Arrived in KL!

View outside my condo of KL and pic of my room

So I have finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur (KL) (well I actually did yesterday). To make a long story somewhat short...the flight went faster than I thought it would (about an hour-ish) and then I took an aerobus from the airport-which cost about 2 or 3 us dollars to get to the city center. From there I took a taxi to my condo, Pantai Hillpark, and the taxi driver ripped me off. But I had a big suitcase and at that point I just wanted to get to my destination already. Overall, I didn't really have any hassles getting to the condo.

My landlord, Christin, is nice. She's in her 40's I think ethnic Chinese(like quite a few people here are). She's VERY clean...but I guess that's better than not being clean. I have quite a nice view of the city skyline as you can see (I will get a night picture later, as that is pretty fantastic as well). My room is a decent size with a closet, desk, bed, etc. The window doesn't look out onto anything pretty-just the other side of the building-but it's a good room. There is a pool, which is really nice and a little shop that sells snacks and basic cooking ingredients (they even have potatoes and prego tomato sauce)! Christin took me to get a new sim card and some stuff that I needed. We ate some Chinese food at this shop-ate something called "stinky egg". The guy recommended to me...it smells like the geysers at yellowstone...and tastes like it too. Not trying that again. Maybe my method of trying everything isn't so great after all...haha! I also had some noodles which were good. But so far I haven't had anything "amazing"...but I am sure that will happen sometime soon.

This morning at 5 am I was woken up my the muslim morning prayer. They have five prayers everyday...it's pretty intense. Today I went the Mid-Valley Mega Mall. It's Mega alright. Biggest mall I have EVER seen in my life-I got lost in there actually. I took the bus there which was really pretty simple. But while I was waiting for the bus, an Iranian man sat next to me (a lot of Iranians live here) and started talking to me. I tried to ignore him but he was incredibly persistent and would NOT stop talking. He asked me where I lived-I lied. He asked me if I wanted to be "friends." I told him I had a boyfriend and he said "oh-I just want to be friends! I want someone to practice my English with!" But honestly, I didn't believe him. He seemed very friendly and he was helpful (he told me which bus to take and everything) but he just was a bit annoying. He also was going to mid-valley and he asked me if I wanted to get lunch. I said I was meeting a friend (lie again). Nevertheless, he payed for my bus ticket twice (which I insisted on paying-but he wouldn't let me and would pay the driver before I could get to him). Anyway, thankfully once we were at the mall already, I insisted I had to go and we went our separate ways. It's not that I wouldn't mind being friends with someone...but I don't think that going out to lunch with an Iranian man really entails "just friends" and plus he was quite a bit older than me (a PHD student). Anyway, that was a wierd experience-but I'm kind of used to it, so it's not too big of a deal.

Anyway...at the mall they were having this final day sale and so there was a lot of people there. I got some clothes and a new bag since mine still had puke on it from my bus trip...haha. I ate at this little cafe and had some english food (actually good) and iced coffee. It's really shopping paradise there...but I should probably avoid going there often so I can save money-haha! Afterwards I didn't feel like taking the bus, so I took a taxi for 8 ringgit back to the condo. I think tomorrow after work (if I have time...) I might go to carrefour to get some groceries.

So....tomorrow I start work! I am pretty excited about it. This intern from Germany is meeting me and showing me how to get there. I guess there is also another intern from the states coming here next month.

All in all...my first impression of KL and Malaysia? Well, it's more different from Thailand than I imagined it to be. It's much more multi-racial (with Indians, chinese, Malays, Middle Easterns, etc). There are not many caucasians actually. I'd say there are more in Thailand...Also, the food is...more different. I have to try and eat more different things though. I feel like the people here also don't smile as much as Thai people...not that they are less friendly, but I feel they are more conservative. They all do speak English (for the most part) but sometimes it's hard to understand them because they have a strong accent.

Anyway, I will write more later!