SEA Travels: Malaysia!! (Kuala Lumpur) 

By Reuben Passi, National University of Singapore

One of the best advantages of studying in Singapore is the ability to explore the whole of Southeast Asia at a very cheap cost which is exactly what we did a month after arriving in Singapore when we went to Kuala Lumpur the capital of Malaysia for a long weekend! 

Visiting Kuala Lumpur (KL) is the perfect first trip away from Singapore as its proximity to the island makes it an easy location to reach alongside get used to travelling around South-East Asia. We decided to take a bus to KL as it was only a 6-hour journey and cost around £20 to get there which was pretty insane to think you are able to travel between countries at such a low cost. After a long but surprisingly comfortable journey on what we found out was a deluxe recliner bus (!!) we arrived at our hostel only to find out that at midnight it would be Malaysia’s Independence Day so we were able to see the Petronas Twin Towers light up and an impressive display of fireworks on our first night away! An absolutely incredible start to the trip. 

We then set off to explore the many wonders and riches that Malaysia had to offer from the gorgeous Batu Caves where there is a rich amount of religious culture alongside going to Museums that housed some of the finest artwork from the Asian continent. Moreover, we also got to do so many fun things like watching the Hungry Ghost Festival where more fireworks occurred, and large statues were burnt for the ancestors of those partaking. The city also had so many entertaining things to do like visiting karaoke bars and infinity pools that had some of the most insane views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline! 

Although due to dietary restrictions (being veggie), we weren’t able to try much street food as it was very heavily meat-based, the food scene is incredible for foodies with so many tiny cafes and brunch spots in KL’s Chinatown as well as a great variety of veggie and vegan restaurants meaning that there truly is something for everyone here! 

Overall, going to KL was such a great experience and the perfect destination to visit first on the travelling list. So, if you find yourself in Singapore it is most definitely the destination you should travel to first! 

Reuben Passi, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore