Travel Eye on Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

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Overview:

Kuala Lumpur is the bustling capital city of Malaysia and its showpiece of prosperity and grandeur. Kuala Lumpur means 'muddy estuary', a name coined by the original tin prospectors who arrived at the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers in 1860. Kuala Lumpur has progressed considerably since then as can be witnessed in the reflections of the glittering skyscrapers elegantly rising between the well-preserved colonial buildings of yesteryear.

In Kuala Lumpur, one minute you will be skimming across town on the new monorail with the Petronas Towers, the world's tallest building, soaring confidently into the heavens above, and the next you are dumped at street level amongst the aromatic orgy of hawker stands and the unwelcome reality of nightmare traffic. This is all a far cry from the city's low-key origins.

There is a broad spectrum of international tourists and corporate and diplomatic visitors. This is Malaysia's most sophisticated city, with a wealth of entertainments and services to suit most tastes, though not another Bangkok!

A wide range of accommodation offers fine, first-class yet affordable city-centre high-rises, tourist hotels, serviced apartments and budget hostels catering for all pockets. Most of the principal city-centre properties have state-of-the-art convention and business facilities in addition to leisure amenities. The location is an important consideration, as traffic is bad and sights are spread out, so check before booking.

Locality:

Kuala Lumpur is about two-thirds of the way down Malaysia's mainland peninsula, 20 miles in from the west coast (Approximately 250 mls NW of Singapore and 240 mls S of Penang. 44 mls from Kuala Lumpur International Airport; 17 mls from Subang Airport). Kuala Lumpar is positioned astride two rivers, which helped to give the city its name. To the north east lie the Genting Highlands, covered with jungle and tea plantations.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

With so many different cultures mixing together, the nightlife is anything but dull in Kuala Lumpur. Although Malaysia is a Muslim country, alcohol is freely available in the capital and the nightlife is one of the liveliest in Asia. Strict government controls close many bars by 0100, although some clubs stay open later. The legal drinking age in Kuala Lumpur is 21 years. The average price for a bottle of beer is around RM10-14.

Traditional nightlife for many locals still involves a visit to a bustling pasar malam (night market), where the focus is as much on socialising and people watching as it is on shopping, savouring the excellent hawker food and quaffing ice-cold beer. There are plenty of bars, karaoke lounges, a few sophisticated nightclubs and discos. Many of the larger hotels provide their own facilities.

The day time offers all manner of attractions, including the National Museum, King's residence (Istana Negara) and Merdeka Square . Various interesting self-guided Heritage Trails. City tours. Petronas Twin Towers for views from the sky bridge. Lake Gardens for bird park, butterfly park, National Monument.
Nightlife: as lively and diverse as any major city. Evening cultural shows. Chinatown's busy night market.

Everything from familiar international fast food to teeming streets lined with Chinese, Indian, Malay, Thai and Japanese restaurants, coffee shops and roadside stalls. There are plenty of contemporary upmarket restaurants in hotels. Bintang Walk lined with pavement cafes and restaurants and part of Jalan P Ramlee has numerous bars and restaurants. Prices are good value.