After many attempts to secure a taxi at a reasonable price, we find where the metered taxis gather. Walking in KL has proven difficult in the heat with uneven pavements, not to mention busy traffic. We try samples of food at many places from malls, to pavement restaurants and street hawkers - all a delight.
On our third day we secure a longer term condo to rent and meet the owner and our rental agent. We listen to the customs and laws for renting. Our rental agent is very helpful and gives us tips and advice on where to shop as well as where the local wet markets are located and where to find a doctor. She has a great sense of humour which I can relate to and explains where her favourite local Chinese eatery is.
That night we visit the large pavement restaurant. Having no menu, we explain to the owner what foods we like and he chooses the dishes for us. We are very amused and touched when he cuts up some of the eats for us and feel more like his elderly parents . I like the Malaysian way of using a spoon and fork for some foods and chopsticks for others. The fork is used to push the food onto the spoon and then the spoon is put in the mouth.
After many problems in setting up our banking and even more problems in sorting out our mobile phone, after 3 days we remain undefeated! We have absorbed the optimism of the city even though we have our daily struggles.
I realise we have a long way to go to understand aspects of our new life but we are having fun learning.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Reality hits
As we soar above Malaysia in our comfortable business class seats, I gaze at picturesque scene beneath us. The mountainous terrain with dense jungles and small villages which cluster foothills. Rivers and lakes which spread out over basins and the soft hue of light giving definition to the dawn.
Excitement escalates when we see the first glimpse of KL with the surrounding suburbs in a plethora of condominiums grouped together like cities, pools sparkling in the bright sun. The Petrona Towers clearly stands out proudly in the haze of the city.
As we leave the airport, warm hot air, sticks to us giving us a dose of reality.
I quizz the taxi driver and he generously helps me with my pronunciations, where to shop to how much to pay for a car. He explains that bribes are part of the KL experience and to accept it. I find myself agreeing.
Our short term condo is spacious and air conditioned but has very little in the furnished kitchen, only a few plates, one pot, a wok and a rice cooker plus a sprinkling of cutlery and cutlery. I have prepared myself already for this eventuality as there are upteen places to eat out. Reluctantly we will have to leave the coolness of the apartment and get into a sticky taxi or walk. Reality.is catching up with me. Undeterred we walk to the biggest shopping mall in KL and then proceed to try and get a SIM card for my iPhone 4. After visiting six shops, I admit defeat and promptly get separated from Bruce inTesco. Jet lag and panic set in as I realise he has my mobile phone as he is trying to get a SIM card for me while I shop for supplies. After an hour of searching I go to customer service for help. I am not looking for a lost child, just my missing husband!
They look serious and just as they start announcing his name on the intercom system, Bruce appears.
I have had enough adventure for one day and my mobile phone saga will continue for a few days yet. Apparently my telephone provider in Australia hasn't unlocked my phone as we asked. At the Apple store they show us how to unlock it and I am up, up and away. Or so I think!
Excitement escalates when we see the first glimpse of KL with the surrounding suburbs in a plethora of condominiums grouped together like cities, pools sparkling in the bright sun. The Petrona Towers clearly stands out proudly in the haze of the city.
As we leave the airport, warm hot air, sticks to us giving us a dose of reality.
I quizz the taxi driver and he generously helps me with my pronunciations, where to shop to how much to pay for a car. He explains that bribes are part of the KL experience and to accept it. I find myself agreeing.
Our short term condo is spacious and air conditioned but has very little in the furnished kitchen, only a few plates, one pot, a wok and a rice cooker plus a sprinkling of cutlery and cutlery. I have prepared myself already for this eventuality as there are upteen places to eat out. Reluctantly we will have to leave the coolness of the apartment and get into a sticky taxi or walk. Reality.is catching up with me. Undeterred we walk to the biggest shopping mall in KL and then proceed to try and get a SIM card for my iPhone 4. After visiting six shops, I admit defeat and promptly get separated from Bruce inTesco. Jet lag and panic set in as I realise he has my mobile phone as he is trying to get a SIM card for me while I shop for supplies. After an hour of searching I go to customer service for help. I am not looking for a lost child, just my missing husband!
They look serious and just as they start announcing his name on the intercom system, Bruce appears.
I have had enough adventure for one day and my mobile phone saga will continue for a few days yet. Apparently my telephone provider in Australia hasn't unlocked my phone as we asked. At the Apple store they show us how to unlock it and I am up, up and away. Or so I think!
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Organised chaos
We are not travelling lightly with eight pieces of luggage. We sprint around our home like people possesed, clothes flung in the general direction of a suitcase. I tell myself two years is a long time to spend in another country and prepare myself for any eventuality. I am like a girl scout on a mission and have googled my way through days of information.
We run out of time as in a few short months we have sold our 6 bedroom home and moved to our much smaller home in the country, before leaving for our adventure in Kuala Lumpur.(KL)
My husband Bruce, has accepted a two year work contract there and I am in virgin territory never having visited the city.
In the past my positive thinking has meant that when reality strikes, I fall quite spectacularly! This time will be different I convince myself. I am 50 something years old, raised two smart and beautiful daughters and now know myself better so that I can deal with any situation. I ignore a flurry of self doubt and educate myself on the customs and cultures of my new adopted city, assured that I know that there will be uneven pavements, that I will not get in a taxi without a meter, and the method for bargaining like a local. We deal with health insurance, renew our wills,sort out banking and sell our cars. My dogs are being taken care of by a friend and I run around trying to stock up provisions for them once I am gone. They look quite puzzled at the frenzy surrounding them.
We run out of time as in a few short months we have sold our 6 bedroom home and moved to our much smaller home in the country, before leaving for our adventure in Kuala Lumpur.(KL)
My husband Bruce, has accepted a two year work contract there and I am in virgin territory never having visited the city.
In the past my positive thinking has meant that when reality strikes, I fall quite spectacularly! This time will be different I convince myself. I am 50 something years old, raised two smart and beautiful daughters and now know myself better so that I can deal with any situation. I ignore a flurry of self doubt and educate myself on the customs and cultures of my new adopted city, assured that I know that there will be uneven pavements, that I will not get in a taxi without a meter, and the method for bargaining like a local. We deal with health insurance, renew our wills,sort out banking and sell our cars. My dogs are being taken care of by a friend and I run around trying to stock up provisions for them once I am gone. They look quite puzzled at the frenzy surrounding them.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Launching into the unknown
My favourite quote is 'One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.' By Andre Gide
In a couple of days,we fly out of Brisbane for our new home in Kuala Lumpur leaving our grown up daughters and dogs without us. I am sure they will survive and flourish without my incessant advice and input. Time to seek out adventure and see if I can follow my own wise counsel!
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