48 hours in Kuala Lumpur
If you only have 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur, then here’s a guide to how to spend your time wisely
Friday
6.30pm
When we arrive at Skybar, on the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel, some children are still swimming in the pool. By day, this is the hotel’s play and relaxation area. By night it is transformed into one of KL’s hot spots. We are here early, not only to make sure we get one of the the poolside booths, but to see the lights go on at the magical Petronas Towers, just across the road. The DJ, a funny term now because he’s just choosing songs from iTunes, sets the tone with a mix of classic pop. Later in the evening, when the place is full of 200 young things, he tones it down with an eclectic mix of chill music. Lychee martini in hand, we sit and watch as KL slowly turns on the lights.
If you only have 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur, then here’s a guide to how to spend your time wisely
8.30pm
There are some places you won’t find without the help of a local. Sao Nam at 25 Tengkat Tong Shin is one such place. It is a Vietnamese restaurant wedged between a fish massage shop (the fish massage you), and another place that does regular foot massages. It has 16 tables, half inside, the rest outside. The food is fresh, true Vietnamese. Sao Nam has resisted any Malaysian influences. We sit outside in the humid night air. Some of the KLM flight crew are at the table next to us. They have driven more than 30 minutes from their hotel just to dine here. That’s how good it is. Like most places in Asia, it is noisy. The owner, Paul Leow, orders for us. The dishes are delicate and the produce is fresh an explosion of herbs and Asian flavours.
11pm
The girl on the door at Twenty One Kitchen + Bar is a contradiction. She is Asian, but with short cropped blonde hair. She is friendly, but turns unwanted guests away with strength and a “don’t mess with me” attitude. Twenty One Kitchen + Bar is in the middle of KL’s nightclub strip on Changkat Bukit Bintang. It has an interesting policy on who gets in women must be over 21, men over 25. This is the place people want to come to party. It opens at noon each day and the closing time is listed simply as late.
Saturday
11am
The surprise of this trip was our visit to the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia on Jalan Lembah Perdana. Opened in 1998, the museum is ignored by most visitors. When we arrive it is almost deserted. The white marble floors and walls, coupled with KL’s best airconditioning, bring welcome relief from the heat of the day. The exhibitions are spread over three floors, with galleries that display arms and armour, textiles, jewellery, metalworks and ceramics. The displays offer a rare insight into the history of the Islamic world and, as well as being stunning in its beauty, it helps break down some of the Western prejudices.
Admission: RM 12 ($4) adults. Open daily from 10am to 6pm.
1pm
Yut Kee is full of locals. Sometimes the line to eat here goes out the front door, down the street, and around the corner. Main meals cost about $3 each so the three of us over-commit and order seven dishes everything from beef rendang to the speciality of the house, which is Asian greens in a dark, sticky sauce that bites as you bite. The food arrives on a table in a matter of minutes and it is fresh, spicy and breathes life back into my sluggish body. This place was a little hard to find. Our taxi driver had no idea. The address is 35 Jalan Dang. The food is not halal, but it is worth the effort.
2pm
No trip to KL is complete without at least some market action. Here are two options. The Central Market is best for handicrafts, antiques and pieces of art. It is open daily from 10am to 9.30pm and the LRT stops at Pasar Seni Station. The Crafts Market (63 Jalan Conlay) was set up to teach visitors the origins and significance of Malaysian crafts. In contrast to the Central Market which is a tad chaotic, the Crafts Market is more organised.
www.centralmarket.com.my
www.kraftangan.gov.my
7pm
The chefs at 7atenine were testing a new menu on the night we dined. The colonial-influenced restaurant/nightclub has won rave reviews in the local press. The lamb meatballs braised in lemon garlic-infused gravy were divine and the spicy mango mojito to die for. As the night goes on, the venue takes on more of a nightclub feeling.
Sunday
Time to get in some shopping before the flight back to Australia. Suria KLCC, at the base of the Petronas Towers, is one of the city’s best conventional shopping centres. The Pavilion Mall on Bukit Bintang Walk has the best range of mid-level designer labels. It is always worth bargaining in KL but take the attitude that you win some and you lose some.
The writer was a guest of Accor Asia Pacific, flying to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia X.
Wish you were here
Staying there
The Hotel Novotel is centrally located in the commercial and shopping district of KL. It is a busy, busy hotel but the staff do a great job keeping things moving at the reception desk.
The downstairs bar area is spacious and a great place to catch up with people, or simply sit back and people watch for a while. A quick look at the many guest review websites on the net and you will see that most hotel guests rate their experiences as good, or better.
My room was well appointed with plenty of space. It was clean and everything worked something that is not always the case. Any place with one of those George Clooney coffee machines rates highly on my list.
The spa is reasonably priced and offers a good range of treatments. For the best rates of the day, visit novotel.com or book on ph 1300 65 65 65.
Getting there
It was my first trip on AirAsiaX and I must admit to being pleasantly surprised. My Premium Economy seat gave me the complete flat bed experience, but at a fraction of the price. I had no trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep on the overnight flight home.
The meal was basic, but tasty, and you do have to pay for alcohol. We left on time and arrived early. No complaints there. The economy section was full I guess travellers do love a bargain.
AirAsia flies to Kuala Lumpur daily from the Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. Flat beds are available in AirAsia’s new Premium class.
For bookings or further information visit www.airasia.com
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