Downtown KL

I had a wander around downtown KL yesterday. I was last here a year ago so I have a basic knowledge of the layout, and I thought I'd visit some of the places I went to last time and see if anythings changed.

Unsurprisingly, not a lot. The shopping centres are still huge and ostentatious

with anything tried to distinguish it - this one had an inside 'market green' that sold the same stock as everywhere else, but with an Avatar style makeover

I even found one with a funfair on its top three floors

Yes, that is a roller coaster shoehorned in. And not one that delivers a a gentle rumble around - this moves fast

 and even includes a loop

although it's not one to be enjoyed if you're tall - the tolerances are pretty tight in places. And a little bit suggestive as well

For those of a less adventurous disposition, the monorail is still cool

and for those less active, there's always plenty of opportunity to sit down

After a few hours I tired of shopping centres I headed over to Chinatown, where my favourite people-watching bar / cafe was still going

and the reggae bar was still serving Long Island Iced Tea for a fiver a glass in happy hour (sorry GGT)

The fish at the fish spa were still hungry too, although after my recent flaky peeliness I think a few had eaten their full by the end of the half hour

 Petaling St markets were still as chaotic as usual, and I even got told off by a DVD seller for telling him I downloaded. "No no no - it's illegal!"

If anyone wants a knock off bag or watch this is the place to come. Just like last time I wandered through thinking I should buy something, but not really needing or even wanting much that was there. I was tempted by this singlet but I heard Liz's voice in the back of my head saying 'a t-shirt with a picture of a bike on it - how unusual!'

The street vendors still produce fantastic food at the side of the road for very little money

each stall specialises in one dish - pick your favourite, settle down at a table, summon the 'beer boy' to bring Tiger and enjoy! And if you fancy squid-on-a-stick, well, this is your place. This is dusted in flour and spices, deep-fried and served with a spicy chilli sauce - yum.

Eventually it was time to go home so after a quick barter with the cabbie I got dropped off in Mont Kiara, but looking back you could still see the twin towers glittering over the city.

The picture's a bit wonky because I was standing in the middle of the road - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.