Kuala Lumpur (KL), the glittering, bustling, dizzying capital of Malaysia, is a feast for the senses. An early sign of this for travellers is at Kuala Lumpur International, where flights to KL land. This major hub is ultra modern but has a section of transplanted rain forest in its satellite building.
The city's architecture is a mix of old colonial buildings, Asian, Malay Islamic and modern of which the most sky scraping is the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world. To enjoy the view from the Skybridge on the 41st floor (at 170m) free, snap up one of the 1,300 timed tickets given out each day. The KL Tower offers fantastic views too, from 276m above ground level.
Down on the ground, KL is a mecca for shoppers. The Bukit Bintang area is where most shoppers go. Souvenir hunters head for Central Market, a great starting point for a wander through Chinatown (its heart is Petaling Street, home to bustling night markets) and Little India, a jumble of stalls selling brightly coloured saris and food stands offering Indian snacks.
For a brief respite from the city, Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana) is green and verdant with resident monkeys.
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KL’s equatorial climate is hot and humid throughout the year with lots of rain. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 30s (Celsius) and nights in the 20s. The relative humidity averages 90 per cent. Although rain is common, it is usually in the form of a quick shower. The exception is the monsoon season, from November through February, with torrential downpours and strong winds along the east coast of Malaysia. June and July usually have the least amount of rain.
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Peak Season:
Malaysians crowd the city during school holidays in early April, early August, and mid-November to early January. The hotels will be full, so book your reservations well in advance.
Off Season:
With its year-round, uniform climate, KL does not have an off season. The closest you can get to a low season are the holiday weekends when many city dwellers head for the beaches.
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The Express Rail Link train provides the fast transportation to the city centre. The KLIA Express and the KLIA Transit links the airport to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral - City Air Terminal) and vice-versa. At the City Air Terminal departing passengers have the option of checking-in their luggage, receive their boarding passes and proceed to board the train for the airport. Immigration clearance will be completed there. Travel time between KL Sentral to the airport is 28 minutes on the KLIA Express and 37 minutes on the KLIA Transit. Taxis are also available; they should be paid for in advance at the ticket counter in the arrivals hall. Many hotels can arrange for a car to pick up guests, though this is generally more expensive than taking a taxi.
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The heat and humidity can make walking around Kuala Lumpur (KL) seem arduous and the sights farther apart than you thought. The traffic is such that even crossing a street can be a hair-raising experience; when you are walking, join a group of pedestrians and cross with them.
KL’s public transport is fast and easy to learn. Most visitors use the monorail and light rail. The KL Monorail serves the main shopping and hotel districts, and the Putra LRT serves Chinatown.
There is an abundance of taxis, except during rush hour or when it is raining. You can hail taxis, pick them up at stands, or call them, although calling imposes a surcharge. Before you set off, make sure that the driver understands where you want to go and how to get there and that the meter will be used. There is a surcharge for late night and early morning trips. You can also hire a cab for an hour or more.
Driving in KL is not recommended. The streets cannot support the amount of vehicle traffic going through the city, and traffic jams are typical during rush hour.
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- Petronas Towers isn’t just a destination for sightseeing during the day. From dusk until 10pm the Towers are lit up and the fountain at the bottom reflects the lights of the buildings around. It’s extremely popular with families and romantic couples…
- Batu Caves is easily reached from KL. The limestone caves are filled with statues to Hindu deities, as well as five temples. Climb 272 steps to reach the largest cave. If the effort is too much, take frequent pauses along the way to play with the many monkeys.
- For shopping or just people-watching, head to Central Market. The market is housed in a splendid refurbished building and you can buy any type of souvenir here, especially arts and crafts. There are also restaurants and an English pub on the ground floor. Take a seat and you’re sure to catch some sort of performance – from a cultural offering on the open air stage, to watching the portrait artists at work…
- You can readily eat a variety of different cuisines in KL. Most popular is Malay, Chinese and Indian. Malay specialities include satay (skewered, barbecued meat), noodles and rice. Much of the food is cooked with lemon grass or kaffir lime leaves.
- There are lots of gardens and parks within the city, for a walk on a sunny day. Try the butterfly park, orchid garden, Kuala Lumpur bird park, hibiscus garden, deer park or the Asean sculpture garden.
- KL was the starting point for the Hash House Harriers, “The Drinking Club with a Running Problem”. Started in the city in 1938 by British colonials who were concerned about their weight, hash harrying still takes place today. It is similar to a fun run; competitors race through the jungle chasing a series of markers.
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