If you travel to Southeast Asia, chances are you will find yourself in Kuala Lumpur, perhaps for a couple of weeks, a few days, or maybe for just under 24 hours!
The Malaysian capital is energetic, diverse and full of life. And with life comes a plethora of things to see, taste and do. No visit to Kuala Lumpur is deemed complete without paying a visit to the former holder of “the tallest building in the world” title — Petronas Towers. It held the world title with its impressive 452 meters height from 1998 and all the way till Dec. 31, 2004, the date that marks the inauguration of Taipei 101 (former world’s tallest building before the completion of UAE’s Burj Khalifa). Though not a record holder any more, the Petronas Towers are a beauty to behold, and a selfie with the twin towers is nothing short of a must-do. Petronas Towers come with a shopping mall and a musical fountain. Schedule your visit between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., which is when the dancing fountain show is on, playing two shows every half an hour.
Shopping is a key activity when visiting Kuala Lumpur. It has actually moved up the ladder from being a mere activity to be a tourist attraction. About every famous neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, or rather KL as it is often called, comes with its own stylish mall. Nevertheless, if you are there for under 24 hours, then waste no time and head straight to Bukit Bintang. This is the heart of shopping within the realms of the Malaysian capital. In Bukit Bintang you can go on a never-ending shopping bonanza hopping from one mall to the other. Be forewarned they might leave your credit cards maxed out and you missing your flight!
Bukit Bintang comes with an extra advantage for the Arab travelers among us; the area is dotted with Arab restaurants, cafes, shops ... you name it. While strolling the streets of Bukit Bintang with all Arabic signage around me and all the different dialects of Arabic that I could here, I had to pause for a minute, just to ask myself — where am I! Speaking of signage in Arabic, this is not just an extra courtesy of Bukit Bintang. In the matter of fact, with the number of Arabic tourists that flock Malaysia, especially the capital, Arabic signage is visible around and close to main tourist attractions as well as the airport.
Arabic heritage in KL goes way deeper than modern day signage. Pay a visit to the amazing Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. It comes with an extraordinary collection that includes arms, metalworks, coins, jewelry, ceramics and much more. The museum regularly holds seminars and workshops for adults as well as weekend workshops for the young ones. If you are more into Islamic architecture then make sure you have time to go and see the old Kuala Lumper Railway Station, Jamel Mosque, and Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Sultan Abdul Samad Building dates back to the late 19th century and it honors the name of the reigning Sultan of Selangor at the time of construction. It used to house the British colonial administration back in the day, but now it plays host to the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia.
Topping the list of KL attractions is a place located outside the capital. Depending on where you are in KL, 45 to 60 minutes by public transport takes you to Batu Caves. Rising 100 meters above, this tourist attraction includes the caves of a huge limestone hill. Paying Batu Caves a visit is an experience on its own from the moment you hold the KL map upside down trying to figure out how you will reach this place with public transportation, to going up the gruesome 272 stairs that leads to the caves, to taking wow pictures that will see your Instagram likes skyrocket. Save the best for last as the last cave in Batu comes with an amazing vertical lighting — straight from top!
KL comes equipped with a very efficient user-friendly public transport network. So don’t worry, within your 24 hours you will be able to go to Batu Caves, and come all the way back to Jalan Alor where you can savor the true genuine taste of Malaysia’s renowned street food. Malaysian society engulfs people from different cultures and backgrounds, most notably Chinese, Indian, and of course Malay. And nowhere you can savor this mix better than in Jalan Alor, where different cultures express themselves in the most blatant way — food. Jalan Alor is lined with food stalls on both its sides offering all sorts of food delights from a a hundred types or so of Chinese noodles to everything halal being grilled, and in between there is everything you could think of! Things don’t get going in Jalan Alor early, so head there after the sun calls it a day!
For a more authentic Chinese experience whilst in Malaysia, head to Petaling Street. It is a mini Chinatown where you can savor authentic Chinese dishes and have a dynamic shopping experience filled with bargaining and haggling.
From modern skyscrapers to centuries old Islamic heritage, and from old caves to authentic Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur has a lot to offer even if your visit is for just under 24 hours!
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Email: [email protected]
The Malaysian capital is energetic, diverse and full of life. And with life comes a plethora of things to see, taste and do. No visit to Kuala Lumpur is deemed complete without paying a visit to the former holder of “the tallest building in the world” title — Petronas Towers. It held the world title with its impressive 452 meters height from 1998 and all the way till Dec. 31, 2004, the date that marks the inauguration of Taipei 101 (former world’s tallest building before the completion of UAE’s Burj Khalifa). Though not a record holder any more, the Petronas Towers are a beauty to behold, and a selfie with the twin towers is nothing short of a must-do. Petronas Towers come with a shopping mall and a musical fountain. Schedule your visit between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., which is when the dancing fountain show is on, playing two shows every half an hour.
Shopping is a key activity when visiting Kuala Lumpur. It has actually moved up the ladder from being a mere activity to be a tourist attraction. About every famous neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, or rather KL as it is often called, comes with its own stylish mall. Nevertheless, if you are there for under 24 hours, then waste no time and head straight to Bukit Bintang. This is the heart of shopping within the realms of the Malaysian capital. In Bukit Bintang you can go on a never-ending shopping bonanza hopping from one mall to the other. Be forewarned they might leave your credit cards maxed out and you missing your flight!
Bukit Bintang comes with an extra advantage for the Arab travelers among us; the area is dotted with Arab restaurants, cafes, shops ... you name it. While strolling the streets of Bukit Bintang with all Arabic signage around me and all the different dialects of Arabic that I could here, I had to pause for a minute, just to ask myself — where am I! Speaking of signage in Arabic, this is not just an extra courtesy of Bukit Bintang. In the matter of fact, with the number of Arabic tourists that flock Malaysia, especially the capital, Arabic signage is visible around and close to main tourist attractions as well as the airport.
Arabic heritage in KL goes way deeper than modern day signage. Pay a visit to the amazing Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. It comes with an extraordinary collection that includes arms, metalworks, coins, jewelry, ceramics and much more. The museum regularly holds seminars and workshops for adults as well as weekend workshops for the young ones. If you are more into Islamic architecture then make sure you have time to go and see the old Kuala Lumper Railway Station, Jamel Mosque, and Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Sultan Abdul Samad Building dates back to the late 19th century and it honors the name of the reigning Sultan of Selangor at the time of construction. It used to house the British colonial administration back in the day, but now it plays host to the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia.
Topping the list of KL attractions is a place located outside the capital. Depending on where you are in KL, 45 to 60 minutes by public transport takes you to Batu Caves. Rising 100 meters above, this tourist attraction includes the caves of a huge limestone hill. Paying Batu Caves a visit is an experience on its own from the moment you hold the KL map upside down trying to figure out how you will reach this place with public transportation, to going up the gruesome 272 stairs that leads to the caves, to taking wow pictures that will see your Instagram likes skyrocket. Save the best for last as the last cave in Batu comes with an amazing vertical lighting — straight from top!
KL comes equipped with a very efficient user-friendly public transport network. So don’t worry, within your 24 hours you will be able to go to Batu Caves, and come all the way back to Jalan Alor where you can savor the true genuine taste of Malaysia’s renowned street food. Malaysian society engulfs people from different cultures and backgrounds, most notably Chinese, Indian, and of course Malay. And nowhere you can savor this mix better than in Jalan Alor, where different cultures express themselves in the most blatant way — food. Jalan Alor is lined with food stalls on both its sides offering all sorts of food delights from a a hundred types or so of Chinese noodles to everything halal being grilled, and in between there is everything you could think of! Things don’t get going in Jalan Alor early, so head there after the sun calls it a day!
For a more authentic Chinese experience whilst in Malaysia, head to Petaling Street. It is a mini Chinatown where you can savor authentic Chinese dishes and have a dynamic shopping experience filled with bargaining and haggling.
From modern skyscrapers to centuries old Islamic heritage, and from old caves to authentic Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur has a lot to offer even if your visit is for just under 24 hours!
—
Email: [email protected]
