Kuala Lumpur and Selangor - Twin towers and monkeys

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

After leaving Tasmania, we had a brief stopover back in Melbourne and then flew on to Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. It was Nic's birthday while we were here, so we had booked into a decent hotel.


We were on an overnight flight, so we'd had little sleep and although we arrived early in the morning, it was already too hot for us, so we were quite pleased that the hotel allowed us to use the showers in the swimming pool, enabling us to feel a bit more human before we set out.

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

We didn't do much in Kuala Lumpur, because as well as the heat and humidity, it absolutely poured down with rain almost every day. We went up to the tourist information office to look at tour options, and were impressed by what a nice building and setting they had. We popped in to the little café there and tried a few local dishes.

The tour that we were looking for was to see the fire flies at Selangor, and we picked one that stopped off at Bukit Malawati to see the monkeys. Whilst we didn't really have any time available to see them, there are some interesting historical sights here.

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

There is an old Royal Mausoleum, of the first three Sultans of Selangor, who died in 1778, 1826 and 1857, as well as old cannons. In a darker vein, there is a poisoned well, which was used to torture traitors by immersing them up to their chins in the water, and also a stone that was used for beheadings.

We were there for the monkeys though, and we took the little train up to where they mostly hang out. There are guys selling bags of food, and they also help to keep away the somewhat more aggressive macaques, so that tourists can focus on the gentler silverleaf monkeys, and their very cute little orange babies. 

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

I say they are gentler. They do take the food from your hands quite gently, but some will jump up on to your arms, shoulders and even your head, and they will also try to dip their paws into your bag of food, or even steal the whole thing if they get the chance. If you don't feel comfortable with this, don't hold the food.

And whilst they are gentle, that does not mean that you should be complacent. I had one on me for quite some time, and aside from making a right mess of my (admittedly never exactly well-coiffed) hair it was gentle and friendly, taking food very delicately.

Then all of a sudden, it bit me. Given how it acted, I suspect something must have spooked it, but nonetheless, it sunk its teeth right into my hand, breaking the skin, before running off.

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

The guy selling the food had a bottle of water, which he used to wash off the wound, and they and our driver all reassured me that there was nothing to worry about. We went to the restaurant for dinner next, where I made sure to wash it thoroughly with soap and water, and then I didn't worry about it any further while we went to see the fire flies.

The fire flies were good to see, but the trip we were only was perhaps slightly too early, and it wasn't quite as dark as it could be. We could still see them, and it was fascinating to watch, but it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, or as the glow worm caves in New Zealand.

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The next day, Nic and I discussed the monkey bite, and looked further in to the possibility if it carrying rabies. I was fairly happy, based on the way the monkeys seemed to be cared for, and the lack of any outbreaks of rabies in the area over the past years, but in the end we decided that just to be on the safe side, as rabies is fatal with no cure once you have it, I would go and get rabies shots.

Being a Saturday, the clinic that was both close and recommended, wasn't open, but as I had already had the course of vaccinations, I could afford to wait until the Monday. Had I not been vaccinated, and felt at risk of rabies, I would have needed to get the first immunoglobulin shot urgently, and not everywhere stocks it, followed by five vaccine shots spaced out over thirty days. As I had had the vaccinations, I only had to have two booster shots, three days apart. This did mean extending our stay in KL for a few days to get the second dose done.

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aside from fireflies, monkeys and the medical clinic, we didn't see too much else of the city. We did obviously pop over to see the Petronus Twin Towers, but didn't bother with going up them, as we figured the view of them was probably more interesting than the view from them.

We did go over to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, just across the road from our own hotel, for Sunday Brunch. It was an excellent selection of different cuisines and styles of food, and you could choose from a small range of wines cocktails and champagne included in the price. We enjoyed our nice leisurely meal and made sure to get good value out of the bottomless alcohol.

It is difficult to say whether we liked Kuala Lumpur, as we didn't do that much, but I suspect we would always find the weather too oppressive, and we aren't interested in shopping. I doubt it would be high on our list of places to go back to, but I could see maybe spending a few days on a layover, as long as the hotel was well air conditioned.

 

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

Silverleaf monkeys, Bukit Malawati, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam Hindu Temple, Selangor, Malaysia

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Petronas Twin towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia