Kuala Lumpur

My last city in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. Although I do not consider myself a city person, I enjoyed my time here.

My favorite site was the Enchanted Peronas Twin Towers. They are my favorite modern architectural structures. They are even more impressive in person. The 2 kilometer walk was pleasant because of the "bridge" walkway that kept me out of street traffic.

My takeaways from Malaysia are:

•Malaysia loves shopping malls. I spent more time in malls than I had in the last decade. In KL, they rivaled the luxury centers in Las Vegas.
•Low end brands like H&M are high-end here. Perhaps the higher prices consider the cost of import?
•Street food is for the brave, which I am not. Proteins sitting out without heat or ice made me weary.
•Durian is gross.
•Jelly can be savory.
•Like most cities, poverty strikes KL hard. Many homeless, including mothers with small children, are a common sight.
•KL has a strong Middle Eastern influence.
•On the mainland, I didn't sense a Malaysian cultural identity. I felt a stronger influence with the ethinc Indian and Chinese - Malaysian immigrants.
•Muslim women are strongly committed to their modesty, as they will enjoy activities like swimming while covered from head to toe.
•Many Asians were confused when I answered, "I am American," when they asked where am from. I think they were curious about my ethnicity and were still shocked when I shared that, too.
•Asians love Maroon 5.

Coming down this far, I am regretting that I skipped Singapore. I heard nothing but raves about the city/country.Read more