Kuala Lumpur is an alpha city that ignites and appeals to the senses.
However, we made do of what little time we had and I must say, KL is one of my favorite cities now. What I liked about KL the most is that they have a very systematic means of transportation be it bus or train. You don't need to speak their language since everything has its English counterpart. And if in doubt, asking the locals for help is easy too because they speak English well.
The hotel we stayed at was located in the district of Bukit Bintang. I think the location was great as it is quite near to most places we wanted to see.
On our first day, we walked around the place with no specific destination in mind. We then stumbled upon a restaurant called NASI KANDAR RAFI. We were very hungry at the time and so we gave the Indian place a try.
The food was okay, Raf said he liked it. But I have one problem...
I don't eat spicy food. Before ordering our food, I asked the server which one is not spicy, he pointed to a chicken dish, and that was what I ordered.
It was SPICY. I guess Indians have high tolerance for spicy foods and so what was not spicy to them is still considered spicy to me.
It was the first time I have ever experienced where I felt like steam is going to blow off my nose and ears because the food is so spicy. I cried for panic and drank my soda immediately and gestured to the server to bring some water because I seriously felt like my tongue is on fire. That was when I realized everyone inside the restaurant was looking at me.
After that experience, I said I am going to swear off Indian food for a while...
But Raf likes spicy food, so he enjoyed his food.
After our Indian food fiasco, we strolled some more and ended up at Mydin. It is a supermarket near Jalan Petaling (Chinatown) where we were told big Cadbury bars were being sold for only 5 MYR!!! (That is just around 65 pesos!) And so here comes the chocolate hoarders)
We bought chocolate bars like it was nobody's goddamn business...
We then headed to Petaling Street, or Jalan Petaling to locals.
And since we had no specific destination in mind because following our itinerary starts the next day, we wandered off the city.
And so...
We were surprised to reach Merdeka Square by chance! We were supposed to visit Merdeka Square (or Dataran Merdeka to locals), the next day, so I guess that saved us time and gave us more to spare for tomorrow since we're already here now.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Clock Tower that's located in front of Merdeka Square. A major historical landmark in KL, it also houses several government offices. Designed using Mughal architecture and gothic style, it features copper domes, a slender tower, graceful arches and colonnades.
Before going to KL, I researched about city dress codes and some information from the internet says that the city is a melting pot of various cultures and religions. And while that is true, KL is not as conservative as some may think. There are a lot of people wearing casual clothing especially when it's hot outside.
The morning of the very next day, we headed to the Batu Caves. The caves are found inside a limestone hill which, in order for you to reach, you have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps! The Caves are located just outside Kuala Lumpur, in Gombak District, Selangor.
An important Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan, conservative clothing must be observed at all times. If you are wearing shorts, a skirt or a dress, you will have to rent out a sarong to cover yourself up.
Monkeys can freely roam the place but be careful not to agitate them so they won't attack you.
The inside of the caves are filled with rock formations and ornate Hindu shrines.
After descending from the caves, we were starved and at the entrance of the caves is a row of Indian food. So here we go again with spicy Indian food. :)
Before going back to the city, we saw a tattoo artist who offers Henna art for 5 RM only to be ripped off because after applying my tattoo, she told me it's 25 RM because it's not among the "free design" that's included in the 5RM price list. Let's just say I'll charge this to experience.
But I was happy with my henna art so no big deal.
Our PETRONAS building tour is scheduled at 4pm and so we had lots of time in our hands to roam around, eat, and explore the mall inside PETRONAS. Suria is honestly the most beautiful and posh-est mall I have seen.
Our PETRONAS tour has finally begun. Tours like this usually starts with orientations and such to tell tourists about the history of the place, how it was built and what and what not to do during the tour. To my amazement, the orientation was conducted by a hologram! YES! A HOLOGRAM! It was my biggest taga-bundok moment. I can keep still because I was so amazed with the woman in the hologram giving instructions.
The tour is broken down into 2 parts: The Skybridge Tour where we get to spent 20 mins and another 20 minutes for the 87th Floor (the top floor was the 88th) of the PETRONAS Tower 1.
We first climbed the skybridge which Raf told me is technically called a "time and space". It is the bridge that connects Tower 1 to Tower 2 at the 41st and 42nd floors of the buildings.
A panorama shot of the view from the Skybridge from Tower 1 to Tower 2.
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This is Raf and onthe background is the top of the Tower 2 (we are at the top floor of Tower 1).
And there it is... Tower 1 from where I am standing, the 87th floor. On the background, you can also see the Menara KL Tower.
PETRONAS at night...
It was amazing seeing the twins. At first, I thought that the Php 1,100 charge for the tour which I prebooked as a birthday surprise for Raf was too expensive (because I'm kuripot like that). But then, seeing his face light up was priceless. Oo na, nakakaumay na... Hehehe.
Many said that the twins are more beautiful at night as the it lights up, but I still think it's more astounding and breathtaking during the day.
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And then we went over to Petaling Street for his birthday dinner. We ate at an authentic Chinese restaurant which name I do not know because it's in Chinese, so yeah...
Happy birthday, birthday boy. 'Til our next adventures!
