KL

(water feature outside the mall)

We know we haven't been the most dilligent bloggers since leaving Thailand (in part because free wifi has been hard to come by). Before we left KL, we thought we would fill everyone in.

We left Thailand a few weeks ago, the route was Ko Lipe, T - Langkawi, M; Langkawi - Georgetown (in Panang); Georgetown - Cameron Highlands (where we had Sam's birthday); CH - Kuala Lumpur.

Sam and I had a few assumptions about KL--we thought it would be a big Asian city, perhps similar to Bangkok. My sister had descibed it as her first and favorite city in SE Asia--so maybe that's where the assumptions came from? However, KL is significantlly smaller than Bangkok. The city is more or less walkable, does not have nearly as much traffic, and is relatively new/modern. I call it the Western Asian city.

KL is also hot. Similar to the heat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Fortunatelly you are never out of AC for long. Seeing as AC pours out of the stores and shops you pass by. I swear even the outdoor food stalls are air con'ed. Wasteful, yes. Convienient, yes.



(The only way I can get Sam to smile for the camera)

KL is rich in cluture. It is a city where Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim religions converge. And despite what people told me before comig to Malaysia, i.e. that I would be stared at and feel uncomforatable, I have felt very comforatable, welcome, and am certain that if people do stare at me it's because I have food stuck on my face (or am talking loudly). There are many tourists and locals that wear shorts, dresses, and tank-tops--this is not a place where one need to be overly modest. Unless, of course your days events include visiting Mosques and Wat's--where coverage is a sign of respect.

Whilest in KL Sam and I joined the early riser club to get in line for the Patronas Towers. I was less than trilled with the early rise, but I knew that being with an architect meant going along with things like this, so I only had myself to blame. The tickets are free, but thy only give out 1,200/day. When you get your ticket you get to select what time you want to come back--every 15 mins from 9:00 - 6:00...by the time we got to the front of the line the only available times were 11:30 - 6:00 (it was 9:00). So we went for 11:30. And killed the extra time by wandering the mall.


(Patronas Towers)

We also spent a day in the very large park KL offers. This is a driving promoted park, less of a walker park. But we hit up the Malaysia National Museum, the Planatariam (where I made Sam go on the Spaceball ride... That's right. All the 10 year olds were SO jealous), the Orchid park, we walked by the Deer park (couldn't find the entrance), and bird sanctuary (too expensive and not that into birds).... Before walking back to our hotel.



(Merdeka Sq)

For dinner our last night in KL we went to Britang (a neighborhood), that seemed so cool, we wished we had stayed there. And ate at Sao Nam, recommended by Frommers a Vietnamese resturant--Amazing!! Every resturant Frommers refers us to have been our best meals.


(If in KL you must go here--better food than what we ate in Vietnam!)

The most important part of KL, I forgot to mention, is it's selection of knock off items. There are vaiable levels of knock offs. There are the blatent plastic ones, the mid range ones, and the ones that are SO good the seller convinces you it's stolen... "card of authenticity, it comes with" they say. Sam and I both struggeled with saying no to these guys. There is SO much to buy! But at the end of the day, the only real designer goods come from the designed themselves. And spending $100 on a good knock off to project an image seemed superficial and silly. That, and my Godmother sent us an email that made us realize, "we don't need it". I did get a pink Tokyo Kid LeSportsac duffle bag.... It was $10! How could I not!!

We have ha a lot of fun observing KL and learning about how it all works. One seller said, "it's good you didn't come yetersay, the police were here"... The way it works. The guys on the street pool their funds and pay the cops 50,000 RN ($15,000), the police call them before they come (and say, put your knock off suff away), they come, and then go back to LV, Prada, Channel, etc and say "no there is nothing". If the police don't do this then the designers won't want to be in Malay Malls and KL won't have the image of prestige.... So it goes.

Leaving for Singapore in 20 mins!

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