Asian Travel Blog

I have talked a little previously about the exciting city of Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, and today I want to tell you about two of the best places from where to get fine views of the city.

One unmissable sight of Kuala Lumpur is the spectacular Petronas Twin Towers, which, until recently, standing at a magnificent 452 metres, were the tallest buildings in the world. These towers have only recently been superseded in height by the Taipei 101 building in Taiwan, and are regarded by many as a symbol of Malaysia’s modernity. The Skybridge, that connects the two towers, is one of the highest suspended bridges in the world. If you want to get the wonderful view from the Skybridge, entry to this is free, but only to the first 1,200 people who show up, so be sure to arrive early. It is interesting to note that the Skybridge, which is not actually at the top of the Petronas Twin Towers, is the highest point that the members of the general public can go.

If you would like to take in the view of the city from a point even higher than the Twin Towers, then you should try the observation deck on the top floor of the KL Tower. From here you can get really great city views, especially because the KL Tower is built on a hill, and so you are a few meters higher than the Twin Towers. As a bit of extra fun, why not try the revolving restaurant which is just one floor above the observation deck. Here you can get a really excellent all round view while you eat your meal.

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Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the largest city of Malaysia. If you find yourself flying to the east with Malaysian Airlines, then I strongly recommend that you break your journey with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, and take a look at this interesting city.

The name Kuala Lumpur literally means “muddy estuary” in the Malay language. Kuala Lumpur has grown from being a small village to a major city of some seven million, in a mere half century. In Kuala Lumpur you will find five star hotels that do not break the bank, excellent shopping, (I once did a wardrobe restock on my stopover between the UK and Japan). The food is also excellent and I have particularly fond memories of an excellent vegetable curry eaten at an outdoor restaurant. A little off the usual tourist track, Kuala Lumpur is starting to become more popular with travellers.

As in most of Malaysia’s big cities, about 55% of Kuala Lumpur’s population is of Malaysian Chinese descent, and this is reflected in the availability of excellent Chinese food, and a bustling Chinatown. A good proportion of the population is Musilim, and many Malaysian women wear traditional Muslim dress.

The centre of the city lies between Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Ampang, and this is where you will find most of the city’s fabulous shopping malls, five-star hotels and good places to go for an evening out. At the northern edge of the city are the famous Petronas Twin Towers. A little to the south you will find Merdeka Square where there are some of the old colonial buildings. Going a little further south you will find, the suburb of Bangsar which is famed for its restaurants and nightclubs.

For its good food, the marvellous view from the Petronas Twin Towers, great shopping and good hotels, Kuala Lumpur is a great place to spend a few days.

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