KL – good weekend getaway
2008
I’m in KL this weekend. Overcast, good to walk around. Not humid too because for Sunday. I last in KL about 3-4 years ago. Usually I stay in the Bukit Bintang area so getting around isn’t difficult. If you stayed where the action is, ie around the Pavilion or Sungei Wang shopping area then it’s 5 minutes to major shopping and eating areas. The major change I observed the number of Middle Eastern restaurants that have sprung up since I was last there. Must be that tourists from Middle East have increased.
The Pavilion shopping mall is like any other in a major city. All the brand names are here. People are dressy even the young. I thought they were better dressed than shoppers in Singapore. But in another shopping centre Metrojaya and Sungei Wang, the crowds are quite different. More local, not so fashionable. Even the Cold Storage supermarket has mostly local products than imported ones.
Coffee mania has also hit KL. In every mall, there’s Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Plenty of people hanging around there. Also smoking is still popular here. In the hotel restaurants, smoking is allowed with a section cordoned off for those who want to puff away. Like Singapore, there’re people who’re surfing in the cafes. Quite common, in fact. Even in the Sungei Wang Plaza.
Shopping isn’t that cheaper than home and the brands are the same. When you’re on holiday, retail therapy is always good. Plus there’s a nationwide sale to attract tourists. So for Singaporeans – and I spied quite a few – it’s a good deal especially when the currency is in our favour. I did buy a couple of t-shirts from Nike. Don’t know if they’re cheaper since I haven’t been to the Singapore malls lately.
Another thing that’s changed is the taxi service. Previously, I would have to steel myself to deal with the taxi drivers who, I thought, were always out to cheat me like they would take an extra long route to get to where I want to go. This time, the system has changed for the better. You get a taxi coupon first, and then get into the taxi. Takes the aggro out.
At the Shangrila where I stayed, service was ok but I wouldn’t stay here again. Service isn’t as polished as what I’d expected. But the gym is good, bigger than most hotel gyms with plenty of equipment that I’m familiar with. Next time, I’ll probably stay in the middle of Bukit Bintang, easier to get to the makan places like Jln Imbi. Night time, all the hawker stalls – the cooked food types are out. Bah kut teh breakfast from one of the shops in Jln Imbi is really great. I marvel at how advanced they’ve become. Back home bah kut teh is still a bowl of 3-4 pork ribs. Then there’re the salty vegetables and “taupok” as side orders. In KL, they now offer clay pot bah kut teh which comes with “taupok” thrown in. You can also have clay pot vegetables plus other dishes like steamed fish head and green vegetables. An expanded menu which raises what customers pay per table. And service is good.
Yes, I would go to KL again for a weekend getaway.
Related Posts