1. Shop till you drop

A cliché, yes but it is true! From the local products on the streets to the high end luxurious materials, they are all available here at Kuala Lumpur. Travelling around Kuala Lumpur is now extremely convenient. With the Monorail available at more than 10 stops, you can get to your desired shopping mall in no time.

If you are into high end fashion, a highly recommended shopping spot is the Pavilion, located at Jalan Bukit Bintang. The easiest way to get there if you are not driving is by the Monorail, which stops at Raja Chulan station. Some of the retailers of Pavilion are Parkson, Tangs, Harvey Norman and Times Bookshop.

For the non-extravagant type, the outlets in Bukit Bintang Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza are the places to go. They house a large number of stores and shops selling a variety of products ranging from electronic items to fashion accessories. It’s easy to get to these places as the monorail will make a stop at Bukit Bintang station.

Still not satisfied? Walk along Jalan Bukit Bintang and you will see other shopping malls such as Starhill, Lot 10 and Low Yat Plaza. Starhill offers prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, DKNY and Valentino. Low Yat Plaza, on the other hand, is a haven for electronic gadgets and Lot 10 is a newly rebranded hip and happening shopping mall with Isetan as its anchor tenant.

Move on to more bargains at Berjaya Times Square located at Jalan Imbi. Alight at Imbi monorail station and explore one of the biggest malls in Kuala Lumpur. While you are there at Berjaya Times Square, do not miss out on movies showing at the IMAX Cinema - the largest cinema in Malaysia. The 555-seat movie theatre has a screen that is 5-storeys high. Talk about movies appearing larger than life!

2. Time to eat

Just like the choices in shopping, you will never run out of ideas to dine in Kuala Lumpur. Cool breeze and magnificent views of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline are staple offerings at the Lookout Point Restaurants in Hulu Langat. The eateries open from 7pm to 12midnight and the place is about 30 minutes drive from Jalan Ampang.

You can climb up the Lookout Point tower for a view at a higher plane. Even the views at the restaurants are priceless because during sunset, the whole place and Kuala Lumpur city are bathed in warm golden light. And at night, the Kuala Lumpur skyline is like millions of diamonds on black velvet. Very romantic indeed. A variety of Western food is available in three different outlets there.

For local delights, the best authentic Hainanese chicken rice in Kuala Lumpur can be had at Nasi Ayam Hainan Chee Meng, Bukit Bintang. Open from 11am to 7pm, Hainan Chee Meng deserves a five star mention for its authenticity and services.

For delightfully spicy Indian food, Bombay Palace at Jalan Tun Razak is a good place to go. They serve the aromatic Northern Indian cuisine where special banquet menus and set menus are available. Their specialities and must-try dishes are Gehengizi raan, tandoori promfret, tawa zinga, palak paneer, murgh biryani and kulfi (Indian ice cream). Operating hours are from 12 noon to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 11.30pm.

Try the most talked about satay Kajang at Haji Samuri outlet in Selangor. Satay is a dish consisting of chunks of dice-sized meat (chicken, mutton, beef, etc.) pierced in the spine of coconut leaves. These satays are grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings. Side dishes include cucumber and ketupat, a type of dumpling made from rice that has been wrapped in woven coconut palm leaves.

To get to Haji Samuri Satay Kajang is about 30 minutes if you take the PLUS Highway exit to Kajang. Other alternatives include a ride on the KTM Train from KL Sentral station and hopping off at the Kajang station. From there, get a cab and at the mention of famous Haji Samuri Satay Kajang, the local cabbies will get you there in no time. It is open every day from evening to late night.
Got the love for junk food? Head over to the night markets (pasar malam) that flank the streets of Kuala Lumpur. These are the places to go to savour the myriad of delicious junk food and drinks.

3. Performing Arts

Apart from its mega infrastructures, Kuala Lumpur is famed for its performing arts. Places like KLPAC (Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre), Istana Budaya and MPO (Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra) are among the distinguished performing art centres that produce world-class performances. There are quite a number of theatres, studios and research centres for the professional and training musician, dancers and artists such as PJ Live Arts Center, The Temple of Fine Arts, The Annexe and Five Arts Centre. They stage dramas, musicals and dance performances on a regular basis for visitors.

When in Kuala Lumpur, drop by any of the places mentioned above for classic performances by experts. Not sure what are the event schedules? For more information on the events, do log on to our website, www.virtualmalaysia.com. The events in these centres are on-going, so do not miss them!

4. Rock the club

Hit the clubs in style. Kuala Lumpur is also vastly known for its extravaganza of night entertainment. Check out the Asian Heritage Row. Located along the quaint Jalan Doraisamy, (situated just off Jalan Sultan Ismail, next to the Sheraton Imperial Hotel), this happening street has about 9 clubs that will bring you back to the 80’s, and back again to the latest hip hop moves of its upbeat music.

Some of the bars are associated with a dining area for those who want to enjoy fine dining moments before they hit the dance floors. The bars with dining areas are Bar Savanh, Heritage Mansion, Bisau, Kristao, Mojo’s, Mezza Note@The Loft, Palacio and Buharry Bistro.

The others – Rupee Room, Sunshine Classic Bar, The Loft, WWine Room and Space, serve a myriad of drinks.

You will be thrilled to know that there are monthly events or promotions held at Asian Heritage Row. Some of these events go by themes according to the season. The upcoming one would be Halloween, so look out for some spooky action there at month end.

4. Relax & Rejuvenate

To relax and rejuvenate, visit a spa. Kuala Lumpur is also vastly known for its techniques in providing you the best relaxing body massages.

Energy Day Spa, located at Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang, is a spa centre that has the works to allow you to achieve wellness through mind, body and soul. Indrani Spa embraces the traditional rituals using the centuries-old beauty recipes. Indrani Spa is located at Starhill Gallery, Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Another must-visit spa is the Mandarin Hotel Spa, at Kuala Lumpur City Centre. The spa promises a holistic approach in its treatments. With ten treatment rooms, the massages are performed by professionals from all around the world.