“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” -J.R.R. Tolkien
Most of SE Asia seems familiar to me, though I have never set foot upon the continent. Many of my friends have traveled or studied abroad there, and have recounted their experiences to me. When people talk about Thailand, Vietnam, and even Cambodia, I have heard the names of the places or seen pictures before. I can relate to their tales and imagine seeing what they have seen. However, Malaysia has always seemed so exotic to me. Since it isn’t quite as cheap as its neighbors, most people tend to pass over it. I am sure there are other reasons people choose to bypass this country, but I haven’t ascertained what those are yet. However, I know that I don’t want to be one of those people.
Kuala Lumpur, or KL as the locals call it, is the capitol and largest city in Malaysia. Because it is a big city, I immediately started to compare it to what I imagine Bangkok, or Phnom Penh would be like. My initial expectations were that it would be noisy, crowded, and dirty. However, after reading numerous articles trying to break the assumption that KL is Malaysia’s Bangkok, I started to change my expectations.
There are numerous outdoor activities to participate in around the city including the Batu Caves and the KL Bird Park. Both of which I plan to visit while in town. Filled with temples and Hindu shrines, Batu Caves are a very popular tourist destination. Though I usually try to stay off the beaten path, I may have to make an exception here. Many people travel to the caves to rock climb, which I have very recently developed an interest in. A friend of mine has commit to joining me for the Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia portions of my trip, and he is a fan of climbing as well, so maybe we will be able to get in a quick climb on our visit. The KL Bird Park is the worlds largest, walk-in, free flight bird sanctuary in the world. You can walk into the park and immediately be surrounded by all types of birds, flying around you. So don’t make fun of me, but I have always been a bit afraid of birds. One time, my cat caught a quail and brought it into my house. The thing about quail is that they don’t fly, but your father chasing a scared bird around the house with a fishing net is bound to traumatize any child. I feel like this may be a way to get over my fear. Plus I have a tendency to want to visit any place that says its the world’s biggest, best or oldest anything. I am a sucker for advertising, what can I say.
