HomeStream
News & more!Escapes
My trip reviewsGallery
My travel photosPlanning
Trip planningGuides
Destination guides
My Escapes 
Malaysia My First Malaysian Escape Kuala Lumpur Contrastful Kuala Lumpur
Contrastful Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a riveting multi-ethnic big city overflowing with contrast and colours. Of course, I've been dreaming of visiting it for years...
Its unique vibe still comes to my mind often and I yearn to see it again!
I dropped-in to "KL" flying with JetStar Asia from Singapore and I had roughly 5 days only at my disposal to take an immersion and lots of photos as well.
Visiting Kuala Lumpur is indeed an exhilarating experience and I'll take you around in my guides accessible through the boxes below...
There are lots of temples, modern high-rises and it has an impressive modern infrastructure... I could never get bored of this city. There's variety and contrast all around.
One of things I liked the most were the old streets, markets and the beautiful old train station.
My hotel was situated in the Masjid Jamek area, one of the best starting points I could find.
Also the old Medan Pasar and the scenic Detaran Merdeka.
Outside Kuala Lumpur, I also travel to the Batu Caves and Putrajaya.
You can use this walkaround guide as you Kuala Lumpur travel guide - places look and feel so differently when explored from inside than when merely reading travel guides.
Arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Flew-in from Singapore aboard JetStar Asia's A320 (airline owned by an Australian mother company). Surprisingly long, but smooth flight consumed slightly more than an hour from my lifetime.
Waiting at the airport "ate" 2.5 hours more! And another hour was required to get to my hotel.
Dataran Merdeka is the "Independence Square" of Kuala Lumpur. They hold the Malaysian National Day parade here on August 31st.
It's overall a scenic place to look around. Impressive architectural contrast there...
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building looks fabulous!
It's part of Kuala Lumpur's historic district, in the vicinity of the famous old Masjid Jamek Mosque. Never miss out on the beautiful square of Medan Pasar when in KL!
The Petronas Towers and the Suria Mall
My trip's top attractions were the Petronas Towers... they used to be the tallest skyscrapers in the World. And, at the time of my visit they were still the tallest twin towers of the World.
Of course, getting up to the observatory deck wasn't at all easy, 3 days were required!
Kuala Lumpur's Skyline From the Petronas Towers
Under no condition should you miss viewing the bustling big city's panorama from "up there".
Although, you have to pay and reserve in advance for a ticket and get up early in the morning for that, the effort is worth it. I don't think there's anything more important to do in Kuala Lumpur.
The modern quarter of the Malaysian capital... had a Manhattan-ish steel-glass-concrete feel. It's the high-end district for business, shopping and entertainment.
A plethora of shops, great places to eat and of course - the Petronas Towers are located here as well.
It's the primary shopping district of Kuala Lumpur. I dropped-in by monorail. Had my first (ever) yam ice-cream (weird).
Bukit Bintang is another one of those "must explore" areas of KL.
The Central Market of Kuala Lumpur
The old main market of the city, locally known as: Pasar Seni.
Wandered out there after hopping off a half-wrecked bus, looked around and ended the exploration by drinking from a green coconut.
A place where fake sneakers, replica watches and "leather" wallets are a dime a dozen and hawker meals are sold at every corner.
The crowd was so dense and the stalls so closely placed that moving around alone was an adventure.
Temples, Shrines, Mosques, Churches of Kuala Lumpur
It would be a shame not to explore the religious heritage of the multi-religious Kuala Lumpur.
There's a number of shrines, mosques, even Christian churches in the city... I checked some of them out.
The monorail is great for seeing this city from higher ground. It shows you another perspective.
Plus: you can scoot out new places in the distance to check out from closer.
Kuala Lumpur's Old Train Station
I'm an architecture-bug and this building has caught my eye ever since I passed it by when arriving to Kuala Lumpur.
It's an elegant representative of the Neo-Moorish/Mughal/Indo-Saracenic/Neo-Saracenic styles.
The Vintage Magic of Kuala Lumpur's Streets
There's something almost surreal about Kuala Lumpur.
The stark contrast between the architectural styles, the (to me) unusually-coloured buildings and the vibe of dynamical life there are unlike anything I've seen anywhere else!
Strange, But Beautiful Architecture in Kuala Lumpur
This is not about the primary attractions, such as the Petronas Towers or the Merdeka Square, but about the strange-looking unique dwellings found here and there...
Some of KL's buildings are totally weird, unusual, others are old and traditional, some peculiar, yet all together beautiful in their own way.
Yes, There is Street Art in Kuala Lumpur Too!
It's a tradition-respecting Muslim country with strict laws.
Still, you can find street art in some areas of KL. Certainly, it's not as full with graffitis as Barcelona or Lisbon are.
The Man-Eating Plants of Kuala Lumpur!
Some of Kuala Lumpur's green areas felt like jungle left-overs: dense green vegetation with terrifying huge plants. Gigantic leaves, deep grass amond which insects roam...
Citin Masjid Jamek Hotel Review
Strikingly cheap, well-situated design hotel. Attractions, shops and the LRT station were close.
As "Escape Hunter" - the curious incognito traveler with an insatiable drive to explore, I embark on slow and deep travels around
our beautiful World.
Join me and I will show you exciting destinations
"from within", through my
"escape" trips!
Travel Slang Dictionary
Guide to my personal travel slang vocabulary, which seasons my content...