Got 48 hours to kill in Kuala Lumpur? Hanna Marton recently discovered the best places to shop, sleep, drink, eat and, um, eat in Malaysia’s capital.
SHOP
OK, no-one really visits KL for the Bird Park. Hightail it to Jalan Bukit Bintang (jalan simply means “street”), the city’s answer to Fifth Avenue in New York or Oxford Street in London. This promenade of megamalls is a tourist attraction in its own right; allow a few hours for Pavilion alone. On Jalan Bintang, just off Jalan Bukit Bintang (confusing much?), is Low Yat Plaza – to remember the name, think “low fat pizza” – which sports 500 electronics stores. I picked up a BlackBerry Curve for $250 (tech-savvy friends tell me it’s a bargain). Once you’ve stocked up on Zara, cleaned out Sephora and bought the most recent i-something, cab it to Suria KLCC, a mega mega-mall underneath Petronas Twin Towers. Tiffany, Burberry, Coach, Hermès, Boost Juice… need I say more?
DRINK
For uninterrupted views of the glittering Petronas Twin Towers at sunset, you can’t go past Skybar, on level 33 of Traders Hotel. It boasts a lap pool, fast-flowing cocktails, super-friendly staff and DJ Farouk’s retro tunes will have you bouncing on the sunken lounges all night long. Skybar’s a KL institution, but there is a new player in town: View, on level 30 of KL’s newest five-star digs, G Tower Hotel. The view of the Towers isn’t as good (despite the name), but its sexy al fresco atmosphere and charismatic “mixologists” are going to make this bar the place to be seen in KL. Get there before everyone else does.
EAT
With a melting pot of Chinese, Indian and Malay residents, KL serves up a smorgasbord of culinary delights – pack the stretchy pants. Start in Chinatown by sampling street food along Jalan Petaling and head inside the art deco Central Market (Pasar Seni) for lunch. Wade through the artisans’ stalls (the perfect place to pick up authentic gifts); on the mezzanine level you’ll find Precious Old China Restaurant. Try the nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national dish: $3 gets you rice cooked in coconut cream tinged with pea-flower essence (which is purple – crazy); with nyonya rendang chicken, fried anchovy (nicer than it sounds), hard-boiled egg, cucumber, crackers, peanuts and spicy sambal sauce. Feeling brave? Order the fish head curry. For a more upmarket dinner and cocktails session, head to Jalan Nagasari, a bit like Sydney’s King Street Wharf without the wharf (or disco bowling).
SLEEP
Want absolute luxury on a Best Western budget? You can stay at Malaysia’s first certified green hotel, G Tower – home of View – for about $120 per night. It opened in June this year and doesn’t accommodate children under 12. If you’re on a backpacker budget, rest your head at Hotel Chinatown2, right on Jalan Petaling’s buzzy night market, for only $30 per night (it’s no Shangri-La but I liked it so much I stayed there twice). If money’s no object and you’d rather fresh sea air than the smell of BBQ satay and exhaust fumes, bunk down at Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa, 25 minutes from the airport and 70km from KL (the resort provides a daily, free shuttle bus to the city). Located on the Malacca Straight, these 392 over-water villas form the shape of a palm tree. It’s Dubai-meets-Malaysian-oasis. If you can leave your four-poster bed, book a massage at the resort’s Escapade Spa. The best you’ll ever have.
Hanna Marton was a guest of Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa, Hotel Representation Australia, Tourism Malaysia and Air Asia.
When it comes to Kuala Lumpur, what are your favourite places to eat, drink, stay and play?
Top Comments
Dear Mamamia
I have sent the following comments to the Directors of the Board Tennis Australia - Victoria
I am writing to draw your attention to the recent comments broadcast on national television (Channel 7- 20th Jan. 2012) at the Australian Open by exceptional athlete and tennis world champion, Mr Andrew Murray.
When asked by a commentator how he would celebrate his Australian Open, qualifying round success, Mr Murray replied that he was 'going to get hammered-drunk...'
Without question Mr Murray is a remarkable role-model; the ultimate sporting hero. Winning tennis at Mr Murray's level is a tribute to human commitment, perseverance, intellectual discipline and extraordinary courage. One of the most beautiful things in the world for millions of television viewers and court-side viewers is watching an elite athlete such as Mr Murray participate in a grand slam event.
On the other hand, I believe that Mr Murray's comment advocating binge-drinking, is problematic. His comments undermine proactive efforts in the community by teachers, doctors, and psychologists for example, and programmes like Under your Influence, supported by Drink Wise Australia and Sport Australia Hall of Fame, to signal awareness of alcohol abuse amongst youth. Mr Murray's remark (which I concede was a throw-away line in the heat of the moment of triumph) is also damaging because he himself is immensely influential as an example to youth, be they athletes, or those that aspire to the pinnacle of athleticism.
I am offended and disappointed by Mr Murray's comments. I am also concerned that such remarks resonate in the minds of glocal youth already primed by commercial advertising which targets youth by associating alcohol with images of elite prowess, glamour, prestige, youthfulness and good-times.
Furthermore, I cannot identify with Mr Murray's glib remarks, and I think his association of elite sporting success and alcoholic binge-drinking reflects on his part, a lapse of responsibility in view of his status as a 4th seed tennis-player in the world. Perhaps a little more sensitivity is due when considering the real crisis alcohol abuse presents in society, especially in Australian Youth.
Moreover, while I appreciate that Mr Murray’s remark was made in the context of triumphing at an international grand-slam event on a hot night, and was intended as a light-hearted joke, his comment seriously underestimates the diversity of Australian multi-cultural society, and tennis audiences.
It is my wish alternatively, that elite sport be associated with sobriety; my children have always enjoyed playing social tennis on Friday nights. There is a great deal of fun in life to be had without alcohol in my experience, and it is imperative that children cultivate this knowledge through experience; crucial that it is made visible through representation by ambassadors of international sport like Mr Murray. People talk of ‘a history of alcoholism...’ when referring to abuse. Sobriety also has a history and can be cultivated through practices in family/media/community. Moreover, for many people ‘pop-culture’ is like family. Therefore, pop-culture idols like sporting hero Andy Murray, are obliged to acknowledge their responsibility to the next generation when being reported by the media.
I hope Mr Murray gets a chance to spend a day at the beach while he is in Australia; one of many ‘Ozzy’ booze-free traditions.
In addition, I also think that the Australian Open on-court commentator may enhance his technique by considering that not all people watching tennis are minimum-educated 18 year old males, hence the fan-zine-gossip ie pop-culture centred line of questioning comes across as tedious, diminishing the instance that a world-class achievement has just taken place. This wrestling-ring way of relating in the media fails to acknowledge the rich diversity inherent in sporting-culture and which exists beyond the limits of dreary Hollywood stereotypes. I am not comfortable with athletes, or their audiences being patronised by this method of pseudo-comic live-interviewing. An exhausted albeit exhilarated grand-slam candidate deserves the respect that a more dignified style of interviewing results in my view.
On a lighter note, the dulcet tone of Andy Murray’s accent is almost enough to forgive him, his rash remark.
Lastly, it may be worth noting that I am 6th generation Australian, and atheist, bear a Scot’s name, and sometimes even drink alcohol, albeit I have considerably more faith in humanity, than alcohol. I am very grateful for the volunteer service that tennis clubs and tennis boards and committees bring to community.
Yours sincerely
Rosalind Paterson BAFA; PG Dip. Ed; MAFA; MAW; MAT (pending MU)
I love KL!! Everything is so super-cheap there, thanks to the awesome Aussie dollar, it is a great place for a holiday. Singles, couples, families, whatevs. We went there for our honeymoon and it was beautiful, and have been back twice with the kids and they loved it too. And it's so close to Aus (comparatively speaking), it's very doable. Loved this piece! :)