After yet another sleep-in this morning, I had to pack my bags and smash down an iced coffee. I had a few hours to kill until my train to Ipoh, so I decided to stick with the plan for today as per my 11-page itinerary and re-visit Batu Caves.
I stashed my bags at the hotel for a couple of days and caught the monorail to KL Sentral. I shoved my overnight bag for Ipoh in a locker and had some breakfast before catching the train to Batu Caves Station. The extension of the train line and Batu Caves station is a new addition since I was here in 2007. Back then it was RM2.70 on a bus where the ticket guy fell asleep in the seat behind me...
Today it was RM2 return on the train and far less hassle. So easy! Well, except for the scantily clad french bogan couple (male + female) who got on my train and sat in the ladies-only carriage. Not only that, but they sat down next to a Muslim lady, pulled out pastries and OJ and started smashing down food. Then they started canoodling.
Aside from the fact that eating is banned on trains (as is canoodling), it's Ramadan, they are in a Muslim country during fasting month, in a ladies-only carriage, eating next to a lady who is fasting and are being just plain bloody disrespectful. Gees, read the damn guide book!
I was disgusted.
A train conductor came past and the situation was resolved, but not before a bunch of the ladies in my carriage got off at the next station in absolute disgust.
After that disgraceful display of arrogance, I arrived at Batu caves. It hasn't changed too much, there's a few extra shrines and temple bits but the 272 stairs are still evil. This trip I veritably sprinted up the stairs in under three minutes. In 2007 this took me almost half an hour with a rest stop on every landing. There were less monkeys around this time and they were less thieving.
I didn't take many photos this time around, as I had them from last time and like I said, not much has changed. I did get a photo of myself in front of the Lord Murugan statue this time though!
After a quick look around the shops, an ice cream and coconut water I caught the train back to KL Sentral. I had a quick lunch, thinking there'd be no eating between now and Ipoh. I also decided a bathroom stop was in order. I had to wait nearly 20 minutes for a normal western cubicle as I don't do squatty potties. A Chinese lady was doing her makeup and hair in the toilet stall, and boy did she get some interesting looks when she came out with her giant makeup and hair bags.
The train didn't rock up until 4:15pm and I had a seat to myself until about 1hr out of Ipoh when I was joined by a polite and very pleasant young Malay Muslim man in a traditional Songkot hat. He had his prayers on his phone and after completing them we had a chat about what I thought of Malaysia and Islam. He was off to visit his family, I was off for a couple of days of chillout time in Ipoh. He was heading a little further north than I was, can't remember where.
On arriving in Ipoh, I caught a Taxi to the Lost World Hotel in Tambun. RM36 later, a total rip-off, I arrived at the hotel. I was somewhat apprehensive as I'd read a bunch of bad reviews about it. Well, my experience was the polar opposite - super friendly and super helfpul staff, gorgeous giant room which was pretty clean (handprints on mirrors and the bathroom could have done with a once-over but whatever...) and nice and peaceful. My room had a king size bed and free WiFi, which was fantastic after the "my dead grandma moves faster than the '3G here in this hotel but it's fine out on the street'" experience I've been having in KL.
After a quick unpack and sort out, I walked down a couple of shops to Papa Rich. I ended up with curry mee soup with chicken sausage and a garlic naan which I scraped all the garlic off, washed down with another iced lemon tea. I then headed over to the hot springs with the free ticket the hotel gave me as part of my one-night package.
The Lost World Night Hot Springs is awesome. Lots of pools of varying temperatures, a "Top of the World" Jacuzzi (not top of the world, just top of the Lost World of Tambun), a steam cave, a hot pool with a bar at one end, a great band performing (it's still Hari Raya here and they had a break fast buffet too) who sang a song from one of my Zumba Instructor CD's so I was singing along too) and a few food and drink stalls. I met a Hakka man at the White Coffee stall and bought a box of Lost Wolrd Ipoh White Coffee off him, then had an iced coffee and just chilled for a bit.
Bed was calling as it was now well after 10pm, so I went back to the hotel, had a shower and here I am all nice and relaxed and ready for a big day at the Lost World of Tambun Theme Park tomorrow. I've heard some pretty crap reviews but at the very least I have a buffet breakfast so I can put off eating for a few hours until I get back to Ipoh town tomorrow.
Selamat Malam...
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