KL and Chinatown (26th February 2010)

This morning I headed down to reception to get the key to the dorm to find that they didn’t think they had a booking for me, I had decided to stay a couple more days here as it was so nice, it just seemed to be a case of trying to convince them that they did have a booking for the second night and that there was room for the next two nights. Fortunately after they got a young girl on the case there was room so this is to be my base for the next couple of days.

Well with Mick waiting outside for me I headed off out and we headed into the main city area and the market place where Mick had he usual of chicken curry for lunch and I had a yummy veg Thai green curry. Mick had heard about an exhibition about Borneo and historical and cultural artefacts that are found there, it was very interesting although I think we were perhaps their only visitors that day as the guy took great pleasure in following us around and talking to us.

For dinner we headed to the hawker market at the base of the local mall and it was in the mall that I saw my first Lion dance. It was spectacular. It’s all to do with Chinese New Year which I was catching the last couple of days off before it was all over. It can take anything up to an hour for the team to set up the stage area and platforms and the gist of it is that two very athletic and skilful guys team up to make a lion and accompanied by drum music perform this incredible dance over the platforms. It was amazing and so clever how they managed to make the lion look so life like and cute even down to its fluttering eye lashes.



The Lion dance


Later that evening had us wandering around Chinatown which was interesting, if you need a new watch or a Gucci handbag Chinatown has got pretty much everything covered.
My two roommates are a couple of girls from Norway who are making the most of the shopping experience in KL. I did wonder if they were shopping for all the things they may have forgotten but no they assured me they were shopping cause the shopping here was just ‘too good’! I’m afraid on my budget I wont be partaking in the experience.

The afternoon of departure (24th / 25th February 2010)

So apart from the earlier little things, so far so good. The thing is I guess I’ve been planning this trip for quite a while, actually not so much planning it more like getting ready to go off on it.

As I’m sure all of you must know by now it wasn’t until the very last minute that I knew exactly when I was going and coming back so in the intervening time I’ve been storing all the most important things to go in the spare room. In hind sight though perhaps I should have put a bit more effort into what tops to take as the two I really wanted to take got left behind!

Fortunately I was flying from Gatwick so it wasn’t such a huge affair to get there, what did seem to be a huge affair though was the toasted sandwich and chips we ordered at almost the only cafe open in North terminal. Who would have thought a toasted sandwich could cause so much confusion and misunderstanding, in the end though it turned up and we quickly ate before I headed through to the other side.

The flight out was uneventful apart from getting quite excited about the in flight entertainment system (oh the little things) I managed to watch the whole of The Time Travellers Wife as well as chat to the guy next to me who was heading over to Dubai to see his son. Again in hindsight though I should have spent this time sleeping as the stopover in Dubai was really tough on no sleep (Keith sleep on the first flight if you can). Going via Dubai meant each of the flights were relatively short though so of course an added bonus (I think).

I arrived in KL and negotiated public transport to the city centre where Mick came to meet me. It always intrigues me how I am totally at ease and relaxed with public transport when I’m abroad and even enjoy it, but back home it’s a novelty and not one to be greatly cherished to be honest and of course so much more expensive.
Micks been out in KL this time for four weeks and has been coming here for 13 years I think he said so he is my own private tour guide, excellent.

I’m staying the first couple of nights at the Rainforest B & B in KL, for the first night I’ve opted for a private room to try and get over a bit of the jetlag, and apart from there being no window in the room (apparently that’s normal here) it’s really very nice. After the first night my plan is to move out to a dorm room which will cost the grand sum of £6.75 with breakfast, linen and towels included, I think that’s pretty good, of course I haven’t seen the dorm yet.

The morning of departure (24th February 2010 )

Ok I really do take it back.

I seem to be having my usual panic as well, as once again, I have a bizarre desire to put the rubbish out before I leave (last years trip) fortunately, this time, missing all the cat poo. Next time though I think it best to not book a flight around rubbish collection day!

Also for some reason despite having weeks to prepare for this trip at the last minute I still wanted dad to convert three cds to mp3.

Perhaps I never will learn.

All this and then Milo was too concerned I was trying to catch hime to take him to the vets than actually say goodbye to him, maybe neither of us will ever learn. :-)

The day before the off! (23th February 2010)

Amazingly, so far there doesn’t seem to be any major drama attached to leaving for my trip! Famous last words perhaps but who knows, maybe, just maybe I’m finally getting used to this travelling lark! :-)

Actually I think I might already be taking that back, I mean there have been no great dramas yet but booking the flight just four days before departure and booking the first nights’ accommodation the day before doesn’t exactly scream prepared to you does it?

Off on my travels

So I'm off on my travels again and this time I'm off to Borneo, I guess the blog title was a bit of a giveaway though huh?! :-)

I'm leaving on Wednesday for 6 weeks so if you fancy and have some time then keep checking back where I will aim to entertain and thrill once more!! :-)