As we were already in Singapore, it made perfect sense to explore Malaysia. One option would have been to simply cross the bridge into Johor Bahru or some beach resort on the Malaysian side.

I insisted to visit the capital, because I really wanted to see Kuala Lumpur. We had just been to Bintan in Indonesia and that was more of a beach resort.

Kids protested a little – of travelling – but I reasoned with them: If you’d travel all the way from Singapore to Helsinki, wouldn’t you visit Tallinn and Stockholm, since you’re already nearby?

The idea of travelling by bus or train didn’t appeal to me, nor the kids, so I ended up booking flights to Kuala Lumpur via Jet Star Asia. The flight time was about an hour. Fun fact: Jet Star Asia ceased operations at the end of July 2025.

The Face Suites

My wife and I do take turns, but I tend to be the Travel Manager of our household. That actually happens to be my professional title too.

I often do a pre-screening of possible hotels via booking.com, but also check the prices on the hotels’ own website and again, that paid dividends. Often one gets the room cheaper, without the commission added.

We had a very spacious 98 m2 two-bedroom flat with a kitchen on the 26th floor. I had requested a quiet flat away from the elevators and maybe that contributed to the view. Our view was the opposite building.

Anyway, that didn’t bother us much as the hotel had an infinity pool on the 52nd floor with an adjoing restaurant. The hotel was a good one. The flat was spacious, clean and cool. The staff were friendly. All good then.

Batu Caves

We booked the flights and the hotel first and only then started to google what to actually do and see in Kuala Lumpur. This was already our 3rd week of the trip and we had no pressure of ticking any boxes. Anything we did was already a bonus to a really lovely and memorable stay.

We basically had one full day and the morning of that, we decided to visit the quite an obvious check on the bucket list.

Batu Caves are roughly 14 kilometres from the centre of Kuala Lumpur to the north. There is public transport and such, but since we were so used to Grab in Singapore and Indonesia, we chose to value our time and comfort and took a taxi instead.

Arriving swiftly in an air-conditioned car directly to the destination has its price and value. And taxis in Asia are reasonably priced.

Batu Caves are limestone caves that have stairs of 272 steps leading into the Hindu temple within. It’s bit of a hike for the unaccustomed and I witnessed visitors panting in the 30°c humidity and scorching sun.

Nevertheless, even if one wouldn’t hike up to the caves, the temples below are well worth a visit as such.

Dress code

Be it a temple, church, cathedral, mosque, or any other place of worship, one should show respect by dressing and behaving accordingly.

Although not enforced, it is appropriate to cover one’s shoulders and knees in the temple. Hence, despite the immense heat, I had long trousers that I pulled over my shorts before entering the temple.

However, I saw the ignorati showing up in whatever “ibiza gear” they chose to pull on that morning.

Monkey business

It’s worth knowing that there are other primates, the monkeys around as soon as you enter the area. If you wish to avoid unwanted attention, do not carry nor show any food that you might have on you.

The monkeys might also steal your belongings too, so do keep them secure in a zipped pocket or a bag. If a monkey nicks your phone or wallet, how are you going to get it back: Climb the rocks chasing a monkey?

We didn’t have any problem with the monkeys, but there were so many people attracting and feeding them that the monkeys let us be.

After a morning at the batu Caves, we had the afternoon to ourselves. That, we did spend in a dip into a pool, followed by a walkabout in the centre.

Kuala Lumpur City Centre

That’s KLCC between friends.

For me, one of the incentives for travelling to Kuala Lumpur was to see the iconic Petronas Towers.

They were the tallest buildings in the world roughly from 1998 to 2004, until surpassed by a taller building. No, we did not visit them, but admired them from the ground.

On our first night, after checking into our hotel and having a nice dinner on the 52nd floor overlooking the city and the towers, we went for a stroll. Kids were tired and the hustle and bustle was a bit overwhelming, so the family headed back to the hotel while I continued scouting towards the towers and whatnot.

Our first impression was that city is not really pedestrian friendly. As any caring parent, we were very cautious of crossing the streets. The locals motorists and bikers were repeatedly flouting the red lights.

Also, sidewalks seem like they were designed and built haphazardly: No logic, cohesion nor inclusivity. The centre must be a nightmare if you’re on a wheelchair, but maybe the assumption is that then you are shuttled everywhere?

Durian

Ever since we landed in Singapore there was Durian this and Durian that and also the rules in public transport forbidding Durian.

We had not actively gravitated towards Durian, but next to our hotels was a Durian Fest and we thought that now was the time to give it a go.

We bought one fruit. Our daughter stayed outsidea 5 metre perimeter of the restaurant table and me, my wife and our son decided to give it a go.

Durian has a distinctive smell but the taste itself is less acquired.

Me and my son tought of it as not that bad whereas my wife thought it was beyond repulsive.

Well, each to their own. Either way, we didn’t bring any back to Finland – vacuum-packed as airlines would insist.

Visit if you can

In the morning of our last day we decided to ride the monorail that we’d seen whilst walking in the centre. It was a good ride to the terminus and back and then we booked a taxi and headed to the airport.

Malaysia treated us well. It was a good quick stint and gave us a yet another side of Asia.

If you are ever nearby, I highly recommend a visit.