Kuala Lumpur, Thursday 16th October, 2014

This morning we woke up to beautiful sunny blue skies something we hadn't seen in KL in the morning due to the very misty/smokey mornings. Even though the mornings were always misty/cloudy the sun did come through all that as the day went on but never clear blue skies.

We left our Apartment at 2.00pm after a morning back doing the shops, although they don't open until 10.00 a.m. but don't close until 10.00pm. I think most people come out at night as it is always a lot busier so we feel best time is just after 10.00am much quieter. We brought an I-pad so sorry  Adam A we might need some help on that one........Saved about NZ$100.00 so felt it was worth it while we were here. From April next year there will be taxes on all IT products. We got picked up by a taxi to be taken to  Sentral KL to catch the Express train to the airport. As we were on our way we asked the driver how much straight to the airport. , it was only about another NZ$8.00 so we felt it was easier just to be taken save battling with the train station with luggage and as we were going to the Sama Sama Hotel next to the airport, we would have had to walk from the station to the hotel. I think that going by Taxi only added on another fifteen minutes.

Arrived at the Hotel about 3.00pm, got upgraded to the Premier Club room. Not sure why but I did ask for the highest room facing the planes as my husband enjoys watching them. He spent some time going through his computer and came up with floor 9 (top Floor and Premier Club only.) He didn't tell us at the time but when we went up the lift the doors opened and there we were with special lounge facilities,  then realised what he had done for us.   

Got a letter given to us giving all the extra benefits we were entitled to. It was just like in Hong Kong when we got upgraded to Club rooms there. If you can manage it, it is so worth while, even if you have to pay a little extra for club

Its own lounge with complimentary coffee juices and soft drinks 6.00 am to 11.00 am

                                            "               evening cocktails from 6.00 pm till 8.00 pm    

                                            "                Wi-fi

And many more facilities available like late checkout, express check out etc.

The 6.00pm to 8pm is great as we went along and relaxed with a couple of drinks and food which I thought would just be nibbles, but more like a full meal, great hot dishes, deserts cheeses and crackers so after all that we didn't need to go and spend money on a meal. Great.

We have a 5.30 wake call for our 8.40am flight. Breakfast opens at 6.00am, That's also on Club floor, just for floor nine, so don't have to go down to the main dining room. Just a few steps from our room. So we will eat, then back to our room for half an hour then go downstairs and  their buggy  takes us over to the terminal 1 to check in. It all sounds so easy.

Going back to when we arrived, we went straight down to the pool for a swim and a relax, which we never seem to have had time to do. Very Pleasant. Knew we had to do this before the afternoon thunder and lightening arrived and right to schedule it it came, spectacular. Both sheet and forked lightening and within an hour it had all passed through.                                     

                                            

When we woke up this morning at the Apartment, couldn't believe it, bright blue sky.

View from our windows above and below. which I have posted when it was all misty.

Another shot of the pool in the bright sun. Our tower is the one on the left, but we were further to the left.

  This is a poster that we saw in a shop this morning and PT wanted a photo.

This shop is full of crystal glass and really sparkled under the vivid lights. Look fantastic all sparkling but didn't come out that way in a photo.

Now arrived at Sama Sama Hotel at the airport. Very nice room. Everything is touch button to turn on lights, A/C and even to put the blinds up and down on the windows. Big window ,overlooking the airport building. 

View from our window.

Looking straight across to  terminal 1 International.

Same photo taken at at night.

These three photos are where we relaxed this afternoon. Very nice complex.

Sitting there looking at another tower, this time the international airport tower. Hope the airport observers didnt have binoculars.

Taken in the club lounge when we were having drinks and food. First tower for international and the little pin right in the background behind that is the tower for domestic. Domestic a little distance away. 

Well this is the end of our, just under six weeks holiday and we have enjoyed many different cultures. Its been a very busy trip, always rushing around, plenty of walking, and our biggest battle coping with the severe heat for such a long time. It will be good to get home tomorrow just to cool down and of cause to catch up with everyone. DON'T RING US TOO EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING. won't be home until about 1.00am on Saturday. See you soon.

Kuala Lumpur Wednesday 15th October, 2014

Decided today to go the an Indian restaurant  for lunch that Ferg recommended and had a very nice meal. 

We got the monorail one stop which met up with the underground train which we caught and went two stops to The Central markets again. Then got the train back one stop to Little India where we had lunch. Then caught the train one stop back to where we went back onto the monorail one stop to the station which is at the bottom of our street. All very handy. We have all those systems sussed out after few battles with their token payment system. Quite inexpensive at approx 10 rinkkits for the days travel for the both of us.

Came back to our unit to cool down and had a quick swim then as usual after a very hot day the rain came in but so far no lightening and thunder which still could come. We went to back to the Twin Towers to get a night photo which looks pretty spectacular although have only seen them at night from a distance. Then we went back to The Pavillion Shopping complex to get a few last minute things and grab a bite to eat.

We leave this complex E & O Residence tomorrow afternoon to have our last night at the Airport Hotel Sama Sama, which will save a lot of getting up early to catch an eight forty a.m. flight back home on Friday. We don't arrive in Auckland until about midnight so won't be home until 1.00am so NO early phone calls on Saturday morning...... 

This is a zoomed in photo of our apt. to show how big they are  On the 26th floor, top floor, the windows on the right back to the balconies are the length of the kitchen, dining, lounge area. Then the area that juts out pass the balcony is the bedroom with en-suite in behind bedroom.

Late  yesterday afternoon we walked down to the Pavilion Shopping complex to look at a few things after a look in the neighbouring Fahrenheit Shopping complex. As we were entering the Pavilion       (you can see the Fahrenheit building across the road) there was this display of some nice lanterns.

Just inside there were a lot of students sitting around doing this design with not sure what but looked like crystal grains a bit bigger than a sugar grain. So if you can imagine that you will realise how long it must have taken them. Each student was dropping tiny crystals with a small instrument making these designs. Beautiful and colourful.

This flower (the Hibiscus) is Malaysia's national symbol.

Above and below inside the Pavilion Shopping complex.

Zoomed in on the KL Tower from our apartment.

Monorail just coming into our station at the bottom of our road which we used today so cheap. All the trips we had today with the train as well, which was about six stops only cost us NZ$2.20 each.for the lot.

Station we used for the monorail

Inside the monorail. These's that bald headed chap again.

Homeward bound train.

We went to little India and walked through the markets to get to the Indian restaurant that Ferg recommended .

  

We had this Murtabak at Zam Zam's restaurant. It is a traditional Malaysian dish consisting of stuffed pancakes with chicken, beef or lamb inside with a side dish of curry and onions and a further dish of cucumber , onions and tomato sauce (not in the picture). I know that all sounds unlikely but the latter dish with the cucumber tasted really nice. In fact the whole meal was very nice.  Thanks for the suggestion Ferg.

We went back to the Petronas Twin Towers to get a photo of it lit up at night.

It really sparkled, great sight.

Taken from our pool with the tower peeping through the trees.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Tuesday 14th October, 2014

Today we decided to take the Hop On, Hop Off bus to do sights of the city. Started off the usual misty morning but by the time we caught the bus 10.00am the clouds had lifted. This has happened every day. Looks bad first thing, then clears, then the rain lightning and thunderstorms come in anytime after 4.00pm, go through then clears in the evening. When the thunder comes gives you such a fright as it is so close and loud.

The Hop on buses here are old, feel unstable, like being on the ocean rocking from side to side. Just like the Express train we came in on from the airport. Not a good look for a city that is very clean and modern and so much developing, construction going on to build KL to a great city. Buildings going up all over the city. We were told that Kuala Lumpur has a six year plan to finish the work in the city by 2020.

We are in a really good position, handy to so much, 10 mins walking to the Petronas Twin Towers, short walk to the LK Tower,  7 mins to the famous  Bukit Bintang  shopping street. 7 mins to the Pavilion Shopping Mall and the same to Fahrenheit Shopping Mall. Lots of eating places.

Our Apt. E & O Residence, is so handy to all the above. Really nice big units and its so nice to have so much space around us, 105 sq.mtrs. bigger than the bach. When you are in the complex you don't feel that you are in the city. We are on a quiet road, but at present a lot of new buildings going up in the street. So when that is all completed it will be the perfect place to stay. It hasn't really worried us as we are out most of the day. Always nice to come back in the afternoon to finish the day with a swim in the nice pool complex.

We walked to the KL Tower where we started our Hop On Bus tour.

Standing beside the Tower looking down the road we came up. Our Apartments are amongst the buildings in the background.

We then started our drive. Twin Towers some distance away. Zoomed in. I still have to get a night shot of these all lit up.

Driving down the famous shopping street Bukit Bintang. We drove through what they call the Golden Triangle, through China Town and had our first hop off stop was at the Central Markets.

Entrance to the Central Markets.

Central Markets.

We had already driven through China Town but decided to walk back, which wasn't far to walk through the area.

Above and below China Town.

Drove on through Sentral KL more the CBD which is a little way away from where we are staying. Above photo is the Hilton Hotel.

Still going through Sentral. (the spelling is correct)

We went along the motorway for a little bit. This is the motorway that we went down to Malacca on yesterday. Its a great road three to four lanes and it runs continuously  from the far North right to the far South of Malaysia to the Singapore Border. Note how tidy and well kept the median strip is. Its like this the whole way. Also part of the motorway that we travelled on yesterday is a concreted tunnel of two lanes. In stormy periods the tunnels are used as storm water drains and of course cars aren't able to use it at that time. Quite ingenious.

Pulled up outside the National Palace (Jalan Duta) The bus stopped for photos but nobody got off as you couldn't go inside, so photos from the bus was just as good.

Driving through the Botanical Gardens.

  

In the gardens was this huge bird park, we didn't get off for a look, but could see these large nets which kept the birds in. Apparently its the biggest avery in the world.

Now heading to Dataran Merdeka "Independence Square" the heritage area.

Got off the bus here, Independence Square, some beautiful old buildings, nice area. Walked around to take photos before boarding the next bus.

These two modern high rises behind the old buildings

The highest Flag pole in the world.

Still in the square.

Those two high rises again.

Still around the square.

These pillars had water dropping from around the top of the pillars down in to a pond. Made us feel a little cooler as it was another very hot day.

Same area another water feature very small fountain but nice and cool under this canopy.

Zoomed in on this new building behind the old. Got a bit carried away with photos in this area as it all looked so nice.

Side shot of the Palace of  Culture. Just missed getting a photo of the front of it as the bus went pass.

Those Towers again behind some tall buildings.

Above and below through the city as we got back to base

Before dinner went for a walk to the two shopping centres  near us which I mentioned above. This street is the main road which runs past the bottom of our road. The monorail stops at the end of the road, but we haven't had a go on it yet, perhaps tomorrow.