Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, or "KL" as it is commonly known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. The city's past is still present in its British colonial buildings, however KL's bustling streets, modern office towers, and cosmopolitan air project symbolizes Malaysia's leap into the future. One minute you will be traveling across town on the new monorail with the Petronas Towers, the world's tallest building, and next you are at street level amongst the hawker stands and traffic jams.

The observation level of the Petronas Towers or the viewing platform at the Menara Observation Tower are great places to get a idea of the layout of the city. Malaysia's ethnic diversity is seen in Chinatown, Little India and the Art Deco Central Market.

The main attractions in the Golden Triangle business, hotel and shopping district are the towering Petronas Towers themselves, the KLCC Park, the fashionable and vibrant Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail and the pavement cafés of Bangsar Baru

In the botanical and bird parks of the Lake Gardens you can view of the beauty and variety of Malaysia's plants and animals. In the vibrant Central Market, music, crafts, and cultural practices from Kelantan to Sarawak can be explored and experienced. And in the National Museum, Malaysia's cultural history comes into focus. As the entry point for most visitors, Kuala Lumpur is a grand gateway to Malaysia.

Things to see and do

* Independence Square
* National and Friday Mosques
* Petronas Towers and Menara Observation Tower
* Art Deco Central Market
* Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - Malaysian Ringgit (RM)
Language - Malay
Land Area - 243 sq km's
Population - 1,800,000
Electricity - 2 vertical square pins and one perpendicular below British style
Time - GMT plus eight hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 60

Port Location - Port Klang is situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 40 km from Kuala Lumpur.

Transport Links - The state-of-the-art Kuala Lumpur International Airport (or KLIA), 43km (27 miles) to the south of the city center, is a major gateway to South East Asia. It handles flights for over 40 international carriers. Kuala Lumpur has four interstate express bus terminals serving different regions of Peninsula Malaysia. The main rail routes from Kuala Lumpur are south to Singapore (journey time - 7 hours) and north to Bangkok.

Kuala Lumpur has an increasingly fast, efficient and cheap public transport system.