Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Gautam Khattak

Last updated: July 30, 2015

Disclaimer: These are notes I’ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.

General Tips

Kuala Lumpur – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur

So KL was fun but to be honest there isn’t much to see/do there other than shop. I hit up most places on the map I had but it was more seeing the architecture rather than going to do something. It is very cheap to be a tourist there (if you aren’t shopping or drinking) because most everything is free to get into or costs 38 MYR (~$10). I took the train a lot but I also took the bus a few times and it was always between 2 – 8 MYR (8 for a 2 hour trip)

It was definitely the most unbearably humid place I’ve ever been to. So pack for 3 sets of clothing for every day you are there! I’m sure there are better months to go but WOW it was hazy & humid..

Currency: Malaysian Ringgits (MYR)

Conversion Tool: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=100+USD+to+MYR&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

(Update for current rates)

100 USD = 353.15 MYR

1 USD = 3.53 MYR

100 MYR = 28.32 USD

1 MYR = .2832 USD

Tipping is not expected but if you want to leave a tip, 10% is generally a good rule of thumb. Tips are preferred in cash to the waiter/waitress because most receipts won’t even have a tipping line.

Transportation

Unlike most other Asian cities, driving is the main mode of commuting in Kuala Lumpur. Hence, every part of the city is well connected by highways.

There is a great subway system there and the buses to go out side the city are very cheap

Tourist Destinations

Aquaria KLCC (http://www.klaquaria.com/) – 38 RMB entrance fee, You can watch Sharks get fed on some days and I heard you can go diving with the sharks if you have a valid diving license

Menara Tower (KL Tower) (http://www.malaysiasite.nl/kltowereng.htm) – The KL Tower is a 381ft (421m) high telecommunications and broadcasting tower which actually appears to be taller than the Petronas Towers, because it is built on a hill. Amidst the city of Kuala Lumpur stands the Menara Kuala Lumpur at 670ft (515m) above sea level.  This tower has an observation deck (38RMB), where you get a 360º view of the city. There are two times you can go, daytime – until 6:30pm and 6:30m – 9:30pm for a night view of the city. The view from KL Tower is better than Petronas because you can actually see the Pertronas Towers with the city skyline.

The Batu Caves (http://www.malaysiasite.nl/batucaveseng.htm)  – 30 minutes outside the city and only 2 RMB to go there by Bus. Bus (#11) leaves every 30 minutes from the station near Central Market

Kuala Selangor Nature Park (http://hydec.com/ksnp/) – 1½ hours from KL buy Bus (7.60RMB) to get there, 4 RMB to get into the park. Its relaxing and all but we didn’t see anything really. 2 monkey’s in the trees and some extremely tiny crabs.

Lonely Planet Top Picks – http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuala-lumpur

70 Sites of Kuala Lumpur – http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/sights

Colonial district and Chinatown – Discovering the historic colonial district and vibrant Chinatown on a walking tour

Petronas Towers and Kampung Baru – Shooting up the jaw-dropping Petronas Towers, then taking them in from the perspective of charming Kampung Baru

The highest visitors can go is the 41st-floor Skybridge, which connects the two towers at a modest 170m above street level. To get hold of one of the 1700 free tickets issued daily, you’ll need to join the line at the ticket counter in the basement by at least 07:30 ; tickets (only one per person) are usually gone by 8:30 each morning. Weekdays tend to be less hectic than weekends and public holidays.

http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/

Address: cnr Jln Ampang & Jln P Ramlee, KLCC

Lake Gardens and Bird Park – Exploring the relaxing Lake Gardens, and visiting its showpiece Bird Park

Islamic Arts Museum – Admiring the beauty of Islamic art at the Islamic Arts Museum

Dataran Merdeka (the Independence Square),

The House of Parliament,

The Istana Budaya,

The Istana Negara (National Palace)

The Muzium Negara (National Museum)

The Putra World Trade Centre

The Tugu Negara (National Monument) and

mosques such as the Masjid Jamek, the Masjid Negara (National Mosque) and the Federal Territory Mosque.

Other tourist attractions include the

The Makam Pahlawan (National Mausoleum),

The National Science Centre,

The Royal Selangor Pewter Visitor Centre,

The Zoo Negara (National Zoo), and events such as Malay cultural centres,

The Chinese cultural festivals at the Thean Hou Temple and the Thaipusam procession at the SriMahamariamman Temple.

The Golden Triangle

Dining & Nightlife

The commercial hub of the city, contains the Petronas Twin Towers and has a distinctive nightlife.

Helipad @ Heli Lounge – You guessed it, you basically get to drink and listen to live music on a helipad. It’s very cool and you get a great 360 degree view of the city. I believe there’s a cover but it’s worth it.

Here are some places to check out (check if they’re still around!)

• The Beach Club
• Espanda
• The Hakka Republic Wine Bar & Restaurant,
• The Luna Bar
• Nuovo
• Rum Jungle
• The Thai Club
• Zouk, and many others are located within and around Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang.
• Pulse – Ultra Club in the Grand Millennium Hotel
• Prego – Italian restaurant in the Westin Hotel in Bukit Bintang – REALLY Good
• At the Le Meridien they have a Nacho Challenge I need to try…It’s

Shopping

Pavilion Mall – In Bukit Bintang – Lots of high-end shops and restaurants. Near this mall are a lot of hotels/bars

Mid Valley Mega Mall – Is HUGE

The Curve – A mall and lots of dining……

Petaling Street – Other than the malls KL had the best knock-off markets I’ve seen. It was better than Ladies market in HK and my friend said it was better than Thailand and Singapore.  The street market is in Chinatown. It is open all day but from 4pm – 11pm the amount of vendors triple and you get more options and bargains. I’ve never seen such a large amount of variety in products (i.e. 5x the amount of watches carried by vendors in Greenhills, Manila or Ladies Market).

Apart from Suria KLCC, Bukit Bintang, which resembles Tokyo’s Ginza, New York’s Fifth Avenue and Singapore’s Orchard Road has the highest concentration of shopping outlets in Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang, which is part of the Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, spans over 3 roads, namely Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail. It houses various cafes, alfresco (open air) dining outlets and shopping complexes such as Berjaya Plaza, Berjaya Times Square, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Imbi Plaza, Kuala Lumpur Plaza, Lot 10, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion KL, Starhill Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza. Just West of Bukt Bintang seems to be a lot of Massage and Reflexology parlors.

Somewhere in here I found a street with a lot of ex-pat bars that locals seem to go to. Its not the Ultra-Lounge types

SOGO Kuala Lumpur – The largest single department store in Malaysia (also known as KL SOGO) which is located at a landmark site on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, one of the best known shopping streets for locals in Kuala Lumpur.

The Bangsar district also has a few shopping complexes, including Bangsar Village, Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens. The Damansara area north-west of Kuala Lumpur, though not in the city-proper, is the home of the only IKEA outlet in the country, and a cluster of locally-operated malls like Cathay Multi Screen Cinemas, The Curve, Ikano Power Centre, NiuXehSui at Ara Damansara and One Utama.