The journey to Kuala Lumpur (KL from here on) was an easy one but unfortunately there was no A/C working or windows to open and travelling in Asia with no means of cooling down is anything but easy.But the scenery was beautiful and took my mind off the heat, as did the trusty Ipod.Harsh cliff faces neutralised by different tones of green as far as the eye could see.The beating Sun's rays occasionally highlighting bright coloured flowers, framed by the green around them.A very chilled ride aided by Jim Morrison and Roger Walters.

I got Pudu Raya station, KL and headed up Jalan Sultan (part of Chinatown and backpackers haven) to the hostel I'd read about; The Original Backpacker's Travellers Inn.'The Original' because since it's been mentioned in 'The Rough Guide', another fella opened one at the tope of the street.Same sign, same name and the same side of the road as 'The Original' but aided by the one way system.So no matter if you're walking from the bus station or catching an inner city taxi/bus, you'll hit the more expensive 'poser' before 'The Original'.Fortunately I'd been warned about this and walked straight by.

The fella at the front desk was (and is) extremely helpful, offering lots of services and information, if he can't help or doesn't know the answer he'll send you in the direction of someone/somewhere that will.After a quick shower, I had to get some money and head over to the Indian Embassy.So I flagged down a taxi and told him what needed to be done; cash then embassy.The first cash point rejected my card, so we headed to the next, again the same result.I started to get a little agitated but thought that maybe the local cash points didn't accept foreign cards, so we headed to HSBC and still it didn't work…….I was in trouble!I checked my wallet and I had about RM10 (Malaysian Ringgit) to my name, the equivalent of about 1 pound 40……..there was no way the cabbie could my last bit of cash.Sorry but it wasn't happening.I told him I had no money and my card wasn't working, so I had nothing to give him.Well as you can imagine he was less that happy with this Firang, and that's putting it mildly.He started to scream and shout and I do nothing but apologise.He put his foot down and sped off.

I was stranded, somewhere in KL with no map or my guidebook in my backpack.It took me almost two hours to find my way back to the hostel.The next day I'd find out I was a mere twenty minute walk away from where I needed to be…..oh well.

So I emailed Mum and Dad, stressing the importance of my situation, if it wasn't sorted by noon tomorrow I'd have no money to pay the hostel and would have to trek to the British Embassy.I phoned Dad and fortunately got through to him first time, I told him the situation and he was straight onto it.I was almost in tears, a hard thing for a 23yr old lad to admit but the stress of the last few days combined with my lack of sleep was taking its toll.I wanted to go home, I'd had enough!It seemed as though some unknown force just didn't want me to get to India.I'd used RM5 in my internet usage and calling Dad, I told him I'd check my mail in an hour, I did and there was no news.An hour later and I'd received an email from Dad saying that all was ok.I was down to my last RM3 (50p) so I hoped this was the case.I ran to HSBC and tried to use my card but after the same response from two cash points ('card rejected, contact your bank') I was back to square one.So I sent Mum and Dad another email and said I'd check again in another hour.I received an email from Dad and he mentioned he was trying to sort it with Lloyds but because it was me they needed to talk to (an impossibility with the money I had left) it was taking time.But he had wired some money via Western Union for me and thus yet again had come to my rescue, as Mum and Dad have done on numerous occasions this past year.Thankyou both!There was nothing I could do until morning, so I went up to the dorm.My stomach was rumbling like mad, all I'd had all day was a small pack of nuts, two sticks of gum and a 500ml bottle of water.I felt and looked like a zombie.

I spoke to a girl called Chelsea for about an hour, a fun lass from Vancouver Island, who helped cheer me up.She offered to buy me some food, I gave her my thanks but told her not to worry about it. We talked about travelling, Jaimie and the last 10 days and the numerous perils they've had for me.The lights went out and everyone around me gently drifted into their comas.I couldn't sleep.

I jumped out of bed at 8am, didn't bother with a shower I just wanted this sorted.I ran to the internet and used half of the RM2 I had left to my name.An email form Dad said that all was now definitely sorted.My card had been stopped due to irregular transactions, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia within 5 days.This despite the fact I'd told the bank my plans prior to leaving but fair enough, they were being cautious I guess.I strolled to the cash point and my card was released as quickly as I'd put it into the machine; 'What the *&^% is this?! This can't be happening, Dad said it was sorted!'.Ok, deep breaths.I try the next and it works, a sigh of relief sweeps through my veins and a broad smile appears on my face.Almost cracking the skin on my face that had been so accustomed to frowning in recent times.

Right. brekkie time.I gulped back a bottle of water, a nuclear coffee (I'll miss Asia's coffee, they seem to know exactly how Ian likes his……strong enough to make his eyes stand on storks) and a greasy sausage and egg chapatti.Beautiful, just what I needed.So then it was off to the Indian Embassy. Only to be told on arrival that I didn't want this office but the Indian Visa Office on the other side of town.So I head there, fill in my form and pay the RM40.She look sat my passport photo and looks at me, 'Your hair is very different from your passport photo sah, you look different.'Don't do this, please don't do this; 'Is there a problem?!' I snap.She assures me there's no problem and I apologise for my reaction.It'd been a stressful 48hr and I didn't need any new problems.I then headed to the Singapore Airlines office and ask to change my flight to the 13th, I'm told there are no flights on the 13th but I can fly on the 14th.I had to laugh, what do I actually need to do to get into India?!So I was due to fly on the 14th…….sorted, for now at least.It then strikes me, Dad's moved in the last year, I've given the Visa Office my old address…….idiot!I hunt through his emails and find the address, then run to the office for the easy change of details.I dare say it wouldn't have made a difference but I wasn't prepared to take that risk and bring about another set back.

I finally get into my first shower in over 48hrs and go for some food and a well earned beer.Two fried rice's, two chicken pies and a tiger beer later and I'm sat in front of the telly watching the weekend's footy highlights.Or as a Liverpool fan, that weekends 'low-lowlights'. Mission Accomplished.

The next day I decided to head to the main sight in KL, the Petronas Tower and also book my journey to Pulau Tioman.Pulau Tioman was voted on of the top ten islands in the world a few years back and seemed like an ideal location to relax and forget about the last few days.So I headed up to the Petronas Towers, leaving Jalan Sultan at about 4pm for the short walk ahead.I'd decided to get to the tower for nightfall as I'd heard this was 'THE' time to take in the tower in its full glory.First stop was to be the KL Tower, the second tallest building in KL offering panoramic views of the city below.A building that offers zero aesthetic pleasure and looks like a mighty penis extension with a UFO strapped to its top (the viewing centre).As seems to be the case with a lot of these buildings. 1970's Malaysian man saying 'Mine's bigger than yours.'

The views from the top were fantastic and you were able to gain perspective on KL's sheer size, with the vast central financial hub gently pilfering out into the wealthier suburbs encompassing the city. All nicely blended into one city through the grey haze sitting above, the beauty of smog.Reminding me a lot of gravy that brings together all parts of a Sunday Roast.But I can't linger on that for too long, as my mind has started to trail off to thinking about THE Sunday Roast of the year, Christmas Dinner!I was able to get some reasonable shots of Jalan Sultan (Chinatown), the area I was residing at and the Petronas Towers, a short distance away.Before leaving for the Petronas Towers, I wondered around the forest at the base of the KL Tower.A surreal part of the city, for you're in the heart of the financial district, at the base of one of the tallest structures but with the feeling of being in the heart of a rainforest.The local government has done exceptionally well to preserve such a habitat, that holds within it numerous species of birds and even the odd monkey.However I had to rush through it as I'd become supper for the small ecosystem's other inhabitants, mosquito's.You never seem to be too far away from the little s***s!

So then I headed to the Petronas Towers, a short walk of only 15 minutes.Fortunately, due to the height of the towers, I could look up to see where I needed to be heading, for I'd left my map at the hostel.I'm never too sure of how to refer to the structure' 'tower' or 'towers'.They are two separate structures, joined only at the base and by a small bridge halfway up, so to me it makes sense to refer to them as towers but the locals use 'tower'; hence my flipping back an forth in my writing here.The structure itself is magnificent and the second most beautiful building I've seen this trip, ahead of the Opera House and behind the Temples of Angkor.Soon to slip to third after the Taj Mahal I'm sure.It's structural lines look amazing, heightened by the reflective steel it's built from, light constantly reflecting back from the glass.

It took a while to find the perfect angle to fit the whole tower into a photograph.A walk back of about 400, down some steps and still having to arch your neck right back to capture it.It wasn't yet dark, so I walked about and decided to people watch.The area was youngster hangout heaven, all donning the latest trends and trying to look as western as possible.It's hilarious to see the lads with their latest 'manga cartoon' style haircuts, it has to take them longer than their Mum's, sister's and girlfriends combined to get their hair to stand how it does.As darkness fell I went back to take pics of the towers in their full glory; with their lights on against the backdrop of the night's sky.There's no other way to describe it than beautiful, so I won't try and they look like space shuttles ready for launch.A magnificent sight, that alone makes KL worth a visit.