What to do in KL.'Go & get lost', is my advice when people ask me what to do in KL, Malaysia's capital city. The best way to discover a place is to get lost in it. And no matter how many times lve been here, l still manage to get lost while trying to find a short-cut to Chinatown or my favourite lndian restaurant. But then l usually end up discovering my new favoutite restaurant or a great shopping bargain. Kuala Lumpur is a great city for walking, talking, smelling, feeling, tasting & soaking it up. The city has a balanced mix of markets & malls. Chinatown is the icon market & is best seen at night when the red lanterns are lit above the over-crowded Petaling Street. lm greeted by some of the hawkers who recognize my return & jokingly try to sell me something at 10 times its price. l feel like a 'local'. Mammoth shopping malls make the city a shopping mecca. There's nothing you cant buy in Kuala Lumpur & at irrisistable prices. There is even a roller-coaster inside the Times Square mall. And the mall's air-conditioning offers respite from the afternoon heat. There seems to be only one season in KL, hot & wet. No matter what time of year l come here, it's always sweltering & always raining.
Kuala Lumpur was established in the late 1800's and its modern skyline is dominated by the Petronas Towers, the largest twin towers in the world. The french spiderman, Robert Alain scaled the towers on his third attempt. He stood on the ball at the very top & l shudder whenever l look at them. Spectacular at night, they demand your attention at every opportunity. Malaysians have good reason to feel proud of their icon.
Buddhist & Hindu temples, mosques & churches are dotted throughout the city and there always seems to be a colourful festival on. Exotic & modern has melded as comfortably as has the multi cultures. KL is made up of several districts. Tourists mostly flock to Chinatown, Little lndia & Bukit Bintang and reliable transport connects the whole city. There are city tours and a 'Hop on & off' bus but the traffic is frustratingly congested. When it rains it grid locks. My favourite way to discover a city is to walk it & get lost. One hint though, make sure you have the address or card from the place you are staying. Most people speak very good English and are happy to help & give directions. They are proud of their capital city and want you to enjoy it as well. KL is easy. It's easy to get lost but are ever really lost when you're discovering?
www.shakespearestravels.com
No comments:
Post a Comment