2 Days in Kuala Lumpur
The Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur
Exploring Kuala Lumpur
The Blessing of Meeting Friends of Friends
Our good friends Ross and Amanda lived in Kuala Lumpur (KL) for a number of years and as we found ourselves in the region it was an easy choice for our next destination after an adventurous 9 days in Myanmar.
Amanda was kind to put us in contact with their friends from KL. She said; if you go to KL, you must meet our friends Cathy and Alan. We corresponded with Cathy and found dates that worked for a three-night stay before we would fly on to Bali.
KL group selfie
Flying from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur
Our Air Asia flight from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur was 2 hours and 45 minutes and went without a hitch. Our driver was a bit late but no big deal.
Before we knew it we drove along the highway with the many palm trees en route to the center of KL where Cathy and Alan’s apartment was located with a wonderful view of the Petronas Twin Towers. The drive was about 45-55 minutes.
We received a warm welcome from Cathy who instantly made us feel at home. She said; Help yourselves to anything you need and showed us how to work the washer a dryer. A laundry run was highly overdue. Cathy had a farewell tea party she had to attend and we decided to catch up on blogging at the apartment.
The view of the Petronas Twin Towers from Cahty and Alan’s apartment
Walking Club
The KLCC Park is literally right below Cathy and Alan’s apartment and almost daily their friends meet up and walk the 1.2-kilometer track in a wonderful park setting near the Petronas Twin Towers.
The meeting time was 7:30 am and we were invited to join in. It was a great way to rid of the morning cobwebs and we really enjoyed meeting the ex-pat group.
After the walking session, everyone met up for coffee at the “On-the-go” coffee shop in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Everyone wanted to hear about our travels and it felt as if we had been in KL for months. Everyone was so friendly.
Friends meet to walk the KLCC Park Loop in Kuala Lumpur
Merdeka Square
After our morning walk, Cathy kindly offered to show us the area around Merdeka Square with the Sultan Abdul Samad building where the Klang and Gombak Rivers meet.
First, she took us to the National History Museum, a marvelous way to get more local insight. From one of the info posters, we learned the following.
Kuala Lumpur was originally a tin-mining settlement. The history of KL began when Raja Abdullah, Chief of Klang, opened up Klang Valley for tin prospectors.
Kuala Lumpur which literally means ‘muddy estuary was founded at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers.
Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur
Lunch and a Hair Cut
Cathy had made an appointment at her hairdresser’s for Di to have a haircut. Having our local guide, we got to see parts of Kuala Lumpur I am sure we otherwise never would have seen and of course, Cathy also knew of a quaint bakery/cafe where we had lunch.
After our trip around town, we spent some time by the pool back at the apartment.
Dinner and Lightshow By the Twin Towers
We had a food-court dinner followed by the evening light show at the Twin Towers and headed back to the apartment shortly after. We decided to check out the pool agin before wrapping up a wonderful day.
The pool at Cathy and Alan’s apartment in KL.
Petronas Twin Towers Tour
We booked our tour online for 9:00 am, arrived early, and struck up a nice conversation with a young Austrian couple. They were on their babymoon, 6 months pregnant.
Completed in 1996 it was once the tallest building in the world at 451.9 m (1,483 ft). The twin towers feature steel and glass facades resembling motifs from Islamic art as a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion.
The view from the bridge connecting the two Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur
The first stop on the tour was the bridge connecting the two towers on the 41st floor.
Onto the 86th floor for the observation deck and this was quite an experience. It was as if you could see all of Malaysia from here and interesting to see the different sections of Kuala Lumpur. From one block to the next you would see sections go from shantytown to flashy modern high rises.
Outside we met the young Austrian couple again and ended up having a coffee and a snack together in one of the restaurants below the towers. It is always great to share travel stories.
The window cleaners at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur
We went back to the apartment and did more editing/blogging and spent an hour by the pool with Cathy. Very relaxing. Dinner with Cathy and Alan was at the Hakka Restaurant, a vibrant open-air Chinese Restaurant with a retractable roof. It was BYOB so Alan brought a few bottles of wine.
The food was excellent, as was the company and conversation with Cathy and Alan. We heard all about their lives back in South Africa and about nine years living in Kuala Lumpur.
We talked about kids and travel and wrapped things up with a nightcap back at the apartment while Alan dug out his vinyl LPs. Bob Dylan got the last word of the night :)
Good times at the Hakka Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur
Departure Day KL
We were back on the track early morning with the walking group. Di met and walked with Rebecca and at coffee, we met Tracy, who is from Kelowna, only 50K from where we used to live in Vernon BC, Canada.
Back at the apartment, it was time to pack. We had so much stuff at this point of our trip and our packs were stuffed to the breaking point.
We made time for another visit to the pool with Alan and Cathy but before we knew it, it was time for goodbyes and we were en route to the airport again. The airport wasn’t too crowded and we were looking at a three-hour flight to Bali.
Kuala Lumpur traffic
Final Thoughts on Kuala Lumpur
We leave KL with such gratitude for newfound friends but as often before during our travels, we felt that three days were nowhere near enough in Malaysia.
It was like a tasty appetizer and we would love to return to Kuala Lumpur and of course realize there is more to Malaysia than Kuala Lumpur.
Thanks to Cathy and Alan for your hospitality and to Ross and Amanda for connecting us. If you are ever in Vancouver, we would love to see you and you know you have a place to stay.
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R - XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Capture One Express. I have made use of Fujifilm film simulations.
