Once traveling over the Penang bridge coming from the main land, not just an island but a metropolitan city arises ahead. An island scattered with industry, housing estates and condominiums, but also an island with a long trading and exciting history and many of these elements can still be found when excursioning around Penang.
History of Penang
The Sultan of Kedah was convinced by the British captain Sir Francis Light to surrender Pulau Penang (BetelNutIsland) to the British East India Company. The first city was named after King George III, and Georgetown is still the major heart of the island. After 100 years of British occupation the island joined the Federation of Malaya in 1957.
Pulau Penang or Penang for short (sometimes referred to as Pinang) houses a multi cultural population of nearly 1,5 million inhabitants. Pulau Penang is part of the State of Penang which can be found in the North Western tip of Malaysia.
Georgetown booming heart of Pulau Pinang
Georgetown Is the main administrative and commercial district of the island. Its heritage and colonial history can be found on every street corner, as many building and sites are kept intact and withstood the passing modern times.Georgetown definitely a modern city wrapped in a historical package.
ChinaTown and Little India are a must-visit district an exciting and well preserved area, and gives perfect insight into the lives of early settlers.
Hotels And Accommodations in Penang
Accommodation on the island is plentiful, whether one wants to be pampered in a five star hotel or resort or just basic or standard accommodation, Penang will comfort the travelers needs. Georgetown, Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi is where all the top class accommodations are found.
Food of Penang
Penang offers its own fine cuisine which of the historical background is a wild mixture from various cultures. And the seas surrounding the island bring fresh catch to every plate every day.Asam Laksa a spicy soup, and Char Kway Teow a noodle dish should not be missed. Coffee houses in Penang are called Kopitiam, and offer a wide variety of foods and desserts.
All over the island quality entertainment can be found, for nightlife the island offers plenty of pubs, clubs and restaurants, we recommend Upper Penang road, Gurney Drive and Batu Ferringhi.
Penang Shopping
Penang is definitely a shoppers heaven, the many shopping centers, bazaars and markets offer a wide variety of goods. Penang’s port brings the best from all over the world to this island of abundance. Jalan Penang, Lebuh Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Cambell,Batu Ferringhi and Chowrast Bazaar should not be missed.
Culture and Traditions
Pulau Penang’s geographical location brought a wide range of cultures and traditions to the island. The exotic culture is found in many heritage sites open to the public, to list a few; Kek Lok Si Temple, Fort Cornwallis, Dharmikarama Burmese Temple, Acheen Street Malay Mosque, City hall, Khoo Kongsi temple Complex, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Little India, The State Mosque, St. Anne’s Church and Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. Exploring the island the toursit will understand there are many more to be to discovered.
Recreation in Penang
However a large part of the island is changed into housing and industrial estates, Pulau Penang offers a wide range of fascinating natural attractions. Penang’s Northern shores are reserved for sun lovers; the pristine beaches offer idyllic sites and sceneries and stretch for miles, Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang are world famous and all water sports can be found here. But Penang also offers a National Park, Tropical Spice and FruitGarden, Botanical Garden, Butterfly Farm and BirdPark. Penang Hill has to be done once in a lifetime, either hiking or taking the charming Penang Hill train to the 830 meter high summit, the views from this standpoint will awe everyone. The island also offers excellent Jungle trekking trails and absolute top notch gold facilities and driving ranges.
Museums on Pulau Pinang
If museums and galleries are preferred, Penang has plenty to offer too. Venues to put on the checklist, Penang Museum, Forest Recreation Park Museum, P. Ramlee’s House, WarMuseum, ToyMuseum, University of Science Malaysia Museum and ArtGallery, USM ABN-AMRO Arts Centre.
Getting to Penang
Whether travelling by road, rail, sea or air, Penang will cater to every traveler’s needs. PenangInternationalAirport connects to all major capital cities in the area. From Butterworth its only a small crossing by ferry, and sometime is faster than the congested Penang bridge. The island offers plenty of taxis, and within Georgetown small three wheelers are found called Trishaws, very smart and inexpensive way to get around town fast.
Pulau Penang, an exciting island with enough entertainment and leisure activities for every traveler. Tourists will go home, satisfied and with lots of stories and pretty pictures.
South East Asia is the place where East meets West, and this is definitely true when we look into culinary affairs. All cultures unite in kitchens around this region. For all means we can place Kuala Lumpur In the center of this dining universe.
Whether one is looking for cheap and inexpensive dishes or in search of fine dining adventures, Kuala Lumpur offers the best of all worlds. Prices are reasonable for the quality and services offered. Tips are not expected.
Malaysia’s Food Obsession
Malaysia is truly obsessed with food, it is a food culture and the whole nation evolves around food.In this country one will never go hungry and the variety offered is enormous.
Malaysians love to eat outside, either in well air-conditioned restaurants, mamak stalls, food courts or road side hawkers.
Lets look at the basics first, most Malaysians love to feed themselves on a high carbo basedbreakfast, which are mostly taken between 8.00 am and 10.00 am. Most favorite dishes are; nasi lemak which is a form of sticky rice with mild to hot sambal, roti Chennai little fluffy pancakes eaten with a curry or Mee Goreng which is a noodle dish. Most people arrive first at work and then go for their breakfast.
Lunch is taken at 1.00 pm, the moment the whole nation goes for lunch, we advise to avoid this time for lunch, unless one loves crowds and waiting in line.Nasi Champur (rice with mixed dishes) is definitely a most favorable dish.
High tea and a coffee break at 4pm, is part of the working day routine. Most people will consume their beloved Kuih, a variety of sweet or deep fried snacks and wash it down with a Tea-O or Kopi the local variety of milky tea or coffee.
For dinner there is no set time, and Malaysians love supper, a last meal of the day around midnight shared with friends preferable at a local coffee shop
Food Paradise Jalan Alor
When talking about food in Kuala Lumpur the first thing that comes to mind is Jalan Alor. Jalan Alor is a bustling side street of Jalan Bukit Bintang during the day, but a 400 meter long stretch of outdoor food festival during the night. A wide array of local and international dishes can be found here; sitting at plastic tables and chairs does not sound very romantic but is an absolute must to have done once in a lifetime. It’s an exciting street with lots of activity and sublime mouth watering bites.
ChinaTown and Petaling Street
Petaling street food paradise is smaller in scale than Jalan Alor but definitely worth a visit, a semi open air food paradise with savory delights from all regions of Mainland China.
Kuala Lumpur Restaurants
Kuala Lumpur has one of the finest arrangements of restaurants to be found anywhere. All countries and cooking styles from around the globe can be found in the heart of K.L. The Middle Eastern influence can be felt, as Malaysia is becoming a more popular travel destination for this region. Culinary food establishments are spread out all over the Golden Triangle, but the main concentrations can be found at
Starhill Gallery – The cluster of restaurants in the basements breaths a welcoming atmosphere once decending down the escalator. Up class dining in a candle light ambiance with soft live jazz music in the back ground, a great place to unwind the day.
Pavilion Shopping Complex – More than fifty high end and mid class restaurants can be found at The Pavilion. The up class food court in the basement is a real treat. The Pavilion is a true paradise for the palate, and a fabulous venue to start the day or evening.
KLCC Suria – On all floors of this immense mall in between the Petronas towers, nourishment for the inner body can be found, a wide range from fast food and budget restaurants to seriously chic establishments can be found here. A visit to the food courts are good value for money.
Berjaya Times Square – In this ten floor shopping arena, restaurants can be found on all floors, the main food court is at the tenth floor, and the main restaurant area at the second and third floor surrounding the entrance of the indoor theme park. Time Square for long and timeless dining.
All 5 star Kuala Lumpur hotels offer multiple fine dining and lunch accommodations which are available to non resident visitors.
Fast Food in Malaysia
All the world renowned fast food brands are found on any corner in the city and on every floor of every mall. Malaysia loves fast food. And the wide variety of chains and franchises are here to tickle the fast food taste buds and truly will not disappoint you.
Outside of Kuala Lumpur fine dining can be found in areas like Ampang, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, Damansara Utama and Bandar Sunway.
When visiting Kuala Lumpur bring your wonder lamp, because in this city all your shopping wishes can come true. Looking for low end or high end goods, Kuala Lumpur is a kaleidoscope for anyone who loves to shop.
The Kuala Lumpur Shopping Experience
Probably the number one sport in Malaysia is called shopping, and the retailers provide the answers to all demands. Wares from all over the world flood the Malaysia marketplaces. Most shopping malls open their doors from 10.00am till 10.00pm, and during these times you can shop till you drop in a welcoming air conditioned atmosphere. The heart of the city is called the Golden Triangle and here are all the main shopping complexes and Kuala Lumpur hotels located.
Main Shopping Malls and Centers in the Kuala LumpurCityCenter
Avenue K at Jalan Ampang
Can be found opposite of KLCC Suria and offers a wider array of top brands and branded goods. Fairly new shopping complex with a luxury feel to it.
BB Plaza & Sungei Wang at Jalan Bukit Bintang
BB Plaza and Sungei Wang are two malls attached to each other, catering for the low end market, but tons of fun to shop there, hundreds of small and tiny boutiques with lots of nif nafs, paradise for bargains. The shopping center forms the heart of Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Berjaya Times Square at Jalan Imbi
Times Square is huge ten floor shopping mall, includes an indoor theme park, theaters, convention center and hotel can be found at Jalan Imbi or at the Imbi Monorail station. The weekends can be extremely busy, as lots of activities are organized in and around the shopping complex.
Central Market
Central Market is not so much of a mall, but more a cultural heart of the city with lots of little stalls selling arts and handy crafts, great place for traditional Asian souvenirs. Situated close to Petaling street at Jalan Hang Kasturi.
ImbiPlaza at Jalan Imbi
ImbiPlaza is the low end electronics mall in Kuala Lumpur, great deals can be found in this little electrical paradise. Located just behind Sungei Wang at Jalan Imbi
KLCC Suria at the PetronasTowers
KLCC Suria endless shopping, floor after floor showing the most international luxury brands Malaysia has to offer.
Kota Raya
Kota Raya is located in China Town and 100% low end mall, but absolute worthwhile the visit, many little shops offer a variety of goods nowhere else to be found in the city.
Lot 10 at Jalan Bukit Bintang
Lot 10 is one of the older malls in K.L. but 2009 was the year of a large facelift for this mall with its own atmosphere, trendsetting and a great shopping arena. The mix of shops is not the standard as found in many other malls. Their RoofTopGarden is definitely worthwhile visiting in the evening. Also the new Food Court in the basement is a must visit
The Mall
The Mall is not a very large mall, but a nice place to visit if your hotel would be in this part of the city, located next to The Legends Hotel at Jalan Putra.
Pavilion Shopping Complex at Jalan Bukit Bintang
Pavilion offers a wide variety of luxury goods, even some high end car dealers have their premises here, immaculate array of food and dining options. Ample evening entertainment can be found here too.
Petaling Street in ChinaTown
Petaling Street is not a mall but a street with a canopy, found in the center of ChinaTown. Full of vendors, often offering counterfeited goods, but great bargains to be found in this bustling little sphere. Just be careful.
Plaza Low Yat
Plaza Low Yat are 6 floors of cameras, telephones, PC’s and laptops, if you can’t find it here, you will not be able to find it anywhere. Low Yat is Malaysia’s largest IT and Lifestyle Mall, Situated next to BB Plaza and Sungei Wang
Kompleks Sogo
Kompleks Sogo caters towards the lower end of the market, very popular with the Malay and Indian community, great bargains and lots of local goods especially fabrics to be found around Sogo, located at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Starhill Gallery at Jalan Bukit Bintang
Star Hill gallery can be found opposite of Pavilion Shopping Complex, probably the most exclusive shopping mall in the whole of Malaysia, an absolute must visit location, fine dining with live jazz background music playing every evening of the week. Don’t forget to visit the 50.000 sq feet spa area on the fifth floor. The top floor offers a small exhibition of local artists.
There are more smaller malls to be found in The Golden Triangle which are all an experience by themselves, enjoy meandering around to discover new shop locations is a pleasure in itself.
Other Shopping Malls Around Kuala Lumpur
Just outside the City center you will find more gigantic shopping complexes.
Mid Valley Mega Mall with The Gardens right next to it, 1-Utama in Petaling Jaya, The Curve in Damansara, Bangsar Village and Bangsar Shopping Center, Sunway Pyramid and IOI Mall in Subang Jaya to list a few.
Shopping in Kuala Lumpur is a fun and exciting experience, lots of bargains and good selection of local souvenirs can be found all around the city. The shops are never far from hotels in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s focal point of tourist activities and tourist attractions. Travelers really love this city. Nature and action, outdoor or indoor activities and just fun and exciting travel tours with the family, Kuala Lumpur offers it all. A lot of tourist attractions can be found within the city center. Transport is easily arranged for activities outside the city center.
A fast way to see an overview of the city is to take the KL Hop-on Hop-off glass roof double deck bus.While riding the bus a good glimpse of the diverse, contrasting and colorful scenes Kuala Lumpur has to offer can be viewed. The ride travels along 44 main attractions of the city. The traveler can hop on or off at any time. The bus stops close to all the main hotels in Kuala Lumpur.
Overview of The Main Tourist Attractions of Kuala Lumpur
JadeMuseum
This little museum shares the art of Jade, the fruits of nature.. Jewelry, artifacts, weapons and ornamental carvings are all on display
Aquaria KLCC
An ocean of discovery, located inside the KL Convention Center, next to the PetronasTowers. This highly interactive attraction focuses on edu-tainment. Learn more about our seas and marine life while walking through the 90 meter aquatic tunnel. Aquaria KLCC is a must see attraction in Kuala Lumpur, fun for he whole family.
Forestry Research Institute Malaysia
Malaysia’s geographic location offers lush rainforests and FRIM offers a close insight to the forest while still in the city center, even a tree top walk is part of the tour.
Kuala LumpurTower – Menara KL
The Menara KL or the KL Tower reaches 421 meters above sea level , the highest building on the peninsular. The panorama deck offers an incredible aerial view of the city.The Sri Angkasa restaurant offers the finest local foods with the best view ever.
PetronasTwinTowers
The PetronasTwinTowers are KL’s world wide trademark dominating the Kuala Lumpur skyline and overlooking the city like a giant cathedral. Suria KLCC is one of Malaysia’s largest shopping centers and is located inbetween the petronasTowers. The park behind the towers offers a brilliant and relaxing walk, with many features and art by local artists. The Malaysian Philharmonic hosts their concerts at the KLCCTowers, and the sky bridge offer a wide angle view of the city.
Petrosains Adventure Science
Petrosains is a hands-on museum focused on the young visitor and their parents. Once inside, a knowledge accumulating transformation will take place; the science of petroleum is fun…!
BatuCaves near Gombak
BatuCaves is a must see attraction, attracting hundreds of thousands religious Hindu pilgrims per year. The BatuCaves should not be missed, The 272 step staircase will lead the visitor to the main cave, surrounded by tranquility the breaths a lot of energy. Nut vendors will offer nuts to the tourist to feed the hundreds of monkeys visiting the site daily.
Petaling Street in ChinaTown
Petaling Street the bustling heart of ChinaTown, teeming with vendors offering their ware, however there is a warning for counterfeiting. Do bargain, before buying. This is the place where shopping is fun. Delicious traditional Chinese cuisine can be found all around this exciting area.
Kuala LumpurLakeGardens
Kuala LumpurLakeGardens or locally know as Taman Tasik Negara are all within walking distance of the city. The traveler can find, The Bird Park, OrchidGarden, ButterflyPark, Deer Park and HibiscusGarden, a great district to roam around for nature lovers and walking enthusiasts alike. It really takes the toursit away from the big city and daily life, relax and enjoy nature at its best.
Among these main tourist attractions, many more activities can be found in and around the city. The NationalMuseum, Jalan Buklit Bintang, Central Market, Merdeka Square, just to name a few. All around the city, small art galleries and handicraft shops, can be found and are all worthwhile visiting.
Kuala Lumpur will not bore the traveler for a second; a new activity is always around the corner.
This travel guide will show you some of the hotspots in and around Kuala Lumpur’s main city center. Bukit Bintang and Changkat Bukit bintang form part of the Malaysian top party scene.
Kuala LumpurMalaysia
Kuala Lumpur a modern metropolitan city in Asia offers an abundance of nightlife. We will restrict ourselves to the core of the Bukit Bintang, center of K.L.. Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur is in one word abundant. Good food, haute cuisine, lively music, dancing or just plain pubs and chill out lounges, it can all be found in the vibrant city center of Kuala Lumpur.
Bukit Bintang the area bordering the nearly two kilometer long jalan Bukit Bintang forms part of the vibrant heart of Kuala Lumpur. Let’s take a tour around the Bukit Bintang area at night time.
Changkat Raja Chulan
If you are looking for dinner and a great neighborhood to begin your party, Changkat is the place to be. Just off Jalan Bukit Bintang close to BB Plaza, Changkat Raja Chulan can be found; important landmark would be The Radius International Hotel cornering Changkat Bukit Bintang. It’s a great place to start your evening, the various clubs, bars and restaurants offer a variety of styles and niches. Both Western and Eastern styles can be found and prices are fair to moderate. The Middle Eastern countries start to have a huge influence on the gastronomic industry in this part of the city. Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German, Moroccan, Lebanese and plain old Fish and Chips to name a few can be found among the favorites in this area. Werner’s Porkielicious Elcerdo, Tapas at Pinchoa, Pizza at CioCio, Grill at Pampas, Indian Curries at Sutraa; your taste buds will not get bored while visiting The Changkat.
The clubs are also found in abundance and attract a large expatriate crowd as well as lots of holiday makers, business travelers and local party people. The Envie Pub, The Social and Finnegan’s Irish Pub supply the more contemporary public, It’s Twenty One where trendy sounds, can be heard. Gypsy Bar and The Green Man take you back to the seventies and eighties and Frangipani caters for gay community.
In short this little row of establishments is upgrading, expanding and attractive, it welcomes you Monday to Sunday from after work till late..
You do not have to leave this stretch to find yourself well In the middle of the night before the last club closes.
Jalan Bukit Bintang
When you leave Changkat Bukit Bintang and take a little stroll along Jalan Bukit Bintang in the far distance you can hear the sounds of drumming Latin beats, passing The Opera and Cligue, walking towards The Pavilion Shopping Mall turn right at and you find Q-Ba where hot and temperamental Latin beats make you move, if you want it or not. The large bar and small dance floor offer a great ambiance and hours of hip-shaking enjoyment.
At the Star Hill gallery, which is by far the most exclusive shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, on the second floor at the entrance we find Star Hill Club M, which maintains its status of most exclusive club in the whole of K.L. When you exit and cross the road toward The Pavilion Shopping Mall, more fine dining and lounges can be found. La Bodega serves wine and tapas, Athena, offers a wide variety of Greek dishes, Michelangelo’s restaurant deli and bar provide Italian fine cuisine, at Carlos Mexican Cantina you can indulge in Mexican styled platters.
Pavilion Shopping Mall also hosts one of the largest cinema’s in town.
Just outside the mall the 6 star Grand Millenium Hotel is located, within it’s premises the Bistro 160 and Pulse Ultra Club can be found.
Outside of the city center there are many areas, where the same quality of nightlife can be found, KLCC, Ampang, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, Sunway Pyramid just to name a few.
Kuala Lumpur, not a wild party scene, but a relaxing fine, sophisticated and safe party city.
Malaysia’s currency the Ringgit Malaysia for short RM is worth five times more than your Euro, and six times more than your British pound and three and half times the US Dollar. Malaysia offers the opportunity to live on a couple of Dollars a day.
The city can be a bit confusing at times, because of some hills and small mountains in the city center. Kuala Lumpur maps are available from any convenient store.
Inexpensive and Safe Backpackers Country
Food and travel are seriously inexpensive as long as one stays away form the Star B’s, Mac D’s and KayeFCee’s. Malaysia is a true Walhalla for backpackers hiking around the globe, relatively undiscovered and foremost safe. One of the best features of this country is that people leave each other alone. No hassling in the tourist area’s but friendly people who will make time for you for a courteous chat, helpful in directions or with navigating you around the MuddyCity. Kuala Lumpur owes its nickname to the valley where the river Klang and Gombak created their muddy shores, it’s a modern well paved capital now.
Areas to Stay as a Backpacker in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur offers a wide area of hotels. Where to stay as a backpacker? There are three main areas where cheap hotels, lodges and guest houses can be found, Chow Kit, ChinaTown and Bukit Bintang. Some backpackers hostels and guest houses are found in ChinaTown, but the majority is located in Tingkat Tong Shin and at the end of Jalan Bukit Bintang cornering with Jalan Pudu.
Tingkat Tong Shin is packed with guest house after guest house, and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, many nationalities find a safe haven here. Guest houses will make you feel welcome, most offer internet facilities, a locker and breakfast. But breakfasts can be found all around the area, in easy accessible open restaurants or street food stalls offering local delicacies.
Places to Eat in The CityCenter
Parallel with Tingkat Tong Shin, Jalan Alor which is a local food paradise stretches over 700 meters. The empty street during the day turns into a hustling and bustling open air food festival in the evenings. Local hawkers offer a wide variety of fresh catch. Choices range from Chinese, Malay, Indian or Thai cuisine it all can be found here. The large variety of fresh seafood delicacies is an amazing and tongue inducing temptation. Most restaurants offer a photo album; only an index finger is needed to point out the different dishes. Always ask portion size for one person, and order a variety of dishes. This will definitely offer a colorful variety of tastes and smells. When ordering fish, request a price first, a guest might end-up paying premium prices for average fish. Prices here are cheap for the quality of food offered.
Traveling In And Out of Kuala Lumpur
Backpacking from the Bukit Bintang and ChinaTown area makes traveling easy. Everything is offered in walking distance. The main bus station Puduraya station can be found at Jalan Pudu and lays in between Jalan Bukit Bintang and ChinaTown. Busses will travel anywhere on the Malaysian Peninsular, busses to Singapore leave every 15 minutes, and comfortable luxury sleepers are available for all corners of the country. Chow Kit is a little further from the city center, but easy to reach as there is a Mono Rail station in the heart of Chow Kit. Chow Kit is a great place to pick up some bargains and deals.
Backpacking and hiking in Kuala Lumpur is safe, fun and easy and above all extremely cheap.
This guide helps the traveler with the next step when arriving in Malaysia's KLIA or LCCTAirport; explaining tourists about the transport options.
When visiting Kuala Lumpur for the first time, traffic might feel chaotic at first, however a traveler will soon feel at home and get a good feel for Kuala Lumpur’s transportation systems.
Kuala Lumpur offers many alternative transport options. Bus, monorail, train and taxi are all fast and safe. Traveling this way also gives more pleasure, enjoyment and the best views of this magnificent city.
Kuala Lumpur by Air
Most people will travel to Malaysia by air, either arriving at KLIA (Kuala LumpurInternationalAirport), LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) both located 60 kilometers South of the city center or SubangAirport (Sultan Abdul Aziz ShahAirport) 20 kilometers West of the city center.
From KLIA and LCCT there is a variety of transport options to make it to the city, busses, taxis and the KLIA Express; all take less than one hour to Kuala Lumpur City and the major Kuala Lumpur hotels. From SubangAirport the only option is by road, taxi is the fastest means of transportation and takes about 30 minutes to the booming heart of KL.
Busses Crowded But Fun to Do
Busses are a great way to travel, crowded but cheap in the city center. RM1 or RM2 bus ticket lasts all day. When traveling outside of Kuala Lumpur the bus is the best option. Inexpensive transport travels to any destination within the Peninsular. Buses leave from various bus stations in the city; KL Main Bus station Puduraya at Jalan Pudu, Putra Bus Terminal at Jalan Putra, Duta Bus Terminal at Jalan Duta and Pekeliling Bus Terminal near Titiwangsa. Most operators offer standard or luxury options. With the local bus operators any destination can be reached, Genting, Penang, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru and all other major cities including Singapore.
Driving a Car in Kuala Lumpur
Driving in KL can be disorientating as highways are not built like other major cities. Road users apply their own set of rules, drive carefully is the best advice. Major car rental dealer can be found at all airports.
Kuala Lumpur’s Unique Monorail System
KL Monorail is a perfect intra-city public transit system. KL Monorail operates from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa over a distance of nearly 9 kilometers. With its 11 stations stopping at major destinations in the city it is the most ideal form of transport. Over rush hour it might be a bit crowded.
Motorbike Not an Ideal Way of Transport
Thousands and thousands of small motorbikes swarm the city. Unless there is no other option renting a motorbike within the city is possible. Owners of cars have no respect for motorbikes.
Taxi Come In Many Colors And Sizes
Yellow cabs, abundant and relatively cheap can be found everywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Two main systems exist, vouchers and general pick-up. Vouchers can be bought at major taxi stands around the city. There is a set price from point of departure to any destination. Taxis should use the meter which should start at RM3 (US$0.90). When a taxi does not drive on the meter, find another one; or agree on a price. After midnight there are no rules.
Local Trains
This is where KL traffic really gets interesting. Five different train companies operate within the KlangValley. They do not always inter-connect at the same location; hopping from one train to the next might take as much as a 500 meter walk. Monorail, Putra, Star, KLIA express, Komuter KTM are all reliable services and a great means of transport, cheap and pretty efficient.
National Trains Services
KL Sentral train station offers trains to serve the south all the way to Singapore, and the north to Kedah and Kelantan even crossing into Thailand and on to Bangkok. Trains are a magical means of transport; a variety of landscapes passes by while the traveler sits back and relaxes.
Walking The Streets of Kuala Lumpur
Car drivers, taxis, motorbikes and busses offer no respect to pedestrians, our best tip can only be, be careful and stay on the pavement.
Traffic Jams Bring Mayhem to The City
Kuala Lumpur is notorious for its early morning and after work traffic jams, try to avoid these hours as a tourist.
Road Signage Not Clear and Bold
Signage in Malaysia is not always as one may expect, Asian street signs have often no hard rules, bold and clear directions are hard to get. Owning a map is a must for every tourist. Not all signage is in English.
Traveling in Malaysia can be a small adventure. But traveling in and around Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is a true pleasure.
