Kuala Lumpur - tips to travellers

Kuala Lumpur city itself is surprisingly small. You may find many areas of KL quite conducive to walking. Areas like Chinatown, Little India, Jalan TAR and Bukit Bintang are perhaps best explored on foot. Buses are a cheap and efficient means of getting around KL. Travelling by IntraKota buses is often recommended as they do provide comfortable air-conditioned journeys with some respite from the intense city heat. Taxis, or teksi as they are commonly referred to as,  are another efficient way of travelling within KL and, as the distances are not much, they are not expensive.

KL is a paradise for avid shoppers. Here you can come cross world-renowned designer labels and brands to exquisite made-in-Malaysia items and the highly competitive environment that exists among traders is a blessing in disguise to shoppers. Whether one is in a department store or at any one of KL''s famous night markets, the city will enthrall you. Malaysia is reasonably priced for electronics. However, if you are combining to KL with a trip to Singapore or Indonesia, shopping for electronic goods is best avoided in Malaysia, simply because it does not have the range or the competitive prices of the other two places. When in doubt, bargain. You’ll be surprized to discover that it works at most places, except at the malls and department stores, where bargaining is a complete no. It is wise to compare prices before you buy anything to ensure you get the best deal.

Handicrafts of local origin range from intricate silver, brass and pewter items to pottery, rattan and wickerwork. Malaysian Batiks, with their bold designs and dazzling colours set in silk and cotton, is a class apart from others within the region. Shoppers are constantly enticed by art objects and curio items from the orient which vie for attention with carpets and rugs of lustrous silk and fine wool that are invariably set in traditional designs.  For the trendy there is  ready-to-wear apparel of every design and colour and trendy shoes and handbags, some of which come from designer boutiques.

Traditionally, the main shopping areas in Kuala Lumpur are: 

Jalan Tuanku Abd. Rahman which stretches from the Jalan Dang Wangi junction to Jalan Tun Perak. Here you can see several pre-war buildings whose gracious facades have been lovingly preserved. Out here you can hope to get antiques and curios, an irresistible collection of fine embroidered bed and table linen, carved rosewood furniture, chests and cabinets, Chinese ceramics and jade and ivory carvings, oriental carpets and ethnic goods of Indian origin, sarees, sarongs and textiles.

Jalan Bukit Bintang - the ''Golden Mile'' of Kuala Lumpur - this place has ultra-modern shopping and commercial complexes, interspersed with towering international standard hotels. Shoppers can spend hours browsing through the shops of  Lot 10, Sungei Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang Plaza and Kuala Lumpur Plaza.

Petaling Street and Jalan Bandar are at the hub of Kuala Lumpur''s bustling Chinatown. Here shoppers can get a variety of textiles, clothes, shoes and handbags at bargain prices, jewellery shops with their fascinating variety of fine jewellery items beautifully crafted in gold and set with priceless gemstones, wall hangings, ornaments, curios and teapots from India and Burma. Be sure to hone your bargaining skills before entering this area. The place becomes livelier at night with stalls offering a diverse range of products come up.

The weather in KL is difficult to predict – a cloudless blue sky may suddenly turn black and before you know it you may be caught in a torrential downpour. It rains all through the year. However, they rarely last for very long.

Because of its myriad cultures, Malaysia is a country renowned for its creative, complex, and lovingly prepared original cuisine. Sauces tend to be highly developed, often incorporating local fruits and spices. ‘Must tries’ - Satay, and Laksa. However, for those in a hurry, the usual icons - McDonalds and Kentucky Frid Chicken - are always available.