So here I am. After almost 10 months in Europe I am now ready to explore a new continent, Asia. I don’t have a plan as such but my trip to Asia w/first stop Kuala Lumpur is exciting nevertheless. I am in KL now, then a quick stop over in Bangkok followed by trips to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Otherwise, I will make it up as I go. It is the best way to travel.
My trip to Asia
It was easy to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Munich so here I am. I have been to Malaysia before, 15 years ago on my way to Australia. It was a quick 10 day trip back then however, and to be honest, I can’t remember much of it. Except that my impression of Malaysia wasn’t that great. Maybe because I was travelling by myself, a tall blond girl and not speaking the language? Who knows!
This trip in particular is filled with rainy days and hot humid days, the air is so different to the European autumn crispness. The photos here seem to have a grey layer and my hair has been going crazy since I arrived. No point keeping it intact! But my skin is much softer now. Love the humidity!
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is an interesting city. As the capital of Malaysia it has plenty of skyscrapers that is definitely dominated by the 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers near the KLCC park. The towers are the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. I must say they look quite grand standing in front of them. Inside you can find anything you need for your retail therapy. Luckily I don’t need one at the moment.
Due to the humidity and heat as well as the tropical afternoon rain (there was plenty of that) everybody seems to be spending a lot of time inside shopping centres. Myself included! And there are certainly plenty to choose from. And many more being built here in Kuala Lumpur.
However walking the streets on the outer suburbs and near where my hotel is, the city reminds me a bit of Brisbane. Kuala Lumpur has many hills and it seems like the fight for the best city view is on. As well as the fight for the bigger house? One house tries to stand taller than the other. Who can go the highest next? That said, I love a good view. So I am sure the view is quite stunning, especially at night.
The lower class
Then you have the streets with the tiny simple homes occupied by the lower classes. Many are old and run down and there are plenty of empty buildings. Most of them just left neglected. In addition there are also a great quantity for sale, from big villas to empty shops. It is hard to imagine that there are potentials buyers around.
Relaxing
Given that I escaped the cold weather in Germany I am now back enjoying the time at the pool (first day of sunshine rather than rain). Not to mention the massages each day. So far, my trip to Asia has been great!
I haven’t had a massage since Bali last year so my body was definitely in need of one. I found a little spot that offers massages given by blind people. They are great and I feel like I am helping them by going there. Win win situation, isn’t it?
Food
If you ever run out of Palm Oil you can certainly find it here in Malaysia. It is everywhere. People buy it in buckets and so there is no surprise that the food is soaked in it. I am a healthy eater and have removed oils out of my diet many years ago so I find it a challenge to find something ‘non oily’ to eat (I think I had that problem 15 years ago already). As cute as the local food trucks look I wouldn’t go near them. Definitely try and look behind the counter before you order. Trust me!
Walking
As mentioned I have walked a bit here and there but most of the time it is trying to stay cool during the day. So it was a pleasant surprise when I found this little rainforest hill in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. The hiking trail at Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve is perfect for an afternoon walk. After 45min in 90% humidity the sweat certainly runs down your body but dinner is well deserved afterwards! Nature always wins for me, especially when I am in such a busy and chaotic city as Kuala Lumpur, so I am glad I found this germ.
Trip Summary: I must admit I am not a big fan of Kuala Lumpur. In my opinion it doesn’t offer many interesting spots to see. I have read a few blogs and tripadvisors about Kuala Lumpur they are mainly build up to make it sound great. Even the pictures are much prettier than it is in reality.
So, if you don’t need to come here I am sure there are nicer places to see. If you really want to do Kuala Lumpur you probably won’t need more than 1 day (at max) but you will end up spending most of that day in traffic, so maybe 2 days then!! As for me, lets continue with the Trip to Asia (or in Asia). Bangkok is next!
And so, after a few days here it is time for a new country. Yeah! I have never been to Thailand and I can’t wait to see what Bangkok has to offer. Did I mention it was Bangkok?
