Holidays in Kuala Lumpur

I've been a bit behind on the blogging, but that's only because I've been on my feet for the last three days. Since a lot has been going on and I can't seem to organize it, I'm going to tie in as much as I can in two days. As you know, it's already Christmas here in Malaysia... so I'm a bit ahead of the rest of you guys back in the states. I was quite surprised actually... that a Muslim influenced country like Malaysia would even be celebrating Christmas, but they really do it nicely here! Sure the humidity and the warm air doesn't really give you the vibes that you want, but the people were flooding the streets in Damansara and really showing their holiday spirit!

The main reason why I was in Malaysia was to celebrate the holidays with some good family friends that we met traveling to Asia (please refer to 2004 Asia blog). They were gracious enough to pick me and my family up and show us around Kuala Lumpur. They even offered to be our official tour guides for the next five days, so how could we turn that down? I love being taken around and shown places that I've never seen before, and believe me... everywhere I went was a different experience. From the high end shopping centers in downtown Kuala Lumpur to the restaurants in Damansara Utama, I couldn't have been happier. Most of you should probably know that I'm a huge eater, and I could continue for hours just doing that. Every street corner was filled with stands and tents full of pastries and fresh fruit that you can't get anywhere else in the world.

Believe me, it's a whole other world experience just walking down these long rows of tents and trying to find the right street corner that has the stuff that you want. I will say this... only in Malaysia can you truly eat like a king!

I'm not much of a shopper, but just tagging along with the parents really opens up your eyes to some interesting stuff. Malaysians have a versatile sense of style, so you can pretty much find anything you want... from high end LV to some cheap name brand items. I ended up purchasing a leather jacket and a few t-shirts from the Armani Exchange for a reasonable price, but the real treat is just wandering around certain areas and finding the right deals. You're probably not going to find great deals in department stores, but I encourage anybody in Malaysia to look for something. Since the holidays are coming to an end, I'm sure that there will be a lot of blowout sales in the next few days. One notable restaurant worth mentioning is the Saloma Theatre Restaurant. It is strategically located in the Golden Triangle, within the shopping, entertainment and business hub. The buildings and surroundings provide tourist a breathtaking view of the city's skyscrapers with the backdrop of the magnificent Petronas Twin Towers (refer to images).

It's located within the vicinity of Malaysia Tourism Centre and the ever popular Zouk club, so you're never too far away from the good stuff! Not only do they serve a variety of different Malaysian and Indian dishes and desserts, but they provide such great entertainment! I was called up onstage along with others to partake in traditional Malaysian dances, and it was a blast! I would definitely say that it was a memorable type of place where you could enjoy great food and learn more about Malaysian culture. I don't think I've ever experienced a place in the states quite like this! I'll blog more about my ventures shortly, but right now I'm incredibly tired and need to knock out!