Kaylah in Kuala Lumpur #2: Chinatown

Following the morning visit to the Thean Huo temple, we ventured into Chinatown. We piled into one small cab and travelled about ten minutes before we made it to the heart of Chinatown; Petaling street. 

As we walked towards the entrance, you could immediately notice that the stalls stretched literally as far as the eye could see. The ceiling was lined with red lanterns, adding colour and a sense of peacefulness to this somewhat chaotic strip.

If you are looking for a relaxing tourist site to visit, this is definitely not where you should plan on going. In saying this, it is honestly one of the most enjoyable and entertaining experiences I’ve ever had on a holiday.

I didn’t even have to walk past the first stall to be drawn in by the items on display. Yes, I did exchange in some price negotiation, which saw me walking away from the store owner numerous times.  But soon enough, after walk up and down the strip of stalls, he soon gave in and I left happily with my mini Celine bag (which looks exactly the same as the authentic one and is great quality mind you!).

Every stall I walked past the owners would promise me a great deal, or an item which is virtually exact quality to the original one. There are even store owners walking up and down the strip, who will approach you selling DVD’s, makeup and even tattoos!!

I was mostly surprised by the items on display at the stalls. I have always loved Chinatown in Singapore, but Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown has so much more on offer! Everything you could think of was on sale from designer bags, Nike shoes, Calvin Klein underwear, Tiffany and Co jewellery, sunglasses, DVD’s, perfume, mobile phones, EVERYTHING! I was surprised by how exact these copies looked to the original, authentic items; especially when it came to the jewellery.

The streets got more and more crowded as we made our way deeper into Chinatown. Soon it become nearly impossible to identify the next few stalls you were approaching as people created a maze around you. 

The store owners desperately want you to buy their stock. At first I felt quite uncomfortable being approached, but it happened so often that I no longer took notice of it.  My family was greatly entertained by bargaining the prices of certain bags, wallets and t-shirts. It is an extremely fun experience as it is not something I often get to see.

It was extremely hot that day, especially as we visited Chinatown in the heat in the afternoon, but there is so much to be in awe of and amused by, that the heat becomes an absence.

The strip is extremely vibrant, whether it is the sea of colourful handbags or the floating umbrella decorations above the stalls.

We spent a few hours here as my entire family thoroughly enjoyed their time at Chinatown. We definitely left with more than we thought we would. I recommend this site for those who do not mind being surrounded by lots of people and being outside in the heat. It is also for those want to get the most out of visiting an Asian country and for those love unique experiences which cannot be found in their home country.  

Stay tuned for my third and final post in the next week or so!

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Kaylah in Kuala Lumpur #1: Thean Huo temple

Kaylah in Kuala Lumpur #1: Thean Huo temple

Last Friday, my family and I headed to Kuala Lumpur for a few days! I had never visited this city before, although it had been on my list of things to see while I’m living in Asia.

As the rest of my family had visited Kuala Lumpur before, it was up to me to organize the itinerary. I absolutely love organising itineraries so it wasn’t a problem. They make me so incredibly excited knowing that I will soon be able to lay my eyes upon such exciting sites in person.

On Saturday morning, I had planned for my family to visit the Thean Hou temple. This Chinese temple is an absolute landmark. It is six tiered and is dedicated to Goddess Tian Hou (The Heavenly Mother).

I was totally blown away as we made our way towards the entrance. None of my photos are able to do the temple justice. The traditional exterior was mesmerising. Each of the corners on the rooftops flicked up in a way that made them appear somewhat like crashing waves from afar.

As we made our way closer, the intricate details which lined the edges of the temple soon began to make themselves seen. The array of colours outlining the temple contributed to the beauty of this tranquil site.

I started to make my way up the staircase to where the worshipping area could be found. This was on the second last tier. Groups of people crowded around the entrance, removing their shoes and performing rituals. The scent of incense was extremely prevalent. There was also a wonderful view of Kuala Lumpur from this tier.

After removing our shoes, we entered the hollows of the temple. To say that I was blown away would be an incredible understatement. The paintwork and architecture inside made this one of the most beautiful interiors I had ever seen. I could have gazed upon the ceiling for hours. The copious amounts of colourful patterns caught your eye from every angle. It was easy to become lost in the never ending list of things to admire. Every single wall was covered in the most grand of designs. The ornate carvings and delicate embellishments made this temple a complete and utter spectacle.

I couldn’t imagine anyone spending less than 45 minutes here. There are gardens and statues to see. Areas are also dedicated to statues for each of the Chinese zodiac signs.

If you are in Kuala Lumpur or are planning on visiting you should DEFINITLEY put this site on your list of things to see! You will not be disappointed. I absolutely adored spending time here due to the beautiful setting and the wide range of areas to explore and learn about. It was the sheer size and delicacy of the temple that also made it worth the visit.

I plan on splitting my time in Kuala Lumpur into multiple posts as I saw so much and would love to give a detailed description of the major sites.

Stay tuned for more posts from Kuala Lumpur!