So, you’re thinking of heading out to Southeast Asia, but you don’t actually know where to go. Bangkok? Pattaya? Those well-known tourist haunts?
Whilst some of these places are super exciting, there are roads throughout Asia that are much less traveled. For some reason, a lot of people don’t consider Malaysia too much, although admittedly, there are still plenty of tourists who do head over there to see what’s going on.
Kuala Lumpur is one of the most amazing cities that you can visit, and it should be on your bucket list, no matter what your Southeast Asia plans are. Here are 5 reasons why.
1. The buildings
Aah, skyscrapers. We’ve seen them all before, right? If you think that you’ve seen it all, as you’ve enjoyed looking at the city below from The Shard in London, or The Empire State Building in New York, hold on a second.
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the tallest twin towers in the world, and until 2004, they were also the tallest buildings in the world, too. If you’re a sucker for a sunset – and a viewing deck over the entire city – then you definitely need to come and see these buildings, amongst a few others in this metropolis. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is also pretty impressive, and is an interesting historical reminder of the colonial period.
2. The people
Malaysian people have a pretty notorious sense of humour, and they’re not as openly welcoming as those in Thailand (who have earned their country the name ‘the land of smiles’).
However, this doesn’t mean that they’re not genuine and helpful people; they just have a dry and sarcastic sense of humour, which is pretty refreshing as a traveler. Get ready to be the butt of a few jokes here, but don’t take it too personally.
The Malaysian people are generally extremely kind and caring, and if you need a hand or you’re stuck in a bad situation, you won’t be alone for long. If you want to live like a local, check out the Z Residence, and enjoy the social spaces on offer here!
3. The nightlife
If you’re a travel lover, you’ll have seen some… unique clubs, in a few countries that you’ve visited. Experiences that you’d try your best not to relive if you possibly could (hello, uncomfortably empty bars).
However, Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife will not leave you with a bad taste in your mouth, as there are plenty of rooftop bars here where you can enjoy a drink whilst the sun goes down, and there are a lot of clubs around – like Gravity – too.
There really is something here for everyone’s personal taste, so if you prefer something a little quieter, or you enjoy a busy club, there are plenty of choices out there for tourists and locals alike.
4. The food
The food in Kuala Lumpur is objectively the best. The national dish here is nasi lemak, a tasty coconut rice dish. The best news is yet to come: it’s completely commonplace to eat nasi lemak for breakfast, too.
Grilled fish is also a dish that you’ll find a lot around the city, and in Bukit Bintang, there are so many Chinese seafood restaurants that you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice. If you like rice, meat, fish, and a whole host of other foods that are commonly found across Southeast Asia, then you’ll be amongst good company in Kuala Lumpur.
Street food can also be found in a lot of areas around here, which is great news for travelers.
5. The temples and mosques
If you’re a lover of all things culture, you’ll have a brilliant time in Kuala Lumpur. This place offers a lot of Hindu – and Chinese – temples and shrines, and although it’s a bit more relaxed on the temples compared to places like Thailand, there is still a lot to take in around here.
The limestone Batu Caves are full of Hindu statues, such as the gold 42-foot one here, that is noted for being the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in Malaysia. Chinatown is also home to some beautiful temples, such as the Thean Hou temple, so check out some of the various religious buildings here. The National Mosque of Malaysia is also worth a visit!
So, if you’re thinking about visiting Kuala Lumpur, then what other reasons do you need? The buildings, the people, the nightlife, the food, and the religious buildings are all beautiful tributes to a country that deserves to be on your travel bucket list, so enjoy it!