Kuala Lumpa (KL)

Thought I would share a bit of what I learnt about KL during my stay from some of the locals.  KL is a relatively new city only being established in 1850, because of the presence of tin mines, and only saw its size and population grow due to the demands of tin and rubber during world war 2, causing massive growth.

New or old, it is a chaotic city, stepping off the mono rail onto the main street, loud blaring of horns, scooters cutting through any gap in the traffic including using the pavement as an extra lane, the morning call to prayer coming from the giant mosques just outside the station.  Every time you cross the road it felt like a leap of faith that you would come out unscathed! (by the end of my trip I had discovered the best way to cross was just to step out and the scooters would drive around you :-/  ) I found my hostel the Reggae mansion, (very cool hostel clean tidy, good WIFI and a great Rooftop bar) checked in and headed straight out to explore, my first destination was the KL tower.

Officially smaller then the Petronas towers, due to it sitting on top of a big hill it is in fact higher up so I had been told the views where much more spectacular, and they where pretty spectacular!  Interesting fact when they built the tower they where so worried about damaging a 100 year old jelutong tree that they moved the tower during construction at a cost of 430000 Ringgit (86000 pounds).

I spent the evening on the roof top bar, where I met two other solo travelers, a travel agent from the UK and a furniture designer from the US.  He designs high end furniture, a desk of which sells for $50k!!! He was in KL to meet a factory owner about making some lower priced mass produced items.  Anyway had a good night a few beer towers, and feeling much the worse the next morning we had all agreed to go to the Batu caves together.  However my two solo travelers had both been told that the toilet facilities at Batu where not very good (we are in SE Asia!) so they didn't want to go as they both had dickie bellies... strange or they just didnt like me very much :-/  Batu caves where situated at the top of 276 steps, quite a climb!  The location and the statues where impressive however I do find it strange that these religious sites are strewn with all types of rubbish, would have thought they would want them kept clear...

These little guys where, amazing to watch just keep hold of your belongings.  I didn't see any moments of mischief, however I did hear a story of a women having her camera stolen by them.  They crawled down as she had her back to them, grabbed out of her bag the camera.  Ran to the top of a tree, shook it, tried to pull it apart, eat it eventually getting board and letting it drop to the ground :-/ 

I felt it was time to move on.  So I booked my train ticket to Penang...

Border, Train journey & Kuala Lumpa (KL)

The next day I booked my train to KL an overnight train taking about 9 hours with my very own bed!! cool.  It didn't leave until 11pm, so i had another day in Singapore.  I had a long breakfast chatting to some of the other hostel group, a English lad who was teaching science in china (they paid him a good salary by UK standards and also they pay for his living expenses!! not bad), A women from Hong Kong who had moved to Singa to study and a German who was heading up to Bangkok early the next day, we all agreed to meet for dinner before we all went our separate ways.

the only other worthwhile thing to mention was a local I met while grabbing my lunch in one of the Hawkers markets (I have to say these markets are amazing huge food halls or squares crammed with 100s of stalls selling every type of food you can imagine and all at crazy cheap prices (pound or less!!) and the food is incredible.  I never knew what i was ordering but it was always incredible in the flavors that would burst out of every mouthful!).  He was in the business of furniture manufacturing, he was in his 60s honestly he didnt look a day over 40.  He would travel around the world advising new factories how to set up their business, China, US, Europe SE Asia.  He gave me 3 bits of advice while we chatted

1 - If I was heading to Malaysia I must go to Penang, best place in Malaysia
2 - While I was traveling around SE Asia make sure I kept my eyes open for business opportunity, maybe not Thailand but Laos Cambodia huge potential!
3 - If I did find a business, I would need to have local women as my wife otherwise the locals would not work hard for me.  Sorry Ems :-(    Apparently there many more benefits then just this ;-)

 I spent the rest of day drinking fruit shakes and eating and doing last bit of sight seeing, and then onto my 9 hour overnight train journey. 

I spent the bit extra to get a sleeper cabin with a bunk bed still only came to 140 Ringgit so 28 pounds ish.  (tip if anyone does the same journey make sure you buy the main part of your ticket just inside the Malaysia boarder as its 3 times cheaper). 

So boarder control, another moment when some of my common sense seems to have left me.  For some reason as I got to the boarder (first part was on a bus) I thought I had been told that I need to go through boarder control and then across a sky bridge and get on the train... not quite.  So I happily go through the boarder control, passport stamped and head of to ask the nearest person where the sky bridge is.  he says something to his friend they both smile and laugh he then leads me over to the window and points to a train station back on the Singapore side of the border.  Q me do a quick new VISA and boarder control to Singapore, to the train station to then go through boarder control again to get back into Malaysia :-D the looks the security staff gave me as they checked my documents, thought they where going to take me for full cavity check :-/

The odd looking fried egg and noodles you see, was the complimentary meal with the cabin.  honestly the worst thing I have ever tried!! I tried one mouthful and it was stone cold and made me gag :(

If you have never been on an overnight train, I definitely recommend it.  The swaying of the carriage, as its hurtles towards your destination.  the loud horn blaring as another train passes in the night. 

I got into KL by 8am the next day, refreshed and ready to go and meet the city and people of my second country

Singapore Zoo - Pictures