V&VPR City Guide: Kuala Lumpur Part I
With food-stall-lined streets and eye-catching colours bursting from every corner, Kuala Lumpur is filled with spots that will inject vibrancy into your Instagram feed. The ornate Thean Hou Temple is a Chinese temple dedicated to the Queen of Heaven. The temple’s architecture finds its roots from Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian traditions, exemplifying the melting pot of cultures and religions that form Malaysia’s population.We also loved the panoramic views of KL, which is worth the trek up the hill.
For a dose of art, we headed to Art Printing Works in the Bangsar neighbourhood, which was founded in the 1960s as a former printing factory. The space was repurposed into a creative hub in 2013 and is now home to some amazing food & beverage options.
We made pit stops at both Breakfast Thieves and Pulp by Papa Palheta before continuing to Zhong Shan Building, which once housed the Selangor Zhongshan Association. The space has now comeback to life in the form of a three-building independent arts and research hub housing the likes of art gallery OUR ArtProjects, music store Tandang Records, Tommy le Baker’s Kampung Attap outpost and more.
Another artsy highlight was Rex KL – what was an iconic theatre back in the 1970s has since been turned into a vibrant creative space where local entrepreneurs and artists can flourish. Make sure to check each spot’s Facebook page for any upcoming events that you can catch during your time in the city.
While KL may seem like a concrete jungle, decorated with twisting expressways and high-rise buildings, nature lovers need not despair as there are plenty of green pockets both within the city and in its surroundings. In the heart of the city, KLCC park was designed to showcase a heritage of tropical greenery by integrating man’s creation with nature. Elements of shape and topography were created to give an illusion of space while the combination of trees, shrubs and sculptures were arranged to provide colour and form to the park.
A 45-minute car ride brings us to Batu Caves, a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, the cave is one of the most popular Tamil shrines outsideIndia. Top tips: if you’re hoping to snap a picture of the multi-coloured steps leading up to the cave, make your way to the site around dawn.Beware of the monkeys as they can be quite vicious, especially if you’re carrying any exposed food.
The adventurous can take on Bukit Tabur, which is also known as The Dragon’s Backbone due to its long, rugged, protruding ridge that resembles the backbone of a dragon. With a length of more than 16km long and 200m wide, it is probably the longest crystal quartz outcrop in the world, a geological wonder right next to KL City.Make sure to check the weather before you head there as it can get quite dangerous during the rainy season.
