So, having spent the best part of this evening trying to configure this blog....Keith having lost the will to live.......

We left the UK at just past midnight on the morning of the 28th December with amazing efficiency. I had began to dread the service we would get on our ‘bargain basement’ Air Asia airfare which Keith had found in the summer - £313 return direct to Kuala Lumpur had me thinking that it was standing room only! I carefully packed the rucksacks mindful of the 15KG luggage allowance we had bought as an optional extra.... You would have been well impressed as I ditched such luxuries as extra pairs of knickers in favour of necessities such as my lap top..... The result? Two 12KG rucksacks (have to admit to sneaking a few of my bits into Keith’s Bag here.....)

We started on Sunday afternoon with a great meal with (little) Keith and Sam who acted as taxi to Stansted. I happily left my coat in to boot of their car – to wait my return in seven weeks...(sob). Stansted late on a Sunday evening was not at its busiest although I noted a few angry Scottish passengers who were suffering delays to Glasgow and one more flight going to Dublin. Whilst waiting to board the plane we eyed the family groups with their hoards of tired/screaming children and babies and prayed they would be nowhere near....Hey I never said I was child friendly (as you all know) Pleasant surprise to board the flight to find it the same plane as the one we usually fly to Bangkok with Qatar (no, not a clue why I thought we were flying in a cardboard box....). The only thing missing was the in flight TV screens..... and the screaming kids who appeared to be all seated together at the front of the plane (thank YOU, Air Asia!!!!!!)

12 Hours later, we descended into KL Airport with great anticipation.. The first thing that hit us as we left the plane and walked down the steps to the terminal building was the HEAT! Wow, it was like stepping out of an igloo (the plane wasn’t that warm as Air Asia like to charge for blankets..grrr) and into a Turkish bath. It wasn’t just the heat but the humidity too, in seconds we were both sweating (sorry, I mean perspiring) profusely and by the time we reached the terminal (and the air conditioning), our clothes were stuck to our backs – Welcome to Malaysia, in the wet season....

Immigration went smoothly...of course, being up standing UK citizens  and both rucksacks were duly collected (phew...) and walking back in the heat and the noise of KL airport was like a slap in the face. I had forgotten how frantic Asia was, people trying to sell us “taxi at good price”, “I show you city, very cheap” whilst we battled with foreign sign reading to locate the bus terminal to get the ‘skybus’ into KL Sentral (how efficient am I in planning ahead??). The next shock was to discover, sitting on the bus over an hour later, is just how far the airport is from the city (thank god, we didn’t take a taxi!!). Apparently, upon checking my trusty lonely planet later I discover its 72km (how did I miss that important info? Feeling decidedly inefficient now...)

Arrived at the Swiss Inn Hotel and checked in. The receptionist smiled and said “you stay in room 117” – deluxe room. This had a familiar ring to room number but we dutifully dragged our bags up two flights of stairs (where is the Porter??) and walked into the room. Immediately we realise that this room is directly over the Bar as cheesy disco music blasts through the closed windows. We also remember that this was the room they put us in last time we stayed and which we asked to be moved from AND which wasn’t the ‘deluxe’ room we had paid for. The 12 Hour flight, airport transfer and outrage hit me at the same time as I stormed back to reception with a firm request, they move us IMMEDIATELY, that the room was NOT what we paid for and how dare they try this one on me!!!!!!!!!!!! I am then told sorry, no other deluxe room...must stay there. Not a chance, now I want to see the duty manager (Aunty Mary, I was listening to your “how to complain” story), Realising the raging tourist (me) was not going to be fobbed off, I am told we have room on top floor and I (with gritted teeth) point out that Keith cannot use a lift and the advance booking, made in August, was for a low floor. Suddenly, they have another room on a low floor!! (now how strange is that?? What the previous guest just checked out a minute ago??? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). So, safely ensconced in our low floor deluxe room, we both promptly pass out........

Breakfast was fab... Help yourself buffet – sheer heaven as I happily enjoyed scrambled eggs, pancake rolls, baked beans, rice and chilli all on one plate - a fusion of East meets West, methinks...

Armed with the trusty LP, we head out of the hotel ready to walk and obviously had forgotten the heat/humidity as once again at 9am we are hit by the sheer strength of the heat wave... Within minutes we are soaked in perspiration – my god – how do they LIVE in this???? We walk through China Town and then into little India all the time taking in the sights and sounds (and smells!!) of the city and volume of cars. All came back to us, THIS was why we love Asia so much.

The next few days were spent exploring the city on foot – not an easy task here as they appear to have huge motorways running directly though the centre of town!! We also realise that NO ONE walks in the KL its too hot, and their transport system is modern, cheap, clean, efficient (London Underground – take note!!!). We visit busy street markets selling amazing carvings, paintings and the usual fake Nikes/Rolexes. Afternoons have been spent in the hotel room with the air con on full, watching the BBC world and sleeping...lots of sleeping. We usually head out again in the evening for dinner at some of the Restaurants, Food Courts or make shift street vendors (we not fussy...) to eat. We have visited their Lake and Bird park (for fresh air – KL is quite polluted!) and found a troupe of wild monkeys sitting in the Trees – how cool is THAT?? We also wandered through the world’s largest walk through aviary and fed the Ostriches (gingerly....Keith took the photo – I was terrified it would bite me!!)

So, we come to the end of our KL leg. Tonight is New Years Eve and so we will go out to watch the fireworks and tomorrow morning....off to Sabah, for our next adventure...

Happy New Year!!!
US xx