Seven Stars
Supplemental
JBR - Just Back Report
Hi everyone,
I just got back from KL and I thought I’d share with you all a few things about my time there.
Well it’s been a year of anticipation, lots of hard work, research and along the way I’ve gone to the TA forums to ask many questions.
But after being back a couple weeks and as I sit down to write this, I’m still like – Wow! the smile hasn’t left my face, what an absolute great time I had there.
Now after having gone to KL in 2010, this time around I felt like the seasoned traveller, knowing my way around the best malls, where to find this and that and in-between finding some hidden gems I’d not discovered before.
To sum it all up, KL, the second time around was every bit as wonderful as the first time.
I travelled there with a group of six friends, all from Australia, some from Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. We stayed at the Hotel Istana, we all went for Club Rooms and enjoyed the perks.
Most of us went to KL for the retail therapy and equally went nuts. We were altogether for the most part of our stay, 2 of my friends left for Singapore at the end of the week.
Prior to this trip I’d only ever been overseas once, having gone to KL in Nov 2010 previously.
So, this holiday, in some ways kind of felt like a repeat episode, but the difference was that I knew my way around a little more and I also opened myself up to more things I’d not experienced the first time around.
Our daily routine usually consisted of sleeping in, then starting the day with a late breakfast, and then everyone meeting up together by 10.30. Most days we'd go see a tourist attraction or go shopping somewhere different.
In the afternoons we took to going for massages, I did this twice, I went for an aromatic or Balinese massage which was 90 minutes full body and then another 30 mins of foot reflexology.
Most days I would also go shopping alone either after dinner or in the afternoon and then meet up with the gang for sun downers 5 – 7pm. We did not get to Traders unfortunately.
Dinner was usually late 7-8pm and then we’d go out, trying a different restaurant every night.
I particularly enjoyed the food in KL, the choices seemed endless.
I was always on the hunt for something different, something I’d not tried before.
We drank and ate out on Changkat Rd, some of the bars and restaurants there are fantastic. Connected to Changkat Rd is a side street with an open air market selling a lot of hawker food.
On Bukit Bintang Rd we went out for coffee and dessert.
Although I should mention that sometimes we did not feel like eating dinner, our lunches were just as adventurous. We had visited a few recommended food courts at – The Pavillion, KLCC Suria and Lot 10. I was able to try something different each time we did this.We also went to Tony Romas for lunch and that was nice but not as good as it had been the year before. No more root beer floats.
One of the highlights would have to be eating at the Sahara Tent, it was a qwirky joint not too far from the hotel that we'd walked by a dozen times and ignored until this one night. We ate two huge platters of food between four of us, it was a mixture of middle eastern foods, which was proceeded by smoking a mint flavoured ‘shish’ upstairs on the balcony and drinking Turkish coffee. We stayed there long into the evening and the atmosphere and everyone relaxed having a good time, it stands out as a fond memory.
Our routine after dinner we would be walking home to the hotel, some of us would go off and do their own thing, but the main group of us would stay downstairs in the lounge and drink cocktails and listen to the hotel band sing songs from my youth. It sound corny, but I loved every minute of it.
Sometimes we’d sit in the sports bar, one week night we had a late one, drinking with the hotel staff and smoking some cigars, I enjoyed that. Any song we wanted to hear the Bar manager had for us, he was so cool.
We did take in some tourist attractions - on the Wednesday we went to Sunway lagoon, then the group went to the Batu caves on the Thursday, I did not go as I was sick for a period of 24 hrs, bit of a stomach upset. On the Thursday night we all went to China Town, the fakes were cool, I did not buy any, but they were appreciated by my friends. On the Friday we went to the Islamic Arts Museum, it was wonderful, I only wish we were allowed to take pictures.
All round the shopping was pretty good, but in some ways it didn’t seem to be as good as it was for me last year, maybe because last year it was a brand new experience. With that said I did get everything I wanted out of the shopping. I shopped on a needs basis, day by day, essentials. I only took an overnight bag over with me so my shopping efforts were purposeful and fun.
Like for instance, Isetan provided me with some nice aftershaves, Parksons had me sorted for underwear and socks. Oh and Sogo was amazing, I bought a shirt from there and shoes.
Some of the best things I purchased were various PC peripherals from Low Yat plaza, they were cheaper than at home which was a bonus. I bought myself an Ellesse sports watch from City Chain jewellers out at Mid Valley Mega Malland while there I cool hunted a pair of Sebago deck shoes from either Isetan or Robinsons. (I can't remember)
All in all it was a great trip, though I’m already saving for my next overseas adventure. I am not too sure, Hong Kong has long been a desired destination, so has Singapore and China itself. i dunno yet but we'll see.
Anyway I’d better get back to it.
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