Malaysia - my second home!

July 28th – Aug 1st
‘Malaysia my second home’ is a government scheme to encourage foreigners to settle here but that has nothing to do with me, I’ve used the title because that’s exactly what it feels like after 2 days in an empty town and 18 hours on a bus. I arrive into KL at around 4.45am and I’m a bit annoyed and confused (not to mention tired) at being over an hour early but sitting in McDonalds with Lauren, an American on the same bus, waiting for the monorail to open over a cup of tea and we realise there’s an hour time difference. So we head off to trail round the dark streets and get Lauren into a decent hostel and then I’ll head off and get me back into luxury (I don’t mention this at the time). Having arrived at Sue & Kelvin’s the first time in their car after a night in a great place and a 2 hour flight and I realise that this un-slept backpacker alone and with no key pass might not find it so easy to get into this high end building: security feel the same. The fact that I have forgotten the apartment number hardly helps but eventually I am granted access and welcomed back with open arms (by Sue and Kelvin, not security).

The rest of the day goes by in a bit of blur, I do some much needed washing, have a gloriously hot shower and a bit of nap and I bum around the apartment and sunbathe on the balcony. In the evening, I step it up a bit and help Sue recreate an Indian meal (yup, I actually helped cook something!) learned at her cookery class the day before; so a trip around little India follows, then a mere 3 or 4 hours in the kitchen and the meal is gorgeous! Ok, we’ve made enough for 12 and it’s too spicy for Sue but Kelvin and I dig in and it’s definitely one of my larger culinary successes all the same.

I sleep better that night than I can ever remember (and I sleep well!) and wake up to learn that Katrina and Sonja from Phuket are doing the same journey, as well as Elliot, Juliana and 2 others from the Vietnam trip so I’m quite excited to see them all that night. I sort out my bag and some odd jobs and discover that even after 2 weeks; this city is no less confusing to negotiate. It’s a great place viewed from windows and outdoor tables but trying to cross the major roads, watch out for uneven pavements and navigate the maze of streets in the heat and it doesn’t exactly invoke feelings of calm. In fact, it reminds me of how London could make me feel when we weren’t on the same side. Those times when the intensity of the place got me so worked up that I felt like punching some unsuspecting person for taking up too much space or walking too slow when really, there wasn’t any rush. I think I gritted my teeth too much and didn’t smile enough. But we’re on holiday now and its 30 degrees at 7pm so there is no excuse for not smiling, especially after we all meet easily and hop on the LRT for 2 stops to the reggae bar for a cheap meal and a big night!

3 more nights in KL involve more beautiful meals out, a lazy trip to the movies, another Reggae session and a lot more great sleeps. The days are a mixture of getting phones fixed, stressing over bus and hotel bookings, unsuccessful attempts at posting and then making it all worthwhile with some drinks on the balcony or lazing by the pool. I even get to bring the girls round for a drink one day and am delighted when they exclaim how amazing it is, especially when they see the view from the balcony, and after an afternoon on the beds by the pool they claim it’s been the highlight of KL! Sadly I can’t reveal the location of this hidden attraction in a travel blog as I promised my gracious hosts that I wouldn’t.

And all the best places are kept a secret anyway.