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My Kuala Lumpur, in a nutshell By Ciki

Mei a.k.a. Ciki is a Malaysian Food and Travel blogger who writes for her blog CC Food Travel (http://cumidanciki.com/) as well as for Visit Britain -Tourism UK’s blog (http://www.visitbritainsuperblog.com/) . Mei has lived in Kuala Lumpur for more than 20 years. This city is her home. Follow her on this trail and what you will get is a foodie cum traveler’s perspective of the fascinating city that is Kuala Lumpur. This is her 3 + 2 days Weekend Guide to Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur

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Contents

1. Background Information on Kuala Lumpur

2. Day 1 in Kuala Lumpur a. Masjid Jamek b. Bukit Bintang

3. Day 2 in Kuala Lumpur

a. China Town b. Central Market c. Ampang – Saloma and Zouk

4. Day 3 in Kuala Lumpur

a. Petronas Twin Towers b. KLCC c. KL Bird Park d. Skybar Traders

5. Day 4 in Genting Highlands

a. Genting Highlands

6. Day 5 in Batu Caves then back to Kuala Lumpur a. Batu Caves b. Changkat Bukit Bintang

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Kuala Lumpur,view of the Petronas Twin Towers Some things you should know before you arrive: Background

Kuala Lumpur often abbreviated as K.L., is the capital and the largest city of Malaysia in terms of population. The city proper, making up an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi), has a population of 2 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 8 million. It is the fastest growing metropolitan region in the country, in terms of population and economy.

Kuala Lumpur started off as a tin-mining town, but today, KL has evolved into a 21st-century metropolis, dominated by the tallest skyscrapers in Southeast Asia and flush with the proceeds of international trade and commerce. Over the years, KL has faced its share of challenges but nothing has succeeded in suppressing the determination of locals to make KL, a leader among Asian tiger economies.

The most striking thing about KL from a visitor’s perspective is its remarkable cultural diversity. Back then, ethnic Malays, Chinese prospectors, Indian migrants and British colonials all helped carve the city out of the virgin jungle, and each group has left its

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indelible mark on the capital. Today, KL is a multicultural hotpot where Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians and foreign expats live together in perfect harmony, and call this place home. Eating, shopping and nightlife are undeniable highlights of any visit to KL, but don’t restrict yourself to the city – there are numerous parks and monuments dotted around KL that make easy day trips for a break from the hustle and bustle.

When to Go

KL’s temperature ranges from 21°C to 33°C and the average humidity exceeds 82%. Although there’s rain through the year, March to April and September to November are the wettest months.

Money

You’ll seldom be far from a bank/ATM. Money changers offer better rates than banks for changing cash. They take travelers cheques too. The good news is that money changers stay open even on weekends, and they can usually be found in shopping malls.

Moneychangers and banks are found on every other corner in KL. Rates are fairly consistent, though private moneychangers sometimes offer slightly better rates for cash than banks. Most banks and shopping malls provide international ATMs, typically on the ground floor or basement level of the building.

Useful places to change money include the following:

Maybank Forex Counter (Jalan Hang Lekir, Chinatown; 10am-6pm)

RHB Bank (Ground fl, Suria KLCC; 10am-7pm)

Dangers & annoyances

KL is generally very safe, but it pays to watch for pickpockets on crowded public transport and also snatch thieves in the more crowded, touristy parts of town. Ladies should opt to not carry obvious handbags as these are all easy targets for snatch thieves who zoom past on their motorbikes and drag the person and their bag to the ground. Road works can be an irritation, so be careful where you walk so that you don’t end up in a monsoon drain. People in KL tend to jay-walk so don’t count on cars stopping at the zebra crossing for you. Opt to use the overhead bridges as these are a safer bet. Flooding can also be problem, particularly during the monsoon – carry an umbrella and be prepared to roll up your trousers to wade through giant puddles.

Transportation:

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To get around Kuala Lumpur it is advisable to rent a car, as places of interest can be scattered. With a GPS, one can self-drive pretty easily. The traffic in KL is by no means as bad as Shanghai traffic but beware of errant motorcyclists. They tend to drive like daredevil lunatics, and hardly signal when turning. You’ve to go learn to anticipate their moves! With KL you can chose to take the LRT/RapidKL or the monorail that connects the shopping area in the Bukit Bintang district.

Bukit Bintang Station Monorail About the Monorail system: The station is situated at Bukit Bintang, a shopping hub in the Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle commercial district. Erected over Jalan Sultan Ismail (Sultan Ismail Road), the station is located directly south from the Jalan Sultan Ismail - Jalan Bukit Bintang (Star Hill Road) intersection. The station has three exits: The northwest exit leads to the west side of Jalan Sultan Ismail, while the southwest and southeast exists directly lead into the BB Plaza and Lot 10 shopping centres, respectively, via pedestrian bridges. Similar to the nearby Imbi station, the Bukit Bintang station is also directly within walking distance from various other shopping centres (including the StarHill Gallery, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion, Farrenheit 88, LOT10, Imbi Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza). About the RapidKL: The largest public transportation operator in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley is RapidKL. Since the take over from Intrakota Komposit Sdn Bhd, RapidKL has redrawn the entire bus network of Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley metropolitan area to increase ridership and improve Kuala Lumpur's public transportation system. The management of

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RapidKL has adopted the hub and spoke system to provide greater connectivity, and cut down the need of more buses. RapidKL is also the operator of three rapid transit rail lines in Kuala Lumpur, namely Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line and Kelana Jaya Line. Dresscode: Shorts and t-shirts for most places. You many need trousers and long sleeved shirts if you are going into the temples or mosques. Also proper shoes, a dinner dress or smart casual clothes for the evening if you intend to have a nice dinner and visit the night-clubs.

The Petronas Twin Towers

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DAY1/FRIDAY

Masjid Jamek LRT stop – Jai Hind is just down the lane along the OCBC bank. You will pass a Malay street bazaar selling knickknacks. 09:00 am Start off with breakfast at Jai Hind, near Masjid Jamek. Jai Hind mainly sells Northern Indian and Punjabi food where you can have a choice between chapatis, naan or selecting your food from a counter filled with dishes, that are eaten with rice. This is a great place for breakfast and watching the men churn out the Chapati right in front of you. Address: Jai Hind, 15 to 17, Jalan Melayu Kuala Lumpur (Directions: In front of the covered bazaar in Masjid India and right behind Masjid Jamek LRT Station. Opens from 8 am to 9 pm)

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the man makes fresh chapati’s in front of your eyes at Jai Hind 10:00am After breakfast , head to Masjid Jamek so start KL’s heritage sightseeing on foot. This walk can be covered in 3 hours and starts and ends at the Masjid Jamek STAR/PUTRA LRT Station. Masjid Jamek From the Masjid Jamek STAR/PUTRA LRT Station, walk to Masjid Jamek (Friday Mosque), located at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang. It is from here that the history of Kuala Lumpur began. You are allowed to enter the compound of the mosque, but are advised to dress modestly. You may have to don a jubah, a traditional robe, if you come in shorts. Once you’re within the mosque compound itself, you will be a little too close to get a good shot of the mosque. A better spot is on the opposite bank of Sungai Klang.

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Masjid Jamek

Sessions Court Building With Masjid Jamek on the left, walk along Jalan Tun Perak. On your left is the Mahkamah Session & Majistret (Sessions & Magistrates Courts). Unfortunately, it's now rather difficult to get a good view of this building, as the view is now blocked by the STAR LRT line that runs overhead along Jalan Tun Perak. Panggung Bandaraya Building At the junction between Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja, turn left. On your left is Panggung Bandaraya, the city theatre that was formerly the old City Hall of Kuala Lumpur. Diagonally in front of you is the new Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur City Hall), a white skyscraper. Old High Court Building Adjacent to Panggung Bandaraya is the Old High Court, now the Criminal High Court & Civil Sessions Court of Kuala Lumpur. This building is located along the banks of Sungai Gombak. Sultan Abdul Samad Building Cross the bridge over Sungai Gombak, and in front of you is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Kuala Lumpur, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Walk around this building in clockwise manner, starting off along Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan, on the banks of Sungai Gombak. In doing so, you also get good views of the Old High Court and Masjid Jamek.

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Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Industrial Court Building At the junction of Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan and Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi is the handsome Mahkamah Perusahaan / Industrial Court, on the left side of Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi. Walk along Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi while admiring the colonial architecture on both sides of the road. Old Post Office Building Where Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi meets Jalan Raja, you will find the Old Post Office on your left, and Sultan Abdul Samad building on your right. Dataran Merdeka In front of you is a wide green field. This is the famous Dataran Merdeka – Independence Square. Textile Museum Walk along Jalan Raja, with the Old Post Office on your left, until you reach the junction with Lebuh Pasar Besar. Right in front of you, on the left side of the road, is the Textile Museum, along Jalan Hishamuddin. The Fountain of Merdeka Square On one corner of Dataran Merdeka near the Jalan Raja - Lebuh Pasar Besar junction, is the Dataran Merdeka Fountain National History Museum In front of the fountain, on the opposite side of Jalan Pasar Besar is the National History Museum

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Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library Adjacent to the National History Museum along Jalan Pasar Besar is the Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library Merdeka Square Flagpole From the Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, you will be able to see the Dataran Merdeka Flagpole.

Merdeka Square and the Royal Selangor Club

Royal Selangor Club From the Merdeka Square flagpole, walk along the edge of the Dataran Merdeka Field, which is on your right. Beyond it is Jalan Raja and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. You will pass the Royal Selangor Club on your left. Cathedral of St Mary After the Royal Selangor Club, cross Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan to the Cathedral of St Mary, one of the oldest Anglican churches in Kuala Lumpur. Masjid India After leaving the Cathedral of St Mary, you will then return to Jalan Raja, past the High Court and the Panggung Bandaraya. Turn right to return to Jalan Tun Perak. At Jalan Melayu, turn left. Walk past the sidewalk stalls and through a sheltered bazaar to Masjid India From Masjid India, retrace your steps back to Jalan Melayu, turn left and return to the STAR / PUTRA LRT station to end your sightseeing. Jump on the Monorail for Bukit Bintang as that will be your lunch venue. 01:30pm Lunch at Bukit Bintang’s Hutong at Lot 10.

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Touted as a food court that brings in well known hawkers that date back at least three generations, you'll find these older well known Malaysian coffee shops mixed within more modern names to make up the 27 stalls here. Address: Lot 10 Hutong, Lower Ground Floor, Lot 10, Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Lot 10, Bukit Bintang

03:30pm Have Coffee at the third level of Lot 10 at National Geographic. Go back for a quick nap and rest from the noon-day heat. Address: National Geographic, T16 and T17, Third Floor, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-21448288 05:00pm Shopping in Bukit Bintang area Take a taxi to Bukit Bintang, which is part of the Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, which spans over 3 roads, namely Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail. It houses various cafes, alfresco dining outlets and shopping complexes such as Berjaya Plaza, Berjaya Times Square, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Imbi Plaza, Lot 10, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion KL, Fahrenheit 88, Starhill Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza. Pavilion Kuala

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Lumpur is a recent addition to the cluster of shopping malls in this area and houses a wide range of international retail brands in an ultra-modern complex. Fans of electronic gadgets would delight in the multitude of choices at Low Yat Plaza just up the road from Sungai Wang Plaza

Chinese Style dinner at Chef Choi

09:00pm Dinner at, one of the two options below: 1. Chinese Fine Dining at Chef Choi’s – No 159, Jalan Ampang, 50450 K.L. Tel : 03-2163 5866, Fax : 03-2164 6463: E-Mail : general@chefchoi.com 2. Chinese Fusion Dining at GYT (Gu Yue Tien) - Lot 5A, Chulan Square, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-2148 0808 It is advisable to make dinner reservations.

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DAY 2/SATURDAY Head South of Masjid Jamek to KL’s bustling Chinatown. Have your breakfast at China Town’s famous dimsum restaurant. 10:00am Breakfast at Yook Woo Hin - Yook Woo Hin is a typical noisy Chinese coffeeshop - dimly lit, loud, and you will most likely be served by a rude waitress but the dimsum here is legendary. A must try! Address: Yook Woo Hin, 100 Jalan Petaling Early morning till 3pm, closed Thursdays.

Chinatown – Petaling Street

Walk off breakfast by checking out the activities in Chinatown. The central section of Jalan Petaling is where you will find great bargains for designer knock off’s and also a lot of food, drinks and restaurants line the area. There is even a wet market or two for you to buy fresh meat and produce, if cooking later in the day is your thing.

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Leave China town and head towards Masjid Jamek. Cross over to the northern side of Jalan Tun Perak and walk one block east to Lebuh Ampang. Duck into the smaller streets to see what the South-Indian Chettiar community is like. This street will be full of moneychangers and street vendors selling Indian sweets and flower garlands. This place is steeped in culture and heritage and you will spot many ancient shop houses with interesting old designs and a cool Chettiar house or two, that has a characteristic ceramic peacock tiled façade. Head towards Medan Pasar via Jalan Benteng and you will see KL’s famous clock tower. At least half the buildings in the area are Art Deco buildings, constructed in the 1920s and 1930s. The other buildings date back to 1907, and are in the Neoclassical/Art Noveau style, with highly ornate motifs inspired by nature, or garlands set in cast plaster. Medan Pasar, or Market Square, was the capital's banking and shopping hub in the 1920s. The Clock Tower at Medan Pasar (previously Old Market Square), was erected in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI. In the background are three-story shop houses designed by Arthur Benison Hubback and built in 1907. Head south to where Medan Pasar meets Lebuh Pasar Besar. On the corner is another Art Deco structure in the form of the OCBC Building - built in1938 for the Overseas Chinese Banking Company. Turning east you will see the pink colored Federal Stores Building, dating from 1905 and on the opposite is the rose-pink and white MS Ally Company, one of KL’s biggest and oldest wholesaler and distributer pharmacies in the area. They were once the only suppliers of medicines to the east coast area of Malaysia. Once you get to Lebuh Pudu, turn right and after a short walk, duck left into an alleyway, which leads to the small Taoist Sze Yah Temple. This temple was constructed under the supervision of Yap Ah Loy himself in 1864. You will notice an altar where his statue stands till today and still many worshippers come to pay homage to him. Keep walking till you see an Indian Temple across the road. On that corner is Peter Hoe Café. Stop here to buy some excellent legendary cakes for tea later. Peter Hoe also sells arts and crafts from across Southeast Asia, many specifically selected with interior decoration in mind. Ornaments are particularly good purchases. There's a smaller shop in the same area that caters for those interested in batik clothing and small souvenirs. Address: Peter Hoe Café, 2nd Floor Lee Rubber Building 145 Jalan Tun HS Lee Kuala Lumpur 50000 Phone: 03-2026-9788 Fax: 03-2026-0733

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Exit the way you came in, cross the street and walk in the opposite direction until you come across a huge blue building – this is the famous Central Market were you will get all your local batik, handicraft, antiques and souvenir knickknacks. Be careful of the prices as they are set high, and everything needs bargaining. 02:30pm Have lunch at the old Nyonya restaurant called Precious Old China. This place serves Nyonya cuisine in premises decorated with old antiques that hark back to a time long forgotten. Not only does this place serve fabulous food, antique aficionados will love the deco and crystal chandeliers that hang from the ceiling of the restaurant including the wash-room. Look out for the huge bar counter at the front of this restaurant that has been beautifully restored. Address: Precious Old China Lot 2, Mezzanine Flour Central Market Kuala Lumpur Tel No: 03 - 2273 7372 04:00pm Shop around some more at Central Market and head on home for siesta.

Central Market

07:30pm

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Take a taxi to Saloma for the Malaysia Cultural Show with Dinner. Experience the potpourri of Malaysian Culture! For one hour, the 18-member Saloma Dancers will present a selection of Asia's rich cultural heritage with contemporary and cultural performances. Be amazed with Minangkabau, Chinese, Indian, Potuguese dances on stage with traditional colourful costumes. The dance medley depicts different races, creeds, traditions, cultures and religion, and how a sense of respect prevails amongst all communities in Malaysia. Showtime : 8.30 pm - 9.30 pm nightly Address: Saloma, 139, Pusat Pelancongan MTC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur 50450, Malaysia Tel: (603) - 2161 0122 | www.saloma.com.my/ Advisable to book tickets before hand. 11:00pm Check out the nightlife and disco the night away at Zouk and Velvet KL. Walk over (2minute walk from Saloma) and have a ball at KL’s most happening night spot in town! Address: Zouk 113 Jalan Ampang 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 03-2171-1997

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Day 3/SUNDAY: 06:45am Wake up early to buy tickets and see the Petronas Twin Towers. You will need to queue for this so getting there early is advisable, i.e. before 8:00am. Sometimes, the tickets for the day are already gone by 08:30 am, so it is in your favour to start queuing early. The earlier you queue, the better your chances of getting a good time slot for the viewing of the sky bridge. The tour itself is rather short, but really worth it. First, a quick 15 minute briefing on the place and about Petronas itself. Then, you will continue with the highlight of the tour - A visit to the sky bridge, the bridge that connects both of the towers, on the 42nd floor. You have 15 minutes of time to admire the view from this place and take your shots. And even if the Observation tower might be higher, nothing beats the view out from this perspective in Kuala Lumpur. Finally, you will end up at the basement where a small exhibition about the Petronas Towers as well as a gift shop awaits you. (Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge) - Guided tour - Visit PETRONAS Twin Tower Skybridge at Level 41. - Skybridge visiting hours 9am ~ 7pm Ticket RM10 /per person. RM3 /per person for MyKad holder & children age 12 below

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Address: PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS VISIT OPERATIONS Concourse Level (Lower Ground Floor), PETRONAS Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur City Centre 50088 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. E-mail: skybridge@petronas.com.my

Suria KLCC

10:30am Breakfast at Madam Kwans, Suria KLCC – Malaysia hawker fare. After your sky bridge tour, make sure you check out Madam Kwans at KLCC for some fantastic local food. If you like spicy food, the curry laksa, assam laksa and nasi bojari or nasi lemak are musts! Address: Madam Kwans, Lot 420/421, Level 4, Suria KLCC, KL City Centre; Phone: 03 2026 2297 11:30am

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Shopping at the Suria KLCC Suria KLCC is Malaysia's premier shopping centre located at the base of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It is located on 6 floors, with anchor tenants Isetan, Parkson Grand, Cold Storage Supermarket, Tanjong Golden Village, Signature's Level 2 Food Court and Marks and Spencer. Suria is the native Malay word for Sunshine. It was opened on 1998. It houses mostly luxury and fashionable shops such as Aigner, Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Prada, Brioni, Marc Jacobs, Hermes, Salvatore Ferragamo, Frank Muller, Bally, Coach, Hugo Boss, Karen Millen, Paul Smith, Fendi, Piaget, Miu Miu, Calvin Klein, Stuart Weitzman, Gucci, Chopard, Versace, Emilio Pucci, Burberry, Chanel, Tod's, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Rolex, Alfred Dunhill, DKNY, Jimmy Choo as well as cafes, restaurants, a 12 screen cinema, a concert hall, an art gallery, and a Science Discovery Centre, over 6 floors. It is nestled below the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. It is one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations. You could spend all day here and not even notice that time has passed. 02:30pm Lunch at Chinoz on the park, KLCC. Be sure to try their iced-coffee. Address Lot G47, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC, KL; Tel: 03-2166 8277

Bird Park KL

3:30pm Transfer to the KL Bird park by taxi The Bird Park is a part of an area called the Lake Gardens. These serene and scenic Lake Gardens (60-hectares) were established in the year1888 and form the green belt of Kuala Lumpur. This place is only 20 minutes by car from Suria KLCC. You can choose to take

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a leisurely boat cruise to enjoy views of the gardens from the water, or you could stroll through the park along a maze of walkways, amidst greenery. Scenic rest stops for picnics are scattered throughout the park. The KL Bird Park was established in 1991 and was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen of Malaysia, Tunku Bainun. The park offers you a great opportunity to see the hornbills, in the first days of your stay in Kuala Lumpur. The Bird Park is "The World's Largest Covered Bird Park" or "The World's largest Free Flight Aviary". Opposite the Bird Park the Taman Orchid (the Orchid Garden). This is also worth a visit. A taxi from the city centre to the Bird Park will cost you only RM15. On your way back you have to buy a ticket at a taxi counter. The Bird Park houses more than 3,000 birds and 200 species from all over the world. Birds and nature lovers can have a wonderful day watching colourful sights and melodic sound of birds perching and winging about freely while enjoying the natural and beautifully landscaped surroundings. There are plenty of photo opportunities in the form of miniature gardens, pools, water cascades, bridges, flowering plants and bird - feeding stations. You'll be doing a lot of walking so it’s a must to wear comfortable shoes. It is also advisable to bring bottled water (or something cold to drink) which can serve you well when you're inside and in between pit stops. The Bird park is open daily from 9:00am - 6:30pm. The admission fee is RM28 for non-Malaysian adults and RM20 children. Address: KL Bird Park No. 920 Jalan Lembah Taman Tasik Perdana 50480 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 603-2272 1010 Fax : 603-2273 5428 e-mail: klbirdpark@po.jaring.my 06:30pm Take a taxi back to the hotel and rest. 09:30pm Dinner at the Skybar Traders Hotel and then party the night away with KL’s elite.

Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur's international bar destination, SkyBar, offers guests the ultimate in cool drinks and intoxicating views, all in a very chic and cosmopolitan atmosphere. SkyBar's contemporary setting provokes in guests an instant and irresistible desire to just chill out. Guests can gaze at the glow from the illuminated towering twin wonders of Petronas while listening to 'straight chill' and upbeat music. SkyBar was named 'Best Malaysian Bar' by Malaysia Tatler. It is a good idea to make a table reservation before hand.

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Address: Skybar, Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (60 3) 2332 9888 Hours 10am - 1am (Sunday to Thursday) 10am - 3am (Friday, Saturday and eve of Public Holidays) Location: Level 33 Dress Code: Smart casual

Genting Highlands

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Extra Day 1/MONDAY:

Visiting the Batu Caves and Genting Highlands (2 days)

08:00am Pack a day bag that includes a change of warm clothes, drinks and some snacks for the bus ride. Be sure to include a warm jacket and warm clothes for the temperature can get relatively cool in the evenings (15 - 20 degrees Celsius) 09:00am Breakfast at R.A. Nasi Lemak. No trip is complete without trying the Malaysian Big Breakfast. The nasi lemak here is served buffet style. R.A.’s rice is steamed in the traditional wooden barrel, making each grain fluffy and separate. You can choose to have your nasi lemak with the thick sambal and usual condiments of peanuts, ikan bilis, hard boiled egg (RM1.50) or add extras from a selection of accompanying dishes, including its famously crunchy deep fried paru (cow lungs). Address: R.A. Nasi Lemak 15 Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. 10:00am After breakfast, take the LRT from KLCC Station to Terminal Putra Gombak. The 30-minute ride from KLCC Station to Terminal Putra Gombak will cost not more than MYR4.00 per person. Just below Terminal Putra Gombak LRT Station is the Genting Ticket Booth. There, you can purchased Genting packages that cost anywhere from MYR 26.00 per person. This already includes the bus ride and cable car ride to and from Genting, and your choice of Outdoor Theme Park Ride Ticket, or lunch. From Terminal Putra Gombak, a bus will take you to Genting Highlands (about 30 minutes ride up). The weather is a sharp contrast from the normal temperature of Kuala Lumpur. Genting Highlands is the flagship integrated resort developed by Genting Group. It is nestled on a mountain peak (maximum elevation about 1760m) within the Titiwangsa Mountains on the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor of Malaysia. It is accessible by car from Kuala Lumpur in one hour, or also accessible by a cable car called Genting Skyway that is 3.38 km long. The idea of creating a hill resort located in proximity to Kuala Lumpur came up in the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong's mind during a business trip to the Cameron Highlands in 1964. He mooted this idea while enjoying the fresh and crisp air from the balcony at his hotel room. It is sometimes informally known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, dubbed the "City

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of Entertainment" as it has the only legal land-based casino, Casino de Genting, in the country. Genting is also famous for its themed parks and cool weather. 2:30pm You have a choice of two restaurants at the Resorts World Genting Hotel 1. Hainan Kitchen - Hainanese cuisine 2. Imperial Rama - Fine Dining Thai-Chinese cuisine 3.30pm Check into Resorts World Genting Explore Genting Highlands at your leisure. 09:00pm Dinner at The Olive - Fine Dining Western cuisine Located at the Lobby Floor of Resorts World Genting, this place is tres chi-chi! It serves good western cuisine and its ambiance is elegant. The must try dishes include the succulent Lobster Bisque, Salmon, Scallops and Carpaccio of Wagyu, Wagyu Tenderloin, Beef Ribs, Squid Ink Pasta. 11:00pm onwards Luck be a lady, and so you need to try your hand at the casino tables tonight! Take your time and have a ball. Just make sure you win lots of money! Address: Genting Highlands Resort, Malaysia Postcode 69000 Genting Highlands Tel: +603 2718 1118 Fax: +603 2718 1888

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Batu Caves

Extra Day 2/TUESDAY: Visiting the Batu Caves and Genting Highlands (continued) 09:00am Breakfast at the Coffee Terrace Coffee terrace is one of the most popular dining outlets in Genting, comfortable, spacious and with the largest selection of different cuisine types you will find in the area. They have sufficient courteous staff to serve you well. Buffet Breakfast will feature Local

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Favourites with Western and Continental breakfast. They are Priced at RM34.00++ (Adult); RM17.00++ (Child), and breakfast times are between 5.30am - 10.30am. Location: Ground Floor, Resorts World Genting Hotel. After you are done with breakfast, you may explore the theme parks a little more, and then check out of the hotel. 12:00pm Take the bus back to the Putra Gombak terminal. From there, take a taxi to the nearby Batu Caves. It's only a 10-minute ride and cab fare only costs around MYR5.00. Batu Caves Batu Caves, first discovered over 125 years ago, has never ceased to attract visitors. Formed within the framework of an imposing limestone outcrop about 400 million years ago, Batu Caves actually consists of three main caves and several smaller ones. The best known of these is Temple or Cathedral Cave. Batu Caves is located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village. The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia. There are various undeveloped caves in Batu Caves, which contain a diverse range of cave fauna, including some unique species, such as Liphistiidae spiders and Eonycteris and Rousettus fruit bats. The site is also well known for its numerous macaque monkeys, which visitors feed — sometimes involuntarily. These monkeys may also pose a biting hazard to tourists (especially small children) as they can be quite territorial. Below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, with unusual rock formations and it houses a number of unique animals found nowhere else, as well. It is a two-kilometer network of relatively untouched caverns. Stalactites jutting from the cave's ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor form intricate formations such as cave curtains, flow stones, cave pearls and scallops which took thousands of years to form. Batu Caves has lots of great limestone landscapes and if you are a photography enthusiast you will want to take your time here composing your perfect shot of the place. Address: Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam Temple, Kuala Lumpur 68100, Malaysia Tel: 60 3 2287 9422

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4:30pm Take a taxi back to Putra Gombak terminal and then the LRT back to KLCC Station. 5:00pm Back to the hotel for a rest 09:00pm Dinner on Changkat Bukit Bintang Often likened to London’s Piccadilly Circus and New York City’s Times Square, Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang has always been known as a uber-hip and trendy shopping, entertainment district. Combining historical charms with contemporary chic, this area has managed to retain its popularity over the years, both with locals and visitors alike. Bukit Bintang consists of a network of streets and alleys, each with its own unique character. Amongst the most popular is Changkat Bukit Bintang. Located perpendicular to Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor, this street is well-known for its charming pre-war, colonial buildings which have been converted into an international potpourri of upmarket restaurants and pubs, some of which transform into vibrant nightspots as night falls. Due to the variety of international cuisine found here, Changkat Bukit Bintang is popular with the expat community as well as the upper-class yuppies of KL. There’s Japanese (Daikanyama), Indian (The Mogul House), French (Le Bouchon), German (Deutches Haus), English (The Green Man), Lebanese (The Al Bait), Cuban (Little Havana), Brazillian (Bom Brazil Churrascaria), Russian (Dusha), Italian (Flam’s) and Thai (Baan 26). Alternatively, if you are not feeling too adventurous palate-wise, there are also restaurants that offer fusion delights such as Werner’s, Twenty One and Frangipani. Aside from a medley of authentic and fusion international cuisine, the street also has some specialty restaurants. For pork-lovers, there’s El-cerdo, a restaurant specialising in all things pork, and for fans of good old fish and chips, there’s The Magnificent Fish and Chips Bar, touted as the best fish-and-chips restaurant in town. If house music and great cocktails are your thing, then conclude the night by partying at Frangipani or Club Twenty One.

Thus c on c l ud e s t h e 3 + 2 day s , w e e k end g e t away t o K ua la L umpur!