Travelogue #04a – Kuala Lumpur (Part 1)

If I was asked by a potential tourist what to do and see in KL, I honestly won’t know what to say. I have lived in KL for the most of my life and maybe that’s why I take the city for granted and not see the beautiful things it can offer. So to redeem myself, I shall suggest a few interesting things to do and see when in KL and its surrounding areas.

• Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad (above picture) – a must in any brochure on KL, used to be he city’s main building for everything.
• Dataran Merdeka – a big lawn where they used to play cricket and rugby and where they gathered on the eve of 31 August 1957 (Merdeka) to lower the Union Jack and raise the Malayan flag. People continue to gather here on the eve of Merdeka every year since.
• Royal Selangor Club – opposite the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, separated by the above lawn, nice old building with lots of history
• KL Railway Station – previously the main station before KL Sentral
• KTM Headquarters – across the road from KL Railway Station
• Lake Gardens – KL oldest park, very crowded during weekend evenings and public holidays
• Titiwangsa Lake Gardens – the Eye on Malaysia ferries wheel was here
• Bird park at the KL Lake Gardens – apparently it is the world’s biggest aviary. Very Malaysian, always wanting to be the biggest, tallest …

• Orchid Park also somewhere near the Lake Gardens – you’ll only find orchids here.
• Butterfly Park at the KL Lake Gardens – for butterfly lovers
• Deer Park at the KL Lake Gardens – as the name suggests …
• National Monument (also in KL Lake Gardens) – statue of Malaysian soldiers defeating the communist terrorists.
• Parliament House – near KL Lake Gardens. I’m not sure if visitors are allowed in or how far in are they allowed.
• KL Hop on Hop off bus tour (like the one in London and Hong Kong) – ride a bus through the city’s traffic
• Kuala Lumpur Tower – telecommunication tower with a viewing deck, just like in Sydney and Toronto but nothing like in Paris.
• Petronas Twin Towers – once the world’s tallest building (see, I told you!) build on a former race course. The KLCC Park is next to the towers, with a jogging track and a public pool. Suria KLCC shopping mall houses most of the world’s glamorous brands.
• Central Market – once KL’s main wet market, this art deco building was turned into a cultural village in the mid 80’s. Handicrafts and souvenirs are abundant here.
• Petrosains Discovery Centre on level 4 Suria KLCC, a science adventure park for kids
• Aquaria KLCC, aquarium with lots of nice fish and sea life, kids will love it
• Masjid Negara (National Mosque) – built in the early 60s, behind KTM HQ
• Masjid Jame – KL’s main mosque pre Masjid Negara, on Jalan Tun Perak on the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, the site of the first landing in KL
• Zoo Negara, 8 miles from the city in the suburb of Ulu Kelang – national zoo
• Sunway Lagoon in Sunway, theme park and water park, for kids mostly
• Istana Budaya is the national theatre where plays are staged but if you are into theatre, good quality plays are also held at KLPAC in Sentul and TAC in Bangsar Shopping Centre.
• Batu Caves – Hindu temple in a cave, one has to walk up lots of steps to get to the cave
• Sri Mahamariamman Temple – KL’s oldest and richest Hindu temple, a short walk away from Chinatown’s Petaling Street
• Sze Ya Temple – KL’s oldest Taoist temple built by Yap Ah Loy, also in Chinatown
• St. Mary's Cathedral – next to Dataran Merdeka, the chief office of the Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia.
• Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve – a little jungle in the middle of the concrete jungle.

Fireflies in Kuala Selangor – take a boat ride in the early evening and marvel at the fireflies. Kuala Selangor is about 40kms west of KL and apparently the boat rides start at around 8pm.

Anyone wants a dip in the sea can go to Port Dickson (PD), about 110kms south of KL, the less crowded beaches are at Batu 4 near the Avillion Marina and Cape Rachado near the lighthouse.