Kuala Lumpa - Malaysia

2 – 7 April 2010

The Malaysian F1 Grand Prix was timed perfectly to fit in with the need to renew my visa for Indonesia. I treated myself to tickets high up in the grandstand at the end of the start/finish straight. The view of the first two corners was excellent but I was able to see much of the rest of the track as well. I was also situated ideally to be one of the first out of the ground so made it back to the hotel fairly quickly both days. The race was exciting, with overtaking manoeuvres right in front of me but would have been liven up even more if it had rained during the race. Sunday was the only day I was in Kuala Lumpa when it did not rain!

Although it should be possible to get a visitors visa on the day in KL I allowed 2 days – which turned out to be wise as the Friday had been a public holiday and the embassy closed the queue for visas was very long and I spent most of Monday reading a book and waiting. Unfortunately when I went back on Tuesday my visa application had been refused – no reason given so instead of having a further 60 days in Indonesia I only get a 30 day visa on arrival and will have to rethink my travel plans.

I did get some time look around and went to the KL tower and the twin towers – these are particularly spectacular when lit at night. I was disappointed in the fact that what is meant to be a very spectacular Hindu temple was covered in scaffolding and cladding for restoration also in China Town which was so commercialised it was untrue. I visited a couple of malls but found then overpowering and the choices bewildering. There were several things I had planned to buy but in the end I left Malaysia with nothing new in my bags.