Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Determined to add color to our plates for breakfast in the morning, we loaded up on fruits and lettuce (among other things) at the hotel.  We walked to the botanical gardens, leaving a sweaty trail behind us.  To our surprise, everything was basically closed but walked the grounds and saw most the sights.  Later that afternoon, we went to the Golden Triangle in Bukit Bintang—their version of Michigan Avenue.  Many malls, shops and hawkers stands.  We made it to the Petronas Twin Towers and hung out in the KLCC Park right next to the towers.  It felt like we were in the west with many modern things—we even saw runners on a running path!

Shelley monkeying around at the botanical gardens in KL

Taking a break at an ampitheater

Lots of walking...need more breaks

The Petronas Towers...lovely 

Cool sculpture of a whale, sharks, and dolphins in the park by the towers

Emulating the towers.  Shelley was mad that her arm wasn't in the right spot

Night pic of the towers.

The rain ultimately ushered us to a roadside food stand and home.  Erik caught our waiter trying to over charge us (not a real surprise anywhere here in southeast Asia) but had it fixed, consequently the cook dumped out half of his dish back in the wok—always an adventure here?!  Last night in Malaysia with a 3AM wakeup call ahead! And on to Vietnam…

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (aka "KL")

View of the Patronas Towers and the Menara Tower from our hotel

A couple of games of Uno, a movie, and the flight to Kuala Lumpur was over.   We took a bus with the locals and explored our way on a train to get to our hotel.  No easy way i.e., taxis, shuttles for us.  

We checked in and walked around looking for a place to get some water and food.  The food vendors spoke no English, so another adventure with a couple of spicy dishes and lots of water all for $3.  Oh, and two more dollars for some ice cream to cool my palate.  No simplicity in this adventure of ours.  Exhausted and lips burning from the spices, we passed out.

With some z’s under our belts and full tummies from an interesting buffet breakfast at the hotel (cuisine crash course of cultures) our feet hit the hot pavement to uncover the Malaysia.  Although we had a map, most of the time we would stumble upon a market and take our own detours.  Today was no different.  We explored the Central Market (outside and inside) with its many booths and shops of arts and crafts, food, name-your-knock-off, fabric, phones, sunglasses, etc.  This was a step up from the markets in Bali and felt a little bit cleaner.   

Next up a textile museum which made both of us appreciate the craft and history behind the many styles.  

We continued to the City Gallery which contained a cool city model and explained the history of Kuala Lumpur (1957 declared independence from British rule).  Exiting the gallery, Erik was warmly greeted from a very excited little man missing most of his teeth.  He not only had Erik take pictures of him posing around the Royal Selangor Club but had me take pictures of the two of them together.  Big smiles all around!  Erik made his day.  Picture by the 100m flag pole, one of the tallest in the world and we were off for Chinatown.

Tallest flag pole in the world...it's tall!

Shelley loving KL, Malaysia.  Ask her to sing her "Malaysia" song

Most photographed building in KL, the Sultan Abdul Samad

Royal Senegal Club, no we cannot enter!

Freedom Square...Shelley doesn't feel so free in this country

Cool fountain in the city.  We wish we could have jumped in.

Woman hawking flavored rice pudding dipped in peanuts.  They were chewy and good

Another beautiful shot from our hotel room

Can you tell we love the view??

Tons of research done by Shelley for each new location.  "I am so tired"

We sightsaw until we dropped and ended the night with dinner in Chinatown in the rain and winding through the maze of the night market.  

Bali: Kuta area

Last day at the hotel on the beach and we started the day right…with ping pong.  Granted the table was warped by the humidity but I, Shelley Knight, was the winner!  Best out of three…OH YEAHH!!!  I only gloat because Erik always wins (Erik interjecting—“I was being nice”); maybe Bali is rubbing off on me favorably.  

The only one swimming...Erik

Give me a nice big hug Shelley!

Okay Erik, I'll give you a hug!

We walked into town again hearing the usually sounds, “Massage?  Transport?  Manicure?  You look my shop?  I give you best price!,” etc.  This has been really off putting, as everywhere you go people trying to sell you something, from bow and arrows, puppets, wood carvings to hats, shirts, sunglasses, blah blah blah.  We don’t think we’ve ever said “no” so many times in one day!  The day ended with another late night dip and….

Sunset on Bali

Hottie on the beach at sunset on Bali

Our postcard to everyone back home.  Miss you!!

Shelley trying to get every drop of sun!

Robbery!  The next morning we realized the money we took out the night before was stolen out of our wallet that we put on our nightstand (not the safe) before our late night swim.  Between 10 and 11pm, while we swam and spoke to our new Canadian friends by the pool, someone broke in our room and the money was gone.  

We reported it to the hotel, and all they kept saying “Not our fault”.  Trying to get over it-- we retreated to the beach and pool.  A perk on the beach for Shelley were the two cute little girls insisted on having their picture taken with the model…that started the improvement for our day! 

Our day ended nicely with a visit to Un’s for their special frozen drink mixed with orange, pineapple, honey, lemon and their local alcohol.  The alcohol was a mix between sake and vodka—thanks for the free shot Un!  It was the first frozen drink we have seen in Bali.

Packing up for our last day, we rubbed our weary eyes from an interrupted sleep.  It sounded like an animal or something was stuck in our ceiling crawling around.  Erik tried whacking the ceiling with an umbrella to scare away the creature but no such luck. Maybe it was the hobbits we brought from New Zealand!  So, we relied on our ear plugs and sound machine for respite. 

On the last day we had a couple of hours to chill by the pool.  We were greeted with a huge rain shower and overcast skies—needless to say, we enjoyed our stay but ready for the next leg of our trip…Kuala Lampur, Malaysia here we come!

Bali: Sanur area

Moving to a hotel that was right on the beach, we dumped our bags and were off for a day trip with a driver we hired.  Going to Ubud, we saw traditional Balinese dancing, a silver jewelry factory, monkey jungle (one grabbed onto my leg for a ride), rice paddy terraces, shops and an old Hindu temple (both of us had to cover our legs with skirts this time!).  A great cultural day and a good night’s rest for us, after being eaten alive the night before—no we are not camping here.

About to head in to our Balinese dance...so exciting!

The "band" is right above Shelley's head in the pic.  She seems to like it.

A picture of the beast making the mortals kill themselves.  Very uplifting!

A small temple in the monkey park 

Shelley hanging out with her new friends.

This one, or a similar one, hung on to Shelley' leg

In our taksi (that is how the Balinese spell it) about to head out to the rice fields

It is sooooooooo hot!

Random sculpture at a roundabout.  Our guide doesn't even know what it is

The sweaty traveling couple at the rice terraces

Looking out a the rice terraces

Shelley and I venture into the valley of the rice terraces

Don't fall off that rickety bridge

New style I am bringing back to the States.

Part of the Hindu temple of our day tour

Very hot and steamy, we spent the next day lying on the beach and jumping in and out of the pool and ocean.  We went back to our yummy dinner place Metro and again Erik spoke to our young waiter for a while although it was painful.  Hard to believe the waiter spent four years studying English in high school and one in college.  Yes, English is his major?! We think he understood about 50% of what Erik said.  No one seems to understand anything I say here—go figure?!  Erik says use less words and simple statements/questions.

Another sign that Shelley really liked.  As much as they don't speak english

Bali: Kuta then Sanur

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday except we ate dinner poolside with two Canadian couples and the Australian family, enjoying some great conversation, noodles and satay.  Another late night dip to cap off the night—what a way to end the day!  Today we just lived in our swim suits—love it!

Shelley hanging by the pool with the waterfall in the background

A picture of Kuta in the evening when the locals all come out to see the sunset

A picture of a Durian fruit.  It smells terrible and supposedly taste good.  We tried, it doesn't!!

Monday we checked out, said our goodbye to the fun Australians, and took a taxi to Sanur--a quiet and more upscale town not too far away.  Upon arrival we were greeted with the standard complimentary orange juice (well, it was some sort of orange colored juice) and not much else.  The room was in poor condition and the furniture seemed like Erik was in a dollhouse.  Still with smiles on our faces, we walked along the boardwalk by the beach and headed to our small pool, surrounded with British “white trash” (yes, the Brits have them too).  We never knew such a thing existed, but tried to relax with the flowery language (around children no less). 

The local boats that the locals wanted to take us out on.

A temple along the beach in Sanur.  They are everywhere

Shelley sure seems happy about this!!

No, that is not Shelley and I?!

Let me take the boat out, please?

At least we found a real gem of a restaurant for dinner—huge portions, great prices. 

One night at this hotel (in ”upscale” Sanur—yeah right?!) was all we could manage as both us woke up at 3AM to spray each other down with bug spray from our evening attack from unknown night predators.   That was it!  We would not stay in the hotel again….and we didn’t.

BALI, Indonesia YAY!!

A leather woman chillin'.  We can only aspire!

We spent our first day in the pool for hours talking to an Australian couple and their two playful sons.  We really enjoyed meeting them and sharing stories with each other and tried to get a better idea of the lay of the land here in Bali as they had been before.  The boys weren’t interested in the conversation (I wouldn’t have been either at that age!!) and wanted dad to play with them.

 

Finally, it was time for the beach…our first experience at the beach was a bit rough with me getting chewed up in the undertow and Erik bitten by sea lice.  Although both surprised by these things, our resilient spirit and love of the sun kept us coming back for more-- along with a healthy layer of 30spf sunscreen.  More shopping, walking and getting to know the city--here is a place to bargain hard for stuff you don’t need and soak up the sunshine. 

Having a 30-cent ice cream, about to walk on the beach

Tons of scooters parked at the beach.  There are literally thousands.

A pet monkey anyone??

Time for sand and surf

Walking down the street, Erik was shot in the chest by a BB gun out of a passing car.  He would have took off running expect by the time we realized what had happened the car was gone.  Do they know who they are messing with?  Look out Bali, Erik has you on its radar!  Later we explored Poppie Lane, a small ally street with more vendors, lots of mopeds and small restaurants.  We dined at the Bamboo Corner for less than $10—including drinks!!