WE Smile Magazine June 2017

073
recently opened ‘Sky Box’, a glass box with a
glass floor to really get a sense of the 3000
metre height. If vertigo is not your cup of tea,
the towers can be admired from the ground.
Come later in the day for the best view, as the
towers light up beautifully in the evenings.
Historical District
Start off at the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station,
which opened in 1910 and is still in use today.
The station is known for its mix of Malaysian
and European architectural styles. Just a short
walk away is the National Mosque of Malaysia
(Masjid Negara) built in 1965. It is said that the
roofs resemble an open umbrella while the
tall 73-metre-high minaret represents a closed
one. Then snap photos at the 19th-century
Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a familiar
feature in many city postcards. Today it is still
used as government offices and for special
events. Tying the historical district together is
Merdeka Square (Independence Square), the
location where the Malaysian flag was raised
for the first time to declare independence. It is
home to a 95-metre flagpole, the tallest in the
world. To escape the heat swing by the Islamic
Art Museum of Malaysia (IAMM), a modern
building with the largest collection of Islamic
Arts in Southeast Asia. Finally, head to the
Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, a former Chinese
mansion, for cultural exhibits and the muchphotographed
“I Love KL” sign.
Natural Kuala Lumpur
If you need a break from the chaos of the city,
we recommend a stop at the Lake Gardens,
(Perdana Botanical Gardens). Come here early
and you may see people practicing Tai Chi. The
botanical gardens are attached to several other
gardens and parks. It is recommended to select
the areas you are most interested in visiting
and head there first, as the massive park can
easily take more than a day to explore. We
recommend the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, one
of the world’s largest free-flight aviaries where
you will be able to interact with all types of
birds including peacocks, parrots and eagles.
The Butterfly Park is also a good choice, with
over 5,000 exotic butterflies and tropical plants
to see. Flower lovers should not miss the Orchid
Park. Visitors can view the beautiful blooms on
weekdays but on weekends the area turns into
a market where cut flowers and potted orchids
are sold to at reasonable prices.
Chinatown Day
Chinatowns worldwide stand apart from their
urban settings with a particularly east asian
selection of food or architecture. Kuala Lumpur
is no different, although this city’s Chinatown
(Petaling Street) is more of a melting pot
with large influences from Bangladesh
and Myanmar. Still, cultural explorers will
never be want of choice. Drop by the Sri
Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu
temple in the city, built in the South Indian
Style and grab some Roti Canai nearby. Or get
your fortune told at Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the
oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur. Be sure
to make time to visit the Central market. This
covered outdoor market has plenty of shops
and local food options to satisfy every taste.
Away from the City
Located about 13 kilometres north of Kuala
Lumpur are the Batu Caves. These natural
caves make a great trip because they are easily
accessible on the KTM commuter train or by
taxi. The limestone caves are believed to be
around 400 million years old. While the area
was technically first “discovered” by American
naturalist William Hornaday in 1878, the Batu
caves were already well known by indigenous
people and Chinese settlers who mined guano
for profit. At the entrance, a grand statue of
the hindu god of war, Murugan, welcomes you.
This statue stands at 42.7 metres high and took
300 litres of gold paint to cover. Visitors should
be physically fit enough to climb the stairs, and
be aware of potentially aggressive macaques,
especially if you’re carrying food. There are
272 steps to climb in order to reach the cave
system. Most visitors seek out the Temple Cave
that sits atop these stairs. Inside the cavern
are several hindu shrines. Visitors with more
time should also stop by the lesser-known
Ramayana Cave for its colourful large statues
and lights.
Kuala Lumpur has enough to entertain
visitors for weeks. Even if you are able to do
just one or two things we’ve listed, it would
still be well worth a trip. And if you have the
time, find a good spot for dinner around Bukit
Bintang and imagine you’re a local. Maybe
after blending in you can see why Kuala
Lumpur doesn’t need to advertise to tourists.
As the people who live there know, this city
already has it all.
Travel Tips
• You will likely use the LRT (Light Rail
Transit) to get around. You can buy a day
pass or the Touch ‘N Go prepaid card to
avoid queuing for tickets every time you
need to use the train.
• Be prepared for traffic. Even though
Kuala Lumpur’s infrastructure is one of
the best in the region, rush hour traffic is
common and can add hours to travel time.
• When visiting many major attractions
in one day, look for combination tickets
which will help you save money rather than
buying tickets individually.
• Carefully check the dates and time before
you visit each attraction. Many are closed
on certain days of the week or public holidays.
Certain Mosques may not be accessible to
non-muslims or during prayer times.