I love the anonymity of Kuala Lumpur. After two months of being either the only white girl in town, or one of a clump of tourists in an economically depressed town thronged by touts and hopeful tour guides, it's a marvel to walk throught the streets ignored.
Malaysia is also way more ethnically diverse, linguistically as well, than any of the Indonesian islands seemed. If you compare Indonesia as a whole, with hundreds of languages and 17,000 islands, many with distinct cultural and linguistic traits, Indonesia is a far more diverse place. But each of the islands compared with Kuala Lumpur falls short in diversity. Here, there are Chinese, Malay, Indians, and more. The food offerings are a delight after the steady diet of fried rice, fried noodles, or overcooked tempeh/tofu.
I have grown to love fried chicken. I broke my vegetarianism when I came down with food poisoning; it was the only pre-cooked dish to look halfway edible. And now I'm hooked (for now). KFC is big in Asia. Like Mickey D's in America.
The malls are gargantuum, shiny, sterile, overpriced. The prices are commensurate with the United States. I found it alarming to go from dirt streets and onion farms in the cold mountain town in Indonesia to Nike stores and chain food restaurants in a shiny glass building two days later.
Streets are well manicured and fountains and flowers are sprinkled amidst the city in its many parks.
I had wanted to go straight to the ticket counter when I arrived in KL and book myself a flight straight away from Malaysia, but after coming here, I've realized that there are delights in the city. I met a guy from San Luis, my hometown, in the bar attached to my hostel - what are the chances? - and as he leaves the military in 40 days we traded views (many similarly inclined) about the state of the world.
Travel magic continues....
