KL is easy to get around in. Although the signs are in Malay, English is not only widely understood but commonly spoken too. You do not feel there is a wide cultural difference between the East and the West. The Eastern culture that KL people practice is not very different from the Western cultures the western tourists come from – especially superficially. For example, in Thailand and China, the people there are too Thai and Chinese to be able to understand Westerners linguistically and culturally. Too many nuances for them to grasp. Malaysians? Not that much of a problem.

I once met an American in Thailand and when we started talking and when I told him I’m from Malaysia, he would say, “Ah! You Malaysians are different from the Thais and the Chinese Chinese (because he could tell my race is Chinese).” Although I did not ask him to explain himself, I kinda knew he found it easier to talk to me not just because I could converse with him in English but he knew I knew the nuances of whatever topics we were talking about at that time…

KL is a great place to live because it has a metropolitan culture. Western cultures are not that unfamiliar to the average Malaysian. It’s safe to say that out of ten Malaysians you meet, you will have at least 2 or 3 who would have family members or relatives and friends who have migrated to USA, UK, AUstralia, Canada or New Zealand and other western countries.

KL is a great place to live because you can live in places that are very westernised and places that are very local.

In the local places, you can live in Malay areas, Chinese areas or Indian areas. You can live in upmarket places where Malays, Chinese and Indians would speak English to each other more than they would speak Malay to each other.

KL is also a great place to live in terms of its affordability. Five-star services being offered at 3 or even 2 star prices in the west!

KL is a great place to live because it is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Great Indian Ocean.

You are never too far from anywhere in the world because strategically speaking, you are right in the middle of it.

KL is a great place to live because its weather is friendly all year round. You do NOT have the cold winters to escape from. Of course, one of the drawbacks is its heat and humidity. For some, that’s enough of a turn-off already. For others who can get used to it, they find it so much more convenient and comfortable. Their skin will be less dry and less itchy.

A few years ago, I sat down with two friends who live in Shanghai and Bangkok respectively. All three of us, Malaysian born and bred, agreed that there is more value for money living in KL than living in Shanghai, Bangkok and Melbourne. KL, despite the many protests against the rising toll fees, have the cheapest rate than all three cities which we are currently living in.

When your money enjoys a stronger purchasing power in KL and its basic amenities and infrastructures are on par (in many ways) with those of say London, Tokyo and New York or a certain so-called first-world western city that you are currently living in, how is it not a great place to live in?

I personally love Kuala Lumpur to bits and absolutely do not think that the city is better suited for work only. Here my personal views as a western woman on Kuala Lumpur, but it all depends on what kind of lifestyle you are looking for in your leisure time.

What might be right for one person, might be not so fantastic for another. You have to figure out what is a red flag for you, a must have to live somewhere, what is nice to have, but not a must and what is not important to you.

1.

Kuala Lumpur is international and diverse. The majority of the population is a fusion of ethnically-native Malaysians, Chinese and Indian, all bringing their own culture and religion into the mix (on the surface it looks like they all live in harmony and overall they do, but once you look a bit deeper and when you have friends of different ethnics, racial stereotypes and misconceptions do exist – Malays are like this, Chinese are like that and Indians are this and that. Stereotyping is unfortunately seldom positive and does create some divide, but that is for another post).

2.

The official religion is Islam, but others are very much tolerated and I think Malaysia is a rather moderate Islamic country.

3.

I find the majority of people I come across very kind, warm, friendly, down to earth and not pretentious.

If you are more of the ambitious kind of person, you might probably think many Malaysians are complacent, but I came to realise that they probably live a lot healthier with their attitude of “Life is short, as long as we have food on the table, lets enjoy life with friends and family and do not sweat the small stuff. We work to live and not the other way round”.

4.

Compared to other cosmopolitan cities (such as Singapore), I think Kuala Lumpur is very affordable, especially if you are from a western country.

5.

The city is a great hub if you want to explore other places in Asia.

6.

Variety of food from the local Mamak stalls up to fancy international top-notch restaurants, you find it all and for all budgets.

7.

If you are into international Malls, you have plenty of those in Kuala Lumpur.

8.

Kuala Lumpur is a mix between very modern and traditional.

9.

Public transportation is reliable, clean and very affordable (there is even the GOKL bus in KL which is free of charge within the centre of KL). Truth be told, the MRT is still not reaching far enough, so you do rely on a car, Grab or Taxi Service, especially if you want to go a bit outside of Kuala Lumpur.

10.

A short drive out of Kuala Lumpur you find quite a few green spots for hiking and other outdoor activities.

11.

English is widely spoken in KL, so you will have no problem of communication. I am always touched how the locals appreciate even if you speak just a few words of Malay. It definitely encouraged me to learn more.

12.

I am definitely a city person, but compared to a city like Bangkok for example, Kuala Lumpur has such a pleasant pace, not too slow, but not frantic either. That is also one of the reasons why I do think, even if you do not work here, it’s a very pleasant place to live.

13.

Top-notch medical services. Luckily, I never had to use them, just for general check-ups and dental treatment. I was very impressed by how professional they were and am not surprised that Malaysia became a medical tourism destination.

14.

I think Kuala Lumpur is safe. I guess everybody had their own experiences, but I am truly convinced if you respect people, use common sense, you will not get into trouble here, especially as a foreigner. There are always exceptions, but overall, I personally find Kuala Lumpur very safe, also for female solo travellers.

15. Good and plenty of accommodation options for all budgets.

THE FOOD!!

With the many cultures that have found a home in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is definitely a food paradise.

Imagine combining Chinese chow fun, with the aroma of Indian spices, topped with the native flare of Malay cuisine. Well, you got that in a single plate of char kway teow.

If your taste buds are yearning for Indian food, make your way to Jalan Doraisamy. For Chinese street food, Jalan Alor is where food showcasing their uniqueness and specialities. While you’re at it, don’t forget to experience Malay food and culture in Kampung Baru.

Name me any city in the world apart from Kuala Lumpur where you can easily find 24 hours restaurants everywhere (literally) serving hot meals for around 1 USD or less. I’ll wait.

Multilingualism

Language barrier is an important aspect to consider when you decide to travel. How will you meet new people? How will you shop? How will you get around?

Worry not, Malaysia has the second highest English proficiency rate in Asia according to a recent index compiled by an education company, English First (EF).

But that is certainly not the most interesting part about language in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur.

Listening to Malaysians having a conversation is fun, as most locals have a habit of alternating between all the languages they know as they speak.

A simple line of ordering iced tea in a restaurant has a combination of Tamil, Mandarin, Malay and English vocabularies.

Pay attention when the locals talk, you might catch words from other dialects that have made their way into the local vernacular.

Public Transportation

Kuala Lumpur has well developed transport networks and efficient rail links. The airports are connected to bus and train services, making travel to and from the city centre efficient and easy.

Most of the top tourist attractions are easily accessible by bus or train and reasonably priced. To be honest, reasonable is quite an understatement. Traveling around Kuala Lumpur by public transport is fairly cheap!

Here is a list of few tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur and the nearby train station. From the station, your destination is within walking distance.

• Petronas Twin Towers – KLCC LRT Station
• Central Market – Pasar Seni LRT Station
• Merdeka Square – Merdeka MRT Station
• Batu Caves – Batu Caves KTM Station
• Chinatown – Pasar Seni LRT Station
• Jalan Alor – Bukit Bintang MRT Station
• National Museum – Muzium Negara MRT Station
• Berjaya Times Square Theme Park – Imbi Monorail Station

KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF is a double decker, sky roofed city tour bus that has 23 stops which cover more than 70 attractions.

Cultural Diversity

Kuala Lumpur spreads such a great cultural liberalism and variety. Maltitudes of Asian ethnicity have settled in Malaysia over the years, creating their own special blends distinct from their original ancestors.

Each culture is expressed harmoniously thus forming a colourful living atlas. With a multitude of cultures come the celebrations for every special occasion.

During Ramadhan, the famous evening market mainly known as ‘bazaar Ramadhan’ will be filled with representatives of all races searching for the delicious Malay Muslim delicacies.

Thaipusam and the Chinese New Year have been gazetted as national public holidays. It is truly a sight to see, so do not fret of visiting Kuala Lumpur during the hectic holiday seasons.

PETRONAS Twin Towers

The mesmerising, modern skyscraper needs no introduction. Call me bias, but I can’t think of a more iconic building in South East Asia (or maybe even Asia) than the pride of Kuala Lumpur.

Let’s the picture speak for itself.