17 December 2005
Arriving at KLIA at 0445
I am first at every stage, through customs, immigration, baggage collection, and I am not even racing, its surreal, the airport is empty some stores are open and often sales persons are asleep at the counter, my footsteps reverberate through the large terminals.
The transit train from satellite terminal to main terminal has just myself a security guard, and the malaysian airlines cabin crew from my flight who dont have to go through immigration.
I even take the line of taxi hawkers by surprise who dont realise I am wheeling my bag out until I am getting in the lift.
I find a money changer open, change my rupees for ringitts, and proceed to the floor for the express train into the city. I am the only person there, but the machine works and the sign says a train will be there in 2 minutes.
I have an entire train to myself, I walked around leaving my bags unattended just because I can, the train ride is 100km or so, lasts about 25 minutes.
The last step of the puzzle is to get from Kuala Lumpur central station to my hotel and see if I can check in at 7am.
Theres a line of taxis outside the station, but all the drivers are asleep, seats fully reclined, I walk to the head of the cue and start banging on a sleeping taxi drivers window, he has the stereo up loud to help him sleep, and it takes some effort to wake him.
We negotioate the price, even though he has a meter and tracking systems and touch screen...and drive to the hotel.
Luckily I am able to check in! It costs a few dollars but I can have a small sleep, very relieved.
I wake up 4 hours later at 11am, get dressed and go for a walk.
The Shangri-La hotel where I am staying.
Inside one of the large shopping malls.
I have lunch at an italian place, la dolce vita, a pizza and a massive ice coffee, it is very nice and reasonably priced, I catch the monorail back to the hotel and test out the internet. I have to pay, broadband ethernet, but its very fast and reliable, unlike wifi.
I start my RCC track - if you dont know what that is, ask me some time.
Soon, I decide its time for another walk, this time to petronas towers.
From afar they dont look that big, once you get closer, they are pretty large.
The central bridge section.
Another shot...
There is of course, a shopping mall located under the towers, All designer label stuff, not too much that interests me. Annoyingly, they play xmas carols very loudly, and not the instrumental version, OH COME! ALL ! YE ! FAITHHHHFULLLL!!!!
After leaving the petronas towers mall, I decide to head back to the other malls and locate the outback steakhouse, to fulfill my destiny, on the way there are many scooters.
And there it is! All hail the global American franchise (except for Australia) celebrating Australian food and culture!
hmm.....the food and decor seems to be similar to the Australian chain called 'hogs breath cafe', but somehow its just not as good.
The ambience of Australian style.
On the walk home I spot the towers down a side street, disable my cameras flash, set the 10 second timer, lean it up against a street signpost on the footpath...not too bad, i will try for better tomorrow.
Returned to hotel, updated page, tried to work on RCC, went to sleep....