We decided to end our time in Southeast Asia with a few days in the capital city of Malaysia, colloquially referred to as KL among backpackers. Because we didn’t have an opportunity to explore other parts of the country, and were only in the city for four days, we can only claim to have scratched the surface of Malaysia. Luckily, because KL is so diverse, it feels like three cities rolled into one metropolis. Here are three distinct faces of KL to fit any travel style.
- Cultural Mecca
Because of the country’s unique immigration history, KL is a multicultural city comprised of deeply entrenched Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities. Each of these neighbourhoods provides a distinct view into how this cultural combination had led to the unique development of KL as a microcosm of the “new” Asia. Merdaka Square and the National Mosque represent the cultural heart of the Islamic country, and are centrally located in the city. Nearby is Petaling Street, the central strip of Chinatown, a semi-indoor walkway filled with Prada handbags and NBA jersey knockoffs. Little India is slightly more chaotic, but the main “attraction” of the community is a Hindu Temple closer to Chinatown. Navigating the different areas is a great way for stopover travellers to understand the diversity of the rest of the country.
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| Jalan Petaling |
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| Merdaka Square |
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| Hindu Temple |
- Tranquil Oasis
Away from the bustling city centre is an enormous park called Lake Gardens, which contains tropical fauna, a butterfly conservatory, and the Islamic Arts Museum. Walking through this area gives the feel of a distinctly different city away from the overwhelming gridlock, street-hawking, and general pandemonium of other parts of Southeast Asia.
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| Lake Gardens |
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| Islamic Arts Museum |
- Golden Triangle
The “Golden Triangle” of the city is the epicenter of the modern metropolis that is most commonly associated with KL. This district of the city is home to futuristic megamalls, Menara Tower, and the famous Petronas Towers. The areas surrounding the Petronas Towers are by far the most “Westernized,” and therefore usually popular among tourists. This part of the city reminded us of Toronto, and was the perfect way to spend the end of our time in Malaysia.
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| Petronas Towers |
We spent our last night in Asia at the KL Airport so we could catch our early flight to Hong Kong, and then finally catch a connection back to Toronto. It was only after we came THISCLOSE to missing our flight we realized that Malaysia was one hour ahead of Thailand, and we’d spent our time in KL thinking it was an hour earlier than it actually was. After (thankfully) getting on the plane, we saw panoramic views of the Hong Kong harbour – a bittersweet end to our Southeast Asian adventure.
