Kuala Lumpur - The sparkling City

The Metropolis

Petronas Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur is one of the best cities I have seen in South East Asia.  A bustling metropolis, large and well spread, it has a plethora of transport options including MRT, LRT, Mono Rail and buses. The roads are wide and well maintained with side walks. 

Downtown

The downtown is very well developed with the Twin Towers as the fulcrum to many skyscrapers all around.  The Old town and China Towns are clean and the entire city is completely garbage free. 

KL didn't have the massive traffic jams of Bangkok, nor the disparity of Jakarta. The Bangkok vibe is of course different with people from all over the world residing there. Jakarta has a pulsating energy which is also distinct. KL has a mix of great vibe especially in the downtown areas and quiet efficiency all around.  

Central Jakarta

The best place to stay is in the Bukut Bintang area near the Twin Towers. There are world class restaurants, flashy Malls, well drawn roads and walkways and access to all Mass transport options. In the evenings, there are street performances, night clubs and many entertainment options. Money changers are aplenty.

I chanced upon a take way Chinese Muslim Roti joint called Restoran Mon Chinese Beef Roti. It makes the best hot beef and chicken rotis and is to die for.  

Museums

Over the next few days, visited two museums which are worth going. One is the Islamic arts museum and the other, the National Textile Museum. Enroute to the Islamic Arts Museum is the National Mosque of Malaysia, a modern edifice. 

River of Life Project

River of Life Project

Kuala Lumpur literally means “muddy confluence” in Malay since it was formed in the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. The tin mining industries in Kuala Lumpur were in their boom years in 1878-1879 when the price of tin rose rapidly internationally. At the time, the east bank of the Klang River became the main trade center for the region. The town was primarily a trade center and a link between the mines and the port of Klang.

When European officials and colonial government offices moved from Klang to Kuala Lumpur in 1880, the residential and functions divisions were clearly divided into three main communities; the western portion for the Europeans, the triangle land for the Malays, and the east bank of the Klang River for the Chinese 

In 2011, the Kuala Lumpur city government launched the "River of Life" project. This project transformed around 10 kilometers of the two rivers waterfront and the historic river intersection and surrounding areas have dramatically changed into a well designed walk. Many of the buildings have been restored, attractive sidewalks and paths have been made and a people-only bridge has been added to make it pleasant to get from the rail station to the historic buildings on foot. 

In this walk, the notable places to visit are Masjid Jamek, the National Textile Museum and Independence Square.  

Batu Caves

Batu Caves (Batu in Malay means "Rock") is a series of limestone caves on a hill about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. The cave complex contains many Hindu temples including a shrine dedicated to the deity Murugan. The complex has one of the largest Murugan statues in the world, which is 43 m high. 

The way up to the cave is through 272 steps. Inside the cave there are a few shrines. As I went up and down the hill, I saw numerous long-tailed macaque monkeys all round the area. There were used to the humans and were always on the lookout for food, so one has to be careful taking any food up. 

The best way to visit Batu caves is to take the KTM line. It is the last stop and the entry to the temple and steps to the cave is just outside the station.

After a few days in KL, I set out for Taman Negara which is the Malaysian National Park to the North East. These contain the oldest rainforests in the world and a great place to experience a tropical rain forest.