"Mermaids must be very small if they ride on sea horses," observed Trixie on today's visit to Aquaria at KLCC.
"In fact they must be so small that they are almost invisible to the naked eye," ought to suffice as the parental response. Aquaria is a pretty impressive fish tank, as fish tanks go, and it certainly got the requisite number of wows and whoas from small Lawrences. On the conveyor belt thing that took us through, well under, the main tank of sea creatures I enjoyed the "Daddy look at that's" as much as the swimming beast themselves, although I continue to be slightly in awe of the rays. Thanks to having a Malaysian work permit we also enjoyed discounted admission, which is a bonus too.
In an attempt to try to appear organised I had also packed, thanks to Trixie organising them, the children's swimming stuff and a towel which meant that all three could cool off from the air-conditioned aquarium by having a splash in the play fountains in KLCC, in view of those famous towers.
Having tried three times to go up the Petronus Towers and failed on each occasion I have now officially retired from any further attempt at such tourism. Part of this is motivated by the sky-high cost of going up said towers. At RM85 per adult (£17) that is pretty much one ringgit per storey and having made that calculation my thoughts turned to cash strapped UK local authorities. If people will pay Malaysia's national petrol company top prices to go up in a lift in their office block then could councils such as Wolverhampton do the same? The Civic Centre is all of four storeys high and so at RM 4 per adult (80p) a lift ride and office tour would be pretty good value as well as generate some income for the City. Ok it might not have the glamour of KLCC but if people re silly enough to pay £17 quid for a tour of an office surely some would love the chance to take pictures of The Molineux from meeting room three and then pose with the Mayor's official hat on in his/her parlour. It worth further consideration, methinks.
To get as close an effect to KL, but in Wolverhampton, the City Council would have to employ official whistle blowers. Not the sort of ones who kiss and tell about what really happens on the dark corners of meeting room two but the ones who stand and blow whistles at tourists. Right next to the KLCC fountains a spectacularly dressed security officer is employed to stand in the area and blow her whistle with gusto and ferocity at anyone who dares to walk on the path that have "No shoes" signs next to them. Today's security guard does look quite fearsome and when standing at her full 4'10", blasting on her whistle, she looks like someone who would relish the chance to lay into an errant shoe wearer. Tourists and very small mermaids riding seahorses, particularly those wearing horseshoes, be warned.