Be Social?000

I decided to write this post, as I recently spent a few weeks in the city on a tight budget. The beautiful city has lots to offer, so here are a few tips for what to do when trying to preserve your money.

1. The Heli Lounge Bar

Instead of visiting the Petronas Towers, the Heli Lounge Bar boasts beautiful views of the towers and of the surrounding city. The bar does not have an admission fee, you simply have to buy a drink and you can admire the surroundings for as long as you like, in comparison to the regulated visiting times at the Petronas Towers.

2. Chinatown

If you are visiting on a budget and the boutiques are not an option, the market at Chinatown is affordable and a must see whilst visiting the city. Chinatown is bustling and busy throughout the day and night, but whilst shopping remember to haggle and half the price of the items on offer!

3. KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF Bus

In the city, there are various modes of transport available to tourists, one example was the taxi app Grab which was useful during my visit. However, I found when getting around the city the KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF bus was both useful and good value for money. The bus visits all the main sights in the city and gives audio descriptions of each locations – although I wouldn’t rely on this as in my experience the audio guides weren’t always present.

The tickets can be purchased for 24h or 48h windows, for more information about the bus and to purchase tickets you can use the following link: http://www.myhoponhopoff.com/kl/index.php

4. Batu Caves

Just a short train ride out of the city lies the beautiful Batu Caves, there is no admission fee to the sight and lots to see. However, to gain entry into the sight women must cover their legs, although there is no need to worry too much as scarves can be purchased for a small fee before entering the caves if necessary.

The sight has various temples to visit within the caves, and I found it to be a very unique experience. The main temple does not have an admission, although there are several smaller temples which do have small admission fees. I would personally recommend visiting the Dark Cave, it can only be visited via guided tour for a small fee and it is an enjoyable experience for people of all ages. It gives a history of the caves and details the unique wildlife found in the cave, including the rarest spider in the world which resides within the cave. One thing to be careful of during your visit to the caves is that it is also the home to hundreds of monkeys who prey on unsuspecting tourists by attempting to steal their food and even their water bottles!

5. National Mosque of Malaysia

To see some beautiful architecture, visit the National Mosque of Malaysia, the sight is free and one of the most beautiful spaces in KL. The mosque expects it’s visitors to abide by a strict dress code and they will provide a robe which is free of charge to wear within the sight. The unique architecture within the peaceful setting makes for a relaxing hour or so when visiting the mosque. There are numerous volunteers within the complex, who are happy to answer any questions you might have. However, the mosque does ask guests are quiet and respectful at all times, during their visit.

6. KL Bird Park

Whilst visiting the city, the worlds largest free-flight aviary resides in KL, known as the KL Bird Park. The park has a small admission fee which is worth the money, the sight is home to dozens of rare birds all situated within the complex. Within the sight, there are opportunities to feed the birds, some of which are in enclosures, or flying freely around the aviary. This visit is a must-see for bird lovers and a different day out whilst in a busy city.

7. KL Forest Eco Park

KL happens to be the only city in the world that has a natural rainforest in the centre, The KL Forest Eco Park. The park has a free admission and offers stunning views of the surrounding city, which can be seen from the various canopy walks which span over the rainforest. The sight is small and an easy walk for people of all ages, but it offers a relaxing way to spend one hour of your time in the noisy city. Remember to put mosquito repellent on before your visit, as I did not remember during my visit and suffered afterwards.

Feature photo by: Erwinkarim – License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Be Social?000