Kuala Lumpur Tour for stopover / transit traveller

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  Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Tuesday, September 9, 2008

As private tour guide I received a lot of requests from my guests especially to visit Kuala Lumpur (KL), even just during stop over or transit. For instance, a traveller arrived in Malaysia from Sydney at 6am (Malaysian Time) and scheduled for departure to London at 11.30pm same day. Their wanted a relaxing tour in Kuala Lumpur.


At 6.30am I fetched them from KLIA and our first destination was Petronas Twin Tower at KLCC. Given consideration of the traffic condition towards and in KL on a rushed hours, we had breakfast at KLCC instead R&R along the highway. We reached KLCC around 715 am and most of the shops were still closed. We had coffee at Baskin Robbin. The outlet manager was kind enough to allow us to have the local delicacies which I bought from a hawker in front of KLCC while sipping our coffee.


Around 735 am we went to the ticket counter and almost 100 tourists were already in the queue. It opens at 830am (if you travel alone, reading material or MP3 will help you kill the time). The ticket is free but limited to 1500 - 1700 people per day. Each person are allowed to collect up to 5 tickets and you can choose what time you want to go in. Due to time constraint, we took the 930 am ticket. 15 minutes before your chosen time is up they will bring you to a waiting room where you can try several games and watch a documentary about the tower. When your time is up, they will bring you to a cinema plax to watch Petronas corporate documentary that lasted for 7 - 8 minutes. Finally, you will go through security check point where you and your bag will be scanned before they bring you to the sky bridge. You are only allowed to be on the bridge for 6 - 7 minutes to take photographs and enjoy the KL view. Petronas sky bridge is closed every Monday.


Next stop Batu Caves, located about 15 km from city centre, 20 minutes drive from KLCC. It was quite early when we reached there. Several locals were seen doing a prayer. Entrance is free but parking is charged at RM2.00 per car and RM10 per bus. Batu Caves is a limestone caves. There are about 274 steps and due to its position you probably will be out of breath after 20 steps. Even I climbed the steps 3 - 4 times a week, my legs are still shivering at the end of the tour. Best time to visit Batu Caves 830 am - 600 pm.


Getting There
Taxi - fare between RM20 - RM30 without a meter from KLCC or depending where you are. (Most taxi drivers refused to use the meter)
Take train via Putra LRT to Terminal Putra Station and hire a taxi from there (fare about RM10)


Next destination is The Royal Selangor Pewter Visitor Centre. Here a corporate tour guide will brief you on the history of Selangor Pewter and show how pewter is made. You can see the biggest Tankard in the world. Selangor Pewter is also responsible for making Oscar Award. If you are interested to learn more how to make pewter you can register with House of Hard Knocks, the fee is approx. RM50. For more information you can contact:


Royal Selangor Pewter Visitor Centre
4, Jalan Usahawan 6
Setapak Jaya
53300 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel +60341456122
Fax +6034022300
Email: visitorcentre@royalselangor.com.my

Getting There:
Take Putra LRT to Wangsa Maju Station. Then hop into a taxi to visitor centre (fare approx. RM10)

Opening Hour
9 am - 5 pm daily including public holiday
No appointments required unless registering for a session at the School of Hard Knocks.


Before lunch we stopped at Beryl's chocolate Kingdom. They offer various of chocolate flavours and you can taste them all. Just name it, they have it all including chocolate with chilli, durian and green tea flavour. What makes this place interesting is you get opportunity to learn about history of chocolate such as chocolate making tools and antique chocolate packaging.


We stopped for lunch at Hainan Chicken Rice besides Bukit Bintang Mall. Other than it is value for money, its consistency in taste, service and cleanliness make me love this place. And thumbs up from my guests.


We chilled down in Loy Yat plaza, the biggest IT mall in Kuala Lumpur. You can get almost everything related to IT products. A feedback from my guest was camera that is sold here is cheeper than UK but external hard disk is a bit expensive. If you plan to buy any IT products here, I would suggest for you to make a check list of prices with your local dealer.


Next destination is the fourth tallest telecommunication tower in the world after CN Tower in Canada, Ostankino Tower in Moscow, and Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai. Standing at 421 meter KL Tower is the best place to enjoy KL view. For those whore are on honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary, perhaps you can consider dinner at Mega view Banquet Deck, the banquet platform, located at the height of 288 meter, offering an exclusive avenue for events such as dinner, wedding ceremony etc. Other activities available at this tower:


Urban Flying Fox Park - 120 metres to 150 metres
Ticket - Adult RM30, Children RM 15


Complimentary Nature Walk
Ticket - free of charge, just show your KL Tower ticket at the Forest Trail gate for a guided tour of the forest.One of the oldest reserved forest located in this park.

KL Tower Opening Hour
9am - 10pm Daily

KL Tower Address
No. 2, Jalan Punchak
Off Jalan P.Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia


Getting There
Hop on Hop off Buses
Take KL Monorail to Bukit Nanas station. It is about 15-20minutes walk passing Hard Rock Café and Concorde Hotel/Shangri La Hotel or you can take taxi (RM2.50 - RM3)


Next stop National Monument/Tugu Negara located at Taman Tasik Perdana. This huge bronze monument pays tribute to the valiant soldier who perished while defending the country during the communist Insurgency. It was designed by Felix de Weldon, the architect of the famous Iwo Jima Memorial. We took short break, had nice cold ice-cream at ASEAN Sculpture Garden which located within walking distance from the Monument.


We continued our tour to National Mosque and Kuala Lumpur old Railway Station. With the capacity of 15,000 people, National Mosque is the most distinguished mosque in Kuala Lumpur. Its unique star-shaped dome represents 13 states of Malaysia and the five pillars of Islam. As for the Old Railway Station, it is a splendid building with Moorish architecture as well as graceful arches and minarets.
Take notes - Do not visit on Friday around 1200noon - 230 pm, all the Muslim will perform Friday prayer during this time. You will unable to enter the Mosque and stuck in the crowded.

We headed towards Dataran Merdeka where Union Jack flag was lowered down on 31 August 1957 marking Malaysia independence from British. A few heritage buildings also located opposite Dataran Merdeka such as Sultan Abdul Samad Building, designed by A.C Norman in 1894 -1897, mostly influence by Moorish design,which was used by British Colonial as they administrative office,besides that Selangor Royal club and Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin also located withnin this area.

Getting There
Hop on Hop off buses
Take Lrt monorail to Masjid Jamek station, its just 10 munutes walk from the station


Last but not least we stopped at Petaling Street/China Town, the best place to buy T-shirt, bag, imitation watch or souveniers. When I said "the best", I really meant it. It is the best in terms of prices and varieties to choose from.

Important tips:
1.Do not bargain if you are not planning to buy.
2.Just survey all the shops and you can ask the prices as long you do not bargain.
3.To get a good discount, buy in bulk.

The best time to go there is between 530pm to 8pm, otherwise the place is too crowded which can cause unpleasant situation for some people.

As expected my guests had over spent at China Town. Below are prices for your guidance (depending on your bargaining power):

Polo Shirt - RM22 - RM25
T-Shirt - RM 12 - RM 18
Sports shoes - RM 65 - RM 75

Getting There
Hop on hop off buses

For dinner we had Satay Kajang Haji Samuri. This is a well known sate in Malaysia and you can find its outlet at many locations. However, it is always a thrill to taste it in Kajang, where it had started. In choosing a place to eat for my guests I normally base on simple guidelines: food must be great, local delicacy as well as consistency in service and cleanliness.

Before we went back to KLIA, we stopped for a while at Putrajaya for sightseeing and taking photographs. Putrajaya is Malaysia Government Administrative Centre. Other than its huge area and modern-well-designed buildings, traveller also can take Lake Cruise.


Other places of interest in Putrajaya
Perdana Putra Park
Putra Mosque
Putra Square
The Millenium Monument
Botanic Park
Wetland Park


Best time to visit Putrajaya is either early in the morning (830am - 1030am) or in the evening (500pm - 730pm) - best time for photograph shooting.

At the end of tour, we arrived in KLIA around 850pm. After spending almost 15 hours of sightseeing, it is time to say goodbye to my guests. Hope to see them again.


Tips -
1.There are 2 places where by you can take a shower - Level 4 at KLIA and at KL Sentral.KL sentral only operating from 8am - 8pm, monday to saturday, close every Sunday
2.Drink plenty of water
3.Extra memory card and fully charges battery for your camera
4.Tripod for night shoot, if you travel with me tripod provided.

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