A couple of days in Kuala Lumpur

This was the view from my hotel.  That is 1/2 of the Petronas tower.  It was a pretty swanky hotel, and I was pretty high up.

When I arrived at the airport, I didn't exactly have a hotel reservation so I figured I could just find a place to stay, no problem.  Here's some news for you world-travelers out there:  reservations are good in foreign countries because you have an address to give the taxi driver.  After about an hour at the airport, I finally secured a taxi, but all I could say when he asked for the address was "You know, the towers."  Blank looks, significant hand gesturing, and several Malay conversations ensued.  Finally, with the help of a customs official, I was able to make it clear that I didn't have a hotel, I was looking for a place to stay, but I didn't know where, and the only thing I knew about Malaysia was that it had a nifty architecture.  After the 45 minute drive to the city center, I schlepped around the Petronas Towers area for about an hour looking for a hotel.  

While walking (luckily, I don't pack heavy, so I only had a backpack) I saw this.  The building had been Rick Rolled!  Amazing.

Still walking, I realized there were a lot of these types of canals/ditches because KL is incredibly hilly and it rains a lot.  As I found out.  While walking, looking for a hotel. 

This is National Tower.  There's a restaurant at the very top of it, which I tried to get into, but apparently they have a "dress code."

This is the Malay flag.  It's a big one.  I enjoyed my visit there, even though I was involved in a police raid.  On the advice of one of my coworkers, I went to the Beach Club, apparently a well known den of prostitution.  Whilst having an innocent drink, the police barged into the club and demanded to see passports and forced us patrons to take drug tests.  Because I'm completely drug free I wasn't worried, but some of the Australians and English customers were sweating bullets.  Some ladies were arrested, but I was allowed to continue drinking there.  Ahhh, the American passport.

This is the national crest.  Notice that there is water gushing down it.  I was, unfortunately, in the same deluge.  Even more unfortunately, everything in my backpack got soaked so I had to go shopping for clothes.  And a new backpack. 

At the base of the towers, there's a shopping mall.  I was accosted twice by women who wanted to touch my hair (they also wanted to touch my wallet).  Being polite, I just punched them in their faces and walked away.  Also, notice the ominous clouds.  Just as a warning, they aren't kidding when they say monsoon season.