Salam from Malaysia! A country I’ve had a long interest in visiting and finally got the chance to experience.
The most vivid memory I have of wanting to visit the country was from watching Malaysian commercials during Ramadan on our international satellite TV. They would advertise garments and other nice things I can’t completely remember, and it was mesmerizing, to say the least. The main point is, you see how all these Ramadan ads get to you. Sneaky eh?
Nevertheless, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always had an interest in Muslim countries mainly for architecture and culture, and Malaysia is one that reflects a good balance between culture, religion, and secularism. Of course, accounting that there is no perfect place that is void of flaws.
My flight from Chengdu arrived in Kuala Lumpur early morning. I took a midnight flight, completely knocked out on the plane, and in the morning I was in a whole new country. The flight was only 4.5 hours, and on the plane, I had the whole row to myself. God is good. With all the coronavirus craziness happening as well, everyone was masked up and looking all kinds of paranoid. Aka me…
Once I arrived, it was all about finding my way around the airport, getting to my hostel, and awaiting my reunion with my soul sista (hey Leena!) who I’d be spending the next two weeks exploring two more countries with.
If you’re interested in visiting Malaysia, here are some things you can consider during your stay. The country has a variety of things to offer with it being so multicultural, and it’s just a matter of choosing what interests you the most. Enjoy 🙂
About Malaysia
- Malaysia is in Southeast Asia and consists of 2 regions – Peninsular Malaysia which is linked to Singapore by a caseway and bridge and East Malaysia which is on the island of Borneo.
- Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and has a population of approximately 8 million in the city alone.
- The Petronas Towers located in the capital city were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998–2004.
- Malaysia’s national dish is nasi lemak, a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk, and usually served wrapped in a banana leaf.
- Malaysia is reported to have more than 1,000 species of plants that have medicinal properties that are used for treating ailments from headaches to malaria and cholera.
When to visit
The climate in Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 degrees Celcius. Malaysia as a country only experiences two seasonal climates, the dry season and the wet season. Rainfall will occur throughout the year, although the drier months will be December to February and May to September.
We visited the last week of January, which also happened to be during the Chinese New Year. I felt the weather was perfect despite the humidity and being soaked in our sweat.
Getting Around
Transportation options are plenty and affordable, it’s just a matter of how you’d like to get around and how much time you have. We mostly traveled by foot, occasionally took the metro, booked a Grab a couple of times, and traveled by a long-distance bus to go to Cameron Highlands. Below, I’ve listed some options.
Grab is the Southeast Asia version of Uber. I highly recommend downloading the app.
LRT: taking the train will likely be the best option, considering it will be the most time and cost-efficient for avoiding traffic.
TBS Bus Station (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan): this station has become a major terminal for outbound long-distance buses.
Pudu Sentral (Puduraya): also another major terminal for outbound long-distance buses, located near KL’s Chinatown.
Taxis: as many would advise, try to avoid using taxis for all the reasons you should as a tourist. Although if you must, it’s important you insist the driver uses the meter. Red and white taxis will generally be the cheapest, while blue taxis will be more expensive.
Where to stay – Hostel Mingle @Chinatown
This was my first experience staying in a hostel, and I was a little nervous not going to lie. It was Leena planning our Malaysia itinerary, along with booking all the accommodations so I fully trusted her judgment and experience. She booked us a double room, with 2 bunkers and it was better than I expected.
Located in the heart of the city, this hostel was clean, comfortable, and had great service. There’s both a restaurant and a coffee shop below the hostel. It was also in a convenient location in Chinatown and near most of the attractions, we planned for our trip.
Day 1: Walk around the street markets
Petaling Street Market
Our hostel was located in very close proximity to the Petaling Street Market, so discovering the night market was how we chose to spend our first evening in Kuala Lumpur. Lots of street vendors sell food, souvenirs, clothing items, shoes, and more. The market is situated in Chinatown, you’ll find many Chinese-influenced cuisines, along with Malay and Indian.
Jalan Masjid India Market
This was by far my favorite market. It’s also in close proximity to Jamek Masjid, about a 5-10 minute walk. You’ll find all kinds of things, from garments to souvenirs…..ya know all the good stuff! Masjid India is also located near the market as well. As we were walking towards the market, I recall hearing the athan (call to prayer) echoing through the streets and peacefully entering my ears.
Central Market
Surprisingly, this was my least favorite market. Although it has everything from art, and souvenirs, to clothing, I wasn’t impressed by how much it was mainly geared toward tourists. The same items I saw in the Central Market, I saw for cheaper at the Petaling Market. Walking around the market was us mainly trying to pass some time and to stay indoors because of the afternoon heat.
Day 2: Enjoy the architectural highlights of KL
KL Tower
The Kuala Lumpur Tower is the 7th tallest freestanding tower in the world! I think that’s enough to feel convinced to visit the attraction and experience its spectacular views of the city from 421 meters. The tower offers an observation deck, a sky deck, and a revolving restaurant where you can get a panoramic view of the city while feasting buffet style.
We had an early day and doing so allowed us to beat the crowd heading and forming at the KL Tower. We arrived by 10 am, with us being one of the four groups of people. Leena had already booked our tickets online in advance, so all we had to do is show our receipts and verify our identity.
You can purchase your ticket online and for a discounted price at Klook.com.
Petronas Twin Towers & Fountain Sound Show
We took the train from Jamek Masjid station to KLCC station to get to the Petronas Twin Towers. Once we arrived at the station, we basically followed the signs that appointed us to the Petronas Towers. We went through a gorgeous international mall (I suggest checking it out if you’re in the mood for shopping), and because there are multiple exits, we had to ask a couple of security guards to guide us specifically to where the fountain is. Unfortunately, the Petronas Towers were closed, so we didn’t get the chance to go inside, but we were still able to get a good view of the tower near the water fountain.
We stayed to watch the fountain sound show outside the mall building, and it was such a lively atmosphere. It started at 9 pm and lasted about 10 minutes. There were crowds of people sitting and strolling all around, enjoying the sight. A perfect way to end the evening.
Day 3: Visit the mosques
Sultan Abdul Samad (Masjid Jamek)
A 10-minute walk from our hostel was the beautiful Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque.
Also known as Masjid Jamek, the mosque was built in 1909 and is the oldest and one of the most famous mosques in Kuala Lumpur. It is located at the junction of the Klang and Gombak rivers. The architectural style is described as Indo-Saracenic, Mughal, and Moorish. It’s quite the sight, to say the least.
I remember laying on the tiles in the courtyard of the mosque and watching the mosque workers chasing down and yelling at tourists for trying to enter the prayer areas outside of tourist visiting hours. I had a good laugh.
For convenience, the location of the masjid is also located right next to the Masjid Jamek LRT station and not too far a walk from Pudu Sentral Bus Station.
Masjid Negara (National Mosque of Malaysia)
The National Mosque of Malaysia. Built in 1965 in honor of the country’s independence from Great Britain, it is the largest mosque in Malaysia with a capacity of 15,000 people. The mosque is surrounded by 13 acres of gardens, with its structural features being its 73-meter high minaret, 48 smaller domes, and its pointed star roof. It is truly a modern architectural masterpiece.
Entering the mosque, it has a completely open and tiled floor plan, with no actual door enclosing the structure. We took off our shoes on the pavement and took a step onto the tiled floor, and walked all around the perimeters of the mosque in awe. To find the prayer space, we walked up the long flight of stairs and took in all the beauty of the space that’s been created to remind you of the Creator.
Yet, another overwhelming and powerful experience.
Day 4: Explore historic and cultural sites
Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a late 19th-century series of Hindu temples located in a limestone cave. It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. It is both a natural and man-made wonder, with its features of Malaysia’s limestone and sculptures of the Hindu faith.
There is no fee to enter the cave, although the temples are strictly for worship and are not to be entered unless you are present to worship. To reach the top of the cave, we climbed exactly 272 steps, and on the way, little macaques monkeys were everywhere.
This day was by far the hottest day of our entire trip, but being in the cave felt cool and mesmerizing from all the vibrant colors. It was giving me so much creative inspiration!
Outside the cave, there were many street vendors selling sweets, cold drinks, and souvenirs. We waited until the end to scout for snacks and something refreshing. I knew I’d find some of my childhood favorite sweets, and believe I did go straight for the ladoo #noshame. This day was also my first time drinking coconut water from a coconut.
Food Specialities
For the sake of me not being the best food blogger, lol. Here’s a list of food specialties known to be loved in Malaysia with links:
- 1. Nasi Lemak
- 2. Assam Laksa
- 3. Curry Mee
- 4. Roti Canai
- 5. Murtabak
- 6. Nasi Biryani com Frango Frito
- 7. Hokkien Mee
- 8. Char Koay Teow
- 9. Char Koay Kak
- 10. Chee Cheong Fun
- 11. Durian Goreng
- 12. Otak Otak
- 13. Apam Balik
- 14. Cendol
- 15. Teh Tarik
Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, so halal options will be easily accessible. Do keep in mind that not every place may serve halal, especially if you are in Chinatown. If you are touring around the hub you will surely find a variety of options from Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and Western cuisine.
For the second time in my life, I had halal McDonald’s lol (Turkey was my first).
Food prices will range, just as in any other place. You can easily find a local meal with a fruit drink for about 20 to 30 ringgits ($4-7) or for even less. If you are not big on spending too much on food, I would definitely recommend looking for more local restaurants which tend to be a little cheaper and occasionally not as fancy looking. I usually tend to feel a lot more satisfied with these restaurants, considering I may not be paying too much for something I may end up disliking.
That’ll be a wrap!
Malaysia, this is not a goodbye but a simple see you later inshallah. I do hope to be back to explore more of its beauty. That also goes for any country out there. There’s always so much to see, yet so little time. One thing I will say is; it’s never a regretful moment to have even the shortest time to see and to be able to say “I’ve lived”.
May we see all that we can while we’re still given the time to do so, and may we experience whatever it is in the most boundless way imaginable.
Terima Kasih Malaysia!
If you found this blog helpful or would like to recommend places to visit next time, share the love in the comments below!
Stay boundless and happy travels!
