The 272 steps to enter the cave

These are the steps inside the cave leading to the higher level.

xSunday ,( Malaysia), 16 Oct., 2015  -  Kuala Lumpur
   Three of us on the main tour decided to take the Batu Cave excursion extra. Some of the others were heading home too early today to do this. Lance, Eva and I were picked up at 9 am in a Toyota Innova, comfortable for 5 people with 2 jump seats in back.  The cave were already busy when we arrived and the 272 steps leading up to it looked daunting.  However, up we went.  Also climbing were several men and women carrying buckets of gravel.  I believe this was some sort of penitence, and the gravel was of a size that would be useful in the construction at the top.  The fee for a bucket was 5 ringgits and many had 2 buckets. There was also one man climbing on his knees.  The large cave at the top had several statues around the edges, and several steps down to a large main floor with a shrine and worshippers.  Then another set of steps up to a higher level, which Eva declined to climb, 350 steps up all told. There was a shrine with several worshippers on this higher level.

   Leaving the Batu Cave we went to the Royal Selangor pewter factory, the largest pewter factory in the world.  A company guide took us through their display of their history and several stations where different operations in the manufacture of pewter items were demonstrated. I even got to try one, hammering in a design. I’m not very good.  Next was the sales area with hundreds of items on display ranging from150 ringgits, ($50 cdn) to over 5000 ringgits.  All very beautiful but nothing really caught our eye.  (Eva: Not so, a lot of things caught my eye.  I just resisted temptation)

Dick in front of the pewter factory

  Our third stop of the morning was at a batik painting workshop.  We were able to watch the artisans painting the free- hand designs on the fabric.  Each piece is unique and they are very beautiful.  Again we had an opportunity to buy which we declined.

Laying out the design.  Each piece is unique.

Painting the batique.

   Our driver then dropped Lance at the Renaissance Hotel were we had stayed with the tour, then he brought us to the Geo Hotel where we will stay until we head for Bangkok on Wed. The Renaissance is a 4 ½ star Marriott hotel, the Geo, is possibly 3 star.  (The room is clean, but crowded, the king size bed is comfortable, and the bathroom is about as small as they could make it. The shower is part of the whole, the water floods the floor in front of the sink & toilet.   But for $38 night with breakfast, what can you expect?)  The Geo Hotel is on the edge of Chinatown, across the street from the central market and within walking distance of the KL Tower and the Petronas twin towers.  A good location.