SOUTH ASIA BLOG October 1st, 2024 - KUALA LUMPUR

 

10/1/24– Officially our first full day of our trip and it starts at 6am. Not because we have a timed-ticket; just eager to get our one and only day here started. Due to the long travel time we already feel flipped to the twelve hour time difference, which is a plus. We check the weather to see full clouds at the moment and rain around noon, so don’t want to waste any more time.

We call a GRAB from the lobby which takes us twenty-five minutes to get to the Batu Caves. As we enter the elaborate gate, we’re immediately met with an astonishing view of a golden Buda statue standing tall in front of a mountain that seems well out of place. Venturing further in, we notice a large, colorful stairway situated right next to the statue that goes up quite a bit. We did our research on the area beforehand and not keen to climbing two hundred plus stairs for a few cave photos, however. Instead, we enjoy the temples (which we have to remove our shoes, leaving them unguarded outside) and watch tourist feed the numerous monkeys roaming around. Very surprised those monkeys don’t run off with people’s shoes out of sheer boredom.

The sun comes out, baking us further than we’d like this early in the morning, so we find a place to eat (burgers will do nicely) and call a GRAB to take us to the mosque, Masjid Jamek.

Of course the driver would have a harsh, lingering smell of cigarettes in his car, making the twenty-five minute ride not that enjoyable. And once we exit the vehicle we find the mosque just closed for a two hour break. At least I’m able to snap a photo from the gate area.

Not to be dejected, we walk ten minutes to Sri Mahamariamman Temple. It too is about to close for a three hour break, but luckily we arrive before they do. This temple is beautifully laid out with colorful animal deities spread around every which way. The outside looks just as sharp, which makes it stand out from the old looking buildings that surround.

We now are facing the decision of walking back to the mosque and waiting for it to open or continuing on with the day. The oven-baked heat made our minds up for us as we call another GRAB to drop us off at the KLCC center. Seconds after leaving the car, we’re met face-to-face with the Petronas Twin Towers themselves. For those that may not know or remember, these towers were featured in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol as Tom Cruise climbed them.

KLCC Park is also close by with a large Bellagio-type fountain to boot. Definitely, a nice view as the sun reaches back out to us through the intermittent dark clouds. We venture inside the mall area for the free air conditioning and look to buy tickets to go up inside one of the towers, but it’s sold out for the day. Not a huge loss as it’s an afterthought, besides our bodies are wore out from the excessive heat exposure to go much farther. We buy a few items for breakfast tomorrow, some drinks to rehydrate and take one last GRAB to our AirBnB. Did I mention how cheap they are here (this one literally cost me under $2).

Shortly after going up to our room, loud thunder booms through the air as the rain crashes hard against the side of the window. Thirty minutes later it clears up again. Gotta love the tropical weather so close to the Equator.

Side note- People here are very pushy (which we’re use to in New York) but they don’t like to slow down or stop for anyone. If a group of people are walking toward you, they don’t even try to maneuver out of the way. Instead they gun straight for you like they have the right-away.