{"id":1909,"date":"2011-12-09T21:08:13","date_gmt":"2011-12-09T13:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mayl.id.au\/?page_id=1909"},"modified":"2014-01-01T16:45:01","modified_gmt":"2014-01-01T08:45:01","slug":"kl-pg-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/?page_id=1909","title":{"rendered":"KL Pg 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sun 20th<\/strong>
\nDavid\u2019s birthday, and rather a sorry display it was. I brought him his 2 cards \u2013 one from his parents and one from my cousin and he opened those. He then checked his email and thankfully had one from each of our boys. I\u2019m ashamed to admit that I did not even have a card for him myself. We had been together every minute of every day for the past 2 weeks and my head had been too full of moving house stress prior to that. No card and no present from his loving wife \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

However, he was not bothered at all and we showered and went up to breakfast as normal, with him having forbidden me to mention his birthday to anyone. It truly wasn\u2019t that kind of a place anyway. During breakfast I suddenly noticed in the one small tree on the balcony (on the 28th floor of the building) a small bird eating the nectar from the flowers. How unexpected, and what a beautiful interlude watching it flit around happily.<\/p>\n

\"28

28 Floors Up - A Darling Bird<\/p><\/div>\n

I had lost my favourite light floaty shawl somewhere over the past 2 days and had a sudden image of hanging it on the hook in a change room over the road at Ampang Park shops so we went over and enquired but unfortunately, no shawl \ud83d\ude41\u00a0 There were plenty of shops over there selling such things because many of the clothing shops catered for Muslim ladies so we browsed and enquired after prices.\u00a0 We looked in one stall, named Habibi, which I know means \u2018love\u2019, and she had the most beautiful scarves with one decorated edge and I just couldn\u2019t choose when it came down to two.\u00a0 Having asked how much for one, I now asked how much for two, and David said it was OK to get both.\u00a0 So I have a gorgeous pink shawl with appliqued roses and silver sequins down one long edge, and a gorgeous yellow shawl with appliqued larger white roses with yellow and green features.\u00a0 I love them both so maybe losing my other favourite wasn\u2019t such a bad thing.\u00a0 The lady in the stall was, typically, very friendly and smiling.<\/p>\n

I suppose now is as good a time as any to discuss the mix of cultures and clothing we observed in the KL natives.\u00a0 There seemed a fairly even split between Asian people, by which I probably mean largely of Chinese original heritage, and Muslim people, which seemed to be a mixture of origin.\u00a0 The Asian ladies wore the kind of clothing you would see them in anywhere, tiny dresses or shorts with plenty of bare skin exposed.\u00a0 The Muslim ladies all wore at least head scarves, full-length skirts and sleeves; a small percentage wore the full, black burkas; and we saw even fewer with a yashmak.\u00a0 Most particularly for those with head scarves, they wore the most exquisite clothing!\u00a0 Everything matched and was made of beautiful fabrics and they were often decorated with shiny threaded designs.\u00a0 Really gorgeous.<\/p>\n

And we were really struck by how smiling, gentle and kind everyone appeared to be.\u00a0 Walking down the street nobody barged into you the way they had in Singapore.\u00a0 People would smile and leave a polite distance, it was so lovely.\u00a0 In the business areas we would see groups of people of all ethnicities walking and talking together and it was such a pleasure to know that it didn\u2019t matter what anyone\u2019s cultural heritage was.\u00a0 We did not see a single racial inference anywhere.\u00a0 Truly wonderful.<\/p>\n

After this we went back to the room and I had a nap.\u00a0 Still not feeling well I was trying to get the energy together so that we could go on an excursion in the afternoon and that is what we did.\u00a0 We caught the train for just the one stop to KLCC \u2013 the shopping centre in the first few floors of the Petronas Towers.\u00a0 We would normally have walked but I was saving my energy.\u00a0 While I\u2019m mentioning the Towers, usually you can buy a ticket to go up to the bridge and look out from there but this feature was shut for November and December.\u00a0 It seemed that we really weren\u2019t supposed to do anything thrilling on this holiday.\u00a0 So many of our planned activities and sights were no more!<\/p>\n

Anyway, we were on our way to the Aquaria and here are the instructions to get there that we\u2019d found on Google the night before\u2026 \u00a0Quote \u201cKL Aquaria is close to the Petronas Towers, but it’s hard to find. With this description you can find it, when you are in the KLCC Suria shopping centre: Take the escalator to the basement of KLCC Suria. Turn around and walk for about 25 meters. Now you’ll see a sign at the ceiling “KL Aquaria”. Go to the right and follow a long pedestrian tunnel. At the end you’re in an underground car park. Cross this car park and you come to a little food court. Now it’s only 25 meters to the right.\u201d End quote.<\/p>\n

Got that?\u00a0 We wrote it down!<\/p>\n

Once we got to KLCC we took the escalator to the basement.\u00a0 That\u2019s following instructions isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 We turned back on ourselves and walked 25 metres but were still in the middle of a whopping great car park with no sign of the alleged sign.\u00a0 So we looked around, we walked around, and we got very hot and sweaty and stuffy because there wasn\u2019t any air conditioning, nor breeze down here.\u00a0 We kept thinking there must have been another set of escalators that we could have come down so we walked around looking for them.\u00a0 We even found some, but there was no wall 25 metres from that one either and certainly no sign for the Aquaria.<\/p>\n

After a while, a guy wearing a uniform, and riding a little moped bike came by so I asked him could he point us towards the Aquaria.\u00a0 He replied \u201cYou have car?\u201d and I said \u201cNo, we walked\u201d and he replied \u201cAquaria is far far in Convention Centre.\u00a0 You need car!\u201d\u00a0 We thanked him and off he went and we didn\u2019t believe him, so continued our search.<\/p>\n

Still no joy.\u00a0 We\u2019d taken note of the number on the huge concrete pillars where we\u2019d come down the escalator so made a circuitous route back towards that so that we could check out more potential walls on the way back but then saw the security guard again.\u00a0 He rolled his eyes and came and told us to go back up the escalator.\u00a0 Yeah, yeah, we will when we\u2019re ready, it\u2019s our holiday and we\u2019ll spend it how we wish LOL\u00a0 We tried to walk with our legs bent in two so that our derrieres were near the ground and our heads lower than all the cars and he wouldn\u2019t spot us again hee hee!<\/p>\n

Once back at the escalator we\u2019d come down, we had a look at the list on the wall saying what was at which floor and David suggested that we try the Concourse Level, which we did.\u00a0 Well, paint me blue and tickle me pink, we found the \u2018sign at the ceiling\u2019 without any trouble at all, there was no mistaking it!\u00a0 Along the \u2018long pedestrian tunnel\u2019, and it really was long!\u00a0 It had such a shiny floor that I held David\u2019s hand with both of mine and planted my feet expecting that he\u2019d be able to slide me along it, but that didn\u2019t quite work.\u00a0 Given the right shoes though\u2026<\/p>\n

At the end of this tunnel was indeed a car park but it had a painted line on the floor telling us to walk within its bounds.\u00a0 Needless to say we kept poking our toes out of it but otherwise obeyed instructions.\u00a0 Then into another short corridor which included some tandas (toilets) and they were beautifully clean, and dry, and well-equipped – heaven!!!\u00a0 Then we found the food hall, and at the back of this, at last, the Aquaria, yaaayyyyyyy!!!<\/p>\n

At the door we presented our voucher saying that we\u2019d been to the Butterfly Park so that we could get the promised discount for the Aquaria.\u00a0 He charged us *more* than the normal price advertised on the sign on the way in!!!\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t be bothered raising the issue so David paid what he\u2019d asked and we entered the elusive promised land.<\/p>\n

It was a very nice aquarium and we enjoyed our look around.\u00a0 First there were glass-walled displays including, of all things, a few of these massive rats.\u00a0 Apparently they are the world\u2019s largest species of rodent \u2013 thank goodness for that!!!\u00a0 And I\u2019m sorry, I can\u2019t remember the rest of its name\/title.<\/p>\n

\"Biggest

Biggest Rat I've Ever Seen!<\/p><\/div>\n

After this the displays did get more \u2018fishy\u2019, followed by the walk-through tunnel, but it\u2019s been a long stretch with no photos so I will be quiet and just let you look at the 2 pictures I\u2019ve chosen.<\/p>\n

\"Underside

Underside of a Shark<\/p><\/div>\n

\"David

David & the Stingray<\/p><\/div>\n

It was pretty hard to get decent photos within the tunnel because of the lights above but the shark one isn\u2019t bad and I\u2019m very happy with the bottom one of the stingray and David.\u00a0 The tunnel had a little walkway that moved along and you were supposed to stand on it, but it made me feel rather dizzy so we spent most of our time on the narrow strip of solid ground next to it.\u00a0 We went through twice because it was nice under there and pretty interesting and peaceful watching all the fish.\u00a0 The tank was very well stocked too\u00a0 Apparently the glass was designed and manufactured in Germany, then it was shipped to New Zealand to be bent into the right shapes and then shipped to KL to be installed.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 The Aquaria was worth seeing.<\/p>\n

Once we\u2019d had our fill of fishy matters we went out to the food hall and were surprised to see a \u2018New Zealand Natural\u2019 ice cream stall.\u00a0 You won\u2019t believe that we don\u2019t touch ice cream at home but I promise it\u2019s true! \u00a0David had a double rum and raisin.<\/p>\n

\"New

New Zealand Natural - Rum and Raisin<\/p><\/div>\n

And I had a double choc and brownie.\u00a0 I had expected the brownie to be a cake but it didn\u2019t matter \u2013 the ice cream was very nice, and beautifully displayed!\u00a0 The one guy behind the counter served us and then prepared everything from scratch for us before anyone else turned up too late to help him.<\/p>\n

\"New

New Zealand Natural - Double Choc & Brownie<\/p><\/div>\n

While eating we had noticed an escalator next to us which went up just one floor and decided to go up there and see where it went.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if this was a smart move or not because as soon as we cleared the top we could see precisely where we were.\u00a0 In the park at the back of the Petronas Towers where we had been several times before and was now very familiar territory!\u00a0 Why oh why was there not a sign on the outside of this building saying Aquaria?\u00a0 We didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry!\u00a0 Yes the building was the Convention Centre but would it have hurt to have a tiny sign saying the Aquaria was there also?<\/p>\n

The sky was looming dark but the temperature was comfortable and we walked along peacefully.\u00a0 At one point we tried to cross the grass rather than walk the long way around the path but David soon hauled me back.\u00a0 It was so wet and squelchy from the daily rain that we imagined being sucked under like quick sand!<\/p>\n

As we passed the children\u2019s playground David took this great photo along the monkey bars.<\/p>\n

\"Orange

Orange Triangular Infinity<\/p><\/div>\n

We felt some huge, heavy raindrops and stopped to get our plastic ponchos out.\u00a0 It was the first time they\u2019d ever been used \u2013 having come on at least 4 holidays with us to date \u2013 and it was hard to get them unfolded.\u00a0 A policeman stood nearby, amused as he watched us struggle.\u00a0 No doubt he knew that those few spots of rain were all we would get LOL<\/p>\n

Back at the hotel I had another little sleep while David checked both of our email accounts and Googled KL tourist attractions once more.<\/p>\n

Still unwilling to risk the G Tower restaurant again we decided to go down to the foodhall and see if we could find somewhere smoke free to dine.\u00a0 I knew there was one restaurant down there with walls around part of it so we went cautiously towards it.\u00a0 Greeted by a waitress I asked \u201cSmoking?\u201d and was met with \u201cYes, yes!\u201d and we told her we didn\u2019t want smoke while we ate so no thanks, and we started to walk away.\u00a0 She hastily offered us a seat inside but when we asked if smoking was allowed in there she said yes!\u00a0 David told her that we hate to smell smoke while we\u2019re eating so she said she could give us a private room.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 And she did.\u00a0 Although it did not have a door in one wall I had got the distinct impression that she would seat anyone else at the other end of the restaurant so we ordered our meal fairly confidently.\u00a0 Our meals were very nice and our gorgeous waitress, Tin Tin, was incredibly attentive.<\/p>\n

The restaurant actually remained fairly deserted, but I wish we would have been!\u00a0 Desserted that is!\u00a0 Attentive though Tin Tin was, as soon as she\u2019d cleared my plate that was the last we saw of her!\u00a0 David had even had a refill for his drink but it seemed, yet again, that my favourite part of the meal was not going to happen.\u00a0 We wondered if in Malaysia you had to order the dessert when you order the main course!\u00a0 Just as we were leaving we saw a family getting seated at an \u2018outdoor\u2019 table and the lady was smoking.\u00a0 We\u2019d planned our escape just in time.<\/p>\n

We passed the rest of the evening doing more research on firefly cruises and the Batu Cave but didn\u2019t trust anything we even read on the web about KL anymore!\u00a0 Eventually we decided to spend our last day in KL on the Hop On Hop Off bus, which I\u2019d decided long before to call the \u2018HOHO Bus\u2019.\u00a0 Despite being on the HOHOs own website, it took us absolutely yonks to find out what hours they ran, but even then we were in bed for 9.30.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll leave this page here and you only have 1 and a bit more days to read after this.<\/p>\n

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Sun 20th David\u2019s birthday, and rather a sorry display it was. I brought him his 2 cards \u2013 one from his parents and one from my cousin and he opened those. He then checked his email and thankfully had one … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1840,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1909","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1909"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3059,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1909\/revisions\/3059"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}