12 H o u r s
TOURISM MALAYSIA
Jalan Alor KL Bird Park
Hub of
is a favourite of joggers and picnickers for its verdant allure. Revel in the beautiful landscaping of the sunken garden, discover the majestic trees that lent their names to several Malaysian states, admire the beauty of the hibiscus and orchid gardens, and rest in the quaint bamboo hut by the serene lake. Best of all, entry is free.
Diversity IF YOU HAVE ONLY HALF A DAY TO EXPLORE MALAYSIA’S CAPITAL CITY, HIT THESE HOTSPOTS FOR THE EXPRESS KUALA LUMPUR EXPERIENCE.
7.30am
Start the day with a quintessentially Malaysian kopitiam (coffeeshop) breakfast at Yut Kee Restaurant (non-halal) on Jalan Kamunting. Patrons flock to this 90-year-old Hainanese restaurant for toast or steamed bread spread with butter and homemade chunky kaya (coconut jam), accompanied by kaya roll, roti babi (bread with pork filling), marble cake and hot coffee, all reasonably priced. If you’re after something heartier, don’t miss their signature gravy-drenched Hainanese pork chop or Mee Hailam (Hailam noodles) with squid and pork. Their famous roast pork with tangy apple sauce also sells out fast on
10.00am
weekends. Come early to avoid disappointment.
East of the botanical gardens is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, touted as the world’s largest walk-in, free-flight aviary. Opportunities abound here to get up close and personal with over 3,000 birds of 200 species, both local and foreign.
8.30am
The cooler mornings are the best time for outdoor activities, and the sprawling 101-hectare Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park – the city’s oldest public recreational park – is an excellent place to be one with nature. You can take a guided Segway tour around the attractions, such as the National Monument or Tugu Negara – a bronze sculpture commemorating fallen heroes who died fighting in Malaysia’s struggle for freedom and independence.
The birds fly freely in environments mimicking their natural habitats such as a rainforest canopy, a flowing stream and even a waterfall. Time your visit for the bird feeding sessions to watch lories, ostriches, eagles and hornbills being fed. Better still, feed them yourself.
1.00pm
Within the park, the Perdana Botanical Gardens
For lunch, hit the buffet spread at Rebung, which is
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just a 10-minute walk from the Bird Park, atop a multi-storey car park. The cosy restaurant is known for its authentic Malay fare and is a joint venture between celebrity chef Dato’ Ismail Ahmad and Malaysia’s first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. For RM40 per person, you get a stunning array of delicious Malay favourites. Sample everything from roti jala (lace pancake) and rendang daging (slowcooked beef) to ayam masak merah (chicken in gravy) and asam pedas ikan pari (sour and spicy grilled stingray), not to mention traditional Malay kuih-muih (cakes) and pengat pisang (banana in sweetened coconut milk).
2.00pm
Central Market in Chinatown is hard to miss. This bright blue building began life as a wet market in 1888; now, it’s a hotspot for quality arts, crafts and food. You’ll find popular souvenirs on the ground level such as Royal Selangor’s renowned pewterware, ARCH Collection’s lasercut wood art and Loka
JUAN R.AZNAR WCOLINO, FLICKR
Text Karin Chan / Illustration Lauren Rebbeck