We shared a shopping and mojito filled weekend in Kuala Lumpur with few ladies from the base. The main aim was to shop til we dropped, and that got pretty much accomplished.
I took the morning flight ahead of the other ladies and found the Reneissance easily. The downside with the KL airport is the distance, it takes close to 2 hours from passport control to check in the hotel. As it wasn't pool weather, I wandered to Bukit Bintang to take in the athmosphere. It is a fairly eclectic area with cheap shopping, Chinese eateries spilling out on Jalan Alor and hip & cool (do people even say that anymore?!) bars and restaurants on Changkat Bukit Bintang.
I actually didn't like the area immediately on and around Jalan Alor; I felt really hustled: every foot bar owner and restaurant manager was after my business, there's no browsing in peace and taking in the atmosphere. However, if you are in the market for Malay street food, this is the place to be. The pungent smells of Durian fruit and sambal, and the tantalising fragrances of bbq fish and seafood and strong curries will take you on a journey across the country. Across the Bukit Bintang the Changkat Bukit Bintang offers a long row of more upmarket eateries and bars. As I've sat enough on plastic chairs in Miri and Brunei I opted for a slightly more comfortable surroundings. There is a long list of these restaurants on the Lonely Planet. After a recommendation from a friend I tried to eat at Pintchos but as their kitchen wasn't yet opened, I ended up in 21 for tapas and mojitos. I could have easily stayed for longer with their happy hour offers and friendly staff but I had to hurry back to the hotel to meet the girls. I definitely want to go back one evening to see the bars in full swing.
Shopping in KL
I actually didn't like the area immediately on and around Jalan Alor; I felt really hustled: every foot bar owner and restaurant manager was after my business, there's no browsing in peace and taking in the atmosphere. However, if you are in the market for Malay street food, this is the place to be. The pungent smells of Durian fruit and sambal, and the tantalising fragrances of bbq fish and seafood and strong curries will take you on a journey across the country. Across the Bukit Bintang the Changkat Bukit Bintang offers a long row of more upmarket eateries and bars. As I've sat enough on plastic chairs in Miri and Brunei I opted for a slightly more comfortable surroundings. There is a long list of these restaurants on the Lonely Planet. After a recommendation from a friend I tried to eat at Pintchos but as their kitchen wasn't yet opened, I ended up in 21 for tapas and mojitos. I could have easily stayed for longer with their happy hour offers and friendly staff but I had to hurry back to the hotel to meet the girls. I definitely want to go back one evening to see the bars in full swing.
Shopping in KL
KL offers shoppers galore for anything and everything one can possibly want. Traverse through Little India taking in all attacks on senses, grab a fake bargain in Chinatown or loose yourself in rows and rows of shops in KL's several shopping centres.On Saturday morning we attacked the Chinese market and 7 hours later and several ringgits poorer we were ready for mojitos again! The Central market has more shops rather than stalls but bargaining is still recommended! It offers a variety of handicrafts, and we picked up cushion covers, bed spread that proved to be the longest shopping experience ever (but a great bargain in the end), clothes, ceramics and even a slab of wood...
The Petal Street market is a faketastic treasure street for gifts; polo shirts, sunnies, belts, bags; you name it. At the time of shopping, there weren't too many brands available, certainly in bags but if your into Mulberry, or just want to bag a bargain (excuse the pun) you're onto a winner. Be prepared to be shoved, pushed, tempted. Be firm and get gloves off when bartering, and you'll find a price you are prepared to pay. It's too easy to leave the markets with balancing bags on both arms even if you aren't after anything! Some of the vendors were really unsavoury, borderline aggressive. They may have been desperate for a deal as both of the markets were really quiet but it suited us as we were able to move on to the next stall for an even better deal.
There is some sort of a shopping mall attached to nearly all of the KTM stops but as we were walking distance away from the KLCC one we spent a fair amount of time there on Sunday. Unlike the markets, it offers the real deal on various European and American brands. It's impossible to describe the feeling of stepping in to a real shopping centre with beautiful decorations and glitzy window dressings with smiling mannequins when you come from the shambolic shopping experience that is Brunei. Just walking on the wide corridors admiring all the offer, watching the world go by and caress all the garments and goods is enough of entertainment for a day. Small pleasure is also walking around the shop and go try things on without someone following you around with an inch behind you.... KLCC has a food court attached to it, giving out onto the big lawn with fountains that really come to live after dark. Sipping another mojito we admired the light and music show put on every night.Eating in KL
Well, it seems girls only need mojitos, not food, as we failed miserably on this account. But there are several street markets and great restaurants available in town, and it will certainly be worth another trip!
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