Like Giant Steel Asparagus Reaching Into the Sky.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Just ahead of a thunderstorm this afternoon, we made it out to the Petronas Twin Towers, which was the world's tallest high rise of the twentieth century and remains the tallest set of twin towers. They were also the scene of the crime in the 1999 movie, Entrapment, featuring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It's dizzying to look up at them and, for whatever the reason, they reminded me of giant steel asparagus. Must've been hungry at the moment. Of course, all the glass shards wouldn't be too tasty. There is also a park with fountains underneath, though they were not flowing today. We also missed the time to be able to go up to the bridge which connects the two towers, but will likely do so tomorrow. Oddly (though impressively), it's free to do.

We paused for a coffee inside the Towers at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and walked around the extremely high-end mall inside. So tony. At its centre: a giant Christmas tree. Again, the prevalence of holiday trappings has really caught me off guard, considering Christians account for approximately five per cent of the population here (Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus predominate). But there was Santa around every corner, grinning and jolly. While looking at the tree, an Indian man decided to come over to ask if I would take a picture of him with SCS. Um, yeah. I declined. Another tried to sell me a 'Rolex'. Again, um, no. Not to be confused with UMNO, the nation's ruling party (and this, not being a democracy...)

Following this, we took the (above-ground) subway out to Bangsar, one of KL's neighbourhoods. My first experience on a packed Asian train -- I was definitely glad to be tall, and decided to be wary of pickpockets as song lyric "One of these things is not like the others" popped into my head. Was pretty glad I didn't smell like I did yesterday after the flight...

The funniest thing (to me) about the subway system are the posters all over which advertise (or loudly exclaim!) the long laundry list of things you must definitely not do on them, including (but not restricted to): chewing gum, carrying durian fruit (they stink) or 'be close' to someone (meaning, hugging or kissing). The last one even has a diagram, in silhouette, of a man and a woman, apparently embracing. Struck out through a big, red circle. Another reminder that I am visiting a different culture.

We poked around in Bangsar for a bit and had Thai food at "the Social". The smell of the thunderstorm hung languidly in the air as we enjoyed a variety of Thai delicacies on the patio.

Day one of KL is under my belt. Apparently, the people at SCS's conference this morning were impressed I had been 'brave enough' to venture out to Petaling Street on my first day. And on my own, no less! It has been a day of heat, a new culture and crazy, broken sidewalks where you're just as likely to find a motorcycle careening your way as anything else. It has also taken an adjustment while crossing the road to remember that the drivers are on the other side here. Check the wrong way and one of them will no doubt pick you off.

Um, okay? Or not.