So I like KL! Had a great time and met some great people, some not so great. I met Lizzie when I moved into a dorm after my third night and I don't care what she says, she is a bad influence! We had two mamoth drinking sessions, one of which was my last night when I had to be up early for my minibus to the Cameron Highlands, not a good situation. She ended up robbing someone's flip flops after spending a good deal of time saying how much she hated flip flop robbers!
But the city... I spent eight days there so go to know it pretty well. The highlight had to be the rollercoaster in the Mall! It's not in the guide books but it's amazing! You would think it would be a big thing, right in the middle and well advertise, but noooooo, it's stuck in the corner with a load of other fairground rides, amazing! The national mosque was also an experience, being a mosque you obviously have to cover up so they give everyone a long purple clok with a hood, felt like I was going to a druid sect meeting or an orgy a la Eyes Wide Shut! Hilarious times! National Islamic Art Museum not so good, even the Muslims in there were bored!
I've noticed two strange things, one they like to build in twos. Most big tower blocks are in twos, not only Petronas Towers (which are pretty stunning) but The Hilton, Times Square Mall and a load of other buildings. I would love to understand why they do this but alas the reasoning eludes me. Also, they love westlife which is good for me!! Wondering around the mall with Lizzie waiting to watch Captain America (which I don't rate) and we went into three or four shops all playing different Westlife songs! Think I may have embarassed Lizzie walking round singing along! Then last night in the KK Mart, a cheaper 7Eleven, an Indian dude working there had Fool Again (first album, track 5) but in Indian. He seemed rather impressed I could sing along in English!
Enjoying Malaysia so far, detoxing in the Highlands for now and availding Stanley Morgan as if my life, and maybe eyesight, depends on it!
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
KL Killer Night
Last night I got completely smashed on some dodgy rum, Stanley Morgan which is a blatant rip off of Captain Morgans.
Met a cool Irish couple in Penang who I keep bumping into in Kuala Lumpur and met a mad girl in my dorm and we all congregated on the rooftop bar of the hostel and picked up a few other drinkers on the way. After going to the KK mart across the way to get coke and rum we ended up at the bar until we got kicked out at three, we then went and found a table on the street, bought more rum and kept drinking, we then got kicked off that table so found another one, more rum and I think we then headed home. After about an hour of watching the roof of the dorm spin Lizzie came over and said she wanted to smoke, I opened the window and the girl on the bunk above immediately slammed it shut. Not impressed methinks!
So we got up and went to the Chinese food court around the corner, got some dodgy juice and put yet more rum in that. A table of old Malay men looked over with a knowing glance! About seven, maybe eight am we rocked back up to the hostel and apparently made a hell of a lot of noise, pissed off everyone in the dorm and kind of slept for a bit.
Now in recovery mode, had a KFC and a load of water and getting back to normal, it's the first day I've had to write off to a hangover since I got here, I'm sure there will be many more!
I have been a tourist here though, went and had some fun in the National Mosque, they give you these purple cloak things to make sure you're all appropriately covered up and it feels like you're part of some cult. Everyone is walking round in these cloaks, hoods up and it looked like something from Eyes Wide Shut, an orgy may just have broken out at any time! oh and the Islamic Art Museum, pretty boring stuff, more artefacts than actual art, not impressed. Seen the Petronas Towers a few times, not made it there yet but apparently you have to pay nowadays so might skip it and go to KL Tower which has a higher viewing platform and not as hard to get in.
I'm here until I get some post which hope beyond all hope will be Friday then off to the Cameron Highlands where the weather is cooler and there are tea plantations and other things to see. For now I'm enjoying KL...
Met a cool Irish couple in Penang who I keep bumping into in Kuala Lumpur and met a mad girl in my dorm and we all congregated on the rooftop bar of the hostel and picked up a few other drinkers on the way. After going to the KK mart across the way to get coke and rum we ended up at the bar until we got kicked out at three, we then went and found a table on the street, bought more rum and kept drinking, we then got kicked off that table so found another one, more rum and I think we then headed home. After about an hour of watching the roof of the dorm spin Lizzie came over and said she wanted to smoke, I opened the window and the girl on the bunk above immediately slammed it shut. Not impressed methinks!
So we got up and went to the Chinese food court around the corner, got some dodgy juice and put yet more rum in that. A table of old Malay men looked over with a knowing glance! About seven, maybe eight am we rocked back up to the hostel and apparently made a hell of a lot of noise, pissed off everyone in the dorm and kind of slept for a bit.
Now in recovery mode, had a KFC and a load of water and getting back to normal, it's the first day I've had to write off to a hangover since I got here, I'm sure there will be many more!
I have been a tourist here though, went and had some fun in the National Mosque, they give you these purple cloak things to make sure you're all appropriately covered up and it feels like you're part of some cult. Everyone is walking round in these cloaks, hoods up and it looked like something from Eyes Wide Shut, an orgy may just have broken out at any time! oh and the Islamic Art Museum, pretty boring stuff, more artefacts than actual art, not impressed. Seen the Petronas Towers a few times, not made it there yet but apparently you have to pay nowadays so might skip it and go to KL Tower which has a higher viewing platform and not as hard to get in.
I'm here until I get some post which hope beyond all hope will be Friday then off to the Cameron Highlands where the weather is cooler and there are tea plantations and other things to see. For now I'm enjoying KL...
Friday, 22 July 2011
The Bun Gun
So I've been thinking and there is something else I learnt in Thailand, how to not use toilet paper!
The sewers over here can't handle toilet paper and if you think about it, it is a luxury item... 4 ply, double quilted, embossed and patterned - it is a bit crazy! So over here they use a spray gun thing to clean themselves, always with the left hand because you eat with your right hand and also shake with your right hand (this is difficult being left handed!)
The first night in Koh Samui I had to bite the bullet because Eve didn't have bog roll (she prefers the gun and doesn't buy it now). It was scary and there is always the possibility of getting yourself soaked but I did it and I'm soooo proud! But now I'm in Malaysia and they don't have to sprayer, or even a hose in my hostel in KL! another challenge to overcome...
The sewers over here can't handle toilet paper and if you think about it, it is a luxury item... 4 ply, double quilted, embossed and patterned - it is a bit crazy! So over here they use a spray gun thing to clean themselves, always with the left hand because you eat with your right hand and also shake with your right hand (this is difficult being left handed!)
The first night in Koh Samui I had to bite the bullet because Eve didn't have bog roll (she prefers the gun and doesn't buy it now). It was scary and there is always the possibility of getting yourself soaked but I did it and I'm soooo proud! But now I'm in Malaysia and they don't have to sprayer, or even a hose in my hostel in KL! another challenge to overcome...
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Things I Learnt In Thailand
So I've now moved on from Thailand and after a full thirty days in the country I would like to share what little I have learnt from the experience
1. They love to give you stickers. Stickers to get on boats, to get on buses, to go on trips, and they are very elaborate. I must have counted at least eight different colours on one trip going through two islands. Yes, stickers are very Thai.
2. In the words of my Canadian companion of a few days - Thailand - safety, not our concern. You get on a boat nd sit on a deck with your feet hanging off the side, they throw bags a good couple of feet from boat to water, the fact they have motorbike taxis, the police will charge you 300 baht (about 6 quid) for not wearing your helmet but don't make you actually put one on, pavements barely exist so walking on the road is a fun experience. So be safe if you dare because no one else is.
3. Don't sit down at the Full Moon Party. Sand mites. Eaten alive. Nuff said.
4. Thai hospitals are like hotels! You get a balcony, TV and DVD player, extra beds if necessary... Cheap holiday would be to get admitted to hospital and let the insurance company pay for your stay! And most of them on Samui are in Chaweng the party town so not a bad place to stay.
5. Air con makes my feet swell. I want to sleep with two pillows, not one propping up my feet. Stupid air con.
6. The people are great. Everyone smiles and I lost count of the amout of times I got offered a lift walking into town, and got smiles off people thinking I was crazy for wanting to walk! And lady boys are great too, one let me grope her (?) boobs, very firm they were too.
7. The police are corrupt as hell. One bloke got stabbed twenty eight times and then dumped in a lake. Thai police verdict was drowning. Says it all really.
8. I didn't spend enough time learning stuff. I promise to do better in Malaysia!
1. They love to give you stickers. Stickers to get on boats, to get on buses, to go on trips, and they are very elaborate. I must have counted at least eight different colours on one trip going through two islands. Yes, stickers are very Thai.
2. In the words of my Canadian companion of a few days - Thailand - safety, not our concern. You get on a boat nd sit on a deck with your feet hanging off the side, they throw bags a good couple of feet from boat to water, the fact they have motorbike taxis, the police will charge you 300 baht (about 6 quid) for not wearing your helmet but don't make you actually put one on, pavements barely exist so walking on the road is a fun experience. So be safe if you dare because no one else is.
3. Don't sit down at the Full Moon Party. Sand mites. Eaten alive. Nuff said.
4. Thai hospitals are like hotels! You get a balcony, TV and DVD player, extra beds if necessary... Cheap holiday would be to get admitted to hospital and let the insurance company pay for your stay! And most of them on Samui are in Chaweng the party town so not a bad place to stay.
5. Air con makes my feet swell. I want to sleep with two pillows, not one propping up my feet. Stupid air con.
6. The people are great. Everyone smiles and I lost count of the amout of times I got offered a lift walking into town, and got smiles off people thinking I was crazy for wanting to walk! And lady boys are great too, one let me grope her (?) boobs, very firm they were too.
7. The police are corrupt as hell. One bloke got stabbed twenty eight times and then dumped in a lake. Thai police verdict was drowning. Says it all really.
8. I didn't spend enough time learning stuff. I promise to do better in Malaysia!
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Stalker Alert!
I have a stalker. Like a proper weird person following me!!!
The other night, I think Saturday, eve and I went to Lamai Walking Street (basically a night market on the streets) and ended up getting into a conversation with a Bangladeshi tailor. He was nice enough but I usually just say hi and walk past, they are always trying to find a way to sell you a suit, 'hello, how are you', 'where are you from', 'what job do you do', 'ah you need a suit for that'... And so the patter goes.
He was asking the usual and seemed ok but it was harder than normal to bring the conversation to an end. Didn't think anything of it...
Monday night I'd had stayed in town to go online and eve went home because she'd been in work and wanted a shower. I got a motorbike taxi home (I think they're amazing!) and he dropped me at the end of the path to the bungalow, i walk up the stair and spark a cig after saying hi to Eve. within a minute or two this tailor turns up on his bike, i didn't recognise him and shout for eve in case it was the landlord or something. She knew it was this fella straight away so I talked politely for a couple of minutes when he parked up his bike and came up the stairs to the balcony without being invited and tried to walk in the house but Eve subtly stood up and in the door way to stop him.
So he asks what I'm doing, how long I'm here for, had to lie through my teeth about seeing friends, going to bed early etc. Took five times at least of me saying I'm going to bed to get rid of him!
it's so freaky that he went to the effort to follow me home, he must have seen me go past on the motorbike and jumped on his straight away, he doesn't live near at all! So we've told the neighbours to keep a look out including a Thai girl who can phone the police if necessary. The joys of travelling alone! Don't know what I would have done if I were staying on my own!
The other night, I think Saturday, eve and I went to Lamai Walking Street (basically a night market on the streets) and ended up getting into a conversation with a Bangladeshi tailor. He was nice enough but I usually just say hi and walk past, they are always trying to find a way to sell you a suit, 'hello, how are you', 'where are you from', 'what job do you do', 'ah you need a suit for that'... And so the patter goes.
He was asking the usual and seemed ok but it was harder than normal to bring the conversation to an end. Didn't think anything of it...
Monday night I'd had stayed in town to go online and eve went home because she'd been in work and wanted a shower. I got a motorbike taxi home (I think they're amazing!) and he dropped me at the end of the path to the bungalow, i walk up the stair and spark a cig after saying hi to Eve. within a minute or two this tailor turns up on his bike, i didn't recognise him and shout for eve in case it was the landlord or something. She knew it was this fella straight away so I talked politely for a couple of minutes when he parked up his bike and came up the stairs to the balcony without being invited and tried to walk in the house but Eve subtly stood up and in the door way to stop him.
So he asks what I'm doing, how long I'm here for, had to lie through my teeth about seeing friends, going to bed early etc. Took five times at least of me saying I'm going to bed to get rid of him!
it's so freaky that he went to the effort to follow me home, he must have seen me go past on the motorbike and jumped on his straight away, he doesn't live near at all! So we've told the neighbours to keep a look out including a Thai girl who can phone the police if necessary. The joys of travelling alone! Don't know what I would have done if I were staying on my own!
Monday, 4 July 2011
Lazy Days Indeed
I have literally been doing nothing... and I'm not complaining!!!
All the bars were closed from Friday night all the way to midnight Saturday due to elections. Although there was some confusion about when they were reopening... 6pm, 10pm, midnight, no one was quite sure! That's Thailand for you. I do find it mildly amusing that they don't want Thais drunk when they vote and closing bars seems the best way to prevent this, Thai logic again!
It was strange not seeing any polling stations, in England on polling day you can't seem to go more than a few streets without seeing them! Well Thaksin's sister won, and I'm all for successful female politicians but she could cause some serious problems if she absolves her brother and lets him back in the country.
That is about as interesting as things get, some information garnered from the BBC news and bumming about at various bars and pools. This really is the life, travelling is going to be such a chore after this!
All the bars were closed from Friday night all the way to midnight Saturday due to elections. Although there was some confusion about when they were reopening... 6pm, 10pm, midnight, no one was quite sure! That's Thailand for you. I do find it mildly amusing that they don't want Thais drunk when they vote and closing bars seems the best way to prevent this, Thai logic again!
It was strange not seeing any polling stations, in England on polling day you can't seem to go more than a few streets without seeing them! Well Thaksin's sister won, and I'm all for successful female politicians but she could cause some serious problems if she absolves her brother and lets him back in the country.
That is about as interesting as things get, some information garnered from the BBC news and bumming about at various bars and pools. This really is the life, travelling is going to be such a chore after this!
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