Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur 2024. Part 1 - The Arrival
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur 2024. Part 1 - The Arrival
Captains Log Day 3 - 26/12/24 6:15 pm.
The lead-up to this grand adventure carried a different energy, it had been a year since the Captain had a chance to venture out. It wasn’t just the idea of embarking on a three-week journey to Malaysia and the Philippines with a toddler and a pregnant Admiral that made it extraordinary and terrifying at the same time—it was the acceptance of the challenges that lay ahead. They had ample time to prepare, both mentally and logistically, for the demands of the upcoming weeks. A sense of calm prevailed, as they resolved to embrace whatever came their way with patience and flexibility.
The Admiral, now carrying their second little explorer, approached the trip with remarkable grace. The Captain, ever the steady hand at the helm, ensured that every detail was accounted for, while the Cadet, now a lively4-year-old, buzzed with excitement, blissfully unaware of the intricacies of travel plans. Together, they embodied the spirit of "all for one and one for all," even if the Cadet had yet to grasp the concept fully.
This journey would take them from Kuala Lumpur’s gleaming skyline to the misty peaks of Genting Highlands, onward to the serene shores of Langkawi, and finally across the seas to the vibrant islands of the Philippines. But first, it was time to board their flight to Singapore for a short transit and then on to KL, the gateway to their Southeast Asian adventure.
The journey began with a curveball. Their flight, initially scheduled for the 23rd at 10 PM, was delayed to 2 AM on Christmas Eve. The unexpected shift threw a minor wrench in their plans. This too post a huge Christmas lunch at the Captain’s brother’s house. It was a feast fit for the season, filled with laughter, indulgence, and the kind of festive chaos only crew gatherings can deliver. With full bellies it was the next day that they had to head to the aport it had been a long day and the Cadet already teetering on the edge of exhaustion, they headed to the airport, ready to embark on their adventure.
Check-in was blissfully uneventful—no misplaced documents, no frantic repacking, just smooth sailing through the counters. With time to spare, they retreated to the business lounge, a small sanctuary of calm before the chaos of the holiday crowd at the gates. As boarding commenced, they navigated their way to the front of the line, a move executed with such finesse that even seasoned travelers would have applauded.
Their seats, however, left much to be desired. Assigned to the last row of the plane, they found themselves right next to the toilets. It was the type of location that seasoned travelers avoid if they can, but the Captain and Admiral took it in stride. The Cadet, oblivious to seating politics, seemed perfectly content. The night wore on, and as the plane soared into the sky, they settled into a fitful sleep.
That peace was occasionally interrupted by the toilet flush, which startled both the Admiral and the Captain awake. At one point, the Captain, mid-dream, mistook the sound for a werewolf growling—a testament to both his overactive imagination and the vividness of his dreams. Nevertheless, they managed to catch six hours of sleep, waking up with 90 minutes to go.
Not long after, the Cadet decided to make his presence known. Hysterical and inconsolable, he caused a brief ripple of chaos until the calming power of Peppa Pig worked its magic. The familiar snorts and giggles of the cartoon brought peace to their row, and soon the Cadet was engrossed in his iPad, restoring calm for the remainder of the flight.
As they landed in Singapore, the three of them were bracing for a six-hour layover, but news of the delayed flight trimmed that wait time to just two hours. Relief quickly turned to disbelief as they realized their connecting gate was directly in front of them. With time to spare, they indulged in a hearty meal at Popeyes Chicken—one last bit of comfort food before the next leg of their journey.
Boarding the second flight was less seamless. The Cadet, clearly reaching the end of his travel patience, began to lose it. The Captain and Admiral worked in tandem to keep the situation under control, balancing snacks, distractions, and soothing words like seasoned diplomats. And while the journey was far from over, they knew that with every mile flown, they were one step closer to the adventure waiting for them on the other side.
As they boarded their second flight, the Captain had a brief moment of confusion when the air stewardess approached him for what he thought was his boarding pass. It turned out she wasn’t asking him after all, leaving the Captain chuckling to himself about the misunderstanding.
The flight itself was a patchwork of minor dramas. A crew across the aisle had let their children sleep sprawled out in the seats. As the plane prepared for landing, the air stewardess asked the Captain to put their tray tables up and wake the kids. His bemused response? “I don’t know them.” The stewardess moved on, and the Captain leaned back, savoring the small moment of comic relief.
The plane finally landed, and the crew found themselves at immigration, tired but relieved to have reached their first destination. The Captain, ever the delegator, asked the Admiral to fill out the immigration forms. Unfamiliar with the process, the Admiral somehow ended up on an e-visa website, despite Malaysia not requiring visas for their nationality. In her flustered state, she managed to spend $400 on an unnecessary visa.
The realization hit her hard, and as she worried over how to request a refund, the Captain sprang into action. With the Admiral’s pregnancy as their ace card, he approached a security guard and successfully circumvented the long immigration line. A few approving nods and some sympathetic glances later, they were through.
By this point, they had been delayed so long that their checked luggage had been removed from the carousel and left to the side. They retrieved their bag without much fuss and finally stepped out of the airport.
The Cadet, now running on fumes, was vocally expressing his hunger. Spotting a food court, they made a beeline for it. There, they discovered a new stall serving fresh naan—simple, comforting, and just what they needed after the whirlwind of travel mishaps. The Cadet devoured the food with gusto, and for the first time in hours, the crew felt a sense of calm.
After finishing their naan, They went over and grabbed sim card, the Captain decided to treat the Cadet to an ice cream, hoping to lift his spirits. But the Cadet, in his usual unpredictable manner, declared the ice cream unacceptable and refused to eat it. This set the stage for a meltdown as they waited for a taxi The taxi ride was an agonising hour to the hotel, in the transit all three of them drifting in and out of sleep as the car crawled through traffic toward their hotel.
Upon arrival, the Cadet was unimpressed. He stood in the lobby, crossing his little arms, and declared the hotel “stupid.” The Captain and Admiral, too exhausted to argue, shuffled to their room. They turned on the TV to pacify the Cadet and promptly passed out for a quick 20-minute nap. When they woke, slightly refreshed, they decided to freshen up and properly explore their temporary home.
The exploration worked wonders. The Cadet, who moments earlier had been grumbling about the lobby, now found the hotel “great.” The kids' corner, however, turned out to be a letdown—a sparsely decorated room with nothing but Mickey Mouse wallpaper. Undeterred, they decided to head out and explore the city instead.
Their first stop was Pavilion Mall, just 20 minutes away. Hungry and curious, they made their way to Uncle Roger’s restaurant. The Admiral joined the line to secure a table while the Captain took the Cadet to the nearby Lego store to kill time. Forty minutes later, the Admiral had finally secured a seat, and the crew eagerly sat down, ready to enjoy what they hoped would be a memorable meal.
The excitement, however, quickly turned to frustration. While the Admiral’s and Captain’s meals arrived after a reasonable wait, the Cadet’s food was nowhere to be seen. The Captain called over the staff not once, not twice, but three times before finally demanding to speak to the manager. Twenty minutes later, the Cadet’s food arrived—but the drama wasn’t over. One bite in, the Cadet made it clear he did not like the meal.
The crew exchanged exasperated glances, muttered a collective “Fuyohhh,” and left the restaurant.
The walk back to the hotel was quiet, everyone too tired to do anything but move forward. Once in their room, they took showers and collapsed into bed. By 7:30 PM, the Captain was asleep—a record for the earliest he’d ever passed out on holiday. But rest didn’t come without interruption. Phone calls from parents and alarms punctuated the night, none of which they woke up to, until the admiral finally woke up. Turns out the parents were extremely worried since they had not heard from the crew. They explained the exhaustion and rested.
They woke at 8:30 AM on Christmas morning, ready for the next chapter of their adventure. Despite the rocky start, the promise of a day filled with new experiences kept their spirits high. After all, this was just the beginning.
The squad woke up feeling like new people after a full 11 hours of sleep—the best rest the Admiral could remember having in years. Refreshed and ready to take on the day, they dressed quickly and headed out to see the iconic PETRONAS Towers, a perfect way to start Christmas Day.
But before any sightseeing could happen, the Admiral made a heartfelt plea for coffee. The Captain, ever the provider, secured a cup of much-needed caffeine and some food to hold them over until breakfast. With the Cadet beginning to stir and mumble about his own hunger, they set off in search of something he’d actually eat.
Their first stop was a sushi restaurant. The Captain and Admiral were hopeful, but the Cadet proved as picky as ever, turning down nearly everything except cucumber sushi. Knowing this wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him, the Captain dashed out and returned triumphantly with a dosa, which the Cadet begrudgingly accepted. While they ate, the sushi chef noticed the Cadet and, in a kind Christmas gesture, handed him a balloon.
Re-energized, the crew wandered through a Christmas village display, soaking in the festive cheer. The Cadet, fully recovered from his earlier grumpiness, became a little too enthusiastic and accidentally hit a girl’s backside with his balloon. The Admiral and Captain exchanged knowing looks, muttered apologies to the girl, and shepherded their mischievous little adventurer along
The Crew decided it was time to move on to their next destination: Genting Highlands. They caught a Grab, settling in for the journey with a mix of excitement and curiosity about what lay ahead.
