Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur (KL) boasts a bustling commercial center by day and offers exciting entertainment by night. It could be Asia's next big entertainment and party capital as discerning clubbers from around the region and the world hotfoot it here.

A myriad of nightspots provides a great and varied selection, and attract the fickle loyalties of party-goers. No doubt, a dull moment never exists in KL. The various races and cultures also present a great base for many festivals and cultural shows.

Dance Clubs

After 10p Poppy clears the tables and turns into a throbbing dance club. The Beach Club Café, on the other hand, offers a less conspicuous spot in an idyllic resort setting. It draws an already ecstatic crowd with perennial pop tunes. By night, the Hard Rock Café, a favorite, becomes the haunt of a crowd ready to groove to the varied sounds of rock, soul, R&B, funk and blasts from the past. Meanwhile the two-floored and many roomed Rivas is a place to come for something surprising and delightful.

Festivals

Many of Malaysia's festivals demand grand celebrations including the most joyful of Muslim celebrations, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Thaipusam, a day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindus, begins with a grand procession of the magnificent silver chariot bearing the statue of Lord Subramaniam. Spring Festival is also a big event, a celebration lasting 15 days beginning from the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, usually in late January or early February. Colors of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur's response to carnival, with a lively parade and representations of every ethnic group that currently calls Malaysia home.

Museums

Kuala Lumpur offers an extraordinary variety of museums, and they provide plenty to do on rainy days. Art lovers can view eye-catching exhibitions at the National Art Gallery with its collection of more than 2,500 art pieces from mainly local artists. The Craft Museum, featuring handicrafts from different sectors of Malaysian society, provides yet another great place to check out diverse crafts and handiwork.

The National Planetarium is a must-see, offering exciting astronomy exhibitions plus facilities such as the Space Science Exhibition, a viewing gallery and an ancient observatory park.

If your curiosity about Malaysia has not yet been sated, visit the National Museum, which features interestingly laid-out displays and exhibits on local history, culture and traditions, arts and crafts, economic activities and currency, weapons, and the local flora and fauna. The Orang Asli Museum offers dedicated and thorough exhibits on the fast disappearing Orang Asli ethnic group, indigenous to Malaysia. Meanwhile the one-of-a-kind Islamic Arts Museum has been praised not only for its beautifully designed five-domed structure, but also its collection of over 7,000 artworks and artifacts.

Theme Parks

Theme parks get more and more exciting as thrill seekers become more demanding. Kuala Lumpur's theme parks generally combine a mixture of water activities, adventure, futuristic experiences, games and rides, while others present just the place for relaxation and sightseeing. Sunway Lagoon, a recreation area in a sunken mining wasteland, endows Malaysia with a premier water theme park. Spanning some 80 acres, the park's emphasis centers largely on water adventure rides and an arcade. The Mines Wonderland tops the list for relaxing family entertainment with just the right blend of experiences for visitors of all ages. The Snow House claims the major attraction rights, as children love indulging in a bit of snowball throwing or sliding down a snow slide. The park also offers additional winter wonderland entertainment with its ice skating rink.

Cinemas

The movies supply Malaysians with a favorite past time, and Kuala Lumpur has the best range of cinemas in the country. However, be aware that most movies screened here have been thoroughly censored of questionable content. Tanjong Golden Village provides one of the best sound systems plus comfortable chairs in a rather posh setting. Golden Screen Cinemas, equally posh and grand, screens films that compete in prestigious film festivals such as Sundance, plus the normal box office hits. Coliseum Cinema is a fully updated facility housed in a colonial era building. The outdoor Starlight Cinema takes advantage of Malaysia's typically warm evenings for screenings under the stars.

Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)

As Malaysia's biggest city, Kuala Lumpur has some of the country's greatest landmarks of modernity. Touring the city center gives visitors a greater sense of why KL has become one of the largest shopping and touring destinations in Asia. Start out in front of the majestic Petronas Twin Towers. At 88-stories high, they were the tallest buildings in the world until Taipei 101 was built. These towers house the upscale mega-mall Suria KLCC, a concert hall and so much more. Within Suria you can find specialty shops ranging from the 130 year old Boutique Piaget, run by a family of jewellers, to the high-quality outdoor gear shop Tearproof. After exploring the center, make sure to stop in at Aseana Cafe. The cafe is set within a gallery dedicated to traditional Malay handicrafts. Enjoy a meal of pan-Asian cuisine with an English twist or even a full English high tea. After lunch it is a short walk to Kuala Lumpur Tower. Among the tallest of its kind in the world, the telecommunications tower hovers at 421 meters. The observation deck is a great place to get a bird's eye view of downtown, especially in the late afternoon or early evening. The rotating restaurant serves incredible meals in a romatic setting, but after a day of shopping and walking, the cocktail lounge within the tower may be equally welcome.

Petaling Street

Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown holds some of the city's oldest buildings, including traditional two-storied terrace shophouses, small streets and lots of fun discoveries. Start at Peter Hoe Evolution to look at high quality crafts and traditional home accessories mainly imported from China. From Jala Hang Lekir turn north onto Jalan Tun HS Lee until you arrive at Sze Ya Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in KL. From here take a left on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok and walk one block to Petaling Street, try your hand at bargaining in some of the small shops to pick up knick knacks, curios and more but be aware that "branded goods" may not be genuine. Halfway down the street is the KL Big Bookshop filled with towering bookshelves and plenty of titles in a variety of languages. Cuisine options along Petaling Street are plenty, but of particular note is the Amata Vegetarian Restaurant on Jalan Sultan, where mouth watering Asian-style vegetarian food, complete with fake meat menu items, is found. Or, one block further down is the Old China Cafe where classic Chinese cuisine is served. Also along Jalan Sultan is the Chan See Shu Yuen with its 18th century courtyards, pavillions and serenity. Make a loop from Jalan Sultan and turn onto Jalan Tun HS Lee to walk to Sri Mahamariamman Temple, and see why it is called Malaysia's most impressive Hindu temple.

Lake Gardens

The district surrounding the elegant Lake Gardens encompasses many of the cultural centerpoints of Kuala Lumpur. Start out at the National Museum to enjoy highlights from Mayalsian history and arts, including reconstructed sections of ancient palaces. Next take a stroll through Lake Gardens to the Mahsuri Dining Room where you can enjoy an incredible lunch of traditional Malay cuisine. Take your time to enjoy the many sites in the gardens, including the National Planetarium, before heading down the scenic Jalan Perdana, which pases some of KL's many museums, including the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, to the Islamic Arts Museum. The Malay-designed building has five domes, but the fifth can only be seen from the museum's interior. Enjoy the exhibits on Islamic art traditions before heading over to the National Mosque to appreciate the detailed motifs and tilework.

Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin's Colonial Architecture

Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin is a main artery that connects many of Kuala Lumpur's Colonial era museums and buildings. The architecture is a blend of British and Moorish details with some Gothic accents that make old KL structures really stand out. Start at National History Museum, housed in a former bank dating from 1910. Head north and across the street you will see Sultan Abdul Samad Building - the Big Ben of KL. In the same vicinity lies the old Selangor Club, a mock Tudor style cricket club. Continue northwards, appreciating the colonial buildings with their captivating Moorish designs, until you reach the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station with its enchanting design incorporating Islamic, Gothic, Moorish and several other eclectic styles. Just opposite the station is the hard-to-miss Malayan Railway Building, designed in the early 20th century. Turn onto Jalan Raja to visit Merdeka Square where the Malayan flag was first raised after independence. Continue up Jalan Raja to Plaza Putra where you will find the Gothic Cathedral Virgin St Mary, built in 1895. Finally, if you have the energy, cross the canal and walk the three blocks to Jalan Hang Katsuri and Ginger Restaurant, where you can reward yourself with delicious Nonya cuisine in a comfortable dark green setting with traditional wooden chairs and tables.

Golden Triangle

Enjoy the center of Kuala Lumpur's arts, entertainment and shopping. Start your exploration of the center of Kuala Lumpur at Asia Heritage Row, a walking street of refurbished older buildings and homes that has a festive atmosphere with fun shops and restaurants. Next, take a short cab ride to Ampang Plaza, formerly known as Yow Chuan Plaza, to sample some of the best shopping in KL, from the Middle East Handicraft Gallery to the House of Leather, everyone is likely to find something of interest here. Finally head down to Bintang Walk, a lively walking street full of live entertainment and a happening night market where everything from tasty Nonya snacks to imperial-style dining can be found. The Lot 10 complex is open late for shopping and entertainment, or head over to Emporio Grand Cafe for dinner. If you do, be prepared to to choose from an overwhelming selection of excellent restaurants.

Kuala Lumpur is the launching point to many other places in Malaysia. There are plenty of ways to see highlights of the city and surrounding area.

Jungle Tours

Motorsports Adventure (+60 3 469 2665)

Adventure Tours

Outdoor Recreation Consultant and Instruction ( +60 3 451 2548)
Utan Bara Adventure Team (UBAT) ( +60 3 4022 5124)

Diving Tours

Global Scuba Adventures(+60 3 2142 5206 http://www.globalscuba.com.my/)

Hiking Tours

Association of Backpackers Malaysia (+60 3 7875 6249)