Global Staci

I’m always game to visit a new place, and I’d never been to Malaysia. On my way to Indonesia, I decided to book my roundtrip airfare to/from the USA through Kuala Lumpur, aka KL. Most cities are easy to explore for a few days, and that’s exactly what my friend and I did, with very little pre-planned. If you have a few extra days, it’s a nice strategy to begin to get over the jet lag induced by crossing 12 time zones.

[PRO TIP: Malaysia is always hot, with average temperatures in the city hovering around 90 degrees F year-round. I visited in July, which is a good time because there is little rainfall. Still, the heat takes the starch right outta me! If you are the same be prepared to sweat. The good news is, most hotels have swimming pools, and many buildings are air-conditioned. Still, prepare for hot sun and heat.]

One of the most interesting things I learned was that Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy, and as such the King is head of state, while the Prime Minister is head of the government. The Federation is composed of the 11 States of Malaya, the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak and three Federal Territories. Malaysian kings are chosen by the nine sultans of the states of the Malaysian Peninsula and serve a five-year term.

Day 1 | Arrival & Aviary

My flight arrived early morning and I had no trouble getting through immigration and customs, then hopping in a taxi to check into the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection, [5 Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur, MY 50000]. My friend had arrived the night before, so I had no trouble getting to my room that morning. The hotel is quite luxurious, and not my typical small, boutique hotel. But we chose it because it was well positioned within the city, walking distance from some of the things we wanted to see, making the most of our short time.

[PRO TIP: You’ll need to electronically complete a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card no more than three days prior to your arrival in Malaysia. You may be asked to present this card upon your arrival in country, as such I recommend taking a screenshot of the complete card for easy reference.]

After a leisurely buffet style lunch at the hotel, we walked to Kuala Lumpur Bird Park. As a relatively new birder, I was thrilled to be able to see so many birds at once. Nearly 30 acres, this public aviary is one of the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary. Home to more than 3,000 birds, representing over 200 species, the park is well laid out, with paved paths linking all the attractions. Almost all the birds are free to wander where they will. Purchase tickets at the park. You can also enjoy a cafe and souvenir shop inside.

Day 2 | Practicing the Art of Flânerie

Roaming, strolling, exploring and observing the urban environment. That was our agenda today. Sometimes, if you are a bit travel weary, getting outside and walking, albeit in the hot, sun is the best way to help your body clock get acclimated to your new time zone.

[PRO TIP: In many of the countries in Asia I’ve visited, the convenience store 7-11 is a popular stop for everything from ice for cold drinks to hot and cold lunch foods to household supplies. It’s also a place people may stop to hang out and get a break from the extreme heat!]

A short walk from our hotel, we visited the National Textile Museum. Both fashion lovers, we enjoyed learning about the country through the clothing and adornments of its people. There are many ethnic tribes in Malaysia, and they all have unique customary clothing. We simply purchased our tickets upon arrival and were close to being the only visitors. Check the website for hours.

Next, we headed toward the Jamek Mosque which sits on what is known as the River of Life. Located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, this urban revitalization project launched in 2017, in an attempt to make the once busy trading settlement into a waterfront destination. Development continues, offering pedestrians leisure activities among daily life of the city’s residents.

The Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad occupies the triangular space were the rivers meet. We were thinking of visiting but just missed the hours.

Day 3 | Batu Caves & City Tour

We’d set up a private tour with a driver-guide today. There were a few sites we wanted to see that required transportation and the best way to do it in a day was to hire a driver who also could serve as a tour guide.

[PRO TIP: If your time is limited this can be a great way to do what you want without having the hassle of figuring out how to use public transportation if it’s available. In many countries, the rideshare drivers—in Asia the preferred app is Grab—are also for hire. In KL we found that nearly every time we got into a car, we were asked about how long we were staying and where we’d been. If you find a driver you like, ask them how much it would cost to pre-arrange to take you where you want to go.]

Our driver picked us up at the hotel in the morning and we set out on our city tour. First stop: the Batu Caves. One of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India, the Batu Caves are located in Gombak just outside Kuala Lumpur. You need to climb the 270 steps to the top to enter the natural limestone caves which house several temples. The caves are said to be over 400 million years old, but the temples inside were built in the late 19th century. Worshippers and tourists alike can marvel at the natural formations as well as buy an offering, a cold drink or a souvenir before descending.

Of course we had to see the famous Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. Built in just six years, the double-decker bridge connecting the two towers on the 41^st and 42^nd floors is the highest two-story bridge in the world. Regrettably we didn’t consider buying tickets online ahead of time to go inside and ride to the top of the observation deck, but we got to see them all the same.

Next, we stopped to see the Istana Negara Malaysia, official residence of the King of Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The lavish palace compound covers around 50,000-meter square area and is favorite among tourists, although you cannot go inside. Our visit to the palace coincided with the Kings exit, so we waited for his motorcade, although we didn’t catch a glimpse!

For lunch we popped into Central Market, locally known as Pasar Seni, on the way to our last stop of the day, Chinatown. Established in 1888 initially as a wet market, is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. The covered market hall now features over 350 shops, two food halls with Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine, a batik emporium and an annex with local artist studios. Some of the shops sell the same things you’ll see for sale all over the city and in many countries: body products, home goods, paper products, arts and crafts, many of which are not that inspiring. If you are a shopper, not necessarily a buyer, you’ll most likely enjoy the hunt.

We finished our whirlwind tour walking the main drag of KL’s bustling Chinatown, Petaling Street. I have never seen so many fakes for sale anywhere in my life. If you’re looking for the perfect knock-off, or several, you might find them here.

Day 4 | One Last Museum Before Departure

We spent the morning at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, a short walk from our hotel. We bought our tickets upon arrival, and explored at our leisure. There are many beautiful artifacts on display representing over a thousand years of history. One of the most interesting galleries is the Architecture Gallery and its display of some of the world’s most famous mosques in miniature. Other galleries showcase excellence in Islamic craftsmanship in Arms & Armor, Jewelry, Textiles, Woodwork, Coins & Seals, Metalwork and Ceramics from the Ottomans, Persians, Spanish, Indians, across the Malay world and Central Asia.

Time to collect our bags and head to the airport for our short flight to Yogyakarta to see a few sites before meeting our Habitat for Humanity Global Village Team from Australia to build a house with a family in need in Indonesia!