Kuala Lumpur Trip

I am privileged for the opportunity to be flying back to Kuala Lumpur exploring alleys and hidden spots in the city while learning communication topics with professors from the States. With the help of exciting duos of college friends, I discovered several places that are budget friendly-which could be helpful to those who want to travel smart and cost-efficient. 

Week 1

Day 1 is a discovery day for the three of us to figure out the route of the trains and their stations. A lot of walking is executed. The beauty of walking around the city, despite sore legs, is impressive as you'll get to see the view of the architecture and buildings. Getting amazing shots is worth the walk. 

Sunway Velocity

Myeongdong Topokki

This Korean restaurant serves standard chained Korean dishes at a reasonable price. Considering the amount of food you get and the variety of options to choose from, they are worth a try. I am fond of the rustic atmosphere it has that gives a modern touch to Korean culture. The dish I ordered that has been a comforting hot food was kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae).

Mid Valley

Muji

The well-organized rows of items all around the shop are an absolute aesthetic. I love being in there just to be inspired by the minimalistic and practicality of items that one needs and uses. The wooden floors, shelves, and kitchenware are my dream interior elements. 

Absolute Thai

The pad thai tasted pretty delicious. However, the price is slightly overpriced considering the portion you get. 

Berjaya Times Square

A massive shopping complex enough that one can get lost and confused. If you are looking for inexpensive, online clothing and makeup, this might be the outlet for you. The mall accommodates hundreds of small boutiques that sell a variety of current trends including clothes, shoes, accessories, beauty products, etc. They carry extensive selections of cafes and restaurants as well. Oh, one thing that intrigued me most was the photo printing booth where one can print photos through their social media accounts or a screenshot selfie through the machine.

Boat Noodle
Experience the Thai boat style in a cafe setting. Each of these bowls cost RM2. This is a great choice if you want to try various dishes in small portions. The noodles served tasted amazing. 

Lot10

The streets here are filled with billboards, LCD screens and giant logos hanging around the buildings. The crossings and the pathways are usually busy with people walking past or hanging around chit-chatting. Get here to experience the 'city life.'

Pavilion

A high-end mall that has the most majestic views of the buildings surrounding it and luxurious items can be seen displayed behind those glasses. LCD screens are lit up on the building itself. Fashion shows are usually held here hence why the fancy presentations and classy fountains are displayed- a great place to take photos of the iconic building itself and those around. 

Pen Gallery

A second-floor shop located in the Damansara neighbourhood. A friend of mine was a calligraphy enthusiast, and this place carries a variety of pens, inks, and pads she needed to practice writing. 

Ikea Damansara

If you didn't know this yet, Ikea is a home living/lifestyle store that sells furniture and housewares at a reasonable price. You can find a variety of trends in interior items displayed. What I love the most is the unique set-up of the interiors with their items retailed. This way they present their creativity and inspire customers on what to buy best. Oh, it also has some great deals for members (FREE membership). Their cafe/restaurant and supermarket are equally amazing. Their meatballs, yoghurt, ice cream, and chocolate bars are reasonably priced with reasonable quality.

The Curve/IPC Shopping Centre
A shopping mall that is located opposite Ikea Damansara. There are quite a number of selections of boutiques/outlets to check out.

In class video
Lessons are great when they involve videos or short films.

Old Coffeehouse

I couldn't remember the name of the coffeehouse but I believed it was a long-established place for local noodles. The noodle soup that I had that afternoon was the best.

KLCC

I suggest if you wish to get a beautiful view, drop by KLCC and use an escalator to the top floor where Kinokuniya bookstore is located and walk towards the children's books section for the best scenery of the area.

VCR

A modern cafe that serves good coffee, cakes, and set meals. I am fond of their lemon coconut bars and chocolate cake. They play good music and provide free wi-fi service- which is why we went there thrice. Pleasant environment to study or chill. Not precisely budget-friendly but it's worth checking out. 

Sunway Pyramid

Cinnabon

I had always wanted to make a vegan cinnamon bun. I thought this could be an excuse to try it out before I try making them. These are non-vegan, but they taste creamy and saucy from the butter and cinnamon. I am sure the vegan version is going to taste equally good.

Family Mart

One of the most anticipated stores (ice cream, of course) I visit in the city. Their matcha ice cream is one of the highly recommended items to get while you're there. To my surprise, the ice cream tastes amazingly better than what I expected. They come in hard or soft serve. I chose the soft serve, and they're mildly sweet with a hint of bitterness from the matcha-which I appreciate as a person who doesn't have a sweet tooth. You need to try it, at least once in your lifetime. Matcha lovers, get it asap.

Arts and Lights by MahSing

We took an hour's train to Aruna Gallery. I was slightly disappointed by the presentations as there were only four small exhibits. Nonetheless, we shared tears of laughter in the mermaid photoshoot scene. All the booths are displayed beautifully which enables photographs to be taken at almost every edge of the exhibition. The best of all is its free entrance, as well as a free car ride from the train station to the gallery and vice versa- which we only knew when we wanted to head back to the station.

Dedicated a short section to display the talent of an ailurophile (lover of cats), Pearlieuuu who photographed these beautiful photos. Thank you :*

MyTown Shopping Mall
I celebrated Easter Sunday at Ikea and had the first meal of the day in this mall with a plate of sizzling hot pepper chicken. I missed the grand celebration back at home but thanked God for Lility- my company for that day, who was in the same boat as I was. Nonetheless, we were blessed to be able to enjoy the morning slowly with a short Easter prayer. The mall is interlinked with Ikea Cheras.

Ikea Cheras
I am not ashamed of visiting Ikea twice a week. 

Week 2

VCR again as our hangout place to do our work while chilling.

Alor Street

Seafood Street, I'd called it. You can see rows and rows of seafood stalls filled with people. I couldn't afford to order those (life of a student), so I looked for booths that sell smaller items. I came across a dim sum stall that made me salivate. Those dim sums are delicious (it's a bummer that I didn't take a picture of them). 

MyCrunchy Restaurant

The falafel sandwich is a new food that I've tried. It is a wrap filled with different selections of vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, and fried chickpeas patty. Vegetarians can scream hooray. The taste is somewhat questionable as it is sour and savory at the same time. I'm pleasantly surprised by the taste.

Fahrenheit 88

Stores that I look forward to in this mall: Uniqlo flagship store, BookXcess, small clothing boutiques, and the fancy railway station.

In-class snacks
V-soy is my all-time favourite go-to morning drink. Lingon juice from Ikea tastes amazing(like blackcurrant). A peanut/fruit/granola bar works well. Banana for breakfast is just as good as the others. The Porridge I purchased at the entrance of Masjid Jamek Station tasted great. There are many options to choose from for the toppings. I chose chicken, egg, onion leaves, and a little vegetable soup. 

Stalls on the alleyway

Above: Chong fan RM6 (depends on the ingredients you wish to add)  
Below: Char siew noodles RM5.50

Street views

MRT & LRT

Ampang Family Bundle (thrift store)
They have located nearby the Ampang train station. This thrift store is huge, and there are selections of clothing items for women, men, and kids. All the items without a tag are RM5. However, you can find unique gems with tags that range from RM20-RM50. Most of their clothing is imported from Japan and the USA.

Group Photos
A ritual that must happen on every trip as a memento. 

Rooftop view

Restoran Hajris
This cafe is located right opposite the Cheras railway station. We usually call this place, mamak as it is the fusion of Indian and Malay cuisine in one. The dishes that I've ordered on a couple of visits are nasi goreng ayam, nasi biryani, and murtabak daging. All these dishes are served hot, and they come in a big portion.

Laundry Bar
Two weeks' worth of clothes for washing. A self-help laundry bar is always convenient, and we even got a free laundry bag from the owner — cats wandering around the laundry shop. You're welcome.

KLIA2 
There is always an end to a trip — time to pack and leave. I grabbed an onigiri before boarding. This trip is unexpectedly worthwhile and memorable. I would have never bonded well with my roommate if it wasn't because of this trip. There are a few hiccups at our hostel, but the happiness, laughter, and memes that the three of us had gotten around each other had become an unforgettable time.

Train Map

These maps might be helpful to those who will be visiting Kuala Lumpur soon. You'll save a lot of time and money on transportation when you can journey from one place to another in KL using trains as the traffic there get bad during peak hours (especially 8 am and 5 pm).

All photos by Prisc

Prisc

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