Visas and Velvet Towers
Kuala Lumpur
Our stop in Kuala Lumpur served two purposes: to explore the vibrant
capital and to secure our Indonesian visas. The city itself was a
kaleidoscope—steel towers rising above bustling streets, monorails
gliding past mosques and temples, the hum of modernity woven into
Malaysia’s cultural mosaic.
The following morning, we boarded the KL Monorail, its sleek
carriages whisking us through the city to the Indonesian embassy.
The process was swift and efficient: a one-month visa stamped into
my passport for RM170. It was shorter than the two months I had
hoped for, but the promise of an extension once in Indonesia softened
the disappointment.
Ernest’s experience was less straightforward. Dressed in shorts, he
was turned away at the embassy gates, his attire deemed
disrespectful in the context of Indonesia’s conservative Muslim
culture. The lesson was clear: respect is measured not only in words
but in clothing. He returned the next day properly dressed, and the
visa was granted without issue.