Right now, flights are cheap as chips from Aus to South East Asia-so why not go!
This was exactly my train of thought when I managed to snag an amazing $900 deal for a week in the Hilton in central KL with return flights and insurance in peak season!
But wait…
I had just booked myself a week in Kuala Lumpur-I hardly knew where Kuala Lumpur was, let alone what there was to do there. And so began hours of internet searching about anything and everything. From, what is the best market to visit to can you flush the toilet paper, went through my search engines.
So obviously, being one of the major hubs in Asia, there was huge amounts of information online about every single little thing to do in KL, each activity being more exciting than the last! And, of course, I ran around the city like a headless chicken for a week trying to see everything and anything I could!
Now, this wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t 38 degrees with 80% humidity. I literally had to sleep for 12 hours each night because of how exhausted I was due to the heat!
So as always, my mistakes lead me to advice, which I feel is required to be shared. Here is my Top 5 Things you need to see when you are in Kuala Lumpur!
1. Batu Caves
The Batu Caves were high on my list to visit when we went to KL, we even had an entire day devoted to getting out there, exploring and returning to the city (Because Kathryn gets lost often). The Batu Caves are a traditional series of temples built inside caves on the outskirts of the city of Kuala Lumpur. When you walk up the demanding 272 steps you find yourself in a large open cave with spectacular views of the city and numerous temples and alters within the cave itself. For more tips on visiting the Batu Caves go to the “How To: Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur”.
2. Petaling Street Market +Chinatown
If you have never been to an Asian marketplace before, be ready for Petaling Street to take you on the ride of your life! Petaling Street Market is in the middle of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. The first thing that will hit you about this market is: the smell. There’s just something about cramming a bazillion stalls into a small space that generates its own odor that you will never forget! Not only will you be harassed by stall holders left, right and centre, you will also see some of the raw culture of Chinatown and some alternative food preparations! The vibe in this market is unforgettable and definitely screams of traditional marketplace. And if you want knock-offs, this is the place to get them! If you’re looking for local handicrafts, well, that’s a bit harder to find in the city of Kuala Lumpur and you may have to go a little outside of the city to find these.
3. Patronas Towers
Disclaimer: The towers are always spectacular, but do plan to visit them at night! Originally we went during the day and they are beautiful architecture-day or night, HOWEVER it lights up and gets pretty at night time! I feel as though these don’t need much of an explanation, but definitely make these a go to on your next trip to Kuala Lumpur!
4. Little India
I’m not sure if it is because India is one of my favourite places I have been thus far, or because this place was just so special and authentic-but Little India was an amazing experience! About a 500m walk from KL Sentral Station, there is a street which is known as Little India. This street lives and breathes the Indian lifestyle and literally transported me back to all of those amazing memories from South India. Part of KL’s charm is its cultural-melting-pot nature and so these little gems of authenticity are really special when you find them!
5. Botanical Gardens
In the centre of Kuala Lumpur, probably a 750m walk from KL Sentral station is an amazing spread of Botanical Gardens. When you enter the gardens there is a feeling of peace, serenity and relaxation and I found it so pleasant to escape from the craziness of Kuala Lumpur City Life! Spending a few hours here one afternoon, lazily walking around the gardens and knowing that I still wasn’t too far from transport to get back to my hotel was ideal and let me really relax and feel like I was on holidays.
Happy Travels!
Chat with me!
Have you been to KL? What was your highlight?
