Kuala Lumpur hit us with a double dose of everything today – heat that could melt asphalt and humidity that clung to you like a second skin, towering skyscrapers and ancient caves, and enough sights to overload our brains.
Our journey began with a battle against the infamous KL traffic. We were warned! Cars crawled bumper-to-bumper, and the air conditioning in our van of 10 people fought a valiant effort in keeping us cool against the brutal sun. We reached the Batu Caves ready to get out of the van until the door opened and the heat rushed in! (I shouldn’t complain, I know). We were greeted with an immense golden statue of Murugan, the Hindu god of war as he was guarding the entrance, This statue was huge and very “golden”. Just behind the statue are 272 colorful steps that looked as if they went on forever. Feeling like it was going to be more like scaling a furnace, Chuck and I decided we would forego this sauna trip up to see the 3 major caves above and stick to the sights on the ground. You’ll never believe what our real challenge was. MONKEYS! These cheeky creatures were everywhere, perched on ledges, running all around us and most disconcertingly, digging through overflowing trash cans for food scraps. They are not fed here and look for food everywhere. We clung to our belongings for dear life, following the golden rule of not feeding the monkeys.
We drank a bottle of cold water before heading to our next location, the East Coast Batik where they paint fabric by hand. It was beautiful artwork and we picked up some more nice inexpensive shirts and me some dresses. The short dresses help a lot in these heat ravaged countries, even while on the ship!
Next, we arrived at KL Bird Park. This expansive park houses over 3,000 birds from over 200 species, all flying freely in a very large and expansive aviary. We wandered through lush enclosures and marveled at the vibrant colors of so many different parrots and birds we have never heard of, all native to this country. When we saw the peacocks, I asked my friend what did we have to do to get them to open their feathers and just as if it heard me, the tail opened up beautifully and he even spun around as if he was on a runway! Cant get any better than that!
Our time here, although an hour, was short. We had to move on to our next stop, the Central Market. This bustling market is a maze of stalls overflowing with everything from fresh batik fabrics and handcrafted souvenirs to food of any kind located on the second level. We haggled for some cool souvenirs and a silk scarf, (I have a few now) and while the sight of satay vendors was tempting, we stuck to a giant, icy cup of tropical fruit sorbet. The cool, tart sweetness was a lifesaver and at the moment, better than a hot lunch.
On our way to our next stop we had a quick drive through Little India, with its colorful shops and the aroma of spices battling the ever-present humidity, transported us for a moment to another world.
In the afternoon, refreshed and cooled down, we made it to Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka). This historic square, where Malaysia declared its independence from Britain in 1957, is a powerful symbol of the country’s freedom. The towering flagpole flying the national flag seemed to billow slightly in the non-existent breeze. Between 1948 and 1960, Kuala Lumpur wasn’t a warzone, but it was crucial during the Malayan Emergency. The British ran the war effort from here, making it a target for Communist insurgents. The city lived on edge with curfews, security checks, and fear. This period impacted it’s demographics and fueled Malayan nationalism, ultimately leading to independence in 1957.
No trip to KL would be complete without seeing the Petronas Twin Towers. These iconic skyscrapers dominated the skyline wherever we went throughout the day. (Just a side note here, our van is tall enough to stand in, however, sightseeing is almost impossible unless it is at eye level as the windows are so short.) So, while getting out of the van and walking to the street corner, I didn’t know exactly what were were going to see until I looked up. It was magnificent! The twin towers are the tallest in the world. We didn’t have time to go up this time but hopefully next time we’ll be gazing out from the observation deck on the 42nd floor walk across the skybridge that connects the two towers on that same floor!
What a hot yet amazing day. We are hating the heat, humidity worse than Florida which is hard to believe but learning and visiting new countries is totally worth it.
Should have mentioned earlier but today is our 1/2 way point through the world cruise. We have been sailing 137 days, 40,120 nautical miles (that’s almost around the world twice according to Wikipedia!) and 27 countries! WOW! What an adventure this has been and we still have 4 1/2 months to go! We absolutely love this adventure and feel blessed more than we’ll ever be able to describe. God is Amazing!
May He bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 