The real hustle and bustle of a concrete metropolis in Asia can be found in the capital of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur offers an endless amount of culture, history, architecture, foods, and attractions. Around every corner is something surprising, something foreign, something so fascinating in all of its mystery. To merely sit and watch passerby's along the street is an exciting way to spend a few hours. Indulge in your curiosity of street foods, explore the museums and gaze at the beautiful art around the city. Kuala Lumpur was never on my radar. I had merely caught a glimpse of the city from a friend's previous visit on WeChat but had never considered going there myself. While planning my travels for the National Holiday in China, I found cheap flights to Singapore. As a new ESL teacher in China, my pockets weren't deep, and I figured, why not? After doing some research, I decided that KL would be a short stopover while heading further north. My initial goal was to explore my way up through Malaysia before finally reaching Thailand and flying back to Guangzhou. As time flies when we travel, I made a quick decision to catch the return from Singapore and just move throughout Malaysia during the two weeks that I had. After all, I enjoy getting to know a country well rather than just getting a sneak peek. My arrival to KL wasn't too bad. Along the way from Singapore to the border, a couple was sitting nearby who reminded me that the majority of the country was Muslim and that I should be careful where I travel. I appreciated the fear factor but also knew that I was a smart girl who wouldn't make any stupid decision. I have my travel rules... 1. Always take public transportation. 2. Always stay in crowded areas. 3. Nothing good happens after 12 p.m. unless you are at the hostel/hotel and can safely get home. 4. Not everyone is as kind as you think. 5. No more than three-four beers that i've opened myself and no liquor.
Once arriving in the city after the border crossing, which was relatively easy and quick, I found that this was a jungle-like none other. KL is quite large and there is just so much to see. While spending my two days there, I found the hustle and bustle a bit overwhelming, as there are too many eyes that always seemed to be watching me. In truth, I am tall and blonde; naturally, I’m quite noticeable around these parts. While city life yields those to making deals and trying to squeeze pockets, it wasn’t a hub that I thoroughly enjoyed. I chose to stay in a hostel that was centrally located to many of the main sites around the city and pretty close to the bus station; allowing me to get in and out of the city easier. I vouched for an all-girls shared room and got as comfortable as possible. With the air conditioner only working during the evenings, I was forced to get outside and explore just to catch some fresh air. I would plan my next stop after speaking to other girls in the hostel that evening. I wandered around the streets and shops right close to my hostel and eventually ventured outwards with my map to check out some different spots. Along the way, I met another traveler on a visa run and we grabbed a beer together. We made plans to meet the following day and he would show me around a little bit. We made it to the Petronas Towers for some photo ops and ventured to Times Square to see the large indoor amusement park which was very impressive. One thing about Asia is how when you think there is no more room to build something, they just build it up! On my last morning before heading out to the Cameron Highlands, I ventured out to the Batu Caves and checked out the amazing scenery. The Batu Caves are not quite as large as you would imagine but it’s a great morning trip. While there are some fees to be paid, it's quite an easy commute by tram. I wore shorts and a tank top to escape the heat and clearly didn’t plan for my excursion. I was given a tapestry to wrap around my legs and climbed the long set upstairs to enter the caves. Full of monkeys, the walk up isn’t bad and you can stop to enjoy the silliness of your new friends. But perhaps if you let them too close, they’ll most likely turn to foes. All in all, I had done what I wanted to do. I was ready to venture out and escape the city noises and crazy hustle. While KL is a hectic city, I admire it for its cultural diversity. It’s honestly a melting pot in Southeast Asia. Maybe in a few more years, I’ll be ready to check it out again. But until then, I’ll keep the memories I made there and choose to explore elsewhere.