A Visit to Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is where we lived prior to moving to Jakarta and all our children were born there so it is a place that we got to know very well and appreciate over the years.

We now get to go back to visit friends and appreciate the small size of the city, the relatively controlled traffic and clean (ish) air! Our children have great fun revisiting some of the places they came to know and love as well so we hope that this article will help you enjoy a visit to KL as much as we do.

We now always fly Air Asia wherever possible but flying into KL via Air Asia means that you fly into their Air Asia only terminal which does not link to the main International KL Airport and their super efficient train service (28 minutes) to the city. Taking a taxi from the Air Asia terminal into KL will cost you approximately RM 120.000 (executive car) and you need to pay for this before exiting the departure area (ticket desks are obvious after customs area). Taxis are lined up outside the departure area.

If you fly into Malaysia on a regular flight e.g. Malaysian Airlines you will fly into the International Airport and have access to the city train service. You need to purchase your tickets at the desk in the luggage carrousel area. The train takes you to KL Sentral which is not the heart of the city so you will either need to take another train from Sentral or go by taxi. Depending on where you are staying in the city it is often easier, if travelling with small children, to take a taxi from the airport directly to your hotel.

The journey into the city will take you 45 - 60 minutes and the only traffic you may encounter will be right in the city centre. We have the luxury of staying with friends when we visit KL but all the major hotel chains are represented and if you stay close to KLCC (Twin Towers) you will be in walking distance to many of the city centre attractions.

Taxis - red and white ones are the more reliable but they are not up to the standard of Jakarta taxis, larger people carrier taxis are of better standard and are safer for longer journeys out of the city.
Trains - see here http://www.myrapid.com.my/rail/routes for more information about train services within KL.

Here are some of some of our favourite places to visit;

KLCC  - the famous Twin Towers (once the tallest buildings in the world) offer a fabulous outdoor park area with playground, fountains, running track and even a public swimming pool!  You can go inside the towers to the sky bridge and beyond, check out their website for more information. http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/internet/pett/pettweb.nsf/frm_home_hi?OpenFrameset

The base of KLCC is a 4-storey shopping mall (Suria KLCC) that includes Petrosains - a fantastic interactive science centre that will keep your children occupied for hours. Entry fees vary according to age (check website for more info) but 4 years and under are free!
Opening hours:
9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday (last entry 4p.m.) Closed Mondays.
9.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, public holidays (inc. public holidays on Monday)
Address: Level 4, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang
Tel: +60 3 2331 8181
http://www.petrosains.com.my/

Within the KLCC park is an exhibition centre and in the basement of this is KL Aquaria, you can access this via a tunnel on the lower ground floor of the KLCC shopping mall, you have to walk a little way through an underground car park as well but there is a marked walkway.
This Aquarium is excellent particularly for small children with limited attention span who haven't been to many aquariums. You need only allow an hour to see it all and it is beautifully designed to show off all the inhabitants including a walk through tunnel and a large glass window where you can see divers feeding sharks at specified times (check before you go as times change). There are ramps and a lift for strollers and a baby change room.
Entry is free for under 3 years old, RM 35 for children and RM 45 for adults.
Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (last tickets 7p.m.)
Address: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Complex, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: +60 3 2333 1888
Email: marketing@aquawalk.com
http://www.klaquaria.com - visit their website for feeding times and other information.

Horse Riding at Selangor Turf Club - 20 minutes drive south of KLCC, pony rides available for all ages plus lesson packages if you are staying for longer.
http://www.selangorturfclub.com/equestrian.html

Sunway Lagoon - a massive water park out of KL (30 minute taxi ride) that gets rave reviews!
Opening hours:
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday & Wednesday - Friday (closed Tuesdays except for holidays)10 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekends
Entry prices vary depending on how much of the park you want to visit so go online to assess what is best for you.
Address: 3 Jalan PJS 11/11 Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya
Tel: +60 3 5639 0000
http://www.sunway.com.my/lagoon/contact.asp (at the time of writing not all sections of the website were working correctly)

Waterskiing - we have friends (including their 8 year old daughter) who regularly go waterskiing in Putrajaya (45 minutes drive out of the city) so if it is something that you always wanted to have a go at see here for more information.
http://www.waterski.com.my/WW@Putrajaya_brochure.jpg

We hope you find this information useful if you decide to make a trip to KL!