I have visited Malaysia a few times but never been to the capital. As I am working Wednesday to Friday in KL this week and Vicky is in London I decide to stay on over the weekend to do some exploring. But what is there to do in KL? I (unhelpfully) leave an FT article in Singapore so arrive with only my South East Asia Footprint guide which has very little info - a hint perhaps.
The first thing you discover is that KL is very spread out. We were working in Petaling Jaya, a neighbouring business district. I have booked into a trendy hotel (Aloft) in KL Central (or Sentral in Malay) above the main railway station but it turns out that the main attractions are spread all over the place.
First outing is to the Golden Triangle for dinner. Lots of restaurants in huge malls, rather like Orchard Road in Singapore. The next morning I head for Merdeka (Independence) Square. Sadly they are renovating the green (and cricket pitch) but there are still several great examples of the Moorish/Moghul architecture favoured by the late Victorians like the Sultan Abdul Samad building (right), which once housed the British colonial administration and is now the Ministry of Tourism. Other buildings in the same style include the old railway station and the headquarters of Malaysian railways (KTM). From the square you can walk into Chinatown and the Central Market - now full of tourist stuff.
Malaysia is a great mix of cultures. The streets are a mixture of Malay, in their headscarfs and colourful clothes, Chinese and Indians. I am told that many of the jobs and university places are easier for the Malays to get but this hasn't stopped the Chinese taking many of the higher paid private sector jobs or the Indians dominating construction and engineering. The food is the same with places selling Nasi Lemak next door to Indian curry houses and Chinese restaurants. No wonder KL is famous for great places to eat.
Other points of interest include the inevitable visit to KLCC to see the enormous Petronas Towers. I can't go up them because the day's visits are sold out already. Book online if you want to go! Some great grafitti along the rather miserable river bank - KL's two rivers are enclosed as rather grimy canals - reminds me of the Grand Union Canal in London. Smelly too! Good meals including Malay, Indian and Italian meals out. And to keep Tommy happy I stop at a bar on Saturday night to watch Liverpool beating Arsenal 5:1. What a great result. The CFO I met on Friday is also a great Liverpool fan!
I am glad that I visited but next time I have some free time in Malaysia I will head for Penang or Ipoh or perhaps the highlands. Check out the slideshow below for more shots of KL...