The Kuala Lumpur Trip

Day 5

Our fifth day starts at 12 midnight when the bus leaves Singapore Golden Mile Station on a 5 hour trip to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. So there we are, hopping from the bus with our luggage, climbing the stairs of the pedestrian overpass and finally boarding the bus, hoping to get a 5 hour sleep from this trip.

I slept fitfully, because it was cold and uncomfortable, I don't know. The seats are comfortable enough, like the bus I rode on when I went to Bicol with the guys, but I was uncomfortable. Liza had a harder time, because the Indian guy behind us kept her awake for an hour with loud phone calls and after that, a louder snoring. (I don't know why she hasn't gotten used to my snoring in our dorm room) I was used to sleeping under loud and noisy conditions, so I slept despite the noise.

We woke up from semi-slumber when we got to Singapore's Departure Hall (where Liza delayed the bus because she forgot her departure card) and another wake up call when we got to Malaysian soil and to the quiet, lifeless, and very still Immigration Office.

No problem there. Whew! We've heard of so many Filipino stories of people being held up in Immigration offices that we tried not to be concern but really felt relieved that no problems were encountered.

When the bus stopped at Kuala Lumpur, it was 5am and there this eerie feeling you hear during early mornings. Some people waking up but not quite. We were really planning to go to another backpacker hostel, but we saw several cheap hotels that offer lodging with private bathrooms for just a little extra payment. Ah, private bathrooms. We've been longing for that. So we checked in at a cheap hotel (Star Town Inn in Imbi Street, near Times Square) and sleep for two hours. We'll start wandering around KL at 9am.

9:30 am

So we're late. As to be expected.

First stop is find a taxi. I have a list of places to go to, and the Kuala Lumpur Tower and The Petronas Towers topped the list. The map I have said that the KL tower is nearer us, so we should go there first.

I have to get this off my chest, to start with so I wouldn't rant for the whole of this blog entry, BEWARE of Indian Taxi drivers in KL. They really take advantage and will rip you off. I was more mad at being ripped off (feeling so stupid) than about paying. Anyway, I hope he gets two weeks of misfortune for ripping us off.

So back to going to KL tower and no mentioning of cab drivers again, ever, we paid the entrance fee amount ( I forgot the exact fee) and went up the tower. I wondered why we couldn't build ourselves architecture like these. Things that will put the Manila on the map, and will make tourists flock to our city instead of making this a pit stop before heading to our paradise beaches.

The view from the KL tower was fantastic. We were able to see almost everything up to the Batu Caves and the Petronas, and everything else. Took some pictures, and listened attentively to the recording we were given at the start of the viewing deck.

11:00am

We got to the foot of the Petronas Towers around eleven and made our way to where it said 'Skybridge Viewing' and surprise surprise, we can't go up until 1:15pm as it is the available time allotted to us. Gah, we have to wait just to go up?

So we had lunch and found a cab (this is the damned Indian driver that ripped us off) that will take us around KL to take pictures of famous buildings and places. We were able to go to the famous places and take pictures though and then, we're back to Petronas at 1:00 for the viewing. I will stop myself from saying anything else about those damn Indian drivers.

1:15pm

Petronas Towers. I've seen it in numerous Megastructures National Geographic specials and in Frontlines of Construction. I already know what makes this place so special. I was ready to go up and see if it really lives up to its reputation.

I was sorely disappointed. First we were accosted for having punched the buttons on the elevator and going up by ourselves, those people threatening to tell Immigration authorities (the nerve of that gay Indian! I tell you!) and then, going up the Skybridge and feeling like I'm up on one of Makati's buildings. The view from the bottom is better than the view from the skybridge. Trust me, take lots of pictures from the bottom, than from the Skybridge. It's nothing spectacular. I don't see any reason for the fuss.

I like the facade of the Towers better. Makes for a better picture than the inside.

1:30pm
Ate lunch.

2:00pm
Went to some temples, and went crazy in the Chocolate Factory. Then, went to Chinatown (the Chinatown of Singapore has more character and cleaner and more organized than the KL's Chinatown. Of course our own Chinatown is the best. It has the best Chinese character, I guess, from my point of view that is, although a little cleanliness and organization like that of Singapore wouldn't hurt). Anyway, KL's chinatown is just like Tutuban on the streets. Only, our Tutuban has probably have better merchandise.

Then, we bought our tickets back to Singapore, and we decided to take the rest of the day off.

10pm
We're probably talking about sex. Or our definite lack of it...A great way to end the day, wallow in self-pity over our non-existent love life.

12midnight....
probably snoring...