It’s not the first place to come to mind when thinking of a place to vacation. However, it’ll be an unexpected blessing from all that you could experience here!
Helpful Apps
Grab is a kind of one-stop-shop for almost everything you’ll need in Malaysia! You can hail a ride, order food, or find things to eat/do!
If you’re planning on taking a train, KTMB is the most common app to book tickets!
Google Maps is commonly used here as well to navigate where you want to go and explore what’s around.
Food
Personally, I LOVE Asian food, so it was a godsend to eat here. A lot of their dishes are mixed with other cultures, so it’s common to find fusion dishes with Chinese, Indian, or even Thai. The flavors are so dynamic and has all types of colorful spices mixed in. I’m salivating just thinking about it!
During my trip here, I would typically go to a cafeteria-like place where there are multiple stalls selling different types of food. I would circle the entire floor, contemplating which dish I wanted to try. There are a multitude of options and a vast array of smells that would tingle my tongue. More often than not, I’d try several dishes from different stalls because I just couldn’t help it! I highly recommend coming to these places for meals because not only does it taste authentic and amazing, but it’s also convenient and quick. My top recommendations are…
- Central Market – Food Court
The food court here has a lot of great options, but I particularly recommend this area because there’s a lot to see and do. Inside the market, there are shops selling various knick-knacks and tables set up by locals selling hand-crafted goods. Outside, you can eat more at the food trucks or walk around and explore the city (nearby this market is the Klang River which you can walk alongside or check out the Independence Square).
2. Lot 10 Mall – Underground Restaurant
Similar to Central Market’s food court, there’s plenty of options here! The aroma from each stall fills the room, and your biggest challenge will be figuring out what to eat. There’s plenty of space to sit and options for every palette. Whether you want rice or noodles, meat or seafood, veggies or dessert, everything is provided here!
3. Jalon Alor
Last, but most definitely not least, is Jalon Alor. This is Malaysia’s famous street food market. I went during the summer, so it was extremely humid and hot. To make matters worse, this place is always packed! With the sidewalks lined with vendors and people pressed together, it can feel quite intense. The workers are yelling out to the crowd trying to persuade everyone to come eat at their restaurant; menus are pressed into your face; all senses become heightened and overwhelmed with stimulation. However, the food was worth it, and the experience itself is something that you have to go through at least once in Malaysia! Admittedly, a lot of the restaurants on this street sell similar dishes, so just take your favorite pick, sit down, and enjoy the view of the bustling street!
BONUS!
There is one particular dish that I tried during my stay here that made an imprint on me for life. I’ve never had a dish similar to this before, and it was truly life-altering. If you know me, I love spicy food. So be fairly warned, this dish is quite spicy. However, what stunned me was the texture of the noodle. It is freshly made everyday using potato, and it is the chewiest and softest noodle that has ever met my tongue. It almost feels like a perfect cheese-pull in a noodle form. Ever since that day, I tried to go back and get another dish before I left. However, it was sold out EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. But if you’re lucky enough to find it when it’s in stock and bold enough to take on its heat, I HIGHLY recommend the Xi An Vermicelli Potato at Mee Hiris China Muslim in Lalaport Mall.
Activities
There is so much to see and explore in Kuala Lumpur. If you’re more into the city-life, then there’s plenty of malls, eateries, and infrastructures to check out (especially at night time because everything will be lit)! If you’re more into nature, there’s also plenty of green spaces like parks or historical sites that provide a good space away from the busyness of the city. However, I tried to list some more unique, memorable experiences that I was able to experience here:
- Batu Caves
If you search “things to do in Kuala Lumpur,” visiting the Batu Caves is probably at the top of everyone’s list– and for good reason. This colorful Hindu temple sits at a cliff parallel to a giant, golden statue of their god, Murugan. The only way to get to the top and inside the cave is by walking up at least a hundred stairs. The difficulty level is easy to moderate, but if you have a fear or heights, then this might be really challenging (especially when coming down). Inside the cave, there are more statues and places of worship. The juxtaposition of the raw, cave walls with the vibrant, man-made items make it for a worthy sight!
2. A Blind Massage
Getting a massage from a blind person is an especially interesting experience because they truly only see through touch. From the several people that I’ve met at this massage parlor, everyone was congenitally blind and have never experienced sight in their lives. Therefore, when I received the head-to-toe massage, they found areas on my scalp that sounded as though my skull was creaking and knots on my upper back that were deeper and probably needed more sessions. For anyone who’s going, I highly recommend the place “Relax Two Traditional Blind Massage.” The people are very friendly and helpful!
3. Petaling Street
This is another popular destination within Kuala Lumpur. It is an outdoor market that sells all sorts of items from suitcases to clothing to tech. They’re also known for selling knock-off goods like Louis Vuitton bags or Nike sneakers. However, what makes this place especially memorable is learning to HAGGLE! My first time there, I was shy and just watched my friend. However, by the third time we went, we were both persistent, adamant, and unwavering. If you go, I just have three recommendations:
First, be respectful and kind because how you treat them is how they will treat you!
Second, never pay full price! The first stated price is never the actual price.
Third, do your due diligence! Not all knock-offs are made the same. I was thankful that a worker there actually showed the difference between a good knock-off and a bad knock-off because I would’ve never known.
Scenery
Kuala Lumpur is a big city with impressive towers, a lot of skyscrapers, and other enchanting buildings like mosques and malls that are beautifully and intentionally set on a picturesque backdrop. I loved that as you’re walking through the city, you can find a river and a beautiful mosque adjacent to it as if to appear that it’s floating on clouds. There are also a lot of parks and greenery to contrast from the urban qualities of the city.
With that said, it did appear that a lot of the infrastructure was under construction. I was particularly concerned to find gaping holes on sidewalks without anything to cover it or at least a sign to warn pedestrians of it. If I was particularly careless that day and unaware of my surroundings, I could have easily fell into that hole and badly injured myself.
Moreover, the streets are extremely busy and bustling. Many times, people didn’t wait for the traffic light to signal them to walk across safely because oftentimes, there weren’t signal lights. Or maybe there were but I didn’t realize it because I was just following what everyone else was doing? Don’t get me wrong– as a woman in her mid-20s, walking through oncoming traffic was somewhat exhilarating, and I really had to learn to trust my gut. However, as an outsider, it definitely didn’t feel safe, and I would be very wary of crossing if I was with a child or an elder.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle here kind of shocked me because I HAVE NEVER MET SUCH FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. And I’m not talking about people who are just polite or those who are fake-nice. These people seemed genuine and honest. From my day-to-day interactions, I was building such a good repertoire with Malaysian people. During an Uber ride, I was able to have a very heart-to-heart conversation with the driver who was honest and vulnerable about his current situation of pregnancy difficulties with his wife. Many times if I was by myself, people would come and make conversation with me– asking me if I needed help with anything, trying to get to know me, or even showing me around the city! This was a regular occurrence! Daily acts of kindness and openness to strangers made me feel so comfortable that I would even ask random strangers if they wanted to grab lunch with me. This is something I would normally never do in any other part of the world. However, in Malaysia, if I was really bored and had an open schedule, I would just find a random stranger to eat with. Surprisingly, it didn’t feel weird or awkward. It felt like I was back in Kindergarten, and I grabbed the first girl I saw and asked her if she wanted to be my best friend (true story). The lifestyle here is very open and kind; it is an incredible place especially for any solo-travelers!
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