Kuala Lumpur: Day #7 - 9

This city (KL) is huge. So we're going to avoid biking through it. After going through Eternal Cities on the west coast of Taiwan two years ago it hasn't been the same riding through them anymore.

So the way I navigate during biking trips is I look about 50-70 miles in the direction of our course and search on Google Maps for places to stay (campsites or hotels, whatever is available or we're in the mood for) and other notable things to visit then I click the route button. I turn on avoid tolls and highways because the bike option isn't available in Malaysia (it was for Singapore though - not all countries have the bike option for routing including yours truly, Japan). We've been riding on some busy highways especially as we got closer to Kuala Lumpur. Even though we have the nice shoulder, it's noisy and we wanted something quieter. So I clicked on the walk option for routing. Now this *sometimes* works to give shorter routes as well as avoiding big roads. So I expected a terrific day. 

That did not happen.

We did manage to get our quieter road but it was almost too quiet, where the road seemed very abandoned with potholes and animal poop all over. But every once in a while there was a motorcycle or car so that gave us hope that the road at least connected and wasn't a dead end. Because the last thing you want when taking a shortcut is finding out the road doesn't go through and then you have to backtrack...and backtracking on bikes, that effect is compounded.

Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday that the tires already wore out on the trailer already. Had them for only 6 days. I hate this.

I'm eating something that Holly got in the dead food court of the mall while the kids play in the arcade. Also, I'm soaked in sweat. 

Oops.

Here's our shortcut. 

Turned into dirt because there's actually a new development happening in this area. So I suppose at some point in life the roads will be improved. 

Dead end!!! We could see the highway we needed to meet up with. 50 feet away. But a fence and river blocked us. I was so mad.

Now we're trying a second path to get around but lo and behold this was also a dead end. I was at my wit's end here and my bike got so muddy on top of that road. If it wasn't for the Bean singing "Called to Serve", I would have snapped.

These people were passing by and offered to guide us to a road that actually lead out to where we needed to go. A Tender Mercy from the Lord. They even gave me a chocolate milk drink. Note: this is a fake smile here because I was still so mad at all the lost time we accumulated because we needed to get to a certain destination in KL if we wanted it to pay dividends later. I'm one of those dad's that loses it when we get behind.

The gas stations are good here. You can air up your tires and use the water to wash off your equipment for free. Unlike the states where it's broken or you have to pay 75 cents for 3 minutes of use. We had so much mud on it

The mosques brightened my day. 

Especially this metal-chrome one. Haven't seen this kind before.

lol

We splurged and got this nice skyrise to stay at for three nights about $250 total for you people that actually care about that stuff.

Another restaurant I have to go to in foreign countries is Domino's. This was a great big let down. One of the worst I've had. 

Feeding the kids before Church!

At these train stations you pay for your ticket and get these plastic tokens to put in the thing.

Church was supposed to be in that big building on the left according to the map. When we got there it was just getting out and we told them we were only a half hour late. They said no you're an hour late. After chatting with the members for 15 minutes and eating delicious soup (break the fast?) we realized this isn't our church. They are Protestant! Could have fooled me. At least we know now that Heaven will consist of many denominations. 

Bean made a friend at church. 

I love this one. She wanted to wear my new sweatband. 

Time for her first carousal ride!

Remember the restaurant in Seinfeld, Kenny Rodgers that I featured in a previous post? It's all good.

Love the economic differences. 

He likes to play. 

You know what time it is. 

Good, unique chip flavors!

I snapped this pic of us swimming to all my Arizona friends and they said it's too cold to swim. Then I told them I'm in a tropical country and they got all quiet. 

Ramayana Cave. Very colorful with many gods and goddess inside.

Our favorite fresh drink for less than a dollar.

Batu Caves! I like that word; it means rock. Look how huge that golden statue is.

We climbed up 100,000 colorful stairs. Also, some people were doing this barefoot. Sick. 

Here's looking at it from the other angle.

Look at the colorful little carvings. 

More stairs after you get into the cave!

The kids loved the monkeys.

He likes to look.

So intricate. We see these in various towns. Some Hindu shrine that I don't know what its purpose is though.

The best twin towers since 9/11. While KL was pretty modern and advanced, it's still developing like the rest of the country. It wasn't very walkable with a stroller at all. Also, their public transit could use better, more conspicuous signs.

Malaysia is way underrated I've been realizing. And there's still a whole other half of it on an island by Indonesia to visit for another time.