Sent on Jan. 15, 2003 from Kuala Lumpur.

US $= about 4 Ringgits.  
Ringgit is about 28 cents US
Brunei Dollar = 2 Malaysian Ringgits.

Kuala Lumpur is 13 hours ahead of EST USA.

Tom and I separated in KL on Jan. 15 as we have different
agendas in Bali, our next destination; we'll meet again in
Denpasar airport on the 18th for our next target.

1. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia.  KL has been serving as our hub
for all flights since Dec. 3; yet, I have not sent a report
from there.  Indeed, KL is one of the most modern and
finest cities in SE Asia.  It has some of the finest
architecture in its mosques, temples, and modern buildings.
(And, along with Toronto, it claims some of the world's
tallest constructions, like the twin Petronas Towers.)  I
know KL from previous visits and so this time I just
checked into a hotel on the PETALING St. in Chinatown. 
Every night it has the most colorful night market I have
seen anywhere right on that street; it starts at 5pm or so;
this is the place to be in Kuala Lumpur.

To get there, take the KL metro express from the airport to
Metro Sentral (35 Ringgits = $9) for the 28 min to the
city, then get on the PUTRA Line metro just 1 station and
get off at PASAR SENI for 1 Ringgit, in about 5 minutes.
(There is no Post or Internet at the KL metro Sentral.)
You are at Chinatown.  Exit to Sultan St--the bus station
in front of you--and walk straight to PETALING St., (about
60 yards) and turn left; a few yards on your left you will
see the SWISS INN and then the EXCEL INN--both
recommended--or walk about 40 yards and check into the
HOTEL CHINA TOWN INN on your right--even better.  It is
spotless, safe, etc., and in the middle of everything.  A
room with a fan is 59 Ringgits ($16), has TV too; regular
rooms are 79R ($21) with air cond. and private shower.  I
stayed just one night, as I am flying to Bali next--see
below.

SUGGESTIONS.  a) After you check into your hotel, sign up
for a city tour the next day, AND for some o0ther sites of
interest in the vicinity of KL the day after.  Then you can
summarize all that by taking the several metro lines
end-to-end too to get a real feel for KL and its suburbs. 

b) The KL airport is huge, impressive, and very modern,
though not the easiest airport to navigate thru.  From the
city, the KL line brings you to A & B terminal ground
floor; take the elevator to 5th floor; get your boarding
pass; walk to the back and take the escalator one floor
down to immigration.  If your departing gate is in C
terminal, take the terminal metro to there. 

2 useful news:

a) I had mentioned that to store your luggage at the
airport it will cost you $5 per bag per day, very
expensive.  Yes, there are storage facilities at the KL
Sentral station--rapid train from airport--and at the main
bus and train stations, but they might be expensive too. 
The CHINA TOWN INN I had recommended will store your
luggage for FREE, in my case from Jan 22 to. Feb. 28.  With
all the sand--stored in plastic water bottles--and rocks I
collected, my one bag already weighs 36kg, which is a pain
to carry.  But I am taking out only the most essential
stuff and leaving the other bag there too.

b) Instead of taking the KL rapid train from the airport
for 35B ($9) to the city, then connecting to the metro
system to where you want to go, as I had suggested earlier,
take the AIRPORT COACH for 20 Bahts ($6) directly to your
hotel.  Get the bus ticket right after you finished all
formalities and ready to exit the building--on 3rd floor. 
LOOK for AIRPORT COACH desk.  Then take the lift to the 2nd
floor and follow the signs for BUS STATION.  They will also
pick you up from the hotel to the airport for the same 20
Bahts.  NOTE However that there is a night market on
Petaling Street that covers the entire street.  So if you
want to go to the China Town Inn and your plane arrives in
the evening hours, the coach will drop you about 60 yards
from the hotel, at the hotel during the day.