I arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday 4th July in the afternoon, after a rather uneventful train trip from Butterworth, Penang (6.5 hrs).

Transport system in KL is rather good, with both the LRT (Light Rail Transit) and a monorail which offers good views of the city.

My hostel was in Chinatown, where most budget hotels are. I stayed at the Matahari Lodge 2, Pasar Seni, one stop away from Central Station. It's good value for money, if only lacking character or charm. Chinatown and Little India seem to overlap and offer a vibrant neighbourhood, with a few street restaurants, but not many bar or restaurant options.

As a friend from ZSL was also in KL that evening, we met up to go to a very good french restaurant, La Vie en Rose, set in an old colonial building. Highly recommended if a bit expensive. One last drink at La Bodega before bedtime.

I set off the next morning hoping to go up the Petronas Twin Towers, which was the highest building in the world from 98 to 2004 (when Taipei 101 took over, then in 2010 Burj Khalifa in Dubai) . Unfortunately the only remaining tickets were for that evening and as I was meant to meet up another friend from ZSL I couldn't go. I decided instead to walk to Menara KL (KL's tower), where the views are nicer anyway apparently (and higher than the sky bridge of the Petronas). Still, I was disappointed not to see the architecture of the Petronas from closer.

The Petronas Towers form part of KLCC (KL City Centre), a very large shopping centre around a lovely park with a lake and outdoor free paddling pools.

The rest of my day was spent sunbathing and strolling the district, before going (again) to the cinema to see Brave, the latest Disney Pixar movie (good story and a good role model who for once does not meet her Prince Charming and has no interest in doing so at the age of 16). And she's ginger.

I am now back in Bogor for my last few days in South East Asia, sad that this is coming to an end, but excited to go back to London for the Olympics, to see Nick and my friends and family.