Wow Malaysia -Part 2 Batu & Birds

Doing so much on my trip I need to break up my holiday post into lots of parts 

Thursday 26th - Batu Caves

The hubby and I headed off to the Batu caves while the little one got to spend the day with his Nana.

We got a tube to KL Central then on to a train. As many of you know I am part of a little train gang (see Amok in Amsterdam post for some of our antics) but I don't think we could get up to our usual shenanigans with these restrictions.

Transport is so cheap it was less that £2.50 for the both of us to get there and the Batu caves is the last stop so it wasn't that difficult to navigate. 

It was a hop skip and a jump away from the station and you are greated  by a huge statue of Hanuman (apologies if this is wrong I admit my knowledge of this is very limited) 

It's then a slight walk to the bottom of the main cave temple area.

It's up a lot of stairs, oh and what I didn't realise is women can't have there legs showing. Actually if I thought about it beforehand I probably could have worked it out as it is a place of worship. Only excuse apart from being an ingorant tourist is the heat it was around 34 degrees (90+ degrees Fahrenheit).

Luckily they are obviously used to dealing with this as they had sarongs you could hirer for a 5 ringgit deposit as that worked out to a £1 so we let them keep it. 

Going back to the heat for a minute, lots of stairs in direct sunlight was hard going we did need to stop a few times and luckily there's a place to get water at the top as I think I lost my body weight in sweat getting up there.

It is worth the climb the caves are just stunning you can really see why they made it into a temple the part where it opens up and let's in the sun it just breathtaking. 

The caves are also home to wildlife there are a few chickens and roosters.

But mainly Monkeys that roam free around the caves ( the do like to mug people for food, so keep a tight grip on your bag). 

They are fascinating to watch as they bound, jump, run, and leap around the cavernous space. Their Chattering fills the are and you feel like they are the guardians of this amazing space. 

After a bit of contemplation and a lot of Monkey watching we headed back down the steps. About a flight of steps down there's a side area into another cave the 'Dark Cave' where they had other animals and after reading this sign I decided against the tour.

As some of you might enjoy it but going into the darkness surrounded by bats (you could hear their chattering from the mouth of the chasm) you could also run into a trapdoor spider, is Not my thing in anyway shape or form.  

They do have more accessible caves if you are less able to tackle the steps. 

In the cave right next to the train station we came across this guy who seemed to be enjoying himself. 

The train ride back was welcoming with the nice sit down and the air conditioning.

At KL central where we changed I found this cut out and couldn't resist a shot for the train gang. 

As we didn't eat at the Batu caves, we where thinking about it but after seeing a woman getting expertly robbed by the monkey contingence we decided it was probably safer to find food in another location. 

As we had to head back through KLCC on the way home we decided to eat there and we had a Nandos. Okay I know I can have one back home, but they do have a Mayal twist to there offering.

Firstly you order at the table instead of going up to the counter. They didn't have any 'Red Pepper Dip' like they have at home so we tried the 'Vegetables Dip' it was quite nice with its spice twist. 

I had the same main I order in the UK, a chicken wrap (hot). The Malay one comes in more of a Roti/Naan bread rather than a tortilla wrap and the greens are chunky and cubed.

Also I don't know what they've done to the Mango but it's not happy lol

So even though it's a meal I could get back home I enjoyed the local spin on the food. 

The rest of the day was spent with the little man in the pool.

That evening we went to a restaurant in  the outside area surrounding the dancing fountains at the KLCC.

It was called 'Limoncello' and they made their own homemade Limoncello. Now being a few thousand miles away from Italy (I have sampled limoncello when I went to Rome) I decided to give it a go. To accompany my Prawn and courgette (zucchini) carbonara. 

 It was actually very good.

The meal was tasty and it was accompanied nicely by a cold glass of Pinot. I do like eating alfresco in the warm night air.

The little man also enjoyed watching the colour and the lights of the dancing fountains.

Friday 27th - Bird Park

My husband and father-in-law went to the Malaysia Grand Prix practice days so me and the Mum-in-law decided to take the little chap to the 'KL Bird Park' we got the tube to Pasar Seni and then proceeded to walk, a big mistake. We got lost but manage to navigate ourselves to the park it was located in. 

Once in the park there was a big hill to negotiate in the mid morning heat, with a heavy pram and an uncomfortable hot baby to push about. (Not fun) 

Luckily, well depending which way you look at it, we were saved by a buggy driver who for 4 ringgits loaded up the mother-in-law the baby still in the push chair and I on the back. He then proceeded to drive around the whole park at breakneck speed pointing out places of interest as we clung on to the pram and hoped for the best.  Health and Safety isn't the same there as it is back home lol. 

We made it to the park in one piece if not just a little windswept. 

It's a lovely park with all the birds roaming free and the little one did seem to enjoy some of it and was curious of the winged inhabitants. 

Unfortunately it's located on the side of a hill so we couldn't let the little one have free rom as some of the edges are a bit steep for comfort. I think if he was a bit older and more confident with the walking it would have been perfect.

A some of the birds are beautiful.

Even if they do sneak up on you Caw and make you jump out of your skin lol

So with the little one getting irritable especially with the in and outs of getting him back in the push chair we decided to head back.

For all our sakes we got a cab for the journey home, stopping on the way to partake in a particular nice margarita (well 3 but they were little) to steel our nerves after the days events.  

Then spent a pleasent later afternoon resting before having a night in exchanging stories about our day with the boys when they got back..

Wow Malaysia - Part 1

Been  here just over a week and I have fallen in love with KL.

So I left off from my last post and we were heading for the Aquarium 

Tuesday 24th

It wasn't the biggest aquarium but actually perfect for a little one there was a couple of interaction spots and then a great underwater walkway. 

It was on a conveyer belt so it just takes you round at a leisurely pace allowing the little man to take everything in. 

I would give it two thumbs up and a definite for any trip with the family in KL  

We then went to the Pavillion shopping centre for something to eat I had some delicious Hong Kong Duck

With a few steam dumplings it was a lovely meal and so cheap paid about £5 for the whole thing. 

On the way back we popped into the super market to get some milk for the little one. Can get nearly everything I need from him apart from baby meals there lots of fruit pouches, yogurts and snack but not a lot of dinner. I suppose that a good thing as homemade is always best.

I was facinated by the fish counter not only are there Angry Bird Fish bites, (which I'm sure kids back home would love)

They also seem to do a great line in Fish heads 

Not sure what I could do with these apart from scare my friends. Although I'm sure there is a fantastic Malaysian recipe to use these in.

So to top off the night I had a Margarita in Dim Sum Sally. 

Wednesday 25th

We went to China Town and Central Market.

China Town seems to be in an old colonial quarter as it is based next to a line of old british buildings. Unfortunately they are falling into disarray and I'm worried that rot will set in and soon they will be lost forever.

Central Market is like a Middle eastern bizzare with loads of cute shops I bought a gift for my train gang friend but can't tell you what as it will ruin the surprise.

Even Found a place to stop to have a drink  

Although it wasn't till after we started drinking my husband noticed the rat running around the glass area just off the street. 

I'm so glad everything for the baby is prepackaged from supermarket or from the in- laws as I don't mind being adventurous and eating/drinking in street venue but not for him.

KL Chinatown is a bit of a hawkers paradise with fake Nike, Rolexs and DVDs everywhere. Not really my sort of thing and I was disappointed that there wasn't that many street food places.

Just off the main drag is a Chinese Temple 

It was very interesting to look around and we bought some prayers (which you burnt in a oven) for a couple of friends back home who are going for some stuff. 

It was really peaceful apart from when I gave a donation. As the donation box had a sensor and (I assume) thanks you in a very loud voice for your donation. 

On the way home through KLCC they were having a corporation event with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg meeting fans 

Some people had been waiting 9 hours we just waited 20 mins got a glimpse then headed outside to watch the dancing fountains 

 

And take in the stunning views of the towers at night.. 

Back home ready for the next day and the Batu Caves 

Best Flight Ever & Giant Prawns

So We've made it to the wonderful Mayalsia. 

Can I just say it's amazing only been here two full days and I've fallen in love with the city. 

Getting here was also actually a pleasent experience. How? I hear you say, especially with a toddler as we all know long haul and little ones aren't the perfect mix but I think I found the solution, Emirates. Especially Emirates Business class, if you can. Truth be told our upgrade was a lovely Crimbo gift from my Father in Law. It made all the difference as the little one had to be on one of our laps.

It wasn't only the leg room the staff were so nice honestly the friendliest and most helpful people I've ever come across flying. 

It all started in the airport lounge, getting us water to heat up the babies food, another person finding us toys for the little and the rest taking the time to interact with him when ever he toddled by. (As it was such a big space he had to do a lot of exploring). 

I even found time to have a bit of a relax when the hubby took the little one on a wander 

The first leg of our trip was on the A380 a very swish plan, I could see what all the fuss was about. The friendliness of the staff continued with a cuddle toy with a blanket for the little one and a drink a some nibbles for me and there was ample room for both of us.

The food on the flight was also amazing I had a lovely Mezza 

While watching 'The Penguin of Madagascar'. The food I have to say for airline food was top notch; and I don't actually mind the bog standard airline food.

It was well presented and I liked the fact I had options. There was other snack on board if you were still peckish and a bar, didn't  get a pic as I only saw it in passing with a little one to settle I couldn't really make use of it. But the patron using it looked like they were having fun. 

We had a stop over in Dubai. The airport is fab and they also have Emirates strollers you can borrow to get the little one around. We headed straight for the lounge and found a little play which the little one enjoyed exploring they also have fountains which enthralled him.  

Then it was off on the second leg of our trip to Kuala Lumpur. The plane was an older A777-300, but what it lacked compared to the A380 (even though it was a perfectly nice plan) it was made up for but the brilliant and I do mean totally brilliant staff. They couldn't do enough,  so helpful.

More toys to keep the little one amused and the even took some Polaroids of him in a captains hat as a momento of the trip. 

The boys got some more sleep, so I got to have a relax another nice meal and a couple of movies. A little oasis of calm  which I thought was impossible when flying with an infant.

Although now I have definitely spoilt myself for other flights. I don't think I can go back, will have to have long periods between holidays now so I can save up to get this comfort and service all the time. 

As now I've had a bite know I definitely want another.

Arried in KL the least flustered I've ever been getting off a plane and was met by two things an emence wall of heat and my in laws. The heat is just amazing and was very welcome as leaving a near freezing mostly wet England to a humid tropical lo-cal is just what I needed. (Fingers crossed the weather perks up a bit for our return).

Got a taxi in to the heart of town back to the in laws apartment in a lovely block just round the corner from the Petronas twin towers. As we arrived in the evening and wanting to get our body clocks sorted we got some sleep. 

Our first day in KL was a slow paced affair we walked round to get a closer look at the towers that dominate the skyline. 

They are really beautiful but I don't think my brain can process that they are really there. They don't look real like some kind of Hollywood special effect.

We spent the rest of the day just looking around the shopping centre at the bottom of the towers.

Then back to the apartment for a dip in the pool. oh yes a fully serviced pool and a kiddies pool for the little one.

The food on the first day was a nice but was like back home, the In-laws took us to an Italian restaurant for lunch and for dinner we had lamb chops and veg. All very nice but no really very Malaysian. 

Although I did try a local drink Kickapoo Joy Juice 

Who knew, joy taste like citrus.

Our second full day was a bit more adventurous. We slept late in due to jet lag and after another pool trip and then us getting ready we went out for a late lunch and I had my first taste of Malay food. 

In the guise of a giant prawn. It was a monster, more a-kin to a lobster rather than the tiny prawns we get back in the UK 

It was accompanied by rice some curry sauce and fried spicy potatoes. It was so yum and I loved the spiciness of the potato next to the meat of the Prawn. Well after I won the battle to get into it. 

It was so filling I didn't feel like eating any dinner so after a beer in the warm night air I turned in.

So now up on my third full day and ready for fun we're going to take the little one to the KLCC Aquarium. I wonder if I'll see any of the prawn's friends lol :)  

Sorry :(

Just to say sorry it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. I've had a sick child, with a virus and conguntivitus to boot so I've have no time for much lately let alone cooking or eating out, boo :(

Although a friend of mine did bring back some intersing sweets from Hong Kong which were funky and yummy 

The pooh ones were my favourite as the candy was Mickey ear shaped lol 

But I promise to make it up to you all as I'm off to Malaysia tomorrow for 2 and a half weeks so I hopefully will be posting loads as I plan to try loads of different foods and new experience.

So excited!!! roll on the sun, fun and food :)