Kuala Lumpur, the tale of two towers and the most humid city I have ever encountered.
The Malaysian capital marked the second stop during my second tour backpacking in Southeast Asia.
Everything felt difficult, uncomfortable and different which was the perfect welcome to catapult me into my next adventure. After all, you don’t fly half way across the globe in search of familiarity.
Before hitting the hostel, we decided to head deep into the metropolis to catch the famous Petronas Towers lit up at night.
In a hot and sweaty mess, we left our backpacks by the fountain where we set up our cameras for an epic time lapse.
We clambered on walls and posed between the iconic towers. Then midnight came, and so did the rain, and we found ourselves on the last metro back to our hostel.
Kuala Lumpur Trip Highlights
- Visiting Jamek Mosque
- Taking a day trip to Batu Caves
- Time lapsing at Petronas Towers
- Picnic at Perdana Botanical Garden
- Hearing the birds at Taman Burung public aviary
Our twin dorm room overlooked Kuala Lumpur’s bustling China Town. Its basic set up and white wash walls had us questioning whether we’d accidentally booked into a brothel.
But for £4 per night, what more would you expect? Backpacking in its truest form.
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Next we were greeted by a Rasta with long hair and a thick Caribbean accent who led us to our room. The corridors were lined with thick, stained rugs and we were offered a free coffee which we graciously declined.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
If you are planning to stop off in Kuala Lumpur while backpacking in Southeast Asia, do not scrimp on accommodation.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to cheap hostels. Make sure to book a room with aircon that isn’t too far from the city’s main sights so that the heat slightly more bearable.
Despite our hostel’s lack of appeal, its China Town location was ideal and our host was friendly enough.
But for an extra £2 per night, we couldn’t help wishing we had booked a hostel with aircon as we tossed and turned in our sleeping bags.
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The following morning, armed with a city map as straight forward as a Dali painting, we set off on our one day tour of Kuala Lumpur starting on our doorstep with China Town.
Red lanterns hung high in the sky above a crossroad of street markets selling trainers, bags, glasses, watches and all the fakes.
Yet despite the coloured decor, I remember the number of homeless people on the street in a terrible state of health which left a sorry feeling in our hearts.
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After a spot of shopping, we headed to The Jamek Mosque, one of the most famous in Kuala Lumpur dating back to the early 1900s.
The walk should only take around ten minutes but we took our time, weighed down by the heat.
In all my time in Southeast Asia, I have never experienced humidity quite like I did in Kuala Lumpur.
Unable to enter the mosque due to our summery attire, we continued along the river into the oldest part of the city. Just 50 years ago it was the only development amid the jungle.
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After continuing through sooty main roads for what felt like miles, we stopped off at the beautiful Perdana Botanical Garden. The tropical oasis is the perfect picnic spot set against the city’s mega skyscrapers.
After a much needed rest in the shade we strolled through Taman Burung, an almost 21-acre public aviary home to hundreds of bird species.
That evening, dare I say we chilled back at the hostel with a few Kingfisher beers which I recommend if you do make it to Malaysia.
A light refreshment amid the unbearable humidity of Kuala Lumpur.
It was an early night before an early rise to see Malaysia’s famous Batu Caves <3 which you can hear more about here.
Thanks for joining my whistle stop tour of Kuala Lumpur. Is this city on your travel bucket list and why?
Until next time amigos,
