More Trips

Hongpan April 25


Japan11 November 24


Korea6 April 24


Japan10 November 23


Taiwan5 April 23


Korea5 November 22


Korea4 May 22


Cape Otway April 21


Japan9 October 19


Frangland July 19


Korkong April 19


Japan8 October 18


China4 April 18


Japan7 October 17


Taiwan4 March 17


Japan6 October 16


Europe May 16


Japan5 November 15


Korea2 March 15

Even More Trips

HongJapWan March 2014
Sichuan March 2013
Tokyo3 October 2012
China2 August 2012
Japwan March 2012
China November 2011
Korea September 2011
Taiwan March 2011
London3 June 2010
Japan May 2010
London2 February 2010
London September 2009
SE Asia December 2005

South East Asia December 2005 - Page 5

Day 16 - Sunday December 18th, 2005

A lot of walking

Another day of much walking ahead!
First I go to times square, another megamall, I am a bit early and not much is open, starbucks is though, I have a frappe mocha cino something with about 11 extra things I dont want but seem to get - it costs a fortune, at least $5
Inside Times square they have 3 movie theaters including an IMAX on the 10th floor and an indoor rollercoaster.

South East Asia December 2005 - I take the monorail to preserve legs for the walking ahead.

I take the monorail to preserve legs for the walking ahead.


South East Asia December 2005 - Badly lit picture of the indoor rollercoaster, look closely and you can see the carriages at the top of the loop.

Badly lit picture of the indoor rollercoaster, look closely and you can see the carriages at the top of the loop.


I decide the best plan is to walk to china town, which takes about half an hour.
Despite being china town, it is quite clean, lots of fake watches, gucci handbags, dvd's, I buy the latest harry potter for about $2.

It comes without a jewelcase but with a glossy print of the cover ready for you to stick in your own case, all sealed in plastic with a barcode printed on the plastic - so its not just 1 guy with a lite on burner.
The fellow assures me it comes from 'master disc, not cam' and at first I am hopeful as it has a proper menu and the ratings screen and film company logos are sharp...but as soon as the movie starts, its just a cam.

South East Asia December 2005 - The entrance to the main street in china town.

The entrance to the main street in china town.


South East Asia December 2005 - The central market, selling crappy goods to tourists...german tourists seem to love buying the crap, who really wants a clock with the petronas towers

The central market, selling crappy goods to tourists...german tourists seem to love buying the crap, who really wants a clock with the petronas towers as hands? Germans.


South East Asia December 2005 - A tower I hope to go up, have to research further.

A tower I hope to go up, have to research further.


In the afternoon, I venture out again, this time exploring the monorails full path in both directions.
I end up back at times square for lunch in the food court, which was decent, and explored it some more....since its so huge.

South East Asia December 2005 - Looking down from the top of times square, the crowd is assembled at the bottom to watch 'miss weight loss asia' a beauty paegent where you lose weigh

Looking down from the top of times square, the crowd is assembled at the bottom to watch 'miss weight loss asia' a beauty paegent where you lose weight and win cash!


South East Asia December 2005 - Blurry shot looking down on the rollercoaster pictured from the bottom earlier.

Blurry shot looking down on the rollercoaster pictured from the bottom earlier.


Night shots

In the evening I decide to venture over to petronas towers again, for some night shots and to find dinner.
The attached mall has some classy restaurants on the top floor, but all are empty.
Near the bottom I find 'Authentic Italian Pizza and Pasta House', now I had pizza yesterday, but I can see a fat old italian guy making the bases by hand in front of a wood oven....sold.

I get seated near the window, but not quite, and soon after an American family sits between me and the window, at first I am a little annoyed as I was enjoying the view.....
Mom immediately produces from her fanny pack, 4 individually sealed medicated hand wipes and shouts at the kids, this is going to be great! I can stare right through them pretending to look at the view out the window and watch the hilarity unfold.
They seem to be quite well off, the children are wearing proper shirts and tailored shorts, with sandals, mom has on a formal looking skirt..adorned with a fanny pack, dad has slacks, a polo shirt and an expensive DSLR camera hanging around his neck..at the table

I order my food (more on that later) and wait for my new friends to decide, the children have allergies to almost everything, and the mother is checking the menu for gluten advice, its getting better by the second!
The children are asked what they would like to drink, and they want 7up. Dad says its ok since they are on holiday to have 7up. Mother does not agree, lets go with M for mom and D for dad
M: You know they cant have anything with food coloring because of their A.D.D.!
D: 7up is clear, it doesnt have any food coloring
M: Of course it does, it has clear coloring! If they didnt add the clear coloring it would be yellow from the lemon!

Kids start crying.
The poor waiter comes over for the order, and is asked a lot of questions by the mother, and the whole family cant understand the fellows good english, which has an asian accent to it, but I can understand him from where I am just fine
Shes asking him specific preservative numbers, eventually she gives up and they decide caesar salad is the best thing, but they have to order 2 of course. The grown ups get a regular chicken caesar, for the children...hold the cheese and cruotons. To drink they have water.

I eat my dinner the slowest I ever have in my life, but even so by this point I am done...and have to leave, a little dissapointed I couldnt watch the rest of the show.

Now to talk about my dinner!
It was probably the greatest pizza I have ever eaten in my life. The base was incredible, I had 'rustica' from the traditional menu, which is like nepolitana but with added capers and pepperoni.
As I was ordering I saw a salad go past and quickly added that as well, it was also brilliant, great sun dried tomatoes and fetta and olives on different lettuces with these really sweet fresh tomatoes like I have never had before, and a thick sweet balsamic dressing.
I want to go there again, do you think they do breakfast?

After dinner I venture out to the forecourt in front of the towers, and take some long exposed night shots.

South East Asia December 2005 - The fountain in front of the towers.

The fountain in front of the towers.


South East Asia December 2005 - Looking up at the towers, camera laying almost on its back, using its strap as a wedge.

Looking up at the towers, camera laying almost on its back, using its strap as a wedge.


South East Asia December 2005 - Different fountain, people walked through the shot giving the ghost effect.

Different fountain, people walked through the shot giving the ghost effect.


South East Asia December 2005 - Camera perched on top of electrical transformer cover.

Camera perched on top of electrical transformer cover.


South East Asia December 2005 - Looking back across the man made lake at the shopping mall with one of the towers in the middle.

Looking back across the man made lake at the shopping mall with one of the towers in the middle.


The end of my last full day in Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow I will leave for the airport in the afternoon, not sure of the logistics yet, need to check out of the hotel by noon, flight not until 2145.