Last night around 10:30 pm the first explosion cracked the air, so close to my hotel that I instinctively sat upright in bed. Then another. And another. Fireworks ricocheted between buildings for more than an hour, assuring I wouldn’t sleep. I assume they were in honor of Chinese New Year, though I never confirmed it. I began my final day … Read More
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Day 3
Today I completed the second half of my hop-on-hop-off tour, which ventured beyond the city center into neighborhoods on the edges of Kuala Lumpur. An aside: this is the first city I’ve visited where the hop-on-hop-off service isn’t run by the familiar Big Red Bus company. Instead, a local operator runs the show. The contrast was striking, and not in … Read More
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Day 2
Today I made two new friends and re-learned a skill. Neither was planned, and both made the day unexpectedly special. My original plan was simple: take both routes of the hop-on-hop-off bus and get an overview of Kuala Lumpur. It is an easy walk from my hotel to a tour stop, and along the way I passed through KLCC Park, … Read More
Transit Day – Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
Lots to say today, but not many photos. I flew from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL). It’s a short flight, less than an hour, but it took most of the day. In 2030 this will change when new high-speed rail service will whisk travelers between the two cities in 45 minutes. It’s a distance of just over two hundred miles. … Read More