| Cheap, affordable package deals are always readily | | | | shopping complex with over 300 shops, an amazingly |
| available for a short trip to Kuala Lumpur (KL), and I've | | | | large lagoon, an Extreme park, Zoo, archery range, |
| already made several trips there, my highest record | | | | bowling alley and a water theme park. Alongside the |
| being thrice in a year. | | | | shopping mall and the resort is a first-class hotel. |
| Both Singapore and KL are very similar, in terms of the | | | | Several restaurants offer excellent cuisine as well. It's |
| booming economy and skyscrapers dominating the | | | | self sufficient, and indeed a well-worth trip to make. |
| city area. But there are a few places still worth a visit | | | | Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque |
| here in Malaysia's capital city, albeit a little touristy. | | | | In Shah Alam (about 45 minutes from KL) lies one of |
| Petronas Twin Towers | | | | the largest mosques in South-east Asia, the Sultan |
| First and foremost is the Petronas Twin Towers, | | | | Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque (In Malay: Masjid |
| which was once the tallest building in the world, until | | | | Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz). This impressive building |
| Taiwan came up with their own 1O1, and now Dubai | | | | is often nicknamed the "Blue Mosque", for its blue |
| also in the picture with their still-under-construction | | | | aluminum dome covered with verses from the Quran. |
| tower building. Here, long queues are always forming | | | | It is huge and magnificent, and surrounded by the great |
| from 8.30am onwards for the free passes up the | | | | lake of Shah Alam in the center of Shah Alam town. It |
| tower viewing gallery. But be warned that they would | | | | incorporates modern architectural style with Malay |
| only issue around 800 free passes per day for the | | | | architecture in its design. |
| guided tour, so make sure to reach there early. The | | | | Batu Caves |
| guided tour will take visitors all the way up to the sky | | | | About 13 km north of KL is the Batu Caves, a place of |
| bridge on the 41st floor. | | | | worship for the Hindus. Large and imposing, it consists |
| I was there early queuing in the morning but the timing | | | | of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. |
| for my guided tour was scheduled in the afternoon | | | | The caves are made of limestone and discovered in |
| due to the high demand for the free passes. So a | | | | 1892. You've got to climb up a long fairly steep flight of |
| good way would be to shop at the mega Suria KLCC | | | | stairs to enter the caves. A comfortable pair of shoes |
| shopping mall just next to it while waiting for your | | | | will work wonders. The surreal carvings and paintings |
| scheduled timing up the tower. You can pay a visit to | | | | on the walls of the caves will impart a sense of |
| the Petrosains over there, a discovery centre about | | | | spiritual feel to all who enters. |
| petroleum manufacturing. At Petrosains, visitors will | | | | Merdeka Square, Central Market and Chinatown |
| start with a ride in the dark which covers details on oil | | | | Back to KL city centre, the Merdeka Square houses |
| manufacture and the science of it. | | | | the tallest flagpole and has an ancient fountain. It is |
| At a dizzying height of 458 meters, Petronas Twin | | | | always crowded with tourists and a visit at night would |
| Towers, a pair of 88-storey buildings, is the best place | | | | be much cooler. The Merdeka Square is between the |
| to take in the view of Kuala Lumpur. There is also the | | | | majestic Court House and the Selangor Club. The |
| Philharmonic Theater, which surrounds one with | | | | Central Market and Chinatown are also a mere 10 |
| wonderful music from the Malaysian Philharmonic | | | | minutes walk away. Chinatown, also known as Petaling |
| Orchestra. | | | | Street is one of Kuala Lumpur's most popular tourist |
| Menara Kuala Lumpur | | | | destinations. In the evenings, a beehive of stalls comes |
| Another icon representative of KL is the Kuala Lumpur | | | | alive on the streets. |
| Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur). Located on a hill called | | | | You can easily find a large variety of food ranging |
| Bukit Nanas, this tower has an observatory platform | | | | from roadside stalls to restaurants in Chinatown, |
| which is easily accessible by high speed lifts. Taking | | | | offering plentiful choices from dumpling noodles, claypot |
| the lifts up clocks less than a minute, and the view | | | | chicken rice, bbq chicken wing, seafood to steamboat |
| from the observatory tower is spectacular. You can | | | | and more. Though it might get a little difficult to move |
| get a bird's eye view of the Twin Tower and other | | | | around due to the crowds, the historical shop houses |
| magnificent buildings nearby. There's also a very cosy, | | | | add to the ambience. This is also the place to get |
| revolving restaurant at the top of the tower, offering | | | | cheap t-shirts, souvenirs and almost any other things, |
| excellent buffet and great service for a reasonable | | | | but prices haven risen considerably in recent years |
| price. Live music, excellent food, splendid views of the | | | | due to the tourism effect. Bargaining is highly |
| city, this is the place to be in. You might even be able | | | | recommended. |
| to see Genting Highlands on a fine day! | | | | Hotels are considered cheap in this modern city, and |
| Sunway Lagoon | | | | good hotel deals can be found almost any time of the |
| Sunway Lagoon is probably one the best integrated | | | | year. A holiday trip to this city can be a wonderful |
| resorts in Malaysia. Within the holiday resort itself is a | | | | experience, not mentioning easy on the pockets. |