The Capital City (Places to Visit & Public Transportation Info!)

Visiting the Capital City

 

Kuala Lumpur

 A small cyber city with a population of  1.6 million people which not only became a vision of modernity with its best skyscrapers, restaurants and nightlife in the country, but also possesses rich cultural heritage through the unity of its multicultural society.  After one hundred and fifty years since tin hacked a base out of the jungle, the city evolved tremendously into an affluent 21st century metropolis with its vast economy and development despite the remarkable cultural diversity.

The ethnic of Malays, Chinese prospectors, Indian immigrants and British colonials all helped to shape up the city   as well as leaving a mark of amazing assortment of cultural traditions.

Intermission

From the previous post, I have shared briefly about the history of Kuala Lumpur so, this time I will share about the interesting places that you can visit along with the complete information on accommodations, the convenient transportation and plus with additional information on how to save your budget but I will also include the luxurious places as well just in case if you're visiting the country for a special anniversary, honeymoon or any other special or romantic vacations.

Budget Expenses

First and foremost, I would like to  share about expenses for those who take control on their credit flow. So, like any travellers out there, we normally always set our budget at the top list before anything else unless if you're a multimillionaire who doesn't really care about the limitation of  expenses or someone who is 'The big spender!'. If you  know what I meant.

Before we start any further, I will just share some travel tips with you guys which you probably already done it!

1) Flight ticket reservation 

• Make sure you book your tickets at least 3 months in advance and if you can make it much earlier, the better!

• Economy class of course. 

• Always be alert of the discounts and promotion rate by signing on the membership of your preferable chosen airlines  and get the information of their promotions from time to time through e-mails or any ways possible.   

  •     Example websites:

    • I always think that Etihad Airlines always have great deals and promotion flight rate. - www.etihad.com

    •  Other websites that can help you find better deals:

      • Expedia.com , Lowfares.com, Tripbase.com, bestfares.com and many more which you can look it up.

        
        

2) What to see?

THE SKYSCRAPERS

1) Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur)

 

i) Quick Fact : 

• Opened in 1st October 1996

• 1379' (320m) in Height

• Designed by Kumpulan Senireka SDN BHD

• The Seventh tallest communication building in the world.

•  The bulbous pinnacle of the tower is inspired by a spinning Malaysian top and the 276metre high viewing deck is over 100m higher than the Skybridge of the Petronas Twin Towers.

ii) Location :

 

• 2, Jalan Puncak Kuala Lumpur

• The building is situated on top of the forested hill and when it comes to the view, it certainly trumps the Petronas Twin Towers. (Opens 9am - 10pm) 

 iii) Transportation :

• Free Public bus service :- Take RAPID KL bus (Purple line) in Pasar Seni station. 

   

  

• The bus destination is to BUKIT BINTANG. (Make sure you take the right bus because there's quite a few of purple line buses!)

• It will take you from Pasar Seni station, city center (look at the arrow at the map above) through Jalan Raja Chulan where you have to take off at the bus stop nearby the KL tower. (ask the bus driver to help you with this)

• Free shuttle service at the entrance at the bottom of the hill every 15 to 20 minutes that take you to the top of the hill where the tower is. (9am - 9.30pm)

iv)Tickets:

•  Available at the entrance which cost about RM38 ($15 or less approx). Make sure to update the foreign exchange info from time to time.

v) Additional Info :

• You can purchase the tickets from the backpackers accommodations that sell the tickets for tourist and get it for more cheaper deals!

• This free shuttle bus also will take you to Bukit Bintang where you will find a massive shopping mall, The Pavillion where most of the high street fashion brands are placed there as well as A-list brands such as Prada, Gucci, Pandora and lots more.

 

2) The Petronas Twin Towers 

 

i) Quick Fact : 

• Design by an Argentine American architect, Cesar Pelli.
• Tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004

• An elegant headquarters of the National Petroleum company, Petronas. 
  

• (Opens 9am - 7pm: Tuesday to Sunday,  1pm to 2.30pm on Fridays and closed on Mondays)
  
  
  

ii) Location : Jalan Ampang,Kuala Lumpur

iii) Transportation

The RAPID LRT train, Kelana Jaya line.

• You can take this train from Pasar Seni or KL central but it depends on your location. (refer to train map for more precise details)

• If you take from either of these destinations, the cost will be RM1.60 or Rm2.00 ($0.40/$0.50 only!)

 

• This train will go under tunnel where it will direct you into the Suria KLCC shopping Mall (free entrance) which is connected with the Petronas Twin Towers.

FREE shuttle bus service:

• Take the same RAPID KL purple line bus that goes by the KL tower and take off at a bus stop nearby The Pavillion.

• Once you get off, you will see a skybridge that connects the Pavillion and the Petronas KLCC shopping mall. More interesting fact is that the bridge is equipped with cooling air-condition that makes your walking journey more convinient and soothing as the weather in this country might goes up to 30 degree Celsius sometimes depends on the season.

Tickets:

• There are three types of packages for going up the Petronas twin towers which can be purchased at the counter ticket at the basement.

• The cheapest deal access is the 41st floor skybridge, 170m above ground.

• For the 88th floor observation deck in tower 2 is for RM40

• Gain your access to the member only Malaysian Petroleum Club for a meal! A premium package including lunch/dinner for RM200/RM350 ($60/$105 approx)

Additional information :

• There's a beautiful mini recreational park at the back of the KLCC Suria shoppingmall and a magnificent musical water show that took place at 8pm for about 5- 7 minutes or so and at 9.50pm before the mall is closed.

• Plus, there's track for people to jog and an open pool and big playground for kids.     

[More information on places to go below]

 

3) Travel within the country

Internal Transportation  

I strongly encourage, that you use the public transportation that are available/provided effectively because it will certainly help you to organize your financial more wisely!

Kuala Lumpur Public Transportation

 

Rail Transport 

1)KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu- Heavy rail) - Intercity/Urban public transport

• A - Sentul - >Port Klang line.

• B - Rawang -> Seremban line.

2) RAPID LRT (Light Rail Transit) - Urban public train. (Refer to the above map)

• C - Ampang -> Sentul line.

• D - Sri Petaling - >Sentul Timur line.

• E - Kelana Jaya Terminal Putra

3) KL Monorail - Mono train, which is smaller than the rest and goes only within Kuala Lumpur in shorter distance compare others.

Rail Line : 

• Titiwangsa -> Chow kit ->Medan ->Tuanku -> Bukit Nanas -> Raja Chulan -> Bukit Bintang -> Imbi -> Hang Tuah -> Maharajalela -> Tun Sambathan -> Kuala Lumpur sentral. ( F : Refer to the above map)

4) KLIA Ekspress - High speed train service linking KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Kuala Lumpur city centre.

• KLIA Transit to Kuala Lumpur (35 minutes : RM35 stops at 4 different stops)

• KLIA Ekspress to Kuala Lumpur ( 28 minutes Non-stop train)

  • Additional info :

    The tickets will cost about approximately $10 but it is so worth it as you will experience the comfort of the modern high speed train that will save more time but just in case if you're wondering to get more cheaper transportation, then I suggest you take the bus instead. Read more below for KLIA bus transit.

     

Public Bus Transportation

RAPID KL buses

 

i) Airport shuttle bus services

There is a bus terminal nearby the airport going to Kuala Lumpur City center which cost about RM10 or RM8 (only for $3/$4!) depends on the bus company.

•  Air Asia,  Airport Coach, Aerobus etc.. (you'll see the available buses when you reach the terminal)

  ii) RAPID KL Buses ( In the city center)

•  You can take buses to these touristic places & shopping malls. Just Suggestions and you don't have to do it all! ;-) 

  • KLCC ( Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre+ Petronas Towers)

  • KL TOWER

  • Lake Garden & Bird Park

  • Museums

  • China Town

  • Merdeka Square (Independence Square)

  • Central Market

  • National History Museum

  • Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

  • Islamic Arts Museum

  • Sze Ya Temple

  • Little India

  • Malaysian Tourism Complex ( For more info!)

  Massive Shopping Malls

  • KL Suria (KLCC)

  • Mid Valley

  • Times Square

  • Pavillion

  • Sunway Pyramid  

  • IOI Mall

  • Mines Resort City

  • ONE Utama

   

  There are so many more to see and activities to do in Kuala Lumpur and more in other cities of Malaysia which I will continue to write in the next post!

  I hope with this general information, you will able to get the picture of how the country really is and how to travel within this country in a more easier, cheaper and better ways. In my next post, I will continue sharing more information on Kuala Lumpur on  the budget and luxurious accommodations along with more elaboration more of the activities that you can here.

  Stay in tune every week for more!

   

  
  

   

  
  

The Beginning

Malaysia, Truly Asia. Based on the motto, it is obvious that Malaysia is truly an Asian country with multicultural society.  With the blend diverse ethnic groups, cultures and beliefs, Malaysia host a range of celebrations and festivals throughout the year.

The following races are the common ones in the society of Malaysia for instance, the Malay, Chinese and Indian but of course there other exotic races such as Bidayuh, Kadazan, Iban and so many tribes from the Borneo, the other region of Malaysia.

The population of this country is approximately 29 million people which consist of 13 states starting from the peninsular of Malaysia and the Malaysian Borneo territories, Sabah and Sarawak which is situated across the sea,  faces the south of China sea. 

On the west cost of the Peninsular of Malaysia is where Kuala Lumpur, the capital city lies consisting of approximately 1.627 million since 2010.

The majority 28 million of the citizens of Malaysia live on the peninsula with a mountainous ridge runs down the center of the peninsula, separating the densely forested and sparsely populated east coast from the west.

Bordered by Thailand to the north  and connected to Singapore in the south by peninsular causeway and a bridge. This big land also occupies the extreme south of the mainland in Southeast Asia, lying between 2 and 7 degrees north of the Equator.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEAK OF THE MAP!

 

THE CAPITAL CITY- KUALA LUMPUR

The most consummate Asian cyber-city, historical temples, and mosque rob shoulders where most of the people from this city works 10 to 15 hours a day!  Like any Asian countries , Malaysia is not an exceptions for the workaholic citizens! 

Throughout the years from a small town in 1850's, Kuala Lumpur has evolved to become the financial and commercial capital which is the principal gateway of the country. Highly build with one of best skyscrapers and buildings, Kuala Lumpur certainly promises a very strategic and homely place to live as it is equipped with all the modern transportation and high technology equipments and machines.

On the other hand, this town still possess a rich cultural heritage that is revealed by its colonial architecture, mosques and temples.

 DID YOU KNOW?

A very interesting fact about the meaning of Kuala Lumpur itself which comes from the native language of the country, Malay which means 'Muddy Land' mainly because the people has told that this town used to be bit of a muddy place when it was first discovered and established in 1857. It is derived from its location at the point where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet.

Starting from a ramshackle trading post for tin industry, this town was often plagued by floods, fires and civil wars whereas Chinese miners and traders formed a large part of its population in the early stage and was governed by the famous Kapitan China or headman, Yap Ah Loy. (see the image below)

 

                                                    Kapitan China, Yap Ah Loy

 

The community of Kapitan China was instituted by chief of Selangor in 1858, Rajah Abdullah, as a way of imposing order on the fractious Chinese immigrants and their secret societies.

                                              Rajah Abdullah, Chief of Selangor 

Raja Abdullah or known as Abdul Samad of Selangor was the fourth Sultan of Selangor at the time and he was also the one who instituted the community of Kapitan China to Yap Ah Loy in 1858.

The Independent capital city

 In the 1880's is when the building boom started for this small muddy town, when the British took control and in 1896, Kuala Lumpur became the witness of the land's 'Independence Day' when it became the capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States. 

The multiracial society soon began to settle and multiply, congregating in ethnic enclaves that remain even today. In 1999, another city took the tittle as the administrative capital which is Putrajaya but Kuala Lumpur still remains as the commercial and the country's financial centre.

That is the brief details about Malaysia and the capital city of Kuala Lumpur which hopefully would help more people to understand slightly about the country before planning to visit there.

In future post, I will include more beautiful and interesting places to visit in Malaysia and information of each places complete with information on the luxury places to the budget spot and delicious food choices!

 

First stop will be the capital city, Kuala Lumpur!

 to be continued....