Malaysia travel- Kuala Lumpur round 2

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s political, business and commerce center as well as the nation’s air transportation hub. While I don’t rate it as highly as Bangkok, Singapore or Hanoi, it is still a decent major city. I actually visited it twice though both times I didn’t spend too long.

The city’s most iconic symbol is the Petronas Towers, which I visited during the day and in the evening. Besides admiring it from outside, make sure to go inside to check out the mall at the base or go up to the observation level. At the back is a park which is also quite pleasant. The center of Kuala Lumpur has a giant park, Lake Gardens, which has a lake, a botanical garden, a deer park, a butterfly park, and a bird park, which I visited. It is a large aviary divided into several zones, but not all birds are flying around freely as some are caged. There are some peacocks that walk around on the paths and it is always beautiful to see one spread his tail feathers.

Along the boundaries of the park are the National Mosque, where friendly volunteers approach you to talk about Islam, and several museums including the Islamic Arts Museum, which I found very fascinating, and the National Museum, which was underwhelming and did not have a very large collection. Merdeka Square was where the Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957. It’s a pleasant open space surrounded by several colonial buildings including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (top photo), former British colonial office and now a Malaysian ministerial building, and Royal Selangor Club.

Visited the Petronas Towers at night and during the day. Both times, the towers were impressive. 

Mosque Jamek, KL’s oldest mosque

National Mosque

National Museum of Malaysia, with a plane on display near the entrance

Tin dredge used for tin mining, which in the past was a major industry in Malaysia 

Canopy in Lake Gardens

Peacock with his tail down (above) and tail up (below) in the Bird Park



Merdeka Square, with the Royal Selangor Club, founded in 1887, on the left

Indian-Malaysian neighborhood

Main prayer hall of National Mosque


Headquarters of KTM/Malaysia Rail, built in 1917, which blends Islamic Moorish and European architecture 

Taman Budaya Kuala Lumpur, interesting old house that is a performing venue and cultural centre

Daggers and axes, National Museum

Jalan Petaling street market in Chinatown. There’s a lot of souvenirs and fake goods so it’s quite the tourist trap.

Kuala Lumpur airport