We exited the mall and located our hired taxi. Time to go to Petaling Street in Chinatown which was the real target of the Kuala Lumpur excursion.
We were dropped off at a corner. We arranged for the driver to meet us at the same spot two hours later and we started walking into the labyrinths of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown.
The first thing we noticed was how similar the items for sale were with the ones you’d find at most flea markets in Metro Manila. Like Greenhills. Or the 168 Mall in Divisoria. Fake designer stuff. Bags, shoes, shirts… Things we weren’t interested in buying. Except…
There was this stall selling apparel that a belly dancer would wear. The Captain’s Reception was scheduled that night and I suggested to Osang that she wear the one with the gold top and the red skirt. But she was too chicken. 
But, seriously, we didn’t go to Chinatown to shop. We went there for the food. That’s one thing that Osang and I totally agree on. We want good food. And we don’t mean expensive stuff that look like artwork in some fancy restaurant. We prefer hawker food because they represent the real culture of a country.
We peeked at the food from one restaurant to another and finally settled for the one that seemed to offer the most delectable dishes. What did we have? We ordered three dishes.
From the grin on Osang’s face, you can guess what one of the three dishes was.
After the wonderful lunch, we were so full we couldn’t even think of dessert. Although we wanted to try so many things. We settled for fresh fruits and roasted chestnuts that we could take back to the ship. We were ready to leave Chinatown but it was still more than an hour before our rendezvous with the taxi. We wanted coffee and we needed to go to a rest room. But there were only two choices. McDonald’s (which was filled to the rafters) or the coffee shop in the lobby of an expensive-looking hotel. We were weary (did I mention it had turned humid?) and waiting on the sidewalk for over an hour was not a pleasant idea.
We were about to cross the street to the hotel when I spotted this shop selling tea stuff. It’s called Purple Cane.
The shop was air-conditioned, there was a rest room and the stuff they sold… I’m not talking of tea bags, okay? They sold the finest loose tea leaves in there. And tea pots and those dainty little cups. Definitely my kind of store.
The best part? You can try before you buy. Like oolong tea? They’ll brew a pot for you. How about the finest green tea? Flavored or un? It’s you choice.
I had eight canisters of tea when we left the store. How I would fit them into my luggage was a problem I’d think about later. And it was only through sheer will power (and the loathing fear of paying for excess baggage) that prevented me from buying tea pots and cups in every imaginable color and design.
We walked some more and finally found a place where we could sit and order bottles of cold water. Hot coffee was the farthest thing from our minds by then. The midday sun was burning our skin and we wanted cold water.
Half an hour later, we found the taxi and it was time to drive back to Port Klang and the ship.
We passed everything we did on the drive to Kuala Lumpur. Because the sun was shining this time, I was able to take some photos. Like this mall with the pyramid and sphinx-like structure out front. Osang napped most of the way.
We reached Port Klang and it was back to the ship. Later, we would go to the Captain’s Reception. But that’s another story.
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the ‘pyramid mall’ is the mall beside the sunway lagoon water park and hotel, you should try it pag bumalik kayo ng malaysia.
Ano bang month hindi mainit? So I know what time of the year we should go next time. I thought because it was November, the weather wouldn’t be a killer but, my goonies, nakakapang-lata.
Ooh, looked like a load of fun! Those tea canisters are the best for storing loose leaf tea.
Just as a note, you don’t need to pay to use the normal no frills restroom at the shopping mall – the one you used is the deluxe version! Yes, there is such a thing at this particular mall!
it seems you don’t have to go abroad to go shopping anymore — we already have everything here, from top designer brands to greenhills and 168 china-made goods… and yes, those belly dancer costumes are also available at greenhills and tutuban.
“those belly dancer costumes are also available at greenhills and tutuban”
Really? Now I know where to get a Christmas gift for Osang. nyahahahaha
Petaling Street is most alive at night. Most of the shops and hawker stalls open around 6-7pm. Unfortunately, its hot and humid all year round that’s why you will see most people carry water bottles with them all the time. The mall in Petronas Tower is really not the “shopping” type unless you have a lot of money to spare. The Sunway Pyramid mall is better for shopping and it is where we normally go if we want to have daing na bangus or beef tapa. And if you really want great local food, you have to go outside of KL like in Melaka or Penang.
We did go to Penang. Unfortunately, it was raining. We did manage to find some great chow though, including the Chocolate Boutique.
Nice! Chicken rice, duck rice and char siew! Delish! Kainggit naman heheh…..