Kuala Lumpur Nightlife

May 31, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Nightlife

Spend a Star-studded Evening at the Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur

May 31, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Restaurants




 

Planet Hollywood is a chain restaurant which was motivated by the illustrious depiction of Hollywood. It was instituted in the year 1991 in New York City. The chain restaurant had the backing of famous Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Later on, Planet Hollywood was made international and many stores opened in almost all the main cities in the world. Modeled after the Hard Rock Cafe theme and style, Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur is the Asian branch of the international franchise.

Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur is a very famous night spot. It is spread over an area of 13,000 feet and is an international franchise. Variety of food, fun and electric atmosphere guarantees complete enjoyment to the visitors.

The walls are decorated with movie props, while huge television screens flash a complete swarm of movies. Visitors to Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur are rarely dissatisfied with the yummy American-styled dishes served with American Strip Steak and Barbecued Beef Ribs, which are hot favorites. An extraordinary list of appetizers, mocktails and a live pop group also contribute to the fun.

Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur is situated in the Bukit Bintang locality, which is highly popular among crowds seeking entertainment and nightlife venues in Kuala Lumpur. Other international Planet Hollywood restaurant and casino locations include Acapulco, Bali, Cancún (Mexico), Disneyland Resort Paris, Dubai, Jakarta, London, Niagara Falls, Riyadh and Tokyo Disney Resort.

 

There are many other nightlife venues in Kuala Lumpur and they often open until the early hours of morning. Check with your Kuala Lumpur hotel to find out the details about Planet Hollywood or other nightlife venues in the city.



Kuala Lumpur – The Perfect Gateway Into Malaysia

May 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Hotels

Kuala Lumpur, sometimes referred to as the ‘Garden City of Lights,’ is the largest as well as the capital city of Malaysia. As the capital city, Kuala Lumpur is the youngest in the Southeast Asia, and economic wise, it is perhaps the most successful after Singapore.

KL, as it is fondly known, is situated between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, in the south eastern part of Asia. During the past 150 years, Kuala Lumpur has been evolved into a modern, bustling city, with more than two million people.

Although a vibrant, gleaming city, Kuala Lumpur still retains its colonial charm which now cannot be found in most of the Asian boom cities such as Singapore. Further, Kuala Lumpur brings together the country’s past and present as well as many of its constituent cultures. Indeed, the city is regarded as Malaysia’s microcosm, since it provides the travelers a glimpse of the whole country. Above all, due to its strategic location and close proximity to Bangkok and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur is considered the perfect gateway into Malaysia.

Attractions in Kuala Lumpur range from avant-garde architectural highlights to tourist spots of historical significance. Kuala Lumpur boasts of an architecture that is an eclectic mix of traditional and modernity.

In other words, the city is especially noted for its intriguing blend of architecture, ranging from stunning colonial buildings to towering modern. Some of the fine examples for this are Sultan Abdul Samad building (designed by the British architect), Dayabumi Complex – a 35 storied building that is a mixture of Moorish-Byzantine architecture, the Dataran Meredeka, and Istana Nagara – the official residence of the king. Also, noteworthy is such architectural landmarks as the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, boasting of Morish-inspired architecture.

A visit to Kuala Lumpur would be incomplete without taking a tour to attractions such as Merdeka Square, the site where Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time in 1957; Masjid Jamek, the oldest mosque in the city which is much favored for its intricate North Indian Islamic architecture; Masjid Negara, featuring multifold umbrella that represents the five pillars of Islam as well as the thirteen states of Malaysia.

Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest building in the world which accommodate in it an array of chic shopping malls and an art gallery; Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens), whose attractions are the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm, Kuala Lumpur Orchid Garden, Bird Park, and the National Planetarium; Chinatown, where you can find a variety of food stalls and night markets, apart from the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple and Sri Mahamariamman Temple; and Central Market, one of the best places in the city to shop antique items such as handicrafts, scarves, and porcelain figures.

Kuala Lumpur’s attractions also cover monuments like the Parliament House, the National Science Center, and the National Monument. Also, worth visiting are the city’s interesting museums such as the Royal Malaysian Armed Force Museum, Museum of Asian Arts, Maybank Numismatic Museum, Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum, and MISC Museum.

Aside these attractions, Kuala Lumpur has to its credit a countless number of zoos, libraries, night clubs, casinos, temples and churches, amusement and fun parks, and recreational parks and botanical gardens. Above all, the city hosts a range of festivals, which among many others, are Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday, Chinese New Year, Thaipousam, Flora Festival, and Shopping festival, which lasts for a week.

From small as well as medium budget hotels to top-notch luxury hotels, Kuala Lumpur has accommodation facilities to suit every pocket. Since many of these hotels have their own websites and online facilities, this enables the visitors to reserve a hotel room within the comforts of their house. Besides, some of the world-class hotels provide packages, which are inclusive of accommodation, dining facilities, transportation within the city, and sightseeing facilities. Additionally, for connoisseur of gourmet tastes, Kuala Lumpur has an endless range of restaurants and bars, all of which serve you a multitude of delicacies from across the world.

Kuala Lumpur is well linked by air, rail, and water. With more than 40 international airlines providing services to the new, sophisticated KLIA International Airport in Sepang, travelers not at all have trouble in getting into Kuala Lumpur. When comes to rail, KTMB is the prime train service. By sea, Port Klang serves as the main port, which is located 41 km from Kuala Lumpur.

With stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, friendly service and eclectic culture, and well-connected transportation, there is no wonder why Kuala Lumpur is considered the perfect gateway into Malaysia.

Petronas Twin Towers (timelapse color)

May 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Tourist Attractions




Versió en color.

Petronas Twin Towers, The Tallest Twin Towers In The World

May 28, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Tourist Attractions

The Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin tower buildings in the world. The buildings are situated in the capital of Malaysia, at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The buildings were also the world tallest for a time before being topped by the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world during the period of 1998 to 2004. The Petronas Twin Towers surpassed the former tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower, upon completion of its construction in 1998.

According to regulatory guidelines, antennas of a tower are not considered towards the official height of the building, yet spires are counted as part of the official height of a tower. Therefore although the Sears Towers contained 110 floors and the Petronas Twin Towers have 88 floors, the Petronas Towers exceeded the official height of the Sears Towers by 10 meters. The Sears Towers nonetheless have their offices at a greater height than the Petronas Towers.

The Petronas Twin Towers were designed by the Argentine-American architect, Cesar Pelli and consists of Islamic influences towards the design of the towers. A skybridge provides access between the two towers, connecting the 42nd and the 41st floors of the towers to each other. The skybride is the tallest two story bridge to exist in the world. The bridge spans a length of 58 meters, weighs over 750 tons and lies 170 meters above the ground.

While visiting Kula Lumpur, one might need to find some Kuala Lumpur accommodation. A Kuala Lumpur hotel would be a good place to stay. Apart from providing Kuala Lumpur hotel accommodation, one would also be able gain access to many of the facilities available at the hotels.

Kl Tower – Malaysian Technological Excellence

May 26, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Restaurants




Opened in 1996, the KL tower, with a height of 421 meters is the fifth in the list of tallest towers in the world used mainly for telecommunication and multimedia broadcasting purposes. The construction of this tower began in 1991 as a three phase process and maintenance of the tower is done by a subsidiary of the telekom Malaysia group. When this tower was constructed high attention was paid to the environmental protection where a forest named Bukit Nanas was kept untouched. It is also said that to avoid the cutting down of a 100 year old Jelutong tree, the tower location was moved.

The KL tower also offers a vast number of facilities where the Mega View Banquet Deck offers wonderful scenery and world class facilities for weddings, meetings, seminars or any kind of major event. This deck has four rooms catering to the exact requirement of the event planner. Specially designed for meetings and conferences is the open-air amphitheatre. This is ideal for live performances as it is equipped with hi- tech PA system. The mini theatre of the tower can be utilized for small functions while the tower terrace is rented for private functions that provide a welcoming atmosphere. A magnificent bird’s eye view of the KL city and the Petronas twin towers are offered at the observation tower.

If it is a souvenir, portrait or a gift that you want after visiting the tower, there is much on offer at the ground floor. The Seri Angkasa Revolving Restaurant situated at the level two of the tower is the official restaurant of the tower which is ideal for a romantic dinner. There are also three more restaurants named Café D Tandoor, Simply Café and Knights Café offering different styles of meals.

If you are planning to visit this wonderful place find accommodation in a budget hotel Kuala Lumpur such as Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur which offers world class facilities.



Asia Travel – Malaysian Cities, Truly Spectacular

May 26, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Nightlife




Malaysian Tourism Board promotes the country as Truly Asia. With the fascinating fusions of tradition and modernity, Malaysian cities’ unique multi-cultural heritage, cuisine, arts and architecture make them ideal cosmopolitan getaways. Malaysia’s mix background of Chinese, Malay, Indian and colonial heritages constantly amaze western travelers with its cultural richness and harmony, presenting a truly Asian variety of sights and sounds.

Kuala Lumpur City Center

Travel to Kuala Lumpur city and you would be awestruck by the ultra-modern Petronas Twin Towers at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The Petronas Twin Towers are 452 meters tall, contain 88 stories, & are the world’s tallest twin structures.

Situated on the previous site of the Royal Turf Club in the heart of the capital city, the Kuala Lumpur City Centre is truly a spectacular Architectural sight. Here, the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin structures, soars to a dizzying height of 452 metres. Cesar Pelli was the Architect of this masterpiece. Inspired by the Five Pillars of Islam, this gleaming mega-structure was designed by the Argentinian-American architect in earlies 90s. Below the towers, lies a beautifully landscaped fountain park designed by prominent Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. KLCC is also home to the world-class Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Suria Shopping Centre and Petronas Philharmonic Hall.

Kuala Lumpur Railway station

Take a short taxi ride from KLCC and let yourself be charmed by the classic Moorish-style of the old Railway station. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is located at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It is a very beautiful building. It has a Moorish-style which was designed by architect A.B Hubbock. Built in 1910, the building is about 80 years old. I am sure it is built long before you and me were here. In 1986, the station went under extensive renovations, upgraded to have air-conditioned waiting hall, snack kiosks, tourism information booth and many more. In the past, it used be very quiet but since the city commuter service started, it is a very busy station now. All the Intercity train services do not stop here anymore because there is a new railway station opened called KL Sentral, less than 1KM away from the old railway station.

Shopping Extravaganza

Shop in some of world’s most luxurious malls at Kuala Lumpur shopping precincts like Bukit Bintang, Damansara Utama, Ampang, Mid valley, Subang Jaya, Sunway City, etc.

Every year, Malaysia has six weeks of great shopping promotions, bargains and discounts of up to 70% on a wide range of products and services at all major shopping precincts, malls and retail outlets nationwide. Check on www.tourism.gov.my for the yearly Malaysia Megasale calendar periods.

Be part of the festivities when you drop-in at your favorite malls and enjoy fantastic prizes as you take part in the fun contests and activities lined-up for you and your family. Get instant redemption and gifts when you charge with Master Card and be in the running to win your dream holiday at Malaysia’s premier resort destination, The Four Seasons, Langkawi.

Know that your shopping experience doesn’t stop at the malls. Do check out the countless bargains and offers from hotels, travel agents, entertainment outlets, spas and restaurants around town. With the whole of Malaysia celebrating this major sale event, you and your family can shop to your hearts’ content and have a great fun time chilling out too.

Malaysian Nightlife

Experience a bargain with a trader in a bustling night market. Whether you sample a succulent stick of satay at a roadside hawker stall or spicy chilli crab at a Chinese restaurant, you will revel in the many alluring attractions. The Night Market is a nice place to visit as the atmosphere at nightfall always makes for a different experience. Here, you will get a chance to dine al fresco under the stars and moon. There are food stalls set up near the main bus terminal. These stalls are open from 6pm onwards till about midnight, serving up some truly delicious dishes. This is your chance to enjoy good Malaysian food, the Malaysian way!

More articles on Asia Travel experiences at www.1asiatravel.com

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Wfc and Apfc Meetings This August in Kuala Lumpur in Conjunction With the Fim 2008, 31st July – 3rd August 08

May 25, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Tourist Attractions




This is truly an honor to MFA which has been striving very hard towards the growth of franchising industry worldwide, thanks to the Malaysian government’s franchise friendly policies. It will enable us to play a more significant role to ensure a multilateral co-operation within the region in order to leverage on the global franchise scene.» says MFA chairman, Dato’ Mukhriz Tun Dr. Mahathir.

By organizing an international conference like such, MFA hopes to encourage more foreign investors in the country to boost the local franchise industry. «By having foreign franchise business in Malaysia, it will also make local franchise business more competitive.» he adds. The WFC and APFC are both the amicable, non-political associations of National Franchise Associations. The objectives are to inform each member countries of the developments and to represent international franchising to international bodies. The full memberships are open to all National Franchise Associations whose constitution requires a subscribing membership and a governing body which is in the majority composed of franchising companies. For each country, only one national franchise association will be recognized. The secretariat moves from country to country.

Under the umbrella of WFC, there are 38 franchise associations from all over the world: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, U.S.A. and the European Franchise Federation. While the APFC has 16 franchise associations within the Asia Pacific region: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Korea.

Franchising Association of India (www.fai.co.in) is an active member of World Franchise Council and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation. It has helped its members to expand internationally.

MFA is also one of the founding members of both WFC and APFC which were established in 1994 and 1998 respectively. The meetings will be held in conjunction with the Franchise International Malaysia 2008 (FIM2008) exhibition and conference that is scheduled from 31st July to 3rd August 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur.

«This year, we will be witnessing the presence of the heads of franchise associations and key players in the franchise industry all over the world from countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines. We foresee a bigger influx of foreign participation in the exhibition and conference exceeding last year’s 35 per cent due to MFA hosting both WFC and APFC meetings.» Mukhriz says.

Besides exhibition and conference, several value-added programs are also outlined such as seminar, workshop, dialogue, trade visit and meeting with government officials for international participants.



The Colourful Street, Little India

May 23, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Restaurants




Little India spreads around Jalan Masjid India, covering the area between Jalan Bunus and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. This street was created after Indian Muslims started to build their community around the Indian Mosque in the region.

Little India located 45Km away from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will make its visitors feel as if they are in a bazaar. The streets in this area are packed with a wide range of goods that will undoubtedly capture the eyes of a shopper. These shopping items vary from elegant sarees, shalwars, jewellery, perfumed oils, and fabrics to food items. Price of sarees varies from Prices range from RM26.90 to RM299.00.

Enter one of the accessories shops to be amazed by the array of accessories such as silver, gold necklaces, bangles, statues of Indian Gods, and other souvenirs. The shoppers can either taste a traditional Indian meal consisting of toosais, chappatis or idlis or a special spicy meal with Briyani, fried mamak noodles or banana leaf rice. A simple meal starts from RM 2, but a special such as nasi buriyani and sea food dishes would be offered at a fairly higher price.

Indian palmistry is also a unique experience in this area where amulets and ornaments which are considered to bring luck are also sold. The Indian Bollywood spirit is always filled on the air. The sitar music that stays alive all throughout the day brings a magical charm to the area.

Little India is famous among both the local and foreign tourists, who find this place a way of entertaining themselves. Among the few discount hotels in Kuala Lumpur area is Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur which provides easy access to Little India.



Overall Demand for Office Space in Asia

May 23, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Tourist Attractions




Asian office markets generally sustained their positive momentum in the third quarter of 2007. Supply of Grade A office space remained tight in the CBD areas of Hong Kong, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, with vacancy rates hovering at 5% or lower.

Overall demand for office space in Asia’s major commercial centres remained robust, with demand from expanding local businesses and non-finance related occupiers increasingly significant in many Asian markets. Prime office rents did not change significantly over the preceding quarter in major Asian cities, although some upward pressure was seen in quality buildings in prime locations. Notably, Philippines and Singapore led the entire Asian market by posting over 15% rental growth over the preceding quarter.

Beijing’s prime office market was active in the third quarter as take-up reached 1.7 million sf, up 18.3% q-o-q. Average rent continued its steady increase, rising 1.6% q-o-q to RMB 17.3 psf per month. Of the five projects scheduled for completion during the quarter, only two came on stream: the 409,032 sf Zhongyu Building, in Sanlitun, Chaoyang District and the 430,560 sf Gemdale Center Tower B, also in Chaoyang.

Shanghai’s office market remained buoyant in the third quarter. Average rent grew by 2.7% q-o-q to RMB 20.9 psf per month. In Puxi, rents rose by 2.6% q-o-q to RMB 20.4 psf per month, while Pudong rents increased by 3.3% q-o-q to RMB 22.3 psf per month. Two Grade B buildings added 685,300 sf of space to the market. Vacancy continued to tighten, falling 0.9 percentage points q-o-q to a record low of 3.5%.

The pace of rental growth and take-up increased in Guangzhou in the third quarter. Expansions and relocations drove average prime office rent up 6.4% q-o-q, to RMB 9.65 psf; average Grade A rents registered an even sharper rise of 8.8% q-o-q. Three new projects, two of them Grade A, added 2.98 million sf of space to the market. Despite strong absorption, the new supply saw overall vacancy rise 1.4 percentage points q-o-q to 17.4%.

In Hong Kong, strong expansionary demand and insufficient supply combined to keep vacancy rates of prime Central buildings at historic lows while pushing core Central office rents to new highs. Both Two IFC and Exchange Square, for instance, saw record or nearrecord transactions. The effects of high demand were widespread, as rental hardening extended from Central to CBD-fringe areas (e.g. Admiralty and Wan Chai/Causeway Bay) and upcoming projects attracted strong pre-commitment interest.

Following a relatively sluggish second quarter, net take-up increased markedly in the third quarter of 2007 in Taipei. Activity was upbeat across sub-markets, with prominent leasing transactions including Hontai. Life Insurance leasing 75,735 sf in the Hung Tai Century Building and Bank of America occupying 50,330 sf in Taipei 101. The lack of new supply and robust demand are expected to continue to drive rents upward, albeit slowly.

In Tokyo, a shortage of prime office space amid rising demand continued to drive rents upward during the third quarter. Average prime office rent, inclusive of common area management fees, reached JPY 61,250 per tsubo (US$14.88 psf) per month, showing an increase of 6.5% q-o-q and 20.1% y-o-y. However, a widening gap between landlords’ rental expectations and tenants’ willingness to absorb higher occupational costs saw Grade A vacancy increase 40 basis points q-o-q to 1.3%.

Keen demand in Seoul pushed office rents higher in the third quarter. Average Grade A office rent reached KRW 21,543 psm (US$2.15 psf) per month, up 1.08% q-o-q. Overall vacancy increased marginally due to increased vacancy in Gangnam as new buildings came on stream, however vacancy in the CBD reached an all-time low. Three new buildings added 1.9 million sf of office space, with the market actively absorbing the approximately 50% of this space which was available for lease.

Jakarta’s leasing activity remained robust in the third quarter of 2007, with the positive momentum expected to continue as Indonesia’s economic recovery drives business activity and results in additional expansion and relocation-related demand for office space. Several projects in the CBD are expected to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2007 or early 2008, including the Pacific Place Office Tower in Sudirman and the Menara Prima and The East in Kuningan.

In Kuala Lumpur, in the first new supply to reach the market in 2007, the Grade A Capital Square (The Signature Offices) came on stream in central Kuala Lumpur during the third quarter. The prime office leasing market maintained its positive momentum, with large-scale leasing activity in buildings completed in the first half of 2007. Major transactions included the relocation of PricewaterhouseCoopers to 1 Sentral and ALSTOM Power Asia Pacific taking up 36,000 sf in Chulan Tower.

In Singapore, the recent uncertainty in global financial markets has had no discernible impact on demand for office space. Prime office rents averaged S$12.60 psf per month, increasing 16.7% q-o-q and 82.6% y-o-y, and now exceed the 1990 historical high of S$11.50 psf per month. Demand remained broad-based, though the financial and insurance sectors were predominant among those with larger space requirements. Though we foresee further rental increases, we expect the pace of growth to ease.



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