That trip was my very first trip out of the Philippines. Sending my gratitude to budget airlines such as AirAsia, blokes like me could finally afford to travel within the Southeast Asian region, and Kuala Lumpur presented the perfect opportunity for me to experience out-of-the-country travel.
My First International Flight to Kuala Lumpur
A Budget Gateway to Southeast Asia
I traveled with my older brother, with whom I shared a zest for traveling. We booked our Kuala Lumpur hotels two months in advance and also fixed our itinerary by researching on the internet. We ended up choosing the Swiss Garden Hotel, which was located right in the heart of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Street). For about five thousand pesos, we managed to book a twin-sharing room for three nights, making it a really great deal (which also included a breakfast buffet for two).
We arrived at the Kuala Lumpur airport (which was about an hour's drive from the city) in the afternoon. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted by a friendly hotel staff member who processed our reservation. After resting for a while, we explored the city. First things first, as we were already starving, we stopped to eat at a Chinese hawker stall by the sidewalk. We ordered some Chinese dishes and Yang Chow fried rice; all in all, it cost us fifty Malaysian ringgits (about seven hundred pesos—ouch).
We took the LRT and went to the first stop on our short itinerary: the Petronas Twin Towers.
Illuminating the Night Sky
Going there during the nighttime seemed like a good idea, as the lights and the skies put more emphasis on the towering Petronas-dominated skyline of Kuala Lumpur. The next day, we started walking around Kuala Lumpur right after we finished our breakfast. Places like Masjid Jamek, Dataran Merdeka, the National Museum, Little India, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, and the KL Tower were just some of the landmarks we visited.
On the viewing deck of the KL Tower, one could see a bird’s-eye view of the whole city, including a close-up of the nearby Petronas Towers.
A Bird's-Eye View and Ordered Streets
It was fun just walking around a new city. Kuala Lumpur seemed much cleaner than most cities I had read about somewhere—and it showed. There seemed to be a sense of order in the way commuter buses and other motorists used their roads; pedestrians could walk better along spacious sidewalks with nary a single street vendor.
Along the way, we met people of different races, as the Malaysian population consisted of ethnic Malays, Chinese, and Indian nationals. This was likely because, in the early part of their history, Malaysia, India, and Singapore had all been under British rule, thus facilitating the interchange of their people across those three countries.
Practical Travel Guide
Getting Around Kuala Lumpur:
Kuala Lumpur is incredibly well-connected by its rapid transit system. The LRT and Monorail lines are inexpensive and efficient ways to navigate between major landmarks like the Petronas Towers, Chinatown (Petaling Street), and Bukit Bintang.
Travel Tips:
To capture the best photos of the Petronas Towers, visit the KLCC Park right behind the buildings during the evening. Also, make sure to book your KL Tower observation deck tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.
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