Being an Expat in KL-week 8 (time flies!)

Wow, has it already been 8 weeks now that we have lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia? Geez, I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by! Its about time I stop for a few moments and give you all a personal update on our lives as it unfolds here in KL.

We are still living in temporary housing but have some great news- we found a house and signed a lease- woohoo:)! We are slated to move in on June 15th, provided our stuff gets here by then (eta June 10th). It is such a relief to have that huge task checked off our list. We still need to get a TV, BBQ, car & deal with all that goes along with that, but at least we have the silver lining that by the end of June, we “should” be all settled in. You have no idea how much of a relief this thought is….its been a long 8 weeks on a very hard & uncomfortable mattress:-)!

Besides that, daily life consists of exploring, staying active, errand running, networking, working (David), blogging, dining & drinking with new friends, researching….really the list goes on and on. I am not sure I will ever get used to the fact that the simple task of getting groceries can take upwards of 2 to 3 hours. Amazing the difference in pace of life and availability of items within certain stores between here and the states.

Its also strange to me that I have now been officially and voluntarily unemployed for 3 months…..its funny to me that my family & friends back home think I am this woman of leisure now but honestly, I don’t feel it….yet. I am sure once we get settled in, I will start to feel it but for now its all I can do to keep my head on straight throughout the week trying to get our lives in order out here while David focuses on his job. I still find it odd that the malaysian government forbids expat spouses from working (unless you can get a company to sponsor you- which not very likely). Not a worry, I’m quite the busy bee and soon will have time to blog more, engage in charity work,  and various other activities to keep me occupied:-).

Golfing at Awana resort in the Genting Highlands

So…here is what I have learned thus far:

1. Always carry coins, tissue & hand sanitizer (for public toilets). Also, make sure you can effectively hold a “squat” position for as long as you can pee as you may find yourself in a public toilet with only a hole in the ground to use, as opposed to western style toilets (you won’t run into this within shopping malls and decent restaurants but trust me…it will happen so you best be prepared for it!)…..yea, definitely takes some getting used to for me!!

2. The internet is only as good as the information that is posted….therefore don’t expect a lot out of stores, restaurants, etc here in KL- simply call or drop in for the best and most accurate information. Also, the speed of the internet here in Malaysia leaves a lot to be desired. Frustrating for sure but something to get used to- take deep breathes and enjoy the slower pace of life right!?

3. You can basically barter anywhere here. However, its very civilized. Meaning this- even within an upper-scale shopping mall you can ask the salesperson “is this the best deal you can give me?” or “what kind of gift with purchase can you offer me?”…..its hilarious to me and I am trying to make sure my best poker face is on when I try this out. Too much fun. We recently and successfully did this when we purchased custom teak bedroom & dining room sets, as well as a new mattress (I will blog on these 2 amazing stores & purchases once they arrive in another month or so).

4. Be prepared to take 2 showers a day….its literally THAT hot and sticky here. Also be prepared for the intense change between hot & cold (a/c) when entering stores, restaurants, etc. – typically if I think ahead, I bring a wrap of some sort for the chill.

Restoran Stadium Negara w/ friends

5. Streetside “hawker stalls” offer amazing food for pennies and many even rival some of the nicer stand alone and “shopping mall” restaurants (which is so normal out here by the way). Trying new cuisines has never been so easy as it is here in Malaysia. Its literally a melting pot of various cultures throughout SE Asia so couple that with the huge expat community and you can basically get anything your heart desires- from a typical malaysian meal to italian to chinese & american. Its all here for the taking.

6. Never say “NO” to an invitation to go out on the town or meet up with people. Even on those days when its crazy busy and the last thing you want to do is put on a smiling face and meet new people and have conversations with strangers…let me tell you- DO IT. If you start saying “no” too much, invites will disappear.

7. Get involved!! There are so many expat groups out here (I will blog about that next) and there is absolutely no excuse to not meet people, whether you want to stick within your own home country or branch out and meet others from all over the world- the choices are plentiful.

Heading to the AAM Fashion Show Luncheon

BBQ- first time in KL!

8. Explore! Recently I had a few people who have lived here much longer than I ask me- “How do you know so much about everything here?”….well, let me tell you how. I get out and about and figure stuff out through trial and error, I explore solo so that I have nobody to lean on but myself, and I research online & through books and magazine, soaking up as much intel on my new home town as possible.  Its so much fun.

9. People are so very friendly here- expats and locals alike. English is widely spoken- from taxi drivers to store clerks you can basically get around anywhere. The locals are so very generous and hospitable- I enjoy speaking with them and getting to know more about the culture here in KL . Be smart though & watch out for those few “bad seeds”. Ladies- watch out for purse snatching, don’t walk or drive around late at night solo, and make sure wherever you are living is secure. Seriously its a must. Our temp home has a guard house and our new place also is gated & guarded.

10. Oh the driving situation…..traffic is seriously a nightmare!! Anytime it rains (basically daily) the roads become completely jammed. There is so much improvement to be made with the infrastructure here and the availability and convenience of public transportation. The motorcyclists are on a death trip so watch out for them with every mirror in your car. Oh, and the road signs & traffic rules- those are mere suggestions- LOL. Double parking is common, as is turning right from the left hand lane…..the list goes on and on. Luckily since we don’t have a car yet, we are able to learn from sitting in the back seat of taxis. Its gonna take some building of confidence on my end!

11. Always have cash on hand as many establishments & street markets only take cash….but be wary of carrying too much in the event your purse gets snatched (not likely but better safe than sorry)!

12. Amidst all the daily living…don’t forget to be a tourist too!! Around town we’ve been able to check out the Batu Caves, Chinatown, golf in the Genting Highlands, walk around Lake Gardens Park, explore various restaurants, shop in the huge malls, get local massages, etc. We can’t wait to explore even further!

View of Menara KL & Petronas Twin Towers from Lake Gardens Pa

There is of course TONS more I could tell you but I have some ideas that I want to put together and blog about them seperately. I can’t wait to share more about the night markets, Bangsar Village, Expat assocations, dining hotspots, the list goes on and on.

So thanks for reading & for catching up with your “Nabers” in KL. Stay humble, safe & happy…wherever life may take you!

Cheers,

Kimbra