Malaysia 2006: Day 2
Waking up without air conditioning was mildly unpleasant; more unpleasant was the realization that it was still rather humid-warm at night and the days were just going to be one long period of humid/hot and possibly wet. Bathrooms were also interesting.
Off to morning market with Jianhui and Kean-- that was an experience. It was pretty cool, actually, seeing how things were run and whatnot-- it was much more organized than I expected, although the squeamish may have a few issues with the collection of food animals seen decorating butcher blocks. *grins*
Breakfast was dim sum with both Kean and Jianhui's families, something like 12 or 16 of us again at a very tasty outdoors place. Very tasty and damned cheap-- cost came out to around US$2.75 a person!! *sigh* Even cheaper than Monterey Park, and just as good as the best places there...
More driving through traffic after that; to the National Palace with Jianhui and Kean, where a horse drooled all over Jianhui's purse (much amusement followed!). Sophia and I were then dropped off at the National Museum, which was essentially a cultural/natural history museum. It was a fairly modest place-- not at all magnificent like I was expecting, but it was fairly well done and broad in what it covered-- a little bit of everything, in sufficient depth for tourists like us! We wandered to the National Planetarium afterwards, which was a complete and utter waste of time. Think of a cross between an early-1990's fact center and a science-fiction display. Skip it! The National Space Agnecy was even less to look at. Space geeks, go elsewhere!
We eventually figured out the system of pedestrian bridges and made it to KL Sentral, one of the main train stations with a shopping area and two hotels on top of it. Pretty cool and very modern inside, then hopped on LRT to Jalan Petaling (Chinatown's main street) and the national mosque. Stopped in at Central Market for lunch-- I'm still not quite sure what I ate, but it was tasty-- and did a bit of shopping. Rain broke out, but fortunately, Jalan Petaling has a roof over most of it. Central Market is a large two-level building filled with little shops and home to lots of haggling, plus a food court. Pretty nifty place if shopping for clothes, purses, and trinkets is your thing. Chinatown itself was a bit more diverse; Sophia commented that it felt very segregrated, with merchandise and food vendors kept pretty separate. Dealing with Malaysian street vendors for the first time was an experience. Those with personal space issues should be aware in such markets! Wandered into some very western-style shops (one felt like a Borders mixed with a stationery store, only 1/8th the size) and a grocery store while waiting for Kean and Jianhui to pick us up.
Dinner with Jianhui and Kean was an excellent meal-- three kinds of noodles (YUM!), fish, veggies, etc. Then to the first night of wedding-related parties at Kean's dad's house, where we met even more family. 50 people instead of the planned 70-- still overwhelming. The brandy wasn't bad, at least-- it became part of my limited communication skills. We met Cassandra for the first time-- she and Sophia were emcee'ing the wedding. The scope of Sophia's involvement with the wedding became seriously apparent for the first time that night. Eeek. =P