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VISIT TO KLCC, TWIN TOWERS AND ISTANA NEGARA

PART 2 VISIT TO TWIN TOWERS AND KLCC

It feels like ages since I went there but I will try to recount the details as best I can.

So we left Istana Negara with me feeling sick. My group leader who is very prepared for these kinds of trips had some pain relieving ointments in his first aid pack which I just smelled to make myself feel better for the rest of the trip to KLCC and the twin towers which I was very excited about seeing. There was a lot of fun going on the bus which I wanted to but could not take part in because of the motion sickness. I played the only song on my phone which happened to be Dreaming by Kim Soo Hyun. I recently bought a new phone and only put that one song in it when I watched Dream High. 

I was extremely relieved when we reached KLCC and the twin towers looked magnificent. I took some pictures so did the rest of the group. It was my first time seeing them so I am sure I acted very tourist like. 

I love the way the sunlight reflected
off the tower

As soon as we went into KLCC we broke into groups and went browsing the shops and I luckily found a pharmacy, which I was just very sure would be in every mall in the world but my friend was skeptical, and we bought medication for motion sickness. We ate at KFC. How I love KFC chicken! So I had two chicken legs but I so wanted more. However I did not have any more because I was afraid that the medicine would not work and I could throw up on everyone in the bus. 

Later we went and tried on Channel shoes (if I remember correctly) and even other branded shoes and things which we could not afford as students. I saw some amazing Superman sneakers which just screamed at my inner nerd. But they cost an arm and a leg too. We took loads of pictures and had some McDonald's ice cone which was surprisingly cheap and made our way home. 

There was this one shop which had gemstone jewellery which were amazingly affordable too. I guess I would one day make another trip to KLCC sometime.

We also visited an art gallery inside KLCC which was free for anyone who wanted to go inside and see the photographs displayed. There were historical pictures of Malaysia and some chinese cultural pictures. With the dragons and all. I was not able to take any pictures of that because cameras were not allowed inside. There was also a room full of pictures and bulletins by visitors. We were a given half of A4 size papers, some crayons and pencils to draw or write anything we wished to put on the walls. I drew the map of Addu (the city which I belong to) and signed my name and put it near a Maldivian flag already pasted on the wall by a previous visitor.

There, can you see it? On the right hand corner of Maldivian flag, saying Addu City Maldives!! It looks like a heart.

 The trip back included me with my only song on high volume and praying silently that I would not throw up. Which I did not. I could say that the medication worked but I did feel miserable all through the trip so I do not know how to make a good conclusion out of it.

When we came to Taylor's University the TUISC (Taylor's University International Students Council) had a barbecue already started for the Best Buddies Party. The party was fun and the food was very good.

It was an enjoyable day even with the hours on the bus. I was extremely glad that I went against my basic instincts to hide away in my room and went ahead even with the 'bad asset' (as one of my best buddies friends put it). 

My best buddies friend told me later that if it were him, he would not go on a trip like with such a bad asset.

I told him that I could not stop living my life because of one weakness. 

KLCC ceiling!!

KLCC entrance. The racing cars above made excellent props for photographs.

Taken from a floor above. Inside KLCC.

Climbing the bus again. Off to home. That's my brown veiled head right there!

Best Buddies leaders near the barbecue table.

THE END

Visit to KLCC, Twin Towers and Istana Negara

Part 1 THE BRAND NEW KING'S PALACE: ISTANA NEGARA

The Royal Palace. Photo taken by me through the gates.

After I came to Taylor's University one of the clubs/societies which did the most to help new students, especially international students feel welcome and fit into the Malaysian living without going to culture shock was the Best Buddies programme lead by lovely Miss E and other leaders and students who take the initiative. It provides great opportunities for new students to get acclimated and senior students to grow.

So when they invited us for a free trip to Kuala Lampur I was beyond excited. So much so that it slipped my mind how I have severe motion sickness and I could throw up without a moments notice when on a land or sea vehicle. Though not the air transport. The little blessings that we all are ever so thankful for.

It took me ten minutes on the bus to feel the motion sickness to kick in and make me wonder, "What on Earth am I doing here? What possessed me to do this?!"

We still made it to the brand new King's Palace and I wondered what kind of punishment was passed on who threw up on the Royal Palace grounds. Well, technically outside the gates because we were not allowed to go inside.
 There were many other tourists and even more Malaysians who were visiting.

The gates

 The palace was surrounded by hills which were just enormous.

 The guards outside the gates are not allowed to move.  Not when we took pictures with them.  And their guns are loaded too! There were two guards on horses. One of the guards on the horses was very young and handsome.

Handsome Guard on Horse

A lot of police motorcycles were there as well.

The motorcycles look like tiny ants in this pic.

                                      

The palace was gorgeous. It had yellow(golden?)domes. Even the lamp posts had golden accents to them. I particularly liked one lamp post which I just wanted to take home with me. The landscaping was pretty. I am apparently very bad at giving reviews on buildings... The palace reminded me a little of  the Islamic Centre (Masjidul Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaan Al A'zam Mosque) in Maldives. But bigger (as big as Male' maybe) and newer. Because it looked a bit like Islamic Mosques.

Masked me and my favourite Lamp post in Malaysia

It was extremely hot when we got there which was pre-noon, and  I am squinting all my photographs.

Kim Soo Hyun

Do not read if you don't want any spoilers from Dreamhigh.

The most heartbreaking scene from Dreamhigh snd my present wallpaper

In Dreamhigh he ends up becoming K. The first Korean to ever win a Grammy award. In one of his interviews Kim Soo Hyun said that he wanted to become K in his own life. I think that it is more than possible. His voice is so strong and powerful. He sings with so much passion that even people who do not understand a word of the lyrics get into the song. It is not auto tune and not bits and pieces added together. It is just all him on his own. With that exquisite voice he can absolutely win many awards. All he needs is a goal and self discipline.

There were many moments while watching Dreamhigh that one's heart just breaks into pieces. His tears are  so real and his pain moves the audience. Now that is called good acting. For a very new actor is was an amazing  show of talent. He wants to play a lot of different roles. If how (in Dreamhigh) he changed from country bumpkin to a cute guy to a hot man is anything to go by he could play a lot of great roles.

How he interacts with his fans and told his mom he loves her on TV is just icing on the cake. So is his little slip on a live show. He is adorable and I would love to see more of him and hear his amazing voice.

Kim Soo Hyun Fighting!!!

Check out Kim Soo Hyun singing Dreaming live on KBS Award night.

I am alive and well... kinda

So apparently I was missing from Facebook (wow, the correct spelling of Facebook is with a capital F and since when was it even a word in the dictionary???) the last two days and it caused quite a stir. I am well and alive.

Since maybe for days ago I noticed a tender spot on my skull above my ear and it hurt like crazy when I pressed on it even a little. I freaked out a little about it since I had once had stitches on that side of my head. I did a Google(really! even Google needs a capital G. Since when were these actual words in any dictionary???) search and it was either migraine or TMJ. It definitely is not TMJ and I slept around for two days and now the spot is gone. Tada!

Now, this is no need for concern for anybody. I guess my body does not like the AC here. So please don't freak out because I am all OK now. Kamsa hamnida.

I miss you all at home and my Male' home. Love you. 

Free Day

Click to enlarge picture

This is a panorama picture taken by my phone. The picture quality is not as amazing as a camera but it is acceptable for a hand phone. Anyway that's the view of Taylor's University grounds. It is pretty gorgeous. Spending the evening near the lake is very relaxing.

Taylor's University is having its open day now. I saw the formula one (I think it is called) racing car made by the engineering students. The DJ played a Korean song especially for me, which was quite fun. He did not have any DBSK/TVXQ/THSK songs but did have Bad Girl by B2st which wasn't half bad but nothing compared to the pros. I checked out the video of the song later and Lee Gi-Kwang was a good singer and pretty good looking too.

The building on the right is my hostel. The far right with the red pillars. The left is the building where classes take place. And in between hidden by the trees is Taylor's University Lake. The Lakeside Residence is named for that lake. New pictures of the lake are coming up. There are a few ducks and geese in the lake.

Tonight there is nothing to do and I am bored half to death. I have finished one season of Cougar Town already and who on earth makes a series with episodes as long as 21minutes. I guess The Big Bang theory packs a punch but it takes a special combination of actors, writers and directors to do that. Though if you have nothing else to do then I guess it is an OK drama to watch. Also I figured out a way to fix my hard drive all by myself, so I don't have to buy one again. I will post separately about that some time later. I feel like the things I have to post about later keep increasing.

They gave leaflets during one of the briefings and I managed to get my hands on one on procrastination. I think I will paste it on my wall so I can read it everyday. Or something. Really.

Dear Diary

Now you are going to see a glimpse of what my diary entry looks like. So its pretty special. Feel privileged already.
                                                           

" When I came to Malaysia to study in Taylor's University I was not excited. I was apprehensive. I did not look forward to it. I had gotten cold feet. I was scared half to death. Because I was not sure. Of anything. I was happy home. I was happy with the comfort and security my family gave me and I did not know whether I was ready to leave the nest. Again. Because the first time I did it with so much hope. So much excitement. So much innocence.


I read a diary entry of before I left the first time round and I was heartbroken because I knew how that was going to end. Because I wanted to give that 19 year old a hug in advance. 


I hated the airplane here. It had none of the fancy stuff like on the Emirates Airlines. I somehow got into a mess in the airport immigration and was checked out early which in turn lead to a series of crazy events, with me somehow ending up at Taylor's University in the very end. But I still kept a very open mind. 


The first thing I realised this place is gorgeous. The staff actually smiled at people. The hostel official who signed me in actually told me that he would go to the toilet and will be with me in a minute when he could just as easily have made me wait without telling. Miss R who I did not know at the time came and worried over me not eating anything. It was downright bizarre after what I have experienced the first time round.


I was shown my room and it was a bit small. But I loved it straight away. I thought that I would spend so much of this week holed up in here. That this would be my little world while I studied here. However I was proven wrong when Miss R posted a bulletin telling me to meet her at students lounge. There we met a lot of international students as well as new Malaysian students staying at U-residence. We opened up to each other and I still held back. Because I did not know what to expect. Because I still feared the worst. 


After our second session a Mauritian invited me to lunch with her. The next day I was waiting for my  aunt and when my old phone had died on me, a Sudanese girl I never met before let me use her phone and let me wait with her at the food court for my aunt. A guy I never met before let me use facebook on his notebook to check if my aunt had messaged me on facebook. On my b'day they sang the birthday song in many languages. The shopkeeper of a shop downstairs and I had a conversation about his time in Maldives. The cook at the Indian place at the food court recognises me because I love his food just so. The Finnish girls always say hi when we see each other. 


Today I got lost and a Netherlands guy went all the way to the lecture hall in another building. Today at human bingo, even though I thought that I would never win so many people signed my paper and one guy actually wanted to help me. He did not hold back because he wanted to win. A new Vietnamese friend signed mine too so that we would both win. On the lift some African girls commented that my slippers were nice. And I had a nice conversation with a Zimbabwean girl on the lift tonight too.


My housemate who shares the same b'day as me took me to dinner the very first night because I did not even know how to get to the food court. 

For me, I needed these little things. I did not realise just how much I needed these little things. So today when they passes around papers to participate in activities I did not hesitate to put my name. And after the meeting was over I did not hole myself in my room. Even though it has free internet 24/7. I went around with a friend to the game room and walked on the grounds.


We did an exercise with Miss R and she said that we should develop a sign to anchor our happy feeling to us. What I do best is write. So I am going to write the special little things to anchor them and read them when I feel like I couldn't do it. Because I don't want anything to ever hold me down again."


Uncomfortable much, after reading other peoples diaries?