Kuala Lumpur---days, # 1 & 2.......

                  Now have achieved a couple of days foot-loose on the streets of Kuala Lumpur (KL to the

Meeting fashion models.....

initiated!). Laugh not....this city is a maze of narrow streets in the central area surrounded by a network of 'almost' motorways, ringing it to the outside, criss-crossed with a maze of above and below ground subway stations. The city is dotted with a number of 'signature' futuristic sky-scrapers and often the best way to orientate, for this navigation challenged traveller, is to look skyward ---spot a land-mark structure, note it on the map and begin walking in the required direction. My hotel is near central market (since 1831, the foundation stone claims)--in fact not a pig, or a head of lettuce to be seen---all has been gentrified into restaurants and tourist nic-nac boutiques. Stating to the subway ticket seller this evening, that the 'central market' destination was wanted, I was irritatingly mis-directed to "Sentral" yes, spelt with an 'S', the largest inter-change in the KL transport system. Anyway, survived this tour of the underground system & circuitously made it back to my hotel in the late afternoon heat and with sore feet to prove it!
           My KL walking expedition today, took

Petronas Twin Towers.....  84 floors.

me to the famous twin Petronas Towers. Not sure that it is the tallest anything, but does claim that it is the worlds highest connected twin towers. They seem to build a "worlds highest/biggest almost every month some where in the world. The structure incorporates at its base a massive high-end, a scenic lake with foot paths, swimming pool and park like settings for all to enjoy. The tower visitor viewing experience is very professionally handled & very similar to the high security check-in at the airport---- there is a complete security check, colour coded neck tags provided for all. Visitors are required to be individually photographed prior to boarding the elevators---except that this 'space traveller' was just waived through---no photo required! Perhaps it was the half price, old age pensioners ticket in hand that persuaded the 'authorities'  that he was not a security threat. An expensive treat for a family man with wife & two teen-agers in tow at 360 MR ($90US).
The view from the 86th floor was spectacular on this day of leaden grey skies. The viewing area, spacious and all

Something for all tastes....

decked out with marble floors and walls and surrounded with large interactive monitors providing

visitor information on construction, dimensions etc. No line-ups encountered as the visitor flow is controlled efficiently by the coding on the neck-tags.
        After descent from the towers and proceeding to the bowls of the Earth, several levels below ground to locate supermarkets and the food court, to replenish energy and the all important liquid levels, I emerged into an exceptionally large pedestrian friendly lakeside park complete with fountains and surrounded by the impressive buildings of the KL financial district. Falun Gung was in attendance, providing the spectacle of a mass (perhaps 50 people) in some type of hypnotic state. I photographed a very conservative Muslim lady, totally, 100% veiled in

As viewed from the 86th , floor.

black, posing unself-consciously in front of a Santa to get her photo taken. Apparently the Malaysians, majority Muslim, do not find it at all incongruous that many public spaces are all decked out in Christmas finery with stores big and small loaded with Christmas merchandise. A true multi-cultural society.