City Information                       Lågpris hotell vin online -                      Queensway Travel
Airport  
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport at Sepang, 70 km away from KL, is now firmly established. The numerous shops, telephones, restaurants and seating areas are all deliciously air-conditioned, and centred around a recreation of the Malaysian rainforest.
Airport to City Centre
If travelling by car, the 70 km journey into central KL takes approximately 45 mins, though significantly longer in peak hours. 
Metered Taxi: Usually around RM55, but the fare is negotiable. In addition to the negotiated price, the passenger usually pays all expressway toll charges (around RM6). Taxis also charge a 50% surcharge between 2400 and 0800. Metered taxi drivers tout for business in the Arrivals Hall in the main terminal building. 
Fixed-price Taxi: The alternative taxi service is the pre-paid voucher system. The fare of RM75 includes all tollway fees and the KLIA surcharge. The taxi voucher booth is located in the Arrivals Hall in the main terminal building. 
Airport Limousine: Choose from the budget or premier services. The fare is calculated precisely according to the destination. A budget fare into the city will cost approximately RM80 and a premier fare will be around RM100, but this will vary according to the location of your hotel. 
KLIA Ekspres: This new express rail service came into service in April, 2002. This purpose-designed train covers the journey in 28 mins, with trains departing every 15 mins. The fare is RM35 one way and the service operates daily from 0500 to 0100. The KLIA Ekspres Station is located on Level 1 of the main terminal building. The city destination is KL Sentral terminal, which is at Brickfields, on the fringe of the CBD. 
Orientation
Kuala Lumpur – ‘Muddy Estuary’ – was founded by tin prospectors at the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers in the 19c. The city has expanded in the most astonishing fashion over the past few years. However, the economic slowdown means that Asia’s one-time ‘garden city’ is no longer a 24-hr construction site. Recent boom years have morphed KL into two cities – Kuala Lumpur and the former satellite town of Petaling Jaya. The agglomeration takes in a few extra towns such as Port Klang and Shah Alam, and is sometimes known as the Klang Valley, a jarring name for what is fast becoming an ugly and unpleasant place. 
Old colonial buildings are giving way to bigger and sometimes badly constructed high-rises. Among the more impressive of these is the tallest building in the world – the Kuala Lumpur City centre twin towers (also know as the Petronas Towers after their owner) on the former site of the racecourse, now a luxury mall bristling with the West’s latest designer goods. Colonial KL is centred around Merdeka Sq in the west, surrounded by former administrative buildings with elaborate Moorish flourishes, with the old railway station and National Mosque a little to the south. The Puduraya bus and taxi station is to the east on Jalan Tun Perak in the central district. North-east is the Golden Triangle commercial district, the booming heart of modern KL with luxury hotels, shopping malls and office towers. Petaling Jaya and Bangsar lie to the west; east is the diplomatic and hotel district of Jalan Ampang, which is quickly developing into a prestigious shopping and business district since the construction of the Twin Towers. Many new businesses have also been attracted to the rapidly growing areas of Sri Hartamas and Mont’ Kiara in the Damansara district. These areas are accessible via the new SPRINT Expressway and take about 20-30 mins to reach by taxi. The fare is approximately RM20. 
As elsewhere in Asia, the road system has spectacularly failed to cope with the city’s growth. The main thoroughfares are the Federal Highway from Petaling Jaya to Kuala Lumpur, the clogged arteries of Jalan Tun Razak to the east and Jalan Sultan Ismail in the north. There are quite a few new highways with names like NKVE and LDP to get you out of town; these are much quicker, but you have to pay a toll. A quick glance at a map reveals a delightful simplicity of city planning on the ground. However, the situation is much more confusing, as everything changes so rapidly and nobody living here thinks in terms of compass points. 
To make life harder, there are no district names, apart from the ‘Golden Triangle’ financial zone, which isn’t actually a triangle at all – rather a square, encapsulated by Jalan Ampang, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR), Jalan Loke Yew, and Jalan Tun Razak. Most businesses share large buildings, usually with no street number; they tend to be known by the names of the building, but locals will be able to direct you. Generally, the closest thing to area nomenclature is to go by street name, and keep an eye on the skyline for major landmarks like the KLCC and the KL Tower. 
The development of Putrajaya, the new administrative capital of Malaysia, is now well underway and many government departments have re-located there over the last year. Taxi takes around 30 to 40 mins and costs RM30-40. A new rail link to Putrajaya, the KL Transit, opened in June 2002; the journey take 36 mins from KL Sentral and trains depart every 30 mins; the fare is RM30. In Petaling Jaya, commercial premises tend to be low-rise shop-lots with incomprehensible numbering and few street names, so be prepared for addresses like Jalan SS21/17A.
Excursions                                                      - flygresa -                             Queensway Travel
Kuala Lumpur is not a place in which to linger and there are many sights and plenty of beach resorts within a few hours’ drive of the capital. Batu Caves: 13 km north of KL, just off Ipoh Rd, is this Hindu temple complex consisting of three grand caves in remarkable limestone formations. The main cave, known as the Temple Cave, is reached by a straight flight of 272 steps. Every Feb, it is a site of pilgrimage for the Thaipusam festival, where thousands of pilgrims flock to the caves to engage in or watch the spectacularly masochistic feats of Thaipusam devotees. Take Intrakota Bus 11D from the Central Market Annexe - the journey lasts approx 30 mins.
Cameron Highland: One of many cool hillside resorts in the state of Pahang. Jungle trekking is popular, and golfing benefits from the cooler weather. Other spots worth visiting are Cactus Valley, Rose Centre Kea Farm and Flower Nurseries, Butterfly Farm, Vegetable Farm and Sungai Palas Boh Tea Estate - Boh tea is internationally exported. 
Fraser’s Hill: At 1524m above sea level, this is perhaps the prettiest hill resort in Malaysia. Only 1 hr 30 mins drive from KL, Fraser’s Hill is not unlike a quiet English village set in the Scottish Highlands, with painted, mock-Tudor cottages and a stunning landscape. There are plenty of relaxing activities, too: bird watching, nature walks, picnics by waterfalls and golfing. 
Malacca: Site of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial wrangling, Malacca is Malaysia’s most historically renowned town. Main landmarks are Cheng Hoon Teng temple (the oldest Chinese temple in the country, built in 1646), Hang Li Poh’s well (built in 1459) and the 600-yr-old Tranquerah Mosque. Browse Jonker St for antiques and don’t forget to sample Nyonya food, speciality ‘Straits Chinese’ cuisine. 
Penang: Lying off the west coast, this is the most interesting of Malaysia’s islands, and the once rubbish-strewn beaches are now beautiful and tantalising after an intensive clean-up operation. Penang is also the best place to sample national cuisine the way the locals have it. As well as the beaches, Penang Hill is fascinating: approx 800m above sea level, it can be reached by funicular railway, a 30-min journey, or footpath. There are reputed to be over 50 species of birds living here. 
Langkawi: This is the largest island in a cluster of 99 islands, known for their legends, limestone caves, aquamarine waters and attractive white beaches. Many are popular with European tourists and cater particularly to the eco-tourism trend. The Datai, Andaman and Sheraton Perdana are Langkawi’s best resorts. If visiting Pangkor Island, stay at Teluk Dalam or Pangkor Laut. Planes can take visitors to gorgeous east-coast resorts in less than an hour, or south to Singapore, a gleamingly efficient contrast to Malaysia’s slightly chaotic way of life.
Getting Around
Taxis are still the most practical travel option for business visitors. They are reasonably priced and used by everyone as public transport. All taxis are metered and passengers should ask for the meter to be engaged. A typical city-centre journey will cost only M$4 or M$5. However, during peak hours or following a heavy downpour many drivers will only accept an inflated fixed price fare. The passengers have little choice in the matter – pay or stay. Most taxi drivers speak good English. 
Train in the City  
KL has an excellent light rail system, the Putra LRT, which covers the business district quite well. It is cheap (average fare RM1.20 within the business district) clean and efficient, with trains arriving every five mins. A new Monorail system, interlinking with the Putra LRT at two key stations, opened Jul 2002. The combined Monorail and LRT systems cover the business district very well and are significantly faster than taxis during peak hours and during KL’s regular tropical downpours, which often bring the city traffic to a standstill. 
What to see
Night Markets ( Pasar Malam ): At the exuberant and colourful night markets you can buy everything from fresh vegetables and cooked food to toys, clothes and pirated goods. Expats and tourists favour the night markets at Petaling St, which is open every night, and Bangsar, which operates Sun evening only. Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Little India) is popular on Sat evening. 
Observation Towers: KL offers two venues for viewing the city. The Menara KL Tower on Bukit Nanas offers an excellent view from the 421m pinnacle and provides a great perspective of KL landmarks and places of interest. For an equally good view, ‘The Bridge’ on 42F of the Twin Towers is open to the public daily from 1000. Entrance is free but tickets are required. This is a very popular activity for both locals and tourists, so visitors need to arrive early to ensure a ticket. 
Jalan Perdana Area: Here you will find the elegant old railway station, temporarily being used as an interstate bus depot but soon to be converted into a museum; the excellent Islamic Arts Museum, with some of the finest Islamic art from all over the world; and the National Mosque resplendent in white marble. At the Mosque visitors must remove their shoes and dress appropriately. A gown will be provided for those not complying. There is a separate entrance for women, who will also be provided with a headscarf. 
The Lake Gardens: Situated beside Jalan Perdana, the Lake Gardens – developed in the 1880’s and set in 257 acres of rolling lawns, gardens and lakes – is the premier natural landmark of KL. Situated very close to the heart of the city, it houses the Bird Park, the Butterfly Park, the Deer Park and the Orchid and Hibiscus Garden. The Butterfly Park is home to 6,000 butterflies from over 120 species, and the recently expanded Bird Park is also very good. 
Putrajaya: This new administrative capital has been built within the last two years, with no expense spared. Worth visiting are the Prime Minister’s Residence and the Mosque. Entrance is free but you must be appropriately dressed. Gowns and headscarves will be supplied at the Mosque but not at the Prime Minister’s Residence. For entry into the Prime Minister’s Residence ID is required and no handbags are allowed. Also worth a visit is the Putrajaya Wetlands Park. It houses an excellent nature interpretation centre and offers information on two self-guided nature trails around the park. Entrance is free. Access to Putrajaya is by taxi or the new KL Transit train. 
Other places of interest include the National Art Gallery and National Theatre located on Jalan Tun Razak; the King’s Palace at Jalan Syed Putra; the Central Market on Jalan Hang Kasturi; the Craft Complex on Jalan Conlay; Badan Warisan which offers tours of the beautifully restored traditional Malay house in the Badan grounds.
Shopping                                                                       Weedend resa                         Queensway Travel
Shopping is a serious hobby in KL, as in most Asian cities. Many goods offer reasonable value, including watches. The famous Bukit Bintang area has gone through a major facelift in an effort to make it an upper-class shopping haven. Coffee shops and cafés are now found in abundance, lining the pavements. For two decades, Sungei Wang Plaza has been one of the most popular shopping haunts, offering bargain-priced products and services. It’s packed with beauty salons, boutiques, departmental stores and restaurants. Exhibitions and concerts are frequently held in the concourse level, too. 
Star Hill has scores of boutiques and designer labels within its posh interior, and is a great place to shop. Recently renovated, its dining area is a little classier now, with four stylish eating outlets on the ground podium and live chamber music while you wine and dine at Shook!. Anugerah Gallery, on the ground floor, offers a spectrum of local and international works of art. Do not miss the many sidewalk cafés along the mall, which also make up part of Bintang Walk, the trendy area along Jalan Bukit Bintang, which has lots of cafés and stylish eating outlets. One of KL’s big attractions is Asia’s biggest mega mall, Mid Valley Megamall, which has close to 2 million sq ft of retail space. Everything is mega-size, from the vast Cineplex and the extensive health club to the mammoth bookstore. The Megamall gives stiff competition to Suria KLCC, at the base of the world’s tallest building, and offers a magnificent shopping experience within a lush landscape of lakes, dancing fountains and a recreational park. If you’re into designer labels, this is where to head. There’s also a smorgasbord of foreign and local dining opportunities. Outside the Golden Triangle other shopping centers are considerably less busy than in the past. These include Sogo, in Jalan Raja Laut, and 1 Utama in distant Bandar Utama. As everything is air-conditioned and sheltered from torrential rain, the shopping-mall experience is comfortably soulless. 
For bargain hunting, there are always the night markets (pasar malam). With their carnival-like atmosphere, they’re a great place to soak up the local culture and pick up bargains - anything from electronic gadgets and CDs to hot fashion, local delicacies and fresh produce. Brush up your bargaining skills before you go and your ringgit will stretch that little bit further. Downtown Chinatown (Petaling St), only 5 mins walk from Central Market, is a popular night market; Jalan Telawi (Bangsar) only operates on Sundays; Jalan Masjid (KL’s ‘Little India’) offers an enormous selection of Indian spices, food, saris and jewellery - a great place to look for an unusual gift or ornament. Visitors should be warned that bag snatching and credit card fraud is quite common in KL. It is not widely acknowledged by the government for fear of frightening away the lucrative tourist trade. When going out money and important documents should be carried close to one’s body and the use of credit cards should be restricted to reputable hotels and restaurants only. Visitors should also be mindful of security at ATM machines.
Weather and Climate
Malaysia’s climate varies slightly throughout the year: basically it’s warm with a wet and dry season. Temperatures on average range from 28°C to 32°C during the day and cool during evenings and nights to around 24°C. Jan and Feb are the hottest months. Evenings are the most pleasant time, particularly if it has rained earlier in the day. Jackets are rarely worn outside the office, except when attending functions - usual attire for evenings is smart casual due to the climate.