Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

We had no idea what to expect of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Sometimes, the unexpected turns out to be so much more than one anticipates.
It’s a one-hour drive from the airport to the Trader’s Hotel in the city center, where spectacular high-rise buildings that rival those in Dubai flank the bustling boulevards.
What makes this city so charming is the river that snakes through it and the tropical flowers and greenery that thrive amongst the concrete and glass towers. It is said that 100,000 plants are added every year.

From our suite on the 28^th floor, we had a bird’s eye view of the Petronas Twin Towers,  the world’s tallest twin-towers linked by a double-decker skybridge on the 41^st and 42^nd floors. The towers command a view of a park carpeted in lush green grass, trees that provide refuge from the heat, a lake, and a swimming pool.

The covered Central Market bustles with a diversity of people going about their daily shopping, enjoying a meal at the smorgasbord of eateries, and browsing the enticing collection of eclectic stalls. It’s impossible to leave this market empty-handed. Not to be missed are the scrumptious mini cheese tarts, and fruits dipped in a six-tiered waterfall of melted chocolate.

Sultan Abdul Samuel Building – the landmark of Kuala Lumpur, overlooks Independence Square in the heart of the city.
The building was constructed in the 19th century and was initially the headquarters of the British administration. Ironically, it was also the site where Malaysia’s independence was declared in 1954. The architectural style is a combination of Indo-Saracenic, Mughal, and Moorish architecture. The façade is punctuated by hundreds of archways, an elegant clocktower, colonnades, and onion-shaped copper domes that shimmer in the sunlight. If you walk to the back of the Sultan Abdul building, you’ll get an up-close view of the clocktower reflected in a creatively designed shallow pool of water flanked by trees and greenery.

The central clocktower with reflections in the pool.

Opposite the Sultan Abdul Samuel building stands the British Royal Selangor Club, founded in 1884 as a club for high society. The club was hit by numerous floods from 1911 to 1926, and in December of 1970, the main section was destroyed by a fire. In 1978, the current club was constructed. It has been known since its creation for hosting sporting events from cricket to rugby, hockey, and football. Legend has it that “hash running” was introduced in the early 20^th century. Members challenged one another to run to work after drinking the night before to rid themselves of their hangovers.

The Klang River meanders through the city beneath the skyscrapers, old repurposed buildings adorned with murals, and the Masjid Jamek mosque, the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur. For many years, the Klang River was a neglected, polluted, stinky river. Over the past few years, it was cleaned up, all the toxic elements were removed, and today, it’s a river with clear waters where fish thrive, and birds have returned to join the fish.

Around every corner, one stumbles across little squares and pocket parks, where modern and traditional European-style buildings stand side by side.

Kuala Lumpur is a city where people of every ethnicity coexist. A visit to the Mosques and small, charming Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, and Chinese temples is worthwhile.

Taoist temple

Hindu Temple

Petaling Street in Chinatown is a popular shopping district for both food and clothing.

Bukit Bintang is the go-to neighborhood for high-fashion boutiques, department stores, and malls. At night, Alor Street in Bukit Bintang overflows with restaurants offering a wide variety of Malaysian cuisine and seafood. The area sizzles with energy and sparkles with lights.
Kwai Chai Hong is a tiny, funky neighborhood. Once full of drug dealers and prostitutes, it has been cleaned up and now oozes old-world 1960ies charm. Small bars, restaurants, and original old buildings have been restored, and it has become like a little village within the city.

The KL Tower, in the midst of the city, is surrounded by Eco Park, a 9-hectare/22-acre tropical forest, where 200 species of trees and Long Tailed Macaque and Silverleaf monkeys thrive. The perfect way to cap off a day of sightseeing is watching the sunset and soaking up the panoramic views from atop the KL Tower, where Aras 360 Revolving Restaurant offers a unique dining experience with breathtaking views.

*Disclosure: Photo of the KL tower is from Deposit Photos.