NYE Urban Exploration

New year's eve; Louise came up the studio and announced that we could go home if we have nothing to do. Cheers around because it's around 4pm, except the VFX team who has Sprite to do. It is the only paid job we have for that month, with other jobs spilling over into December.

By the time the clock reach 7pm, the office was nearly empty, leave some stragglers like Tee, Suki and Angel who were waiting to head to Moon Choong's house for NYE party. Kaze was waiting for Joeyee, and I, for Seetho. Settled myself onto the office bean bag and resumed Chris Hedges' War is the Force that Gives Us Meaning.

Jen came an hour later and we headed off for some walking in central KL. A stop at Cafe Kathmandu for some chicken momos, we circled back to Jalan Alor to get some coconut ice cream. It started raining while we bought the dessert. Ducked at the nearest shelter and realised that there was an old shopping centre right next to the road that we'd never notice if the rain didn't happen. The rain stopped by the time the ice cream has been safely deposited into our stomachs, and we headed to the restaurant that we spotted during Bersih. We had crab soup and mutton marrow for starters; Seetho and mine respectively, though later we swapped because we both ordered what the other preferred taste-wise. There was plain mutton briyani rice involved, and... the other two dishes escape me.

The verdict? Definitely cheaper than Gem Restaurant in Brickfields, but the spice in the latter is more developed and rich... also less salty. I'm not too fussed, still keen on trying their thali.

After, it was literally an urban exploration.. Can't really recall the direction after, only that we headed to Masjid Jamek station, and ended up walking towards Capsquare area. Found a crowd-free place where you could see KLCC and KL tower clearly over the night sky. Shamelessly welfied. Gleefully thought that we found a place with the best view of fireworks (...it was not; but ¼ of it isn't bad!). Sat at a bus stop and walked around the vicinity while waiting for midnight.

Ended up along Dang Wangi, and as we headed towards the city centre, we seem to be the salmon against the stream of revelers. Stopped by Shangri La to show Jen the sandwich place I like. We were also very thirsty and the gatorade from 7-11 wasnt cold enough, nor did it fully quenched our need. Planned to head to office via Bukit Bintang, but upon seeing that area swamped with trigger-happy spray canners, we reversed our steps and walked along the Pavilion route. A motorcylist dropped a slipper in the jam, and I tossed it back to him.

Back in the office, we inhaled the cold water. Petrol was running low, and I didn't want to get stuck in traffic. Jen waited with me until 4am when the coast is clear.

It was a weary and satisfying day.