A day in Kuala Lumpur

 Petrona Towers, lighting up the sky, taken from the window outside our room.

The photograph accidently taken as I was waking up last Sunday, appeared on our spare telephone.    How did that happen as the phone was not on wifi?  Horror of horrors.  That photo is going to haunt me.

But back to Kuala Lumpur.   There are roadworks everywhere in central Kuala Lumpur, which further adds to the traffic problems.   A new rapid transport system, underground, is being built.   Badly needed too.

A walk to a flashier part of town, Bukit Bintang, where the pavements are even, and buildings are new and very smart.    A pause for a moment beside the fountain, decorated with motifs of the hybiscus flower, the emblem of Malaysia.

Chinese New Year decorations in the foyer of the Pavillion shopping centre.     Brand shops only in this shopping mall.

Lion mask heads ready for sale.

The new skybridge which connects Bukit Bintang/Pavillion to the KL Convention Centre.   Very impressive.  London could do with one of these.

 Once at the Convention Centre there is an underground walkway to the Petrona Towers.   Walking in air conditioning comfort.   And spotlessly clean too.

A stop for coffee on the way to the Petronas Towers.    Cafe Latte in a most unusual cup, but it worked.   Delicious.

The Petronas Towers, standing very high.    We went up there last January, with Scott.   Quite an experience, especially the bridge between the two buildings. But not an experience I wish to repeat in a hurry. 

The fountains, with an array of buildings in the background.   I tried to take a fancy photograph of the fountains with my new camera but failed miserably.  I need more lessons, I think.

Then we walked back, through the walkway, along the skyway, and back to our street, dodging the cars on the latter part of the walk.   Kuala Lumpur still retains much of its old charm, but this comes with erratic traffic, inadequate traffic lights, uneven footpaths, and grates over the drains, which emit an odorous smell.  But all this is preferable to sanitised Singapore.  

I can remember when these drains, monsoon drains, were open in both Singapore and Malaysia.  Not only did you have to watch the traffic then, but you also had to watch that you did not walk into one of the drains.

And there is our hotel, the Melia.   Home from home.

Walter proudly showing off his massive bruise, under his chin.   And it is worse today.   No I did not hit him, nor did he get into a fight.    He achieved this massive bruise by falling over, not once, but twice.  In a short space of fifteen minutes.   And he was not drunk either.    The footpaths are often atrocious, with holes, and sudden drops.   Both times Walter did not notice the drop and went head first onto his chin.   Scary to watch!   Luckily no broken limbs, just pride.

But aside from the erratic traffic, uneven footpaths and pollution we love being in Malaysia.   It is a charming place, with lovely, friendly people.   What more can one want!