Kuala Lumpur

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The Batu Caves, located just a few kilometers from the center of bustling Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most sacred Hindu temple complexes in the entire world outside of India. It's hard to believe you're so close to Kuala Lumpur giant skyrise buildings when you're surrounded by nature and lush trees at the temple and caves. The Batu Caves is a series of caves carved into the limestone cliffs in the region. The caves and rock formations are blanketed in green trees and shrubs. There are a numer of different caves, some with significant religious purpose and others that now are preserved for their rich ecosystems.

To start things off at the Batu Caves you'll have to begin by climbing 272 steps to get the mouth of the complex. The steps sound a lot more intimidating than the climb really is, it only takes about 5 minutes and isn't too challenging, and it's worth every step. Once you reach the top of the stairs you'll enter what's known as Temple Cave, a huge cavern that includes a ceiling that measure 100 meters in height. Continue walking through Temple Cave and you'll reach another small flight of step that leads to the Lord Murugan temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Minimal design and lit naturally from a hole in the high rock above, the cave and temple is a spectacular site to see. There are Hindu shrine, rock paintings, and interesting cave formations to check out.

After browsing around the Batu Caves for about an hour I got quite hungry so I decided to climb down and head to one of the South Indian food vegetarian restaurants waiting at the base. So before heading back to Kuala Lumpur on the train, I had lunch. The meal was served on a banana leaf and included a heaping pile of rice topped with a variety of different curries and vegetarian sides. They were all good and the meal allowed me to regain al the energy I had lost from the climb. Full and after a good experience, I walked back to the Batu Caves train station and took the train back to KL Sentral station in Kuala Lumpur.

If you visit Kuala Lumpur, going to the Batu Caves is a must see attraction. It's just short train ride away, is a free activities, and there's some great vegetarian lunch waiting for you at the bottom!

Kuala Lumpur: super-modern buildings juxtaposed with various cultural enclaves and with a little of Asia’s chaos thrown in. My time lapse explores how the city changes from day to night highlighting how spaces dramatically alter during the course of a few hours.
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I'm Mark Wiens and thank you very much for watching this video about a few of the top things to do in Kuala Lumpur, a city that just happens to be one of my favorite cities to visit in Southeast Asia. It's the largest and probably the most important and influential city in Malaysia and truly has some amazing sites to offer. Along with modern skyrise towers like the Petronas Towers, there are still lots of traditional historic buildings as well. The awesome mixture of cultures, the mix of traditional and modern, and very importantly, the outstanding cuisine is what makes Kuala Lumpur such a great city to explore!

1. On this list of top things to do in Kuala Lumpur I first stop by the most famous landmark of the the city: the Petronas Towers. These twin giant sky scrapers are huge, and they literally reach towards the heavens and touch the clouds. On the bottom of the Petronas Towers is a pretty fancy shopping mall while the tops of the towers are filled with offices. On the 41st and 42nd floor, there is a sky bridge which connects the two towers together and which is open for visitors. Years ago, it used to be free entrance but unfortunately now they have started to charge a rather steep 80 Malaysian Ringgits per person.
2. After the visiting the Petronas towers, number two on the list is the historical district of old Kuala Lumpur. Visiting and walking around the area is one of the top things to do in Kuala Lumpur and you shouldn't miss the opportunity. From Merdeka Square to the old railroad station, you'll see some amazing architecture and buildings. Another must visit is the National Mosque, which is known as Masjid Negara. With a capacity of 15,000, this is the central and most visited mosque in the city.
3. The Menara KL Tower, along with the Petronas Towers, is one of the dominating features of Kuala Lumpur's skyline. At 421 meters in height, it's one of the world's tallest communications towers. I was lucky enough to be invited to the annual BASE jumping event which was held at the KL Tower so I had a pass to go to the top for the incredible view and to see the event (http://migrationology.com/2012/10/jordan-kilgore-base-jump-kuala-lumpur/). The KL Tower also offer look out viewpoints and a number of restaurants where you can dine with an incredible view.
4. Number 4 is Little India which is better known as Brickfields. Kuala Lumpur is home to many Indian's many from the south of the country. Brickfields is a popular place to browse, shop for all sorts of Indian products and most importantly to eat at some seriously delicious Indian restaurants. If you're looking for good Indian food in Kuala Lumpur, check out this restaurant: http://migrationology.com/2012/11/south-indian-food-kuala-lumpur-vishalatchi/
5. Chinatown, located on Petaling Street, is one of the biggest Kuala Lumpur attractions. It's mostly known for it street shopping and restaurants. You can find all sorts of fake brand names and nearly everything imaginable.
6. Thean Hou Temple is one of the most impressive Daoist temples in Kuala Lumpur. It's free to visit and offers insights into the Hainanese community in the city and there are also great views of the city.
7. Central Market, is a top tourist shopping attraction in Kuala Lumpur. Though many of the products are rather touristy, there are some good things waiting to be found.
8. Within central Kuala Lumpur are the KL Lake Gardens and Bird Park. It makes a great tropical escape to the bustling city life.
9. The Batu Caves, located just outside the central part of the city is one of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur. The caves and shrines are one of the most sacred Hindu sites outside of India.
10. Chow Kit Market is the central fresh wet market in the city. Everyday thousands of shoppers get their Malaysian food ingredients at this interesting market.
11. Malaysian food is the ultimate attraction to visiting Kuala Lumpur. With a great mixture of local Malay, Chinese, and Indian, there's no shortage of incredible dining that will leave you satisfied and hungry for more! For myself, eating is one of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur!