Back on the blog...:)

Cassie and I took the 9am train to KL...which didn't actually leave until 10am (I wasn't in Cassie's good books as she could have had an extra hours sleep, but she was kept happy with a Starbucks coffee)! The journey went really quick as usual these days I slept and looked at the scenery. We arrived at about 1pm, so took a walk around China town in the afternoon and grabbed some food. We stayed in a hostel called Reggae Mansion. This place really is a mansion...it's got over 200 beds in the place and Cassie and I stayed in a 24 bed dorm. You think that's crazy and that you would have no privacy, but it was awesome. The room was massive. In fact, take a look at the pictures here: (stupidly I didn't take any!) We had our own little booth, with a mirror and socket, the beds were massive and we had a curtain to pull across for some peace. It was heaven, I know several people who literally stayed in the hostel all day enjoying the air con and comforts of the dorm. In the middle of the room were big sofas where you could just chill out and chat too which was really nice and it was where Cassie and I met friends. In the evening we went to Chinatown for some street food with two guys from the hostel and then chilled outside with a beer before heading up to the rooftop bar for some more drinks and the addition of some music. Some people discovered some beer that was 14% alcoholic...most of them actually disliked the taste but were still drinking it for the novelty!

In the morning we went to enjoy our free breakfast...beans on toast, watermelon, apple juice and tea and coffee. Of course I ate as much as I could until I felt sick (why do I never learn!) haha. We eventually made it out of the hostel at about midday and wondered around the city using Cassies trip advisor app. I didn't realise how cool the app was as it had walking tours, a map, suggested sites to see, places to eat..I could go on! So we saw the sights, then just kept walking, went in one of many shopping centres to enjoy the air conditioning and to avoid the heavy rain at 4pm. The day involved exploring the area, getting a little lost, trying some more food, and we ended up at a bar that was Ladys Night..."danger" right there! This involved free cosmopolitans ALL night, from 9pm until 1am so we spent the evening having a good old girly natter, sipping on cocktails and watching people pass by on the balcony. It was a great night and before we knew it, it was about midnight. We took a taxi back to the hostel and spent the rest of the night on the rooftop bar where all the others were. I was tagged in a few photos on facebook from this night!

Cassie and I were a little worse for wear on Wednesday 13 March, as you can imagine, but I was determined to do something. So after I had breakfast, leaving Cassie in bed, I got us up and took us to see Batu Caves. It was a couple of train rides away, but we got there eventually and Cassie was glad I dragged her there, despite being hung-over and having to walk up a million steps. The cave was massive and different - with stalactites (I had never seen in a cave like that...I just thought they were created by water/ice but clearly not!). The views from the cave were cool too as you could look out at the town. We managed to avoid the rain again...sitting on the train home! It seemed to take a lot longer to get back, but I'm not sure why! That evening we had some drinks on the rooftop bar again...I spent my evening chatting to this guy from Brummy land who was in the navy (the accent made me feel at home again!) - rooftop bar...great place to socialise J

On Thursday we slept in and then did some shopping! I may have got lost on my way back to the hostel - there is a sky train, underground, lots of roads merging into each other, and many shopping centres...I'm telling you it is easy to get lost J I got chatting to some lads in our dorm that night and we ended up chilling on the rooftop bar (which was packed that night) and then headed out to some other bars where many expats chill in the evenings. Somehow the night seemed to go quick and then we ended up at one of the expats' apartments just outside of the town centre. The apartment was amazing and had the best view ever - I was so glad I went because no one wanted to go to a sky bar with me that night so I was annoyed I didn't get to see the city lit up but the view from his apartment definitely made up for it. I took some photos so check them out in KL album.

My impressions of KL - I actually really liked the place. Some of the buildings were really impressive, it was easy to get around with the underground, it was very modern and the people were living a very Western life. There were cool bar/restaurant areas where all the expats chilled, although they were very expensive. The Petronas towers looked really cool in the night, as did the KL tower. We went to see them both but didn't go up them as I think it's more impressive looking out at them rather than being on them and looking out at the city. I think it defeats the object of them and it also cost a lot to go up so Cassie and I avoided the tourist traps there. You could grab cheap food, Indians, Chinese and Malay...generally about $2. We loved our Roti's and Tea Tariks here too. The hostel was very sociable. The shopping centres were massive - you would get the very high end shopping centres and then the more affordable centres too. Most people spoke English so the language barrier didn't seem a problem compared to the reset of S.E.Asia. You almost wouldn't believe you were in Asia if you compare it to the other countries I have been to. It is very different, but it was nice for a change. A bit more like 'home' to me...Although when you walk out of the shopping centres you expect to put a big coat on back home. In KL you are doing the opposite!

It was an early start on Friday 15th March. I was meant to be meeting Rosie and 4pm. I made the most of my last free breakfast, packed, hugged Cassie goodbye and headed to the train station...then eventually got on a bus at 1pm. The morning was chaotic...I had to get money off Cassie, then I changed my money to Singapore dollars, then I had to get change to pay for the train ticket. Then I got to the bus stop and realised I hadn't kept enough Malaysian money to pay for the bus (35 ringgit) so tried exchanging at a shop but they wouldn't let me so resorted to an atm...paid for the bus. Grabbed some takeaway sweet and sour chicken and rice so I wouldn't miss the bus and then after all that rushing around, ended up waiting an hour for the bus to arrive. It was late! Can't believe it. I met a girl from Pontypool and a girl from Cambridge who were travelling together and were making their way to Oz to get a job. I'm so glad they kept me company and kept my mind off the fact that I had rushed like crazy all morning to then have to wait an hour at the station. Oh well, my Chinese food was delicious. The way to my heart J

The bus journey took longer than expected. I slept most of the way but we had to get off twice for our visa stamp. It went smoothly enough, but we didn't arrive until half 8 at night. Ops I was a little late to meet with Rosie. Luckily she just gave me instructions to her house so she wasn't waiting around as such. This Irish guy on the bus made my day by giving me his Cadburys cream egg! I was SO happy. After the bus I had to jump on a few underground trains and then walked through a shopping centre to get to Rosie's apartment, which, I hasten to add, was incredible. It was like a hotel. It was called City Square Residence, Singapore - google it! I should have taken more photos but thought I wouldn't look like a resident if I was doing that.&