A Peak into Traditions and Tall Buildings

Malaysian and visiting Muslims from the Middle East love their Starbucks just as much as we do. I'm sitting in the coffee shop across from the Millenium Hotel blogging for free. I'm fascinated with how many deeply religious Muslim women from Islamic nations visit here, all covered in full black garments called abayas.

They drape themselves from the head to toe with only a small slit to see through around the eyes. Exposing flesh in public places borders on sinful and the Islamic husbands prefer their women cloaked to avoid attention. The irony is in a modern cosmopolitan city like Kuala Lumpur the opposite happens. Because this city thrives on capitalism, especially shopping, it's a fashion mecca for experimentation and loose habits. Sometimes they are the only woman who can afford haute couture and glossy brands. They must look really good under all those layers!

5 a.m. this morning, our sleepy Malaysian tour guide Sara, got in line for tickets to the top of the Petronas Towers, the worlds tallest twin buildings. We were fast asleep while she waited for 4 hours for 3 of only 1400 access passes handed out daily.

We boarded a elevator that whisked us up 41 of 88 floors for an aerial view of Kuala Lumpur from the Skybridge, a pedestrian bridge that links the two buildings. The buildings are the creation marvel of Argentine-American architect César Pelli and completed in 1998. We watched a 3-D video explaining how it was constructed of reinforced concrete, steel and a glass façade. The view is absolutely spectacular.

Below the twin towers is the Suria KLCC, a ritzy shopping mall where I finally found a Sony Style shop for a firewire cable to upload more videos. Outside there is a spacious park with a kids playground, paddling pools and syncronised fountains. I thought I was safe taking videos but security stopped me immediately then proceeded to follow me until I was out of sight. The weather is terribly overcast again today so not much good for pictures anyway. However, I did score a photo of a dutiful woman sweeping up leaves from the sidewalk. The gardens of Kuala Lumpur are some of the most immaculate in the world.