For the Songkran holiday, we decided to put our 4-day weekend to good use and do some international traveling. There is definitely some disappointment in missing the water festival (and water fighting) that we enjoyed last year, but the clock is ticking on our time here and there's a lot we wanted to see. So, off to Malaysia we went with friends for 2 days in Kuala Lumpur and 2 days in Melaka. The kids were excited to get on the airplane.
We arrived first in KL and went straight to our hotel room, which offered an amazing view of the Petronas Towers, the world's tallest building just a few years ago.
(Eliana in the lobby)
The next morning, we visited the amazing playground inside KLCC, the vast office/hotel/living complex/area (for NYers, think Battery Park City but bigger) where our hotel was located.
Then, we took a bus to KL's Chinatown, known for its shopping and food (kinda like most Chinatowns).
(I ate the dried meat burger...pretty good)
(KL's Central Market, as the sign says)
(Eliana inside the Central Market)
Then we headed to KL's Bird Park, located at the expansive Lake Gardens, a verdant expanse in the middle of the city. The KL Bird Park is the world's largest walk-in aviary and contains a plethora of tropical birds.
(uh, dad, where are you taking me?)
(some not so exotic)
(how scared does Eliana look? for the record, the picture was her idea)
(Shane fascinated by the chicks)
(a hornbill that strolled right by our feet)
That night, we had a delicious Malaysian dinner in town at what may have been the highest of high-end shopping centers. Like in Bangkok, eating in a mall does not preclude quality or ambiance.
(red escalator!)
The next morning, while I tried (and failed) to get tickets to go up in the Petronas Towers, Sam and the kids revisited the playground. The playground situation in Bangkok is pretty scarce, so the kids were excited.
Then, we went to Petrosains, billed as a interactive science museum (which notionally it was) but also serving as a advertisement for Petronas. At least the kids got to experience life on an oil rig...
(Shane deciding whether or not to play nicely with others)
(life on an oil rig is fun!)
Then, we hopped in a van and drove about 2 hours to Melaka, purportedly Malaysia's oldest city which has been governed by just about everyone. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After getting situated at the hotel and taking a quick dip in the pool, we headed into town for their Saturday night market on Jonkers (Junk) Street.
(old fort on a hill)
(flower-laden trishaw drivers waiting for their fares)
(the Museum of Enduring Beauty)
(the old Dutch town square, the oldest Dutch archtecture in the East)
(the long twisty dragon hanging at the entrance to Jonkers Street)
(dinner in the courtyard of an old building)
(the night market right outside the restaurant)
(Eliana flexing)
(and then riding a bull)
(trishaw ride home at the end of the night)
The next day, we headed back into town to see much of the same stuff but this time in the daylight and without the throngs of people.
(cannon riding)
(back in the Dutch town square)
(it was settled by the Duth, after all...)
(Melaka river winding through town)
(storefronts)
(lunch at Geographers Cafe)
(Shane sandwich)
(more trishaw riding)
We also took a boat tide through the Melaka River, which offered great views of various parts of Melaka.
(waiting for the boat)
And on the last day, Shane enjoyed a chocolate doughnut.
