Kuala Lumpur Stories: Tales From A Month In K.L   Recently updated!

I wish I could say we explored Kuala Lumpur from top to bottom, but in reality, my time there revolved around dental work—and quite a lot of it. What began as a simple toothache turned into a series of root canals, crowns, and even oral surgery. However, between dental appointments, we managed to get out and explore bits of Malaysia’s bustling capital city.

We arrived in Kuala Lumpur by bus from Melaka, a smooth and uneventful journey of about two and a half hours. From the main bus terminal, it was just a short walk across a footbridge to the connecting train station. A few stops later, we reached what we thought was the station closest to our apartment.

Disembarking, we attempted to orient ourselves. The apartment block was only 600 meters away—we could even see it—but the journey there was anything but straightforward. We found ourselves surrounded by a maze of multi-level motorways, fenced-off main roads, and an utter lack of footpaths. Navigating to the apartment became an adventure in itself.

We edged along busy streets, crossed through roadworks, climbed a precarious footbridge over a railway line, and wound up in the dirtiest, most pungent wet market I have ever encountered (and I’ve seen my fair share). After a roundabout route, we finally reached our apartment building.

The apartment was on the 44th floor, boasting stunning views across the city. It was clean, comfortable, and well-located, though it lacked basic amenities like plates and glasses. We quickly solved that with a trip to IKEA, and overall, we were quite pleased. The building also featured a spectacular infinity pool and a lovely outdoor area, which became our oasis during the stay.

During our time in Kuala Lumpur, we ventured into Chinatown a few times and explored Jalan Petaling, the famous market street. To be honest, I found it underwhelming—filled mostly with tourist trinkets and lacking charm. However, we had a fantastic meal at Bunn Choon, known for its delicious dumplings and other treats. It’s a busy spot, so be prepared to wait.

Not far from our apartment was a shopping center with a brilliant supermarket that reminded us of Woolworths back in Australia. This allowed us to stock up on fresh ingredients to cook meals at home, something we enjoy doing when we travel.

Most of our days were spent focusing on personal projects. I wrote a short story about a memorable journey through Mongolia a few years ago, while my partner worked on his programming. We swam in the beautiful infinity pool daily—often finding ourselves the only ones there—and, of course, I kept up with my dental appointments.

The month flew by quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head to Thailand. Despite the unexpected focus on dental work, Kuala Lumpur offered a mix of challenges and highlights that made our stay memorable.