Travelling reminds me of my growing
up years. As a child I remember ushering in every New Year in a new
destination. Being a tourist and exploring new places gives me a thrill that I somehow
always find hard to articulate. Let’s just say it makes me feel warm and fuzzy
inside with delight! Like every other individual, I too wish to escape the
daily grind. Hence, short or long, I love all my holidays!
The stockpile of time being scarce,
life today threatens to rob us of those few moments of pleasure we call vacations!
But in spite of the mad dash around us occasionally filching an escape even if
just for a weekend, I feel, is totally worth it.
There are so many beautiful places
to visit, a long list in fact, that an entire lifetime at times seems a period too
short. But our dream holidays are often forced to linger on in just our dreams
due to the ever increasing travel costs. But all’s not lost! With the exciting
air fares on offer from Air Asia for vibrant cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur,
I could at least manage to strike one of these cities off my list. Yes, these
attractive prices tell me that this time around I might just bring in the New
Year in a place away from home just as I did when I was a child. But which
among the two would it be?
I know! As the Malaysian Tourism tag
line goes, Kuala Lumpur is the city I’d visit to experience what they call Truly Asia. I remember the commercials inviting
us to explore their land with the catch phrase ‘Malaysia – Truly Asia’. And caught I am! Yes, Kuala Lumpur is what I
seek to see and soak in!
Kuala Lumpur, they say and I have
read is a symbol of the past coexisting with the present; of traditions
coexisting with modernity. On one hand there are temples and mosques rich in
history while on the other are the symbols of modernization, sky scrapers and commercial
districts. An amalgamation of what was and what is, a perfect destination to experience
and capture. Yes, that’s why I wish to visit this city, the sixth most
visited city in the world!
And then there are the Petronas
Twin Towers which I have read are visible from anywhere in Kuala Lumpur. I want
to see that too. Wouldn’t that be just fascinating? Though I have no particular
love for heights, for some reason I really wish to stand on its sky bridge,
even if for a second and soak in the view.
Another huge draw for Kuala Lumpur
for me is the fact that it’s a shopper’s paradise! I am a woman after all. Some
of the world’s largest malls are in Kuala Lumpur, now that’s just music to my
ears. I want to shop in the stretch from Bukit Bintang to Kuala Lumpur City
Centre. With its covered pedestrian walkways and countless branded outlets,
this section called the BBKLCC stretch is where I wish to spend hours and hours
together, exploring and splurging!
The night life of Kuala Lumpur
centered in what is called the Golden Triangle or just admiring the cityscape
is all I want to do as I move around leisurely. I wish to capture the
architecture of this beautiful city through my lenses too. It’s a kaleidoscope
of old colonial influences, Islamic inspirations and modern architecture. Truly
worth a visit and draw inspiration from.
And last but not the least how can
I forget to sample the cuisine! I have watched enough travel shows to know that
Kuala Lumpur is known for its foodie delights. Restaurants, Food courts and
road side stalls I’d visit them all.
A weekend’s getaway in my leisure
time free, that’s what I wish to see, and that’s why I choose Kuala Lumpur as
my travel destination key!