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Yesterday afternoon, while Lexi and children enjoyed time by the hotel pool, I ventured out into KL to try to get the Lawrence GPS updated to include Malaysia. Driving in KL is tough enough, even worse when you only have the vaguest of ideas about where you are going so an accurate GPS for the newcomer is a must. Instead of taking a taxi, which are generally very cheap at around RM15 per journey I took the train instead. Having paid my RM1 (about 20p) my train to KL Sentral arrived on time and was chilled to the regulation refreshing temperature inside. I was careful though not to sit or stand in the "Ladies Only" waiting area and was equally careful to avoid the women only carriage.
Yes, that is right, a Ladies Only Area. I know that Malaysia is officially a Muslim Country but it did feel strange being segregated. My only other experience of Ladies Only was from a Dick emery film of many years ago when he was playing one of his many drag characters. Quaint Jane Austin inspired visions what a Ladies Only carriage might involve came to my mind: pleasant glasses of sherry served to women who were busy tackling embroidery and chattering about the season while in the far corner a younger woman played the pianoforte. Clearly I will never be able to find out if this vision is an accurate one, I can only hope that it is.
I managed to get the GPS uploaded with Malaysia maps at Low Yat Plaza a small, but packed five-storey mall full of anything and everything IT. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and packed full of people buying and selling. I found the stall specializing in GPS and for RM50 got the Malaysia maps uploaded, much better than the official upload that was available from Garmin for US$99.99.
Later that afternoon I had my first ride on a KL driverless train to Bangsar and also saw a Chinese Dragon pole dancing. Nothing seedy about it it was exactly as I have described. Two men inside a Chinese Dragon were jumping rhythmically from top to top of 3 metre poles, accompanied by percussion. It appeared to part of wedding celebration and was cheered on by quite a crowd.
On Friday evening the whole gang of recent arrivals, us included, went on a school organized trip to Selangor. We enjoyed a view across to the sea, really must go to the beach soon, accompanied by a group of tame monkeys. The monkeys greatly enjoyed the bananas that we brought from very keen, moped riding fruit sellers. After the monkeys it was off for a feed over looking the river and then after dark we were taken on a boat trip to watch really quite beautiful fireflies. It was a late return to KL, but well worth it.
More news soon.