Post script for previous blog: it was the Skybar at the Traders Hotel, by the way. And the food was scrumptious! Plane Boy had a sirloin sandwich and Nerdia had a lamb burger, both with crispy fries and salad. Beautiful!
Yesterday was a whirlwind of countries and cusines. First we took a surprisingly short taxi ride to Fahrenheit 88 (formerly KL Plaza), where Nerdia finally bought some clothes from Japanese outlet store Uniqlo. Lots of identical 3/4 pants in various colours, just what she was after. Took some finding, though - XL in the menswear section!
Early in the afternoon, we tried to hail a taxi for Carcosa Seri Negara - but the driver hadn't heard of it, so a hotel driver kindly took us there. He was great, a real expert on the place, and we spent the whole trip chatting about royalty (apparently Nerdia has Prince William's nose).
It used to be the residence of the Governor, then the High Commissioner, then the Queen stayed there with her entourage, and now it's a very exclusive hotel. It's a fabulous English colonial style house set in manicured gardens high on a hill overlooking the city (though most of it is hidden by the trees). We were waiting for Jumbo and Bunty to stroll out from behind a tree while ladies played croquet or badminton on the lawns and little girls skipped past in white full-length dresses. Five minutes on the verandah and Plane Boy was all 'guffaw guffaw' this and 'where's my swagger stick' that.
While waiting for the concert party from It Ain't Half Hot Mum, we were served high tea in china cups (perhaps not Royal Doulton since it was marked 'Versailles, Thailand') by several very dignified staff. Nerdia went for Earl Grey for the occasion but confesses she still doesn't really get tea. Oh well. Plane Boy had mint tea, which was very good. Accompanying this was a very British afternoon tea: delicate salmon or egg sandwiches, tiny trifles, strawberries dipped in chocolate, dainty little pecan tartlets and one scone each (with jam and cream of course - Aussie jam, in fact). Capital! They even let us wander around taking photos.
Back to the hotel for a siesta, then we finally hit the local restaurant strip for a late dinner at a place Plane Boy had been eyeing off since we arrived: Saraha Tent Arabian restaurant. Fantastic food in a slightly odd atmosphere, full of stuffed animals and tasseled curtains. Taboula and stuffed vine leaves to start, then Nerdia had a plateful of divine little vegetables stuffed with lamb mince, rice and spices - wonderful! Plane Boy's main was Arabian bread soaked in tomatoes, black lemon, lentils and spices, with a lamb shank on top. Very yummy indeed.
That was it for yesterday. We'll be looking for Arabian restaurants when we get back home!