クアラルンプール🇲🇾 マレーシアの「新旧融合」を巡る列車日帰り旅行

クアラルンプール🇲🇾 マレーシアの「新旧融合」を巡る列車日帰り旅行

Kuala Lumpur, called KL by locals, is Malaysia’s federal capital and largest city. Kuala Lumpur is a cultural melting pot with some of the world’s cheapest 5-star hotels, impressive shoppi Merdeka 118 at 678.9 meters it is Malaysia tallest skyscraper and among the tallest in the world while parts of the building are completed you will notice there are unfinished sections today I am going in checking out what’s done what’s under construction and how the skyline is changing let’s roll hey everybody UNCLE GO TRAVELLING here I am doing a 4-day trip across Peninsula Malaysia stopping at 5 towns and cities all by railway and road I begin in Johor Bahru then ride up to Kluang then Kuala Lumpur Onward bus to Taiping then continue by train to Bukit Mertajam and finally end in Alor Setar it is going to be a cross-country road adventure Landscape, local shops, train life and more join me in this overland journey my second stop Kuala Lumpur After a 3.5 hour of journey on the ETS from Kluang I finally reached in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur the city skyline peeks through the window as the train slows down and here it is the heart of the nation railway network, KL Sentral KL Sentral is not just a train station it is the largest transportation Hub in Malaysia and until as recent as 2021 it held the title of the largest train station in southeast Asia designed as an intermodal transportation Hub KL Sentral connects almost every major passenger railway line in the city and from here you can catch intercity trains to places like Kluang Ipoh and Butterworth but this place is not all about trains KL Sentral is also a mammoth complex that also houses a huge shopping mall NU Sentral climbing up these flights of steps brings me straight into the shopping world of Kuala Lumpur NU Sentral is directly connected to the transportation Hub offering travellers a mix of shops cafe and restaurants everything from quick bites to brand name stores this is Malaysia very first “transumer” mall that means transit consumer a concept designed to make life convenient for travellers on the go looking up from the atrium of NU Sentral I cannot help but feel a little “country pumpkin” gawking at the big city lights, that is the charm of Kuala Lumpur I do not plan to hang around the mall for long it’s almost 9 PM now while I was still on the train I made a quick hotel reservation for the night the accommodation is nothing fancy I usually go for a budget stay within walking distance from the train station walking from KL Sentral to my hotel gives me some quiet time to think about what’s there to do in Kuala Lumpur for the next 18 hours or so I have made quite a number of videos on Kuala Lumpur already so this time I just want to explore freely, to go where the mood takes me without any fixed plan the walk from KL Sentral to my hotel is about 4 kilometres easy and relaxing in a cool tropical night KL feels safe enough for me to walk at this hour following the train tracks and walking along the Klang River I eventually reach the central market area by around 10 PM most of the shops are closing the shop slows down after a long day, at this junction where the Klang River meets the Gombak River you will find the river of life a beautiful lit promenade project that transformed this whole area it is hard to believe this used to be one of those dim quiet shortcut I would hurry through many years ago Kuala Lumpur has definitely changed, more lights more life and a lot more charm, my hotel for the night is called Swing and Pillows right in the little India district of Kuala Lumpur there are plenty of budget hotels within a short walk from KL Sentral and this one seems decent for a quick stopover my hotel check in was smooth the staff is polite and helpful and the room nothing to shout about, no windows a comfortable single bed and a small attached bathroom Simple, clean and quiet after a long day of travel this is my small slice of luxury for the night it is almost 10:30 pm and I have just settled down with my gear and bags tonight I am focusing on the Ampang area one of many local favourite night spots for late night eats originally, I figure it might be quiet since it is a midweek night and an unearthly hour now but no I am surprised to see the lights still shining bright all around me the sounds of sizzling woks chatters and food smells are pulling me towards Jalan Kemunting Jalan Kemunting is one of the neighbourhoods tucked into the centre of Kuala Lumpur this place used to be a settlement for the tin miner’s community in the colonial era now it transforms into a vibrant district of the Malaysian capital this place caters for all budgets roadside stores and serious eateries in the old shop houses I haven’t actually walked Ampang on foot like this before usually I ride the subway or sit in a car but tonight walking is the way to know this part of the town it’s not hard to get your bearings either tall building lit up in the night like the Petronas twin tower and the KL towers help you navigate ironically the super tall Merdeka 118 is further south of the KL city centre so it doesn’t help so much, here one shock at this hour the city seems so young 11 PM and there are still people eating around walking and socializing where do they come from at this time? I stumbled onto Sembang @ MATIC it is literally a food court on lorry, mobile restaurant Malaysian style, for those who prefer something more upscale there is Saloma KL in the same precinct beautiful place white building golden lights, dining like a king in a Palace this restaurant showcases dishes spanning Malaysia 14 states you can even find Nasi Kandar on the same streets simple setup, hearty flavour the KL food scene has really levelled up, from street side makan to fancy restaurants there is something for every budget a few steps away from the Saloma KL and I stumble upon this huge market an all you can eat durian night market durians literally from all States in Malaysia Stack up, Midnight Durian feast, seriously I didn’t expect this turns out KL is no slouch when it comes to durian a bit later I walk over towards the road junction in front of KLCC this location gives the best photo shots of KLCC or Petronas twin tower at night be careful though it can be crowded even this late freelance photographers tourists all working the shots even close to midnight there is a steady stream of people I stop by the glass-fronted GER Building to capture my reflection and the reflection of the city mirrors in the pane then I make my way to the newest IG favourite, the Saloma Link the stunning pedestrian bridge connects Kampong Bahru and KLCC getting there is easy but you have to walk a bit start at the KLCC junction then walk into the marked lane even at this hour, you will find stallholders peddling titbits and drinks follow the well-lit path and you will find the bridge on your left you will notice a Muslim cemetery yes you are close and then bingo you will see the beautifully lit bridge draped in Malaysia colours with KLCC as backdrop, inside the bridge the tunnel lights effect gives a surreal feeling as you walk through if you want pictures without crowd, come outside peak hour yes, it is one of the latest Instagram spots in Kuala Lumpur open nicely from about 7 PM until midnight now I am heading back to my room I am done totally shagged out it has been one long day I woke up at 5 AM this morning in Singapore, rush for the train at JB and now nearly 19 hours and 350 kilometres later I am in Kuala Lumpur but you know what every step of it feels worth it good morning from Kuala Lumpur I have just checked out so now heading my way towards to get my breakfast when people talk about little India in Kuala Lumpur most will think of the one in Brickfields right beside KL Sentral, this is the larger more established Indian enclave but not many know there is another a mini little India right in the city centre along Jalan Masjid India just a short walk away from Chinatown and where I stay for the night, historically this area grew around the early Indian Muslim traders during the tin Mining days and even today you can still find that history in the air street stalls selling flower garlands small temples hidden behind the narrow lanes and shops selling Indian stuff all blending into the hum of KL city life what I love most about this neighbourhood is the contrast I am in the hearts of Kuala Lumpur surrounded by modern buildings yet this small little enclave still keeps its Indian soul as I walk through the streets I am reminded that KL is not just about tall buildings or fancy malls it is these pockets of everyday life where tradition and modernity meet that gives this city its true colours, after checking out of my hotel I made my way to Chinatown going there not for souvenir or tourist traps actually I am heading straight to my favourite coffee spots Foo Hwa Kopitiam but here’s the thing, it is closed, really? the little back alley where the Kopitiam used to sit now it looks like a major renovation site it just makes me wonder will this place vanish forever I was here less than a year ago and things felt familiar now it’s like Chinatown is undergoing a makeover are they turning this into something like a Disneyland style Chinatown I hope not, just look at its neighbour the Singapore Chinatown, sure it is clean shiny but some of that soul is lost let KL keep its character its grumpy corners its kopitiam, tucked behind the market that’s the version of KL I fell in love with I know this place as Puduraya but for the past many years it is now known as Pudu Sentral for those of us of a certain age this used to be the old KL bus terminal literally every bus heading in and out of KL seems to Pass right in front of this building and yes perpetual traffic Jam were parts of its charm and headache Now all buses shifted to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) the new hub for long distance routes so Puduraya found itself empty from then on, a few years ago I read that creative businesses were trying to breathe new life into Pudu Sentral to revive the space so today as I walk past I decided to swing inside just to see how that transformation is working out unfortunately what I am seeing are mostly vacated shops empty corridors echo of what once was the rejuvenation efforts seem to have bitten the dust, many of the locals say it’s past its peak, the only buses still operating out of here are a handful to places like KLIA or Genting Highlands that’s about it, I walked down one of the old flights of steps and suddenly memories hit me I used to board the bus out of KL from here just like that the squeak of the bus doors the chatter of passenger the whole off we go feeling feels like yesterday ah those memories I swear I seems to have more memories of Kuala Lumpur than I do of Singapore I don’t arrive in Kuala Lumpur with a checklist or a packed agenda anymore back in the days I used to make KL my weekend playground I even worked and lived here for a few months so in a way KL always felt like a home away from home now when I am back I just want to soak up the vibe, watch the city breathe and see how it’s getting better, each time I visit, one thing I have been keeping an eye on lately is Merdeka 188, I have seen it grow in news updates In my previous visits we are talking about topping up in November 2021 full structural completion around November 2023 but you can still find parts of it like the observation deck and the mall under construction and aiming for full opening maybe in the late 2026 what’s cool about this building is that you don’t really need a map to spot it being one of the world’s tallest building it stands out in central KL you will see it from many angles I heard there will be a subway directly underneath eventually until then I am walking in from the main road or you can hail a cab if you prefer, let’s take a peek I do not want to trespass or get too close to the construction zone just to stay on the safer side Visually though you can still see there is some way to go to a fully constructed Building, on the Flip side the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumper hotel in the same building is fully built and open, hotel booking started in August 2025 there is a separate entrance next to the construction site I wandered through one of the doorways and into the completed wing aside from a lobby leading to the lift upstairs it was quiet, a bit empty I did not push further, I am here to observe not to impose, I wasn’t sure which entrance was the actual hotel one so I guess, the carpet design give a hint, I tried the lift up to level two got stopped politely by a staff member yeah, me dressed too casually for the luxury scene I introduced myself as a content creator doing a field study for my channel of course that did not get me anywhere and I turned back every time I make my way back to Kuala Lumpur I notice something new; the city keeps changing shopping malls sprouting out, older places getting fresh energy this time I am at Lalaport look at Bukit Bintang city centre Lalaport is the newest big mall in town and get this, part of the building used to be the old Pudu prison they have preserved a section of the old exterior wall and the main gate and incorporated it into the fountain park area inside the mall I find that very thoughtful, to put things in perspective Lalaport first phase opened some years ago that’s the new Mitsui Outlet Park section inside Lalaport BBCC just opened on first August 2025 if you are into Japanese style malls Lalaport is probably for you Mitsui the developer and they have brought in the first in Malaysia type stores for some brands but full disclosure, I went in excited for the outlet section but I was a little underwhelmed the outlet brand mix didn’t really wow me maybe because some stores are still opening in phases so it didn’t give me that fully alive yet the foot traffic was quite light when I was there it might be due to it is a weekday morning then I hit the food court and found a treat I was starving from all the walking this morning and no queue at the stall of Nam Heong chicken rice yes, the one that is on the Michelin bib gourmet list Give me a plate of white chicken rice at just 13.90 ringgit for a plate is good value the bean sprouts are Ipoh style those fats and juicy ones and the soup plus the rice didn’t disappoint, I eat my chicken rice messy like I always do when I am really enjoying something this is the perfect way to wrap up this long KL day but no time to linger I am off time to leave this place Kuala Lumpur, no time to lose truth to be told, I have not used the KL subway for years So here am I in front of the ticket vending machine awkwardly wrestling with a ticket machine for the subway and it doesn’t help that there are so many train stations now with different subway lines to everywhere I originally planned to catch a rail trip out of KL for this leg of the journey but too bad the ETS train ticket out of Kuala Lumpur was totally sold out when I checked the website yesterday so no choice I am heading to the bus terminal at TBS instead I have been to this bus terminal a couple of times so this station is not foreign to me but today the crowd seems manageable and yes I booked my bus ticket online ahead of time bus platform is located under the main ticket lobby after a bit of waiting I finally boarding the bus coach where am I heading next is, Taiping thank you for watching this video this far if you enjoyed this ride so far and want to follow my northern Malaysia adventure please drop a LIKE and subscribe I am UNCLE GO TRAVELLING and up next the underrated and under travelled Taiping

Malaysia playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0pkMZHeitO_ghE8eFZw0Z6ikNHkLxs3b

Spend a spectacular day in Kuala Lumpur as we explore the city’s top sights, hidden lanes and legendary food spots. From the towering Merdeka 118 skyscraper to the lively streets of Ampang, Little India and Pudu, this vlog shows it all.

Highlights include:
• Merdeka 118 — Malaysia’s tallest building and a skyline game-changer.
• A stroll through the Ampang area, vibrant and full of street life.
• Crossing the iconic Saloma Bridge under the night lights.
• Exploring Jalan Masjid India — the heart of Little India in KL.
• A visit to Chinatown for hidden coffee gems and neon nightlife.
• Revisiting memories at Pudu Sentral — once KL’s bus hub, now evolving.
• Shopping and food stop at Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre.
• Nam Heong Michelin Bib-rated chicken rice (for about RM 13.90!) for a high CP meal.
• Final leg at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) bus terminal for the northern journey ahead.

#kualalumpur #ets3 #merdeka118

timecodes
00:00 close up view of Merdeka 118
00:28 I take fast ETS train from Kluang to KL Sentral
01:21 KL Sentral train and NU Sentral
03:25 Walk from KL Sentral to Central Market to KL Masjid India
04:52 I check into Swing and Pillow at Kuala Lumpur
05:34 KL Ampang, Jalan Kamunting
07:38 Saloma KL,Pelita and all you can eat durian in KL
08:58 Petronas Twin Tower and KLCC
09:35 how to go to Saloma Bridge
11:03 KL Masjid India Mini Little India
12:19 KL Chinatown Petaling Street to eat Foo Hwa Kopitiam
13:54 Pudu Sentral or PuduRaya bus terminal in old times
15:48 Merdeka 118 latest status (still under constrcution?)
17:28 KL Park Hyatt is the world tallest hotel
18:42 KL Lalaport has first city outlet park – Mitsui Outlet City
20:35 Nam Heong chicken rice is Michelin Bib gourmet
21:34 how to go to TBS from Kuala Lumpur city
22:44 taking bus from KL TBS to Taiping