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152: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tips For Travellers

Release Date: 09/01/2014

Best & Worst Things About Cruising Japan (Podcast 469) show art Best & Worst Things About Cruising Japan (Podcast 469)

Tips For Travellers

We are only ever likely to go to Japan once in our lives and so it's important to get it right. While I didn't get everything 100% spot on, I now know what future cruisers to Japan need to know to avoid my mistakes, work around downsides, and ensure they have the best time. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:   

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People Are Still Falling For These 6 CRUISE TRAPS! (Podcast 468) show art People Are Still Falling For These 6 CRUISE TRAPS! (Podcast 468)

Tips For Travellers

The cruise I'm on right now has inspired me to make this video. I'm an Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas, and I've met many first time cruisers and repeat cruisers who have tripped up and fallen for 6 traps that are out there right now that cruisers are falling for that I want to make sure that you know about so you don't fall into those traps. Links to fare tracking mentioned in the video: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-ship-fare-tracking/ Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers...

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I Put Royal Caribbean I Put Royal Caribbean "Royal Suite" Cruising To The Test (Podcast 467)

Tips For Travellers

When I think of Royal Caribbean, I think of feature-packed mega resort ships, with good value cabins. However, I have seen Royal Caribbean now has some of the biggest and most expensive suites money can buy at sea. So, instead of using some savings to book a smaller luxury cruise line that I usually would, I decided to splash that cash on a Royal Caribbean suite to see if I would get all the service, glitz, and glamour they promise in their “Royal Class Suites”. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For...

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I Cruise The World's Top-Rated Line That No-one's Heard Of! (Podcast #466) show art I Cruise The World's Top-Rated Line That No-one's Heard Of! (Podcast #466)

Tips For Travellers

The “cruise bible”, the authoritative Berlitz “Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships”, has for years said this line has the best ships in the world, but almost no cruisers outside its home country have ever heard of it, even though it's 50% owned by Royal Caribbean, a line everyone’s heard of. So, I decided I should test the line out to see if they were better, and if I would recommend that cruisers like you consider taking a risk and cruising a line you’ve never heard of. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams...

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Things Expedition Cruises Don’t Tell You (Until It's Too Late!) (Podcast #465) show art Things Expedition Cruises Don’t Tell You (Until It's Too Late!) (Podcast #465)

Tips For Travellers

At the start of my recent Greenland Arctic expedition cruise, an ominous notice appeared in the daily program. It required us to attend a mandatory (written in capital letters no less!) meeting at 5pm. Having been on four previous expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic and Galapagos I knew to expect this meeting. But most did not, and many were confused as we’d had the muster drill which they thought was the only mandatory requirement on cruises. Concern grew when the Expedition Director made an announcement saying failure to attend would have significant implications for the cruise....

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I Try ROYAL CARIBBEAN To See If It's For Cruisers Like me (Podcast #467) show art I Try ROYAL CARIBBEAN To See If It's For Cruisers Like me (Podcast #467)

Tips For Travellers

I like cruising on small and medium-sized ships that aren’t busy, and a bit laid back. But I also love going to Vegas, with its big brash shows, buzz, and excitement. So, I decided, to see if a big resort ship would work out for people like me, so I nervously booked myself on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which at the time was the second-biggest ship in the world, holding up to 6,680 passengers. Now that I've experienced the best and worst of a mega ship resort cruising, I now know who should or shouldn't be booking themselves on one of these. And why! Become a Tips For...

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The Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why!) (Podcast #464) show art The Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why!) (Podcast #464)

Tips For Travellers

I’ve been diving into the latest cruise line reviews, reviewing all the comments and messages I receive and comparing that with my own recent cruising experiences, and from all that I came across five cruise lines that passengers seem to agree are the hottest cruise lines right now, ones rising with the tide and floating above all others, so ones perhaps you should consider more than ever before right now. Here’s what I found. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Cruise Lines To Steer Clear Of These Days. And Why! (Podcast #463) show art Cruise Lines To Steer Clear Of These Days. And Why! (Podcast #463)

Tips For Travellers

As none of us want to waste our precious vacation time and money on anything but those cruise lines on top of their game, I've been diving into the latest cruise reviews, pouring over the thousands of comments and messages I get, and been cruising on many cruise lines to see which are hot - and which are not - right now. Based on all that here are the lines I think you may need think about carefully, and why.  Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Seasoned Cruisers Have STOPPED Packing These. Here's Why! (Podcast #462) show art Seasoned Cruisers Have STOPPED Packing These. Here's Why! (Podcast #462)

Tips For Travellers

There are things I no longer pack for a cruise as things have changed, others I pack different things to do the same task, things I have always packed for a cruise vacation and still do and some things I don’t understand why people pack for a cruise at all. Find out what they are and why you should rethink what you pack for a cruise Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #461) show art My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #461)

Tips For Travellers

With cruise lines now pretty much able to sell their ships out completely at a hundred percent or higher capacity, I want to tell you how you can hunt down and find cruises and cruise ships that are not going to be completely packed to the rafters and will have the best cruise experience. This is the techniques that I use.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Gary Bembridge of Tips for Travellers shares observations, tips and advice for visitors to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Subscribe free to the show on iTunesStitcher Radio or TuneIn Radio

This show covers among other topics:

General Observations

  • Capital and largest city of Malaysia - called just KL by locals.
  • Petronas Towers is the icon and focal point making it memorable.
  • Not a lot of attractions and must see - ones that are are spread over wide area.
  • Big events like Formula 1 has been key to driving tourism.
  • Modern and fast changing.
  • Often Hazy due to pollution locally but also from effects of forest fires in Indonesia known as Sumatra haze lasting 1 to 2 weeks a time.
  • 3 main ethic groups : Malays , Chinese and Indians - religiously diverse but most of population is Islamic (official religion ) but not strict Islamic country.


History
Founded in 1857 when Chinese prospectors sent to find tin in the area - only 17 of the 87 survived past a month due to malaria and other tropical diseases - but lure of tin attracted people. British took control and placed  strong minded and visionary Chinese governor (Kaptain Yap Ah Loy) who ensured development. Occupied by Japanese in WWII with many Chinese tortured / executed and Indians sent to work on Burma railway building (death railroad). Post the war British ruled until independence in 1957.

Best time to go
Pretty much anytime as always constant between 20 and 30C - no rainy season as such but gets lots of rain and flooding.

Getting there
Good come connections by air and cruise ships dock in Port Kelang at Star Cruise terminal about 1,5 hour drive to KL

Getting around

  • Traffic is terrible and very congested - not very predestination friendly either.
  • Taxis (called "teksi") - make sure they use the meters.
  • Rapid transit system (LRT - light rapid transit) is modern, cheap and pretty easy to work out - information in English.
  • Hop-on Hop-off bus tour - takes about 3 hours to get around - more than 22 stops - mixed views on it - go to all main areas.

General tips

  • Mandatory death sentence for drug dealing or possession.
  • Conservative dress.
  • Good English  as is required in schools.
  • Only drink bottled water with seal - not tap water.
  • Haggling in markets and in places like Chinatown is the norm.

Must do things to do and and see

Petronas Twin Tours
When opened was tallest building in world until Taipei 101 took the title away -  limited tickets each day to go up (only about 1000) so book online before you go or get there very early - 41st floor sky bridge then up to 86th floor
Suria KLCC Mall below has over 600 designer stores
KLCC park behind it is park is impressive

KL Tower
Next best alternative if cannot get up Petronas though maybe better as not only see the views but also the towers - viewing from about the same height - within the Bukit Nanos forest within the city

Central Market
Been going since 1888
Can get the rapid transit there from Petronas as just a few stops on red line and about 1,80 ringgits each - very easy

Chinatown
Next to Central market - old fashioned houses, markets etc
Nearby is Sir Mahamariamman Temple - built 1873 - very ornate Hindu temple

Per Dans Botanical Garden area
Bird park, butterfly park and botanical gardens for nature lovers
Gardens has over 3000 species orchids, 5000 species of hibiscus flowers created in 1880s
Butterfly park 6000 butterflies and 1000 species with exotic plants to create right environments

Merdeka Square (aka Independence Square)
Used it be cricket ground in British colonial times - where Independence declared now
surrounded by some key buildings -
100 metre flagpole said to be tallest in world
Sultan Abdul Samad building - houses supreme and high courts
St Mary's cathedral
Royal Selanger Club
Nearby is Masjid Jamek - National Mosque built in 1965 and largest in SE Asia - impressive looking building

Little India - restaurants and shops but not as in Singapore

Shopping
Bukt Bitang area - popular shopping area - highest concentration of malls in the city - especially for computers and electronics.
Golden triangle in KLCC around towers.

Further afield
Batu caves - 9 miles north - limestone caves of varying sizes - Hindu shrine inside largest cave - over 270 steps to get to it - smaller cave has museum about Hindu mythology