Life is short & the world is wide…
This electric city really has the best mix of everything you could possible want from a short stay trip. The vibrant blend of colourful street markets, hipster bars, deliciously authentic eateries really brings a wow factor to such a magnificent capital. The contrasting wondrous skyscrapers that pervade the city streets add to this diverse and energetic city.
It’s easy to admit I was somewhat hesitant before arriving to Malaysia. Bangkok really was an unpleasant experience owing to the overcrowding and pollution that consumed the entire city. Not to mention Gary’s unfortunate food poisoning incident (wow, that feels like a lifetime ago now)… I was worried we could be in for much the same with another city stopover.
To our delight, Kuala Lumpur, without a shadow of a doubt was completely the opposite. In fact, it turned out to be one of our favourite destinations! It’s difficult to describe the atmosphere of this city without actually taking time to absorb it for yourself. Never have I seen such contrasting situations to be in. One minute you can be walking through quaint markets at the local’s pace and then, the next thing you know you’re eyes are being blown away by enormous, dazzling buildings and luxurious malls… There are MANY to get lost in.
Our hotel was conveniently located in Bukit Bintang which happens to be an excellent base for exploring the city. We sat right behind the Berjaya Times Square complex, the eighth biggest building in the world. Not only did the Berjaya provide us with a gigantic mall to get lost in, there was also a theme park INSIDE…
If that wasn’t enough, the Berjaya also had over 65 food outlets and a GSC MAXX 3D cinema. After coming from Cambodia, it was an odd sensation to be in such futuristic territories.
A day is incomplete without ice-cream
Now if anyone knows Gary, they’ll know his love of food is like no other. Since embarking on our journey way back in June, we have both felt ourselves get lost in conversations about home comforts that we were beginning to miss. One that he could never seem to budge however, was his craving for some Nando’s chicken (such a basic boy) and I could not contain my laughter when we stumbled across a Nando’s, glowing like the holy grail had been found. Gary was pretty overcome with emotion that day after being reunited with his peri peri love. Also, yes… We ended up there every day of our stay.
Lot 10 Mall, quite near to Times Square was another favourite of ours. Their basement food court was pretty cool as you could eat from any country you wished. They had EVERYTHING and you could have the street-food experience in an indoor setting. The only downside is trying to choose just one. The assortment of different aromas is also slightly overpowering so if you’re ever here, be prepared to be puzzled.
Here some ideas of local food & Drinks to try if you’re here:
- Roti Tissue or Roti Planta (Similar to Indian bread)
- Teh Tarik (Tea with Milk)
- Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice)
- Asam Laska Noodle (Spicy soup)
- Durian (King of Fruits) – very odd smell though
- Hokkien Mee (Noodle dish cooked over charcoal) – Kuala Lumpur speciality
- Bak Kut Teh (Pork & Herb Soup)
Another afternoon, we checked out Petaling Street, nessled in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s China town. From afternoon until evening, a market lines 4 streets where you can pick up souvenirs or try some very local cuisines. As far as markets are concerned though, it wasn’t actually that fantastic and most of the stalls sold very much the same stuff. I have become a master of markets after seeing so many and this one didn’t quite make the cut.
Now everyone knows the main icon of Kuala Lumpur are the amazing Petronas Twin Towers. They were the tallest buildings in the world up until 2004 and are still the tallest twin towers ever. We checked out the amazing landmark which looked even more spectacular at night when the city really does come alive.
Kuala Lumpur Tower
Can’t ever escape the traffic
The Suria KLCC shopping mall sits next to the towers and is another amazing place to get lost in. Although, the 400 stores are all very much designer and way out of our budget… but I can dream right…
After trying to find a taxi home, we ended up unknowingly walking outside to catch the Lake Symphony musical water fountain show which was awesome. The combination of the twinkling sky-scraper lights, the orchestra music and the colourful fountain splashes really enhanced just how unforgettable Kuala Lumpur is. Definitely a new favourite city of ours!
Hope you’ve enjoyed a little taster of our Malaysian experience.
Thanks again for reading.
Be sure to check in soon.
Lots of love
Xx
