EnTrip

From Wikitravel

Kuala Lumpur is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

Kuala Lumpur's Skyline

Kuala Lumpur [1], or simply KL, is the capital of Malaysia. Literally meaning "muddy estuary" in Malay, KL has grown from a small sleepy Chinese tin-mining village to a bustling metropolis of around 6.5 million (city-proper population of 1.6 million) in just 150 years. With the world's cheapest 5-star hotels, great shopping and even better food, increasing numbers of travellers are discovering this little gem of a city.

Districts

The Eyes On Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is a fairly sprawling city and its residential suburbs seem to go on forever. The city also merges with the adjacent towns of Petaling Jaya (originally developed as KL’s satellite town), Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang and Port Klang, creating a huge conurbanation called the Klang Valley.

The city can be divided up into the following areas, each of which offers a particular attraction or activity.

• City Centre – This is the traditional core of Kuala Lumpur where you’ll find former colonial administrative centre with the Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Selangor Club. This district also includes Kuala Lumpur’s old Chinese commercial centre which everyone refers to now as Chinatown.

• Golden Triangle – The area of Kuala Lumpur located to the north-east of the city centre, the Golden Triangle is where you’ll find the city’s shopping malls, five-star hotels, Petronas Twin Towers and party spots.

• JalanTuanku Abdul Rahman – This is the traditional colourful shopping district of Kuala Lumpur north of the city centre and moves into high gear when the festivals of Hari Raya Puasa (Eid ul-Fitr) and Deepavali approach. Located just beside the Golden Triangle (northern neighbour) with many popular budget accommodations. The gigantic Putra World Trade Centre & the traditional Kampung Baru food haven are among the most important landmarks. Lately Plaza GM had emerged as the Largest Wholesale Plaza certified by The Malaysian Book of Record. Over 60,000 designs and products like timepiece, sunglasses, ladies handbags, ladies accessories, fashion apparel, soft toys and many more can be found in this 21 storeys plaza. Unbelievable low price products sold in bulk with convenience for delivery and air-conditioned product sourcing experience.

• Brickfields – This area, located south of the city centre, is Kuala Lumpur’s Little India filled with saree shops and banana leaf rice restaurants. Kuala Lumpur’s main railway station – KL Sentral – is located here.

• Bangsar and Midvalley – Located south of the city, Bangsar is a popular restaurant and clubbing district while Midvalley, with its Megamall, is one of the city’s most popular shopping destinations.

• Damansara and Hartamas – Largely suburban, this two districts to the west of the city houses some interesting pockets of restaurant and drinking areas. This district virtually merges into the northern part of Petaling Jaya.

• Ampang – Located east of the city, Ampang is home to Kuala Lumpur’s Little Korea and most foreign embassies.

• Northern suburbs – This huge area to the north of the city is home to several attractions, such as Batu Caves, the National Zoo and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

• Southern suburbs – This district may not interest travellers although Kuala Lumpur’s main stadium at Bukit Jalil and The Mines theme park is located here.

Understand

KL's symbol, the Petronas Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur Skyline

Founded only in 1857 as a tin mining outpost, Kuala Lumpur is fairly new as far as Malaysian cities go and lacks the rich history of George Town or Malacca. After rough early years marked by gang fighting, Kuala Lumpur started to prosper and was made capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896. Malaysia's independence was declared in 1957 in front of huge crowds at what was later named Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), and Kuala Lumpur continued as the new nation's capital. The economic boom of the 1990s brought KL the standard trappings of a modern city, bristling with skyscrapers and modern transportation systems. Like most of Malaysia's big cities, about 55% of Kuala Lumpur's population is of Malaysian Chinese descent.

Get in

By plane

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Terminal

All scheduled jet flights, whether domestic or international, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport [2] (IATA: KUL ICAO: WMKK) located about 50km to the south-west of Kuala Lumpur, in the Sepang district of Selangor. The US$2.5bil modern structure of glass and steel was inaugurated in 1998 and has been ranked as one of the top airports of the world. It replaced the former Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang, which is now used for chartered and turboprop flights. Over 50 airlines call at KLIA.

A new Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) opened in March 2006, and is currently used by AirAsia [3], Tiger Airways, and Cebu Pacific [4]. Though the LCC Terminal is across the runway tarmac from the Main Terminal Building, it is nearly 20km away by road. Frequent shuttle buses connect the two terminals, costing RM1.50 per trip. At the Main Terminal Building, catch the shuttles at the Bus Terminal on the Ground Floor of the Car Park C building, while at the LCCT, wait for the buses at the bus bays right in front of the terminal. If transferring from the KLIA Ekspres train, make your way to Level 2 and follow the signs to Car Park C and the Bus Station.

Be careful when locating the transfer bus from the main terminal to the LCCT, as taxi drivers giving the appearance of being airport customer service personnel will try to steer tourists to a mini-bus or taxi with a cost many times greater than the actual LCCT transfer bus. Frequently they will ask for a fee similar to a taxi ride into Kuala Lumpur, typically RM70.

Transfers - Main Terminal

By train:

• The high-speed KLIA Ekspres [5] links the airport directly with the KL Sentral transportation hub in Kuala Lumpur in 28mins. Trains run from 5am to 12 midnight. There is one train every 15mins between 5am and 9am, and between 4pm and 10pm; while trains run every 20mins outside those hours. The cost of a one-way ticket is RM35. There is no discount on return tickets. Those using this service to get to KLIA can check in their baggage at the Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal in KL Sentral. The city check-in service however is only available to those flying Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Royal Brunei Airlines although on 13 July 2007, KLIA Ekspres' operator Express Rail Link said passengers flying on all 43 airlines which call at KLIA will be able to check in their luggage at KL Sentral from 23 July 2007. As of then only Emirates has started operating. See "Get around" section below on how to get to/away from KL Sentral.

• The KLIA Transit [6], like the KLIA Ekspres, also links the airport with KL Sentral except that it stops at three intermediate stations - Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, and Bandar Tasik Selatan. The journey takes 36mins. The fare from end to end is the same as for the KLIA Ekspres, which is RM35. Different fares apply for journeys to the intermediate stations. From KL Sentral, trains run every half hour from 5.33am to 12.03am, while from KLIA, trains run every half hour from 5.52am to 1am. You may use of KLIA Ekspres' check-in services even when holding a KLIA Transit ticket.

• You can also catch KTM Komuter [7] trains to Nilai station and take a connecting bus to KLIA. The frequent Nilai-KLIA buses are operated by Airport Coach and Sepang Omnibus. The entire journey may take about two hours, but the cost is considerably cheaper than the above two options. For example, the fare from KL Sentral to Nilai is RM4.70 while the bus fare from Nilai to KLIA is about RM2.50. You can also use the KTM Komuter to go to other destinations, such as Seremban in Negeri Sembilan. For other KTM Komuter destinations, see "Get around" section below.

By bus:

• Airport Coach runs a one hourly express bus between KL Sentral and KLIA from 5am to 10.30pm from Sentral, and 6.30am to 12.30am from KLIA. RM10 one way, or RM18 return.

• Star Shuttle bus runs from KLIA to Kota Raya and Pudu Raya (both are near the Chinatown), RM10 one way.

• Sepang Omnibus runs local bus services directly to Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Banting in Selangor and Sepang town where you can get connecting buses to/from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The buses may be a little basic and uncomfortable, and do not follow a timetable (at least, not one that is publicly known).

• Both Airport Coach and Sepang Omnibus run frequent buses between KLIA and Nilai where you continue your journey on the KTM Komuter. See the "Get around" section below for details on the KTM Komuter.

Alternatively, you can take the bus to the LCCT then connect to KLIA.

By road:

If you have your own wheels, KLIA is well connected to Peninsular Malaysia's expressway network. The airport is directly linked with the North South Expressway Central Link (known by its Malay abbreviation "Elite") about 70km or nearly one hour away from Kuala Lumpur city centre. Exit the expressway at KLIA interchange for both the Main Terminal and LCCT.

Transfers - Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)

By train:

• There are no direct train connections to the LCCT (although the government has agreed to build one). However, you can take either train from KL Sentral to the Main Terminal, then catch the shuttle bus to the LCCT.

By bus:

• SkyBus [8] runs direct services every half hour or so from KL Sentral to the LCCT. RM9 one-way.

• Aerobus also runs direct bus services every half hour from KL Sentral to the LCC Terminal. RM9 one-way, free return journey.

• Star Shuttle [9] (Tel: +60-3-40438811), newly launched in January 2007, has direct buses to the Pekeliling Bus Terminal and Batu 3 (3rd Mile) Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur, as well as direct connections to the Subang Jaya KTM Komuter station and the PKNS Building in Shah Alam. Check its website for schedules. Fares are RM9 per trip.

By taxi:

WARNING: It is better not to accept offers from touts in the arrival foyer because they may charge more than Airport Limo taxis. You will also not be covered by insurance if an accident happens.

• From KLIA: Only Airport Limo limousines and budget taxis are allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. You buy coupons from Airport Limo counters just before you exit the international arrivals gate, or just outside the domestic arrivals gate. Ask for a budget taxi, which is perfectly fine and costs a fixed RM67.40 to get to Kuala Lumpur; otherwise you'll be given a misnamed "limousine" that costs an extra RM20. If there is more than one person, it is probably cheaper to take a taxi directly to your destination, rather than going by train and then having to take a taxi onto your destination.

WARNING: It is better not to accept offers from touts in the arrival foyer because they may charge more than Airport Limo taxis. Even if you are shown what seems to be legitimate price lists. You will also not be covered by insurance if an accident happens.

• To KLIA: Any taxi can bring passengers to KLIA, including Kuala Lumpur's metered red-and-white taxis, although you will find it very difficult to get drivers to use the meters. Make sure you agree on a price before getting into the taxi. Fares should be between RM60 and RM90.

By road:

The LCCT is about 20km from the Main Terminal and can be accessed via the KLIA circular or airport cargo road.

Subang Airport

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB) (ICAO: WMSA), more commonly referred to as the Subang Airport, was the country's main international airport until KLIA was opened in 1998. It was designated for turboprop aircraft and since 19 October 2007, Malaysia Airlines subsidiary "community airline" Firefly [10] began operating from Subang, flying to Penang twice daily at 08:20 and 20:50. From Penang, flights depart at 07:00 and 19:30. Journey time one hour. Berjaya Air [11] flies daily to/from Tioman Island, five times a week to/from Pangkor Island, and special flights to Redang Island. It also has two flights weekly to/from Ko Samui in Thailand.

Getting there/away: The airport is 25 km from the city center and the best way to get there is by taxi. Rapid KL bus U81 (destination Mah Sing and Pekan Subang) from the Sultan Mohd Bus Hub next to the Pasar Seni LRT station goes past the airport. Fare is RM2 and the ticket is valid for the whole day for all RapidKL routes with "U" prefix.

By road

Most important roads in Peninsular Malaysia lead to/from Kuala Lumpur. The city lies about midway along the North-South Expressway (Motorway) (NSE; route numbers E1 and E2) which runs from the Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru in the south, on the Malaysian side of the Causeway to Singapore. The main expressway exits for Kuala Lumpur on the NSE are Jalan Duta (from the north) and Sungai Besi (from the south).

The Karak Highway (E8), which later turns into the East Coast Expressway, links Kuala Lumpur with the East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.

For those who do not want to pay toll, Kuala Lumpur is on Federal Route One (the "Trunk Road") which, like the NSE, runs through all West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia from Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru.

Those travelling along the West Coast Road (Federal Route Five) should leave the road at Klang and get to Kuala Lumpur via the Federal Highway.

By bus

Kuala Lumpur has several bus stations or terminals/terminuses(Malay: stesen bas or hentian) which handle long distance express bus services; many destinations are served by more than one terminal.

Puduraya

The biggest (and invariably most crowded) terminal, located in the city centre near Chinatown. Beware of pickpockets, ticket touts and other undesirables, especially late at night.

Access: Plaza Rakyat station (Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines) is within walking distance; many local bus stops nearby.

To/from Hat Yai, in Thailand:

• Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES) (Counter 73. Tel: +60-3-20313036) has departures at 10:30 & 23:00 - RM45 one-way.

To/from Singapore:

• Transnasional (Tel: +60-3-20703300) is Malaysia's biggest long-distance bus company. Economy class departures to Singapore's Lavender Street terminal at 08:45, 10:30, 13:30, 17:30, 22:30 & 23:59 - RM30 one-way and takes 5 hours.

• Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES) (Counter 81. Tel: +60-3-20701321) has several buses daily to/from the Golden Mile complex in Singapore.

Hentian Putra

Most (but not all) East Coast services use this terminal which is located to the north of the city centre on Jalan Putra.

Access: PWTC station (Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines) and Putra station (both KTM Komuter lines) are within walking distance.

Hentian Duta

Many north-bound Transnasional [12] express buses use this terminal which is located a distance to the west of the city centre on Jalan Duta.

Note that Airport Coach buses to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) no longer use this terminal - they now use KL Sentral instead.

Access: the only convenient way is by taxi.

Kuala Lumpur Old Railway Station

Now used as a bus terminal, but still handles commuter trains on both KTM Komuter lines, also accessible via Rapid KL City Shuttle No. 109, 115.

Plusliner luxury services (under the brand names "Nice" and "Platinum Service") are based here; destinations include Penang, Johor Bahru, Singapore, and Hat Yai in Thailand.

Others

Corus Hotel (on Jalan Ampang) serves as the terminal for Aeroline [13] express buses to/from Singapore. Access: KLCC station is 300m away. Rapid KL City Shuttle No. 103, 104, 105, 106, 114.

First Coach services to/from Singapore leave from the 1 Utama shopping mall in Petaling Jaya — First Coach also has buses that goes from Novena Square Singapore to Bangsar, near the Bangsar Putra LRT station. Access: RapidKL U82 to KL Sentral. Tel booking: 03-7725 3311

MATIC - Malaysian Tourist Information Complex on Jalan Ampang serves as Transnasional's [14] Executive Coach terminal (Tel: +60-3-21611864). Departures to Singapore (09:00 & 18:00 - RM69.90 one-way) and to Penang.

Pekeliling bus terminal is on Jalan Tun Razak to the north of the city centre, and handles local bus services to some Pahang destinations like Genting Highlands, Bentong, Raub and Temerloh. Access: Titiwangsa station is within walking distance. Rapid KL City Shuttle No. 101, 102, 103, 104, 109.

By train

KTM's intercity trains arrive at the new KL Sentral [15] railway station, located (despite the name) a fair distance to the south of the city center. Take the Putra LRT or KL Monorail to the city center, or RM10 coupon taxi to most destinations in the city center.

Most services are available at the station, including showers (RM5 for shower only, RM15 if you want a towel & toiletries too).

By boat

Kuala Lumpur is not located by the sea. However, there are ferry connections to/from Sumatra (Indonesia) at Port Klang, about 40 km west of Kuala Lumpur. See the Port Klang article for details on how to get there.

Get around

KL Monorail

The first phase of Kuala Lumpur's ambitious public transport system is now complete, but there's still a fair amount of room for improvement. The city, like many developing cities, suffers from paralytic traffic jams periodically throughout the day. In rush hours, it may be worthwhile combining public transport by different means. For example: soar over traffic jams by monorail to the station closest to your destination and thereafter take a taxi for the final leg.

By train

Kuala Lumpur's public transport system consists of 3 LRT (Light Rail Transit) lines operated by RapidKL [16], the semicircular KL Monorail [17] looping through the Golden Triangle and the KTM Komuter [18] for trips to the outer northern, southern & western suburbs. Fares are cheap (RM1.2 and up), although connectivity between the lines is poor (read: you will also need to buy a new ticket for the next leg of your trip, and will likely get wet if it is raining since connections are not covered). The Touch 'n Go [19] card, which can be purchased for RM10 at major stations, can now be used on all lines except the airport express. Some particularly convenient stations include:

• Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail), for shopping in the Golden Triangle
• Bukit Nanas (KL Monorail), for clubbing at P. Ramlee
• KLCC (Putra), for the Twin Towers and the Suria KLCC shopping mall
• KL Sentral (Kelana Jaya/KL Monorail/KTM Komuter), for intercity trains and the KLIA Ekspres to the airport
• Masjid Jamek (all LRT lines), for LRT interchange as well as access to Chinatown and Little India
• Plaza Rakyat (Sri Petaling/Ampang), for Puduraya bus station

A few quirks to be aware of:

1. The Kelana Jaya LRT was formerly known as "PUTRA", while the Sri Petaling and Ampang LRTs were formerly known as "STAR". Signage is still inconsistent but is slowly being updated.
2. The KL Monorail's "KL Sentral" station, although poorly signposted, is just a short 250m walk away under a covered walkway adjacent to the car park outside the eastern exit of the main station.

By bus

City Shuttles

RapidKL's [20] City Shuttle (Bas Bandaran in Malay, hence the B prefix in its route numbers) buses come in handy for tourists. The 10 routes cover most major areas in Kuala Lumpur city centre. The fare for City Shuttles is RM2 for the whole day. If you buy an integrated daily pass (Sepadu) for only RM7, you can ride any RapidKL bus and LRT for as many trips as you like for the whole day. Buy a ticket on your first ride and just flash your ticket at the driver for all subsequent rides.

All City Shuttles have a B prefix in their route numbers. Most City Shuttles operate from "hubs" which can be accessed by rail-based public transport. The routes are:

• B101: Titiwangsa to KL Sentral via Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman
• B102: Titiwangsa to Bukit Bintang via Kampung Baru
• B103: Titiwangsa to Bukit Bintang via KLCC
• B105: KLCC to MidValley Megamall via City Centre
• B110: MidValley Megamall to Bukit Bintang via City Centre
• B111: Maluri to Chow Kit
• B112: Maluri to KL Sentral via Jalan Loke Yew
• B113: Maluri to Pasar Seni
• B114: Maluri to Titiwangsa via KLCC
• B115: Pasar Seni to Jalan Duta government offices

Other services

RapidKL also operates other bus routes which serve the far flung suburbs of the Klang Valley. There is little reason to use them unless you are going to be living in Kuala Lumpur for a period of time.

There are many other bus operators besides Rapid KL (Metrobus, Len Seng, Permata Kiara, Selangor etc) and a severe lack of signboards and other forms of passenger information makes Kuala Lumpur's complete bus network just a little too complicated for a short-term traveller to fathom. Specific bus information is given at each place of interest on this page.

By taxi

With RM2 flagfall and RM0.10 for every 200m after the first 2 km, red and white normal taxis are not very expensive in Kuala Lumpur and are probably the best way to get around, at least outside the congested peak hours. Note that bright yellow premium taxis have a RM4 flagfall and also charge a bit more by the kilometre. There are also various small surcharges for radio call (RM1), baggage (RM1 per piece), etc.

Taxis in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs are metered but when demand exceeds supply or during rush hour, they may ask for a fixed price before commencing travel. This is technically illegal (and reportable), and happens most often with what may be regarded as 'lazy taxi drivers' - that is, those that have so much time to spare that they are conveniently waiting outside hotels, long distance bus/train stations, or at typical tourist sites such as shopping centres and temples. It is cheaper to disregard these if they will not use a meter, and flag down a taxi that is cruising by (he will more likely be an honest driver) -although sometimes it is unavoidable that one must ride at a fixed-price. In that case, at least halve the price and work upwards. Suprisingly, around RM5 should cover most cross town trips of 15 mins or so, even with traffic.

It is cheaper to use the meter through the day, although the opposite is true late at night, and especially after midnight, when the displayed meter price at the end of the journey is increased by 50% (ie. at 1am, if the meter shows RM12, then one has to pay RM12+6).

Tips for unmetered journeys: (1) If you live in an expensive hotel, learn the name of your street, or quote a nearby destination such as a restaurant or shopping mall, this might save you some money as it will lower the drivers expectations. (2) Once the haggling is done, hop into the taxi, sit back and don't question the driver - the fastest route between two points in Kuala Lumpur is almost never a straight line!

A few popular places (notably the airport, KL Sentral and Menara KL) enforce prepaid coupon systems, which generally work out more expensive than using the meter, but cheaper than bargaining.

Combining public transport with taxis can sometime make trips quicker if there are trafic jams.

Some taxi drivers will hang around near hotels offering tours similar to those offered by established companies. Feel free to listen to their offers and bargain with them if you like. Some of these cabbies are quite knowledgeable and you may end up with a specially tailored, private tour for less than the cost of an official tour.

If you get so off the beaten track that you need to call a cab:

• Comfort Cabs +60-3-62531313
• Sunlight Taxi +60-3-90575757
• Public Cab +603 62592020
• Uptown Ace +603 92832333

By car

Driving in Kuala Lumpur can be a nightmare, with heavy traffic, a convoluted web of expressways and poor signage to guide you through it all. Reckless drivers are common - Malaysia infamously has one of the highest road accident rates in the world. Suicidal motorcyclists will also keep you on your toes.

Do not park at the road of busy districts such as Bangsar, Bukit Bintang etc. Other cars might lock you in by parking next to you in the 2nd or 3rd lane. Use covered car parks or park a bit off the beaten path and then walk back.

On foot

Depending on your age, physical fitness and urban inclination (or not), Kuala Lumpur is a fine city for walking. It must rank as tops in the world for clear, well-placed signage (San Jose, Costa Rica the worst). Street signs are jumbo sized, blue with white lettering at eye level. Most corners have multi-directional pointers. There are city maps in places. Tiled sidewalks are 5 meters in width, on average (a warning: treacherously slippery at sloped curb sides!). Main arteries are boulevard-broad and tree-lined. Most intersections have bright, yellow striped pedestrian crossings. While traffic can be daunting at times, it rarely moves fast enough to be seriously hazardous. Beware of kamikazi motorcyclists, though!

Here is a walking tour (circle) that encompasses the main centre attractions (2-3 hours): starting at Chinatown (Petaling Street), identify on a map the following landmarks: the Maybank building, the Times Square towers, the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower. Once on the street do a visual scan of these buildings. You'll likely not need the map henceforth. Proceed from the Maybank building (vertically striped wedge) up Jalan Pudu, which turns into Jalan Bukit Bintang (Royale Bintang Hotel) at about 1 km. Stop for coffee at Bintang Walk, or check out the electronics mega-mall, Plaza Low Yat. Continue on Jalan Sultan Ismail towards Petronas. Be amazed! Wind your way from Petronas along Jalan P. Ramlee past the KL Tower and down Jalan Raja Chulan back to the Maybank building and Chinatown.

If you're fortunate enough to do this walk on a typical Sunday afternoon, you'll be blessed with a calmness unimaginable for a city this size.

When it rains the pavements and streets turn into small rivers and crossing a street can be an adventure.

See

KL Tower

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Kuala Lumpur is one of those cities which is short on must-see attractions: the real joy lies in wandering randomly, seeing, shopping and eating your way through it. It's hot, humid and sometimes crowded though, so schedule some air-conditioned downtime in shopping malls or restaurants into your plan. You may find that most attractions are only crowded on weekends/holidays and deserted on weekdays.

The following gives a brief description of KL’s attractions according to district. See the respective district pages for more details.

The main attractions are spread throughout the city, although the greatest concentration of places of interest are in the City Centre, where you’ll find Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) where Malaysia’s independence was declared at the start of Aug 31, 1957; the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and other Colonial-era buildings surrounding the square; the modern and rather unadorned National Mosque; the Moorish-style Kuala Lumpur Railway Station which now houses a mini-museum on Malaysian railway history; many of KL’s other museums including the recently refurbished National Museum (RM2) tracing the history of the region through prehistory and the Melakan empire to Independence, and the extremely well-regarded Islamic Arts Museum (RM12, 10-6pm), and the nearby 'Police Museum; and the pretty Lake Gardens to the west. Within the city center is also the fascinating narrow streets of Chinatown, KL’s traditional commercial district, with its many Chinese shops and places to eat.

Another area of interest to the traveller is the Golden Triangle. Although predominantly a shopping and nightlife district, it is also home to the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) and the Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest building. In the nearby KL Convention Centre is the Aquaria KLCC which contains some 5,000 varieties of tropical fish. Just south of the Twin Towers is Menara KL Tower, which is situated on top of Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill), a forest reserve right in the heart of the city. PDA-Guided views from Menara Tower (RM38, 9am-10pm) being at 276m, are far superior than those from the Petronas Towers (viewing deck at 170m), and come highly recommended since it allows first time visitors the chance to quickly orient themselves about the layout of the city. It is however, not a particularly easy place to reach by public transport, so use either a taxi or the "hopon/hopoff" tourist bus that makes a continuous circuit through the city.

There are also several attractions just outside Kuala Lumpur which are worth visiting. The Batu Caves in the Northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, are located in a limestone outcrop and are the focal point of the fascinating annual Thaipusam festival, usually held in February. The caves are easily accessible by RapidKL bus U6 from Titiwangsa station, though ask the driver to let you know the correct stop as the caves are not immediately obvious. Another option is to catch Metrobus 11 for RM2 at Lorong Bas, near Central Market. Malaysia’s National Zoo (Zoo Negara) is also located in the north of the city.

Do

Lake Titiwangsa

KL is the type of city where the first things that come to mind when you talking of doing anything is "eating" and "shopping", both of which are adequately covered by the Eat and Buy sections.

Those activities aside, KL has its fair share of sporting opportunities such as golfing, cycling, running, jogging and even equestrian. If you’re into rock climbing, the Batu Caves in Northern Kuala Lumpur is a popular weekend haunt of those wanting to scale some heights. However, for anything more strenuous and challenging, you’re better of heading to other spots in country.

Malaysia is trying to encourage greater cultural expression and KL has several good theatres and places for performances, such as the National Theatre (Istana Budaya) and KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) in the northern part of the city, the KL Philharmonic in KLCC, and the Actors Studio in Bangsar.

You can also get a good dosage of pampering in KL. For those in search of spas, there are several five-star hotel-connected as well as independent treatment centers in the Golden Triangle. You’ll also find heaps of reflexology and foot massage places everywhere but especially in Bukit Bintang in the Golden Triangle and Chinatown.

Volunteer

If you are taking an extended trip consider spending a week or more volunteering.

• Nur Salam (Chow Kids), No. 24A-B Jalan Chow Kit, ☎ +03 4045-4021, [21]. Volunteer with the street kids of Chow Kit (KL) to "help improve the quality of live for the children of Chow Kit whose parents are usually former & current drug addicts & sex workers in Kuala Lumpur". Chow Kids offers training for volunteers who wish to spend any amount of times interacting and helping these deserving children.  edit
• Zoo Negara, Hulu Kelang 6800 Ampang, Selangor, ☎ +603-410-822219 (zooedu@streamyx.com), [22]. Love animals? Volunteer at the National Zoo - Zoo Negara outside the city. Simply fill out the Volunteer Form on the website and show up for a shift at the zoo in a variety of areas. Check out their volunteer website for more information.  edit

Buy

Starhill Gallery KL

The Pavilion KL

There's some great shopping to be done in Kuala Lumpur. Goods are available in every price bracket, and while electronics are a tad more expensive than in Singapore or Hong Kong they can still be much cheaper than Europe.

Kuala Lumpur's premier shopping district is the Bukit Bintang area in the Golden Triangle, named after the street of the same name, although stores and hotels sprawl in all directions along Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Imbi. A number of large shopping malls within the area cater to varying budgets. Fans of electronic gadgets would delight in the multitude of choices at Low Yat Plaza, whilst shoppers hunting for the latest in affordable Asian style should definitely check out Times Square and Bukit Bintang / Sungei Wang Plaza. Pavilion is a recent addition to the cluster of shopping malls in this area and houses a wide range of international retail brands in an ultra-modern complex. There is also a large shopping mall at KLCC, which is approximately 2 km walk from the Bukit Bintang area.

Several popular malls lie outside the Golden Triangle. The Bangsar and Midvalley areas are home to some of the best shopping malls in KL, namely the MidValley Megamall and the adjacent upmarket The Gardens, the more cozy Bangsar Village and Bangsar Shopping Center in Bangsar.

There are also many shopping malls in the neighbouring towns of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya.

Despite the onslaught of malls, KL still offers some Asian tradition with traditional shopping streets and markets. The best area for such shopping is Chinatown in the City Center. This district is also the best place to hunt for souvenirs, especially in Central Market, a former produce market which has been converted into an art and craft market.

The Little India near Jalan Masjid India offers various fabric for use. Most of the fabrics are imported from countries like India and China while some are locally produced. batik and songket are traditional fabric. For greater satisfaction choose the hand made ones (price range: from USD 100 for songket and USD50 for batik). You may be interested to buy ready made baju kurung or baju kebaya(the traditional Malay dress). For peace of mind, buy from the bigger stores.

Eat

Malaysians are obsessed with food and it is hardly surprising that as the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur reflects this love affair with eating. You'll be able to find the entire range of Malaysian cuisine (although some, especially those from Penang, argue that what you get in KL is not the best) as well as food from around the world.

As far as the budget is concerned, you can eat fairly well for fairly little in KL. Just head to the roadside stalls and what Malaysians call coffeeshops (kedai kopi) - a shop which operates like a food court with many stalls selling a variety of food (some of them are halal and some non-halal, Chinese coffee shops usually serve non-halal) . Some coffeeshops offer streetside dining by placing their tables on the sidewalks of roads. Coffeeshops are found on virtually every street in KL but Chinatown (especially Jalan Sultan, Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Petaling) in the City Center and Jalan Alor in the Golden Triangle have some of the greatest concentration of coffeeshops and stalls. They mostly open only at night.

Rivaling the coffeeshops in terms of numbers, as well as the price of food, are what Malaysians call "Mamak shops" - food outlets run by Indian Muslims. They can also be found at almost every street corner in KL. The food is of course halal (Food permissible by Muslim law - much like Kosher for the Jewish tradition). The streetside version, called the "Mamak stall" is also popular. One famous collection of streetside Mamak stalls is at Jalan Doraisamy near the Heritage Row (see Tuanku Abdul Rahman page). The most popular food is the 'roti canai'.

Food courts in shopping malls can also provide you with a good opportunity to sample Malaysian food in more hygienic conditions, although the prices will be a little higher than coffeeshops.

KL has a good number of restaurants, some of them offering better food than others. The Golden Triangle, Bangsar and Midvalley, Heritage Row and some areas in Damansara and Hartamas are the usual places for people looking for a restaurant meal. Beware that most restaurants close by 10 PM, so you'll probably need to look for street food if hungry at night. the street food stalls are getting better during the late night.

In terms of ethnicity, Malay food can be found in Jalan Masjid India, Chow Kit and Kampung Baru areas in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district.Chinatown is the best place to search for Chinese (especially Cantonese) food, although all kinds of Chinese cuisine, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, can be found all over KL. Head to Lebuh Ampang in the City Center and Brickfields for Indian food. Bangsar has many high-end restaurants offering Western food. If you are dying for Korean food, head to Ampang Jaya. A lot of Arab and Middle Eastern restaurants have mushroomed in Bukit Bintang.

Drink

Jalan P.Ramlee

The Skybar KL

KL has quite a vibrant nightlife and the Golden Triangle is the epicenter of most of the partying which goes on in the city. Jalan P. Ramlee, just south of KLCC, is Kuala Lumpur's central clubbing area, while the action also spills onto Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Pinang and Jalan Perak. Nearby Bukit Bintang also throbs with action, and its neon-lit nightclubs, many of them with hostesses, certainly have a more Asian feel to them.

Heritage Row, in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district, is fast catching up as a popular nightspot. It occupies a row of refurbished colonial-era shop houses and is now home to one of KL's swankiest clubs and trendy bars. Strictly for well heeled visitors and locals. It is located on Jalan Doraisamy just off Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Dang Wangi.

Bangsar has long been one of the busiest places in Kuala Lumpur after the sun goes down. The action is around Jalan Telawi and its side streets, and is definitely the place to go for clubbing and deafening music.

Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara in the Damansara and Hartamas district have popular pubs and some clubs as well as nice coffee places. You may be able to find live performances in some of the outlets.

After a tiring night out, Malaysians like to head to Mamak stalls - streetside stalls or shops operated by Indian Muslims - which offer a range of non-alcoholic beverages like teh tarik (frothed tea) and light food. In fact, these stalls have also become night hangouts in their own right, and many outlets have installed wide-screen projectors and TV where they screen football matches. Most outlets are open 24 hours. They are found all over the city and are a wonderful part of the Malaysian night scene.

Another trend that has hit Malaysia is the kopitiam fad, a more upmarket version of the traditional Chinese coffeeshop. These mostly open during the day and offer some of the best tea and coffee and light meals and snacks like nasi lemak (coconut flavoured rice with friend anchovies and peanut) and the ever popular toast with kaya (coconut curd, used as a spread). If you prefer Western style coffee, there are many coffee outlets in KL, most of them part of international and local chains like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and San Francisco Coffee. Most of them can be found in shopping malls.

Sleep

KL's budget accommodation is mostly found in the City Centre where a bed for the night can be as little as RM20. Increasingly, more are opening in the Bukit Bintang and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman / Chow Kit and Jalan Ipoh / Jalan Pudu ( which is just opposite Hentian Puduraya bus station ) areas which are near the Golden Triangle, where prices are slightly higher than in Chinatown but you’ll be next to KL’s entertainment, shopping and dining centre. The places also tend to be more spacious and cosy.

If you are arriving on the overnight buses from the east coast islands, buses will stop at Hentian Putra near Chow Kit area.

Try and avoid any hostels marked Rumah Tumpangan; these are dodgy boarding houses for foreign workers or cater to the trade where rooms are rented out by the hour. Albeit being dodgy, these Rumah Tumpangan may be a good experience for those who have bored themselves with the luxury hotels.

Mid-range hotels are comparatively poor value in KL, and it's worth it to spend a little extra (or look a little harder) for a true luxury hotel on the cheap. KL has a deserved reputation as one of the world's cheapest places to experience five-star luxury, with rooms available for as little as RM250 (at the right time and with the right discounts).

Please see the individual KL district pages of a list of places to stay.

Contact

Internet cafés are quite plentiful in KL and you can find them in most shopping centres. If you have your own laptop, Maxis' [23] WLAN service is the best deal around: as of Dec.07, a prepaid RM15 card gets you unlimited use for two weeks. Few hotels in Kuala Lumpur offer Internet access in their rooms. However, some hotels around the KL Sentral station now start to install LAN cables with Internet access in the rooms. Furthermore, many hotels offer free WiFi access in their lobbies. Free WiFi access is also available from many dining establishments and shopping complexes in the city

• Malaysia Tourism Centre (MTC), 109 Jalan Ampang (between KLCC and Dang Wangi), [24]. Formerly MATIC, this tourist information centre has a wealth of information on Malaysia, occasional cultural shows, surly staff and semi-crippled but free PCs for browsing the Net.

• Starbucks Coffee Company, selected outlets in KL (including KL Sentral). Selected outlets of Starbucks in KL have partnered with the Time telecommunications company to provide free Zone Wi-Fi service to customers who have Wi-Fi-equipped laptops or PDAs. Outlets which do not have free Zone Wi-Fi usually have commercial WLAN services such as Maxis' WLAN in its place.

• Coffeebean, free wi-fi in all Coffeebean outlets, you just ask for the password when you order.

• Air Asia Counter in KL Sentral Several computers with internet access are available for you to check out the Air Asia website (and maybe glance at your e-mail or the news quickly)

Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

• Argentina Embassy, 3, Jalan Semantan Dua, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 2550176/2552564.  edit

• Australian High Commission, 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21465555, [25].  edit

• Austria Embassy, Wisma Goldhill, Suite 10.10-01, Level 10, 67, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20578969, [26].  edit

• Bangladesh High Commission, Blk 1, Lrg Damai 7, Jln Damai, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21487940/21423271/21422505, [27].  edit

• Belgium High Commission, Suite 10-02, 10th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, Letter Box N 10-02 207, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21620025, [28].  edit

• Brazil High Commission, Suite 20-01, 20th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21711420, [29].  edit

• Brunei Darussalam High Comission, No. 19-01, Tingkat 19, Menara Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21612800.  edit

• Cambodia Embassy, 83/JKR 2809, Lingkungan U Thant, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42571150.  edit

• Canada High Commission, 17th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 27183333, [30].  edit

• People's Republic of China Embassy, 229, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21636815 (extension: 102,103,104,105,106), [31]. Also handles Hong Kong/Macau visas.  edit

• Czech Embassy, 32, Jalan Mesra, Off Jalan Damai, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21427185/21413205, [32].  edit

• Denmark Embassy, Wisma Denmark, Denmark House, 22nd floor, 86 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20322001, [33].  edit

• Finland Embassy, Wisma Chinese Chamber, 5th floor, 258 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42577746, [34].  edit

• French Embassy, 192-196, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20535561, [35].  edit

• German Embassy, 26th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21709666, [36].  edit

• Greek Consulate, 33rd Floor 340-33-1, Vista Damai 340, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 27752388.  edit

• India High Commission, 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20933510, [37].  edit

• Indonesian Embassy, 233, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21164000, [38].  edit

• Iranian Embassy, No. 1, Lrg Uthant Satu, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42515576.  edit

• Irish Embassy, Ireland House, The Amp Walk, 218 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21612963, [39].  edit

• Italian Embassy, 99, Jalan U Thant, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42565122-42565228, [40].  edit

• Japanese Embassy, 11, Persiaran Stonor, Off Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42565122-21772600, [41].  edit

• DPR Korea (North Korea) Embassy, 4, Persiaran Madge, Off Jalan U Thant, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42569913/42516713.  edit

• Republic of Korea (South Korea) Embassy, No. 9 and 11 Jalan Nipah, Off Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42512336/42515797.  edit

• Kuwait Embassy, 229, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21421062.  edit

• Laos Embassy, No. 12 A Persiaran Madge, Off Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42511118.  edit

• Maltese Consulate, No. 51-3, 2nd Floor, Feisco Suite, Kompleks Udarama, Jalan 2/64A, Off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 40423618, [42].  edit

• Mexico Embassy, Menara Tan & Tan, 22nd Floor, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21646362, [43].  edit

• Myanmar Embassy, 12, Jalan Ru, Off Jalan Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42560280/42570680.  edit

• Nepal Embassy, Suite 13A.01, 13th A Floor, Wisma MCA, 163 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21645934/21649656, [44].  edit

• Netherlands Embassy, 7th Floor, South Block, The Ampwalk, 218, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21686200, [45].  edit

• New Zealand High Commission, Level 21, Menara IMC, 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20782533, [46].  edit

• Royal Norwegian Embassy, 53 Floor, Empire Tower, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21750300, [47].  edit

• Pakistan High Commission, 132, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21618877/21618878/21618879.  edit

• The Philippines Embassy, 1, Changkat Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21489989/21484233/21484682/21484654/21421508, [48].  edit

• Poland Embassy, 495, 4 1/2 Miles, Jalan Ampang, Ampang, ☎ +603 42576733/42576719.  edit

• Russia Embassy, 263, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42560009/42567252, [49].  edit

• Royal Saudi Arabia Embassy, 4th Floor, Wisma Chinese Chamber, 258 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42579831/42579433/42579825, [50].  edit

• Singapore High Commission, 209, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21616277, [51].  edit

• South African High Commission, Suite 22,01 Level 22, Menara HLA, No. 3 Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21702400/21688663/21617629, [52].  edit

• Spanish Embassy, 200, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21484868/21484655/21428776.  edit

• Sri Lanka High Commission, 12 Jalan Keranji Dua, Off Jalan Kedondong, Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42568987/42571394, [53].  edit

• Sweden Embassy, Wisma Angkasa Raya, 6th floor, 123 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 20522550, [54].  edit

• Switzerland Embassy, 16, Pesiaran Madge, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21480622/21480751/21480639/21428766, [55].  edit

• Royal Thai Embassy, 206, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21488222/21488350/21488420/21458004, [56].  edit

• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Level 7, Menara Yayasan Tun Razak, 200 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21614439, [57].  edit

• Turkey Embassy, 118, Jalan U Thant, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42572225/42572226.  edit

• United Arab Emirates Embassy, 12 Jalan Kenanji 2, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 42535221/42535420.  edit

• British High Commission, 185, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21702200, [58].  edit

• United States Embassy, 376, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21685000, [59].  edit

• Vietnam Embassy, 4, Persiaran Stonor, Kuala Lumpur, ☎ +603 21484036/21414692/21484534.  edit

Respect

Kuala Lumpur is a liberal city and wearing shorts, short skirts and low-cut tops is fine. That said, many mosques and temples require covering up, and you'll get more respect from officialdom if you dress up a little.

Also, keep in mind that while you may drink at bars, public drunkenness is a no-no! You will be robbed while you are at it, and sooner or later you'll see yourself in the rear seat of a police car.

Stay healthy

It is best to avoid drinking tap water in Kuala Lumpur. There is no malaria in the city, but dengue fever can be a problem at times. The only way to avoid contracting dengue is to prevent bites by the Aedes mosquito. Citronella coils (called Ubat Nyamuk = "Mosquito Medicine" locally) are readily available in stops and can be burned in your hotel room to effectively repel mosquitoes.

Between May and October, KL is occasionally shrouded in dense haze from forest fires in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, which can be a health concern for asthmatics (and pretty unpleasant for everybody). However, the haze comes and goes, and varies greatly from year to year: it was terrible in 2006, but nonexistent in 2007, and has started again in 2008.

Stay safe

You're unlikely to be a victim of violent crime in KL, but pickpockets are common and bag snatching is on the rise. Keep a close eye on your valuables in crowds, especially street markets and public transport (especially during rush hour), and hold your bag on the side away from the street if there are motorbikes around.

Taxis are generally safe, but they often refuse to use the meter and a few cabbies will gouge tourists mercilessly. If they won't use the meter, then don't take that taxi, as by law they are required to use the meter. However if you are desperate to use that taxi, agree on the fare in advance, and try to get an estimate of the cost from a local before you climb on board.

Be careful of a scam that has been going on for years, and seems to be doing the rounds again - you may be approached by someone on the street. They tell you that they have a friend / relative who is going to your country as a student and needs some information about living there. They ask you to go back to their place for 20 minutes to meet the person. When you get there, the person is out, so they ask you to wait and in the meantime an uncle or someone likes to play cards. They teach you how to play and how to win........ and to cut a long story short you end up gambling and losing money, and some people have had trouble getting away, or have been robbed etc.

Hotels need not be as safe as they look: a spotlessly clean chinese hotel downtown had no guards nor telephones inside rooms to call for help when at 2.00 a.m. a party of three or four thugs(?) tried to bang their way into the room pretending to be police "to investigate something in this room". Presence of mind helped to refuse opening the door so they eventually gave up. Perhaps it is sworth avoiding bargains like that (36RM in February 2009).

Malaysian law requires that visitors carry their passport at all times, and both police and "RELA" (civil volunteers) carry out spot checks for illegal immigrants.

Locals are very friendly to the tourists, and many in Kuala Lumpur can speak decent English. Greet them well with warm smile and they will be happy to show you around. Be friendly! If you are lost, just ask someone on the street.

Get out

• Genting Highlands, 40 minutes by road using the East Coast Highway, has cooler weather, theme parks for the kids and a casino for the adults.

• Putrajaya, Malaysia's megalomaniacal new federal administrative centre is 30 km to the south (20 min by train called KLIA Transit) along the way to the airport.

• Kuala Selangor, 1 hour north-west of KL, is famous for its fireflies and seafood restaurants.

• Singapore. 55 minutes by plane, 6 hours by coach. A globalised city with good tourist attractions.

   

From Wikitravel

Petaling Jaya [1], universally referred to as PJ, is a satellite city in the state of Selangor to the west of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It attained city status in 2006 on the auspicious day of June 20 (hence 20-06-2006!).

Understand

Founded only in 1954 as Malaysia's first planned town, PJ has become a busy commercial and residential hub in its own right with over 450,000 inhabitants. In the later years, further expansion to the north saw the rise of the posh Damansara area that gave birth to such housing estates as Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara, Damansara Perdana, Bandar Sri Damansara and Damansara Impian.

Addresses in PJ are remarkably bureaucratic. The town is divided into numbered sections (seksyen), which to further confuse things are denoted with just S (eastern PJ), SS (central and western), PJU (northern), and PJS (southern). SS is an acronym for Subang-Sungei Way. The northern chunk is also known as Damansara. Each road in a section is numbered, so an address like "No. 38, Jalan SS 21/58" means house 38, road 58, section SS21. There is no definitive form for a PJ address. Therefore the above example could well be written as 38 Road SS 21/58, 38 Jln SS 21/58 or simply as 38 SS 21/58. Most major roads developed during the 1960s are given names,e.g. Jalan Utara, Jalan Selangor, Jalan Kemajuan. Certain secondary roads, even those located at residential or industrial areas were also given names. For example, Jalan 8/8 in Section 8 is also known as Jalan Tengas, Jalan 13/1 is also known as Jalan Bersatu. In addition, the roads of PJ Old Town or Section One are simply named as Road 1, Road 2 etc. As for the predominantly industrial Section 51A, the roads are named as Jalan 222, Jalan 225 etc.

The numbered sections are usually but not necessarily located adjacent to each other. For instance, Section 16 is adjacent to section 17 which is adjacent to Section 19. The 'missing' Section 18 (originally to be named Section 1B) is located way across the other side of town adjacent to Section 1A. Likewise, without a good map, it can be an onnerous exercise to locate PJ roads. For instance, Jalan 21/20 is adjacent to Jalan 21/18. However Jalan 21/1 is also adjacent to Jalan 21/18. In addition, residents within a local PJ community may sometimes choose to refer to their local roads simply by their numbers, and omitting the prefix such as SS altogether. For instance, in Damansara Jaya, residents often choose to refer to the road 'Jalan SS 22/39' as simply 'Road 39'.

Get in

By road

PJ is well linked with Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country by road. The main Kuala Lumpur-PJ link is the Federal Highway which goes through the middle of PJ and continues to Shah Alam, Klang and Port Klang. The main link to the northern part of PJ is the Sprint Expressway while the southern areas of PJ are served by the New Pantai Expressway.

If using the North-South Expressway (E1), the main exits for PJ are Subang, Damansara and Kota Damansara.

By train

The Kelana Jaya line [2] light rail transit (formerly known as PUTRA-LRT) snakes from central Kuala Lumpur to the center of PJ and is a good way of avoiding the traffic jams between the two, especially at rush hour. The main stations in PJ are Taman Jaya (nearest to PJ New Town), Asia Jaya (walking distance to the KL-Klang bus stop), Taman Paramount, and Kelana Jaya.

The KTM Komuter electric trains also stops at several places in PJ, albeit not as convenient as the LRT. The PJ stations, namely Jalan Templer, Kampung Dato Harun, Seri Setia and Setia Jaya, are on the Sentul-Port Klang Line.

By bus

• To/from Kuala Lumpur: Petaling Jaya is linked to Kuala Lumpur by Rapid KL [3] and Metrobus buses. Main bus hubs are Asia Jaya, Damansara Uptown and Bandar Utama. Main Rapid KL routes linking Kuala Lumpur and PJ are T80 (Shah Alam via Federal Highway), T81 (Subang via Federal Highway) and T82 (Bandar Utama). There are also bus connections from PJ to Klang and Port Klang, served by Transnasional [4] (which can be caught at bus stops along the Federal Highway), and Putrajaya (Rapid KL route T43 fron Bandar Utama).

• To/from other destinations: The luxury Aeroline [5] operating between PJ and Singapore with double-deck coaches stops at two locations in PJ - Menara Axis (opposite the Asia Jaya LRT station) and One Utama Shopping Centre. From Menara Axis, there are four services to Singapore daily (departing 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 18:00) while at One Utama, there are two daily trips (departing 10:00 and 18:30).

By taxi

All metered taxis operating in Kuala Lumpur also serve PJ.

Get around

PJ is quite spread out and you pretty much need your own wheels to get around.

By road

A good web of roads link most parts of PJ. Main highways which cover most of PJ are the Federal Highway (covering central PJ), Sprint Expressway (serving Damansara and the northern part of PJ), New Pantai Expressway (linking the southern sections of PJ) and the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong or LDP (Damansara Puchong Expressway), which connects the northern and southern parts of PJ.

By train

The Kelana Jaya Line [6] light rail transit (LRT) is convenient for those moving between PJ New Town and Kelana Jaya.

By bus

Rapid KL [7] and Metrobus are the main operators. Although the bus service is not exactly up to first world standards, it has improved tremendously in recent years. The network is still complicated but Rapid KL now at least provides information on its routes on its website.

Rapid KL's network works on a hub and spoke concept, where trunk routes (RM2 unlimited rides for whole day) from Kuala Lumpur link hubs in Petaling Jaya where local shuttle buses (RM1 unlimited rides for whole day) fan out into the numerous residential areas. Local shuttles also radiate from light rail transit (LRT) stations. Main hubs include the Kelana Jaya, Taman Bahagia, Asia Jaya and Taman Jaya LRT stations, and Bandar Utama (next to One Utama Shopping Centre), Damansara Uptown, EPF and Asia Jaya bus stops.

All Metrobus buses (fares go according to distance) with destinations in PJ originate from Kuala Lumpur. They serve most areas in PJ, especially Section 14, Kota Damansara, and southern PJ.

If you are staying in the major hotels (Hilton, Sunway Resort, Eastin, Crystal Crown, Royale Bintang, and Armada), all of them have shuttle bus services that take guests into KL City and various PJ landmarks such as Sunway Lagoon, One Utama, and The Curve Shopping Center.

By taxi

All Kuala Lumpur metered taxis operate in Petaling Jaya, but there are far fewer roaming the streets and you'll usually need to find a taxi stand or call them up. Some cab company numbers are:-

• Comfort Taxi Tel: +60-3-26922525. RM1 surcharge on top of the meter.

See

Unlike other towns, there is actually nothing much to notice here, except for the occasional oddities here and there. However, the PJ City Council is compiling a guide on the attractions around the city in conjunction with the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year in 2007.

If you must take the public transport, try the Light Rail Transit (LRT) via the Kelana Jaya Line which covers major residential and commercial sections of this town, starting with stations (from KL City); Taman Jaya, Asia Jaya, Taman Paramount, Taman Bahagia and finally Kelana Jaya.

The best way to see this area is to take a leisurely drive during non-peak hours. Some of the major attractions around the Greater PJ area are listed below.

• Kota Darul Ehsan Arch. This huge marble arch, the gateway into Petaling Jaya, was erected to mark the commemoration of the cession of Kuala Lumpur to the Federal Government to form the Federal Territory. Construction commenced in 1974 and the arch was officially opened in 1981. The arch is most spectacular at night when the lighting creates a "golden" illumination to highway motorists.

• Wat Chetawan Temple. (Nearest LRT Station: Taman Jaya) One of the main Thai Buddhist temples in the Klang Valley, the Chetawan can be seen in full glory either when driving on Jalan Gasing or traveling on the Kelana Jaya Line LRT. With a towering main prayer hall and surrounded by shrines, the temple has been around for more than 40 years, having started as a small temple in Jalan Raja Bot in 1957. The present temple was built in the early 1960s. Today, it is the main attraction for devotees and visitors alike because of its intricate design and statues within the temple grounds. The temple attracts huge numbers of devotees during Thai festivals like Songkran and Loy Krathong, as well as Wesak, and hosts Thai royal visitors during auspicious festivals.

• MBPJ Tower. (Nearest LRT Station: Taman Jaya) The headquarters of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and a prominent PJ landmark, the 27-storey building which cost RM50m was officiated by the late Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah on March 16, 1987. The building is unique in the sense that it stands in the middle of a pit-like "sunken plaza" and surrounded by shops as well as commercial areas.

• Hilton PJ. This legendary hotel has been a hallmark of good food for the people of Petaling Jaya since its opening in 1984 (the longest-operating Hilton in Malaysia!). Its Paya Serai coffee house has been delighting diners with its daily hi-tea buffet for many years now and also, the ever popular Chili's Bistro was given a facelift. In fact, most people will know the PJ State area by the mere mention of "Hilton" or its famous neighbor, Menara MBPJ.

• Gasing Hill. Along the same road from the Chetawan Temple is the turnoff towards the Gasing Hill. The Hill, which is the only remaining forest reserve in PJ, covers approximately 100 acres where rare fauna and flora could be found. There are also trails, a viewing tower and resting area for nature lovers. From the top of Gasing Hill one gets breath-taking views of PJ and Kuala Lumpur. Over 100 species of birds are to be found in this green lung.

• Taman Jaya. A spot for those in search of outdoor activities like jogging and cycling is Taman Jaya, a favourite recreational hub for residents with its shady trees and lake. It is a short walk away from the similarly-named LRT station as well as the Amcorp Mall and Dataran PJ Field.

• Kelana Jaya Lake Park. (Nearest LRT Station: Kelana Jaya) One of the largest in PJ, with its 7 scenic lakes, this park was formerly a mining area that was rehabilitated in the 80s into what it is today. Other than a popular jogging track around the lakes, the Kelana Jaya Sports Complex is located nearby and it contains two Olympic-sized swimming pools as well as tennis and badminton courts. The modern MBPJ Stadium is also in the vicinity and it was one of the venues used for the KL 1998 Commonwealth Games.

• LDP Cable-Stayed Bridge. The LDP (Damansara-Puchong Highway) Cable Stayed Bridge at Persekutuan Interchange crossing the Federal Highway is the first Cable Stayed Land Bridge in Malaysia. The bridge stands out as an aesthetically pleasing and unique design in a highway project in the country. The design and construction methods of the bridge allowed for the necessary traffic management required at the construction site (one of the busiest interchanges); a normal bridge design would have required for the removal of 2 traffic lanes to accommodate the construction of the piers.

Do

Buy

Various pasar malam (night markets) can be found on the main streets in the suburbs around Petaling Jaya. It's the best way to get to know the 'true' Malaysian culture. There you can find fresh foods, quick snacks and it is also a popular target by the local triads to sell their contraband merchandise of anything under the sun. Let it be clothing, electronics, mobile phone accessories, pirated DVDs and Audio CDs etc. You get a very good bargain if you buy them in bulk or if you speak Malay or Chinese dialect (most Chinese in PJ understands Hokkien).

But if it's air-con and fast food you want, PJ does have a few megamalls:

• Sunway Pyramid Megamall, [8]. Is one of The Best Thematic Mall in Malaysia, with lots of mini tenants including a Twelve-Cineplex. Occupies the best location in PJ State as it is just 3 minutes by car from the Subang Jaya KTM Station (Pel. Klang line).

• Amcorp Mall, 18 Persiaran Barat, Off Jln. Timur [9]. Mall with lots of mini-anchor tenants including a three-screen cinema as well as Malaysia's best weekend flea market on the Lower Ground floor. Occupies the best location in PJ State as it is just 5 minutes walk from the Taman Jaya LRT Station (Kelana Jaya Line).

• Digital Mall, Section 14, [10]. Located in the building previously occupied by Metrojaya, just across the street from Jaya SC, this colorful building with a mosaic-like facade, unique neon lights, and large TV screen opened its doors on August 9 as the city's first IT-lifestyle mall. Digital Mall was developed by the SM Land Group.

• Giant Kelana Jaya, Jalan SS6/4, [11]. Overlooking the Kelana Jaya Lake, this complex has a Giant Hypermarket as its anchor (hence the name) and numerous other tenants including a Starbucks and a large food court on the 3rd Floor.

• Jaya Shopping Center, Jalan Semangat, Sec. 14. The first mall in Petaling Jaya, this popular community shopping complex has stuff from from one's favourite food to fashion, perfumes to hardware, books to amusements. Cold Storage Supermarket takes up a sizable chunk of the Ground floor, other tenants include Popular Books, Oriental Chinese Restaurant, Guardian Pharmacy, and SenHeng. (No longer there anymore."Bungkus" already). Jaya Shopping Center is currently close and it will be re-developed into a mordern shopping mall.

• Millennium Square, Section 14. Another newly-completed mall in Section 14, this one is more of a community-based complex as it is surrounded by houses as well as the Menara Jaya condo and below the Millennium Place Residences. Located around 5 minutes drive along the road from Jaya SC.

• Mutiara Damansara. A new commercial precinct that is home to Asia's largest IKEA store together with the adjoining IKANO Power Center. Other malls here include The Curve lifestyle and F&B mall as well as a large TESCO hypermarket and the Cineleisure Damansara Entertainment Complex. The precinct is served by an hourly free shuttle bus from Kelana Jaya LRT (at the entrance to IKANO Center).

• One Utama, 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama (hourly free shuttle bus from LRT Kelana Jaya), [12]. One of the largest and most popular malls in the entire Klang Valley, recently expanded with a brand new wing. Existing tenants Jusco, Marks & Spencer, and TGV Cinemas in the old block are now accompanied by those in the new wing such as Parkson, MPH Megastore, Golden Screen Cinemas, Celebrity Fitness, and Marks & Spencer as well as Malaysia's largest rock-climbing gymnasium.

• The Atria, Jalan SS22/23, Damansara Jaya. Another community shopping mall with Giant as its anchor tenant. Located right in the middle of the often overlooked Damansara Jaya Town Center.

• The Curve, No. 6 Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara [13]. This very popular lifestyle and fashion mall forms the centerpiece of the Mutiara Damansara commercial precinct (see above). The complex is split into The Street (outdoor mall) and The Walk (indoor). Anchor tenants include the new MJ by Metrojaya, VISTA Vision Specialist (Region Largest LASIK Outlet), Borders Books' second outlet, MPH Bookstores and HSL Digital Lifestyle as well as Fitness First, Red Box Karaoke, and Marche Movenpick Restaurant at The Street. Other shopping haven nearby include TESCO Hypermarket, IKEA & 10 screen newly opened Cathay Cineplex.

• Thrifty Mall, Jalan Barat, Sec. 8. The "other" shopping center in PJ State (the other being Amcorp), the three-storey building also known as "Wisma Thrifty" has a Giant Supermarket, Courts Mammoth furniture store, and Olympia College as anchors. A Coffee Bean outlet and Memory Lane giftshop are also located here.

• Tropicana City Mall, No 3, Jalan SS 20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan (Latitude=+3° 7' 49.80, Longtitude=+101° 37' 35.40. On the Sprint Expressway from Kuala Lumpur, Tropicana City Mall is on the left, immediately after Damansara Intan, at corner of LDP and SPRINT Expressway.), ☎ +60 3 7710 1818 (enquiries@tropicanacitymall.com, fax: +60 3 7710 0202), [14]. Open daily 9 am to 10 pm. Developed by Dijaya Corporation on 9.05 acres land. Consists of 2 levels underground car park and 4 storey shopping centre building. This suburban mall with a built-up area of 450,000 square feet commenced business on 18 December 2008 and has 390,000 square feet lettable area, with the French Carrefour hypermarket (operated by Magnificent Diagraph Sdn Bhd) occupying some 125,000 square feet on the lower ground floor as its anchor tenant. Major tenants include Borders, Toys R Us, Esprit, and Nichii Fashion City. The Mall is adjoining the Tropics Designer Suites and a Signature Office Tower (105,000 square feet lettable space). There is also a 6-screen Golden Screen Cinemas as an alternative to the ones in 1 Utama and Cineleisure for movie buffs. Located at the fringes of SS2 and adjacent to Tropicana City Business Park (ex-Damansara Intan.)  edit

• NZX Commercial Centre (Niu Ze Xui), NZX Commercial Centre No. 2 Jalan PJU 1A/41B Ara Jaya PJU 1A, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Latitude=+3° 6' 50.40, Longtitude=+101° 35' 20.40. On the LDP from Sunway towards SS2, you will see a big Shell Station (after Kelana Jaya Park) on your left, keep left and turn off before the ram. Go straight at the traffic light, you will see Kelana Specialist Center/Hospital on your left and turn left after that. Go straight until you see houses and turn right to enter the road infront of the houses. Go straight and turn left after a bridge. Follow the road and you will see a tunnel (underpass) on the left - go throught the tunnel and then turn right after the tunnel. NZX is on your left after the condos. You can also enter from Ara Damansara.), ☎ +60 3 7804 6366 (info@nzx.com.my, fax: +60 3 7804 6166), [15]. NZX is the largest covered boulevard (currently) in Malaysia. There are side walk cafés, Star Bucks, Station One, Big Apple doughnut, shops, stalls and specialty stores. There are also a number of restaurants serving steam boat, mamak food and chinese restaurants. Niuzexui or NZX was developed by SM Land Group at a cost of 320 million Ringgit on 19 acres of freehold land. The development consists of 182 units of shop offices ranging in size from 5,000 square feet to 10,840 square feet. The units were priced between 1.4 million Ringgit and 3 million Ringgit. The NZX complex opened for business in December 2007 and includes some 1800 car park bays. NZX .  edit

Eat

Eating is almost a national obsession with eateries available around the clock. Petaling Jaya is home to many restaurants and stalls serving all sorts of Asian and Western cuisine catering to almost all sorts of budgets.

Mamak restaurants are found throughout the city. A veritable PJ institution, these 24-hour restaurants operated mainly by Indian-Muslims are popular amongst the young crowd for the live soccer broadcasts on weekends (and weekdays on occasion) as well as cheap food.

Segambut Seafood Noodle

Damansara Utama

• Asian Food House, No. 38, Jalan SS 21/58. The sign unhelpfully proclaims that this restaurant specializes in "Asian food", but in reality it's mostly Taiwanese fare. The pork stew with rice (RM8.90) isn't bad.

Taman Megah

• Fatty Crab Restaurant, No. 2, Jalan SS 24/13. It's been over 30 years since Uncle Fatty set up his shop, but their famed sweet, sour and spicy crab still continues to draw the crowds. Roll up your sleeves and dig in, and figure on RM30/head with a few side dishes thrown in.

• Ming Tien Restaurant, SS 24. This is an standard hawker center that serves western, oriental and local range of foods. The drawback are its television sets blaring out the MTV channel and piped-in advertisements. (Food hygiene and the hawker center's utility cleanliness are not satisfactory, and it is not advisable for first-timer foreigner )

• William Mamak Stall. A fantastic Mamak stall with unique food choice. Located in the Taman Megah housing area.  edit

Section 19

• Stranger Restaurant & Cafe, No. 10 & 12, Jalan 19/36. The restaurant is most well-known for its Lunch and Dinner Set Steamboat and is priced at RM9.80 and RM12.80 per person respectively. In addition, there is a good variety of rice and noodles as well as "kopitiam" (coffeeshop) and drinks selections.

SS2

• Yu Ai Segambut Seafood Noodle, 58 Jalan SS2/10, 47300 Petaling Jaya (11am-9pm). Try your noodles with any of three soup options: their famous curry, fiery tomyam or milder qingtang.

• SS2 Fatty Duck rice, No.2, Jalan SS2/10, Petaling Jaya (The stall located in a shop called Restaurant OK, it is same row with Kayu Nasi Kandar at Lim Prawn Mee Restaurant which previously known as Cheow Yang Restauran), ☎ 0193867766. Working hours: 1700 till 2300. Delicious braised duck rice with history of 20 years. Braised duck rice is different from roasted duck, and in Petaling Jaya only has two place selling this authentic dish. Besides, duck rice, there are also other side dishes such as braised egg with duck inner organs, braised bean curb, salted vegetables, spicy and sour vegetables, braised pork leg and braised pork intestines. Price starts from RM 4.50 per duck rice for one person.  edit

• Little Dim Sum Restaurant, 12 Jalan SS2/63, 47300 Petaling Jaya (Just a few shops from Maybank). 9am-12.30am (close on Monday). Serve delicious dim sum. It is more pricy than other nearby dim sum restaurants but the quality is much better and the enviroment and cleaniness seems good. The shop is small and cosy and they have separate smoking and non-smoking area.They also serve noodles after 11am Varies.  edit

• Ho Weng Kee Restaurant, 32, Jalan SS2/66, 47300 Petaling Jaya (SS2 town center, behind Save Mart mini market, same row as Nam Heong Chicken Rice). 7am-4pm. A popular restaurant serving "wan tan" noodles. Speciality are the dry noodle with chicken feet & mushrooms, curry chicken noodle, dumplings and the normal "Char Siew & Wantan" noodles (dry or soup). The shop is quite clean and the food is delicious. Ranges from RM4-7.  edit

Drink

Just like in Kuala Lumpur, mamak stalls are also found all around Petaling Jaya. These are wonderful places to hang out with locals and it is possible to stay at one far past midnight (many are even open 24-hours!). They are run by Muslim Indians. They serve a variety of drinks and beverages, and the non-alcoholic options are varied and inexpensive.

For those who are looking for watering holes, several good ones include:

• Rush. Popular among the young crowd in PJ, this disco and bar is located at the Ballroom (Lower Ground) level of Eastin Hotel.

• Sanctuary. Since its opening at Mutiara Damansara's The Curve shopping center, both young people and the white-collared folk have been flocking to this four-in-one nightspot that has the unique Ice Bar.

• Uncle Chilli's. A highly popular bistro-bar (especially the working crowd) located at the Hilton. There is a live band that plays several times weekly.

• Laundry. Newly-opened pub with live band at The Curve, located opposite the Cine leisure entertainment complex and next to Fitness First. Very popular place with almost a full house every night!

• Starbucks Coffee Cafe. Found all over PJ, most outlets come with WiFi (provided by Timezone) as a free service to customers. Outlets are located in One Utama, The Curve, IKANO Power Center, Damansara Utama, Dataran Tiga Dua, Amcorp Mall, and Sunway Pyramid Megamall.
• Old Town White Coffee, Jaya One, Jalan University, Petaling Jaya (Jaya One located opposite Section 17 flats (previously Alcom Factory)). A popular local franchise with many outlets around klang valley. Serve old style Malaysian coffee - a mordernised "kopi tiam" (local coffee shop).  edit
• Coffee Ritual, 35 Jalan 14/20, Section 14, Petaling Jaya, ☎ +603-7956 1080, [16]. 10am to 11pm. Good coffee, especially the syphon brewed single origin coffee. Their espresso based coffee also quite nice. Do not forget to try the Crêpe. RM10 to RM20.  edit

Sleep

Despite being just "next-door" to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, PJ has its fair share of hotels in all categories including:

Budget

• FJ Inn-Holiday Homes, Pelangi Astana Condominium, Pelangi Damansara Contact: +60-12-3158714. Services Apartments and Homes located very near to shopping malls (IKEA,Ikano, The Curve, Tesco & One Utama). Suitable for family and group travellers. Units are fully furnished, air-conditioned and complete with amenities. Visit official website of FJ Inn at [17] Rates are from RM 250 per night (for a 3-bedroom condominium). Email: info@malaysia-bnb.com

• Grade Hotel, 23 Jalan Petaling Utama 11, tel: +60-3-7785 0000. A business hotel located in the Petaling Utama district, the Grade is a short drive from the Jalan Tandang industrial zone as well as the Old and New Towns.

• Lisa De Inn, 2 Jalan Harapan (17/47), tel: +60-3-79553636. Three-star hotel located smack at the bustling "Rothmans" roundabout and in close proximity to the Section 13 industrial hub.

• PJ De Inn, 4 & 6 Jalan 8/1E, tel: +60-3-7955 3535. Sister hotel to the Lisa, this property is located in the PJ State business district and in close proximity to banks, colleges, as well as the Thrifty Mall (Giant Supermarket / Courts Mammoth).

Mid-Range

• Hotel Armada Located along the Federal Highway, this 4-star business hotel is home to fully furnished guestrooms and a slate of business and event facilities which includes the 300-seater Laksamana Ballroom. Leisure amenities such as sauna and gym are also available. Phone and Fax Number: 60 3 79568088.

• Crystal Crown, 12 Lorong Utara A, Off Jalan Utara, tel: +60-3-79584822,[18]. Popular business hotel which opened in 1995. Room rates from RM150++ onwards.

• Eastin, 13 Jalan 16/11, Pusat Dagang Seksyen 16, tel: +60-3-76287352, [19]. Rush, one of PJ's popular nightspots, is at this business hotel situated in the Phileo Damansara commercial center. The Eastin is a member of the WorldHotels under the Business category and offers internet rates from RM450 onwards.

• Royale Bintang Damansara [20]. Room rates start from RM220.An excellent 145-room boutique hotel adjacent to The Curve shopping center and directly opposite the IKEA-IKANO complex.

• Shah's Village Hotel, 3 & 5 Lorong Sultan, tel: +60-3-7956 9322 [21]. A venerable PJ institution since opening its doors in the 60s, this family-run hotel has a large display of the owners' antiques and crafts in the lobby area. Room rates are from RM138++ (Standard rooms) onwards.

Splurge

• Hilton, No 2 Jalan Barat (LRT Asia Jaya), tel: +60-3-79559122, [22]. PJ's premier international hotel, recently given a much-needed refurbishment. Contains a large Clark Hatch gym and the Paya Serai Restaurant, famous for its daily hi-tea. Rates from RM250++ up.

• One World Hotel, Bandar Utama (next to the One Utama shopping complex) [23]. Five-star hotel with 438 rooms & suites, opening in 2007. Will have five F&B outlets serving a variety of cuisine from Western to Asian as well as a host of banquet and recreational facilities.

• Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, tel: +603-7492 8000, [24]. Located next to the Sunway Lagoon theme park and Sunway Pyramid Megamall, this excellent 5-star gem consists of the main wing, Pyramid Tower Hotel, The Villas, The Duplex, and a Mandara Spa. Rates start from RM348++ (Cuti-Cuti Package).

Vacation apartments

• Petaling Jaya Vacation Apartments, Pelangi Astana, Damansara Perdana, Casa Tropicana, tel. +60-19-3151111, [25]. Apartments are located around Mutiara Damansara area, all with easy access to public transportation. Fully furnished, air-conditioned, kitchen, shared pool/gym. Rates for each apartment starts from RM190 (studios) to RM320 (2 +1 bedrooms), parking included.

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