Before I even arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I knew it was going to be a good trip. After I said good-bye to Frances in Bali, I headed out on my own. Haggling with the taxi driver, he started at 150,000 Rupiah (about $18). We managed to agree on 80,000 and I got in the cab. Once we are on our way, he changes his mind (Rule #1 of bargaining is once you agree on a price, both parties are committed). But the funny thing was, he was insisting on 70,000! Not sure if I am the world's best haggler, or he's the world's worst. Either way, this trip was off to a good start!
After paying the 70,000 with amused satisfaction, the next 3 hours of flight delays were comfortable because I had access to the international first class lounge. No I wasn't flying first class - I was flying Air Asia, part of the no frills Virgin chain, and I am an absolute nobody to them. Rather, I am a proud card carrying member of Diners Club International. Sure, friends often laugh when I pull out my Diners Club card and call me stodgy, but it grants free access to countless international lounges that have comfortable seats, free internet, food, alcohol and sometimes even showers. I should be getting commissions for all the plugging I do for Diners Club, but seriously I recommend it to anyone who travels at least once a year internationally.
I arrived in Kuala Lumpur after midnight to find Immigration, baggage retrieval, Customs, and bus logistics surprisingly easy. I knew it was a good country, because it all worked, even when I passed an Immigration worker manning the self-service queue playing a car racing game on his cell phone.
Extremely thirsty because Air Asia charges for even water (and I am used to being treated like a prima donna by the airlines so refused to pony up), I started looking to buy a bottle of water. At that hour, only KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks were open, and I am trying to see how long I can go without indulging in American fast-food. I asked the bus guy where I could buy a water (after using my one good phrase "selamat pagi.") Apparently impressed with my command of his language, he reached into his personal stash and gave me his last unopened water.
On the bus, I continued to freeze my ass off like I do everywhere in SE Asia. I am just not cut out for air conditioning and am nostalgic for the days pre-a/c similar to Owen Wilson in Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. But I digress.
Looking around the bus to see if I am the only one in misery, I see older Asian gentleman going to town digging around in his nose. Apparently I was gawking, because he lifts his sheet of paper in front of his face while he continues his treasure hunt. As if that is an invisibility cloak.
The bus ride was uneventful and KL is a bit unlike most other SE Asian cities. It is cleaner than most, has functional highways with what appear to be rest stops, and as we pulled into the Bukit Bintang area, I was amazed at the lights and the action. People everywhere, and mostly what appeared to be locals. It felt like a nice, safe energy, even after 1:30am.
I fell into bed at 2am, bundled up because there was a/c and set my alarm to get up early to visit Petronas Towers.
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