I'm so fond of spontaneous travel, and calling up friends to come out and meet up with me - whether because they or I need company or an opportunity to unload frustrations and stress. Here, Sydney's division by the beautiful harbour view of the Parramatta river makes distances greater. Roundabout travel on public transportation means you take 2-3 times the given time to get to certain suburbs. While an entirely landed city like KL means that after hours, it takes you about 15-30minutes to get from any suburb on the circumference into the city. Ironically, I'm beginning to appreciate our planned city highway systems so much more now. It never mattered to me if a friend lived too far away, I was able to drive "out of my way" to see them spontaneously.

One friend's experience with another friend who lives two suburbs away - which isn't that far, merely a 15 minute drive - found that her friend doesn't want to meet on a weekday because it took her a total almost three hours everyday to commute to and fro work. Hence making her too tired to want to do anything else but go home.

The other thing I miss so badly back home is how eating out is so cheap! (compare dollar to dollar, without converting) And a wonderful point of socialization for everyone anywhere in KL. The mamak stalls are a gift to KLites (or any Malaysian, for that matter). 24 hours a day, you can find food or a place to hang out with friends. I believe it's the epitome of Malaysian culture. It's a place where young and old, rich or poor, regardless of age and creed - everyone gathers here to socialize. I think this article "Maslow's Hierarchy of Mamak" describes it best.

...when one heads to a mamak with a group of friends to hang out and talk about the flavour of the day, he or she is inadvertently motivated to an eventual self-actualisation.
~"Maslow's Hierarchy of Mamak", Think Online

So yes, despite what some would comment - that it's not the city or place, and that people are the same everywhere - I will always beg to differ. There will be similarities, and there will always be differences. It's the differences that make a place or person unique. As much as every individual's experience of life will be different. But opportunities for socialization and the ease into it which a city will allow is what will differentiate each place from the other. And probably are the deciding factor if the city is impersonal for all levels and needs of society or not. Everyone needs to belong. I don't feel like I belong here.