KUALA LUMPUR – 3 places you must see

Maybe not that interesting city. But that is only the first impression when you don’t know what to expect. Maybe there are not that many places which would be the best, the biggest or the most beautiful. Despite these facts, it has its charms. A mix of cultures and nationalities, architectural styles, and modern and older parts of the city. The locals are very kind and happy to help. Isn’t it on the list of the cities you would like to see one day? Maybe you will change your mind after you will read my post. Read about top 3 places, which I visited and they stayed in my mind as very unique experiences. 

1. PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS

They were built as the highest towers in the world in 1998. In 2004 the tower Taipei 101 in Taiwan took their place. And a few more since that time. However, they are still the highest twin towers in the world and the highest buildings in Kuala Lumpur, which you can see from a huge distance. They have 451,9 meters and 88 floors. Towers are the leaders in one more thing. The bridge, which connects towers on the 41st and 42nd floors is the highest two-floors bridge in the world.

There are many offices located in the towers. On the first few floors of this building, you can find a shopping mall that is considered the best one in Malaysia. People of a higher level of wealth are coming to do their shopping here as there are many shops with luxury products. But I also found shops like H&M and Zara here and one more special one. I could not believe my eyes when I spotted the shoe shop Baťa – it originated in the Czech town and there are shops all around Europe and the world. Still, I did not expect to find it there.
Another gem in this shopping mall is a huge bookstore on the highest floor. Two floors of books and stationery where I got lost. Most of the books are in English, but there has been also a section with books in various languages. And there, in Kuala Lumpur, I found not one but two books for English-speaking students who wish to learn the Slovak language. Of course, I bought one of them.

The towers are visited also by people who are not enjoying shopping. There is also an art gallery, an underwater aquarium, a Science center, philharmonic hall. Tourists appreciate the option to see the city from above, from the bridge, or from the Observation deck on the 86th floor. In the spot where is the ticket office, there is also a gift shop with souvenirs. You can find small souvenir shops on the lowest floor of the shopping mall as well.

After my shopping adventure, I went to the lowest floor of the supermarket, bought fresh spring rolls, and fruits and I headed to the park, which is located below the twin towers. I sat on the bench next to the fountain and enjoyed it.
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The park is beautiful and pretty big. Peace, which you can feel there is in contrast with the surrounding busy city life. It includes a couple of endangered plants and the signs there remind us that it is important to keep biodiversity. A man-made lake and its fountains offer lights and sounds show every night. 1.3 km long running track, mosque and playgrounds are also part of the scenery, which is the favourite place to relax for locals and tourists as well.

Your experience depends on if you are coming to visit this place during the day or night. During the day, you will see the crowds in the shopping mall, you can have a walk in the park and see the city from above. In the night, the towers are beautifully illuminated and there is a light and sounds show in the park.

2. BATU CAVES

Batu Caves used to be pretty usual caves. Until 1890, when they have been visited by merchant Pillay. He saw that the entrance to the caves resembles the pike of the Hindu god of war and victory – Murugan. This is how the caves became the sacred place of Hindu religion. 

The place is open to the public and there is no entrance fee. However, if you will come in clothes revealing knees and shoulders, you will be asked to borrow the scarf for a small fee (pay in cash only), which will be given back to you when you will return the scarf.
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The path to the caves starts next to a massive 42 meters high golden statue of Murugan. You have to climb 272 stairs, which are colorfully painted and create an amazing effect. Ascending the stairs is not the easiest thing to do, but there is a small encouragement. There are small monkeys – macaques running around. They are so used to the people that you have to watch where you step. Warning! Do not feed them and keep your snacks in the bag pack! They maybe look cute but can become aggressive.

​After the climb, you step into a large cave. Inside, there are shrines and small temples with stunning colorful carved statues of the gods. Many people are coming to pray here. The shrine is one of the most sacred Hindu places outside of India. This whole scenery creates an atmosphere similar to other sacred places around the world. 

Every year at the end of January or the beginning of February there is a religious festival called Thaipusam taking place. During these days, the caves are full of pilgrims, who do various sacrifices here. The most brutal is piercing the various parts of the body with long skewers. It is easy to find out the exact date of the festival. Type ‘Thaipusam festival date’ to google.

3. STREET FOOD IN LOT 10

I love street food, mainly in Asia. The food courts in the shopping malls are huge. I found one great food court in the shopping mall Lot 10 in the city centre. The ground floor is full of small stands offering street food of all kinds. Here, you can see how various is a cuisine in Malaysia. There is an offer of the different types of meat as well as vegetarian food, noodle, spicy food and also a lot of desserts. The prices are low, the meals very tasty and ready in a few minutes. Small tables and plastic chairs. But it is part of the street food, the same as strong smells and shouting of local vendors trying to lure everyone who passes the stand.

I bought the noodles with shrimps and vegetables, sat at the free table, and tried to look like I do not see the curious gazing of the local people. They have been staring at me and waiting for my failure with the chopsticks. And nodded appreciatively when I, the tourist handled it without a problem.

Dessert was one of the most strange meals I have ever tasted. I was not sure, what is considered the traditional dessert here, therefore I went to the stand which looked busy. And I pointed to the most colorful picture on the menu. What I have been served was one big surprise. I looked it up later and found out what I ate: Ais kacang.
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The base was done from the shaved ice. Topped with sweet brown syrup. Added brown and green spaghetti made from rice flour and sugar palm, which tasted like sweet jelly. On the top, red kidney beans, sweet corn, some sweet sauce, and topped peanuts. Enjoy!

It is a traditional dessert for the locals, which is served with different ingredients, for example, ice cream. It was eaten by generations in various forms. I ate it as well, I was really curious. Well, I have to say it was not the worst meal I ever ate. But not my style.  

INTERESTING FACTS

• on the 12th of September 2001, after the terroristic attacks in New York, these towers had been evacuated as well.  The bomb disposal team checked all buildings and people were allowed to enter back to the offices and shopping mall after 3 hours.
• French urban climber climbed one of the towers in 2009 without any kind of safety device. He finished the climb after 2 previous unsuccessful attempts in 1997 and 2007 when he was arrested by police on the 60th floor.
• the towers had been featured in a couple of series and movies. For example Independence Day: Resurgence (2016).

MY SUGGESTIONS

• local taxis are expensive. Instead, download the mobile application called Grab. It is very similar to Uber – you choose the address of your location and drop-off point. The application will calculate the price and you can also pay by card. So you can relax that the taxi driver will not take you on the tour around the city and then he will ask a crazy amount of money for it. I was traveling on my own and I felt safe. The driver also can give you recommendations on where to go for a meal or what to see.
• if you are planning to go to visit Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck, buy the ticket online in advance.
• fruits and vegetables are tasty and cheap. In the supermarkets, you can buy also fresh spring rolls, sushi, or any other Asian delights.
• if you are visiting Batu Caves, go early in the morning, as early as 7 am when the caves open. You will enjoy this place with only a few people and you will have a chance to take nice pictures on the colorful stairs.

​I am aware of the fact that Kuala Lumpur offers much more than what you just discovered in my post. This was my experience. I spent there about 48 hours and these are the places I had been recommended as a must-see if visiting for the first time. I hope I will have a chance to visit Kuala Lumpur again and discover more of what the city offers.

As always, I will be looking forward to your comments and messages.