Kuala Lumpur Regional Overview

Kuala Lumpur or affectionately known by the locals as "KL" is one of the most vibrant cities in South East Asia. It is the capital of Malaysia and travelers can get around the country easily with its extensive network of public and private transportation system. Often there are a lot of "touts" waiting to pounce on a tourist, therefore look for meter cabs and note that haggling on taxi fares are prohibited. Look for taxi booths that provide customers with prepaid tickets to avoid getting overcharged or simply ask any locals near the taxi stand for information or on essential "survival skills". They can roughly tell you the price you ought to pay for the destination that you are headed to. Locals here are shy but are often friendly in nature. An alternative method of travelling is by using the Light Rail Transportation (LRT) System. It is however not advisable during peak hours when locals commute to and from work. A cheaper alternative is to use the city’s RapidKL buses network, however it does not live up to its name. Often it is a slow journey with many stops. Alternatively, board on the KL-Hop On-Hop Off (KLHO) buses for a city tour.

Kuala Lumpur offers a wide range of accommodation to suit any preference and budget, ranging from backpackers lodges to some of the world’s cheapest 5 star hotels rates. That little extra that you save on lodging really comes in handy when it comes to shopping and other things to do. Some call it home to mega malls and shoppers' paradise. Kuala Lumpur is home to huge shopping malls that seem to have never-ending stream of shops, comprising of international and local brands. Enjoy shopping till you drop because you know there are always wellness centre available nearby.

Malaysia is blessed with a wide array of racial diversity; Malay, Chinese, Indian are the 3 main race while Portuguese and some other local indigenous tribes form the Malaysian society. Mix marriages are a common occurrence in KL. (Do not be surprised if you end up marrying a Malaysian and start living in KL). Generally the locals speak Malay (National language of Malaysia), Tamil and a couple of Chinese dialects. English, the unofficial second language, is widely spoken. Most of the locals speak at least two different languages. In most of my travels, time is wasted trying to find the way around the city; in KL most signboards are in several languages and at least in English. Recently I have seen signboards in the city in Arabic as well. Malaysia is a modern Muslim society, whereby respecting each others' religion preferences is a priority.

KL is a food haven and happy place with hundreds of cafés, pubs, diners, restaurants and road side hawker stalls to choose from around the city. Since the competition for customers are high, it is good to know that food is affordable in Kuala Lumpur. A complete budget meal will set you back by 3 to 5 dollars per person. Halal food (Muslim killed meat) can be widely found around the city, however having said that, non-Halal food (which includes pork) and alcohol can easily be found as well.