KL Tower
May 13, 2010Actually, this was our second visit to the KL Tower. We came the day before but it was raining so hard that the KL Tower Staff prohibited access to the observation platform on top because there really was nothing to see but fog. We waited for the rain to stop and just rested, read about the Gulf Coast Jones Act, took pictures, and caught some local dance shows.
This time though, we were lucky to get clear skies and thus a wonderful view of the city.
Upon payment of the entrance fee, aside from access to the observation platform, we were also given free tickets to the KL Tower Animal Zone, which houses a wide range of exotic animals from those playful birds at the entrance to the huge python inside.
We also got free tickets to the F1 Simulator Zone. We got to drive some makeshift race car and drove through a racetrack simulation.
If you’re looking for a little bit more action, there’s a zip line cable that they call Flying Fox that hurls you from one end of the KL Tower base to the other. But this comes at an extra cost so we didn’t try it.
After that, we lined up at the elevator to take us to the top floor. While waiting for the elevator, we were all gawking at how beautiful the ceiling was, which was made of crystal glasses, though it could easily be mistaken for diamonds.
When we got to the top, the view was just unbelievably amazing.
Petronas Twin Towers
May 6, 2010
Also in the KLCC area is the famed Petronas Towers. Is was pegged as the tallest building in the world when it was inaugurated in 1998 and continued to hold this title until 2004, when it was surpassed by Taipei 101, which was then surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2007, the world’s current tallest building. But the Petronas Twin Towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.
It has 88 office floors with 395,000 square meters of floor area, 78 elevators, and reportedly costing 1.6 billion dollars. It is mainly constructed from super high-strength reinforced concrete with steel and glass facade.
As I mentioned, the very posh Suria KLCC with its high-end boutique shops, and bathrooms I might add (complete with chi chi Moen kitchen faucet), is located at the base, along with the Aquaria.
The Twin Towers also feature a Skybridge that connects the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors. It is also the highest two story bridge in the world. And if you want to climb up the Skybridge, which is free, you have to line up very early (like 6AM) to get your tickets. Since this is a vacation, we didn’t bother waking so early and lining up. We were content on just staring at the tower. It’s really different when you see it yourself. It is so beautiful and grand that you just gawk at how something so magnificent is right in front of you.
Aquaria KLCC
April 30, 2010Right underneath Suria KLCC is the Aquaria. It has over 250 different species and over 20,000 land and aquatic animals from around the world.
At the entrance, there is this small pool that has three baby aquatic animals that you are allowed to touch. That’s me playing with the baby shark. I wasn’t expecting it to have a very smooth and soft skin. And you know what? The whole time I was there I was thinking how good that soft flesh would be for lunch when steamed and slathered with mayo. 
Anyway, also inside are more holding tanks for different animals.
Walking further inside, you will be greeted by this huge cylinder tank that houses so many fish. We were all blown by how majestic this towering cylinder is. Really magnificent!
Hold your breath and prepare your pulse oximeter as your pulses soar through the roof at the Piranha feeding show. Don’t let the pictures fool you. These are huge, probably at least 10 inches long. Some grow to as long as 13 inches and weighing about 3.5 kilograms!
And then there is this amazing underwater tunnel.
We all noticed how close a particular tiger shark and fantail ray are. They are always together and would swim side by side. We all thought that there’s a bromance going on. And don’t miss the Aqua theater too, where a large window enables one a peek at the ocean reef and its inhabitants. This is where we saw a huge arapaima and a giant grouper (as big a me).
We all had a great time. We all learned a thing or two about the ocean and its inhabitants.
Suria KLCC
April 28, 2010Next, we went to Suria KLCC, which is short for the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Suria KLCC is Kuala Lumpur’s premiere shopping haven covering 1.5 million square feet! I have a feeling that this complex has everything, even those that claim to only be bought online (like www.slimmingpillsthatwork.net) or those infomercials on TV. With that much space, this has got to have it all. And indeed it has. I think one can spend a whole day here and you’ll never get bored. There are just so many things to do and see.
And did I mention that it’s also the base of the Petronas Towers? Also located around the KLCC are other tourist spots like the Aquaria, which I’ll post soon.
Take note though that taking pictures in Suria is limited to a few areas only, like the ground floor. We were there a few days before the Chinese New Year, which was reason for this mall’s festive decorations.
While the ladies took their time (a long, long time) in this particular store
I spent mine watching a few Chinese cultural shows that they featured, and admired the mall’s architecture.
And in the three days that we spent in Kuala Lumpur, I just have to share that went to Suria, and to that shoe store, every single day. And get this, according to the ladies, the shoes differ each day! And each time they enter that store, they spent a few hours! Ridiculous as it may sound, it’s true!
Uncle John kopi tiam
One morning, we woke up early to try Tune Hotel’s kopi tiam named Uncle John. I ordered my usual kopi and kaya toast. The kopi was strong and bitter and sweet all at the same time, and tasted good overall. The kaya toast, however, though looking much better that Kampung Boy’s version in terms of the bread used, was far inferior with regards to the kaya spread. I guess the kaya was placed too thinly that all I could really taste was the butter.
What saved our morning really was knowing that there’s free use of the computer facilities. We got to check our flights for updates, respond to email inquiries about the best acne wash, and update our Facebook accounts. After that, we’re geared for new adventures.
