Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
June 2011
A few weeks ago, my family and I had the opportunity to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The itinerary that was prepared for us was quite insane so we weren’t able to truly go around the country as much as we do in other places. Since our trip was very brief, we’ve tried our best to make most of it.
GENTING HIGHLANDS
Prior to our trip, my dad told us to visit Genting Highlands because he said it’s really beautiful up there. Genting Highlands is composed of hotels, casinos, amusement parks, shopping malls, and is located 6000 ft. above sea level. My sisters and I had a blast in Genting Highlands because 1) we literally travelled through the clouds, 2) the view inside the cable car was simply breathtaking, and 3) the galleries in Ripley’s Believe It or Not were amazing. :)
SHOPPING
If you want souvenirs and cheap finds, the Puduraya area is the perfect place to go to. Chinatown, Petaling Street and Central Market is located here and a walking distance from each other.
For fashion, make-up and everything in between, Bukit Bintang is the absolute shopping heaven. The Pavilion, which is located at the heart of Bukit Bintang, is the perfect place to go to because it has everything — from brands like Prada, Burberry, Coach, Topshop, Zara, Forever 21 and other Malaysian brands. Also, Sephora, UNIQLO, and Cotton On were very common in this area.
For electronics and gadgets, Plaza Low Yat Shopping Centre.is the place to be. The shopping center is a few blocks away from The Pavilion and it’s quite hidden, but it’s clean (like a legit mall) and the prices are definitely cheaper (you can even haggle!).
Let’s not forget Suria KLCC, the mall inside the Kuala Lumpur’s famous landmark: The Petronas Tower. This mall reminds me of The Pavilion except it swarmed by people since both tourists and locals go here. My favorite shop would be their bookstore that’s located on the fifth level because it’s huge and I think it’s bigger than Fullybooked in Rockwell.
Here are a few things that I learned about KL:
- Kuala Lumpur is the place to go to if you’re a (spicy) food lover or a certified shopaholic.
- Your Malaysian Ringgit will go a long, long way. :)
- The Skybridge is only open in the morning, first come, first served.
- Traffic is quite heavy from 4PM until 10PM, so know alternative ways to go to your destination.
- Though you’re allowed to wear shorts, Malaysia is still a Muslim country and you’re expected to wear appropriate clothing.
