For Guenmai
 

Hi Guen,

I could be wrong but I thought I remember you saying you bought some nice jewelry in Kuala Lumpur but I can't seem to locate the post. Do you think you can tell me what shops you liked? Thanks. (if it wasn't you, sorry)
Laurie

It wasn't jewelry. It was antiques. Happy Travels!

Guen; You seem to be an excellent resource. We are interested in Burmese, Malaysian authentic artifacts i.e. buddha's, monks. We purchased several in Bali 5 years ago but likely paid more than we would have to in KL.
Also, I have been hunting very unsuccessfully for an english speaking guide/driver for 3 full day trips outside of KL proper. I need email addresses or websites. Any help??

Aren't you the poster who contacted my driver, Mr. Pau last year? Anyhow, the antik place that I went to was called...Ahmed Toko Antik 25/15-23 Jalan Raya Muda Musa Tel...298.4258 It's in the Kampong Bahru part of Kuala Lumpur. When you go out the main road that goes through the Kampong and the road curves to the left....it's right at the curve...you'll see a narrow street where you'll see an incredible view of the Patronas Towers...this very small/dusty/junky shop is right there at the curve(to the right of the curve) in back of a small restaurant. It's a dark shop with a lot of stuff that takes patience, but I found what I went there for and for cheap. This is no high-class, organized place...but one of those treasure hunt kind of places. Happy Travels!

As for the type of guide you want, I don't know what to tell you. I'd personally get a guide book and map out my own routes...as I did with Mr. Pau when we went outside of KL and then have him drive me there. I did the work of organizing things and he did the driving for the outside of KL proper stuff. It worked out perfectly well for a friend and me. If you do find a driver to do what you need, it will cost you a small fortune. Happy Travels!

Guen; I was told by the Ritz Carlton that they finally contacted Mr. Pau but that he said his English was insufficent to converse with us as to the sights, origins, culture,etc during each day trip. They tried to get me hooked up with a firm for $900USD and I balked and spent all my time in Thailand. Did they told me that to get a "cut" from the travel service the Ritz Carlton uses? Your experience. Thanks for trhe shop. Does the oqwner speak english at all. Do you know or think it was authentic items that you purchased? Have you validated it . I paid $250 for a large gold jeweled Budda from the Mandalay Period when I was in Bali in 2001.

I don't understand the question of..."Did they told me that to get a "cut"....?" Please clarify this question. As for the antique shop, the woman spoke some English and as to whether or not the items were authentic or not...mine were. I bought some Indonesian items. I saw other authentic things like coconut scrapers which is what I went there for, but ended up buying mine in Singapore instead.It might be a good idea to take a flashlight to this shop as it's small and dark and you have to dig through stuff. Happy Travels!

As for how I got Mr. Pau...I didn't go through the Ritz Carlton to get him although I stayed there and he hangs out in front of the place. A friend and I noticed him over at the Karyaneka(sp?) craft center and thought he was the same person who we'd seen at the Ritz Carlton and when he came up to us and asked if we needed a ride, then it hit us that it was indeed the same person. I then began to negotiate with him on being our private driver. We got him for about $7.50 an hour I think it was and had him our whole stay. His English was fine as far as we were concerned. We had a great time and great memories. He took us extra places and showed us things we never would have thought of and also to real Malaysian neighborhoods etc...Happy Travels!

Mr. Pau; He is Chinese, right? Any way of noticing him from other taxi driver's?

He was the only Chinese driver that I saw the whole time I was in the hotel area. Happy Travels!

Guen: Thanks. I will count on him and save $500 dollars!! If it works I will give him a tip because of you.

I hope it works out for you. Things should be fine. Please ask Mr. Pau if he received the photo that I took of him standing in front of his car in front of the antique shop in Kampong Bahru.He might remember if you go to the same shop. I mailed it to his house address after I got home. A friend and I were there in April of 2001. We are Black American and were in our mid-40s then. He'll probably remember as we had a great time with him. He knows that we're from Los Angeles. And please get his phone number if you see him since I might need him in the future. Happy Travels!