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destination | malaysia City Culture


Kuala Lumpur is a modern capital in all senses of the word, having been founded as recently as the mid-19th century. Its first 100 years were mainly under British rule, though Chinese and Indian influences were already pervasive. Independence came in 1957 and the capital grew exponentially from the 1970s onwards.


Te city’s unarguable modernity can be seen


in its skyline, dominated by the twin Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest buildings between 1998 and 2004. Te Menara Tower is another gleaming monument to modern architecture, as are the dozens of space-age shopping malls you’ll find around the city. Tere are plenty of more historical sides


to KL, though, and the Chinese and Indian neighborhoods evoke the tin-roofed mining heritage of the place, with dozens of small


markets and street food stalls. Head to the minarets of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, or the more regal surrounds of Merdeka Square, for a glimpse into colonial times. Te National Museum, Islamic Arts Museum


and the National Mosque provide insights into the city’s cultural mix, and respite from the city can be found in the beautifully landscaped Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens), housing flora, butterflies and wild deer.


Petaling Street in KL’s Chinatown. Below: Nasi goreng


Food & Drink


Kuala Lumpur’s draw as a shopping destination is matched only by its seductive food scene, drawing from the full range of international influences that make up the city itself. Te cuisine here is varied and affordable, making it a dream destination for anyone looking to expand their culinary horizons. For a delicious sampler of everything under


one roof, most people head to the Pavillion Food Court in Bukit Bintang, where traditional Malay dishes are on offer along with Indian, Chinese and Pakistani favorites. Authentic Malaysian


84 | ASTAnetwork | summer 2014


classics include nasi goreng (fried rice), rendang (spicy meat stew) and satay (a rich peanut sauce usually flavoring chicken). You’ll find regional variations of the main


dishes across Malaysia, but expect the use of spices, coconut milk, shrimp paste and lemongrass. Te street food stalls of Chinatown are a must, with food prepared in a wok in front of you as you sit down on a tiny metal stool. Gourmands will find everything from beef


noodles to peanut butter pancakes on offer — just let your nose and eyes lead you to whatever looks the most appetizing — while coffee fans will love the local coffee shops, called kopitiams. Similar food stalls with Indian food can be found in, unsurprisingly, Little India.


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