We were just blown away with Kuala Lumpur within minutes of landing at the international airport. Not knowing much about the city, we only allocated two days as a stop-over on our way from Canada to see our daughter in New Zealand. We regret not having done more homework as we really should have allocated more time.
First impressions count and we were very impressed with the airport and that we were in a taxi heading to our downtown hotel within minutes of landing. The drive into the city passed through lots of green landscape and everything seemed so modern; nothing like we had expected. The streets were all landscaped with colourful flowers that looked so neat.
It just kept getting better when we arrived at The Westin Kuala Lumpur. Smiling and friendly staff whisked us from the taxi to reception and to our room within a few seconds. They all looked genuinely happy to greet us and every time we went in and out of the hotel, the smiles kept flowing. Jack chose a suite as it was our wedding anniversary and these rooms have to be seen to be believed. While very contemporary, they are also extremely functional and big enough for us to entertain should we have wanted to.
The room was so good that neither of us wanted to leave but we were on a mission to explore the city in a very short time. Our airport taxi driver offered to take us around for the two days and then to return us safely to the airport for our onward flight. He proved to be a great source of local knowledge and along with our guidebook we worked out a schedule for a very competitive price.
He suggested going first to the top of the 421-metre high Kuala Lumpur Tower for an aerial view of the city. This was very impressive with first class, informative materials. We received a headset each to explain to us in English the city's features. The headsets were available in a variety of languages. The view is dominated by the Petronas Twin Towers which rises above its parkland setting beyond our vantage point.
At the base of the tower is a rainforest reserve which could have been here for millions of years. Some of the trees were very tall and probably hundreds of years old. We were both amazed that the forest remains as the city expands on its perimetre. Both of us walked some trails here to build up an appetite for lunch.
Food was one of the main reasons we visited Kuala Lumpur as we had heard so much about the variety. We tried all the main styles in the city - Malay, Chinese, Indian and international. The hotel recommended their dim sum Chinese lunch so we returned ... we returned to eat in Eest Restaurant in the Westin, which has this amazing pan-Asian concept. Very trendy with some great dim sum. to eat in Eest Restaurant in the Westin, which has this amazing pan-Asian concept. Very trendy with some great dim sum.
Another thing about the city that impressed us was its multiculturalism, which is evident in the clothes that the people wear, the food they eat and the architecture of the buildings. In and around Merdeka Square In and around Merdeka Square we saw an old Tudor-styled building, Moorish domes, modern skyscrapers, old Chinese shoplots, mosques and Indian temples. It was all fascinating.we saw an old Tudor-styled building, Moorish domes, modern skyscrapers, old Chinese shoplots, mosques and Indian temples. It was all fascinating.
We'd been told the best Malay food was found in hawker stalls but that there was a contemporary Malay restaurant in Jalan Ceylon in an inner city area full of trendy restaurants. The food was delicious and spicy just the way we like it.
Perhaps the most famous landmark in the city is the Petronas Twin Towers, once the world's tallest building The shopping was very competitive and there was an extensive range of international designer labels available. but now the locals will tell you proudly they are the world's tallest twin towers. We had heard about the great shopping in Suria KLCC at the bottom of the towers but didn't realise there are extensive gardens, playgrounds and a big pool next to the two buildings. It was great to see the locals using all these spaces too.
Just a few minutes walk away in the recently completed Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is the Aquaria with its walk-through tunnel where we came within centimetres of giant sharks, rays and schools of colourful fish.
We also found the Bintang Walk near our hotel to be just as lively with an extensive array of shops, restaurants and bars. This differs from Suria KLCC in that much of it is in the open air although there are some large shopping malls like Lot 10 and Starhill.
Here all the hawker stalls are in the open and line both sides of the street.Within walking distance of this is one of Kuala Lumpur's great food streets, Jalan Alor. Here all the hawker stalls are in the open and line both sides of the street. We wondered what happened when it rained. Maybe people just got wet because the food looked so delicious and all available at ridiculously low prices.
From here we walked to Changkat Bukit Bintang a street lined with new restaurants and bars. Apparently this street has recently become the city's trendiest place for diners and drinkers. There's German, Brazilian, Japanese, Italian and French restaurants and bars mixed in with some local establishments. We found Little Havana had a shaded courtyard for a refreshing drink at the end of a long day. Immediately opposite we ate in Le Bouchon which serves traditional home-styled French cuisine that was as authentic as if we were dining in Brittany.
The meal was a fitting end to a whirlwind two-day stopover in Kuala Lumpur. Next time we will bring empty suitcases and allocate more time to explore all the other places we missed in both Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.
For me though, it is the relaxed way that everyone seems to conduct themselves in this part of Malaysia that really impresses. ... Little Havana had a shaded courtyard for a refreshing drink at the end of a long day. Immediately opposite we ate in Le Bouchon which serves traditional home-styled French cuisine that was as authentic as if we were dining in Brittany. The town itself feels safe and clean and maybe because it is not part of the established tour circuit, gently rewards anyone who bothers to scratch the surface. Yielding a certain sort of charm and an effortless introduction to what Malaysia in all of its diversities has to offer. Only three hours car journey from the heart of the capital Kuala Lumpur, there was something truly liberating about the short breaks on offer here. Heartily recommended.
The meal was a fitting end to a whirlwind two-day stopover in Kuala Lumpur. Next time we will bring empty suitcases and allocate more time to explore all the other places we missed in both Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.
