Not your usual twizzlers and popcorn

Some of the snacks available at the movies.

Mashed potatoes for the win!

Jalan Alor

Jalan Alor is a famous "food street" in Bukit Bintang....delicious beyond words.  Green curry, Tom Yam (spicy seafood soup), and Pad Thai noodles. 

National Mosque

Built in 1965, the National Mosque is a peaceful sanctuary in the middle of a bustling metropolis.

Moth-Flame

Latin Festival in Kuala Lumpur. I also found Peruvian alfajores! 

Practice makes perfect

Batu Caves

Not sure why I am doing the "back to school" pose...but I am.

According to the lady I asked, these "lamps" represent your hopes/wishes. 

According to the same lady, the red powder represents the "power" within you that you direct towards those hopes/wishes. 

Finished product: hopes, wishes, power.

These garlands gave off the most beautiful fragrance. 

Contemplating life.

Lunch.

Beauty.

Stairs to the cave are on the left.

Temple inside cave.

Although Malaysia in predominantly Muslim (61%); Buddhism (20%), and Hinduism (6%) are also practiced. Today we visited "Batu Caves" - a famous Hindu temple. After climbing 272 (steep) steps, you enter the cave. Inside there are some beautiful shrines and temples. The top of the cave is open to the sky and lined with lush trees and shrubs. The place is also full of monkeys! We were warned not to bring any food, as they don't hesitate to snatch things right out of your hands.

Merah

Visited the Chan She Shu Yuen Temple and the famous Petaling Street in Chinatown today. 

Merah means "red" in Malay. 

New adventures in KL

I attended the "Bathing the Buddha" event at a Buddhist Temple. I got to bathe the Buddha and 

tried calligraphy for the first time. This is "Tew" the calligraphy expert at the temple. 

Tew asked me what I wanted to write, I asked him to teach me how to write "Moon" (i.e.: Luna)
Later he wrote my name out. He said the first character of my name means "promise" - I like it!

Here is the line up for people wishing to bathe the Buddha. It's really quite beautiful. At the front, there is a small Buddha statue, a bowl of water, and a bowl of flowers. When you get to the front you bow to the Buddha, touch the surface of the water with your finger tips, bow again, and take a flower with you. It is a way of showing respect for the Buddha. Everyone is barefoot inside the temple, and there is a team of staff making sure everyone has used hand sanitizer before participating. 

Today was Mother's Day. At the temple they have a ceremony where children wash their mother's feet as a sign of deep respect and appreciation. 

Workplace hazard...this sign is no joke. I ran away from a pair of monkeys on my second day on the job.  It's like they knew I was the newbie! 

Yellow watermelon.

Cool looking crabs.

Green Curry - so fragrant and delicious! My favourite so far. 

The only other Mexicans in town. 

My first week in Kuala Lumpur has been a flurry of activity.  I have started work, (mostly) adjusted to the 15 hour time difference, and have had a chance to meet some amazing people. I will post better pictures soon. I haven't had the chance to do much sight seeing as it's been all work since I got here, but...that's why I'm here, and, to be honest, I am loving every minute!