Well I have finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur and what can I say...
The city is massive, the best way to describe it is skyscrapers surrounded by trees. Sounds strange, but this is
all you see, tower blocks surrounded by rain forests. At least everywhere is easy reach via a great monorail
service.
I managed to do the two main tourist attractions, went inside the
Petronas Towers which is basically a large shopping complex. Did not manage to go across the
sky bridge because (typical) it is not open on Mondays.
Went to the top of the KL-tower and the view is fantastic.
Weather is far too hot, got off the plane and felt like opening an oven. Walking around the city today
is like walking in a sauna. Around 6:30pm (we are 8 hours ahead) storms developed and it has been raining
ever since, thunder & sheet lighting was far more exciting here, then in the UK.
Hotel is adequate, located in China town, which by the evening becomes a busy market and the hotel
entrance is right behind one of the stalls, if you can find it.
As Malaysia is populated by muslims, alcohol is very hard to find. Bars are rare and you have to travel
a fare distance to get to them - purely for the tourists.
As I am tired, no sleep since Sunday morning 5:30am (yes, got no sleep on the 12 hour flight) will not be
long before I retire tonight.
Off to Batu Caves tomorrow.
Well after an extremely long sleep, I managed to get up and get out...
I went to Batu caves
and I am glad it's free. Basically nice place ruined by tourism.
You have to walk very steep steps to get to the top. On the way up, there are plenty of monkeys about
and it is amazing to see them climb the cave walls.
By now I have had enough of city life and want to go somewhere less crowded and where I can find alcohol! So I have booked a flight to Langkawi tomorrow, yep for one night. It is a tourist haven, little island, fantastic beaches and cheap beer (what more do I need) I have been warned the place is expensive (except the beer) but I am holiday and it is only for the night. Fly back to KL thursday night because there was not a early flight on Friday and off to Indonesia at 3pm.
I have left the busy city life to the quiet life of Langkawi.
My previous diary entry suggested this place was expensive, far from it - what they mean, is it might be
expensive if you were on a tight shoestring but not in my case.
The place I am staying in is
here.
The bungalow I am in is practically on the beach and I cannot wait for the sunset tonight.
Got to Langkawi early, and after settling into my resident went
here.
View at the top was fantastic and I got a little trigger happy with the camera (glad I bought the second battery).
Every view was breathtaking and I took quite a few photographs.
To get to the cable car park, I got a taxi and had a good chat with the driver (journey 30 mins)
who waited for me at the park whilst I acted like a tourist and then took me back to my resort -
and the price was very cheap (no charge for the waiting!)
Shame I am heading back to KL tomorrow but cannot be helped as Friday off to Indonesia.
Weather still scorching in the day with rain in the evening where by then, I am usually in a
bar/restaurant so who cares right!
Been here three days and getting a little tanned even if I am trying to avoid the sun.
Well off to a fish restaurant (there are literally hundreds to choose from) and have a nice meal -
feel like treating myself.
Flew back in KL and what a contrast in hotels. From the luxury bungalow on the beach at
Langkawi to a grotty little room in the middle of China town (KL).
Well it is only for the night and then off to Indonesia.
Last night in Langkawi, had a fantastic meal of Garlic king prawns, fried vegetables and steamed rice
(and some beer) then back to my resort and spent the evening drinking beer, watching a storm
(both fork & sheet lightning) over the bay - fantastic.
Unfortunately the camera will not pick up any of this (shame)
Do not know whether I am going to stay in a luxury hotel in Indonesia or carry on back-packing
which can be tiring - see what the hotel prices are like and then decide.
Finally made it to Indonesia and first impressions are not too great.
Let me explain...
Arrive at 6pm which really is a little too late to arrive into a foreign country.
Got my visa without any problems which was certainly good news - took no time at all to deal with.
Whilst waiting for my baggage, an airport porter came over and started chatting, being very friendly
and picked up my bag and took me through customs. Took me to the hotel reservation point and I got myself
a hotel for 4 nights - then everything went down from there..
As soon as we were on our way outside, the porter demanding a tip. I could not see a problem with that
however he would not accept anything I gave him until the amount he wanted
(not what you would expect when giving a tip!)
Once outside some guy grabbed my bag off the porter and said if I wanted a taxi, to which I replied 'yes'
and he took me to the taxi reservation point to get a taxi.
Once I had paid for a taxi, the same guy (still with my bag) walked over to the car park where my taxi
was waiting and unknown to me this guy was not the driver. The guy then asked for a tip and I was not impressed.
After a verbal match where I refused to pay him as I was under the impression he was the driver,
I finally got in the taxi (get's worst)
The taxi took me through Kuta beach and then suddenly he turned down a dark alley. There he got out the car
and removed my bag from the car boot. By now, I was worried and adrenaline had kicked in as I saw some guys
approaching me from the dark (you know nothing happened otherwise you would not be reading this diary!)
What occurred was there a power cut in my hotel and everywhere including my room was pitched black.
The hotel assistant brought a candle to my room and a complimentary drink but I was so angry by then I was
not in any mood for apologies.
Tomorrow I tell you what the place is really like, this is the
hotel.
I will also give you the lowdown on Kuta beach - looks like a surfer's paradise because that's
the people you see plus all the shops are watersport oriented.
Hope the first day was a one off escapade!
Walked along the beach and spent the remaining of the day walking endless around the town and markets.
Tried my hand at bargaining but with little success for some sandals. All the shops sell either
t-shirts, flip flops, ornaments or motor bike rentals
Hotel I am currently stopping in is this.
As mentioned, got a
great day
booked tomorrow not bad for fifty pounds and picked up from hotel lobby.