20240107_191634Views of Petronas Twin Towers from my hotel at night (January 2024)

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and the largest city in the country, home to over 8.8 million in its urban area. Similar to the rest of the country, Kuala Lumpur (“KL,” for short) is a colorful blend of cultures, languages, and religions that all seemingly work in harmony with each other, offering locals and visitors an enriching experience. I would spend three nights in the Malaysian capital, seeing and eating as much as I could.

I had an early train ride to KL from Penang, which would be departing from Butterworth station close to 8h00. As Butterworth station is on the mainland, I had the option either of catching the first ferry from George Town, or taking a Grab (SE Asia equivalent of Uber) across the Penang Bridge. I didn’t want to chance it with the former, so I ended up taking a Grab at 7h00, getting to the station in 20 minutes. Soon enough, I got settled into my seat (my travel agent had paid for my ticket in advance), and I was on my way.

The train ride went smoothly– the train design out was very cute (showcasing the skyline of KL) and the interior was clean and air-conditioned– much needed for the warm, humid weather, even in January! The journey took us through much of the lush greenery of Malaysia, even passing through Ipoh and the surrounding mountainous region of the country. It was a scenic journey, and a comfortable one as I enjoyed a bento box and listened to an audiobook (The House of Doors, which interestingly takes place in Malaysia) along the way.

20240107_073813My train (isn’t it cute?)

I arrived into KL towards 12h30, and it was absolutely pouring rain. I caught a Grab to my hotel, located in the Financial District. I stayed at Traders Hotel, and I had an incredible room with views of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. While not perfect (more on it in my review here), it was a comfortable stay, and nothing bad to say about it.

20240107_130141Views of the Petronas Twin Towers from my hotel room in the day

Near Traders Hotel was the Suria KLCC, a massive shopping mall. Mall culture is big in Malaysia (and much of Southeast Asia), as it provides entertainment for all ages and demographics– whether to shop, eat, or get air conditioning away from the stifling heat, malls in Southeast Asia are an experience in themselves. I was super hungry, so I headed to Suria KLCC for a late lunch at the food court, where I got nasi lemak and teh tarik. While the nasi lemak wasn’t the best one I’ve had, it did the trick of satisfying my hunger, and I got to enjoy a bit of Malaysia’s national dish.

20240107_133240Suria KLCC

20240107_134551Nasi lemak and teh tarik for lunch

I was hoping to visit the Menara Tower and KL Forest Eco Park afterwards, and I even took a Grab over. However, it was still raining hard, and unfortunately, the KL Forest Eco Park was closed as a result. I also didn’t desire to pay to go up the Menara Tower while pouring rain, so I ended up taking another Grab to Thean Hou Temple instead. Constructed and completed in 1987, this temple is perched on a hill and is a blend of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism– a tribute to the rich Chinese culture and community in Malaysia. Absolutely stunning with the lanterns and colorful architecture– I went during the day, but I hear the night is even more beautiful, once the lanterns turn on!

20240107_155422Thean Hou Temple

The rain had subsided by then, and I descended the hill to make the 20-minute walk down to Brickfields, aka “Little India.” It’s a vibrant quarter, home to a notable Indian (and Sri Lankan) population. As the rain had subsided, the neighborhood was alive and lively, plenty of traffic and people milling about with vendors selling food and clothes out on the sidewalk. I was tempted by the smells of the delicious sweets (e.g. jalebi, gulab jamun), but I decided to forgo them to save my stomach for food later that evening– instead, I opted to purchase some clothing at the shops, which turned out to be a bargain!

20240107_164312In Brickfields (“Little India”)

Finally, I took another Grab to Jalan Alor Food Street, a bustling street food market where I got dinner. I enjoyed char kway teow, a stir-fry noodle dish by way of Chinese immigrants from southern China– it was rich, greasy, and full of wok hei, a smokiness which makes a savory dish like char kway teow delicious. I also bought a piece of durian to-go, as I just wanted a taste of the “king of fruits” and not the whole, massive fruit. To be honest, I did not care for durian: while the smell itself wasn’t as bad as I’d thought, it was the mushy and stringy texture that didn’t do it for me. At least I tried it!

20240107_174841Char kway teow

20240107_184610Durian piece (not my favorite)!

Surrounding Jalan Alor Food Street, there were a few smaller, winding roads that had some colorful street art. I took a wander after dinner, before making the walk back to my hotel, where I rested for the remainder of the day. It was a long day of traveling and sightseeing, and I definitely needed to recharge. KL was a lot bigger and more urban than Penang, and it was a different environment to be in; I would spend the next few days exploring more of what it had to offer.

20240107_181651Jalan Alor street art

More of my time in KL coming soon. Until then! 🙂

— Rebecca

Published by Rebecca

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

39 thoughts on “Destination: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Petronas Tower Views, Little India, and Eating Durian for the First Time– DAY 1)”

  3. I think rain is part and parcel of the SE Asia experience, although from what I remember of Spain it tended to rain heavily for a short period and then stop, rather than drizzle continuously. It sounds as though you made the best of it, and still packed a lot in! I’m also not a fan of durian (the smell and the texture just didn’t do it for me).

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    1. Absolutely! As it’s a tropical environment, countries like Malaysia and Spain get a lot of rain (a huge contrast to the desert here in southern California)! I braved the rain to make the most of it in KL, even braving the smell and taste of durian! Thanks for reading, Rosie 🙂

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  5. At least you’ve tried durian. It’s a very polarizing fruit indeed. I personally enjoy the mushy texture of it, but I heard that in Thailand they serve durian when it’s still a bit firm.

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  7. What a cute train! Good for you for trying durian. I have yet to try it as I keep hearing horror stories about the smell. Now that you’ve said the texture is stringy, too (which I don’t like), I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to trying it! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more photos and stories about your visit to KL.

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  9. I’m happy you found great ways to explore despite the rain! That temple is beautiful, and I love seeing the coexistence of different faiths. I hope to try durian one day; it looks similar to jackfruit which we have in Jamaica (it’s either passionately hated or loved, no in between!)

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    1. Thanks, Elle! Rain can be an incovenience while sightseeing, but I made the best of it! Malaysia is really a melting pot of people, cultures, and religions. Durian is an acquired taste, and I hope you try it some day!

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  13. The view of Petronas from your hotel was fantastic, even with the clouds.
    Great to know there is a train connecting KL and Penang. Your Penang post inspired me to look it up further and I couldn’t find direct flights from my country.

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