Sat 23rd May
Of course I awoke well before the alarm but it meant I had a very relaxed morning. At about 08:30 I was at pagi pagi for my roti canai. I was sorry to have to say goodbye. I wanted to give Hami something extra, but in the end I didn’t have to pay for either the roti or the teh
I got my pack from my room and said goodbye to Deen; he gave me a bottle of water. Everyone was being so kind. By 09:30 I was on my way to the station, but first I had to put the empty small spirit bottle by one of the Sinhalese pot plants !!
I had plenty of time and walked slowly, but that was due to feeling crestfallen at having to leave my mates. I took a couple of different side streets and arrived at the station at around 09:45. I sat down, hoping the sweat would dry quickly.
20 minutes later we could go through the gate to the platform. I was in coach D, and my seat no. 5 was a window seat, but the seat next to me was empty anyway. We left on time at 10:21. There was nothing to see in terms of scenery. Nearly 2 and a half hours later we arrived at KL Sentral.
I went straight to Cozy and said “I know there’s no availability, but I’m looking at Sun & Mon”. They just said they’d get me a room… Which they did…100RM including tourist tax, but no window. That was absolutely fine with me for 3 days in the hotel I really like. I went to my room on the 1st floor and changed into shorts and flip flops.
I popped across the road for a teh. Then over to the shopping mall to talk generally with Malaysian Airlines about any possibilities of flight cancellations taking place. Coincidentally, at the same time I received an email from Malaysian to say that this 3 week period is the peak festive season and one should arrive at the airport 4 hours ahead of departure. I could live with that.
I went to a restaurant for a kopi. When I left the café there was a torrential downpour. There is sufficient overhang from shops to avoid getting too wet.
I went to the cheapy restaurant just around the corner from Cozy and had a rice, beef, veg combo. The rice being very hot made up for the other 2 dishes being luke warm. The cost was 14RM…2.70Gbp…due to the inclusion of meat. Actually, the beef was very tender and very tasty.
I returned to Cozy to relax a bit in my room.
Before 5pm I went to the Supper Club for a couple of Connors. That was it. Although I bought a small bottle of vodka/gin and a packet of chevda for my room.
A successful trip to KL…especially with Cozy having a room available.
Sun 24th May.
I had some slightly noisy neighbours…the kids. And someone rattled my door a couple of times. At reception I asked if those families would be leaving that day, otherwise I was going to ask for a change of room.
I went for a roti breakfast to a restaurant 5 minutes away where I’d been to before. I was charged 4.20RM which I’m sure was a mistake; a teh alone is a minimum of 2.50. Anyway, I then went to my usual teh place across the road from Cozy.
Before that I popped into a couple of general stores looking for flip flops. The second shop had them…simple style…in fact the same as the ones I bought on Langkawi. They had my size and cost 1RM less than at Pentai Cenang…at 11.90RM. Very happy with 2.25RM. After a short walk I found a bin in which to throw the old ones away.
I sat on the Cozy roof for a short time while there was a little bit of sun. I decided against asking for a room change as the. Noisy family seemed to have checked out.
Time to look for some lunch. I walked around looking for a Laksa, but being Little India, a Malay restaurant was a rarity. I went quite a long way, only to end up in the shopping mall. I ate in the same restaurant last year, and I ordered an Asam laksa with bits of fish in it. 17.65RM with tax..just over 3Gbp. Very delicious…and just as importantly, it was hot.
I went back to my room briefly, then over to the Supper club for my Connor’s. And back to my room where I still had some bombay mix to snack on.
Mon 25th May
A late start to the day. I had woken up around midnight and caught the second half of the last matches of the Premier league season. Very tense…West Ham won, and although a draw would have sufficed, Spurs won and we just kept our place in the Top division.
I went for a breakfast egg roti which seemed even more delicious than usual. Followed by a teh from across the road from Cozy. Then to Malaysian Airlines office to get help with my on-line check in. These things aren’t so straightforward so I’m glad I went. Hopefully it will save me time at the airport. As I was in the shopping mall, I confirmed the route to the train for the airport. At least I know it’s terminal 1 and counter ‘H’ .
I stopped at a hotel that also had a café, and I had a cafe latte. Then back to Cozy and up to the roof for 30 minutes in the sun. By the time I’d showered and was ready to go out, there was torrential rain outside.
I made it back into the shopping centre and just window shopped. There was incredible thunder and lightening. There wasn’t much to do so I went to the Supper club after 15:30.
I watched football highlights over my beers. I picked up a packet of bombay mix to have in my room. I spoke to Mercy and sent her 3,000Ksh as her mother isn’t well. It should help with any transport to Nakuru. And I had a 10 minute chat with Loretta.
After 9pm I settled down to sleep.
Tues 26th May
I had a good night’s sleep…considering there was a travel day ahead. I packed and went for my egg roti and teh. On my return to Cozy I confirmed the check out time. As it wasn’t until midday and the sun was shining, I went up to the roof to sit in the sun for the last time.
I showered and checked out after 11:00.
I went for teh across the road from Cozy. I went for a cafe latee down the road and charged a phone. I decided to have a snack and chose a samosa and a veggie thing. I couldn’t find anything suitable at the street stalls so went to a cheapy restaurant that I’ve used before. Then went to the Supper club for one last Connor’s.
From there to the train station and onto the 16:00 for the half hour journey to the airport.I was in plenty of time. The on-line checking process worked really well; didn’t have to queue and immediately got my boarding pass and my rucksack went into ‘bag drop off’.
Next stop immigration. Less than half an hour queueing, so by 18:00 I was done. Last time everything took forever, but this time I’ve ended up being much too early!! Better to be safe than sorry. I found a bar and relaxed with a Sapporo beer.
A few hours passed. I had 2 beers. I played sudoku. Eventually I got the monorail to gate C. The signs were a bit confusing..one said C1, but actually it was C35. I was still too early so I had a pint of Tiger…58RM…10Gbp..ouch. Following a security check we boarded. Then, before midnight (about 20 minutes late), we took off.