Malaysia

Figured we'd better do an update before we go on our next trip, so here goes - Malaysia!

We started off in Kuala Lumpur, and after failing to get tickets for the Petronas Towers after queueing from 7.15am, we headed off to the big bird park - apparently the largest free-flying aviary in the world.

Also in the Lake-gardens complex is an orchid garden and butterfly park. The orchids weren't up to much, but the butterflies were quite impressive.

Next up was the National museum, were we go to feel slightly guilty about our colonial past! Then over to the Petronas Towers to see them all lit up at night.

We got the train out to Batu, for the caves which are a Hindu place of pilgrimage. There was a huge statue outside, but I must admit, I've forgotten who it was supposed to be of!

Back in KL we went up the KL tower - although it is slightly shorter than the Petronas Towers, it is up on a hill, so is actually higher! For no apparent reason, it also had a snake and reptile place at the bottom of the tower.

Went off to Chinatown next, which had some nice temples (including the Hindu Sri Mahariamman Hindu temple), but the markets were a bit disappointing. The food was great though!

Next it was time to try and get tickets for the Petronas Towers again, so Craig trudged across KL at 5am in the morning... but it was worth it! Not only did we get tickets for the sky-bridge, we also managed to get to go all the way up to the top. Result!

After admiring the views we went on a bit of a route-march out to the outskirts of the city for the Thean-Hou temple, which was nice and peacful after the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

The next day we got a combination of trains and taxis out to the Forest Research Institute, so we could do some trekking in the rainforest. While we were there we found a pond of the fish that nibble all the skin off your feet, so Craig had a go - it tickled!

Next up was a trip to the KL Acquarium, where you probably wouldn't want to have your feet nibbled...

That was about it for KL, so we got an overnight train up to Butterworth, and then the early morning ferry over to Penang. After a quick freshen up it was out to walk around the colonial area of Georgetown, then after the museum down into little India and Chinatown. The Khoo Kongsi Chinese assembly hall was very impressive, as were some of the old merchant houses.

Then off to Fort Cornwallis, to pretend we still rule an empire.

The next day we got a bus out to Kek Lok Si, an impressive complex of temples, including a beautiful pagoda and another giant statue. It was a huge site, and took all day - especially after we got a bit lost trying to get the bus back to Georgetown!

We went out to the Snake Temple... covered in pit vipers, apparently... well, yes, technically... But they are all doped up on all the incense fumes, so you don't really see many, and those you do may as well be dead! There was another snake house next door, where we felt rather sorry for the obviously terrified live mice that were being put in the tanks with the snakes :o(

Headed up to the north of Georgetown next for a Burmese temple, and a Thai temple with a huge reclining buddha. They had shrines for each Chinese year of birth, and if you prayed at the appropriate one you would be blessed... Sharon got "rich and famous"... Craig got "sympathetic"... Not fair!!!

After going to the house of Cheong Tze Fatt (or Mr Fatt's House as we preferred to call it) we went and found a beer before getting the ferry back to Butterworth. The trains have a tendency to be horribly delayed, so we actually spent what felt like half the night stood waiting on a platform, then missed our connection in KL and sat there for hours too, meaning we had less time in Melacca than we'd hoped.

Melacca was rather touristy, far more so than Penang. We went for a wander, and did the Maritime Museum, before heading to a rather nice old Baba-Nyonya house were we were staying.

Did the main square, with the Dutch Stadthuys, then the Porta de Santiago A'Famosa, church of Saint Paul, and Sultanate Palace.

After a lunch of chickens-foot soup (ordered accidentally!) we went around Chinatown and saw a few little temples and mosques. Then it was off to try a Cendol, one of their famous desserts. I'm sorry, I don't care where you are in the world, adding sugar and shaved ice to cold noodles and baked beans does not make a good pudding!!


The next morning it was off to Singapore... for which a separate post will follow soon!