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Cindy's World Trip Blog

February 21, Month 9

Malaysia - Lucky Wanderings

In our original plans Malaysia didn't make the list, but luckily our wanderings brought us there. Malaysia, like Singapore is made of a rich diversity of cultures, the largest being Chinese, Indian, and Muslim. Although diverse, they unite under the slogan "One Malaysia." Billboards hang all over town with the slogan and feature 3 beautiful women - one with a head covering, one with colorful Indian clothing and a typical- looking Asian. Walking around, we saw only tourists dressed in skimpy clothes. Malaysia is a Muslim state so it seemed the majority of women kept their head covered and wore clothing that went to both the ankle and the wrist.

While we were in Malaysia we visited Kuala Lumpur and George Town. We saw a lot and got a good taste of the culture, but it was only a taste. Richard always jokes everywhere we go that we have to save some for the next time we come.

China Town was where we made our temporary home in Kuala Lumpur. Our hotel was on a busy market street that became even more busy and crowded at night after the night market was set up. Pulling our luggage through the streets the first day was a bit hectic, but the rest of the time it was pretty entertaining to weave our way back and forth through the daily salsa of people. My last day I even felt a bit sad to be leaving the area. I felt like a pro having established a route through all of the stalls of stuff and people. I went out alone the night before we left to pick up some stuff we needed.

I felt a bit sentimental because I knew we were leaving the next day and I tried to make sure I made mental note of the organic - pulsating - fleshy nature of the place. I passed through our usual covered walkway leading me back behind all of the temporary shopping stalls and right through the kitchen of a little food establishment. (I always felt a little weird walking through the kitchen, but everyone went through there.) My feet crossed the shabby blue and white tile repaired with cement. As usual, many men were cooking and preparing food in huge woks while others chopped and prepared ingredients. Next I passed the food stall with all kinds of strange looking meats that I would never dare try. ( It sits out day after day unrefrigerated - I hope it is cured. The most disturbing of the bunch on that stand is a whole chicken. It has been flattened, bones and all, and has the yellow-waxy appearance of plastic food. Adding to that look is the skin which sits around the edge in somewhat of a pool. Can't imagine why I never tried it.)

My trusty route took me past the temporary hawker's stands that are reset up daily. I tried to take in their usual cries that rung out "I've got DVD's," "look at my watches," "want a scarf nice lady?" "come get a foot massage" (this was the only one that consistently tempted me). I made my way all the while squishing through the crowds of people (always people are shopping and always tourists stop in the middle of the path to take pictures of the cool Chinese lanterns hung in rows down the streets.) Since I took my pictures already of the lanterns the first day, I worked my way around them. The final hurdle to get my errand done was always my least favorite crossing the street, but easier because the kids weren't there. Crossing the street - a game of frogger - first going around the big smelly bus, the stopped "taksi" (taxi), and some buzzing mopeds. When I finally got to my destination I couldn't help but think, "I love this crap." Everything about staying in Chinatown was lively and entertaining.

We stayed in Kuala Lumpur for almost a week. That would maybe be too much time for the average tourist, but with the kids in tow, it was just about right. There is a lot to do there. Ellie who has been full of great one-liners this whole trip complained one day, "we have been too busy doing FUN stuff to have time to play." (Easiest complaint we've had to fix yet).

My top favorite experiences there? I love, love, loved going to the Batu Caves, which are a very holy place of worship for the Hindus. We got there by a short train ride which took us not far outside of town. Just outside of the train station... literally right outside the station the shrines begin with a huge statue (think 50-feet) statue of a monkey god: Hanunam. If that weren't cool enough walk a little further and see a giant (140-feet) golden statue of the Hindu god of mercy: Lord Murugan. He stands at the bottom of the stairway which leads to the most famous of the Batu caves. We climbed the 272 stairs to get to the shrine. Along the way we were entertained by macaque monkeys crawling from the woodsy areas to the stairs over the banisters and back into the woodsy areas again. The kids especially loved this.

I watched, with interest, Hindus there on a pilgrimage to worship - all wearing colorful clothes. Some males were there with freshly shaven heads covered in orange paint. All were determinedly climbing the steep steps. After working our way to the top we observed the people worshiped in several cave areas.

I was a bit surprised to find a few souvenir shops at the top and a couple of men with a BIG yellow snake offering pictures with it. As we were getting ready to go back down and the kids looked a bit in the shops I waited outside. The snake man (remember I HATE snakes) said in a booming yet monotone showman's voice, "Picture with a snake." I was standing a good safe distance away and even though he wasn't addressing me I knew he was talking to me. I shook my head with a "NO WAY" look on my face and turned away. In true businessman form he changed his marketing and behind me I heard him say in the same voice, "Release your fears." My fears didn't get released... I did have a good giggle however.

There is a huge annual festival celebrated at the caves - Taipusm that we just missed. During this festival devotees fast and purify themselves. Some also attach hooks to their skin and connect the hooks to a cage type thing. I wanted to go and watch the festival, but Richard thought it would be too disturbing for the kids to see. Judging by their reaction when they saw a postcard of a man with the hooks in his skin, he was right.

The giant Lord Murugan isn't the only tall thing in Kuala Lumpur. They are also famous for the Petronas towers. Going up in them made my top favorite experiences there too... first standing on the bridge at the 41st floor between the towers and then staring at the world from the 86th floor. Going up in the high-speed elevator, I had to pop my ears something like five times. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the control panel listing all 86 floors. Not something I see everyday. Of course the trip to the top couldn't be complete without the kids fighting over who got to spend the most time looking through the telescope viewers at the top. Got to love kids.

Although the kids complaining about who had the most time on the telescope didn't amuse me, they couldn't have been more fun when the little girls and I tried a fish spa. We walked into the spa where the business had successfully created a soothing atmosphere with soft relaxing music. In the front of the spa they had our destination - a big platform encircled by a long fish-tank. Fish spas have fish that nibble on your feet and remove dead skin. They are even believed to have medicinal health, but I just thought it would be fun to try.

We got set-up with our feet rinsed off and a towel to dry our feet when we were done. I noticed printed signs on the wall that said, "quiet please," of course to maintain the relaxing environment. One by one we put our feet in next to a few people that were already there. There went the quiet spa atmosphere! We giggled and shrieked as we got used to the strange sensation. In went our feet, out went our feet; eventually we did get used to it. It tickled. At the end of the 30 minutes we came away feeling relaxed... oddly enough. Richard was hesitant initially to try it, but when we came across a spa that was less formal and allowed you to try it for only ten minutes, he gave it a go. He hooted and laughed so long and so hard from the tickling sensation that he was crying. Even people around him couldn't help but laugh. Good times.

The last of my top favorite experiences was a very inexpensive cultural show put on by the tourism board. I didn't expect much because the price was so low, but it was top-dollar entertainment. Indian dances, Chinese dances, Malay dances, high-class and commoners dances. You name it they had it. The costumes and dances were so interesting. After the show they let us come up and take pictures with the performers. (My kids are growing up and becoming more self-conscious because only one would come up with me - sigh!).

From the Chinese market, the Batu caves, the Petronas towers, the fish spa and a bunch of stuff I didn't bring up, Kuala Lumpur was a good time. George Town was a great visit too, perhaps a post will come later... Naah... I will adapt the "one Malaysia" slogan to mean, "one Post Malaysia" for me.