Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Pavilion KL is located at the heart of the KL city , Bukit Bintang area. This is a brand spanking new mall, launched on last October 2007. This 7 level building mall is very big and beautiful, built for for the upper class society. I’ve been here a couple of times. I prefer this mall than KLCC, well maybe because I am already got bored with KLCC, and sometimes KLCC for me is too crowd at week ends, and I like the people and atmosphere in Pavilion better than KLCC.

What I really-really like in Pavilion is a place called Food Republic. Reading the name you can guest what kind of place it is. Yes, this is a place for food lovers where you can taste the wide variety of international and local cuisines. There’s also a one place called JCO Donut & Cofee in Food Republic . The lines are very long all day everyday. To satisfied my curiosity, I waited for 30 minutes and bought a dozen of donuts.

I don’t know what the hype about this JCO Donut, but it taste just like some ordinary donut with the crazy price. I dunno about you guys, maybe you will like this donuts also. But for me it taste just like the other donuts. People went crazy about this donuts and making a long lines everyday. Maybe you should check this JCO Donuts also and tell me about it.

I also like GSC cinemas in here, you can see a brand new movie in here with a very nice dolby surround system. Book addict can also go to the Times Bookshop.
This is one of the most traffic jam area in KL, so it would be better if you take a monorail train than a taxi to go here. Use a monorail train and stop at the Bukit Bintang Station. From there you can walk to Pavilion. Ask people how to go there from Bukit Bintang Station. It is at the front of JW Marriot Hotel. You can check the Pavilion official website here.

Pavilion Video

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From KLIA Airport and LCCT Airport to Kuala Lumpur

There are 2 international airports near to Kuala Lumpur, which is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). All of the Air Asia airplanes is landed at the LCCT airport and all other international airplanes landed at KLIA. So if you go to Kuala Lumpur by using an Air Asia, 100% guarantee that you will be landed at LCCT airport, but if you are using other airlines company, you will be landed at KLIA Airport.

KLIA Airport
KLIA airport is a big huge airport surrounded by four main cities of Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Seremban and Malacca. From here to Kuala Lumpur is about 70km. There are many ways for you to go to KL from here. Using a bus is an economical way, the price is ranging from 10 to 25 one way per person, and there are 2 stop in KL which is Hentian Duta and STAR LRT Station, Chan Sow Lin. These buses available every 30 minutes and it took about 1 hour to go to KL.

Another way is by using a taxi. There are 4 types of taxi for you to pick. They are budget taxi (4 passengers), premier limo (4 passengers), super luxury (3 passengers) and family service (8 passengers). I only know budget taxi, the price is between RM70 to RM90 depend on which KL you are going to. Make sure that you buy a taxi coupon at the airport first, otherwise they (the taxi driver) will charge you two times the normal price.

The fastest and the convenient way to go to KL is by using KLIA Express. It is located at the ground floor of the KLIA airport. The train is available every 20 minutes from 5 am to 12am. Price for adult is RM35 one way, RM70 return. For kids between 2-12 years is RM15 one way and RM30 return. In 28 minutes this train will take you to the main hub of railway station in KL, KL Sentral.

LCCT Airport
This airport is very small compared to KLIA airport. This is a dedicated airport for the low cost airline company in Malaysia, Air Asia. Actually you can go to LCCT Airport from KLIA airport by bus in 20 minutes and RM9 price, vice versa. Too bad there are still no express train connecting between this airport to KLIA airport. I hope the government will build it, someday.

There are only two way to go to KL from here. Which is by using a taxi and a bus. No express train from here to KL or to KLIA airport yet. Price for the budget taxi is around RM70-RM90 to KL, depend on which KL you are going to. Make sure that you buy a taxi coupon from the airport, otherwise the taxi driver will charge you two times than the normal price. Yes, they will do!

And then the bus, it is very cheap, it’s cost you RM8 to RM9 to KL depend on which bus you choose. Most of the buses will stop at KL Sentral, the main hub of the railway station in KL. From KL Sentral you can go anywhere in KL by using a taxi or train.

If you have time and you don’t want to miss the experience to go to KL by KLIA Express, you still can do that. Take the bus from LCCT Airport to KLIA Airport, it cost you about RM9 and 20 minutes journey. From KLIA Airport, go to the KLIA Express station at the ground floor.

Check out the KLIA airport website here, LCCT airport here and KLIA Express here. Check out also the Skybus, this is an Airasia bus services available at LCCT Airport and KL Sentral.

Video of KLIA Airport



Video of LCCT Airport (KLIA)

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Taxi in Kuala Lumpur

For whatever reason I always keep my self away from using a taxi in KL. Taxi in KL for me is the last choice if I don’t have any other transportation. Why? Well, because most of the taxi drivers I have met were mostly rude, never smile and sometimes they don’t want to use the meter. Yes, we have to bargain with them if we want to go somewhere else that they feel too far or have a traffic jam. And also, most of the taxi’s in KL were still using an old car and sometimes smell strange inside.

Don’t expect that you will get a taxi around KL at the rush hour between 7am - 9am or 5pm - 8 pm. All the taxi in KL at that time somehow were disappeared, because they don’t want to be stuck in the traffic jam. Or if you lucky and still can get taxi at that time they will charge you double the price and won’t using a meter! Let me tell you a story about my bad experience with taxi in KL.

I was in a hurry to meet a client at some place in KL. It was 3 pm and all the road was half empty without traffic jam. There are maybe more than 10 taxi’s park around the train station area. Without a doubt I opened one of the taxi’s door and seat my butt at the back. I asked the taxi driver to go to some place (about 5 km disctance), and to my surprise he didn’t want to bring me there. He said that the traffic jam is bad at this time. What, I said, it’s still 3pm!

Feel angry, I asked the other 9 taxi’s driver, again, to my surprise, all of them reject me with the same excuses, traffic jam. I knew my destination area, I’ve been there a couple of times and at 3 PM the road would be half empty and far-far away from traffic jam. Anyway, failed to get the transportation, I called my client and cancelled the meeting that day.

And also, don’t be surprised when you are inside a taxi in KL, the taxi’s driver would stop somewhere else and get another passenger who have the same destination as yours. Yes, you are not the only passenger, you will sit with some strangers. All of taxi’s in this article is a normal taxi, and most of them are using local cars like Proton Wira, Proton Iswara and Proton Saga. If you don’t want to hassle with a bargaining and also don’t want to sit with some strangers, you can get the premiere taxi where most of them do stick to the correct meter charges. Readmore »»

Kuala Lumpur City Center or KLCC

This is the first shopping mall I had visited in Kuala Lumpur back in 2005. I was on my way to Mandarin Hotel which is near to KLCC by using train, and when I stopped at the KLCC station and got out, wow, I was amazed of how well is the transportation infrastructure system in Kuala Lumpur. I just realised that day, that the KLCC Station is exactly under the KLCC shopping mall! Call me an idiot, but I came from Jakarta, Jakarta until now still doesn’t have the railway system like the one in Kuala Lumpur. That’s why I amazed of how well is the railway system in KL.

KLCC is located exactly nestled with the Petronas Twin Towers building, so if you visit Petronas Twin Towers don’t forget to visit this mall also. There are many stores in KLCC ranging from the international brands and local brands. I am a guy, I don’t do shopping a lot, but what I like most in KLCC is the Kinokuniya Book Store, the food court and the cinema. There are also a digital camera stores, but the prices is crazy, I prefer to buy digital camera or digital gadget things at the Lowyat Plaza than KLCC. If you like rock music you should go to the Tower Records, located at the ground level. It’s full of rock music CD ranging from 60’s to 90’s rock era.

If you have a kid or a teenager and they like to learn about science, you can bring them to Petrosains located at level 4 of KLCC. It’s a huge and a cool place to learn about petroleum science and technology in an interactive way, owned by Petronas, the oil company in Malaysia. I have two kids, 4 years old and 6 years old, they love this place so much. I am geek, I love science, I love this place also. I dunno about you guys. For orchestra’s music lover, KLCC also has a world-class Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, you can buy the ticket at Concourse level. I’ve never had a chance to watch this orchestra, so I can’t tell you about this.

If you want to see the work of local and foreign artists in KL, you can go to the Galeri Petronas at level 4 KLCC. When I was there, they showing us an antique photos of Malaysia photographed by some old local photographer, very interesting! Still in walking distance from KLCC you can go to Aquaria, it’s not so big aquarium show. If I compared this with Seaworld in Jakarta, this Aquaria in Kuala Lumpur is very small. If you have had an experience with Seaworld, Fishworld, or other big aquarium show before, I would not recommend this place.

Oh I forgot, there are also a very nice park called KLCC park near to KLCC. It has 50 acre tropical garden, two-acre children’s playground, symphony fountain, wading pool, a jogging track, and it’s free! My kids love the playground so much. Another interesting feature in KLCC Park is a Lake Symphony where two water fountains dancing together start every 6 pm to 9 pm. For photographer, this is a good place to photograph the Petronas Twin Towers. The golden time for photograph the Petronas Twin Towers from KLCC Park is between 7pm to 8pm, because the light from the Petronas Twin Towers is striking beautiful at this time. Bring your tripod.

Getting here is easy. Just take a Putra LRT Train and go to KLCC Station, or take a taxi if you’re far from any train station. You can check KLCC website here, Petrosains here, and Aquaria here.

Video of KLCC

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IKEA Mutiara Damansara Kuala Lumpur

You must be wondering, why I wrote an article about IKEA, well, I wrote about IKEA because most of my friends who came from Indonesia keep asking me about it. I have an Indonesian friend who lived in Kuala Lumpur and she said that the first 3 months she lived in KL, she spent almost 5 days a week visiting IKEA. That’s how fanatics she is! But most of you who come from Western Countries, where IKEA’s is maybe just a step from your house, you could just skip this article, but let me tell you that IKEA in Kuala Lumpur is the biggest IKEA in Asia. IKEA is located at Ikano Power Centre in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. Maybe it’s about 20 km from Kuala Lumpur.

I went to IKEA for the first time on 2006 with LRT (Light Rapid Transit). It took me about 30 minutes from KLCC Station (under the Petronas Twin Towers) to the Kelana Jaya Station. And it only costs me about RM 2.5, maybe about less than USD1. From Kelana Jaya Station I took the free bus shuttle provided by the IKANO Power Centre. The shuttle bus available every 20 minutes, and it’s not available between 2pm to 3.30pm. It took me about 20 minutes from Kelana Jaya Station to IKEA by shuttle bus, but it might be more than 20 minutes if the traffic jam is bad. You could also ride a taxi to IKEA, and it costs you about more than RM30 and 30 minutes driving from KL city.

I had never been to IKEA in any country before, and I was told by my wife that this place was so huge, but I couldn’t believe it until I got there by my self. Wow, this place is so big, actually this is a jungle with all the house/apartment things in it. It has two floors, the upper floor it’s for a big huge things, like a wardrobe, sofa bed, bed room, living room, TV desk, work desk, etc. The lower floor it’s for something more smaller, like lamps, kitchen things, photo frame, curtain, carpet, etc.

If you feel tired after walking around, you could take a rest at the small cafe at the upper floor, it has a small snack, and teh tarik (pull tea) and carbonated drinks. But I would recommend you to have a lunch at the Swedish Restaurant at the upper floor. I really like the Ikea Swedish meatballs, smothered in gravy and topped with chips. The salad also good and also the fish chips. Take also a Daim cake as a desert, it’s so yummy. The coffee and carbonated drinks also served as a refill, so you can drink as much as you can.

There are also a playground for a kids in Ikea, but it’s not free. I have never let my kids in the playground, they usually play around with a small trolley provided by Ikea. With that small trolley, my kids would never far from me while I am shopping. I don’t know about your kids (if you have one), but most of the kids I have seen in Ikea likes to play around with that small trolley. I think I should give Ikea two thumbs up for this, because with that small trolley, I don’t have to put my kids on the playground, where someone has to look over them.

Within Ikano Power Centre building you could also go to Ace Hardware, food courts, hundreds of local shop, and a very nice mall across the road called The Curve. By the week ends, Ikea would be packed by people, I found my self hardly walking on week ends. That’s why I prefer to go to Ikea between Monday to Friday.

Video of IKEA


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Batu Caves

I’ve visited this place a couple of times but still amazed with the place. Although it’s not in Kuala Lumpur area, this is a must see place in Malaysia. It is truly exotic and tremendously gorgeous. It’s located in Selangor State, and it’s about 13 kilometers (7 miles) north of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. While this place is a ‘tourist attaction’ area, it’s also a holy place for Hindu’s in Malaysia. This place culturally very interesting, nothing like it anywhere else, even in Indonesia, my country. Once in a year, usually between January to February, they are celebrating Thaipusam festival. You should not missed this festival when you around here on February. In Thaipusam festival you can observed Indians carrying large ‘kavadhi’ (a metal frame attached to the body), piercing their cheeks, mouth, and hands.

This area consist with 3 main caves and a smaller ones. When you get there you will be welcome by the world’s tallest statue of Murugan, standing at 42.7 meter (140.09 ft) high. There are also a very long stairs, about 272 step, that will take you to the main temple inside the caves. Along the stairs, you will meet a lot of monkeys, they are waiting for your food, like bananas or peanuts. While you are resting after climbing this stairs, you should not put anything outside your pocket or bag, or the monkey suddenly will grab your things and run away.

I found my self resting a lot while trying to climb the stairs. The stairs are not for the people who have a faint hearted or out of shape, but it is so worth it. When you got to the top you will find the main temple inside the cave with 100m ceiling on top of you. I found my self chilling a little when I saw the big stalagnit on top of the ceiling. I was wondering what if an earthquake happen when I was there, then all the stalagnit will fall to my head.

You could also pray in their temple, the monk will give you a little dot sign on your forehead, then ask you to pray to their Gods. You don’t have to pay to see and pray at the temple but they provided some kind of a box if you would like to donate. The monk would also likes to take a pictures with you as long as they are not too busy praying. Ask them nicely, it’s worth it to take a pictures with them. The cave also smell something weird, I guess it’s a bats poop or monkeys poop. Make yourself comfortable with the smell of the cave once you get there.

The easiest part now is going down, but be careful, because the stairs step is so small, even for my asian foot, you will fall down if you are not careful. And beware with monkeys, they are everywhere waiting for your things to grab. On the ground there are also a small temple, souvenirs shop, restaurant and dove birds. Yes dove birds everywhere, and their poop also everywhere. That’s why this place is so smell, there are dove birds poop, bats poop and monkeys poop, prepare your self for that. And this place is not so clean, you can see a lot of garbage around this place. I can’t understand that the Hindu’s people worship this place but they keep them in such a smelly place like this.

You can go to Batu Caves by a KTM train from KL Sentral Station to Sentul Station. Or the easier way is just take a taxi, they will bring you here in 30 minutes from KL city. Or take a bus, bus Nr 70 and 349 are leaving from Lebuh Pudu (in China Town, Petaling Street) every 30 minutes. Do yourself a favour, wear some comfortable shoes. Remember, you must climb up 272 steps of stairs!

Video of Batu Caves





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Kuala Lumpur Tower or KL Tower

From Wikipedia: The Kuala Lumpur Tower (officially known as Menara Kuala Lumpur; referred later as KL Tower) is a tall tower located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was built in 1995. It is used for communication purposes and features an antenna that reaches 421 m (1,381 ft), which currently makes it the fifth tallest tower in the world. The tower also contains a revolving restaurant, providing diners a beautiful view of the city. The tower also has an observation deck from which you can see a bird eye view of the city.

I’ve visited this tower two times. Once was at noon and the second was at night. I think the best time to see the Kuala Lumpur city from KL Tower is at night. The city and the surrounding area will be blown up with the beautiful fantastic lights around the city. Yes you have to buy the ticket to go to the observation deck, the cost is RM 20 (Adult) and RM 10 (Children). And it’s open 365 days a year from 9.00 am until 10.00 pm.

The super fast elevator will bring you to the observation deck within a minute. At the observation deck someone will give you the tape recorder with the head set which will act as a guide along the observation deck. It’s available in 11 language. I encourage you to use this tape recorder if you want to know the name of the buildings from the observation deck. If you just want to take a pictures and don’t want to get messy with the cable from the big tape recorder and the head set you could just say no when they offered you. You will have a much better view than the Petronas Tower because this observation deck is much higher than the skybridge in Petronas Towers.

There is no time limit and you are free to stay at the observation deck as long you needed. You can also having a nice lunch and dinner at the KL Tower revolving restaurant. The restaurant is open daily from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm for lunch and 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm for dinner. But you have to make the reservation first. I never had a lunch or dinner at this restaurant, but you can check KL Tower website here for more detail about reservation for revolving restaurant.

Because it was built at the top off the hill and at the centre of the rain forest, KL Tower also has a tour for it. The tour include bird watching and there is also a camping site available on request. In this tour you can experience the birds watching, jungle trekking, jogging trails, forest walk, camping, playground, flora fauna and Jelutong Tree.

Getting there is easy, just take a taxi, all the taxi drivers know this place. Or if you prefer the cheapest one just take the train. Take the Putra LRT train an stop at the Dang Wangi station. From there go to the Bukit Nanas monorail station, it’s about 300 meter from Dang Wangi Station. Stop at the Raja Chulan station and you can walk from there and take the free shuttle bus at the main entrance of KL Tower.

There are also an ATM, money changer, toilets, a wheel chairs and public phone provided by the KL tower at the ground floor.

Video of people jumping from KL Tower







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Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers is, and always has been the magnet of tourism in Malaysia. It was built in 1996 and has been visited by millions of people around the world. It had been the tallest twin towers building since 1998 until beaten by Taipei 101 building in 2004. It is located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur city.

Petronas Twin Towers also has a tour. It started on Tuesday until Sunday, and it close on Monday. Tickets were free but availability is on a first come first serve basis and only 1700 passes are given out daily. The ticket counter is open from 8.30am until 10.30 am and usually you have to wait for a long queue. That’s why it would be better if you come to the ticket counter before 8.30 am. If you coming to the ticket counter at 9 am, you will get the ticket to enter the petronas towers around 11 or 12.

The tour have 3 part. Part 1 is when you first enter the building they will instruct you to wait at the waiting room around 15 to 20 minute. The waiting room is not so bad, it has a lot of things that you can learn and see about Petronas Towers. Part 2, they will bring you to the small cinema and give you a small movie presentation about Petronas corporation. I think the movie was not interesting and makes me bored in 5 minutes, even though it’s in 3D. It’s all about the Petronas company, and more like a hidden ad about the Petronas. I would be appreciated if they shows us a brief history about the making of the Petronas Towers like they did before.

Part 3, they will check your body and your luggage like those one in the airport to make sure that you didn’t bring any bomb or any terrorist thingy. After that the elevator will bring you to the bridge at level 42 where the bridge is connecting both tower 1 and tower 2. Personally, I felt disappointed that they only took me to level 42 and not to the highest level which is level 88. I asked the guide about this and she said it’s a matter of a security. Damn 9/11!!!! I want to stand at the one of the highest building in the world and what they can do is took me to the level 42?

They will give you about 15 minutes to take a photograph at the bridge, and then bring you back to the ground. If you want to feel and stand at the one of the highest building in the world, this tour is not worth it, you should go to Kuala Lumpur Tower instead. It’s more and more higher than this one.

It’s easy to go here, just ask the taxi driver to go to Petronas Towers or KLCC and they wouldn’t ask you no more. Taxi in Kuala Lumpur sometimes doesn’t want to use the meter, just make sure that you get the taxi that willing to use the meter, or you will end up bargaining. The easy way is using the Putra LRT train, just stop at the KLCC station and you’ll be there.

Video of Skybridge in Petronas Twin Towers


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Genting Highlands The Las Vegas of Malaysia

Malaysia is a country where most of the population and all their top leader is Islam. Islam forbid gambling, and most of the Islam country that I had known doesn’t have a legal casino. But somehow it exist in Malaysia, and it also legal. Well, money, who doesn’t want it!

I have never spent a night in Genting Highlands, so I can not recommend you which hotel is best suit for you there. Usually, me and my family departed from Kuala Lumpur by car at 10am and we would be there around 11am. Driving by a car to Genting Highland is very easy and convenient. Genting highlands it’s about 54km from Kuala Lumpur.

If you bring your own car, park your car at the Genting Skyway Cable Station, it’s about 4 km from Genting Highlands. Genting Skyway Cable Station is the station for the cable car in Gohtong Jaya. This cable car is amazing, and I think you’re kids would be happy riding it. This cable car is the longest cable car in South East Asia, about 3.8 km long, and you will be surrounded by tropical rain forest a long the way to Genting Highlands. It took us about 20 minutes to Genting Highlands. Fare is about RM5 one way and RM10 return.

The first time in Genting Highlands I was only wearing a T-shirt with a short pants and sandals. Wow, I felt cold and I also just realised that the average temperature is between 16-23 degree celcius in Genting Highlands. So I would recommend you to wear some clothes that suitable for the weather there. For you who are coming from a cold weather western country, this is shouldn’t be a problem for you, but for an asian guy like me who usually lived with an average temperature 28-32 degree celcius, this is too cold without wearing a proper clothes!

For families with children you would be pleased with this place. It has 2 park, indoor theme park and outdoor theme park. Indoor theme park has a roller coaster, snow world, Ripley’s believe it or not, bowling area and also a water park. In Indoor theme park you can also find a Genting Sky Venture, the only free fall skydiving simulator in Asia. It’s amazing to saw how people is flying there. In outdoor theme park you will find something similar like in the Disney World, but in a small edition. It’s very cold at outdoor theme park, and sometimes the fog is coming down and block your eyes sight. Bring an umbrella, it’s a must tool if you want to go to outdoor theme park, because the rain sometimes will come up without any sign.

If you are 21 years old, non muslim, bring a passport, and wearing a nice long sleeve shirt with tie, you can go to the casino and play some Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Carribean Stud Poker. Malaysian muslim citizen can not go inside the Casino. I never went to the casino in Genting Highlands, so , I can not give you any information about it. I heard that Muslim non Malaysian can go to the Casino also, as long as they bring the passport and wearing a proper clothes.

There are also another outdoor activities, like hiking and golf. With hiking you can explore the surrounding tropical rainforest. For those of you likes to spending money on shopping, go to The First World Plaza, there are a wide variety of things with local brand or international brand around here.

Personally, one full day in Genting Highlands is enough for me, I didn’t feel that I need to stay any longer. Maybe, if I spent one more day here, I would be bored. But, if I were a gambler or a teenager who likes to play at the amusement park, it would be a different story then. I have a friend who once told me that he wish that he could spent 3 days and 2 nights in Kuala Lumpur than spending that time in Genting Highlands.

You will see a long queue everywhere in Genting Highlands at week end. And I also found my self difficult to find a parking place, even they provided us with a huge and free parking places. Do yourself a favour, come at week days, it will save your time from a long queue.

The most convenient and economical way to go to Genting Highlands is by using a bus. These buses are leaving from various locations in Kuala Lumpur and it called Genting Express Bus Service. Right now there are 6 Genting Express Bus Service station in KL which is in Terminal Putra, Kajang, KL Sentral, Puduraya, Pasar Rakyat, and 1 Utama. You can check the map of the Genting Express Bus Service in KL here. Maybe the easiest for you is get the ticket from Genting Express Bus Service at KL Sentral Station. KL Sentral Station is the main hub of train in KL. It will cost you around RM8 to RM10 and 1 hour time journey.

Until now there are no buses would take you straight to Genting Highlands from LCCT Airport or KLIA Airport, unless you take a taxi that will cost you a ton of money. My suggestion is take a taxi, bus or train from the airport to the KL Sentral. From the KL Sentral you can take a bus to Genting Highlands.

A bus from Singapore straight to Genting Highlands are also available, check it here. If you are on a ‘unlimited budget mode’ , don’t bother with a bus, go take a taxi or even a limousine here, and win some money back from the casino. Happy gambling!!!

Video of Skyline Venture in Genting Highlands

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Central Market Kuala Lumpur

This is the place where you can buy some souvenirs, handicraft, artwork or t-shirt to bring to your home country. It is located at the border of China Town, so it would be a good place to start to walk around the city. The room is fully air conditioning, and also has a nice atmosphere to walk and shop. The price is relatively cheap, most of them are already has a price labelled on it, but don’t worry, you can also bargain until you have a reasonable price.

There are also a food court at level 2, mostly they are selling Malaysian food. Upstairs, you can also find several pieces of furniture, traditional Batik t-shirt and Sarong. If you bring your own car at week end, be prepare to find another parking place outside the Central market, because the parking place is not to big. You don’t need to buy a ticket to go inside Central Market. In the week end the place will be crowded by local’s and tourists, and sometimes the place also looks dirty.

It’s easy to go here, try using the Putra LRT train, stop at the Pasar Seni Station and then you can walk from there. The distance from the Pasar Seni Station to Central market is about 200 metres. If you want to see more pictures of Central Market and also want to buy it as a souvenirs please go to this link. Readmore »»

Petaling Street Kuala Lumpur

I am from Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta doesn’t have China Town. Even they have maybe about 10% Chinese population, Jakarta is still doesn’t have a China Town. So, I didn’t have any idea about China Town looks like back in 2006. But I do have seen a movie about China Town in Hollywood movie, so maybe it gives me a little idea in my mind about China Town.

My first experience with China Town was in Kuala Lumpur, in 2006. I went to Petaling Street, that’s the busiest place of China Town in Kuala Lumpur. It was afternoon around 3pm, and my mind was fulfilled with my imaginary thing about China Town, but then I felt disappointed, that place was so boring, so dull, and not so many activities around it. I wonder why. Then I decided to came back at evening around 7pm, and boy, that place had change into the real China Town and very lively. A lot of street hawkers was selling many strange food, vendors selling and yelling, and people were everywhere and very crowded. This place had changed from the dull place at noon into bustling night market at evening. That’s why I recommend you to come at evening, start from 7pm to Petaling Street. Please don’t come at noon!

There were many things you could buy from here, from the fake leather goods, the “Rolex” watches, inexpensive dresses, shoes, fabrics and souvenirs. Most of the branded items were fake. That’s why all the prices for the “branded” were very inexpensive. Most of them has a low quality feels but looks original. Don’t forget to bargain the price, bargain for half of the price they are offered to you. Compared to budget market in Indonesia the price was not that cheap, but if you are from ‘Developed Country’ the price would be cheap for you. If you like Chinese food, this place is a heaven for you.

I do not recommend you to buy a pirate DVD movie here, because even they sell the newest movie and with a dirty cheap price, the quality of the movie were mostly pretty bad. If you want to buy the movies please try to buy the movies which is one or two years older, usually the DVD quality were better. If you are a DVD quality junkie and you do mind with the pictures and the sound quality, just buy the TV series movies like Smallville, Heroes or The Sopranos, they were mostly have a very good DVD quality.

This place is not for you who likes to hang around the mall area, or a comfortable places with a cold air conditioning. This place is also not for you who bring a kids. Put your kids at the Kids Centre or leave them at the hotel, since the place is very crowded and is very difficult to breath and move around. Beware also with the pick-pockets, my friend once told me not to bring wallet, camera or a bag with a lot of money in it. But I have been to this place 4 times with a camera around my neck and a wallet half full with money, nothing happen. Maybe I just get lucky.

Getting there is easy. Use Putra LRT Train and stop at the Pasar Seni Station. From there you can just walk to Petaling Sreet.

Video of Petaling Street

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