It's good to be back home in SG after the recent festivity. We spent the Chinese New Year vacation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was a nice experience to say the least exploring the capital city of the country that's well known for that genuine Asian claim - "Truly Asia". 4 days were actually not enough to explore this throbbing yet still a bit calm, distinctively historical yet fast growing metropolitan.
KL is not very far from Singapore. The usual options to go there is either to travel by land or air. If time is too limited for travel, the 50-minute plane ride is the right choice. For the more budget friendly route, a 5-hour bus ride is also not so bad to take. For the later option, Aeroline is your best bet especially the double decker one. It's very spacious, travels on-time, service is good and the basic necessities (like toilet, individual entertainment screen, reclining seat) are all on board to comfort you during the long travel. It actually felt like riding a plane on the road. I won't have any second thoughts taking it again the next time.
Apart from the popular Genting Highlands, there are so much more to see, enjoy and experience around the city of Kuala Lumpur. These are just some of my top picks..
1. Petaling Street (China Town) and Bukit Bintang - definitely the shopping districts to be! Petaling Street is home to a wide array of goods. Leather items, clothings, accessories, and other bric a bracs can be found here. If you don't mind buying fake brands at very affordable prices, this must be the place for you. However, if you prefer adding more value to your money's worth, Bukit Bintang is just nearby. It's a shopping strip that houses upscale shopping centres (e.g. Pavilion, Lot 10), bars and cafes. The ambiance here is tourist friendly.
2. Batu Cave - Situated approximately 20 to 30 minutes by cab from the town proper of KL, Batu Cave is another favourite tourist destination. It's a limestone hill with caves to explore. Be armed with a strong endurance though if you plan to visit the place as the climb to the hundreds of steps can be quite challenging. Be watchful of monkeys as well that are lurking around the stairs.
3. KLCC (Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre) - This is perhaps the most popular place in KL as this is where the Malaysian icon - Petronas Twin Towers is located. Just like any other skyline, it's best to view the towers in the afternoon to early evening. When my eyes laid on it, I had the same feeling of absolute awe just like when I first saw Taiwan's Taipei 101. The towers are simply beyond amazing! At the back of the tower, there's a Lake Garden for a nice leisure walk. At the lower level, there's the upscale shopping centre - Suria KLCC. Popular designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Tods and Chanel among others are all housed here. I was surprised that the price of Chanel bags are much cheaper here compared in Singapore (at least for the large shopping tote).
4. Sunway Lagoon - Touted as Asia's best attraction for 4 consecutive years since 2007, now I know why this destination earned such recognition. This place is definitely packed with adventure, fun and excitement. There are a total of 5 parks to enjoy - Wild Life Park, Amusement Park, Water Park, Scream Park and Extreme Park. Exciting activities such as bungy jumping, go cart, atv ride, swimming, surfing, paintball shooting, vertical wall climbing, kayaking, flying fox and many more await all visitors. To simply put, there's almost nothing to ask for more. Undoubtedly, this is one of the largest and busiest theme parks and perhaps, even one of the best family destinations I've seen so far in Asia. In fact, a day is not enough to enjoy all the attractions inside. It would be best to come early or yet stay in the nearby Sunway Pyramid Hotel.
5. Other recommended sights by the locals - KL Tower, Parliament House, Bird Park, National Mosque
Generally, KL is truly one of the fastest growing global cities in Asia. However, it's not yet as vibrant as Bangkok nor Hongkong, but there is something in its culture and ambiance that entice you to know it more. It's a blend of a preserved heritage and a promise of an economic advancement. Talk about having a sample of both worlds, that's what KL is all about.