Sibi & Vanathy: September 2014

Malaysia & Singapore - Sibi Pranav

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

18.8.14[Monday]

NOTHING MUCH. WE TOOK THE ROCKFORT EXPRESS TO TRICHY JUNCTION.

19.8.14[Tuesday]

WE REACHED TRICHY JUNCTION.WE WERE IN THE TRICHY WAITING LOUNGE FOR ALMOST 2 HOURS.THEN WE WENT TO TIRUCHIRAPALLI AIRPORT.OUR AIR ASIA PLANE WAS DUE TO 9:40.WE WENT TO KUALALUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT[KLIA] AT 4:25[DUE TO CHANGE OF TIME ZONE[3 HOURS]. WE THEN WALKED A LONG CIRCLE DISTANCE TO OUR “MY HOTEL’’. WE WENT TO A NEARBY MALL,ATE DINNER AND WENT TO SLEEP.

20.8.14[Wednesday]

WE WENT TO PETRONAS TWIN TOWER IN MORNING.WE WALKED IN THE LINK BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO TOWER[36^TH FLOOR]. THEN WE SAW KUALALUMPUR FROM THE VIEW FROM 86^TH FLOOR.ALL WENT WELL TILL 12:30,WHEN WE WERE LATE FOR BAGGAGE CHECK-IN. THEY[AIR ASIA STAFF]ASKED DAD TO BOARD THE NEXT FLIGHT AND CHECK-IN THE BAG,WHICH MEANS 150 RINGGITS EXTRA.IF WITH FAMILY MEANS 800 RINGGITS[HOW UNFAIR]. OH!I FORGOT TO TELL WHERE WE WERE GOING. WE WERE GOING TO PENANG. SO WE[I,MOM,SIS]WENT IN OUR FLIGHT AND REACHED PENANG AT 1:45 PM.DAD CAME TO PENANG AT 3:45 IN THE NEXT FLIGHT.THEN WE WENT TO OUR HOTEL[SHERATON]. IT WAS VERY LUXURIOUS.IT'S COST 650 RINGGITS.WE THEN WENT TO A BEACH,I WENT TO THE SWIMMING POOL.THEN DAD LOST HIS PRECIOUS RING IN THE SMALL GAP IN THE LIFT DOOR.THEN WE WENT TO A ROADSIDE HOTEL,ATE WELL AND REACHED OUR ROOM AND SLEPT.PHEW!WHAT A DAY.ALMOST 20,000 RUPEES DOWN THE DRAIN.

21.8.14[Thursday]

WE HAD A HEARTY BREAKFAST.WE THEN WENT TO MONKEY BEACH.THE BEACH HAD NO MONKEYS EXCEPT US.THEN IN THE EVENING,WE WENT TO PENANG HILL.WE WENT UP IN A TRAIN.THEN CAME DOWN.WE THEN CAME TO OUR HOTEL AND RESTED OUR FEET.

22.8.14[FRIDAY]

WE THEN WENT TO CATCH OUR PLANE TO SINGAPORE AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING.WE REACHED SINGAPORE AROUND 11:20.WE WENT TO OUR ROOM.WE THEN WENT TO A MALL NEAR OUR HOTEL HAD OUR LUNCH[MEE GORENG]AND CAME BACK.WE THEN SLEPT TILL 4 IN THE EVENING.

THEN WE WENT TO THE NEARBY MRT STATION[FARRER PARK]AND WENT TO ANG MO KIO.WE CAUGHT THE BUS[138]TO THE SINGAPORE ZOO.WE REACHED THERE AT 6:00.I TOOK A PICTURE WITH AN OWL[BRRRRR…]. THEY TOOK US INTO THE PARK IN A TRAM.WE SAW ANIMALS LIKE SAMBAR DEER,TAPIRS,ELEPHANTS,ZEBRA,LION[NOT IN CAGE],HYENAS[FACE TO FACE],BUFFALOES.THEY TOLD THE TIGER WERE OUT FOR HUNTING AND THE GIRAFFES.WE THEN SAW AN ANIMAL SHOW.

IF YOU ASK ME HOW WAS IT,I’D TELL YOU,THEY WERE CRAZY,THEY LET A PYTHON ON THE LOOSE INTO THE AUDIENCE.BUT PHEW!WE WERE SAFE.THEN WE CAME TO OUR HOME AT 10:30 AT NIGHT.MOM AND DAD WENT TO A NEARBY HOTEL AND BROUGHT DINNER.WE ATE AND SLEPT NEARLY AT 11:35.

23.8.14[SATURDAY]

WE WOKE UP LATE IN THE MORNING.WE THEN WENT TO HARBOURFRONT.WE WALKED ON A BOARDWALK TO REACH SENTOSA.WE SAW MARVELOUS GLASS PAINTINGS.

WE THEN WENT TO THE S.E.A AQUARIUM[IN SENTOSA] HAD A NICE TIME THERE.THERE WERE MANY FISHES OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.THEY TOLD THERE WERE 200 SHARKS.BUT I WAS ABLE TO SEE ONLY A 2[I.E HAMMERHEAD & SANDTIGER]. THERE WERE MANY STINGRAYS.WE SAW A STINGRAY EATING A FISH.WE THEN WALKED ON THE BOARDWALK TO HARBOURFRONT STATION AND WENT TO BAYFRONT STATION.

WE WENT TO GARDENS BY THE BAY.DAD AND SIS SAT IN A PLACE.I AND MOM EXPLORED THE PLACE FULLY.BUT WHEN WE RETURNED,WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND THEM MISSING.WE WENT TO SEARCH FOR THEM.FINALLY AT 7:30 WE REJOINED.I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A FIGHT.BUT,PHEW!ALL WENT WELL.

WE THEN WALKED ON A BRIDGE TO THE SINGAPORE FLYER.WE ENTERED AT 8:20 AND CAME OUT AT 8:40.THE VIEW WAS BEAUTIFUL.THE LIGHTS MADE IT MORE BEAUTIFUL.WE THEN CAME TO THE HOTEL AT 9:55.THIS TIME,I AND DAD WENT TO BUY DINNER.WE ATE AND SLEPT AROUND 10:25.

24.8.14[SUNDAY]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY MOST LOVED PARENTS.IT WAS A GREAT DAY[THEIR ANNIVERSARY AND THE PLACE WE WENT]. WE WENT TO HARBOURFRONT AND WALKED ON THE SAME BOARDWALK WHICH WE USED TO GO TO SENTOSA.THERE WE WENT TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.THERE WERE SIX PARTS[i.e MADAGASCAR,FAR FAR AWAY,LOST WORLD,ANCIENT EGYPT,SCI-FI CITY,NEW YORK AND HOLLYWOOD]. LET'S SEE IT ONE BY ONE.

1.MADAGASCAR

WE FIRST WENT TO CRATE ADVENTURE,IT WAS LIKE SEEING THE MADAGASCAR MOVIE IN 8 MINUTES[YES,IT WAS NICE].WE THEN WENT TO KING JULIENS PARTY GO ROUND.IT WAS LIKE MERRY-GO-ROUND.ITS SEATS WERE DESIGNED WITH MADAGASCAR CHARACTERS[ALEX,MELMAN,GLORIA,MARTY,PENGUINS,MORT,FOOSA ETC].

2.FAR FAR AWAY

WE ALL KNOW THAT FAR FAR AWAY MEANS SHREK.YUP,IT WAS ALSO NICE.WE WENT TO A 4-D SHORT MOVIE ON HOW SHREK SAVES FIONA FROM THE BAD KING S GHOST[YEAH, GHOST]. THEN, THERE WAS A ROLLER COASTER WITH DRAGON CARRIAGES.WE THEN WENT TO A MUSICAL SHOW IN WHICH THE DONKEY WILL BE SINGING.WE WENT TO THE LOST WORLD NEXT.BUT THERE RIDE'S WAITING TIME WAS 70 MINUTES.SO WE CAME BACK TO FAR FAR AWAY AND HAD OUR LUNCH THERE.

3.LOST WORLD.

WHEN WE CAME AFTER LUNCH,WE SAW THE WAITING TIME WAS 35 MINUTES FOR A WATER RIDE.WE WENT TO THE RIDE AND GOT INTO A HOVERBOAT-LIKE THING.WHEN THE RIDE BEGAN,RAIN CAME.IT WAS A NICE RIDE.WE WENT INTO DARKNESS,SUDDENLY SOMETHING PUSHED US,A MACHINE TOOK US UP AND THE BOAT CAME DOWN FAST AND DASHED INTO WATER. DADS CAMERA GOT INTO WATER IN THIS INCIDENT. WE WERE BACK WHERE WE STARTED AND THE RAIN STOPPED. I THINK THE RAIN FELL SPECIALLY FOR US. WE THEN WENT TO A RIDE IN WHICH WE CAN FLY IN THE DINOSAUR.THEN WE WENT TO THE NEXT PART.

4.ANCIENT EGYPT

HERE A JEEP RIDE WAS THERE FOR A WAITING TIME OF 40 MINUTES.WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN AND WENT INSIDE.BUT THERE WAS NOTHING.ONLY A CIRCLE TRACK AND WE’RE BACK.HEY, WHAT IS THIS,AN HOUR WASTED FOR THIS NO GOOD RIDE. I AND MOM WENT TO A ROLLER COASTER NAMED THE CURSE Of THE MUMMY.I SHOUTED ‘MUMMMMMYYYYY’[THAT’S A LIE]

5.SCI-FI CITY

IT HAD THE BIGGER ROLLER COASTER SHUT DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE. AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ROLLER COASTER IN HERE WHERE WE WERE IN A CAR IN CHICAGO[DURING THE WAR] and MEGATRON TRIES TO KILL US. AND OPTIMUS PRIME AND BUMBLEBEE SAVED US FROM THE RUTHLESS MONSTER. IT WAS THE TRANSFORMERS 4-D RIDE. IT HAD AN HOUR WAIT TIME AS WELL. BUT IT WAS WORTH TO RIDE THIS COASTER.

6.NEW YORK

IT WAS SESAME STREET. YAHOOOOOOO!ELMO,ERNIE,BIG BIRD ETC…. .WE WENT IN THE SPAGETTI SPACE RIDE TWICE.AND WE HAD TEA AND NACHOS AT THE SESAME STREET.

7.HOLLYWOOD

WELL,IT WAS A STUDIO,IN WHICH THEY SHOWED HOW THEY FILMED TORNADOES IN MOVIES.WE THEN WENT TO MADAGASCAR TO THE CRATE RIDE FOR SECOND TIME.THEN WE WENT TO SHOPS AND CAME OUT.NOW WE CAME TO HARBOURFRONT TAXI STAND.WE WAITED FOR A HOUR FOR A TAXI AND FINALLY CAME ONE.

WE WENT TO MERLION PARK,TOOK PHOTOS WITH THE PAPA MERLION[YES THE GRAMP MERLION WAS AT SENTOSA (WE SAW IT TOO) AND THE SON MERLION IS IN A

BUILDING.WE THEN CAME TO OUR ROOM,WENT TO A NEARBY THAI HOTEL.TELL YOU WHAT,I ATE AN OCTOPUS’S TENTACLE.IT WAS HARD.THEN IT WAS MIDNIGHT[12:00],SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VANATHY!!

25.8.14[MONDAY]

WE,AS USUAL WENT TO MCDONALDS,BUT I HAD AN DIFFERENT BREAKFAST OF DONUTS AND TEA AT DUNKIN DONUTS.

WE THEN WENT TO THE SINGAPORE ZOO AGAIN FOR THE RIVER SAFARI.WE THERE SAW THAT THEY HAVE CLASSIFIED THE RIVER ANIMALS BASED ON THE RIVER THEY ARE FOUND. LIKE THE RIVERS MISSISSIPPI,GANGES,YANGTZE ETC…WE THEN SAW GIANT PANDAS RED PANDAS ETC… .WE THEN WENT ON A RIDE CALLED AMAZON RIVER QUEST.IN THIS WE SAW ANIMALS LIKE IGUANA,SPIDER MONKEY,CAPYBARAS,JAGUARS ETC… .WE ALSO SAW A GREEN ANACONDA,RED BELLIED PIRANHA,STINGRAYS,DUGONGS ETC… .

WE THEN TOOK A TAXI.THE DRIVER SUDDENLY ASKED TO ME’’YENGE POHANNUM’’. WHEN ASKED HE TOLD ME HE KNEW SOME TAMIL WORDS. WE THEN WENT TO PIZZAHUT.THE BIRTHDAY GIRL GOT A FREE ICE CREAM FROM THE MANAGER.

THEN WE WENT TO QUEEN MARY S STREET.FROM THERE WE TOOK A TAXI TO JOHOR BAHRU[MALAYSIA]. DON’T GET CONFUSED,WE WENT THROUGH A LINK BRIDGE CONNECTING THE TWO COUNTRIES.WE THEN WENT TO A OFFICE-HOTEL BUILDING I.E HILTON.WE HAD OUR ROOM ON THE 25^TH FLOOR.WE CHECKED IN AND WENT TO OUR ROOM.2-10 FLOORS WERE for OFFICE.IT HAD SEPARATE LIFT.11-30 WERE THE ROOMS.WE HAD OUR DINNER AND WENT TO SLEEP.

26.8.14[TUESDAY]

WE WOKE UP.WE HAD OUR BREAKFAST.THE SAME DRIVER OF YESTERDAY DROVE US T0 LEGOLAND.WE HAD A MARVELOUS TIME THERE.WE BEGAN WITH A ROLLER COASTER.THEN WE WENT TO A WATER RIDE. IN THIS THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE THE RIDE CAN SET WATER BOMBS AND SHOOT WATER OUT OF WATER GUNS.WE WENT TWO TIMES ON THIS RIDE. THEN WE WENT TO A MINI COASTER. AS THERE WAS LESS CROWD, WE RODE IT TWO TIMES.

AFTER THE RIDE WE WENT AND ENROLLED IN A BLOCKS ROBOTICS CLASS.THERE WERE TWO TYPES, TREASUREBOT AND DOCTORBOT. I CHOSE TREASUREBOT AND SIS CHOSE DOCTORBOT.OUR CLASS WAS DUE AT 3:30 AND THE TIME WAS ONLY 11.3O, WE DECIDED TO GO TO OTHER RIDES AND COME BACK FOR THIS .

WE THEN WENT TO A RIDE.IN THIS,WE HAVE TO PULL A ROPE TO GO UP AND LOOSEN IT TO GO DOWN.WE HAVE TO DO LIKE THAT 4 TIMES.THE WE WENT NEXT TO MAKE CARS USING LEGO BLOCKS AND MAKE THEM RACE AND SEE WHETER THEY RUN WITHOUT BREAKING.THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER CONTEST.IN THIS WE CAN BUILD LEGO TOWERS AND SEE THAT IT DOESN’T FALL DUE TO SHAKING.

THEN WE WENT TO A 4-D SHORT MOVIE ON LEGO CHIMA.THEN WE WENT TO A RESTAURANT AND ATE PIZZA,A POTATO SOUP AND EVERYONE CHOSE THE DRINK THEY WANT.I CHOSE HEAVEN AND EARTH.IT WAS DIFFERENT SO I CHOSE IT.

AFTER LUNCH WE WATCHED A MUSICAL FOUNTAIN.THEN WE WENT ON A RIDE WHICH THEY CALLED MUMMY RIDE.THEN WE WENT TO RIDE IN A JUMPIN HORSE FOR TWO TIMES.THEN WE WENT ON A TRAIN RIDE AROUND THE PARK.

THEN WE WENT TO A PART CALLED MINILAND.HERE THERE WERE MODELS OF ALL IMPORTANT PLACES IN ASIA LIKE TAJ MAHAL,GREAT WALL OF CHINA, PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS,ANGKOR WAT,KLIA[KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT]ETC… MADE OUT OF LEGO BLOCKS.

IT WAS 3.THE CLASS WILL BEGIN AT 3:30[YEAH,REMEMBER]AND THE PLACE WAS NEAR.SO WE WENT THERE.I WENT IN.WE SHOULD CONTROL THE LEGO BLOCK MADE ROBOT THROUGH A COMPUTER.THE TASKS WERE.

1.OPEN THE GOLD

2.TAKE THE GOLD

3.PARALYZE A MONSTER THAT HAS SEEN YOU TAKING THE GOLD.

4.PUT WASTE IN THE PLACE OF GOLD.

I FINISHED 1^ST IN THE COMPETITION.

THEN WE WENT TO THE DRIVING SCHOOL. HERE WE CAN DRIVE ANYTHING.WE WENT TO THE BOAT SCHOOL FIRST.WE THEN WENT TO THE ’’ PUT OUT FIRE GAME’’. WE THEN WENT TO THE FLYING SCHOOL.HERE WE CAN FLY THE ATTACHED PLANE WHEN WE PRESS A BUTTON.

WE THEN WENT TO THE DRIVING SCHOOL.AFTER THIS WE WENT TO THE BIG LEGO SHOP.THIS SHOP HAS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGO TOYS.THEN WE CAME TO OUR HOTEL, HAD DINNER AND WENT TO SLEEP.

27.8.14[WEDNESDAY]

IT WAS 4:30 IN THE MORNING BUT WHAT TO DO,WE HAD TO GO TO THE JOHOR BAHRU AIRPORT TO CATCH OUR PLANE,WHICH WILL TAKE US TO KUALA LUMPUR.THE PLANE WAS TO LEAVE AT 7:10 IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS RAINING.BUT WE WENT AND BOARDED OUR PLANE ON TIME.WE WENT TO KLIA AT 7:45.

WE HAD OUR BREAKFAST AT KLIA AND WE RODE A TRAIN TO BATU CAVES.IT WAS A MURUGAN TEMPLE AND WE HAD TO CLIMB STEPS AND ANOTHER BATCH OF STEPS TO REACH THE TEMPLE.WE THEN CAME BACK TO KL CENTRAL.THEN WE HAD OUR LUNCH AND WE WENT TO SHOPPING.

I BOUGHT MYSELF A COOL DRINK AND BOUGHT SOME CANDIES AND CHOCOLATES.WE THEN TOOK A SKYBUS TO KLIA.THEN WE WENT TO ALL THE RESTAURANTS AND FINALLY SETTLED AT NANDO’s FOR DINNER. I AND MOM ATE WRAPS,SIS HAD A SATAY AND DAD ATE BURGER.

WE THEN WENT AND HAD OUR PASSPORTS CHECKED AND WENT AND WAITED FOR OUR PLANE.OUR PLANE ARRIVED AND WE WENT IN AND SAT ON OUR SEATS.PLANE DEPARTED AT 10:10 AND I BEGAN TO SLEEP.BYE BYE MALAYSIA.

WHEN I WOKE UP THE TIME WAS 11:29.NO,DON’T THINK THE PLANE TOOK ONLY AN HOUR.BECAUSE IT WAS DUE TO TIME ZONE[WE SAW THAT EARLIER,DIDN’T WE] AND WE REACHED TIRUCHIRAPALLI AIRPORT.WE WERE IN INDIA AGAIN.WE THEN TOOK OUR BAGS FROM THE BAGGAGE BELT.WE THEN CHECKED OUR PASSPORTS AGAIN.AND WE CAUGHT A TAXI AND WE WENT TO TIRUCHIRAPALLI JUNCTION.WE WENT THERE AT NEARLY 11:57 SO IT WAS ALMOST THE NEXT DAY.

28.8.14[THURSDAY]

WE WAITED IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR OUR TRAIN THIRUKKURAL EXPRESS.IT WAS COMING FROM KANNIYAKUMARI AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO DELHI[OR I MEAN HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN] WE WAITED FOR ALMOST 2 HOURS IN THE WAITING ROOM AND I SAW ALL SORTS OF TRAINS LIKE PANDIAN,NELLAI ETC… .WE THEN WENT TO OUR PLATFORM NO:1 AND WAITED FOR OUR TRAIN.OUR TRAIN ARRIVED AT 3:00 AND WE GOT IN OUR COACH A1.WE THEN SLEPT.

WE ARRIVED AT CHENGALPET AT 7:50 AND REACHED EGMORE AT 8:50.WE WENT TO EGMORE BECAUSE WE NEED TO BUY BREAKFAST AND WE CAME TO OUR HOUSE AT 10:50AM.AND SO OUR TRIP ENDED.OF COURSE IT HAD TO END SO THAT WE CAN GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

WHAT I LEARNT IN THE TRIP

TO FOLLOW TRAFFIC RULES

OUR TRAVEL TIME CALCULATION

TRAIN/PLANE NAME	FROM	TO	DEPART	ARRIVE
ROCKFORT	CHENNAI	TRICHY	10:30	5:00
AIRASIA	TRICHY	KLIA	9:40	4:25
AIRASIA	KLIA	PENANG	12:35	1:25
AIRASIA	PENANG	CHANGI[SINGAPORE]	9:35	11:15
AIRASIA	JOHOR BAHRU	KLIA	7:10	7:45
AIRASIA	KLIA	TRICHY	10:10	11:29
THIRUKKURAL EXPRESS	TRICHY	CHENNAI	3:00	8:50

WE TRAVELED FOR 23 HOURS 29 MINUTES.

[Written by Sibi Pranav after the trip.]

MYSIN Trip 6 - Legoland and back

One of the joys of traveling for me is the chance to sample the different fares of food that is available in those places. Be it Goa or Shimoga or whatever place we've been to, I make it a point to find some local places and try it out. As it turned out, I was not alone here in that.

That is one of the reasons why we endlessly searched for the local stalls or places we can sample the local food than going for the more fancier fare or the fast food.

Viva Food Haven, Tanjung Bungah

Sibi learns to eat with Chopsticks

When we walked down the road in Tanjung Bungah, looking for some place to sample the Penang cuisine, we had absolutely no idea where we were going. It was raining so lightly, the roads were deserted, it was beautiful to just walk around. That's how we ended up in the Viva food haven, a local hawker stalls area with a multitude of shops to sample all we want for a fair price.

Thus we ended up eating through thin, crispy Apoms, the delicious Penang Laksa, Mee Goreng mamak, the local Fried rice, a make-your-own Tom Yum shop and much more. The Apoms are nothing but our own Appams but more thinner and crispier and sweeter. No need to add any coconut milk or sugar, you can eat six in one go (for 3RM!). Mani Annan, who was making it here also offers some local insights at free of cost as well. The Laksa lady was charming, helpfully explaining the ingredients and the Tom Yum had some fancier items in it as well.

Mee Goreng

Of course, the most reliable part of Malay Cuisine for the Indian palate is the Roti Canai and Nasi Lemak with Sambal. We had them in the breakfasts in the hotel and in a local food stall in KL Brickfields, where the owner helpfully made some pooris for Vanathy as well.

It is a little tougher to find the stalls in Singapore, distance and that we were constantly running around the city made it a little difficult. But we managed to do some sampling. The Food republic in the City square mall is an excellent place. Kimchis and Bee Hoon were excellent here.

Claypot Rice

The Malaysian food street in Sentosa is a must visit place. We ran through some excellent Clay pot rice, Char kway teow and soups. It's a pity that the Korean food street is yet to open. The anniversary dinner in the SukhoThai restaurant threw up some interesting Thai food, including an excellent Tom Yum soup with little purple Octopus arms and squids.

Lunch!!

As it tuned out, Sibi became my partner in searching for these places and also in trying out the various dishes around.

Day 8

There are places you go with low expectation and they turn out alright. We decided to go to Legoland only because of the kids fascination with all things Lego. I had no idea what was in store but it turned out to be a charming little park.

Racing..

Though it has its own rides around, where Legoland differentiates is the activity areas it has. There is the Imaginarium, the different academies, all of which were super fun for the kids, the Miniland which was another interesting place and the Build and test areas were all activity areas, which combine expertly learning and fun together.

Robotics Class..

Imaginarium with its program and build activity was the most fun for the kids (and the wife!). Its simple programming combined with a little robotics to ensure that it is fun and also a little learning on the basics of the programming.

Build & Test

The Doctor!

There was less crowd, being a weekday and so there was barely any queues at all and it suited us well. It ensured that we covered all the rides and could come out on time. Since the Legoland closes by 6PM it becomes a little tight to ensure that all the places are covered.

Miniland

Driving School

After a tiring ride back to the hotel, we flew back to KL the next day. This is the final day of the trip and we were tired and Chennai was calling. We had one more place to go.

Batu caves has been the place I've visited every time I was in KL but has never seen. Though I've been to Batu, I never felt the urge to take the stairs to the cave. This time I wanted to fix that.

KTM Komuter

The brand-new KTM Komuter service to Batu is the cheapest way to get here. and the large Muruga statue looks at you intently once you get out of the train. The 300 stairs to the cave were real steep and small. With the kids running fast, we climbed to the cave pretty fast and then into the cave system.

The temple in the cave itself is small and after giving thanks for making the trip fun and success, we checked around the caves. There were unruly monkeys all around, the caves look like some artificial movie set in the mountains. It does give the same feel as visiting any Muruga temple here with the road side shops all around which sells trinkets for a premium and look for the culpable tourists.