My brother, Douglas, arriving at the Singapore Airport!!!
Last week went so fast...how can it be that Doug has already been here for ten days? I think I went through a bit of adjustment period last week as I had gotten so use to being by myself and then had Doug here...it was awesome having him here, but both of us are single and are use to our space...luckily, we know how to have down time from one another.
Friday morning we boarded a bus (much like a Grey Hound bus in the US) and headed out of Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia. The bus was nice and we really enjoyed our ride there. The two ladies in front of us were fun to chat with as they were on a trip to a town outside of KL to visit one of their grandmothers. They had the front seats on a double decker bus (we were in the two seats just behind them) and they put the seats in the reclining position and Doug and I could see out the front and watch the countryside go by. First stop immigration/customs leaving Singapore...much different than our experience last week when we went to Johor Bahru, Malaysia...this time we went through an area for bus trips and it went super quick. Then onto the immigration/customs for Malaysia...if you'll recall...that didn't go so well last week for Doug...but this week, no problem at all....we were in and out in a few minutes time.
The real journey began when we got off the bus in KL....we knew our hotel wasn't at the site the bus would be dropping us off, but, flying by the seat of our pants as we like to do, we didn't know where it was at all. So we went in the hotel and asked. They sent us out to the taxi stand to ask. That person told us it was across the street in front of the big building. We wandered there. Doug knew what the hotel looked like as he had seen a picture on line when he booked our stay. No hotel there. So, we kept thinking it would be just around the next corner or on the next block and so we walked. I'm carrying a bag and Doug's pulling a small suitcase. My story is that it was a great adventure trying to find our way around....Doug's story is that he wasn't having fun, wanted a taxi and I wouldn't let him stop for one....maybe a bit true, but I still thought it was a great adventure! Now, remember, I've been here three months and have gotten use to walking and walking and walking some more...Doug had only been here a week, and wasn't quite use to the walking yet! Anyway, we ended up at a major intersection and had absolutely no idea which way to go...so I emailed someone at work and they emailed back which way to go, then called to be sure we could see the tall building that was across the street from the hotel...we could. So, again, we walked and walked and walked....it's hot and Doug's not real happy with me, but I push and away we go down the street some more....at last...the hotel!!!!!!!!!!!! We check in and take a bit of a rest before heading out to see what is around us.
Friday morning we boarded a bus (much like a Grey Hound bus in the US) and headed out of Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia. The bus was nice and we really enjoyed our ride there. The two ladies in front of us were fun to chat with as they were on a trip to a town outside of KL to visit one of their grandmothers. They had the front seats on a double decker bus (we were in the two seats just behind them) and they put the seats in the reclining position and Doug and I could see out the front and watch the countryside go by. First stop immigration/customs leaving Singapore...much different than our experience last week when we went to Johor Bahru, Malaysia...this time we went through an area for bus trips and it went super quick. Then onto the immigration/customs for Malaysia...if you'll recall...that didn't go so well last week for Doug...but this week, no problem at all....we were in and out in a few minutes time.
The real journey began when we got off the bus in KL....we knew our hotel wasn't at the site the bus would be dropping us off, but, flying by the seat of our pants as we like to do, we didn't know where it was at all. So we went in the hotel and asked. They sent us out to the taxi stand to ask. That person told us it was across the street in front of the big building. We wandered there. Doug knew what the hotel looked like as he had seen a picture on line when he booked our stay. No hotel there. So, we kept thinking it would be just around the next corner or on the next block and so we walked. I'm carrying a bag and Doug's pulling a small suitcase. My story is that it was a great adventure trying to find our way around....Doug's story is that he wasn't having fun, wanted a taxi and I wouldn't let him stop for one....maybe a bit true, but I still thought it was a great adventure! Now, remember, I've been here three months and have gotten use to walking and walking and walking some more...Doug had only been here a week, and wasn't quite use to the walking yet! Anyway, we ended up at a major intersection and had absolutely no idea which way to go...so I emailed someone at work and they emailed back which way to go, then called to be sure we could see the tall building that was across the street from the hotel...we could. So, again, we walked and walked and walked....it's hot and Doug's not real happy with me, but I push and away we go down the street some more....at last...the hotel!!!!!!!!!!!! We check in and take a bit of a rest before heading out to see what is around us.
This picture was on the side of a building and we were such dorks that we took our picture with it and pointed out our hotel...dorks!!!
Across the street were two mall areas and we explored them. Doug was very excited about the "twin towers" which are called the Petronas Towers. Petronas is a petrolium company based in KL and they build these two towers and put a sky bridge across the 41st storey between the two buildings. The public can go up to the sky bridge for free...you just have to get in line before 8:00am and pick up your ticket, which is for a specified time. So off we went for tickets on Saturday morning and we waited and the time being given out when we got up to the counter was 11:45, but one of the workers asked if we would like to go immediately...ummm...yeah!!!! So, up we went...it was beautiful!!! KL has beautiful buildings and many, many tall buildings (nothing like DSM) and we really enjoyed our 10 minutes on the sky bridge. Of course, we had to visit the gift shop for the towers after that! So fun!!!
These are the Petronas Towers.
This is the view of the park area we walked around...we took this from the skybridge.
Dorks...Deb and Doug....taking a picture of ourselves on the skybridge!
Saturday afternoon we went to Central Market...oh my...we both fell in love with this place. It's touted as an "Arts and Crafts" place, and again, not like the "arts and crafts" I think of in DSM, but more like local crafts and things you would find at the Two River Festival Art Show. This was a two storey place and we loved, loved, loved it...in fact, we made a second trip back on Sunday because there were a few things we "had to have"!!!
This is the outside of the Central Market building...very Art Deco!
After our rather relaxing stroll through Central Market we made our way to Chinatown's open market....a much different feel...it was dark, hot and the hawkers were like used car salesmen...Miss, Miss, come look, something for you, Miss, Miss...and a bit pushy. I couldn't handle the heat was getting claustrophobic, so we left, caught a taxi and went back to the hotel.
Sunday we decided we would go get some lunch at the mall, then there was a building I wanted to see what it was. It was the convention center...and it was so neat to walk along the path the went around a beautiful park area. We walked and walked and walked...thank goodness for Doug I didn't have him dragging a suitcase around today!!!! After our walk we took a nap...yep, it was hot and we got tired...we emailed Mom and said "remember that nap you told us to take in 1975, well we finally did it today" and her response..."finally you got obedient!". So after our nap (boy are we getting old...or it was the heat...which ever you want to believe..a bit of both, I believe) we decided to go to Chinatown again. It was daylight, and a bit less crowded (not a lot, just a little) and we walked through looking at all the wares. I purchased a gift for Zac and a purse for me (yep, another purse...I've lost count!) and a small suitcase to carry things home in (luckily I only paid about $17 USD for the little suitcase). Chinatown was more of "knock offs" than local wares, but it was an experience not to be forgotten!
After our rather relaxing stroll through Central Market we made our way to Chinatown's open market....a much different feel...it was dark, hot and the hawkers were like used car salesmen...Miss, Miss, come look, something for you, Miss, Miss...and a bit pushy. I couldn't handle the heat was getting claustrophobic, so we left, caught a taxi and went back to the hotel.
Sunday we decided we would go get some lunch at the mall, then there was a building I wanted to see what it was. It was the convention center...and it was so neat to walk along the path the went around a beautiful park area. We walked and walked and walked...thank goodness for Doug I didn't have him dragging a suitcase around today!!!! After our walk we took a nap...yep, it was hot and we got tired...we emailed Mom and said "remember that nap you told us to take in 1975, well we finally did it today" and her response..."finally you got obedient!". So after our nap (boy are we getting old...or it was the heat...which ever you want to believe..a bit of both, I believe) we decided to go to Chinatown again. It was daylight, and a bit less crowded (not a lot, just a little) and we walked through looking at all the wares. I purchased a gift for Zac and a purse for me (yep, another purse...I've lost count!) and a small suitcase to carry things home in (luckily I only paid about $17 USD for the little suitcase). Chinatown was more of "knock offs" than local wares, but it was an experience not to be forgotten!
Chinatown outdoor market...
Monday morning the bus we were taking back to Singapore actually picked us up at the hotel we were staying in...boy, was that nice since we had to be at the bus stop at 5:30am!!!! The bus was very, very nice and all went well through customs and immigration this time also. The only bad part of the entire trip was when we stopped at a rest area and I slipped right after getting off the bus. It was raining and there was one slick spot on the sidewalk and my foot found it. I went down so fast I didn't even know what had happened. Thank goodness Doug was right there to help me up. I knew that my foot was bleeding and wanted to get it washed off right away, and luckily had a bottle of water in my purse, so I washed it off. My big toe has a very large scrape on it...kind of like when you were little and learning to ride your bike, and then you scraped your knee so badly it oozed and oozed (isn't that graphic!)...well, my toe is in pretty bad shape, but at least that was at it was...I could have hit my head on cement or twisted my ankle! I'm very grateful to only have a hurt toe!!!! Doug got me some great bandaids at the store tonight that have medication in them and I'm on the way to healing already!!!
The funniest thing happened with food this weekend....ummm...me, Deb Tjelta, ate FOREIGN food!!! Yep, we were in Malaysia and I ate American food...so, it was considered foreign! Gotcha!!!
Monday morning the bus we were taking back to Singapore actually picked us up at the hotel we were staying in...boy, was that nice since we had to be at the bus stop at 5:30am!!!! The bus was very, very nice and all went well through customs and immigration this time also. The only bad part of the entire trip was when we stopped at a rest area and I slipped right after getting off the bus. It was raining and there was one slick spot on the sidewalk and my foot found it. I went down so fast I didn't even know what had happened. Thank goodness Doug was right there to help me up. I knew that my foot was bleeding and wanted to get it washed off right away, and luckily had a bottle of water in my purse, so I washed it off. My big toe has a very large scrape on it...kind of like when you were little and learning to ride your bike, and then you scraped your knee so badly it oozed and oozed (isn't that graphic!)...well, my toe is in pretty bad shape, but at least that was at it was...I could have hit my head on cement or twisted my ankle! I'm very grateful to only have a hurt toe!!!! Doug got me some great bandaids at the store tonight that have medication in them and I'm on the way to healing already!!!
The funniest thing happened with food this weekend....ummm...me, Deb Tjelta, ate FOREIGN food!!! Yep, we were in Malaysia and I ate American food...so, it was considered foreign! Gotcha!!!
I took this picture from the inside of a taxi...I thought it blended the "old" with the "new" KL very well.
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