Country bumpkins in KL
December 26
Kuala Lumpur
After several days in and around the village, it was time to check out the big city, Kuala Lumpur. Jay drove us there and instructed us how to get back to Seri Kembangan via bus. The drive would normally take 20 minutes but with the traffic, it could take 45 minutes or more. This was what happened to us on the way in. Just like home in Manila! 
Jay dropped us off at the Central Market, and from there we walked around the Indian part of the area and then crossed over to Jalan Petaling, the Chinese district famous among backpackers.
(Left photo) Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What country bumpkins we were!
I certainly got dizzy and confused. Well, I should surely be used to city chaos but after being in Kerala for nearly 3 weeks, the sensory assault of KL was quite a big leap from the laid-back setting of Koliyoor.
Anyway, Trevor and I did mange to roam about Chinatown, not really knowing what to look for - well except maybe for some crocheting threads. Unfortunately, because we took so long in traffic, it was already 5PM and the shops were starting to close. The street markets were just starting to open up, though, so the streets were getting more and more crowded.
So we decided to cross to the other side and visit a mall near Kota Raya.
Dinner was at an Indian restaurant from across Jalan Petaling. Quite good and certainly very filling. It was quite late when we took the bus back home. It got dark after 7PM, so one didn’t really notice how late it was…
Back in Seri Kembangan, I felt that familiar comfort again. We walked down Jalan Pasar several blocks to the house. It was a pleasant evening. Many of the village kedai kopi were still awake, but things didn’t feel harried or rushed - it was still very laid back.
Surely KL has its charms too. Especially that lively diverse part of the city. For some people, the anonymity of living in the big city is the attraction, and for others, it is the familiarity, intimacy and connection. Perhaps KL offers both. But in Seri Kembangan, like old Baclayon Town in Bohol, everybody knows everybody…