Kuala Lumpur 24th October:

We arrived in Kuala Lumpur by bus from Malacca, and yes the bus was a lot better. The main road from Malacca to K.L. is far better than the Singapore/Malacca one, not much to do but think back on our visits here in the past. Noi was brought to live in the Batu Cave (Batu in Malay means rock) area to live with her aunt when she first arrived in Malaya, so many years ago, and now she had two aunts and a great employer living here. It was just a matter of finding them?

Before leaving Malacca, Noi had been given the address and telephone number of her Aunt Loh Kan and Mrs Gan her Aunt's employer/or as a companion now. When Noi and I married there were not many cars owned by people, especially big ones, but we were lucky that Mrs Gan had a large car and driver which Noi used as a wedding car. I arrived at the wedding in a taxi with the best man, my mate Pete Bate.

But here we were and on our journey we had managed to look at the hotels in the city, which were budget hotels, to suit our purse, which was emptying as time went on ha ha. We were aware that there would be many taxi drivers looking out for tourists like us, to get a fare to hotels from which they got a cut if they got us to their hotel. Got to have a strong voice, NOT let anyone get a suitcase as they do vie to get your custom.

On arrival at the bus station, there was a surge of taxi drivers trying to help us (not really). "Get your hands off" I was shouting as Noi was struggling with a Malay bloke who was trying to get her to his cab. It was not a nasty way they were doing this - just wanting the fare. Noi was very tired as the heat was very strong mid-day. I selected a middle-aged Chinese driver and told him to take us to the Grand Pacific hotel. He said good hotel, but I would check it on arrival. It was on the outer edge of the city and looked very impressive from first look.

Noi was wanting to get her feet up but the hotel had to be checked. She knew that, so I told the driver to stay in the foyer at reception with our cases whilst we checked it out. First thing was the price?
$R65 = £15 per room per night, not a bad price but I wanted to see the room. I was taken up by the manager who showed me the first one --- looked lovely until I looked outside - there was motorway to the rear. "Too noisy this room. Can we see another?" I said to the manager. "Les please it was a nice room." Noi does not like the fuss but I get what I pay for, so to the other wing, a larger room, more like a suite, air conditioning, balcony, separate lounge and TV room, very nice, but of course I couldn't say so to the manager. "Yes not good, but I will have it for the same price?" "It is a larger room sir, it is £20 per night." I said in shocked dismissal "Well I hope you have a nice time in here, because we don't want it at that price, let's go Noi."
"Ok Sir same price?" Noi nodded her head, I appeared to relent and said to the manager "OK, but please pay off the taxi driver and have our suitcases brought up." I find that having the air of a troubled Englishman does work.

We had a shower and had a lay down, it's great travelling independent, but the arguing can be a pain sometimes as I will NOT pay over the odds for anything, probably due to my Yorkshire upbringing. Noi was a nice person and kind.

After we had had a rest Noi rang her Aunty Loh Kan, but she was at the Monastery and would be home the following day. A message was left that we were in town and would ring her am, then we went to the City Centre. It had really changed since our last visit, many large buildings, but still the hawkers selling food on the street. We called in one Kedai Kopi and had a meal. They cooked the food outside and brought it in to us.


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I wanted to get a shot of the junction of the rivers that create Kuala Lumpur (Muddy River). Here is a shot of Noi with the rivers, great shot.
It was a lovely hot day, really nice. but Noi wanted one of me as well, ah well we have a lot to do today. Noi wanted to book our train tickets, then a quick look around.
 

We had a lot of memories of Kuala Lumpur, many brilliant and some frightening, perhaps at this time the good should only be known, the spirits as they were and don't disturb the dragon, that awaits .