Kuala Lumpur #1

Although the Malaysians have slanting eyes and yellowish skin, they are called Mohammed and Abdullah. However, Muslim majority also fully respect their numerous Christian and Hindu fellow citizens and show respect for their holidays and culture. Christmas is coming in the Christian world, so there are plenty of Christmas decorations in the shopping centers, streets, and airports. When we arrive to the hotel in Kuala Lumpur, it’s already evening. Our captain, by the way, the typical Malayan – Abdullah Rameez, invites all of us with courageous stomachs for the traditional Malaysian evening dinner. Changkat Bukit Bintang is an area full of local restaurants and food stalls. Food is prepared right on the street, literally on the sidewalk and people are sitting around plastic tables with rubber tablecloth and staff is serving mainly fresh fish, seafood, frogs and coconut rice! While I’m determined to stick the fork into the frog’s thigh, one Malay man is putting his selfie-sticks for sale to my face. I’m enjoying the meal and local atmosphere. After the dinner we stop at a small stall selling traditional coconut ice-cream served in real coconut. I haven’t had better ice-cream! In the evening, the whole group ends up with leg massage. In any of the massage salons on the street, 90 minutes of honest massages do not cost more than 15 euros! That’s gonna be good rest tonight!

The next day, I go out into streets on my own. Outside is hot but still raining (rain season). The taxi driver is willing to show me the city, so I start to call him my personal guide. First, I’m showed the royal palace, then the magnificent national monument, birds and butterflies park were unfortunately closed for the weather, but I saw a magnificent mosque from the window and the famous railway colonial station from the time of British domination. The last attraction of the day was the well-known twin towers – Petronas twin towers with magnificent shopping mall inside. I’m trying to capture the tall buildings on the photo, and I regret I did not buy a selfie-stick yesterday. But one Malaysian student is willing to take photos of me. He even tells me where to stand and from which side do I get the best effect. I’m inviting him to coconut ice cream for a reward. Yummy! Kuala Lumpur may not seem, but it’s an amazing city full of fresh food, friendly, humble people, vivid lifestyle and green parks. Moreover, from Kuala Lumpur you can easily reach any Malaysian island. They are not as well known as Seychelles, Maldives or Thailand, but offer the same tropical paradise if not even better. Colleagues tell me that on the route to Kuala Lumpur you will always have on board at least one honeymoon couple. And I really serve one! Malaysia can be very romantic…