Must see attractions in Malaysia – Part 1

The many wonderful attractions of Malaysia are wide spread and you have no chance of seeing most of them in one visit. Wherever you are, there will be places well worth visiting and many opportunities for really memorable experiences. Cover as many as you can.

The obvious starting point is Kuala Lumpur, the capital and my favourite city. Its most famous attraction is the Petronas Twin Towers which were, until recently, the joint second highest buildings in the world. The number of visitors is strictly limited and you need to go early in the morning to queue and wait to see if you are lucky enough to get a ticket which will allow you to go up to the bridge that links the two towers about half way up. There is a lot to see at the base of the building which houses a large shopping centre, Suria KLCC, with expensive fashion shops and several elite stores. The surrounding area is beautifully laid out with fountains, ponds, gardens and many restaurants. If it seems a little expensive, don’t worry, just have a good look and go later to one of the other sixty plus shopping malls which offer bargains galore. The choice of hotels is extensive and you can find luxury accommodation at prices well below normal city levels. My favourite is the new Hilton which is close to the main railway station. If your next stop is Singapore you can travel by train in first class for a very low fare.

To see some of the other many interesting places it is better to negotiate a price for a fixed time with a taxi driver and tell him what you want to see. Organised tours involving other tourists are likely to include factory outlets or other shopping opportunities that give the tour operator commission. Absolute musts are the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) with it’s 95 meter flagpole and Kuala Lumpar Railway Station which is no longer used but retained as a tourist attraction. Going around the city there are many other eye catching buildings. Don’t forget Chinatown and Little India. Make sure you go about eight miles north of the city to the Batu Caves. This is a site of worship for Hindus and comprises several caves, some huge, within a limestone hill. Beautiful altars and magnificent statues.

Kuala Lumpur has a whole host of activities for the family. Children can enjoy watching animals graze in the zoo, visit the aquarium or butterfly park, get interactive with exhibits in the Science Centre or have a water-splashing fun time in theme parks across