Explore Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA'S capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a city of contrasts.

It is a modern yet culturally-centered city; a concrete jungle in the midst of lush greenery and a busy metropolis with old-world charm.

Upon arrival

If one touches down at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Klia), his first experience in Malaysia starts there. Klia is an architectural masterpiece being Malaysia Airports’ flagship airport and one of Southeast Asia’s major aviation hubs.

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It was thrice voted as the Best Airport (2005-2007) and for the first half of 2010, was named as Asia Pacific Airport of the Year. With an “airport in the forest, forest in the airport” theme, it is a destination in itself with its Jungle Boardwalk where travelers can experience a natural rainforest right in the middle of the facility.

Klia is also linked to a network of highways and expressways.

The fastest way is through the Express Rail Link, which gets one to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) in only 28 minutes.

It’s also as easy to get to the city if one arrives at the new Low Cost Carrier Terminal (where Cebu Pacific Air touches down), as there are several taxis and express buses waiting for passengers around the clock. The cheapest way to get to the city is by bus at RM8 (around P120) that will get to the city in an hour.

Where to stay

The most ideal area to stay is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, which is where Prince Hotel and Residence is located. A five-star international hotel situated in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle and central business district, it is a stone’s throw away from Pavilion, a high-end shopping mall and a short walk away from Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Prince Court Medical Centre, Bukit Bintang shopping district and Bintang Walk entertainment hub. For a complete experience, stay in one of the rooms with a view of the Petronas Twin Towers, which provides a nice backdrop by day or night.

Do the sights

It is not enough to view the Petronas Twin Towers from afar; visit the world-renowned icon of modern Malaysia and take the opportunity to go up the skybridge.

Standing proud at the height of 452 meters or 88 storeys-high above the ground, the Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world. Completed in 1996, the twin towers are a national landmark and a symbol of Malaysia’s socio-economic progress and achievements.

A visit to the Petronas Twin Towers is not complete without going up the double-decked skybridge at the 41st floor to get that exhilarating “top-of-the-world” experience. It not only symbolizes a gateway to the future but also facilitates movement between the two towers and is an escape route in case of emergency.

Entry here is free but the number of tickets issued daily are limited, so visitors are advised to come early as tickets are given out on a first come, first served basis.

Skybridge visits start at 9 a.m. but visitors queue as early as 5 a.m. to get tickets.

After the twin towers visit, continue your sightseeing to the other attractions nearby like the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas and catch performances of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra; Petrosains Discovery Centre, a modern, interactive science discovery museum; Galeri Petronas, a state-of-the-art, international class, art gallery and Suria KLCC, a six-level crescent-shaped shopping mall that adjoins the twin towers.

For ocean-lovers, a visit to the Aquaria KLCC will be a treat. Only a five-minute walk from the twin towers, Aquaria is a world-class, next generation, mega size aquarium with an area of 60,000 square feet—said to be the largest aquarium in the world. It is where one can discover some 300 aquatic species and view around 5,000 live exhibits.

One may also enjoy an immersed experience in the 90-meter underwater tunnel, Aquaria’s main attraction.

For some insight into Malaysia’s history and culture, a trip to Galeria Sri Perdana is a must.

Sri Perdana was the official residence of 16 years of Malaysia’s fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. He is best known for his vision and foresight in speeding the nation’s development. It was during his term that Malaysia experienced a great leap in its transformation into an industrialized nation.

Galeri Sri Perdana houses Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s personal collections and artifacts. His second-level balcony shows a great view of KLCC and they said it was here that he monitored the construction development of the Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia’s symbol of modernization and development.

Eating out

Kuala Lumpur is also a food lover’s paradise. Locals told us never to leave the country without a “makan” or an eating escapade. Variety of food ranges from Malay cuisine to Chinese cuisine, Indian cuisine, Mamak cuisine and international cuisine.

Popular local Malaysian dishes we tried included satay, barbecued skewers of either chicken or beef served with spicy peanut sauce and slices of cucumber and onion; bah kut tea, which literally means “meat bone tea,” a Chinese soup dish with pork ribs in a complex broth of herbs and spices and fish head curry, a must-try specialty of popular Madam Kwan’s restaurant located at Suria KLCC.

Sometimes an excellent tour guide makes all the difference. And this holds true for this particular trip. We were assigned to a very efficient and funny guide named Eddie Chok, who made our Kuala Lumpur experience the most unforgettable. For groups going to Kuala Lumpur, it may be better to get the service of a licensed tour guide.

At night, enjoy a drink at Sky Bar, located at level 33 of Traders Hotel. The best part about this bar is that one can gaze at the illuminated towering twin wonders of Petronas while listening to chill out and upbeat music—the perfect way to end a day of touring and eating.

*Cebu Pacific operates Airbus services to Kuala Lumpur daily. For booking and inquiries, one may visit www.cebupacificair.com or http://funtours.cebupacificair.com, or call (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888.