"Kuala Lumpur" Kuala Lumpur by phil_uk_net

Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide: 5,923 reviews and 13,230 photos

A mix of old and new, where East meets West

Some people say that all big cities are the same but of course they are not and they all have their own identities.

The Muslim presence in KL is quite noticeable, in the people and architecture. You will see a lot of women with veiled heads and lots of minarets on the buildings - more reminiscent of the Middle East than the Far East. There are also some remnants of Malaysia's colonial past with English style buildings and patches of grass that were unmistakeably cricket pitches at one time.

The ethnic mix

As with other cities in this region there are large Chinese and Indian communities that add their own flavour to the surroundings.

My personal impression

It is unfair to make rash statements and draw conclusions after only staying in a place for a short time, but I will anyway!

KL seemed to me to have a point to prove - possibly to the rest of the world but more likely to its nearest neighbours. This came across while visiting the modern areas and noting, for instance, the importance of the height of buildings etc. It appeared to be a very important thing to the Malaysians that the Petronas Towers and TV tower are some of the highest structures of their kind in the world. I noted lots of propaganda about the significance of these buildings and how they signify the development of Malaysia and its future potential on the world stage. Personally, I'm not convinced by some steel and concrete structures.

Another case in point is the monorail system that is being built. I talked to a few locals who told me that it wouldn't be of much use. The impression I got was that KL has to have one because it is a (perceived) sign of a modern, futuristic city. It reminded me a lot of the famous Simpsons monorail episode!

KL is quite different from Bangkok and Singapore if you are travelling there from one of these places but still worth staying in for a few days.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Has an interesting blend of cultures
  • Cons:Not as welcoming as other parts of Asia
  • In a nutshell:Good to visit but doesn't compare with Bangkok
  • Last visit to Kuala Lumpur: Jan 2003
  • Intro Updated Mar 12, 2003
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (45)

Comments (19)

  • mary2u99's Profile Photo
    Feb 22, 2007 at 1:11 AM

    It's true everyone want to see the Petronas Twin Tower. On my flight back from Netherland this Swedish lady sitting next to me who is on a stopover flight was so excited to see it too. :-) Great page.

  • petertheobald's Profile Photo
    Sep 17, 2005 at 7:01 AM

    useful review on Master Tan and Wong! name changed, address is same, service is just as good as described... must visit rather than the other "foot rubbing" places

  • Mar 27, 2004 at 6:16 AM

    Hmm ... I have these friends from Liverpool and London keep on coming back every year for shopping. Most of them are in their 20s. I guess you must have missed something on your trip. Anyway, a great review!!

  • mrclay2000's Profile Photo
    Nov 10, 2003 at 8:46 PM

    Mosques and minarets are usually enough to divert me, but this National Mosque is well, a little below the standard I knew in Turkey.

  • city_guy's Profile Photo
    Oct 26, 2003 at 5:14 PM

    Hey there Phil, hope you had a great time in KL, and now enjoying Penang and next Langkawi. Sorry I didn't have much more time to catch up ☺

  • jenniferchin's Profile Photo
    Oct 26, 2003 at 3:56 PM

    Glad you had an unforgettable time here in KL this time around ... good & bad :-) This is what traveling is all about !

  • A2002's Profile Photo
    Oct 20, 2003 at 11:28 AM

    That unusual meat is called "bak gua". It is BBQ pork or chicken, popular as gifts during the Chinese New Year. Very tasty though, esp between 2 slices of bread. There's one shop in Singapore that I had queued for 5hrs to buy "bak gua" for the New Year.

  • dragontml's Profile Photo
    Oct 9, 2003 at 12:33 AM

    ahem...u like durians ? ;-)

  • Audrey118's Profile Photo
    Aug 19, 2003 at 5:37 PM

    Not much changes to the KL Chinatown = it is just a crown over it!!! It gives shelter to the many Chinatown enthusiasts. There has been many VTers asking for a peep at it...no where compared to Bugis Junction in Singapore

  • cjg1's Profile Photo
    May 15, 2003 at 10:20 AM

    Not a fan of heights myself. Can't wait to go meet all the VTers in and around KL

phil_uk_net

“Enjoying life in Thailand ...”

Online Now

Male

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 2 8 6

Badges & Stats in Kuala Lumpur

  • 45 Reviews
  • 46 Photos
  • 1 Forum posts
  • 21 Comments
  • 7,446PageViews

Have you been to Kuala Lumpur?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Kuala Lumpur

Latest Kuala Lumpur hotel reviews

The Coronade Hotel
105 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Westin Kuala Lumpur
968 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur
3313 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Duta Vista Suites
43 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2013
Best Western Seri Pacific Hotel
230 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
J W Marriott
478 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
1386 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
Maya Hotel Kuala Lumpur
557 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
753 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Maytower Kuala Lumpur
138 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 23, 2013
The Summit Hotel Subang Usj
48 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 9, 2013
Parkroyal, Kuala Lumpur
1058 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2013
Melia Kuala Lumpur
563 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Holiday Villa Subang
88 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Hotel Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre
1243 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2013