Truly Asia Part 2: KL

As the curtains slowly come down, we found ourselves back at Golden mile Complex. Pulling our luggages out sluggishly out from the trunks, nobody spoke a word and were all evidently tired. The place was swarmed by aggressive taxi drivers reminiscent of those aggressive hawkers at Newton Circus. We were mobbed by taxi drivers left, right, center and I treated them to my million dollar stare. And my 'fuck off' face. The girls suggested supper at Simpang Bedok but after much consideration, L and I left the scene rather abruptly and so that was it.



The trip ended there and then. It's a time when you know you're supposed to feel something but you don't know how exactly you should be feeling. And sometimes you use fatigue as an excuse to mask how you really feel. But after a good night's sleep, it should be all over.

Many hours before, as L and I sat in the taxi revisting the same old scenes of Kuala Lumpur, gawking at the funny road signs without the same old fervor, Malay road names and the laughter of the girls gradually faded into mute. All was quiet in the taxi, the inevitable traffic jam outside at 6p.m. was like another parallel universe of its own. Some small talk was made here and there.



We woke up at 11 plus that day just to ensure proper checking out procedures, took our last few pictures. Jan and Melia and I in white and denim. Bags packed at the very last minute, deposited at the hotel's concierge. The day went by rather smoothly.



KLCC and the Petronas Twin Towers were less than magnificent. Whether its nationalistic pride that seeped in or whether it was the architecture that didn't particularly impress me, the Towers screamed 'I am Malaysia and I'm here to challenge Singapore'. A particular taxi driver picked up a little conversation with me and i commented about the vast improvements of KL and its city landscape. The Chinese taxi driver laughed and said, "Singaporeans come to Malaysia and talk about how much it has improved, Malaysians go to Singapore like they're visiting the US".









Sounds a little far-fetched but going to Malaysia is different from say, going to Taiwan or the States in my case. Unconsciously or not, you make little comparisons between Malaysia and Singapore, you try to sniff out traces of improvisation of existing Singapore technologies, duplication or even plagiarism. What has an elitist society done to our mindsets.



Something that KL has and Singapore is sorely lacking is these big super shopping malls. Mid Valley Mall which is just less than 10 seconds away from our hotel rooms is the most complete shopping mall I've ever seen. KLCC is as decent as Takashimaya and they have those twin towers to back them up. Competition is fierce and intense. L and I worried a little for Singapore's future with our neighbours breathing down behind our necks so hard such that traces of their dinner could be found behind our necks in the form of rolls of chewed meat.

Our first night at KL was spent preparing for our clubbing outing. KL Zouk. KL do have really decent night spots but then again i'm not someone who's really that enthusiastic about night spots.






It was a lot of thrashing talking, a lot of funny moments and the Hotel Boluevard that we got was really very comfortable. Thanks to Amelia and thanks to Felicia who slashed our first night hotel stay into half. I thought I got to know these people in the group in a more personal level. It was some experience going on a vacation albeit a short one with a group of friends. You guys made it happen.

Some of my more favourite shots with the different individuals.


Fel..


Jan..


Melia..


Mel..