First Impressions of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
94This is not a travel guide!
Earlier this week I spent two days in Kuala Lumpur. I flew in on Sunday afternoon and out again on Tuesday night. And I was working Monday and Tuesday. So I don't claim to know the place at all well. This hub is just my first impressions, together with a few snatched phone pics and some idle musings.
Somewhere near the centre...
That's what I told the taxi driver at the airport. I'd slept overnight on the plane, fitfully, but well enough to feel human, was travelling light as I always do, and saw no good reason to waste time in my hotel. So this is where he dumped me, right in front of the Petronas Twin Towers, until recently the world's tallest structure and still the tallest twin buildings. Out of the taxi, the first thing I noticed was the weather. Warm, about 32C (90F), and very humid. Hazy sun through broken clouds. A very quick look around yielded no bars, so the next most obvious thing to do was go up into the tower for no better reason than to look down over the city. Visitors have limited access, to the skybridge only, but as I was due to work inside on the following day, it wasn't too hard to talk my way through security and up to the 60th floor.
Looking down
Looking out, I was immediately struck with how much nicer the place is than Qatar. Distant blue mountains, plenty of greenery, public park land in the city centre, and even sensible spacing between the bigger buildings. Best of all, not a trace of desert sand - some things pall after a while.But there's only so long you can spend tempting vertigo and from somewhere sixty floors below I seemed to hear the forlorn call of a cold beer...
Don't knock the normal
In this totally new environment, it was obvious that I had to turn left, then right, cross two streets, dodging several kamikazi motorcyclists, and take the second left again, where there was bound to be a choice of bars. Years of travelling teaches you these things! It may be a simple one, but few pleasures compare with sitting in a street level open air bar, watching the world go by. You can't do this in the Middle East, where bars are mostly windowless and tucked away inside hotels. And in December, you can't easily do it in Europe either.
The Rum Jungle
The particular bar I'd found was the Rum Jungle, well named because you couldn't see the inside walls or ceilings for creeping lianas. Above the bar, four or five good-sized baracudas were doing anticlockwise circuits of their huge glass tank. Below them, the painfully thin head barmaid kept her staff on the hop with shouts of encouragement or abuse, as required. She looked about 73, and probably was. Something told me this was a place to come back to in the evening. But having polished off some chicken satay and one or two beers, the long haul flight was beginning to catch up with me, so I found my hotel and grabbed a couple of hours much needed sleep.
Evening brought only darkness. The temperature and humidity were still the same. Being equatorial, there is hardly any variation all year round - a perpetual summer land, by Northern standards.But when I got back to the Rum Jungle, I found most of the street interest seemed to be in an almost adjacent bar called the Beach Club where a rock band were in the process of setting up. This place was, shall we say, lively. The band were excellent - a mix of Filipinos and Malaysians with a European lead singer, playing mainly classic heavy metal. Further entertainment was provided by the bar girls, many of them from Thailand. Very friendly, thoroughly gorgeous and entirely for sale. You can't and mustn't judge these girls by Western standards. Theirs is a different world, where life is lived differently. And as an alternative to the music, the beer and the girls, there was yet another tank of baracudas...
Next day
The park behind the towers, which I'd looked down on the previous day, is very popular with the office workers, especially at lunchtime. Fountains and water features give the impression of coolness, though it's far from cool. The mix of people is wonderful. Apart from the local Malaysians, there are many from China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and a few Europeans. It's a very cosmopolitan city. The country is Islamic, but very different from the Gulf States. The dress code is far more varied and casual, and headscarves, when worn, are mostly in brightly coloured silk. No black veils in evidence.
The Towers, again
Because of the way they've landscaped the area, you can get great views of the towers from the park behind. They're very google-able for statistics, but what I picked up just from talking to folk is that there are 88 inhabitable floors and the skybridge is not anchored to either tower, to allow for natural movement. They are impressive, so I'll let them speak for themselves:
Just a room
This is the room where I was working. Apart from the view, it's unexceptional. But it is the only room I've ever shared with a bolt of lightning. It's on the 60th floor, and in the evening, when the storm broke, just watching the rain was exciting enough. I could have done without the lightning literally coming into the room at ceiling height, wrapping itself round the main pillar, a bit like a brilliant white helter-skelter, and exiting at floor level. The static discharge stayed still for about two seconds before disappearing. Apparently it's a common occurrence and the building is designed to take it. Fair enough, but I'm glad I wasn't leaning on the pillar at the time...
So that's it. First impressions of KL. Definitely a place I'd recommend for a visit and certainly one I'm hoping to go back to.
Thanks for reading!
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Comments
If you were to write travel guides Paraglider, they'd be great hits!
If and when you stay longer, I'd recommend a few days away from KL at Langkawi, Turtle Beach and Sipadan. That's if you like the beaches. The Cameroon Highlands are also incredible. Maybe avoid the touristy Genting Highlands :)
Fantastic descriptions, Paraglider, and as always, very readable.
Paraglider, very plreasant travelogue. BTW, what sort of work were you doing in that room when the storm broke?
This is better than a travelogue, Paraglider. Kuala Lumpur looks wonderful, and your short time there was obviously well spent. The twin towers are impressive. In the 1960's, I worked on the 30th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, but I'd love to take an elevator to the top of one of those twin towers and take a good look around (and then have a beer at the beach club.)
Your life is in many ways an enviable one Paraglider. Thank you very much for sharing with us homebodies.
VioletSun - For all my travels, New York is somewhere I've never been to. I'd like to say it's on the list, but I only travel for work, and so far there's been no reason to go there. Maybe some day I'll take a holiday!
Shalini - thanks for the suggestions. I'd very much like to see more of the country. Even from the plane it looked special. Maybe next time!
Thanks Amanda. Next week, London and Washington DC (One of which I know very well already!)
Hi Aya - I was running a few training sessions. I was the only one impressed with the storm. The rest were quite accustomed to it.
William - I only made it to the 60th floor (out of 88) but even there it's way above anything else in the city. Some of my favourite photographs are of the Empire State Building under construction. You probably know the collection.
CWB - I certainly enjoy the opportunity to see new places and I know it won't last forever. Another few years maybe, then I'll hang up my boots and stay home.
I don't have much to add to what everyone else has said, but there's something about the way your camera handles natural sunlight that makes a few of the photos look like something out of a virtual reality game. "Behind the twin towers" expecially reminded me of a still from Second Life or some type of video game.
With that said, I agree that this is a very entertaining and informative read, and I'm glad your job provides opportunities to visit such interesting places. I didn't know about the current location to bar navigation code, but I'll need to test that out sometime. :)
Hi Melissa - the camera I use for casual shots like these is very crude. It's a 640x480 (only307 kilo-pixels!) Motorola L6 phone camera, very wide angle and no zoom. They always come out very 'sat up' with flare but I put them through the Google Picasa 'I'm feeling lucky' process which gives them that odd 'graphics' look. Very artificial, but I like it, in a strange way. My 'good' digital camera is not half as much fun! And yes, do try the bar location trick, but not in the Middle East where it just won't work!
Betta getta blood test! [wink] No offence meant. :)
looks nice place to visit
Quicksand - you forget I'm fashioned entirely out of wood...
Lgali - yes, well worth a visit
Paraglider,
You have an interesting job in that you are lucky enough to be paid to go to all these interesting locations. Malaysia looks like a very interesting place.
KL is the capital of Malaysia where all the financial hub are located even the governement office are there.
Petronas Twin Towers are the Malaysian proud
SweetiePie - I do enjoy visiting new places. I just wish I could spend longer and see more, but that's life.
Sgjerome - thanks for commenting. Are you from Malaysia by any chance?
Next time you visit KL make sure you do a side trip to Singapore by coach. Takes 5 hours. Starts from Chorus Hotel, within walking distance from Petronas. A coach leaves every three hours.
Quicksand - first and foremost, I'm a walker. When I fly into a new place (for business) I tend not to want to venture further afield until I've exhausted its walking potential. Yes, I'd like to see Singapore, but there's no rush :)
Paraglider, thanks for sharing your experience in Malaysia on your 2 day business trip. You were able to capture more than enough for a very good Hub.
Thanks Laringo. This week, it's London and Washington DC (2 days each). Maybe I'll try a repeat performance. But London won't be a first impression - I know the place pretty well already :)
Great Hub! Very interesting. Good pictures. I noticed from Quantcast statistics that there are 68,000 hubpages (uniques, whatever that means) in Maylasia. Your cab driver, unbeknownst to you may be a fellow Hubber!
Any thoughts on the nuclear cooperation agreement recently signed with the U.A.R. by George Bush?
Hi Ralph - thanks for the visit. With the global recession more or less bursting the Dubai bubble and with Abu Dhabi not rushing in to offer support, the UAE is looking less united by the day. An association of city states, one (Sharjah) a Saudi protectorate, one (Abu Dhabi) genuinely oil-rich, one (Dubai) fast becoming a liability, and the rest comparitively undeveloped - some might think this constitutes a stable 'country'. I don't share that view.
I love Malaysia and KL especially,
Thank you for bringing back some good memories.
TMG
Thanks TMG - I'm hoping to spend more time there next year.
fascinating article! thank you to share such a nice pictures..ya that's KL.
I was in KL a few years ago and I would agree the towers are great but there are some other really great stuff to see as well. When I went there it was only during a stop over but I really want to get back there soon and see more. thanks for the good Hub
Never been, but would love to go. Kuala Lumpur is my list of must-visit places. Thanks for a good hub.
Tuah, Kennooo, Wanderlust - thanks for the read & comments. Hoping to be back there next year, but for a longer visit.
thanks for this great read
My pleasure, Raymond
Come again, there are some place like Redang island at the west coast of malaysia have cool place too
Hi Boris - with any luck, KL will be on my tour of duty again sometime this year. I'll try to arrange to have more spare time this time around :)
it is the most advanced muslims country.
Islam - It is certainly more advanced than the Gulf States!
Malaysia Damn...........................!!!!!!!!!
Hyugim - and that's it??
WOW !! What a great hub. You were only there for a short time, but you learn so much & take note of so much. I also was only there for a short time, see a little more {No work commitments at the time} & loved the place. I can only recomend that you have a better look when you have the opportunity.
Thanks Paul - It's certainly on my list of places to revisit if I get the chance. It's very different from the other Islamic countries I'm used to, in the Gulf region.
Good hub ! Interesting to know hubbers view about KL.
Other tourist spot you might be interested would be Pulau Langkawi for the beach and the scenery.
Penang for it's heritage buildings and food.
Other islands that I would recommend would be Pulau Tioman, Redang and Sipadan.
probyte2u - Thanks for the suggestions. I hope my next visit will be for a longer period.
i dont believe there is a "RUM COUNTRY" in the most populous islamic country. Just wondering what kind of restrictions they have over there ?? can you drink rum publicly ???
rancy - compared with the Gulf states, KL is very relaxed, and certainly there are many bars with frontages open to the street. I think that away from the city it might be less free, but I did not have the chance on my short trip to explore further.
very nice indeed, didnt have the chance to go there though (very near to the island Mindanao in the Philippines), but I have phobia of high places..(been to Financial towers--Hong Kong) and Eiffel, whew....that Twin Tower, wish to see it and be there too...
If I get another chance to go there I'll try to take more time to look around. This trip was just before Christmas so there was no chance to extend it.
hey looks nice place to visit
yes - a fine place :)
It has all been said - you write a "Travel Journal" with a nice touch. One can picture themselves in your shoes.
Love this hub
Hi Neil - thanks for commenting :)
Hi!
You should stay longer and visit other places in Malaysia too like Sabah http://hubpages.com/_2zayksrz5czpu/hub/Travelling- Pulau Ketam http://hubpages.com/_2zayksrz5czpu/hub/Unique-Trav and Ipoh http://hubpages.com/_2zayksrz5czpu/hub/Off-the-Bea
Lilian - next time I will, but this time I didn't have the chance as I had to be somewhere else the next day.
Good to know that you like KL, hopefully you'll get the chance to visit the islands like Langkawi, Pangkor, Tioman and Perhentian and write great hubs about them too! :)
Nur_S - I hope so too. Thanks for visiting :)
seems like a nice place to me.. thanks for posting this hub
Very interesting. I enjoyed the journey through your perceptions. It would be great to go there myself but I doubt I will. So, I'll have this memory, thanks to you.
Thanks James - I'm not much of a holiday person, but I consider it a privilege to get to see so much of the world through work. KL is one place I would happily go back to if the opportunity arises.
VioletSun says:
12 months ago
This was an entertaining hub on a country I have never seen, so for me it was a treat; the buildings are impressive structures. When I worked at Citigroup in Midtown Manhattan in NY, I loved looking out the 33rd floor and see the city below filled with yellow cabs.