My blog

Great weekend escapade at KL (BB-20/5/07)

Kuala Lumpur has been one of my favorite cities in the Asean region. Beautiful landscapes, delicacies aplenty, magnificent skyscrapers and clusters of shopping malls dotting KL are the alluring factors which make a visit worthy and memorable. However, my recent outing there is almost derailed as the timing of the journey coincides with a work commitment. I have cautiously planned the trip well in-advanced to avoid disappointment and to my great relief; the event is brought forward to a new date paving the way for another escapade, an opportunity not to be missed in the current flourishing VMY 2007.

iluminated KL

While browsing through an in-flight magazine, I was taken aback when a pilot’s name is announced by a flight attendance. The irony is that, the plane is being piloted by someone I know most and for the first time after so many years of traveling, I was being ‘flown’ by my younger brother. Reminiscence of his school days, he is one of the aspiring students with his childhood dream is to pilot a plane. He had captured his imagination and considered to be one of the finest local pilots ever recruited by RBA and now holds a captaincy insignia.

One of my itineraries brought me to an international book fair which is held for 10 days at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC). Millions of books were put on display for sales and promotion with a simple but significant theme ‘books empower’. This event is expected to attract one million visitors and one of the highlights of VMY 2007 apart from other mega events, shows and parades which will be culminated with a countdown on the stroke of midnight to usher in Malaysia’s 50th years of nationhood at Merdeka Square on Aug, 31st.

Mascot at PWTC

Being the capital city of multi-cultural Malaysia, KL does not fail to offer food and dishes of Malay, Indian and Chinese variety. A number of Western dining spots are aplenty. So if you don’t want to miss out on the true Malaysian brunch, why not drop at restaurants, coffeshops and stalls throughout KL to pamper yourselves with an ever-popular delicacies such as Nasi Lemak, Asam Laksa, Hokkien Mee, Satay and Banana Leaf Curry Rice.

Staying at KL without spending a day off at sprawling and vibrant Jalan Bukit Bintang vicinity is incomplete. This affluent center is packed with shopping arcades; entertainment outlets, food courts and abuzz with tourists adding up a lively atmosphere all day and night. Merchandises from cloths, sport wears, trendy outfits, gadgetries to knick knacks are relatively affordable as most shopping malls offer big discounts to shoppers and bargain hunters in conjunction with tourism year.

On walkabouts, I spotted a striking blue color booth at a street opposite Sungai Wang Plaza. Initially, I mistook it as an information kiosk but upon close scrutiny, it is an ultra-modern public or street toilet equipped with automated motion sensors, user-friendly and resistance to vandalism.

An 'elevator' at a street

The usage is simple; just slot in 20 cent, the toilet door will automatically open and the cubicle is large enough to fit a few people. On the inside, buttons for ‘door open’ and ‘door close’ and ‘emergency’ are at fingertips just like an elevator. A maintenance staff manning a counter next to the toilet said it has been well-received since it hogged the limelight late last year. She added these family-friendly air-conditioned toilets are strategically located at other spots in and around the city center. In fact, it is the first street toilet being introduced by Kuala Lumpur City Hall especially for tourists’ convenience to reduce the practice of popping into fast-food restaurants or petrol stations in the event of nature’s call. To break loose from the hectic life of KL, dropping off for a nature walk at the foot of KL Tower is a soothing remedy. Bukit Nanas or Pineapple Hill is the only pristine tropical forest left in the heart of the city. A wonderful array of flora and fauna could be observed at the forest against the backdrop of the cosmopolitan city that surrounds KL Tower on all sides. Or climb up to tower itself to watch the panoramic view of KL skyline at daytime and dine at the revolving restaurant at night.

A view of KL Tower from the foot of Pineapple Hill

Rounding off a trip, KLCC is my last destination. I lost counts how many times I have been to this wonderful skyscraper but this time around, I made myself available to observe KL landscape from the 41st floor of the observation deck linking both Petronas towers. Tickets are complimentary and obtainable at the counter for a breathtaking bird’s eye view of KL skyline.

A panaromic view of KL skyline from Petronas Tower