Kuala Lumpur / Dubai advice?

[Lons]

As part of or forthcoming trip down under we have 3 nights in each Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Have never been to either, any tips on what are must see, must avoid etc?

It's going to be a fabulous trip hopefully: Starting with a stay in Melbourne then drive along Great Ocean Rd, then drive the coastal route as far as Sydney, fly to Perth and do the trip as far as Monkey Mia. Several nights in each city and enough time do cover the mileage and take in the sights.

Lookout Ozzies, here we come! :lol:

cheers
Bob

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Watch the speed limits in Oz!!!

 

[henton49er]

In Kuala Lumpur, it depends what you want to do. The city is a mix of modern western and old style Malay and is very welcoming to Europeans. The most interesting things architecturally IMO are the railway station (colonial times) and the Petronas Towers (modern). The local markets are also worth a visit, just to see the variety of things on sale. You should also try and sample local cuisine (and I don't mean in a western style hotel - street food at the markets is way better).

Malaysia is a glorious ethnic mix of Chinese, Indian and indigenous Malay peoples, all of whom have absolutely wonderful foods. If you like strong curries, find an authentic beef rendang (if it is authentic it will have incredible depth of flavour); gado gado (vegetables in a peanut and chillie sauce); steamed garoupa (whole fish steamed in ginger and garlic); a snack meal of roti telor (freshly made pancake with a beaten egg cooked on the top, served with a curry sauce) still makes my mouth water - I could go on, but see what you like the look of and give it a try; it is all excellent.

I have no idea on "visitor attractions" though, as they are not usually my scene.

 

[Mark A]

Sounds like a good trip Bob!

I'm just about to Skype my sister who for the last year has been backpacking around Asia and is now staying with friends in Perth. I'll ask what she recommends.

 

[Baldhead]

Bob unfortunately I can't recommend anything but I can offer to 'tool watch' your workshop :lol: hope you and your wife have a wonderful time.

Stew

 

[Fatboy]

The sightseeing trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai worth it if you like a good view of the city but you MUST prebook; it gets incredibly busy. 2 floors per second in the lift up 124 floors! Take your camera!

4 x 4 tour of the sand dunes, esecially Big Red is good but book through a hotel or risk getting ripped off

 

[Lons]

Thanks guys
I've copied and pasted the comments and will add them to my list of to dos.

Watch the speed limits in Oz!!!

thanks Phil. Weve been a couple of times but only Sydney and northwards and they are a bit hot on speeding. plenty of time as we have 5 weeks in total so no need to hurry

Bob unfortunately I can't recommend anything but I can offer to 'tool watch' your workshop

Erhm :shock: that'll be a thanks but no thanks Stew. You've seen my workshop and it's like fort knox plus I have a house sitter and have hired a couple of dobermans.(well maybe not the last bit :lol

It's possibly our last long haul 'cos the missus has retired, except for a few bank shifts and I'm winding right down so money will be tighter and we're getting a puppy lab day after we come home so difficult to leave for extended periods.

Really looking forward to it now as we haven't had a break since July last year.

cheers
Bob

 

[wellywood]

+++ for Mike's suggestions re: the food in KL.
KL also has a good monorail system that will get you cheaply (and in air-conditioned comfort) to the markets outside the centre.
Be sure to pay a visit to the Rum Jungle bar ( the street is Jalan P Ramlee) near the Petronas Towers where you can imbibe while watching the sharks swimming in a huge tank that spans the top of the bar.
Oh yes. Have a cold one for me while you're there. (That's a beer, not a shark )

 

[RogerM]

It's possibly our last long haul 'cos the missus has retired, except for a few bank shifts and I'm winding right down so money will be tighter ...................................

Don't be negative! I retired 6 years ago and cannot believe how much we're packing in to our lives. If you want to do something strongly enough then you'll find a way.

 

[Lons]

+++ for Mike's suggestions re: the food in KL.
KL also has a good monorail system that will get you cheaply (and in air-conditioned comfort) to the markets outside the centre.
Be sure to pay a visit to the Rum Jungle bar ( the street is Jalan P Ramlee) near the Petronas Towers where you can imbibe while watching the sharks swimming in a huge tank that spans the top of the bar.
Oh yes. Have a cold one for me while you're there. (That's a beer, not a shark )

Thanks for that, sounds interesting. I'll have more than one "cold one" on your behalf if you like :lol:

Don't be negative! I retired 6 years ago and cannot believe how much we're packing in to our lives. If you want to do something strongly enough then you'll find a way.

We decided a while ago Roger to travel a bit while we have our health and can afford to so we've been globetrotting longhaul for the past 8 years. I love it but the long flights are becoming a pain, especially through T5 at Heathrow which is why we're going via Dubai direct from Newcastle this time. This will be our 3rd trip to OZ and despite what I said, I can see the wanderlust rearing it's head again next year maybe! Id love to go back to Canada, and NZ, and the States oh an South Africa again (hammer), So much to see, so little time

cheers
Bob

 

[John15]

Kuala Lumpur is an interesting city but Dubai was a wonderful place up to around 25 years ago but is now sadly the height of bling.

John

 

[Lons]

Thanks John

It's all new to us as previously we've always gone via Singapore and Hong Kong in fact the only familiar place of the holiday is Sydney, so it's all going to be interesting. 5 weeks of sun and sights, can't wait now it's almost here

 

[mailee]

Whoa, Monkey Mia, Are you going to see the Dolphins? I have never been but have seen it on TV. I did manage to swim with a Dolphin once but that was in the UK. Sounds like a great trip you have planned.

 

[Lons]

Whoa, Monkey Mia, Are you going to see the Dolphins? I have never been but have seen it on TV. I did manage to swim with a Dolphin once but that was in the UK. Sounds like a great trip you have planned.

Yep, we're staying there a couple of nights so hopefully we'll be lucky though nothing guaranteed. You're very fortunate to have swum with a dolphin, I love them and did have an opportunity in Canada last year when we found a family group of 9 but the water was bloody freezing so I chickened out. We watched a pod of orcas hunt and catch a seal which was an experience though. They had a juvenile with them so didn't kill it just threw it around until the youngster did the deed. Cruel but that's life!

Bob

 

[mailee]

I did consider myself lucky to swim with the Dolphin Bob but the experience I consider the best was diving with the seals for a full week on the Farne Islands, They are so playful and inquisitive, I got some great video footage of it too. Great memories. Good luck with Monkey Mia, an experience of a lifetime. :wink: