Arriving
in Kuala Lumpur was something of a surprise. We have been spending a lot of
time in small towns and capitals of much less developed countries in recent
times and I had no concept of what KL would be like. Somehow in my mind I was
expecting the cosmopolitan, efficient and orderly atmosphere of Singapore
blended with the friendly but energetic pace of Bangkok, but KL has its own
style.
It
is a huge Asian city with ultra futuristic glass and steel skyscrapers as well
as a crazy collection of architectural styles with some heritage buildings
thrown in for good measure. There is an incredibly modern and efficient
transport system, which we were forced to become acquainted with immediately
due to the masses of construction going on. We prefer to familiarize ourselves
with new locations on foot but this simply wasn’t an option in a city this size
with very few accessible footpaths, at least in the area in which we stayed.
Unlike Bangkok, which we have frequented and are very familiar with KL was new,
confusing and initially a challenge.
I
am not someone who enjoys shopping but my main aim for this first brief visit
to KL was to acquire some Birkenstocks. The pair I have been wearing for the
last 2 years and almost daily for the last 7 months were beyond dead and our
research informed us that there was an outlet in this teaming metropolis.
Within an hour of checking into our tiny cubicle room in the district fondly
referred to as the “Golden Triangle” (It is the business, shopping and
entertainment area) I had acquired not one but 2 new pairs and was feeling
pretty pleased with myself and the price. Shopping done we retraced our steps
on the monorail and spent almost as long trying to relocate the hotel from the
station as we had shopping. Phew!
The
next day we tested our new found confidence on the monorail and successfully
added the LRT into the equation, to reach the central market area and locate a
vegetarian eatery. However we were really just passing through KL on a shopping
mission on this occasion and our sights were firmly set on reaching Melaka and
discovering more about heritage and the Baba Nyonya traditions there and that
is exactly where we headed.
The
major sights and museums are now on the hit list for our return with less
trepidation to KL tomorrow.
I felt the same way about KL! My week in Malaysia was such a whirlwind and my head and heart wasn't fully in it, so I don't remember many details of my time there, but I do remember feeling that same thing of not being at all prepared for the kind of city KL is. And doesn't the public transportation have everything in five languages?
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