Kuala Lumpur (KL) Introductory Day Tour: The Malaysian Experience!
I have always been a sucker for travelling. From exploring my own home country, to solo-traveling most parts of Europe (especially Edinburgh and Scotland more generally), it makes me realise all the more that there's just so much out there in the world! Thanks to free walking tours, I have been able to see and appreciate things much more than I would have without these tours. Otherwise, I would have walked right past them! I wish to show everyone checking out my home turf what Malaysia and its people are like, and make it as fun as all the other tours I've ever been on! Attractions, hidden gems, food, drinks, shopping, nature, culture, history, tips and tricks; I've got it all under my sleeve!
Pickup
The start of the tour will be at the end of the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge, next to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. I will be there with a bright rainbow umbrella, wearing either a white or striped T-shirt. It is recommended for you to be there within 5-10 minutes before the tour starts.
Description
Important: please read the description to understand what you can expect out of the tour, and how to make the most out of it. Thank you! :)
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Selamat datang (welcome)!
Join me on this fantastic introductory day tour of Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital city and very much the beating heart of Malaysia!
There is so much richness and diversity wherever you walk around KL, whether it'd be history, culture, food, main attractions, shopping, nature... or more food!!
Let me take you back in time to Malaya during the 19th & 20th centuries, and watch as history progressively unfolds with our walking tour towards modern-day Malaysia in the current 21st century!
We will also cover more than just attractions and sightseeing; throughout the tour, I will talk you through and show you how to immerse yourself in the Malaysian scene! Our language, our culture, and so on...
A good part of this tour will also have air-conditioning... I hope you won't complain about that!!
Also, there will be a lovely present for all of you... But I can't spoil it, unless if you join my tour!! :)
I'll cover the following below:
- What are my tours like?
- Route
- Meeting point
- How to get there
- The weather
- Other tours
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What are my tours like?
I love history, I love details, I'm a nerd... but even when I join free walking tours in your city, it's very likely I can't remember all the details! I'm sure it's the same for you too; no stress.
I understand everyone is looking for different things when doing free walking tours. Just let me know what you personally prefer in these tours and what your expectations are, but bear in mind that I will also have to cater to the whole group too. I will tell a good amount of details that I think is enough and relevant!
Ask me any questions if you want me to tell you even more information and stories about certain things (more than happy to do so!!), or if you simply want me to repeat what I said. I'll even share you a document that covers our stops in much more detail, and you can read up on them after the tours. You can also translate them, if English is not your first language.
Remember, this is an introductory tour and my focus is ultimately on getting the feel of the city and the country. If you want more or less details in your tours, read up more on the other tours offered below!
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Route
Within 3 hours, we will cover some highlights such as:
- The River of Life; discover the origins of the city!
- Dataran Merdeka; see history everywhere around you!
- Pasar Seni Central Market; be amazed at its transformation from a wet market, to a centre of arts and culture!
- Petaling Street and Chinatown; humble, yet bustling with lots of foods, murals, and temples!
- The durian; the infamous smelly fruit of South-east Asia!
- Merdeka 118 and KL Petronas Twin Towers; there's more to them than just our obsession of building some of the world's tallest buildings!
- ...and more! (did I mention food?)
In the last part of our tour, we will take the LRT train from Pasar Seni (KJ14) to KLCC (KJ10)**. This is to get you used to the train system, and it's the best way to beat the road traffic!!
You will not need to buy any tickets prior to this tour.
**KJ stands for Kelana Jaya, referring to the Ruby LRT line. Ruby is a red-purplish colour, which is different to the Red KTM line. I think that it is worth mentioning this detail, as it can possibly look confusing on the train map!
Tip: it can cost anywhere between RM1.00-RM5.00 per token, and slightly cheaper if you have the cashless Touch n' Go card, which you can get at selected locations! Be sure to have small change on standby, especially coins in case if the token machines does not accept notes at times.
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Meeting point
We will start the tour at the end of the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge, next to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (see map). There is a giant black cube in that area.
I will be there with a bright rainbow umbrella, wearing either a white or striped T-shirt.
It is recommended for you to be there 5-10 minutes early before the tour starts! If you are going to arrive later, please let me know and I'll share with you our live location. Otherwise, we will have to start the tour on time.
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How to get there (by foot)
Search on Google Maps "Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge"; walk towards there, cross the bridge, and you'll arrive at the meeting point!
We will be on the side of the bridge that faces the Merdeka Independence Square.
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How to get there (by Grab taxi)
You can get to the meeting point via Grab taxi, which you can book by first downloading the Grab app on your phone!
Choose "KL River of Life" as your destination! Do not choose "River of Life". That is a different destination, although it's quite close to the meeting point anyway.
On Saturday and Sunday, the roads to the Merdeka Independence Square will very likely be closed off, mainly due to events among other things. Therefore, bear this in mind that the Grab taxi might not be able to take you all the way there!
Just to be safe, you can put "Masjid Jamek" or "Masjid Jamek LRT" as your destination!
From there, walk towards the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge; cross the bridge, and you'll arrive at the meeting point!
Traffic may be heavy, so please plan your journey accordingly.
IMPORTANT: Sometimes, it takes up to 10-20 minutes to wait for a regular 4-seater Grab once you've booked it, and that's before you account for the time to get to the meeting point.
Therefore:
(1) I recommend booking a Grab at around 7.30pm unless if you happen to be closer to the meeting point!
(2) You can also book a 4-seater plus (a more spacious car) or a 6-seater, and the wait should be much shorter! Note that this obviously means the ride costs more.
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How to get there (by train)
You can also take the LRT train to Masjid Jamek LRT, which is the closest train station to the meeting point.
You can reach it via the Kelana Jaya line (KJ13; ruby colour), or the Ampang-Sri Petaling line (AG7/SP7; brown-orange colour). You will have to interchange if you start on other train lines.
On Google Maps, put your starting point as "Masjid Jamek LRT", and put your destination as "Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge".
When you exit the station, you will likely have to cross a major road until you are on the side of the road with a very famous mosque (Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek mosque, or Masjid Jamek).
From there, walk towards the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge; cross the bridge, and you'll arrive at the meeting point!
However, if you are worried about navigating with public transport and/or by foot, I recommend taking a Grab instead!
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The weather
I highly recommend bringing a drink, an umbrella and sunscreen for this hot and humid weather! (unless if you're trying to tan...)
Please check the weather forecast to see if there will be heavy rain or thunderstorm. If the forecast says so, I will let you know at least 30-60 minutes before the tour (if not earlier) on whether the tour will continue, and if so, whether you need to bring an umbrella or poncho. You can also choose another day too.
You can go to weather.com and find the forecast of KL there, although most forecasts should say the same!
Generally, the rule of thumb is that if it's very bright and/or hot during the morning, expect rain during the afternoon and/or evening onwards.
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Other tours
No two tours in the same, even the same city!
If you are interested in a tour where you can sightsee and have food and drinks in the night-time, why not consider my night tour? :)
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/47426-kl-night-tour-the-nightlife
I recommend doing both the day tour and the night tour! Please message me if you want to ask more about it :)
...and if you want to know even way more about the stories and history of KL, why not check out this excellent historical tour by my good colleague, Ian? 3.5 hours will pass by before you know it, and even then, you think that won't be enough! First come, first served.
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/46155-kuala-lumpur-from-ground-up
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Please let me know if you need help modifying or cancelling bookings.
Excited?! I know I am! Book away, and I can't wait to see all of you there.