Your ultimate Asian tour will never be complete without stopping by Malaysia. You can sample Malaysian culture and tradition by visiting its wonderful capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL).

As a first time visitor in KL, I can still recall my excitement when I was on-board my flight to KL from Manila when the plane’s captain announced that plane would be landing in a few minutes. I immediately looked out of my window and strained my neck to catch a glimpse of the famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL. I was disappointed when I didn’t get to see the Petronas Towers. I must have been seated on the wrong side of the plane.

It was love at first sight. The first time I saw the Petronas Twin Towers was when I was already riding an airport taxi on my way to my hotel, JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur. So after I checked – in my stuff at my hotel, I immediately grabbed another taxi and instructed the driver to bring me to see the Twin Towers.

The Petronas Twin Towers is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. I’ve seen a lot of pictures but nothing compares to the experience of standing at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers and viewing them in all their majestic glory. I had to compose myself when I realized that I was looking all the way up with my mouth wide open!

The Petronas Twin Towers was considered the world’s tallest building until being surpassed by Taipei 101. But these two towers are still considered the World’s Tallest Twin Towers! Petroliam Nasional Bhd or PETRONAS for short is the National Petroleum Corporation of Malaysia. This company, which was established back in 1974, oversees a lot of businesses that include petroleum activities, automotive engineering, property investment, etc.

You could say that the Petronas Twin Towers is not only a Malaysian landmark but it is a “one-stop-shop” of sorts. Aside from taking thousands of souvenir pictures of the Twin Towers, you can keep yourself busy with its numerous attractions.

SKY BRIDGE - The Twin Towers are composed of 88 floors and are joined at the 41^st and 42^nd floors by a 192 feet long Sky Bridge. The Sky Bridge tour is very nice as you get to see a bird’s eye view of KL. I must warn you that there is usually a line for admission tickets (available on a first come first serve basis) as the tour is FREE. Locals would suggest that you go at the end of day about 30 to 15 minutes before they close in order to avoid the long lines. The tour lasts for about 10 minutes. The Sky Bridge is open from Tuesday to Sunday and operates from 9:00 am to 5:00pm.

SURIA KLCC – Are you in the mood for shopping? Then it’s high time to head to Suria KLCC, the crescent shaped shopping mall, which is at the podium level of the Petronas Twin Towers. This ultimate shopping destination is composed of 6 levels of retail outlets that include international and local brands, cafes and restaurants, bookstores, specialty shops, etc.

Learn more about Suria KLCC by visiting their website: http://www.suriaklcc.com.my

AQUARIA KLCC – Another place that you must never forget to visit while at the Petronas Twin Towers is Aquaria KLCC. This entertaining and educational attraction is composed of 60, 000 square feet aquarium that exhibits thousands of aquatic animals belonging to different species. That’s not all. There are also a lot of interactive kiosks that are available for visitors.

Learn more about Aquaria KLCC by visiting their website: http://www.klaquaria.com

PETROSAINS (PETROLEUM DISCOVERY CENTRE) – Would you like to learn more about Science and Technology? Then you should make your way to the 4^th Level of Suria KLCC and visit the Petrosains which is also known as the Science and Discovery Center of the Petronas. It would be a visit filled with exploration and discovery. Now, isn’t that fun?

MASJID ASY – SYAKIRIN MOSQUE – You can also find a place of workship at the Petronas Twin Towers. The Masjid Asy-Syakirin Mosque is located at the North-East corner of KLCC and is also fondly referred to as the “Jewel in the Park” and can accommodate about 6, 000 people.

DEWAN FILHARMONIK PETRONAS – The arts also has a special place at the Twin Towers. Visit the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (Petronas Philharmonic Hall), home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Petronas Performing Arts Group. This exquisite concert hall, located at the Podium Level between the two towers, can seat about 865 people at a time. Here you can watch not only classical/traditional performances but jazz concerts as well.

GALERI PETRONAS – Another place for the arts is the Galeri Petronas which you can visit at the 3^rd Level of Suria KLCC. This exceptional gallery exhibits works like paintings, sculptures, and other media not only of local but also those of foreign artists. Its location within a shopping mall is in line with its vision of making art more accessible to the masses.

KLCC PARK – Do you feel like walking in a park? Then you need not look any further. Within the vicinity of the Twin Towers, you will find KLCC Park. It is like finding your own place of solitude in the middle of the bustling city of KL. Here you will find families, groups of friends and even business men with their long-sleeve shirts folded up to their elbows trying to relax and get away from their busy schedule. While you’re here, you can try out the jogging track or simple people-watch.

A lot of people would remember the Petronas Twin Towers when it was featured in the Hollywood movie “Entrapment” starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones. Some would refer to it as an enduring Malaysian landmark that once held the recognition of being the Tallest Building in the World. As for me, the Petronas Twin Towers would always bring me back to that moment when I found myself at its foot and looking up and admiring all its glory. I remember realizing that I was looking up with my mouth wide open and thinking to myself “Who cares?” I was in KL and standing before something majestic, something proud, something grand, something that some people only get to enjoy in movies and postcards.

I had the real thing and nothing beats that.

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pm and is filed under Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.