Kuala Lumpur - Shopping Paradise

With Malaysia being only a short hop from Singapore, we decided to go to Kuala Lumpur (KL) for 3 days via a Greyhound-like bus. The bus ride takes you over a causeway and onto the Malaysian penisular. At the Malaysia border, all passengers duly get off the bus, and make their way to the immigration office to get their passports stamped. Afterwards, we all get back onto the bus and continue for another 3 more hours along the Malaysia’s west coast, past endless palm trees and lots of abandoned green fields.

The view of our ride to KL on the bus

Upon arriving in KL, we were struck with the same problem we had everywhere, having to find our way to the hotel. This time, it was more difficult for us because we had no idea where we were dropped off at. We only knew that we were at the entrance of a hotel, where most of the passengers seemed to be checking into except for us. We asked the hotel counter for help on directions to our hotel and all he told us to do was to take a taxi. Being backpackers, we don’t have the luxury of taking a taxi as that would cut into our costs. With determination, we chose a direction and walked towards it in hopes of finding a Metro station. Within minutes, we were walking in the underground pathway to the metro. Glad and relieved, we went to the ticket counter to purchase our tickets to the hotel. I asked the man which station we need to go to for our hotel and in response I heard, “Dang Bangi” I had the most confused look on my face and asked him to repeat. The second time, he screamed “DANG WANGI” So even more confused, I noted it down and asked Kenny what he heard and he said the same, “Dang something” So with tickets in our hand, we went for the closest exit to the trains and tried to look for a map. And sure enough, there it was “Dang Wangi” on the map. What a name for a metro station.

The traffic in KL is chaotic and walking down the streets, which are largely pavement-free, is dangerous. Just because you see the green light doesn’t mean you get to go. However, there is one positive thing about the street traffic in KL. All traffic lights have electronic countdowns telling you long it will be before the lights change or better yet before you look twice to cross. It was definitely a large contrast from Singapore. Here in KL, you can be sitting on the streets eating dinner and a huge van would whiz by you leaving you and your food in fumes.

Do you see how close the car is to the table?

According to Malaysians, eating out and shopping are their favourite pastimes. This is because food and the clothes here are ludicrously cheap. If you live in the area known as the Golden Triangle, like we did, you are bound to walk into a mall at every corner. It was definitely shopping paradise there. Clothes were dirt cheap as so was everything else. Malls consisted of at least more than 4 floors of clothes, watches, electronics, and computers. It was like “Pacific Mall” but on a grander level. It is as hustle & bustle inside the malls as it is outside on the streets.

Cosmo Shopping Mall

At the mall near the Petrona Towers

There was this one store in a mall that was quite unusual and different. It was called “EC Express Cut”. It was perfect timing to try this out as Kenny’s hair was reaching beyond it’s fro limits. As we entered, only the person that is cutting his hair gets to sit on the numbered bench so that they will know who is next. When it was Kenny’s turn, they asked him to pay first which cost only 12 Ringgits ($3.00 CAD). Kenny explains to the hairdresser how he wants his haircut, and the hairdresser clips away. After a little more than 10 minutes, the haircut is finished and Kenny even gets the hairbrush they used on him. One would think that no one would go to this express cut place but in fact, the whole time that Kenny was there, 4 other people came in to get their haircut. However, as we got back to the hotel, we noticed that Kenny’s hair was cut unevenly. The top side of his hair was lopsided. One side was longer than the other. Luckily it wasn’t too noticeable, but what do you expect for a haircut that costs less than $5.00 CAD. Haa haaa

Food was everywhere. We found all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Durian again was another big time seller in KL. I only say this because of the sign that we found at our hotel lobby. Look below. It was too hilarious. I still can't understand what is so good about durian. The fruit stinks and tastes like poo…(not to offend anyone out there that loves it). Sorry can’t appreciate this exotic fruit.

KL was not just all about eating and shopping, there were the beautiful Petronas Towers that dominated the skyline. The Petrona Towers are the world’s tallest buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. It is 453 metres in height consisting of 88 storeys. There is a skybridge that connects the two towers built on Floors 41 & 42. Unlike most skyscrapers however, the towers have a unique shape brought about from the floorplans which are built in the shape of two squares, tilted at an angle to form an eight-pointed star. This design was based on geometric patterns found commonly in architecture of Islamic heritage. The towers are also shiny metal and glass, rather than the bland old concrete of most skyscrapers. It was definitely a beautiful sight, especially at night when it is all lit up.

. Inside the connecting skybridge