KL Bits and Bites, the Mundain WORD on and off the street

Exploring KL, you'll experience a multi-cultural pot pourri where Chinese, Tamils and Malays along with the influence of British colonialism have contributed to a vibrant and unique culture. (Bear (or should that be "bare") with me as my little guinea PIGLETS as I hone (expose) my travelog and foodie blog writing skills or lack thereof.)

Here East truly meets West, the old meshes with new, technology melds with tradition, and the decrepit stands alongside the immaculate. Just my Mundain observation ... Malaysians are very lax about maintenance and fairly new structures, once gleaming and new,  look unkempt and tired, falling quickly into disrepair.

Inhale nauseous car exhaust fumes along with the wonderful aroma of sizzling satay skewers as you stroll sidewalks and markets. Exotic spices and incense arouse olfactory senses while, at the same time you gag on the unexpected stench of rotting garbage and vomit in your mouth...just a little bit.

Enjoy the Malaysian national pastime of recreational shopping in cool, comfortable malls that put Vancouver malls to shame by their sheer size, selection and magnificence (not that I care, but for shopaholics this is a paradise, malls here can make Pacific Centre look like a shabby strip mall just as Nanjing Lu in Shanghai makes Times Square in NYC look small-town hick).

But, be advised, the moment you venture outside, be prepared for a UFC-styled full body slam as a thick wall of hot, humid, relentless,  and punishing air rudely greets as you step back into reality.

Haggle with a street vendor (not mundane, but sometimes tiresome) or splurge at your favorite luxury boutique (ALWAYS MUNDAIN)... buy a knock-off or the real McCoy ... KL offers something for everyone (yeah, I know it sounds cliche).

... And the food... mmmmm ... food is only available in 2 categories

 cheap and good 

OR 

expensive and good 

... bottom line, 

GOOD EATS HERE  !!!!

Sipping fresh coconut milk at the market 

View from mouth of Batu Caves ..

Atop Batu Caves stairwell, 260 steps in 95 degree heat!

Hindu temple at summit, inside the Batu Caves

Poverty and begging outside subway stations is common... 

Old and rundown buildings stand near and adjacent the new

Gate to Chinatown and one of the markets

We ate at this street restaurant in Chinatown

"Kwang Fu Chou" (famous Malaysian noodle dish) served on real plastic dishes (washed in a bucket on the sidewalk) ... Yummy

Beef,ginger and green onions with scrambled eggs over broad rice noodles.  Delicious and cheap, fed Mr and Mrs Mundain and guest for less than $5 for both dishes.

KL Pavilion, a dinky little mall in Bukit Bintang

Petronas , another little shopping mall

The world famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL

Nasi Lemak to go ...

KL Central Market for Arts and Crafts 

Ice Kachang - Asian version of Hawaiian Shave Ice

stalls inside the Central Market

More ice (it was a hot day)

                                                                        Market vendor (same old mundane stuff to me, but hey, somebody must be buying this stuff)

John King Bakery, renowned egg tart specialists

Regular, espresso, green tea, Portuguese...you name it, we've got it

A bite of heaven ... Hot, flaky, savory, sweet, creamy ... Mmmm

now we're talking!

Choices galore... 

What you see is only a small inkling of what you get

100 types of tofu cooked to your liking ..

Hungry yet?

Every kind of noodles you can imagine ...

Cooked on the spot just for you...

That you can customize with choice of condiments...

Sarawak Beef Noodle Soup ... Deliciously unmundane (add this word to your vocabulary please...this is my personal seal of approval...take it for what it's worth...NOTHING)

Back to sightseeing ... The National Museum of Malaysia

an overheated museum patron ready to pack it in for the day!