Where is Jam?

Malaysia recently celebrated its 60th year of independence a couple of days after I was there, and though I wasn't there to witness the celebration, I was already amazed by what I saw and at how much they've progressed in those number of years. We spent a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur, which was more than enough to get a glimpse of what this amazing city has to offer. Below is a rundown of my favorite spots in Malaysia's capital.

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building, located in front of Merdeka Square, is one of the main points of interest in the downtown area. It got its name from a former Sultan, and used to house some government divisions. Now, it is used by courts and remains a significant landmark, especially highlighted during events. When you see the structure, for sure no one can miss the clock tower that beautifully adorns the building.

Next on my list is probably the most famous destination for tourists in Kuala Lumpur to date, the Petronas Towers. It's the highest building in the city, and was the tallest in the world until 2004. In terms of high structures, the KL Tower would come next in terms of being a notable landmark in the city. It's basically a communications tower, but you can go all the way up and get a nice view of the city.

Another one that made it to my list (as of writing, it's turning out to be a Top 5 List in my brain) - Muzium Negara or the National Museum. Here you can find all the interesting things about Malaysia and how the young country came to be. It was also in this place where I learned about the stories of Merdeka, and how important this is in the country's history.

Lastly, there's Central Market for all your shopping needs! It's also quite popular as a tourist destination, so you can expect a lot of foreigners buying souvenirs from the shops. There are also places to eat, so a visit here should definitely be a fulfilling one.

Penang is an island in Malaysia, and its capital, Georgetown remains a UNESCO World Heritage. The city is home to many old historical buildings and culturally important monuments, yet it may also surprise you that it is a cutting edge city, too. With a growing number of expat population, it is filled with high rise buildings and shopping centers, although of course not depreciating the value of the cultural center of the town. 

We decided to DIY when it came to Penang, and we started at one of the great historic points in Georgetown, St. George’s Church, in which one could note the resemblance to Greek structures by looking at the facade where pillars are lined. It is a must-see when walking around the old Georgetown streets, and luckily, it is strategically located near other places to visit, such as temples and mosques. Not only is that a nice thing for tourists, but it is also in fact a good way to see the harmonious mix of religions around the area.

Just a few steps away, we wandered off to the Goddess of Mercy Temple where you will immediately spot dragons on top of the temple roof. It may be situated in the middle of a busy street, but there are still many people who come to this place of worship. There were even kids outside who would try to chase the pigeons that landed on the ground.

Next stop was one of the more popular mosques in Penang, the Kapitan Keling Mosque. Unfortunately, it was closed when we came by, so we were only able to appreciate its exteriors, which included a high tower near its gates.

Kota Kinabalu or "KK" to many, is a beach front city in Malaysia that is most visited for its clamoring markets, stunning nightfalls, and rich culinary range. Given this, there are quite a number of beaches that one can visit when here:

Tanjung Aru is the local people's beach, loaded with cookout spots and swooning couples. This is the place one may get a ringside seat to the best sunset on earth each night when the sun plunges gradually into the skyline, leaving the unlimited skies a splendid red.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a cluster of islands that includes the popular Pulau Sapi and Manukan, which host activities such as snorkeling, diving and dancing on the beach! The long white sandy shorelines confront a perfectly clear and peaceful ocean. The water is so quiet and shallow that it's even appropriate for non-swimmers.

To get to the islands, Jesselton Point Waterfront functions as the main ship terminal and has turned out to be one of the primary city attractions. The simple port has tables and chairs set up for dining beside the water.

Back in the city, you can find the Puh Toh Tze Buddhist Temple - an amazing sanctuary highlighted by a staircase flanked by 10 Chinese gods paving the way to a primary complex. There's also the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque - an excellent and contemporary designed place of worship. By a long shot the biggest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, it is even conceivably the most lovely one in Malaysia – the man-made pond which encompasses it gives a calmly beautiful and sensational look to the mosque on a full moon night.

On Sundays, a street fair takes over the entire length of Jln Gaya. It’s lively and vividly chaotic, just like KK in general. If given the chance to come back to this city, I'd do so and spend a night on one of the islands for a perfect getaway!