Malaysia Peninsular

Malaysia may well be worth a visit of several weeks to fully appreciate such delights as the Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara Nature Reserve or the Pulan Redang archipelego of the North with its' world class diving, but like many travellers, Miranda and I passed it by en route to Singapore. Its a shame for sure, but you 'cant do everything' we tell ourselves repeatedly.....after all, where would we go on holiday once we get back? [ed: ...blimey holidays... he'll be lucky - try working first!!)

We did however stop off in Penang, the west coast island port, which became home to the East India Company who broke the monopoly of the spice trade. Here we spent a few days to discover the crumbling remnants of the old empires colonial buildings and the modern montage of cultural influences. Take a Chinese street vendor, throw in some Thai culinary flair and serve up the resultant platter to the accompaniment of a Bollywood classic at 120 debicels on a colonial styled shop front and you are somewhere close to the experience that awaits you in Penang - simply intoxicating!

From Penang we travelled south by bus to Kuala Lumpur [ed: for once, the most luxurious and spacious bus ever may I say - with only 3 abreast, a recline facility to enable lying down with leg elevation!!!!], and far from being impersonable and overwhelming we found KL to be delightfully charming and easy going. The fact that almost everyone speaks English helps in this regard, but moreso its the fact that its everything you wish London was but with better weather and cleanliness. We checked into our newly established hotel in China Town, boarded the Light Railway Transit (LRT,) and glided effortlessly into the city centre, exiting at KL City Centre. Here we gazed at the magnificent Twin Petronas Towers [and took a good look around one of the many extremely large american style malls] before striking out to explore the delights of the Lake Gardens. After a few hours of walking in the midday heat, we returned to KLCC & enjoyed a well earnt afternoon tea in true English style...... Harrods KL style to be precise! [ed:.. not sure they were ready for the flipflop brigade!]

Below left: the twin towers of KL. Below right: Afternoon tea menu!

Below left: pinkies out! Below right: Touch that scone & you'll loose your fingers Mr P!

Above Left: The lake garden hut. Above right: Miranda takes a rest from the relentless heat!

Yes, it's 'flashpacking' [ed ...again ;) ] - but then who wants instant noodles when you can have your cake and eat it?

Next stop..Bali, Indonesia!