Off we were on our way to the shops this morning. Funny, we thought, no traffic on the main road. Then we realised why, as first two, then another two, then a flotilla of police motor cyclists rode past, lights flashing, klaxons roaring (sounded a bit like frogs croaking to me). Then there were two police cars, followed by two black limousines, darkened windows of course, followed by – the monstrous black stretch limo flying the Russian flag. Followed by two large white vans (Russian security guys with black uniforms no necks and big guns? secretaries and assistants? crates of vodka? sandwiches and cake?), followed by yet more police motorcyclists…

We knew world leaders, including Barack Obama and Narendra Modi, were coming to town to take part in talks around the ASEAN summit. The streets are decorated with flags, security is stepped up. A nice policeman, albeit armed with a rifle, moved us on when we stopped on the bridge. He smiled when he saw that we were just puzzling over the map. Can’t be too careful, though.

So, who was it? had we really (sort of) seen Vladimir Putin? Well no, as we found out when we checked later, he’s not in KL just now. But I bet it was the Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedyev. And if it wasn’t, I don’t need to know.

*Still a far cry from Moscow in the early nineties, though, when roads were closed for a couple of hours before even a minor official was due to drive past.