It’s fairly simple to foretell what a first-timer’s Kuala Lumpur itinerary would seem like. You possibly can wager that it’s going to embody a cease on the Petronas Towers, a climb to Batu Caves, and a meals crawl by means of Jalan Alor. Maybe a day journey to Genting Highlands, too. These are staples, and for good cause. They’ve develop into probably the most recognizable tourism icons not only for town however for Malaysia as a complete.
However should you’ve visited KL earlier than, the place must you go? Does the Malaysian capital have something contemporary to supply today? And the reply to that, my buddy, is a powerful sure.
Over the previous few years, Kuala Lumpur has restored previous websites and created new ones, including to the already lengthy checklist of issues to do and locations to go to within the metropolis. On this put up, we’ll share with you some that you just would possibly wish to contemplate in your subsequent journey to the Backyard Metropolis of Lights.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Spanning virtually 70 meters, the Saloma Hyperlink is a pedestrian and bike owner bridge that straddles Klang River and Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Freeway. As a result of it connects the old-world village of Kampung Baru (Kampong Bharu) to KLCC (Kuala Lumpur Metropolis Centre), the place the Petronas Towers stand proudly, it additionally serves as a powerful lookout. From right here, one might admire the highest halves of the dual towers protruding from the skyline.
Saloma Bridge was opened to the general public in February 2020, simply earlier than the pandemic introduced world tourism to its knees. Therefore, a lot of those that had been to Kuala Lumpur earlier than most likely have by no means seen this hyperlink but. And it’s a sight to behold, certainly! Designed by VERITAS Design Group, the construction is impressed by the betel nut leaf, a part of the Malay wedding ceremony customized. It’s best visited at evening, when it’s wearing colourful, virtually kaleidoscopic illumination, seemingly inviting and ushering guests to the Petronas Towers and different close by buildings. Which means it’s additionally extra crowded at evening, so simply hold that in thoughts.
It wasn’t plan of our unique itinerary. We didn’t even learn about this hyperlink till we had been already on the way in which to the Petronas Towers. Our AirAsia Journey driver casually talked about it as we handed by the intersection near it. He really helpful that we go in that course after we had our time with the Twins. And we did!
From the Petronas Towers, it was solely a straightforward 10-minute stroll away. As a result of it was constructed to service each pedestrians and cyclists alike, it’s outfitted with ramps on both aspect and an elevator on the Kampung Baru aspect.
The bridge was named after the Malaysian-Singaporean singer Saloma, whose stays had been laid to relaxation on the close by Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery on the KLCC aspect.
Location: Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nearest Station: Kampung Baru LRT Station or KLCC LRT Station
We all know Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown district has been round for a very long time. And should you’ve been right here earlier than, you most likely finest keep in mind Petaling Road, a 800-meter buying strip operating from Leboh Pasar Besar/Jalan Yap Ah Loy on the northern finish to Bulatan Merdeka within the south. About 300 meters of it’s lined by a inexperienced roof (fondly nicknamed the “Inexperienced Dragon”) and marked by two Chinese language arches on both finish.
Petaling Road, specifically, has seen quite a few transformations since Cantonese and Hakka tin commerce employees arrived within the metropolis within the nineteenth century. However someday in direction of the tip of the millennium, improvement slowed down and this a part of KL turned largely generally known as the go-to place for counterfeit merchandise — from branded equipment to unlawful DVDs.
However because the 2010s ended, Chinatown has been having fun with a type of renaissance. Counterfeit merchandise are nonetheless there, however cool, hipster, Instagrammable spots additionally started popping up. An evening meals market got here to life, serving an limitless choice of Chinese language and Southeast Asian dishes and snacks. Some buildings additionally received a much-needed face elevate.
However this transformation is most evident at Lorong Panggung, also called Kwai Chai Hong after a restoration ardour venture that spearheaded by Bai Chuan Administration. It was a bleak and forgotten alleyway, however when it reopened to the general public in 2019, guests noticed a fascinating heritage web site that has been totally cleaned up and adorned by colourful road artwork and murals, depicting the Chinatown of yore.
It covers the restoration of 10 pre-war shophouses — six on Jalan Petaling and 4 on Lorong Panggung — bringing again the Sixties glory days of KL’s Chinatown. The once-neglected again lane has develop into an enthralling attraction that each locals and vacationers can take pleasure in.
Should you get hungry or thirsty, attempt one of many eating places, cafes, and bars lining Lorong Panggung and Jalan Petaling. Probably the most common is Bunn Choon Restaurant, an iconic institution serving extremely sought-after egg tarts together with different pastries and dimsum since 1893. Simply subsequent to it, in the identical vibrant yellow constructing, is Pandan Republic, additionally an area favourite best-known for its breakfast and dessert choices like Hakka lei cha (pounded tea), pandan gula Melaka cheesecake, and pandan smooth serve.
In one other nook, you’ll discover Beryl’s Chocolate and Cafe at Lot 18. Beryl’s, after all, is Malaysia’s homegrown chocolate model, which I finest know for its dragées, these merely irresistible egg-shaped candies with almonds or raisins at their core.
You would possibly even spot an artwork set up or interactive reveals.
Location: Lorong Panggung, Metropolis Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nearest Station: Pasar Seni MRT Station
The River of Life is seven-year RM4-billion authorities venture that ambitiously aimed to scrub up, rehabilitate and beautify Klang River (Sungai Klang) and surrounding areas. However for tourism functions, it principally refers back to the level the place the Klang meets the Gombak River (Sungai Gombak), which finest exemplifies this spectacular transformation. This is a crucial a part of town as a result of Kuala Lumpur actually means “muddy confluence” in Malay, referring to the convergence of those two muddy rivers.
From the lookout alongside Leboh Pasar Besar, probably the most eye-catching construction is the Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque), wearing Moorish structure, standing proudly on the junction. Inaugurated in 1909, it is among the oldest within the capital. So sure, this isn’t new in any respect; it’s fairly historic. What’s contemporary is what’s taking place round it.
Within the day time, the primary issues to most likely get your consideration are the large murals adorning the facade of the flanking buildings! At evening, the location is flooded with blue illuminations. We had been additionally informed {that a} fountain present prompts each 20-Half-hour or so, making a splash of magical visible show with the mosque within the background to numerous acquainted tunes. It was round midday after we visited, so we didn’t get to see any of those gentle and water reveals, although.
Alongside the river, you’ll additionally discover cafes and bicycle paths.
Location: River of Life, Leboh Pasar Besar, Metropolis Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nearest Station: Masjid Jamek LRT Station
Japan’s borders stay closed for impartial vacationers, but when you really want a dose of it and also you’re KL-bound anyway, head over to Bukit Bintang, the place Japanese institutions have been mushrooming.
First on the checklist is Don Don Donki. Doesn’t ring a bell? That is truly the identical as Don Quijote, Japan’s largest low cost retailer chain. Why the title change? As a result of its very first Asia-Pacific department exterior Japan was opened in Singapore, the place one other model has already been utilizing the title in order that they used Don Don Donki as an alternative. When it opened its first Malaysian retailer at Lot 10 in Bukit Bintang in March 2021, they adopted the SG branding for regional consistency.
For the uninitiated, Don Quijote is an area and vacationer favourite in Japan, with over 160 shops throughout the archipelago. Even we are able to’t resist coming into a Donki retailer each time we see it simply to snag some pasalubong. It has virtually every part you would consider — from snacks to attire to equipment to cosmetics to houseware — at a pocket-friendly value. Like in Japan, Donki right here in Malaysia makes use of the identical lovely penguin mascot. It was truly how we acknowledged the shop as we handed by.
Since then, they’ve launched one other department, at Lalaport additionally in Bukit Bintang, which can be a brand new addition to the rising checklist of buying malls in KL. Opened to the general public in January 2022, Lalaport is the primary Southeast Asian department of Mutsui Purchasing Park, one other well-known establishment in Japan. It homes a number of recognizable manufacturers like Nitori, providing Japanese-style furnishings just like Muji (should you’re extra aware of the latter); Nojima, well-known for electronics; and Coo & Riku, Japan’s largest pet retailer chain.
Don’t depart with out climbing the LED-illuminated starcase and trying out the open rooftop backyard, which affords an impressive view of town skyline together with the KL Tower, particularly at sundown.
After all, we nonetheless extremely advocate the basic culinary sights in Kuala Lumpur, particularly should you’ve by no means been there. However should you’re searching for one thing new to attempt, new meals spots have additionally sprouted all through town even within the midst of the pandemic.
On our final KL go to, after a vibrant photo-op session on the Saloma Hyperlink, we determined to move all the way down to Kampung Baru. Whereas the title interprets to “New Village”, it’s truly one of many few remaining conventional Malay strongholds in KL, as extra trendy surroundings and buildings dominate town. Formally established on the flip of the twentieth century, it was formally declared because the Malay Agricultural Settlement in 1950. Whereas vacationers flock round Jalan Alor, many locals hang around right here for meals and drinks. It’s fairly previous, and it’s residence to some time-tested eating institutions.
However every so often, a brand new title pops up. And final 12 months, one which took Malaysian social media by storm was Papa Kanafa, a stall that whips out tray after tray of candy Turkish pastries in a spectacularly entertaining vogue. And should you’ve ever been right here, you’ll perceive why there’s a lot on-line traction. The employees tirelessly and stylishly prepares every order of kunafa in entrance of shoppers, in a way just like a Salt Bae efficiency and exclaims “Welcome, Habibi!” earlier than closing the lid.
(We’re nonetheless getting ready the movies so we might present you higher. Within the meantime, listed below are some screencaps.)
It’s so common that it’s laborious to overlook the queue. We needed to burn Half-hour earlier than our flip, however a lot of the wait was as a result of they needed to warmth the pastry after they change trays, which I believe is nice. It’s additionally an excellent time for the employees to relaxation a bit as a result of I might think about how exhausting it could possibly be doing it numerous occasions.
Nevertheless it’s not all type. It serves fairly tasty desserts! Its fundamental product is the kunafa — a pastry constituted of baked kataifi or shredded phyllo dough, doused with syrup and topped with bits of pistachios — which comes with one in every of two stuffings — cheese and cream (most likely ashta). Whereas we didn’t care a lot concerning the cream model, the cheese kunafa was actually well worth the wait. The beneficiant quantity of stretchy cheese complemented the sweetness of the syrup. It wasn’t too candy, which I appreciated. The nuts merely add texture.
There are additionally just a few cafes that lately opened inside the Malay enclave however we didn’t get to attempt. Should you’re not within the temper for one thing new, Kampung Baru additionally has its extra established homegrown eating spots together with Suraya Seafood and Nasi Lemak Wanjo.
One other meals place getting good critiques on-line is The Chow Package Kitchen and Bar, situated on the floor ground of its namesake boutique lodge, a part of the Ormond Lodge group. Probably the most exceptional maybe is its inclusion to CNN Journey’s checklist of 20 Finest New Eating places in Asia Pacific for 2020. The menu adjustments nevertheless it places its trendy tackle conventional Malaysian fare at its heart together with rendang and laksa. You don’t must be a lodge visitor to dine right here.
If for no matter cause you don’t wish to eat out, meals supply apps are additionally thriving within the metropolis, the most recent of which is AirAsia Meals. Yep, Malaysia’s greatest low-cost service now has its personal meals supply service by way of its unified AirAsia SUPER APP!
AirAsia Meals presents a large spectrum of gastronomic delights, excellent for if you had an extended day and needed to simply keep in your lodge (or hostel) for dinner. You possibly can select from completely different meals classes — halal, vegetarian, Asian, Western, wholesome, desserts, and so forth. You would possibly even get a reduction by means of its many promos.
You’re most likely questioning why Batu Caves is on this checklist. However hear us out.
Should you final visited earlier than August 2018, then you definitely’ll be stunned that so much has modified since — not less than visually. That 12 months, the location was given a colourful — albeit a bit controversial — makeover. The 272-step staircase resulting in the Cave Temple was painted in vibrant rainbow colours, fully altering its feel and appear, so that you would possibly wish to test it out once more!
Batu Caves is a crucial and sacred place for the Hindu individuals. It’s a community of caves and chambers carved right into a 4-million-year-old karst hill. There are three massive caves however the largest is the Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, so referred to as for its excessive ceiling and quite a few Hindu shrines it homes. Positioned 13 km north of the Malaysian capital, Batu Caves is definitely in Gombak, Selangor. It was named after the close by river Sungai Batu.
OK, this one isn’t an attraction in itself however a strategy to get round! Apart from meals supply, AirAsia has additionally launched a ride-hailing service — AirAsia Ride — out there by means of the AirAsia SUPER APP. You should use it not simply to get out of the airport to town heart, but in addition to get across the metropolis!
When AirAsia invited us to KL, they allowed us to make use of this service when going round on our personal. Sure, sure, we all know there are already extra established related apps providing this, however we like it when manufacturers get some competitors as a result of most of the time, it comes with aggressive costs! And true sufficient, after we tried AirAsia RIDE, we discovered that it costs lower than ordinary, at occasions virtually 50% cheaper in comparison with direct competitor. That’s an enormous plus for funds vacationers like us. It means we are able to spend extra on different issues, like meals and sights.
It presents various kinds of rides — LadiesONLY, Compact (extra inexpensive), and Anyride (closest to your neighborhood).
AirAsia Journey and AirAsia Meals can be found on the airasia Tremendous App! You might obtain it right here: iOS customers, Android customers.
Article and pictures by: Yosh Dimen
Further phrases by: Asta Alvarez
Our latest Kuala Lumpur journey was made potential by AirAsia. Opinions are our personal.
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