Rejuvenated with Nasi Lemak and Pan Mee after a tiring day at Batu Caves and Chinatown【52】

Morning of the second day.

Woke up around 7 am and strolled around the guesthouse area looking for a cafe where I could have breakfast, eventually ending up at Starbucks.

I had an Americano and yogurt. I ordered a short size, but for some reason, a grande size came out. Looking around, it seemed like tall size was available, so I ordered a tall size from the next day. The yogurt came with granola, which was filling, and I liked the refreshing taste of the blueberry sauce that was perfect for breakfast. I wonder if it's available in Japan?

Having had some conversations with Malaysians since the previous day, I found that the English of Malay people has a unique accent, making it a bit challenging to understand and communicate. The English of Chinese people was easier to understand, and while Indian people also had a strong accent, I had some exposure to it in Japan, so it didn't take long to get used to.

Since there was free Wifi, I planned the day's itinerary while sipping coffee.

I went back to the guesthouse once to get ready and then set out for sightseeing. I took the MRT to KL Sentral, then transferred to the KTM commuter and arrived at the "Batu" Caves in about 30 minutes.

A short walk from the station, you'll see a towering golden statue and endless colorful stairs.

The stairs are steep, and the high temperature makes it tiring. Moreover, there are monkeys nearby, which can be quite scary as they might attack.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, a cave-like space opens up. The air was slightly cool. I walked carefully to avoid getting dirty as the floor was wet.

I went to the very end of the cave, admiring the colorful statues and natural rocks, then retraced my steps.

Here is the translated text:

It looks magnificent even from the back.

Tired from climbing the stairs in the heat, I decided to have a delicious lunch and took a train back to Bukit Bintang.

I went to a food court in Pavilion, which seemed to have a cool indoor environment and Malaysian cuisine, and ate "Nasi Lemak" at a place called "PappaRich."

It wasn't too spicy, and the chicken was very tasty. I wasn't sure if the sweet squid, mysterious black sauce, peanuts, and small fish would go well with rice, but everything tasted good when mixed with the curry-flavored sauce. The rice was loose and elongated, similar to Thai rice.

Even though it was already 12/28, Christmas decorations were still present around the town.

After lunch, I took a free bus to the next sightseeing spot. This bus has routes separated by colors: red, purple, blue, and green. Each route is fixed, so if you remember the route passing your destination, it's easy to ride, making it a convenient means of transportation for sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur. (Later, I encountered a Chinese lady who boarded the wrong bus without knowing this rule.)

I took the purple line, and my destination was Chinatown. I got off at "PASAR SENI," and as I walked a bit, I started seeing temples here and there.

As I continued walking while lightly sightseeing the buildings, the area became denser with shops and more people. I figured this must be the main street. Along the way, I bought Soya Bean water. It's essentially soy milk with sweet syrup, and above all, it was cold and delicious.

Here is the translated text:

After wandering back and forth through Chinatown, I visited a nearby famous souvenir shop? "Central Market." Tired from walking, I decided to relax indoors and went to a famous Malaysian chain "Old Town White Coffee" to enjoy their signature White Coffee. I usually drink black or unsweetened latte, so it was too sweet for me, but it was delicious.

It was hot outside, so I went indoors, but then it was cold inside, so I drank something warm. It felt like a somewhat strange behavior that could confuse my autonomic nervous system.

Since it was only my second day in Malaysia, I left the Central Market without buying any souvenirs.

A short walk from Central Market led me to an area lined with European-style buildings. Among them was the "City Gallery," where a line had formed for a photo spot.

After touring the City Gallery, I walked to the station and took a train back to Bukit Bintang.

I arrived back in Bukit Bintang just before 19:00. It had been a full day of sightseeing, and between the distance traveled, steps taken, and the heat, I was quite tired, but I headed out for more sightseeing.

I took the green line of the free bus I used earlier to "KLCC." I had heard that a New Year's Eve event was being held at the Petronas Twin Towers, so I wanted to check it out in advance.

The Twin Towers, illuminated by lights in the darkness, looked beautiful even up close. After exploring the surroundings, I took a bus back to Bukit Bintang.

After walking around all day and feeling tired, I chose "Pan Mee" (with soup) for dinner this day. For a drink, I had a green smoothie. It felt like a Malaysian version of soup-less tantan noodles. It was a bit spicy, but mixing it with egg neutralized the spiciness. Overall, it was quite salty, which was just right for my tired body. However, just like yesterday, the small fish caught my attention.

For dessert, I had a regular berry-flavored ice cream at "COLD STONE." There was zero Malaysian feel to it.

When I stepped outside Pavilion, I saw people selling balloons, busy with their trade.

The Christmas vibe was still strong, perhaps because it was the end of the year.

On the way back to the guesthouse, I stopped by a convenience store to buy water and on a whim, bought an ice cream I had never seen before. The ice cream labeled "BABY SHARK" tasted exactly as it looked - strawberry with cream inside.

I wondered who else would buy such ice cream, but during my stay, I saw at least two people eating it.