Kuala Lumpur is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Asia. I particularly enjoy the fusion or mixture of cultures and traditions in food, lifestyle, architecture, and basically everything around the city. We started our Malaysian adventure on Langkawi Island and then travelled down to Melaka and, lastly, to Kuala Lumpur before heading back to Manila. It’s a great itinerary because we could experience the island life, culture, and city life.
We took a bus to Kuala Lumpur from Melaka Central Bus Terminal, which only takes around 2 hours. It was a comfy bus as always, and we could catch some rest before we start our KL adventure.
Here is a tip!
WiFi is excellent everywhere! So, make sure to install a train map of KL. Their railway system is excellent, and you won’t have any problems going around. So aside from walking, most of the places we visited were done using the train. Plan where you go and find out the train stations were to hop on and hop off!
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur?
Pacific Regency Hotel Suites is one of the closest and maybe affordable places to stay near the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers. With only 10 – 20 minutes’ walk, you can already stand proud in one of the most iconic structures in the World.
Booking online was so easy, and we never had a problem. We only booked for the room and not breakfast. There are so many restaurants around the area, so we did not opt for the hotel breakfast. Upon checking our room, I was shocked at how big and luxurious it was. It was so spacious and elegant! I couldn’t say anything wrong with our room except that we did not have a nice view from our windows because there was a building next to it. But we were out most of the time, so it didn’t really matter much. Oh, the bathroom! Goodness! It was big, and I loved soaking in the tub after a whole day adventure.
Things to do around Kuala Lumpur
So during our 3-day visit around Kuala Lumpur, I’d like to share with you the places we visited. Again, most of these places are with distance by walking or the train. We wanted to make our trip simple and not too lavish. It was actually fun, and I am sure you can all do the same.
Visit Traders Hotel at Night
When you landed in KL, everyone would like to have a glimpse of the KL Twin Towers. It was amazing in the day time. It is also more amazing during night time with all the night lights. One of the best places to see KL Twin Towers at night is at the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel.
You can enjoy a cocktail while looking over the city lights. We wanted to have drinks, but all the tables were full. So make sure to call them and make a reservation. You will enjoy the music and the ambiance. Of course, the view was spectacular and it was free!
Petronas Twin Towers
Consider being the Tallest Twin Tower building in the world. Petronas Twin Towers should be the first place you must visit when arriving in Kuala Lumpur. You can walk through the park to get a better photo or walk towards the back to get another building perspective. There is a huge shopping mall so you can shop and dine. Plus, if you have enough budget, you can go on a tour to walk on the sky bridge connecting two buildings.
I like that there are plenty of benches around Petronas Twin Towers. You can sit and stare at the building. It can be overwhelming, especially for tourists. And you can feel that the Malaysians are very proud of it! Who wouldn’t be! It’s a nation’s pride!
Batu Caves
One of the most Instagram worthy places to visit in KL is a few minutes train ride to Batu Caves. One of the most famous and visited Hindu Shrines. So many tourists come here because of its colorful structure and the very tall and golden Deity statue of Lord Murugan. In fact, this is the tallest Hindu of Lord Murugan in the world! Do be careful of the many monkeys that inhabit the steps leading to the caves as well as the caves themselves. They behave as though they own the place and have become a tourist attraction in their own right. They are perfectly safe if you do not tease them.
As a lover of history, culture, and religions, this is one place I had to visit. The ticket is not expensive to get in. And once you are inside, you will be in a different world. You will meet a mixture of tourists and devotees. It’s packed with tourists, so it’s better to come very early if you want to avoid the crowds. We were told that shorts are not allowed, but when we got there, so many people were wearing shorts, so I guess they now accept it.
But what a beautiful place! Make sure to bring water with you because the walk-up the lengthy colourful stairs could be tough for some. Take some time to rest in between. Be calm, and absorb everything! And don’t forget to take lots of photos.
Masjid Jamek Mosque
Muslims are one of the most prominent religions in Malaysia. You can see it and feel it in their culture. Designed by a British Architect back in the early 1900s, this is one of the oldest and most famous mosques to visit in Kuala Lumpur; Masjid Jamek is the place to be! Even if you are not a Muslim, you can walk inside and have a tour of the Mosque. You can also walk around the area to get a better view as it stands between two rivers.
Merdeka Square
The Merdeka Square or Independence Square is a few meters away from the Masjid Jamek Mosque. This place is known for its 95-meter high flag pole, considered the tallest in Malaysia’s whole country. Next to Merdeka Square, you will find this beautiful Sultan Abdul Building built in the 1890s. Yes, it was old, but from an architectural point of view, it was amazing!
To give you a little more information, it was at Merdeka Square, where Malaysia declared its Independence from the British in August 31st, 1957. This is the reason why called Independence Square.
Central Market Kuala Lumpur
On your last day in Kuala Lumpur, what better way to spend it but to do your last minute shopping. And one of the best places to do that is in the Central Market. This is one of the busiest places for shopping simply because you will find really good deals and items here.
After our trip from Independence Square/ Merdeka Square, we walked all the to the Central Market. We thought it was far, but it wasn’t. The weather was good, and after a few minutes of walking, we reached the Central Market. What I like about it here is that it’s indoor and airconditioned. Besides the shops, you will also find many restaurants where you can chill and have some meals.
We didn’t buy much as we were really watching our expenses, but we got some good stuff that we brought back home to the Philippines.
Little India
As we did in Melaka, we visited Little India in Kuala Lumpur, and it was big. But as always, the main reason why we decided to go there was for spices! And it didn’t disappoint. We went to one grocery store there, and there were loads of varieties of curry powder. In the end, we ended buying so much that it filled half of our suitcase. It was a good buy, and we were delighted with it!
While we were in Malaysia, we found out that there was a virus going on that soon led to a pandemic. We were fortunate that we got to travel first and explore the wonders of Malaysia! We really enjoyed everything exploring Langkawi, Melaka, and Kuala Lumpur. We wanted to visit more places, but we had limited time. Thank you, Malaysia, for letting us explore and experience your country! We had a great time, and we hope to see you again!
