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| The view from our Airbnb |
As we packed our backpacks for the adventure of a lifetime in Southeast Asia, we couldn’t help but giggle at our own excitement. After more than four decades of marital bliss, a lifetime of one, two and three week vacations, we felt like daring explorers about to discover uncharted territory—not just the streets of KL but the side of each other that was determined to pack light. We were on an almost 3 month adventure with just backpacks. Could we survive? If nothing else, we were set to be the tourist attraction with the most comedic moments—after all, nothing says "over the hill" like trying to navigate street food without knowing the difference between chili sauce and an accidental spicy surprise!
The flight from Singapore to KL was only 45 minutes. No sooner had we gotten up, we began to come down. We had arranged a driver to pick us up at the airport for the ride to the Airbnb and this is where we experienced the first of our grins over the costs here in Malaysia. The 30 minute ride cost us $8.25. Feeling generous, I tipped the driver 10 Malaysian Ringit ($2.29 USD). Yeah, I know. I was feeling generous. The driver was actually shocked that I was giving him a tip. Lesson number one, you don't tip in Malaysia.
Our first night, we were still fighting a bit of jet lag and woke up about 1:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. So, heading out the door at 7am to look for breakfast we looked and felt our finest.
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| Notice no hot coffee! |
But even that early in the morning the heat and humidity was a shock to our system. This was like Houston humidity with a side of Miami humidity added for good measure.
We walked for about 30 minutes to reach the restaurant and by the time we arrived, I was ready to crawl into the fetal position and melt. It was almost 90 degrees at eight in the morning!
As expected, the restaurant experience here is a bit different than in the U.S. First off, when you enter, you go find your table and note the number on the table. Then you go back and order your food, relaying the table number so that the server knows where to bring your food. Almost every place does not accept cash. And some don't want your card either. It's Google Pay or Apple Pay from your phone.
KLCC Park and the Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers, also known as the KLCC Twin Towers, are like the ultimate skyscraper siblings, standing tall at 451.9 meters (1,483 feet for those of you in the highlighted countries). I know, I told that joke before but it's a good joke.
With 88 stories each, they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004—until Taipei 101 decided to crash their party. These towers are not just a pretty face; they are the tallest twin skyscrapers on the planet, proving that sometimes two heads are better than one!
The towers feature a unique tube-in-tube structural system and a façade that draws inspiration from Islamic art. It’s like they took a Rubik's Cube and turned it into a skyscraper!
As you could see from our window, they didn't look that far away and Google maps said it was a 35 minute walk. I used to refer to myself as "young and dumb" but now it's apparent that I'm approaching "old and senile". Because at no point before beginning our trek did we factor in the 90 degree heat and the 200% humidity. But, oh man... five minutes into the walk I knew we'd screwed up! By the time we reached KLCC park, I was toast.
We took it very slow through the park. Even taking a slight detour to wade through a kiddie pool. Yeah, we got some looks doing that!
When we finally got to the towers, tickets for going up were sold out for the day. We're hoping that we'll get there later in our stay.
Batu Caves
The Batu Caves is like a scene from a whimsical adventure movie where the main character is greeted by a giant golden statue of Murugan, standing tall and proud at 43 meters. My first words were, "Holy Crap as I eyed the daunting 272 steps leading into the cave.
Now, I had prepared for this. For the last few months I had been pushing myself up some pretty steep hills around our house. And I felt like I was ready to tackle these 272 steps. Especially when I watched these fellas heading up without stopping.
Well, it took no time at all for the Gods to look down at me coming up those stairs and saying "No, No, No. You are not 25 years old anymore. You're almost 70 and your a smidgeon overweight." And they made that abundantly clear within the first two levels. Huffing and puffing, sweating profusely I continued up. At first I could go two levels before stopping to breathe, then one level and then 5 steps. By the time I was 3/4 of the way up I had hit my wall. Now, it wasn't safe for me to continue.
A wonderful Malaysian man named Paul could see that I was struggling. He stopped and stayed with us every step of the way back down.
As we got to the bottom, Paul stayed with Sonja and helped with her obvious concern for me. This truly was a wonderful man.
There's always an upside to everything and the upside with this incident is it happened on our second day in KL. And it was an eye-opener that what the brain and ego thinks we can do... age takes over and there is no turning back the clock. We decided right there and then that for the rest of our travels, we were going to take it slow and easy and not push ourselves.
Today I'm fine. We're not walking in this heat anymore. It's taxi's and the Malaysian version of Uber from here on out.
Petaling Street (Chinatown)
Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur is like a carnival for your taste buds and a treasure hunt for your wallet! As you stroll through the bustling market, the aroma of sizzling street food wafts through the air, making it impossible to resist sampling everything. Shopping here is an adventure in itself. You’ll find everything from imitation designer bags to questionable knock-off watches, all while honing your bargaining skills.
Taman Connaught Night Market
Taman Connaught Night Market is like stepping into a foodie wonderland where your diet goes to die—deliciously! Every Wednesday, this bustling market transforms into a feast for the senses, with over 700 stalls that seem to multiply like rabbits. You’ll find everything from sizzling satay to bizarre snacks like stinky tofu—because who doesn’t want their food to come with a side of mystery? And who doesn't want to dive into “Chili Crab Lava Buns!"
The Brickfields (Little India)
Welcome to Brickfields, affectionately known as Kuala Lumpur's Little India, where vibrant colors and delightful aromas smack you right in the face! We strolled down Jalan Tun Sambanthan, serenaded by lively Bollywood music while the tantalizing scent of curry made it impossible to resist sampling some local delicacies. This charming neighborhood is perfect for leisurely exploration—we took our time browsing shops filled with beautiful saris and intricate bangles, we enjoyed a delicious meal served on a banana leaf.
We have a couple of days left in Kuala Lumpur before we take the train north across Malaysia to Penang. We're looking forward to a new city. See you there!
I can understand the 272 steps. Glad you didn’t continue.could choice that you made. I want you both back home. The towers are beautiful. Hopefully the don’t have that many steps. China looks different from ours. Did you both have a chance to try their foods?
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed everything. I feel
I’m on the trip with the both of you take it slowly but have a fun time. Love you both. Sharing this with Wally. Auntie Ann