I wasn't expecting much from my Malaysia stopover. The Petronas Towers weren't enough of a draw, in all honesty. Worst yet, I expected its food to be a mashup of Javanese stir fries and Sumatran curries. And so I mistakenly saw visiting Kuala Lumpur attractions as more of an excuse to stretch my legs before my transcontinental flights.
Oh, how terribly wrong I was. Instead, I was thoroughly entertained at a colorful rooftop bar, cried at a Malaysian musical, went off-the-eaten-track, and learned more about Islamic history. Man, did Kuala Lumpur surprise me! See Malaysia's capital as I did by adding these five experiences to your stopover.
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Kuala Lumpur Attractions
Go Off-the-Eaten-Track
It's funny how I was expecting ultra-sweet Javanese stir fries and spicy Sumatran curries...only. You can find Javanese and Malays and several Arab, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous peoples in Malaysia! Their cuisine deliciously reflects that.
I'm so glad I went on two Food Tour Malaysia crawls off-the-eaten-track. By trusting locals to pick the best watering holes for me, I was able to save time to explore other hidden gems throughout Kuala Lumpur.
A Night at SkyBar, Traders Hotel
My Couchsurfing host threw a birthday party at one of the VIP booths inside SkyBar, and we had a blast. If you really want to see the Petronas Towers, there is no better spot to do so! It is a great spot during the day and night, thanks to its long pool, specialty bars, and, of course, that view.
While you don't need a hotel booking to enjoy SkyBar's unique vantage point, Traders Hotel is ridiculously central and is an excellent base in KLCC. As a bonus, if you book via Traveloka like I did when I lived in Southeast Asia, you have the option to use several methods of payment (they accepted all my American credit and debit cards!) and never pay booking fees.
MUD: A Musical of Malaysia's History
This theater's Mughal design is worth a visit. Yet MUD's musical about Malaysian culture makes it one of the must-see attractions in Kuala Lumpur.
The theatrical performance, excellent for adults and children alike, follows three friends as they migrate to Kuala Lumpur in search of new opportunities. Then, the characters take you on a cultural roller coaster, highlighting different pieces that make up the colorful mosaic of KL's history.
Showtimes vary by day, holidays, and season, so drop by MUD during your visit to see which fits your schedule.
A Walk Down the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
While Malaysian society is a multicultural one, where several religions are practiced, Islam is the official religion of the country -- in addition to being practiced by approximately 61.5% of its population. As such, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) was erected.
Officially opened in December 1998, this unique Kuala Lumpur Museum is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. It houses over 7,000 Islamic artifacts from all over the world, and rotating exhibitions make it even more diverse and interesting.
Still, my jaw dropped in surprise when I found IAMM to be one of the world's most complete, impeccably curated Islamic museums. That's a feat for me, as someone who has lived and traveled throughout the Middle East for almost two years!
A Moment of Silence at the National Mosque
Speaking of Islam, you can't leave Kuala Lumpur without visiting one of the largest mosques in the country. With the ability to host up to 15,000 worshipers at a time, Masjid Negara (known in Bahasa Malayu) is one impressive, aesthetically-pleasing religious site. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed, but not during one of the five daily prayers or Muslims' official worship day on Fridays.
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This story was written in partnership with Traveloka. All pictures are by the author unless otherwise stated.
