Flowing Asia: Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

Going from Japan (the cleanest country in the world) back to Malaysia (pretty raw and rugged) was a bit of a shock to the system. It took me a good hour at the airport to get used to this new situation. But do not worry, I'm fine now!



I got a nice view of Kula Lumpur on the way down:

I also did an express visit of Penang and I finally had the chance to be on the famous bridge:

It is a nice bridge, yep!



Here I am in KL, capital city of Malaysia. I don't know why but I loved the city straight away, it's a mix of modern and cool with traditional and oldschool.

The modern bit is located in the business/shopping area of the city, the Golden Triangle. You have the Petronas Twin Towers, probably the coolest building ever made:

Even better at night time:

With the fountains in the KLCC park nearby:

The KL Tower, you can't miss it:

There are loads of shopping malls too:

But I didn't come all the way to Malaysia to end up at H&M...

The public transport system is also very reliable, efficient and cheap. Forget about rip off taxis, that's what we like! This is the Monorail, get in:




But KL is also a very traditional city with temples and older buildings. You have some for all tastes:
-Chinese:

-Hindu:

-Islamic styled museum of textile:

-Moghul architecture with the Sultan Abdul Samad Building:


If you start venturing out you will also come accross China Town (here Petalling Street):

And Little India:



The city is also packed with Muslim temples, this is the National Mosque, with a European feel to it:





In the North of the city, you can find the Batu Caves, which is an important Hindu shrine.

Shrine:

Big statue of Murugan (40 meter high). On the left you can see the steps to go to the actual caves! It's hot and difficult, the fatties struggle I'm telling you!

When you get up there, there are a temples and statues... You get a nice view of the city:

And there's loads of monkeys, misbehaving, trying to steal anything that smells good:




In other news:
-Rusty jungle!

-Wow it's Christmas soon, it doesn't feel like it when you're wearing shorts!

-Sand drawing at an Hindu wedding!

-Big pole!!! (the biggest pole and flag I've ever seen was in Texas, it was impressively enormous!)

-Graffiti, I haven't seen much of them:


-Houses in the suburbs:

-Mhhhhh food:
Curry mouton with rice & poppadoms on banana sheet... 1 EURO!!!

Back on the fruit tip, papaya party:

-This picture is unedited, true story!



I also went to a jam called Circle Free here. It was fun. be reassured, I still got it

I'm sorry but for once, I will finish on a bad note. For weeks I've heard and read about a fruit called Durian. Some people say it's delicious, some say it's horrible. The general consensus and is that it smells really bad but once it's on your mouth, it can be a pleasant surprise (no dirty joke intended!).

So I decided to try since there are a few stalls selling it next to my place... 

The bottom line is... IT HATE IT!!! I couldn't even finish it, I hate wasting food but I just couldn't eat it!

-The stand:

I would put a picture of the actual fruit but I dont want to promote it...

It's a tough life!

Flowing Asia: Japan - Nara & Osaka

My last 2 days in Japan. I've been tired from lack of sleep and my body hurts from all that walking. I'm getting too old for this traveling business!
I don't know when I will be back to Japan so I had to cram as much as I could, we'll sleep at Christmas!



The first stop is Nara, situated next to Kyoto and Osaka. Nara is another former capital of Japan and is classed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It's packed with temples, as you would imagine!
-The first one you encounter is Kofukuji:
 
-This is Todaiji Temple, massive:
-Deep down in the forest, you have the Kasuga Taisha Shrine and its 2000 stone lanterns:



Nara is also famous for its special habitants: DEERS! I m not exaggerating, those things are everywhere, chilling in total liberty and hustling to get some crackers from tourists (they're a bit like crack fiends but cuter). There's so many of them, at first I took loads of pictures but you see them literally everywhere!
-Just chilling:

-I found this sign very amusing, please be careful:




My Japanese experience wouldn't be complete without a few nights in a capsule hotel! Those are normally used by white-collar workers when they go on business trip or miss the last train home! This one also accepts tourists and it might be the cheapest hotel in Japan. It has all you need so why not!
-Bottom bunk:
 
-There is always room for improvement:

(sumo fight on TV, so stereotypical)


My last stop in Japan is Osaka. It's the 3rd largest city in Japan and it feels more relaxed with maybe less sites to see. To be honest, I've seen so many shrines, temples and castles lately, it's a good job.
Osaka by day from the 36th floor, vast:


This is the Osaka Castle (which they should rename Osakastle, just saying!) and the beautiful gardens surrounding the place.
-The main tower:
 
-Just checking out nobody is attacking the fort:
 
-Local flora:



This is around Shinsaibashi , it's the shopping area of the city, full of trendy kids... The arcades and Ebisubashi bridge:
 



In the south of the city, near Namba station, this is the entertainment area.
-The Tsutenkaku tower is crazy. It was built it in 1912 as a tribute to France by mixing "l'Arc de Triomphe" and the Eiffel Tower. It got burnt down and rebuilt, in the 1952, this time, not copying anyone. This is what it looks like now:
 
-They love Billiken here too! Loads of statues around... (I didn't know what it was either)



I also went training with the local bboys at Namba station. I put on extra layers and it wasn't that cold. The scene is strong here, some very inspiring dancers!

And the floor was so clean. You know when you train outside and your hands are black, well not in this case! I should have taken a picture, my hands were cleaner after I trained than before.


In other news:
-Because some weirdos grope girls at peak time, women get their pirvate carriage!

-Osakastle:

-The cheapest vending machine in Japan, for sure! A drink normally costs at least 100 yens!




Japan is expensive compared to the rest of Asia but it's completely worth it! I love the country. Japanese people are the nicest ever. The customer service is at such a high standard, it might well be impossible to top up!
The only thing I really wanted to see is some sumo action (either a game or a training camps)! I kind of forgot and then didn't have enough time...

I will have to go back!