I meant for us to start early (1/15), but as I've been this entire winter, I was really enjoying sleeping.
Tired. Exhausted. Drained. Wiped. Whatever word you like, I was dead. Even with the alarm set (which is ever so easy to turn off ^^) there was no getting me up. Aiding my comatose state was the absolute black-out conditions of our room. It might have been high noon and you'd never know it. Perfect for a person, who of late loves sleep (me!), but not the best for a tourist with limited time in a country's capital city!
However, our lie-in was only till 9:30 (ish/10) - not the worst. A quick trip up to the roof for a continental breakfast of toast and hot chocolate (d-lious), teeth brushed, daypack sorted, bug spray purchased and we were at the train station getting our tickets to be delivered directly to the Batu Cave's front steps.
** KL might be a capital city, but its pace and train time schedule are anything but rapid and convenient** We must have waited a solid 20mins before the train arrived. It wasn't much of a bother though. Our platform was fairly empty - which meant we easily found a bench (under a fan) to sit on and we passed the time in conversation and observation. Before long we were boarded and bound for the Caves.
I'm really starting to think my delusions of travel are getting the better of me. Perhaps 'delusions' is the wrong word, maybe it is 'expectations'. I have such expectations that when I travel I'll see amazing sights - which I am! Let there be no mistake there, the world is fascinating and I'm so thankful to be out seeing it, but what my (repeated) dismay comes from is a lack of information.
I've gotten all the guidebooks (literally! there are 15 in my apartment in Busan), I've looked things up on the internet, asked friends for suggestions on the sights and activities to see/do; and yet, when I get there I find that I'm disappointed, not at what I'm seeing, but because I still don't get why I'm seeing it. What's the significance of what I'm looking at?!
This was no different for the Batu Caves.
- Yes, they are a top attraction in KL
- Yes, they have 272 steps
- Yes, people make pilgrimages there during a yearly festival to make sacrifices and offerings to their gods
But why!?!
Why do people flock there? Why 272 steps? Is that all it took to get to the top? or is there a Hindu significance to it? Why make a pilgrimage there and not to their local temples? Why? Why? Why?!!
Where's Samantha Brown with the historical and cultural explanation?! Because LP is NOT giving it. Or maybe it's just not giving enough to satisfy my personal level of geekness and it's actually enough for the "normal" travelers. But...that's me off on a rant!
So we arrived at the Batu Caves, climbed to the top - on steps not even big enough to fit the entire length of an average-sized foot and had a look around at the various alters and shrines in the first cave, known as the Cathedral Cave. Then just up a few more steps and we were in the second cave, paying more attention to the monkeys running around collecting pieces of food than we were to the service(?) taking place at the central shrine.
I might whine a bit about wanting more information, but throw a monkey in front of me and I'll forgot all about the cultural monument beside me! Ahh... where's my Ritalin?! :-P
Once the monkeys left and we snapped some photos it was time to descend (which was easier on the muscles, but scarier on the nerves!) and eat! ** Jeff and I had agreed early on that along with seeing the sights, relaxing and having a good trip - eating! was also a top priority on our agenda! ** Unable to wait till we returned to the main part of the city, we had lunch at an Indian restaurant outside the main gate of the Caves.
There were so many choices!! What do you get!?!
Me: (to a random young Malaysian man sitting next to me) Excuse me. Could you recommend something to eat?
YMM: Sure. What do you like to eat Ma'am?
Me: (Ma'am? Really! ugh....!!!!) Everything!
YMM: Ok. I suggest the vegetarian combo. It comes with rice and vegetables and different sauces.
Me: Wonderful!
*He was even nice enough to place the order for us!
The meal came on a tray covered with a banana leaf and NO utensils! When in Rome... Dig in!
I thought using chopsticks was a fine art. No! Eating with your hands - in a style that doesn't reduce you to a 2 year old child - is a skill! I wouldn't say that I mastered it, but I gave it my best effort. Despite the mess I created, the meal was really fantastic!! I was even able to communicate that to the cook by folding over the banana leaf -- as my young Malaysian friend told me.
YMM: How did you like the meal Ma'am?
Me: (still with the Ma'am?!! Did he not see me eat? Didn't that bring my age down a bit?! I can't even get a 'Miss'?! Killing me!!!) It was great!! Thank you for recommending it.
YMM: You're welcome. In my culture you can show you liked a meal by folding over the leaf. This means you liked it very much. If you didn't like it, you leave the leaf open.
Me: Oh! Wonderful.
YMM: My pleasure Ma'am. Have a great day!
Me: (&(@^)(#&)@*&@&$) Thanks! You too!
Fed, slightly rested, unintentionally insulted - we were back on the metro and headed to the Lake Gardens and Bird Park.
Remember how I said KL was a capital city without the pace of one? Well this was evident again on our return trip. Board -> ride one stop -> wait 20mins -> ride one stop -> wait 25mins -> ride one stop -> wait 15mins... This pace continued our entire ride to KL Central. Good thing we weren't in any hurry. Nowhere specific to be, besides strolling through a park! ^^
We spent the remainder of the day walking through the park grounds, stopping off to explore the world's largest free-flight walk-in aviary (KL Bird Park), the Orchid and Hibiscus Garden, a few lakes and finally some deer (KL Deer Park).
Out of the park we walked to Merdeka Square and attempted to identify buildings our map pointed out as historical places, but were only able to clearly identify 1, at most 2.
After that it was time to eat! And we didn't just eat - we had a feast!!
Over in the heart of Chinatown, down a corner street in the Petaling Market, Jeff and I indulged in a 5 course meal of amazing food!! We couldn't eat it all! Even with the surplus of fantastic dishes, we each only paid ~$20!! Amazing!!
Full and happy, we headed back to the hostel to rest up for our last day in KL.
Your pictures say otherwise. They are spectacular, and the experiences you have had are ones that most people will never imagine, let alone experience. To paraphrase the Beatles, just let it be and let the experience be the point, not the expectation.
ReplyDeleteYou are a lucky young lady to be able to experience all these wonderful places. Once again your pictures are good enough to be in Nationall Geographic. Did you notice I called you "young lady" and not Ma'am!!
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