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Postcards form a Backpacker

In 2005 an Englishman by the name of Mark Inns followed in the footsteps of explorers of old and embarked on an adventure that would see him circumnavigate the globe through the wilds of Africa round to the Rio Carnival in South America. Read about his adventures in the online diary and discover some of the journeys highlights.

Day 179

Kuala Lumpur Petronas Towers

Posted in South East Asia, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Being in Kuala Lumpur, or as its known for short “KL” it feels like being back in western civilisation. Most people speak English and most of the signs are also primarily in the same language. KL is said to be the blueprint for a modern city, and you can see why. Transport is easy using the city’s network of trains, subway trains and the monorail. The city is full of western influence and you find a McDonald’s on every corner. The massive shopping centre next to the Petronas Towers, is full of brand name shops, such as Gucci, Sony and Marks and Spencer’s.

Although accommodation and the cost of living is much higher than that of the rest of Asia, it has been a nice break form the constant Eastern culture of late. The cheap accommodation is in the city’s China Town district, where there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses to chose from. There is also a covered market, where you can buy anything from clothes to copied watches. There is also the influence of F1, due to a race being held here just two weeks ago. The market stalls are full of F1 shirts, I have yet to try haggling to see how much one is, but I suspect less than they would cost if you brought one at Silverstone on race day.

The reason I came to KL was to visit the Petronas Towers. The famous two tower building linked with a sky bridge as featured in the Hollywood film, ‘Entrapment’. Although no longer the world’s tallest building, as it once was. Today, Monday, the sky bridge is not open, so I’ll be back tomorrow for that before I catch a bus north to Georgetown on the west coast of Malaysia.

Angkor Wat

Langkawi Shark Fin Soup

Destination

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Malaysia Country Profile

  • Population: 25.7 million
  • Capital: Kuala Lumpur
  • Area: 329,847 sq km
  • Official language: Bahasa Malaysia
  • Currency: Ringgits

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country’s history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore’s secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.