I have now been in Kuala Lumpur for four weeks and I leave in a week’s time. At today’s session my mother’s physiotherapist remarked on how much better she is with her movements and exercises. This was so encouraging. I have been kept busy with all sorts of activities and engagements which is something to be thankful for. I have not had a moment spare to be wondering what am I doing here?
In the next few days I will be meeting up with a few friends, accompanying my mother to her regular hospital appointments and trying to fit in at least two more swims. The latter is a bit tricky as the school holidays have started for some Asian countries. This afternoon both swimming pools were taken over by energetic children splashing about, so I decided to take myself off for a pedicure instead.
I really do love this neighbourhood as everything is on my doorstep. I had always given Avenue K Shopping Mall a wide berth as it meant crossing the very busy Jalan Ampang from KLCC Mall. But now I am staying on this side of the mall, it has proven to be a most useful stepping stone on the way to KLCC.
Each time I come to KL there are improvements. The main big deal for me was Daiso (our local £1 shop) opening in Avenue K. Then this afternoon I wandered into Mr D.I.Y. and this was a revelation. It was an Aladdin’s cave containing every household item you need. The layout is not as neat as in Daiso, but its prices are very competitive.
Looking after an elderly person is a full time job and it is tiring. However I can see how one-to-one care can help anyone improve by leaps and bounds. In order to maintain a healthy work-life balance I stick to a very disciplined regime. This means sadly I do not do any personal shopping despite being in the middle of the best shopping area in the whole country.
Here is a roundup of where I go to shop for essentials, as a reminder to myself never to stray from my kampung (village). All are located in KLCC Mall unless stated.
Supermarkets: Village Grocer (Avenue K), Cold Storage and Isetan
Food Gifts: Supermarkets (as above) or Kenny Hills Bakers and KH Bistro (Shoppes at Four Seasons)
Non-food Gifts: Books Kinokuniya
Pedicures (I work too much to have a manicure): The Nail Parlour
Sports equipment: Decathlon (Shoppes at Four Seasons)
Pharmacy: Guardian and Watsons (Avenue K and KLCC)
My go-to hawker centre: Malaysia Food Village (Shoppes at Four Seasons)
My go-to canteen: Little Penang Cafe
My go-to takeaway: Madam Kwan’s
My go-to kuih shop: Nyonya Colors
My bar with a view: Alva on the rooftop of Ascott Stat KLCC.
What I regularly get from the supermarket: cherries, mangoes and passion fruit
Melbourne Cousin sent over a surprise gift of my favourite – durian!
Finally, a photo I have been meaning to take: each time my taxi passes the junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, I marvel at the tourists risking their lives in order to take a selfie in front of the Petronas Twin Towers. They virtually step out onto the road in order to get the right angle.
This evening I took a circuitous route back to my apartment to see what the fuss was all about. Here are the photos I took from the safety of a side pavement. Goodnight from my hometown.
