The day started well in Kuala Lumpar and we met our friend Linda at our hotel just gone ten o'clock. It was really good to see her. After the hellos were over we headed off in a taxi to the twin towers which are well worth seeing both in the daytime and at night.
We took Rosemarie to several shoe shops but she denied all temptation, which was an exhibition of strong resolve on her part. Linda suggested we go for an early lunch as she had booked us onto a four hour walking tour of KL in the afternoon and we had to register at 2.30.
I had beef with noodles, Rosemarie had Char Ke Teow? And Linda had a prawn soup with noodles, we filled this with two pudding s which we shared. One of the puddings was hot sago with pieces of yam and sweet potatoe in it. Both were nice but a little sweet for me.
We then took the rain to central market before we registered for the walk called "Love, Eat , Pray". The walk included some "food sampling". We were the only two people on the walk so our guide , Sean, suggested we start straight away, so we did. We were just a little disconcerted than Linda had decided that she was not going to do the walk. We walked to Merdaka Square, and were shown pictures of the tin mining on which KL was founded. Just like being in Cornwall really.
We were shown the old British colonial buildings and within about half an hour were taken to an Indian restaurant for our first sampling. The restaurant was well hidden away, you approached it down a dinghy alley where stone masons were working carving statues, and the went up a staircase. The carpet looked although it had been laid in 1925 and was threadbare, the walls needed a new coat of paint and the restaurant looked like an old transport cafe. Our food was served without ceremony from a four part container straight onto a banana leaf. This was not the sort of place you would normally find us in at all. We were not helped by the fact we had had a large lunch about an hour before. Certainly we could not do justice to the food which was very tasty. Sean demanded that we eat with our fingers and then told us the etiquette to end the meal. Banana leaf folded down from the top=good meal, banana leaf folded up from the bottom suggests you were not happy with the food.
We left to go and get a plastic bag of iced lemon tea from another restaurant a street away, and whilst we were waiting for it to be prepared a large mouse ran across the floor of the restaurant pursued by the owner who shooed it under a food counter.
We were then taken to the oldest Chinese temple in KL which was very interesting and then to the oldest Hindu temple where we watched a ceremony. Then off to China town stopping on the way to try a Durian Puff. Neither Rosemarie nor I enjoyed the taste of this king of the fruits.
It was then into China Town where were bought a very sweet fruit drink and a peanut pancake, apparently this was how poor Chinese families used to mangage on a limited budget.
By now we were three quarters through the walk, we were so full we could hardly move, but on the way back to our starting place we had to try a tissue roti and a banana roti, both of which were delicious.
By the time we got back to Linda we couldn't eat any more, but we had to try a mangosteen which was very nice. We did point out in no uncertain terms tht they should warn people not to eat lunch before they attempt this walk.
We walked through the old central market before going back with Linda to see the twin towers at night, not only were the towers worth seeing but the fountain display in the park at the base was excellent. We went and had a beer and Linda ordered some snacks which miraculously we found some room for. Sadly it was then time to say goodnight so we walked with Linda back to the subway station and after a few stops said our farewells.
We had had a truly memorable day and we couldn't thank Linda enough. If you fancy losing half a stone We would thoroughly recommend this tour as a way of finding about a city.