Back to Asia for another taste of the Exotic East

Malaysia - Gods and Frogs in Kuala Lumpur

 

After Thailand and region a couple years ago, I've been inexplicably lured back to this part of the world for a bit more exploring in Malaysia and Indonesia. While it's a pretty ambitious plan outlined alongside, I'll see what i can ~ and leave the rest for another day.

I thank good friends Edward and Laurel for their introduction to travel in China a number of years ago and imparting on me an enthusiasm for travel that has bitten and taken a firm hold.







I arrived into Kuala Lumpur and as usual ignored the conventional easy way of getting to my hostel via Taxi. How easy to just say Sunshine Bedz KL and be whisked away in an air conditioned late model Toyota something or other. But no - I need to brave the 34 degree weather -- more humid than a womb -- and take a train then monorail and then walk to proudly find it on my own. All this fun and I paid more than I would have had I taken the taxi. Another great travel decision by yours truly.


To add insult to injury - the afternoon monsoon came heavy just as I arrived at the destination train station leading to a surprisingly pleasant wait. I chatting amicably with locals and joined in complaining about the weather which is fair game in any part of the world. And!!!  complaining about the unscrupulous umbrella salesman you can see perched just inside the doorway. "can you believe - $5 for an umbrella - outrageous!!!

All that drama aside, I shared a couple or 3 beers with some friendly folk I met at the hostel and then headed for the streets of KL to have a look around. Busier than a one-armed bricklayer in Baghdad, you can just feel the excitement as you move about the city.

Performers are throughout surrounded by surprisingly large crowds swaying to the music while fireworks crash all about in anticipation of Chinese New Year in a couple days time. The warm breeze smells of spice and smoke - everything is moving in a swirl of colour and movement, and I'm huuuuunnnngry!!!!!

So then the food!!!!! -  mouth-watering droll producing moments came as I saw these honey pork skewer things I recall from Thailand. Like a long lost friend, we immediately became reacquainted as I gnawed my way through a half dozen of these little fuckers. Heck -- at a buck each ... how do you say no to that old friend ?

Some looks familiar  --some looks pretty odd but all smells good. Of course the frogs and other non-decrypt bits are a bit off-putting but it's all part of the adventure.

Morning found me and a group of new friends visiting the Batu caves. A collection of Hindu temples adds to the already impressive natural environment where monkeys play mischievously with the tourists as they make their way to the caves above. That's hilarious to watch as the monkeys are really aggressive stealing away ice cream cones and chocolate bars quicker than a Lambo on the autobahn. haha ...so entertaining.

After a couple days of Gods and Frogs I'm excited about the days ahead. I'm a bit behind the eight ball as someone somehow got into my wallet. At the hostel is my guess and while I was sleeping. It's a hundred dollas I would rather still have but most of my money is hidden in a bunch of different places so the loss was relatively small. Makes the $6 room at the hostel a bit more expensive ...

Just hope no one reading this is a roommate. 😊

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!!