara
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