At my first stop in Kuala Lumpur, I was instantly astounded by the beauty of the Sunway Resort. This extravagant establishment is where I was to relax – in between eating and shopping – for the next two days. Upon entering the breathtaking intricate foyer, I felt like royalty.
The West Lake Garden Chinese Restaurant produces sumptuous Cantonese dishes, and after sampling a range of them for lunch, I indulged in a one-hour Balinese massage at the oandara Spa. I was greeted with ginger tea and peppermint face coolers, then the therapists helped me choose essential oils for my massage. This is a must-do activity that’s perfect for those in need of relaxation, and so enjoyable you may never want
to leave!
If you’re travelling with a family, the fun definitely starts at the Sunway Lagoon theme parks. There are five, including Amusement, Water, Extreme, Scream and Wildlife.
And while there’s a wide variety of rides for the thrill-seeker, there’s plenty that are child-friendly, so no-one will be left out.
But you might want to bring a change of clothes as some of the amusement rides will leave you saturated, particularly the log flume.
Access to the theme parks is surprisingly cheap, at approximately $42 for an adult, and $32 for a child. And the attractions don’t end there. Satisfy your urge to shop at the Pyramid mall and see if you can get around all six stories of it. If you’re more of a night owl, have a drink and a dance at the oinistry of Sound Euphoria club.
only half an hour away from the Sunway is downtown Kuala Lumpur city – an amazing cultural experience. It was my first time in an Asian country, so I went in curious, not knowing what to expect, and was taken aback by the vast cultural differences and the chasm between rich and poor.
Sightseeing on a city tour, you will come across roadside markets, food stalls, old Chinese temples, hidden shops and still more massive malls. Two particularly appealing daytime activities are the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and the KLCC Aquaria.
The bird park is the largest free-flight aviary in the world. Pay $4 extra and choose two big parrots to sit on your arms for a photo! or pay 80c and you can hold a pottle of milk and birdseed and little parrots will flock to your arms to feed. The aquarium takes you through the ”journey of water”, beginning with the Touch Pool, Stream and Electric Eel Zone and carries on through the Flooded Forest and The Coast, and includes the oceanarium, which is a 90m transparent underwater tunnel, all of which makes for a stunning adventure.
When walking around and sightseeing, it’s absolutely essential to wear heavy-duty sunscreen and carry a big bottle of water, or else you’ll struggle to make it through the day.
At night, the city comes alive with a buzz. Now’s the time to try bartering at the open markets, and at the infamous Petaling Street precinct you can get the real market shopping experience.
The hawkers go wild promoting their “genuine” goods and, as you’re in close contact with everyone who bustles through the small aisles, common sense should be applied so that pickpockets don’t get a chance to fleece you.
When buying, try to barter prices down, as you can almost always walk away and find the same item for less a few stalls down.
If stallholders think they’re about to lose you, they often come running after you, offering an even lower price. Market stall food is amazing and cheap, but take care when buying it if the preparation area doesn’t look as clean as you may like!
With Kuala Lumpur being such a large and dense city, I can imagine it could take many weeks to get to know it well. Although my own experience was all too brief, I will always remember the lovely people with their wide smiles and that exhilarating sense of being a small part of busy street life in a place that never seems to sleep.
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