Reporting live from Kuala Lumpur – 2

I can’t begin to say how awesome this morning was. After bugging K and sleeping off at around 3:30 A.M., I had this inkling that I may still get a sound sleep. And why not? I am on vacation!

Sleep soundly I did. But, I amazed myself by waking up at 6:00 in the morning. I struggle to wake up at 9 on saturdays. I love my sleep. And I have a partner who lives by the same motto. Atleast on weekend mornings. But I woke up at 6:00 A.M.! I was so shocked that I tried to pat myself to sleep so that I don’t “not-sleep”, you know! Alas! The harder you try to get something, the more elusive it becomes.

I pushed the curtains aside to see how KL looks in the morning. I saw some guests by the pool. I felt really envious that they could step out into the cold waters in the wee hours. The city looked so beautiful. So hazy, yet beautiful. I couldn’t see beyond a certain point because buildings seem to grow like coconut trees, just a broader version. I loved the haze that formed when I breathed on the glass. I spent some time writing words, letters and quotes on it.

And then I got back to bed. I looked towards my side. K was sleeping like a baby. The evil person that I am, I couldn’t let him sleep. So lets just say I put the peacock feather, water bottle, T.V. remote, aircon remote, pencil and paper to good use. K pleaded me to go away and promised extra shopping in return. Well, if he insisted on extra shopping, how could I say no? So, I just let him be and went to brush and get fresh.

I must at this point write that the first thought I woke up with, was breakfast. I was getting curious-er and curious-er about what would be served for breakfast. We had been told that breakfast was served until 10:30 A.M. And it was already 7:45 A.M. So, I shook K, sat on him and threatened him (Yes, I agree with you. He is indeed very lucky to me as his wifey.) Anyway, he got up. He asked me to do sit-ups and promise to fetch him everything for a week (like T.V. remote that lies 5 cm aay from him, water bottle that lies 7.5 cm away from him coz’ he is the epitome of laziness). I gave in and thankfully, we were all set by 8:30 A.M. or so.

I wanted to take snaps of the breakfast but it being the first day, I was a bit shy. I haven’t seen anyone taking snaps of breakfast so far. And somehow to carry the DSLR all the way down because K’s phone was out for service, didn’t seem very appealing. I mean, I wanted to enjoy the spread.

The breakfast was amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!!!!!!!!!!! I could smell it as soon as we got out of the elevator. It is easily one of the best spreads I have had. I loved it because they were sweet enough to have vegetarian counterparts of Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Malay dishes wherever possible. I loved it! I want to write down as much as I remember from today’s platter:

1. Waffles ( These are the best waffles I have had, like the bestest!) – I’d go to Hilton just for this. Served with vanilla syrup/strawberry sauce/blueberries/soaked peaches/ soaked apples. I had two of them. And beat this! They were made hot hot right in front of you by an extremely cute staff. Ofcourse, K loved them – the waffles served by the cute lady, both, in the reverse order.

2. Bread (all the varieties you can imagine)/biscotti/ buns (wholemeal/white/raisin/fruit) – Yummy but why on earth would I eat so much bread when there was such a big spread?

3. Butter – flavoured and the usual salted/non-salted. I loved the herb and garlic.

4. Awesome omelette – I was on a self-imposed egg ban until the last time we vacationed. This time, I wasn’t and so you should have seen me gushing and giggling as the egg gurgled on the tava. The omelette-man (who was super cute!) even gave me extra cheese. Not cheesy!

5. Baked beans – I always eat this. No idea why, but I love baked bean s for breakfast.

6. Stir fried veggies – Brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini and cucumber. Simple and classy!

7. Aloo masala – Aloo and masala – how can anything go wrong?

8. Pooris – the kaDak types and I loved them!

9. Idiyappams – I know, right? I had a couple of these as well.

10. Chutney (4 types – mango, tomato, coconut and corriander), sauces and all!

11. Fried rice – I did not have this.

12. Fried bee hoon – I did not have this either.

13. Hashbrowns – crispy, golden, perfectly potato, crunchy on the crust hashbrowns. I can’t wait to eat them tmorrow again.

14. Sushi – many varieties. I had the one with raw mango (a modification I guess) – yummmm!

15. Fresh garden veggie salad – Maybe tomorrow?

16. Fresh fruits – honeydew, pineapple, watermelon, apple, pear – Loooove!

17. Yoghurt in uncountable flavours – plain to blueberry to mixed fruit to what not! Blueberry was awesome.

18. Any type of drink – yo ucan order lattes or capuccino or anything! I settled for the usual coffee because I get a big kick by mixing my milk and adding sugar and making it the way I want. K loved his latte though!

19. I can’t even count the sausages and all the other non-vegetarian dishes. I want to ask K to help me write them tomorrow here. But there were a looooooooot of non-vegetarian dishes.

20. Nasi lemak – the Malay coconut-flavoured rice usually eaten with chicken. I did not try the rice either but I plan to tomorrow.

21. Cakes – cup-cakes, fruit cake slices, plain cake – phew! I couldn’t eat them – I was so full 🙂

22. Muffins – chocolate and blueberry. I didn’t spot vanilla and banana though.

23. Fresh fruiot juices – there was this juice corner and they would make any combination of juice for you. I wanted to try banana-pineapple for the fun of it but settled for green and red apple. I must say, the tanginess of green and the sweetness of red was a fabulous punch!

24. Porridge, corn-flakes, choco-flakes, honey-stars etc – I usaully have honey-stars but somehow did not today.

I think there is some hockey event going on here. I saw tall women in hockey outfits representing Australia here. They were all present for breakfast and we were right next to them. Some of them grabbed an apple and discussed the game. Some of them were discussing recipes for baking. I don’t know how to express this, but I loved the fact that inspite of all that diversity, the uniform united them. It was a joy to see them all lift their hockey sticks and walk out together as a bunch, a team. Little acts like them tying a ponytail high up or discuss how one player’s uniform is too short (in a naughty way!) – I find all that so endearing and motivating! I really had to stop myself from going and sitting at their table.

By the time we finished our breakfast, we felt like loosening our belts. I tell you, the secret to a great day is in the breakfast. We felt so good that we headed to our room and slept for an hour. We usually do this and it is so satisfying.

We woke up so fresh. Suddenly K ran to the shower and said “Mine!”. I was flabbergasted. Here I was secretly plotting a 2 hour sojourn in the lovely bathtub and K just jumps in and books the place. Needless to say, we fought. We tossed a 50 c coin. Nothing went in my favour. K got it. I sulked. I called the “magic” number (that’s what they call room service) and asked if we could rent a DVD. They sent a DVD list but we had watched most of them! And the others were in other languages we did not follow. Not knowing whether to feel happy or sad, I started browsing local sight seeing.  

All this while, K was cooing and gooing and praising how the temperature of the water is just so perfect and how he feels sorry for the other person in the room and all that.

I knew how I could take badla and all! Firstly, I booked the bathroom. And then, I chose to go to Petaling Street, Chinatown and Berjaya Times Square as sightseeing for the day. These were both the kind of places you’d go for shopping and make-hubby-wait while you choose a bag, put it back, tour the entire street and come pick the same bag –  kind of trips. Hah!

K was now shouting that his fingers are all wrinkly and it is probably time to come out. 1.5 hours. And they say that girls take forever.

Finally, the king came out of the bathtub. He declared this to be one of his best baths. History repeated itself and we were finally set to leave.

It was around 2:30 P.M. or so when we left for Berjaya Times square. All that bath made us hungry (inspite of the heavy breakfast) and we went to Nandos. You know they love chicken when you are greeted by this!

Seven days without peri peri makes one weak!

Protect the earth, it is the only planet with chickens.

When the going gets tough, the tough gets more peri peri chicken.

I was glad that there was pita-wrap on the vegetarian side. I was glad because there was something vegetarian other than boiled corn and french fries.

They have different types of peri-peri sauce ranging between mild-very hot. I chose hot (grade 3/4) and actually liked it! It was pita stuffed with grilled veggies and peri peri sauce. I had corn on the cob for sides and loved it! t was light and perfect.

And K ordered this!

It was a medium portion – grilled veggies and some chicken. But he did not complain. He was hungry and so enjoyed it. At this point I must share that he ate a bit of my corn as well.

When anyone leaves, all the waiters will shout out a “Bye bye! See you at Peri-Peri sooon!”. Gosh! I was so blushing when they shouted so loud. We shouted back as well. It felt good.

We roamed around trying to locate a bookstore I wanted to go to but never could find it. No stationery shops either. I just bought from coin pouches made of batik as souvenirs in bright colours.

(Sorry for the image quality. Just to give you an idea)

And I bought those Afghan pants where the waist has lot of sequins in bright colours. Oh, they so comfy and trendy at the same time!

By the time we roamed about the place it was like 5:00 P.M. we spotted a donut place and bought 6 donuts and went back to Hilton. Now, who can keep a box of donuts and not open them? So we opened ours.

Presto!

See those beauties! The one without the hole – looks can be deceptive. It is filled with strawberry jam and with the first bite, the juices were oozing out. K chose it and I had no idea it would turn out so good. so we have strawberry filled donut, almond topped on vanilla cream donuts, nutty donut (with cashe and roasted peanut pieces strewn over) and gool ol’ plain sugar donut. We finished 4/6 already today!

There is something I have come to realize about myself. I enjoy plain things a lot. Like, I love plain donuts. I love plain bread toast. I love plain coffee. I love plain eggs. This does not mean I do not enjoy accessories and garnish. I very much do. But I find a charm in plain things – eatables, garments, home decor, footwear etc. And I feel K also concurs to a major extent. He loves plain dal, plain rotis 😛 On second thought, I don’t think I must call them plain. I am probably referring to the the original form. The form that is untouched. Metaphorically, I’d liek to think it probably is symbolic of something pristine. Simple and elegant.

Or maybe I am thinking too much into it. I do enjoy waffles with hundred sauces on them. Approximately, I mean.

We rested a bit, watched some news and set out to Petaling street in the night. This is more of a street shopping place. I was just hoping for a book street or so but didn’t find any. There are streets filled with all brands under the sun – bags, perfumes, cosmetics, shoes! We did not buy anything. We just roamed around, took in the smell of the chestnuts, watched the lady make satay, the myriad colours of various drinks, the lanterns, the traditional outfits, the batik handloom, the happiness on the salesman’s face when he strikes a good deal, the happy customers who were carrying like 5-6 big bags of purchases and the elderly men who sat with their children at street corners.

We checked out a happening DVD shop where they had all soaps and complete series. They usually have a small outlet and give you a catalogue. Once you choose what you want, they go to the secret godown and get the DVDs for you. We saw a few tourists there as well. we did not buy anything. But it was a fun trip. They even advertise for the soaps. Like one guy comes to me and tells me, “Ma’m. Gossip girls very nice. We have all seasons.” I just smiled and said “Oh nice.. sorry, no thanks. I’ll just look around.”  But he was quite insistent and showed one of the character’s poster also. I don’t know why but I think I will never forget such little incidents.

K and I spoke to the guys there. Some were from Bangladesh and they said that they work elsewhere in the morning and work here at night. “So, when do you sleep?”, we asked. “In between sometimes”, they said. We were amazed.

We returned to the hotel. It was amost 10:00 P.M. That meant we had an hour before the pool closed. We left for the pool and had an amazing time! K taught me to swim (with my feet on the ground coz’ the water is like 1.2 mts deep) and we watched the little kids do all kinds of stunts while I flapped my hands and acted like a sea-horse with funny movements.

I write this while we await our dinner to arrive. It is midnight and I can’t wait to eat. Water makes me hungry. Talking of hunger, I wonder what is on for breakfast tomorrow. I hear the bell. I better stop typing now. Else, I risk losing my onion rings.

Ciao!