Kuala Lumpur Airport: A shopping mall that happens to have flights

I realize that airports, like everything else in the world, are designed for profit. I really feel as though some places take this to an extreme though, and the KL airport is one of the most extreme I have seen save for perhaps the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

Perhaps there are people out there that like to have 400 stores and restaurants inside the airport. These people are probably the ones that turn up 4 hours before their flight and need this sort of distraction to kill time. I, however, am not one of these people. Let's also look at the reality of the situation: Is there anywhere in the world that is more expensive than what is charged at an airport? I paid like $8 for a coffee the other day and while that might be the Modus Operandi in New York City, it certainly isn't what i am accustomed to.

The KL airport has such an astounding number of stores in it and unfortunately it isn't even in grid formation, so at one point I actually got turned around and was lost (haha.) It's lucky that I had already checked in and was in no danger of missing my flight.

Once you get through the first 200 shops or so, the place starts to look somewhat like an airport - as in, there are check in counters and what not. Then you proceed to the security (which is actually very efficient and friendly) and once you are on the other side, there is another, more expensive than outside shopping mall as well. Which is fun because I am certain you want to have to walk an extra mile to get to your gate (I know that I do.) I was only in 1 wing of the airport (the "J" wing) and on my journey from where the taxi dropped me off, to the point where I was actually at my gate, I passed 4 Starbucks and 3 McDonalds. Of course there was a ton of other shops including a place that sold only jellybeans, a Lego Store, and a Hello Kitty store. I think the most absurd store I saw was a place that sells luggage. Does anyone just turn up with a trash bag filled with all their stuff and get a suitcase in a place that charges 3x what it costs in town for the same thing?

Who is this for? I mean, if you wanted to go to a shopping mall wouldn't you just go to a shopping mall? They charge much less there and the parking is free. This makes no sense to me and when i look around at the masses that are actually making purchases at these places I have to admit that i shake my head in disbelief.

Perhaps I am being cynical because my journey upon arriving in Malaysia has been anything but wonderful. I want everyone to understand the only type of shopping that I ever think should be done when in an airport in Kuala Lumpur or anywhere else for that matter.

now we're talkin'