Narine

Just for a while.
I loved the people here.
I do wish we didn’t go to our hotel’s tours so much.
I do need to return here and immerse myself fully. =)

I just got back from Malaysia yesterday, and I’m hoping that by typing it down, I’ll be able to remember just how much I adored visiting this beautiful country.

It was a family trip. Both my parents and my younger brother will be, for the first time in a long time, traveling together. And our destination? Malaysia.

And boy, was it a great trip.

Language barriers? No problem. They speak fluent English. (My mom, especially loved it here because she could talk to the locals without any problem. Most locals could also speak in Mandarin too, and my mom knows how.)

People? I love them. They will go out of their way to help you. Twice during our stay, people would lead us to where we want to go. A glasses-sporting man, after being asked how to get to Times Square, directed us out of Sungwei Wang (more on that later) because “I’m going to the lower floors, anyway.” My family had no idea how to get there, but he willingly lead us to the direction in which we could walk. We reached Times Square in a couple of minutes. Another time, a bus driver literally stepped out of the bus to point us to the direction of the bus that we needed to take in order to return safely to our hotel. On several occasions, whenever you ask a local, they’ll quickly turn and say, “Yes?” Indicating that they will help you in any way they can. That alone, to me, is enough reason for you to visit.

We stayed in Kuala Lumpur. KLCC. Our hotel was a 5-minute walk to the Petronas Towers. At the base of the the towers is a large shopping mall. I think it was perhaps called Seria? Suria? Ugh. I forget. But that’s where all the designer clothes and stuff are. It’s a beautiful place, but you’d definitely find cheaper alternatives if you looked for it elsewhere.

And that’s where Sungwei Wang steps in. This is supposedly the largest shopping district in Malaysia. The outside is littered with fantastic ‘restorans’ and food stalls. Inside is where most of the shopping begins. Try not to dizzy yourself by the sheer magnitude of stalls and stores inside, okay? My family didn’t get to circle the whole thing, sadly. Be sure to carry cents, because the restrooms in Sungwei Wang charge 0.20 cents upon entry. Still, it’s great there. My family shopped like crazy. (Oh, yeah, the people are gorgeous, too.)

I have more stories, if you want to hear them. Just ask. It’ll be a pleasure to recount my visit with you, if you need any tips on the places I’ve been to in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, I wish you’d ask. ^_

I went here for a vacation with my mother and aunt in 2005 during my Semestral Break.
We stayed in the tallest hotel there, although the name right now escapes me. If, in case, you decide to stay in Thailand for a holiday, choose this hotel. It’s really great, the breakfast food (and view) is to die for. =)

For the most part, we did our shopping here. The prices range from one shop to another, and a bargain-hunter would die from happiness at the prices. You do have to know where to look. I would highly suggest the week-end market (people-watching is good, too). That place is somewhere you could quickly get lost in, the items range from clothes, to food, to even puppies! I just adored the prices here, and the people were so friendly.

Also, try not to be fooled by the locals who try to give you trips to places by paying a fixed rate. On our stay there, a tuktuk driver (the tuktuk is like a tricycle, unique only to Thailand) attempted to fool us by saying that the mall we wanted to enter was still closed. He offered to take us to another mall, but we had to pay a certain amount of baht. We refused and found out a while later that the mall had been open all along – the man was just trying to get extra cash from us if we rode with him. I hope this doesn’t happen to you, and remember to check out the place you want to. =D

The Floating Market, too, was incredibly exciting. The people are B-E-A-utiful! Don’t be afraid to try things in Thailand. Immerse yourself in the beauty of it. But most importantly, shop your heart out. You won’t regret it. XD