Kuala Lumpur

Big City Malaysia

After time on the islands, it was time to tour the city. Of course, the Petronas Twin Towers were the first stop.

If you saw the Sean Connery/Catherine Zeta-Jones movie Entrapment, you’ll recognize the building.

There are 88 floors (eight is a lucky number, so it’s double lucky and two towers to boot) with the bridge connector on floors 41/42, the highest two story bridge in the world.

The bridge is not connected to either building, but was designed to dlide in and out to withstand severe weather.

Here’s a view from that height:

Unlike in the States, the developers did not lease the best views to private condo ownership. One tower houses the Petronas company (oil and gas) while the second tower is all office space available to any company who wants to lease it. The top floors are all for the public.

They took the obligatory tourist photo of us on our arrival. This time, though, J succumbed to purchasing it. How could we not? It was framed in a snow globe….hugely silly, especially given that Malaysia has never once had snow since the beginning of ever.

Kuala Lumpur is a bustling, very international city. Islam is the state religion, but a huge population of Hindus are also present in the city.

Most individual homes do not have front entrances; doors are on the side. So if you see a home with a front entrance, it’s the home of the village leader.

As we mentioned, Islam is the state religion. This tower broadcasts the Islamic call to prayer.

Have a listen:

H experienced her first wet market here.

Not pictured: a bull head, chicken in cages, piles of entrails, and H trying not to be sick.

McDonald’s would be a far more appealing menu item. The spicy double cheeseburger was a hit for both J and H, unfortunately it was served with a standard bun and not a black bun.

We got to experience a food tour of Kampong Bharu, where we sampled numerous yummy Malaysian dishes and…

Durian! It is amazing how much most Asians like Durian. Stores are full of Durian chocolates and other Durian candies. The fact that we were provided gloves to eat the Durian so that our hands did not take on the smell of Durian should tell you enough about the smell and the taste. The “edible” part of Durian is a white, creamy, fibrous substance only accessible after the outer, spiky shell is opened using a machete.

At least now we can say we have tried Durian - no need to ever have it again.

Apparently, there are over 200 varieties of Durian, identified by number. We were given D24.

We happened upon a Malaysian cemetery during our food tour.

We also took a six hour guided tour outside of Kuala Lumpur which included a visit to the Batu Caves which as you would (not) expect is sponsored by Pepsi if you look closely at the sign.

No ADA accessible way to enter the caves - just 272 stairs.

Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world which helped the country reduce its dependence on rubber and tin. There are mile after mile of these palm oil trees along the roadside outside of KL. Rats will eat the roots of the trees which will kill the trees, so farmers train owls to hunt and kill the rats in order to keep the trees safe.

Slightly obscured by the palm leaves is an owl house.

On a hilltop is the ruins of the sultan’s summer palace. Monkeys have completely taken over the area.

Here’s the exceptionally friendly silvered leaf money, enjoying the peanuts we gave him. You can feed the monkeys here, unlike in Langkawi!

After sundown, we were able to go on a private fishing boat down the river at Kuala Selangor Firefly Park.

It’s hard to capture how magical the ride was.

Finally, H encountered another helpful bathroom sign. Take heed!