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Great Destinations in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

8/7/2015

Malaysia is Thailand's neighbor to the south, and the capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, commonly called "KL" to those who live in this area of the world. If you only have a day or two to spare while traveling through to Thailand and you want to see some amazing things in Kuala Lumpur, here is a short list of places to visit including: the Batu Caves, the National Mosque, the National Islamic Museum, Central Market, Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, the Petronas Towers, the Sultan's Palace and Thean Hou Temple.

Batu Caves

The Batu Caves are an ancient Hindu Shrine that can be found on the side of a mountain just outside the city of Kuala Lumpur. As you climb the 272 steps up to the caves you are sure to be visited by many monkeys. The monkeys are harmless if you ignore them, but be warned if you do give them attention they will expect you to feed them.

National Mosque and National Islamic Museum

Malaysia is mostly a Muslim country and in the heart of Kuala Lumpur there is a museum dedicated to the Malay Muslims, with the National Mosque being situated next door.

Central Market

The Central Market of Kuala Lumpur is a great place to see the work of local artisans and sample some of the region’s foods.

Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower

The revolving restaurant at the top of the KL Tower is the best place to go for a panoramic view of the city. Once a year, a competition is held to see who can race up the steps to the top of the 421 meter tower. The tower also acts as the Islamic falak observatory, which identifies the crescent moon that marks the beginning of many Muslim ceremonies and rites.

Petronas Towers

At just under 452 meters, the Petronas Towers are the second highest buildings in the world. The only building that is higher is the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The Petronas Towers are two buildings joined in the centre by the Millennium Bridge. You can visit the bridge, but be prepared for a bit of a wait. The queues can be long and you may need to stand in line most of the morning to purchase a ticket. At the base of the towers is Suria KLCC shopping mall, which houses an array of expensive fashion boutiques and elite stores. The towers’ base is also home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Sultan's Palace

His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah is the current King or Sultan of Malaysia. Covering over 28 acres, the Istana Negara is the Sultan’s official residence. The beautiful and richly decorated palace overlooks the Klang River.

Thean Hou Temple

The Thean Hou Temple is an amazing, six-tiered Chinese Buddhist temple dedicated to the Goddess Tian Hou (The Heavenly Mother). Built by the Hainanese community in 1987, the temple’s prayer hall houses three alters and there are also several fountains where you can dedicate your prayers.

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Vientiane Laos - Quiet Neighbor to the North

8/4/2015

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Pha That Luang

Vientiane is located on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River and across the river from Nong Khai, Thailand. Vietiane and Nong Khai are connected by the very first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which supports Train, vehicle and foot traffic. Vientiane is the capital of Laos and is a very relaxing place to visit, having a quiet night life and kind and polite people. There are a few very nice tourist destinations to see while you are there and quite easy to get to once you cross the border at the Friendship Bridge. The best way to visit these locations is with a Laos Jumbo (similar to the Thai Tuktuk), an open air vehicle powered by a motorcycle in front.

Pha That Luang