Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Next stop… Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! I’ve never been to Malaysia and was excited to see what this relatively new city had to offer. KL is the capital city of Malaysia and it’s rapid development triggered a huge influx of foreign workers from Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam just to name a few.  The mix of all these different cultures can really be seen through the local Malay cuisine. What’s the best way to actually live like a local? Why, eat like a local of course!

My Malay Lunch

I wanted to have a true Malay lunch so what better place to find it than a mall food court? I swear the food courts here are like none you’ve ever seen back home. The server did not speak any English so I pointed to whatever didn’t look familiar and ordered it. The highlight…black curry. This was a first for me and can I just say, AMAZING! The Black curry was rich and deep in flavor with the tang of lemongrass, tamarind and lime with more than a hint of heat! The dish actually originated in Sri Lanka and has been tweaked with a little South East Asian flavor. This is just one of the many examples of how Malaysian cuisine reflects the multi-racial aspects of Malaysia. The red curry on the plate, Indonesia. The green papaya salad, Thailand. The green okra salad, I honestly don’t know, but if anyone does please let me know. Now this is what I call “fusion” cuisine!

The Towering KL Tower in the Background

The Kuala Lumpur Tower (officially known as Menara Kuala Lumpur) is a communication tower that reaches 1,381 feet (421 m), which currently makes it the fifth tallest freestanding tower in the world!

YAY!

On the day that we decided to visit the fifth tallest freestanding tower in the world…hold on a sec… let me set the scene for this one…My mom and I were admiring the sprawling city view from the observation deck with our guided tour headphones on then..BAM! Someone falls out of the sky from the fifth tallest building in the world! Screams of “Someone jumped!”, “Oh my goodness!”, “Help!” echo through the observation deck. But wait! There falls another, then another and another and another. Are all these tormented souls? No, it just happened to be the day of International Base Jump Merdeka Circut. Apparently, for a mere $350 Ringgit ($103.10 USD) you too can base jump from the fifth tallest building in the world. I’m going to save base jumping  for my next visit to KL.

Notice the Man Falling Out of the Sky!

Picture of The Petronas Towers taken from the KL Tower

After an eventful afternoon at the fifth tallest building in the world, we decided to visit the world’s tallest twin buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers. Remember the movie Entrapment with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones? Well, the Petronas Towers was the setting for some of the scenes in the movie. Most memorable was the scene on the sky-bridge, which is the highest 2-story bridge in the world.

Petronas Towers

To see the Petronas Towers up close and personal is surreal. Looking up at the glowing towers I felt  as though I was on the set of a space age sci-fi movie. SO COOL!

Skybridge

Food Paradise

Welcome to Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur’s food paradise! Jalan Alor is a bustling street in the heart of KL’s Golden Triangle. It comes alive every night with sights and smells of street food and cafes. Stalls are parked all along the busy street and you are overwhelmed with the sights and smells of Malaysia. You can find everything from satay, grilled stingray, razor clams to fresh fruit stands.

Mom and Pops at Jangalor

The Chicken Wing Man

Oh, the chicken wings! They are to die for. Smokey, juicy and oh so tasty! Out of all the chicken wing stalls on the street my pops swears by this stall and this chicken wing guy. I would have to agree this dude knows how to smoke some wings!

Grilled Stingray, Crab with Ginger and Green Onion, Chicken Satay and Sweet Potato Leaves with Garlic

Grilled stingray is INCREDIBLE! The texture is amazing and the tangy dipping sauce made of lime, vinegar and peppers complements it perfectly.

Mountain Lychee

Durian Dude

Out of all the times I’ve been to Asia I’ve never tried the very odoriferous durian fruit – also know as ” The King of Fruit”. The name is derived from the Malay word “duri” meaning thorn – due to its thick, tough and thorny husk. So, what better place to give it a try than in the country that gave it its name?

Durian Fruit

It’s described as tasting like heaven and stinking like hell. The fruit is actually banned in public places in Asia such as hotels, malls and subways. The smell is incredibly pungent, but in some strange way tempting. I can only describe the smell as sweet fruit in garbage. My mom loves durian and swears that Malaysian durian is the best in the world.

The Verdict...

Its said that once you’ve tried it, you’re likely to seek it again. The rich creamy texture can only be described as warm cream cheese and onions. There was a sweet and strange after taste that lingers for hours. I mean hours! That said, I will not be seeking the durian fruit until my next visit to KL.

This Guy is Everywhere! How does he do it?

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