KL 2 Revised 08/05/08

Hi again folks. Here's me giving it large outside the twin towers - went up there today. You can only go as high as the walkway which is at the 41st floor but there's no charge for it which was a real surprise. There's also me in my 1 legged trouser (it's not a skirt!)and beer shirt - just for you Maggie xx.

KL is a funny place! When I first got here I wanted to leave immediately but the place just grows on you. Sure it's got it's bad points like any big city but there's something about it that makes it more interesting the more time you spend here. It is truly multi cultural. It's not uncommon to see a group of friends or work colleagues strolling along that are made up of Malays, Indians & Chinese all getting along - fantastic. Maybe the UK could learn a little something from Malaysia. I've visited China Town & Little India and both those areas are not specifically inhabited by the people that the titles would suggest. There's loads to do & see but not enough time.

So, a few useless pieces of info. The Petronas towers are 292 times taller than me - imagine that! The lift rises 41 floors in 14 seconds, it makes your ears pop! I'm down to 61KG, woo hoo! I'm on my 4th pair of thongs (flip flops). Bloody things either break or blister your feet so bad that you have to throw 'em away.

The guesthouse we're at, Cintamani travellers lodge is situated equidistant between China Town & Little India. It's max 10 min walk from Puduraya bus station and has an underground and monorail station nearby. www.mayviewglory.com or email mayview1@streamyx.com . The Monorail system is great. The Petronas Towers are about 20 min walk and various other bits are within walking distance. The staff here are nice and you can negotiate a discount if you're staying for a few days. If you're coming into Puduraya bus station late at night then take care, people have been robbed there. Even during the day it can be an intimidating place. The touts for bus tickets & taxis like to hound you although that's no different from most other bus/train stations or airports.

KL is only 150 years old. 87 Chinese prospectors landed here in 1857 to mine Tin & other minerals. Within a month only 17 were left, the others had died from Malaria and other tropical dieseases. They found something worth having though because many people followed them and now KL is home to over 1.8 million people.

I mentioned in my last post about Times Square. Well today it was a toss up between the KL tower or the indoor theme park. The roller coaster won! The theme park is actually inside the shopping centre between the fifth & tenth floors. The biggest indoor theme park in Malaysia. Had a fantastic time.

I almost feel sad that I'll be leaving on Thursday. I booked my bus ticket today for the Cameron Highlands. And I'll be going on my own! The fear!!!! Lee & Lex are off to Bali on Thursday and Dave is popping down to Melaka. So that's it, for the first time on this trip I will be going it alone. I have mixed emotions about it too, part of me is really looking forward to having my own itinerary and part realises that now all the decisions are down to me. I'll also miss them all. Dave has become a friend really over the last 10 days or so. Lexie has been great to be around when she's not grumpy (only kidding doll) and Lee, well he is my oldest & best friend in the whole wide world and he's going to live in Australia so Thursday really is goodbye for the foreseeable future - not forever but certainly for a while.

So far on this trip there has been only two constants. Eau de money belt and scent de day pack strap. They are with you wherever you go. These items spend so much time in contact with your sweaty body that they begin to take on an odour all of their own, lovely! Anyone interested in smelly net?

J, no idea on birthday location. May still be in Malaysia, possibly heading back into Thai. In fact what we got? 18 days..... I'll probably be in the Perenthian Islands if I stick to my itinerary.

To those of you that are still reading and those of you that leave comments, thank you x. I don't really reply but it doesn't mean I've not read them all and had a little smile. Hope you are all keeping well, take care,

Nomad.