20240109_201628Water fountain show at Suria KLCC (January 2024)

I had a slower and more-chill third day in Kuala Lumpur, after two busy days running around the Malaysian capital. I woke up a bit later than usual (9h00, haha) and had a later start to the day. I didn’t mind, as it would be my last full day in KL, and I just wanted to take it easy before leaving and getting back on the road to the destination in Malaysia.

That said, I headed out to grab breakfast at a café recommended to me by my travel agent. It was a cozy place and very aesthetic, evoking a Scandinavian, minimalist space with plenty of plants and greenery. Malaysia (along with much of Asia) has a thriving café scene, thanks to Instagram and TikTok putting these places on the map. I kept it simple and ordered a croissant and latte, both being delicious– however, I will say that the latte was very strong, which posed some, erm, problems later in the day. But more on that soon…

20240109_094114Croissant (and STRONG latte)


20240109_100922Vibes at the café

Afterwards, I took a wander through the Merdeka Square, aka the Independence Square and a historic site where Malaysia claimed independence from British rule on August 31, 1957. There was lots of construction when I visited, so unfortunately, I didn’t stay too long,

20240109_104600Merdeka Square

Instead, I continued on to visit the Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, one of the oldest mosques in KL, dating back to 1909. It was free to enter and, compared to my visit of the Masjid Wilayah the day before, I didn’t need to rent a hijab to enter: the security allowed me to use my hoodie to cover my head– for other women, though, they needed to rent a hijab to get in. The Masjid Jamek is a lot smaller than the Masjid Wilayah and, sadly, there was also a ton of construction when I visited, so there were sections I couldn’t visit. However, it was a small, but pretty mosque with a unique blend of Moorish and Mughal architectures.

20240109_102043Masjid Jamek


20240109_102321Inside the courtyard

Next, I headed over to the Petaling District, aka the “Chinatown” of KL. I first visited two temples just a block from each other: the Guan Di Temple and the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. They’re of Taoist and Hindu beliefs, respectively, and both were vibrant examples of religions co-existing with each other within a neighborhood. It spent some take visiting both, although it unfortunately started to rain while visiting the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple– I did my best to wait it out under the temple’s awnings, but at some point, I braved the rain to head to my next destination.

20240109_110045Guan Di Temple


20240109_110446Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

Within the Petaling District is the Petaling Street Market: it’s a lively, covered street selling souvenirs, street food, and clothing (especially knock-off Louis Vuitton and Prada). It’s a bit chaotic with plenty of people milling about, as well as pushy vendors getting you to look and buy their items. I did buy a few souvenirs and a pair of airy pants, as I hadn’t packed super well for the hot, humid climate, so some extra clothes was much-needed.

20240109_114519Shopping on Petaling Street

I also checked out Kwai Hong Chao, a small alleyway just off the bustling Petaling Street with some beautiful street art depicting everyday activities of the residents who’d lived there in the past. I found the art very charming, and there were plenty of visitors taking photos next to the street art for their Instagram!

20240109_121945Kwai Hong Chao


20240109_122054Street art on Kwai Hong Chao

Around 12h30, I met up with my friend, “N”, for lunch. “N” is from Malaysia, and we’d initially met eight years prior in Italy, where we became friends and did several hikes together in the Cinque Terre. We kept in touch over the years, and we’d decided to meet up while I was in KL, her hometown. We got lunch at a trendy restaurant near Petaling, which served Malay-Western fusion dishes and some pretty coffee art. I actually opted for a hot chocolate (still beautifully-presented) and salmon kerabu, which is a take on the traditional nasi kerabu. It was a lot of food, but absolutely delicious. We also caught up after eight years, and also got some dessert at a café afterwards. “N” had to return to work after a few hours, so we bid farewell, and I got a Grab back to my hotel.

20240109_125705Salmon kerabu and hot chocolate

Going back to the latte I had for breakfast, I will admit that the caffeine really hit me full force post-lunch, to the point I felt quite ill. I’m hyper-sensitive to caffeine, and I wasn’t careful noting the fact that Malaysian coffee is a lot stronger than what I’m used to in the US. I did my best to rest a bit, and I was feeling a bit better in the evening, when I headed out to the Suria KLCC next to my hotel for dinner: I just grabbed sushi at the mall’s supermarket and then I went out to check out the mall’s water fountain show, which started at 20h00. I’d tried to see it during the past two nights in town, but I was either too tired or missed it– that said, I made sure to check it out before I left. To be honest, the show was a bit lackluster, as the water and lights weren’t that spectacular, and it ended within 10 minutes. All the same, I saw the show and returned to my hotel afterwards, to pack up and rest up during my last night in town.

20240109_201049Colorful fountain show at Suria KLCC

Overall, it was fun time spent in KL. It’s a massive city, chaotic and noisy, and it can be very overwhelming at times– very different from the slower, laidback pace I’d experienced in Penang (and the city following KL, more on it later). All the same, I enjoyed the thrill of the city life, as I got to see the various neighborhoods (e.g. Petaling Chinatown, Brickfields Little India), learn more about the predominant religion of Islam at the mosques, and go on a street food tour to sample the diversity of dishes that make up Malaysian cuisine. Getting to see my friend “N” after so many years was a plus, too. KL is a blend of modern and historic, and it was a time well spent seeing it all.

More of my Malaysia adventures coming soon. Stay tuned! 🙂

— Rebecca

Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

40 thoughts on “Destination: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Getting Lunch in Petaling with a Friend and Suria KLCC Water Fountain Show– DAY 3)”

  2. I didn’t stay very long in KL, but I had the same feeling of a chaotic city where buildings are juxtaposed with no overall vision, with no major avenues to structure the city. But it’s true that if you take your time, there are plenty of nice little spots.

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    1. KL is a large and overwhelming city that overstimulates the senses everywhere you go. However, there’s the thrill of going with the chaos and discovering a place you are unfamiliar with. That’s the joy of traveling!

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  3. Coffee in this part of the world does indeed tend to be on the strong side. Here in Jakarta, a lot of people I know do prefer their strong coffee. I guess that’s why I don’t usually drink it, because every time I do I often have difficulties falling asleep at night.

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  4. So cool you got to see your friend after so many years. I’m sorry to hear about your reaction to the latte. Hope the hot chocolate was better (btw, couldn’t help but notice all those cute bubbles on top of it!) Thanks for sharing more of your experiences in KL!

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    1. Yes, indeed! It was great catching up with an old friend after many years, all over delicious food! It was a good choice getting a hot chocolate folowing an intense latte– I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I’d ordered another caffeinated drink! Thanks for reading, Darlene, and stay tuned for the next post on Malaysia!

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  5. I am glad you had a chance to meet up with your friend, Rebecca 🙂 I love Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and how it has a vibrant and colourful façade featuring a range of Hindu deities depicting famous legends. It looks like a beautiful temple to visit for those wanting to learn about the diverse cultures and religions that make up this city. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Thanks, Aiva! I had a great time catching up with my friend after so long…the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is truly a work of art, and it’s incredible that it stands in the middle of a bustling city! I appreciate your readership 🙂

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  6. How lovely that you were able to meet up with your friend again after so many years! Your breakfast cafe looks cool (and I can take strong coffee – in fact I welcome it!) I also love the street art in Kwai Hong Chao 😀

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    1. Yes! It was a good time seeing my friend after so many years. Café culture in KL is thriving (even if I can’t take the strong coffee!), and the Kwai Hong Chao artwork was really lovely. Thanks for reading, Sarah!

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    1. Thanks, Tanja! Wherever there’s a big city, you’re sure to have a Chinatown! Especially in KL, with a major Malaysian-Chinese population…it was great hanging out with my friend for lunch, as it’d been so long!

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    1. Haha, the latte I had was so strong…stronger than I can handle, to be honest! The salmon kerabu was tasty (and massive portions!), and overall was a great end to my time in KL. More of Malaysia to come soon!

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  10. Sounds like a lovely time, and made even more special by enjoying time with a friend. Like you, Rebecca, I’m super sensitive to caffeine. I might have ended up in the local cardiac ward! I’m looking forward to reading more about your adventures in Malaysia.

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    1. As much as I do like the taste of coffee, it’s sad to say that coffee doesn’t really like me, haha! My last day in KL was a good one, with good food and a good chat with my friend. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my next post on Malaysia soon!

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    1. Haha, I think I had to take it easy due to the caffeine…all the same, it was a good time seeing my friend again and catching up over delicious food. Thanks for reading, Diana, and stay tuned for more of Malaysia!

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  12. The hanging greenery at the cafe is absolutely dreamy! What a nice respite from a pulsing city. And the architecture of the mosque and temples, while varied, is equally dreamy. That’s cool you were able to buy a pair of pants there… I like having excuses to shop for clothes on trips! It helps with comfort and blending in and is a great souvenir later on.

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    1. Definitely! Café culture in KL is alive and thriving, and even though I can’t stomach the strong coffee, I did enjoy the vibes! It was a much-more chill third (and final) day in KL, to rest a bit before continuing the adventure!

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  13. Again, what a place for variety. Mosques, temples, markets, water shows! I love that you met up with someone you met while traveling. Like a blog buddy meet-up, but instead, a travel buddy meet-up! It’s especially neat that you kept in contact over so many years, despite your distance from each other. Do you follow Travelling Han? She’s been posting about her trip to KL, too, and it’s been interesting to read both your posts and hers at the same time.

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    1. Indeed! KL was a wonderful blend of different cultures, religions, and, of course, food! It was great meeting up with my friend after over eight years and catching up on life. Yes, I follow Travelling Han (I have been for a while!), and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying reading her adventures in KL and seeing the places she went to that I hadn’t!

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  15. I’ve never visited Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur looks like an exciting fusion of old and new, with traditional buildings and ways of life sitting alongside all the skyscrapers. Thanks for sharing what you got up to, and sorry to hear the coffee floored you later in the day!

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    1. Malaysia is a unique country that’s incredibly multicultural, as evident in its people, religions, and food. KL is a big, urban city with pockets of traditional neighborhoods. The effects of the coffee weren’t great, but I got through it! Thanks for reading, Rosie, and more of Malaysia to come soon!

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  16. I have always packed a light scarf to cover my head when going to Muslim countries; glad your hoodie worked. I especially like your photo of Inside the Courtyard at Masjid Jamek and the street art of chilldren. Thanks for sharing your Malaysia travels with us, Rebecca!

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    1. That’s a smart move! Visiting mosques is a real treat, but it does require a bit of planning when it comes to covering up as a woman. I appreciate you following along my time in KL; stay tuned for one more post on Malaysia soon!

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  17. Hi Rebecca,

    Sounds like a perfect mix of sightseeing, food, and reconnecting with an old friend! I love how you captured the energy of KL, from the vibrant Petaling Street to the peaceful mosques. The caffeine crash sounds rough, but at least the salmon kerabu and street art made up for it! Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure!

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    1. I’m glad this post brought back memories of your time in KL! I dearly miss the food, and I’d happily go back to eat all the good Malaysian food!

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