It's not wrong, it's not right, it just is.
Those wise words were recently shared with me and I couldn't agree with them more at the moment.
Today's my first day exploring Kuala Lumpur. Last night I went for a walk after checking into my hotel and it was an eye opener.
I have this attitude when I'm travelling that is a mix of confidence and slightly invisible but I didn't feel that last night.
It wasn't that I felt unsafe, as such, but I think I was far more aware of my surroundings.
I've been thinking about it and perhaps I am more aware now. I hate to admit it but before I had a bit of a mindset of 'shit happens'.
What I mean by this is, if bad things happened then there was nothing I could do about. I'm sure a shrink would have a field day on that comment.
KL is like most Asia cities. It's very busy, noisy and bustling. There are lots of different people along the streets from tourist, locals and sadly some bad people.
A local who I know in KL, told me to be very careful when walking around as there have been many bag snatching.
I was very switched on and I have an over shoulder back which is permanently zipped up.
Before I would sometimes walk along the streets with my headphones in but I haven't done that either. Perhaps it an age thing that I'm more alert.
One thing I did notice a lot last night were the prostitutes. I know they exist everywhere but they are very open here.
I looked (yes slightly judgementally) at one lady who was slightly large in her tiny shorts and crop top and say a guy give her 'the look'.
Now for me, 'the look' is one where you catch the eye of someone attractive and you both give a forthcoming look to one another.
Well that's how it would be in the innocent world of dating but you'd think it's pretty different in the sex world.
Enough about the ladies here. I love also seeing things that perhaps in the UK we'd never dream of doing but in other countries, it's perfectly normal.
An example of this is the father with his two young children (both no older than 8) on a motorbike with him. And the most bizarre thing was he was wearing a helmet but his children were not. Maybe they don't make them that small!!
Can you imagine the Daily Mail headline at home of that incident. But here, it's simply the norm. A families way of getting from point A to point B.
So far people have been very friendly which I find most Asia countries, the people are very nice.
Lots of people trying to make a living so many taxi drivers touting and people in the markets asking to 'lookie lookie'.
I know I'm so incredibly lucky with my travels. I wish other people, namely my family, could see how things are in different parts of the world.
I understand it is dangerous at times but it's dangerous everywhere. Some of the 'normal' places I've been to like Paris and Bussell have certainly been pretty dangerous of late.
If they can't be here with me, I just hope they enjoy hearing about these places.
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