The allure of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Finally here! As announced we made it all the way to Kuala Lumpur on the 6th, flying with Air Asia from London- a mere 13 hour flight. As usual we had minimum sleep, a wee bit of food (low cost airline) and bucket loads of enthusiasm.

Kuala Lumpur is a surprisingly modern city with a lot of vegetation but also traffic, depending on location and time. The first thing that caught our attention is the very large Indian population, with the distinctive appearance and pleasant smiles. And the second was the huge buildings with futuristic architechture that can be found in the Golden Triangle (around the Petronas Towers) and the outskirts of the city.

The Petronas in all their splendor

I had heard mixed reviews of the city from people who had been here, ranging from the “It’s a very dirty place I would not go back to” to ” A great metropolis with a  blending of cultures that will keep you busy for days”.  My opinion? It is something in between.

There are quite a few things to see in and around the city,  including the world famous Batu Caves ( famous for the Hindi pilgrimage that happens there once a year where devotees perform self-body tortures as a symbol of faith), Chinatown and Little India, and the reknown Petronas Towers, in my opinion the star of the show, hands down. I’m not a big fan of urban and metropolitan attractions when traveling, but the Petronas Towers, with their impressive design and excellent location make it a marvel to look at, particularly at night. You can visit them for free ( a big bonus of the city, as  most attractions have no cost)  and entertain yourself purchasing goodies in the shopping mall at its base.

All in all the city has ranked high in my  likings, and I would certainly recommend spending at least a day visiting the caves and the Petronas if you don’t have time for more.

The travellers and the Petronas

Tags: Batu caves, chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Petronas, shopping

Category: East & SE Asia, Malaysia