Mad Cabbie in Marainsia

My new tripod works! Love the Marriott!
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Made it to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!  Or should I call it Marainsia?? 

The airport experience in sooo different than Hong Kong.  Albeit, it's a new airport, and so clean, and up to date.  Airport is smack dab in the middle of nowhere!! My German airplane buddy and I decided to figure out the terminal together.  Again, a really nice guy, very well-travelled, from Berlin.  Though, as soon as I mentioned I have a friend from Bavaria, he kind of backed away (What's up with that, Ray?) Guess I won't do that again.  (Then again, not sure why people feel like they need to let a complete stranger know they have friends in their country, along with a name.  Do we really think they would know the Horn clan from Bavaria?) Had a good feeling about Malaysia until German guy left me as soon as we cleared customs.  As soon as we walk out of the confines of the barriers, I was immediately rushed by a mob of cab drivers, trying to get my business.  I did what any other sane person would do, kept my head down, and dragged my luggage clear across the other end of the airport.  Why did I do that???

Good times with Abe, the Iranian Colonel! Why is he so close to me?
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So, I decided to take a taxi, and bought a metered ticket from the Airport Taxi counter.(Tip: As soon as you leave the customs area, there is an Airport Taxi booth to purchase a prepaid taxi ticket.  Ask for the budget taxi ($64 ringgits - old toyota corolla) or else they will try to give you the "limo" ($94 ringgits - a newer toyota corrolla). Also, this will spare you the cabbie mob.)

Stepping outside the airport, I was immediately suffocated by the hot, humid air of Malaysia. Got into the queue for the taxi, and I was up next!  The "limo" pulled up, and I thought, What luck!  They are giving me the better car, cuz I smiled at the valet!  As valet was attempting to place my luggage in the trunk, local chick jumps into the front seat of cab, and takes my car!  Dammit!  "Okay, no problem, going with the flow...." Valet gives me a sorry look, probably stunned himself. 

Not feeling so great about KL anymore. Next cab pulls up and it's budget car. Oh well, just get in before someone else takes it!  As soon as I hand my ticket to Mr Nice Cab Dirver, he turned Dr Jeckyll on me!  Oh no, I thought, he's just shaking his head and breathing hard! Crap, no way to change cabs! So, for the next 1 1/2 hours, I sit in silence, afraid to make small talk or even find out about the great sights of KL. The gas gauge reads "E" and Mad Cabbie is driving like we're on the autobonne, honking at cars in the way! What is equivalent to 140 km/hr??  And did I mention it was POURING rain??  Don't know how we travelled for 200 km on no gas!!! Probably would not have helped if I tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Are you mad at me?"

Finally found salvation at the luxurious JW Marriott at 2pm. Feelings of tension are immediately removed, as I was looking forward to my second nice hot shower for the day. Or so I thought..."Sorry, miss, you're room will not be available until 5pm".  HUH?  Are you kidding?  They are so polite, she responds, " No miss, sorry, not kidding".  So for the next 3 hours, I resign myself to a nice cup of coffee at Starbucks, walking in the pouring rain, and seeking out the internet cafe. Only $4 ringgits/hr!

Evening: Read about a really good Claypot Chicken stand, so I decided to hunt it down.  From the map, it looked accessible  by walking, so I ventured out in the hot, rainy weather. After an hour of what seemed like the seedy side of KL, I gave up and turned around.  Heading back to the Marriott seemed much more appealing.  Ran into a man who was living in at Langkawi Island (pop. 60,000), and he offered to point me in the direction of Claypot stand.  Instead, we ended up having dinner at a hawker stand, and shared stories over a few beers.  Turns out he's a former pilot for the Iranian airforce, then became a pilot for Malaysian Airlines (whom pays horribily, he added), was granted 4 acres of land in Langkawi Island by the former prime minister, and now runs a guesthouse for tourism, and trains pilots on the weekends.  Damn is he for real?  Way too cool.