Heathrow is Heathrow and Terminal 4 gave us what you expect when traveling from Heathrow; albeit with a lack of places to buy new converses (mine had given up the ghost whilst packing). We boarded our Etihad A380 without a hitch and enjoyed a relaxing 6 and a half hours to Abu Dhabi. Having arrived slightly late to Abu Dhabi and with a 45 minute transit; we were prepared for the mad dash across the airport to make our next flight. Luckily however we were apprehended by airport staff, rounded up alongside the 30 or so Kuala Lumpur bound passengers, power walked through the airport and pushed through priority security. Given the fact the two of us had stuck behind the airport staff like glue, we were among the small group of passengers who seemed to actually make it to the gate.
For this flight we were on a 777 and it reminded me just how much you cannot beat a good A380. We had held off sleeping until this flight to try and avoid any jetlag, however sleeping on a 777 after leaving an A380 is akin to moving from a queen size, memory foam bed to the floor of a jungle, if the floor was rocky and covered in rather angry scorpions or a Travelodge.
We arrived in KL shattered from the lack of sleep on the second leg of our flight, nodding off frequently during the 1 Hour transfer from the airport to our hotel. Given that neither of us were able to function in any way resembling normal human beings, we took a much needed power-nap to give us the energy to go out and source dinner. We managed to get out of the hotel at around half past six and the city seemed to have cooled a little compared to the wall of heat we experienced getting in and out of the transfer shuttle. We took a meandering walk towards where Google had told us we could expect to find a food shop about 10 minutes away. Pleasantly we found ourselves in the shopping mall underneath the Petronas Towers, starting the sightseeing off early.
After we had got back we headed up to the roof of the Fraser Place Residence, where we were staying, and found the gorgeous infinity pool; although admittedly I am sure the views were a little better before the city was a developed as it had become. Even at around 20:00 the pool and its surroundings were warm enough to enjoy a swim and we had the pool almost to ourselves for the evening. After that it was dinner and an early night to make up for the lack of sleep on our last flight.
We started the next morning, after a quick dip and breakfast, we decided to find the Kuala Lumpur tower as it, we were told but friends before we flew, was the best vantage point to see the city. It also had the advantages of 360 degree views, being cheaper than the Petronas Towers and also actually being able to see the Petronas Towers. We decided, being over eager early on in our travels, the best plan of action would be to simply walk towards the tower until we found it. After walking around the city for about 30 minutes it became apparent that although we could see the tower, finding the exact road which would lead us there would not be as easy as expected. So after we had returned to the hotel to get a map we managed to locate the entrance to tower. There is a free shuttle bus service from the base of the rather steep and long hill the tower resides on and once you begin the journey up you can understand why, given that the heat outside was starting to become more than a little unbearable.
The views were great from the top of the tower and we spent a gazing across the city, before heading back down and walking to the shopping centre we visited the night before for some lunch and grabbing a new pair of trainers and flip flops for me!
After a bit of retail therapy we decided to visit the large aquarium opposite the shopping centre. It took us a good few hours to have a proper look through the aquarium which housed everything from turtles to sharks to jelly fish to clown fish. For an extra quid each we were offered the extension into the science zone and although it was aimed mainly at kids, the sea horse and jellyfish breeding tanks were great to see. The tunnel that goes through the huge tank at the centre of the aquarium is massive and a conveyor belt takes people through at a great viewing pace, with sharks and stingrays dancing overhead. It was a great afternoon out, the only downside was the openness to allow children to hold and touch some of the residents, who I am sure where less than appreciative at being fondled.
After our long day we headed back to the hotel for one last swim and ended the night in an Irish bar to toast Kuala Lumpur off and watch the city go by a little, all ready for our flights to Bali tomorrow!
A Ginger Down Under
13th June 2015