Kuala Lumpur | Meet Malaysia
4. The Traditional
Like any great city, Kuala Lumpur has a diverse population. The multitude of cultures can be seen, heard, and tasted throughout KL.
Tamil
The Tamil people come from southern India and Sri Lanka. Their most iconic monument in KL is the Batu Caves, which contain gorgeous Hindu shrines that are popular with both worshippers and tourists. The Tamil community celebrates their annual Thaipusam festival at the caves, which is difficult to attend but spectacular to witness.
You’ve got to hike up the long, colorful steps to reach the central caverns, but it’s not such a bad hike. You can stop whenever you like to take in the views or watch the monkeys do their thing.
Chinese
Many Malaysians are of Chinese descent. You can see the Chinese influence everywhere in KL but it’s most vibrant in Chinatown.
You can buy all sorts of accessories and knick-knacks at the Petaling Street Market. It’s a good stop if you’re on the hunt for souvenirs.
It should go without saying that there’s terrific Chinese food in this district, from noodles, to lemon chicken, to all varieties of street food. The neighborhood is also popular for its creative, boutique cocktail bars.
Arab
There are three exciting ways to experience Kuala Lumpur’s middle-eastern influence.
First, you’ve got to try the shawarmas. You’ll find these on every other street corner in Bukit Bintang, the shopping district at the city center. The shawarma is one of the tastiest and most satisfying foods you can buy in this city, which is no small praise.
Second, you might want to visit a shisha joint. Smoking is taboo for most scuba divers… but would there be any divemasters on this earth if not for a little puff-puff? Shisha joints in KL have a great vibe, and if you’re not keen on smoking you can still enjoy their spectacular Mediterranean food.
Third, the city’s Islamic architecture is gorgeous, especially the mosques. The prayer calls that echo from the minarets are hauntingly beautiful.
The Mamak
The mamak is one of the most unique aspects of Malaysian culture.
Mamak stalls cook dishes from several different types of cuisine, especially Indian, Malay, and Chinese.
“You take your white rice,” says Hazree, “and you pick whatever meat and veggies you want. If you come at night, they usually serve all the porridge, the Thai food, the tomyam, the nasi lemak.”
The attendant will ask you whether or not you want rice. Then you point to the meat and vegetables you want to be scooped onto your plate (don’t be afraid to ask what type of food you’re looking at). Some mamak stalls will also have a menu with other kinds of dishes.
Like shopping malls, mamak stalls are important social spaces for Malaysians. They’re usually open 24 hours, and the locals gather to eat and hang out at all hours of the day and night.
Especially night.
People work long hours and typically work 6 days per week, but the locals always find time to be with their friends and loved ones, even if they need to stay up late to do it.
Kuala Lumpur is safer than most American cities, and the locals have few qualms about going out after dark. People look out for each other here, even tourists.
It’s common to see families with young children hanging out at restaurants and mamak stalls well past midnight. Nobody’s in a rush to squeeze everything into the daylight hours, and they’re certainly not rushing to go to bed.
“It’s kind of laid-back, right?” says Hazree.
“People like to sit down, relax, have a talk with friends. That’s why the midnight hanging-out culture is there. Myself? After this I might go hang out with my friends at the mamak until 4 AM and just chill. Play with phones, talk about life, and whatever.”
He’s got work in the morning, so I ask Hazree if he’s concerned about getting rest.
He shrugs.
“Some people will say that’s a part of rest.”