Visiting Kuala Lumpur a month ago was such an unforgettable experience. Since my return home, I have literally been on the web looking for fares to spend this year's Christmas there. I am hoping fares will go down to earth levels. As it stands, a roundtrip ticket to go there from San Francisco costs at least $2,000 today. I suppose I've seen many of the city's sights but I want to see more. Four days was simply not enough. Food, accomodation, and shopping were likewise very affordable for us which is why we want to return. I'm told there are other cities in Malaysia worth visiting. We shall see if I get lucky in this regard.

It's funny how for many years, decades, even, I was not that interested in visiting KL. I didn't realize our most recent trip was going to be such an unforgettable experience. While I generally avoid crowds, I found it fun being in the midst of all the hustle and bustle in the malls. The locals celebrating the end of Ramadan likewise added to the very festive air in the city. There are many other reasons why I dream of returning.

Going to restaurants where the food bill totaled no more than $20 at most was a pleasant surprise. Once I had lunch at a restaurant inside the Central Market and I paid the equivalent of $3! I cannot even buy a slice of pastry for that price where I live. Next, shopping for souvenirs was likewise a thrill. I bought Indian saris, Chinese cinnabar boxes, and Indonesian Batik textiles, and Indian handpainted jewelry boxes all for less than $100! Unbelievable!!

Prior to our departure from the US, I watched a video where Malaysians bemoaned the rising crime rates in the capital. It may be true, but we totally felt safe there everywhere we went. Totally, totally safe. Lastly, on the day we checked out of our hotel, our bill came out to $240 for our four night stay. In many major US cities, $240 is not even enough for a night's stay in a business class hotel. I can go on and on. But these are just some of the reasons why I want to return.