Rainy days and Mondays don't get me down out here!

The 50m Statue in front of the 272 steps up to the cave
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Either my luck is back with me, or it's my powerful positive thinking. Either way I had a fruitful day today. I woke early, but not easily at 7:00 (although i didn't get my sorry arse out of bed until 7:30). I showered and washed the dolly hair managing to get out of the hostel at 8:15. Once I'd got the subway to KLCC I realised it was a little like Kings X Station and I didn't know which exit to take. I picked one at random and followed the ring road trying to match street names to my map. Eventually had to ask someone, but it seems I was heading in the right direction. When I reached the Vietnamese Embassy it really did take only 20 minutes (if that) to get my visa. No take a ticket, no queue and as I knew my exact entry and exit dates they were able to give me my visa there and then. So much for me worrying about not getting it in time for my flight on Friday. It did cost 40 pounds but at least I am all prepared for two weeks in Vietnam and I don't have to rush around on Friday.

One of the beautiful intricate sculptures
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That being done, I decided to check out the famous Batu caves just outside KL. Again, me and my map do not see eye to eye and I went a really long way about getting to the bus stop. It took about 45 minutes and it was very hot weather. I had my trusty umbrella with me to shade me from the harsh rays of the sun. It was 33 degrees Celsius today with 57% humidity. When I got to the bus I could see it had very little passengers and that it wouldn't leave till it was worth it, so I stopped in a 'local' eatery full of 'local people' and had noodles. It was 10:30am on a Monday and three mischievous looking Hindu boys complete with bindhi on forehead came in and ordered a bottle of whiskey with cokes and a bucket of ice. Shame on them, what would their mothers say? After that, I left and went to find the bus. Luckily, it was still there waiting for more passengers. Soon after I got on it pulled away.

Why is it that weirdo's around the globe feel drawn to local buses?

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Why is it that weirdo's around the globe feel drawn to local buses? Although, as long as they dont sit next to you, it's a very entertaining opportunity for a spot of people watching and today I was lucky. There was a young man who moved seats to sit next to some poor muslim girl and started chatting to her while she sat looking mortified, an old Hindu woman with shaggy white hair who tried to get another young muslim girl to give up her seat (although the conductor intervened and told her to sit in one of the many other free seats) and a man behind me who was constantly hacking up great balls of plegm into his mouth and swallowing them. I couldn''t stand the sounds he was making and quickly put my head phones on. During a traffic jam, the bus did an emergency stop inches away from a huge lorry and we all jerked forward. Weido Hindu woman voiced her irritation with this and then went off to rummage in the bus bin for a plastic bag to spit into.

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Arrival at the Batu caves is very impressive. There is a 50m golden statue of Lord Murugan (the second son and an incarnation of Lord Shiva) at the entrance (built in the last 5 years) and 272 steps leading up to the main cave. Beautiful Hindu sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu stories are everywhere. As I got closer to the entrance I saw the monkeys..... Little buggers they are. At the beginning you try to take pictures quickly while they're still close, but the novelty soon wears off. They're everywhere! Half way up the steps I was the victim of an attempted mugging. I had bought a flower necklace at the base of the stairs which was in a plastic bag I was holding. Thinking it was food, one little bugger tried to grab it off me. When I pulled it high above his reach, he started to climb up my skirt while onlookers gasped and stepped back a little afraid. I just stared him out and he scurried off. I realise now that people are more afraid of the diseases they carry than the danger of them eating you alive, but luckily he drew no blood from me.

One of the little buggers
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At the top of the steps I was out of breath and glowing (ok sweating) like a ***** in a *****. Lucky for my umbrella eh? It really saves my sanity under these blazing sun rays. I was dissapointed to see so many novelty stalls and tourist money suckers up there. There was a man with a python and a dead Kimodo dragon offering photos with the creatures (what's the relevance to these temples?) and loads of Kitch flashing wall hangings to adorn your less than tastefull home. I bypassed these, but did get a Bindhi and a prayer from some religious guy (at least I think it was authentic). I wandered around the huge cavern and took photos for random people who asked while they took photos of me in return. It is beautiful. It wasn't discovered till the end of the 19th Century and it features original artwork dating back years. Water drips from the ceiling and sunlight cascades through the openings at either end. Cockerels crow (with an echo) and monkeys scurry around. It was pretty amazing.

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Every year on the 10th month of the Hindu calendar (usually the end of Jan) as many as 800,000 people come to the caves and many skewer themselves with metal hooks attached to fruits and things in the hope of getting a few favors from their gods! I saw this on discovery channel once, but didn't realise it was these caves till I got here.

After I'd seen all I could, I decended the steps and watched others get attacked by monkeys. At the bottom, I decided I needed one of those mini towels that locals carry around to mop up the 'Glow' on the back of their necks. I always thought these were disgusting items, but now I realised I needed one. It's very pretty actually and helped me no end.

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After getting the bus back to town, I got lost again finding the hostel. I walked around the houses a while and then found my way. Jenny was there at reception and asked me how the visa thing went. I told her I had it already and she was really pleased for me. I then washed and went on the internet for an hour to cool down in the air con. After this, I decided to go and check out the Butterfly and Bird park. It's a long walk and my new sparkly posh flip flips have rubbed little sores onto my feet, so even my Havananas were a little uncomfortable. As I got to the Butterfly park about 40 minutes later, the early sounds of thunder echoed in the air and the sky went very dark. At the desk about to pay an entry fee for the butterflies, I asked if I'd see anything in the rain. She said probably not, so I moved on to the bird park. 2 minutes later, I realised that I really couldn't be bothered in a thunderstorm and headed back.

Dead Kimodo Dragon
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I absolutely love thunderstorms. If I could chose where and when to die, it would be lying starkers in a field during a thunderstorm with heavy rain...... oh, ok, too much information I guess..... I walked with my bright yellow brolly and enjoyed the cooling water on my feet. I decided shelter and food was needed and I found another 'local' place with 'local people'. Had great food and one of the guys who works there came over and chatted to me while his friends laughed and told me he was a cheeky one. He asked where I was from and then told me that he liked Wayne Rooney more than Beckham. I smiled and pretended to like football. He was really sweet. When I left, people said goodbye and I got back out into the rain. Didn't get lost this time!

Kitch as Christmas
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At the hostel I got straight on the internet and here I am. It's only 7:15 now, so I hope to get loads of journal stuff done. Fred's emailed me with advice about Vietnam and I meet her in Hanoi on Friday with her Mum for one night before we seperate for another 2 weeks. If anything exciting happens before I go to sleep I'll let you know.

Elaine x x x