Arriving in Kuala Lumpur

In the late afternoon, I arrived in Kuala Lumpur. It was oddly complicated to order a Grab - like Uber, but operating mainly in Southeast Asia.

Even though I had reduced my luggage quite a bit, I’m still travelling with about 30 kg split over two bags. Carrying them to unknown destinations on foot in 33°C, high-humidity weather - meh. Rather uncomfortable.

But finally, in the early evening, I arrived at the hostel.

Now, the style of the hostel is purposefully rustic/run-down meets modern. Ish. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it. It does have its charm, kind of. But at times it borders on “please, someone just paint the walls - they’re begging for it.”

My room - a 2-bed dorm - comes with no windows, so it’s perpetually dark once the lights are off. When you wake up in the morning, it feels like an incredibly early start, even when it’s already 11 am. (Especially confusing for my jet-lagged Spanish roomie.)

Once I had settled into my bunk, my aforementioned Spanish roommate, Anna, came back from a quick exploration. I decided to join her to a place called “Helipad,” a rooftop bar and viewing platform offering stunning views over Kuala Lumpur.
We arrived just at sunset, along with a Dutch couple who joined us, and enjoyed a few drinks as the city slowly darkened.

Before we were allowed to go up, we had to dispose of all bottles (fairly obvious why) and all umbrellas. It didn’t take long to realise why - holding an umbrella 36 floors up on a helipad with no safety railings is, in fact, not a great idea. You might be blown away, Marry-Poppins-style, you know.

We got there at just the right time and watched the city come alive with lights in full 360°.

After all the superlatives in Singapore, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Malaysia - especially considering Singapore used to be part of it. But Kuala Lumpur does not disappoint. While Singapore is polished and bougie throughout, Kuala Lumpur offers a similar kind of grandeur, yet reveals a much more modest, everyday side beyond the city centre.

At night, though, the city centre is something else entirely. The buildings light up in colourful, architecturally playful ways.

Chinatown, where we went after the Helipad, is a vibrant hub with street food catering to your every desire - occasionally with a side of food poisoning.
So far, I’ve been spared.Read more