For a city that sees as many young independent travellers as Kuala Lumpur, it is peculiar how few services have sprung up to serve their needs. Compare the situation with Bangkok say, which has a whole travel industry centred on backpackers, and more recently flashpackers too. While KL might not want the fully fledged Khao … read the full post

June 21 marks World Music Day, an event which originated in France 30 years ago as a celebration of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere). Also known as the Fete de la Musique, it now spans more than 100 countries round the world, including Malaysia. Thanks to the … read the full post

As recently as 20 years ago, Kuala Lumpur was a predominantly low-rise city, with hardly any buildings more than a few storeys high. Fast forward to today, and the situation could not be more different. KL is awash with shiny new high-rises, and on every street it seems that yet another temple to modernity is … read the full post

When I first came to Kuala Lumpur, a workmate of mine offered to take me to their favourite Chinese eatery. I readily accepted the offer, but as we entered the place, I began to have second thoughts. Our “restaurant” was a collection of plastic tables and stools, located inside a car park. Once the food … read the full post

Given that window shopping is the most popular cultural activity in Kuala Lumpur, it may come as a surprise to visitors that the city has a thriving contemporary art scene. To be honest, it’s probably somewhat of a shock for many residents too. The main problem with seeing contemporary art in Kuala Lumpur is that … read the full post

One of the first things about Kuala Lumpur that will strike many visitors is how green the city is. Shiny new buildings abound, but so do beautiful old trees. And it is not just vegetation in among the concrete that is thriving; KL also has three large urban parks: KLCC Gardens, Titiwangsa Lake Gardens and … read the full post

You know how it often is with buses, you wait ages for one to arrive, and then two or three come along at the same time. Well, the same seems to be true with bus stations in Kuala Lumpur. After decades of neglect, Malaysia’s first integrated transport terminal, TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), became fully operational … read the full post

Following the burst of artistic activity that accompanies the French Art and Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur every May, June can seem like a bit of a quiet month when it comes to the performing arts. Fortunately for resident and visiting culture buffs alike, the KL Performing Arts Centre, together with the Actors Studio, have … read the full post

I am beginning to think that I am the only person I know who does not have a tattoo. It’s not that I have a problem with them; I’ve been toying with the idea of getting inked for several years now. Two main things have put me off: that you have to live with it … read the full post

One of the biggest complaints about Kuala Lumpur, from both visitors and residents alike, is the shocking price of alcohol. It is often more expensive to get a drink in KL than in notoriously expensive cities like London and New York (and er, islands like Bali). Hefty government taxes are partly to blame, but many … read the full post