All systems go

Today was a lot better than yesterday.

Its a wonder what a good nights sleep and a morning yoga session can do for you.

This morning we headed to the Kuala Lumpur Zoo. The first exhibits were the primates - that was depressing. Their cages are very small and smelly.. although there were some truly amazing animals - one in particular could puff out its throat in order to call out a loud territorial cry. A truly spectacular sound.

The rest of the zoo was quite reasonable. It is obvious that they are trying to improve the animal homes. We saw some wonderful animals that we have never seen in Australia - Including rhino's, racoons, some adorable baby monkeys (not sure which type) and a baby giraffe.

After the zoo we went to the Batu caves http://kuala-lumpur.ca/attractions/batucaves.html - a centre for hindu's to come and pay hommage at the annual Thaipusam festival http://www.expat.com.my/thaipusam.htm

There are 272 very steep steps up to the caves, and in 35 degree heat and 89% humidity, it was no small feat. If we keep up this pace I am sure i will come home 5 kilo's lighter. (So look out for the new me when i arrive off the plane!!)

On our way to the caves we asked our taxi driver to stop so we could get some lunch. He asked us what we would like "McDonald's, KFC?" when we said we would like local food - some rice - he exclaimed "Oh you know how to eat rice? I didnt know you people knew how to eat rice!!"

We stopped at a small Indian eating place (couldnt call it a restaurant). We ordered some food that we knew they would have to cook especially for us (as we have been advised against ready made food). As we ate we had quite an audience of Indians watching (there is obviously no shame in staring here). At one point i bit down on a chilli and started to cough and my eyes began to water - much to the delight of the inidan staff.

Local food is very cheap - but anything in a restaurant is as much as it would cost in Australia. Today we had coffee at a shopping mall - it cost more than our dinner last night.

We are slowly getting used to the taxi system also. David found it quite stressful yesterday trying to bargain a price everytime we had to go anywhere, so today it was my turn. We checked at the tourist info centre about what a good price is from our hotel to the various places around - that was very helpful - but we realised just how much we have been ripped off over the last 2 days.

The trip from the airport was double what it should have been!!

It is quite funny speaking to the locals. There are certain phrases that they use that we dont use in English and I find myself saying those things to the boys at times. "My bad" instead of sorry,
"Ok, ok, ok" instead of "dont worry" - there is also an ettiquette when eating anywhere. You are suppose to go and sit down and wait to be served - which is not so unlike Australia - but what is funny is that if you deviate from the norm the staff get a bit flustered and keep gesturing for you to go back to the table. Today i went to look at what was available to eat and asked the cook some questions. The reaction was quite funny. I am sure they were wondering what this funny western woman was doing.

Well tonight we pack up so we can head out tomorrow for Penang. We are taking the 8pm sleeper train - which we are all looking forward to. During the day we are off to the deer park and Lake gardens before we head off to the train station.

Hopefully tomorrow will be cooler - well I can hope!!