Tired of running on the treadmill but have no idea where
else to go? It’s time to shake things up! The great outdoors is calling
for you with it’s plethora of natural sights, sounds and smells. And if
you pick your cards right, clean and sweet fresh air!
1. Desa Park City
Desa Park City is a new residential area north-west of the city
centre which offers a gentle 2.2km loop around a picturesque lake. A
quaint suburban setting and a favourite of many joggers, it’s
family-friendly, perfect for beginners and surrounded by commercial
amenities to tend to your needs.
2. KLCC Park
Conveniently located by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC Park
features a 1.3km jogging track covered with “EPDM.” This special surface
increases the grip of your soles and ensures a comfortable run.
Generally packed throughout the day with both joggers and tourists, KLCC
Park is surprisingly serene. With water fountains dotted throughout and
fitness groups on-hand to motivate you, it’s an ideal place to get
active in the city.
3. Perdana Botanical Gardens (formerly Lake Gardens)
Situated just behind KL Sentral, the Perdana Botanical Gardens is a
green haven to whisk you away from the hustle and bustle of the city
while you’re still in the city. Keep in mind that this place is big
(bigger than you’d expect anyway), so if you’re a first-timer, be
careful about getting lost. It won’t let you down though with its
vibrant mix of gardens, hills and stairs. You’ll also have a calming
lake to take in at the end of your run.
4. Bukit Kiara
If you really want to make strides in your fitness, add in some high
intensity running. And you won’t have to head far for that either. Make
your way around the park at TTDI (Taman Tun Dr Ismail) or run up the
hill to get a good mix of jungle and paved streets.
5. Pantai Hill & Taman Desa
Ok, so we know that these aren’t “designated areas for running,”
however they do have a lot of gated housing areas. Use this to your
advantage as it’ll give you the opportunity to get away from the traffic
and run in peace. The terrain also gently slopes both up and downhill
adding some level of intensity to your run.
6. FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia)
Fresh, serene and full of nature, FRIM is a haven for trail running
of all levels. Some routes are narrow and uphill, some are hard and
paved, while others are long and flat. Our Health & Wellness
Director Carina’s favourite trail takes you off-road and up a gentle
hill in the deepest part of the jungle then continues along a flat,
shaded path. The best thing is that there’s absolutely no concrete in
sight!
7. Taman Metropolitan Kepong
Located near FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia), Taman
Metropolitan Kepong offers a 3.5km running loop. With a variety of
trails, each encapsulated with green surroundings and a mix of flat and
hilly terrain, this is the ultimate way to mix things up with fresh air
on the weekend.
8. Taman Botani Negara
Taman Botani Negara is great for interval training. As you make your
way up and down the pavement, you’ll experience a feast for your senses
passing Skytrex (a climbing adventure park), fruit trees, dams and even a
cactus farm. This means that you’ll also be spoilt for choice for
things to see and do after your run! While Taman Botani Negara is a
great place for longer runs, the only issue is that most of it is
covered in concrete.
9. Putrajaya
Although it’s easy to stay right inside KL, if you head a bit out of
town, you will be rewarded. Long and flat running tracks await you all
around the lake and through the heart of Putrajaya. And once you’re done
with running, you can cool off with some watersports or simply hang out
in the shade for a much-deserved picnic.
Kuala Lumpur is most certainly an amazing destination. Protected by the Sumatra Island on the west and the Titiwangsa Mountains on the east, the capital and most populated city of Malaysia is an impressive blend of its British colonial past and its modern cosmopolitan future.
As evidence of Kuala Lumpur’s astounding growth, except from one of the world’s tallest buildings, called the Petronas Towers, there is also the Menara KL Tower. Located in the heart of the city, the tower is used mainly for telecommunication purposes and has an antenna, standing at 421 m/1381 ft high above the ground.
This impressive building offers many attractions for the visitors such as cultural events, nature walks and incredible panoramic views over the city. The spot has certainly become a landmark of great importance for Malaysia. However, for the world’s adrenaline seekers, this tower is of great importance for a different reason
KL Tower is widely known as the World’s Base-jump Center since 1999, when the first jump took place. Ever since, it hosts the longest running urban base-jump event, one of the most thrilling and largest competitions of its kind on the planet. The jump off platform is set at the broadcast part of the Tower Head at a height of 300 m/984.2 ft high asl and it is amazing spot to boost your adrenalin levels.
Jalan Alor at Bukit Bintang Best hawker food in Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Alor is a unique food destination in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
The whole character of the city changes when you step onto the street.
Gone are the modern shopping malls that align the city, which are
replaced with something of the past age. During the day, there is not
much activity but when the sun goes down, the street will be hustling
and bustling with activity.
It was once known as a red light district and remnants of those
activities still exist. However, after several face lifts, the street
has literally become a food haven.
Some of the best culinary delights that Malaysia has to offer are not
at the swanky overpriced restaurants but right at the sidewalks, in the
rows and rows of hawker stalls. On Jalan Alor, these stalls will take
up both sides of the road selling food that best represents Malaysia.
This is not just a place for the locals but foreigners also frequently
visit here to taste the unique dishes that they would most probably not
be able to back home.
The best advice for people who wish to visit Jalan Alor is to bring
their appetite. As mentioned, there are plenty to choose from here and
you wouldn’t be able to try everything in a single trip, so it is
important that you make several trips to this street if there is a high
possibility that you will not be returning to Jalan Alor for quite a
while. Here, you are not just tasting the food here but also the culture
in Malaysia. Diversity does not just exist in the population but that
very factor that makes Malaysia so special is also translated in its
cooking.
While most of the menus are in Chinese characters, there are some who
also provide English translation in order to cater to tourists and a
growing number of locals who are not Chinese-educated. This is of course
good news for foreigners as they will also be able to order from the
translated menus. If you do come across a menu in Chinese but are not
able to read, don’t be intimidated but ask for recommendations instead.
This way, you will be able to truly experience what the street has to
truly offer.
The character of the street takes a life of its own and you will
definitely be missing out if you do not go there for a visit. Jalan Alor
is synonymous with good food, so much that there were much protests
when the local authorities renamed the road. Jalan Alor indeed has a lot
to offer for local visitors as well as those coming from abroad, so
head there and experience it for yourself.
As Jalan Alor is located within the Bukit Bintang area, it can be
easily found if you are staying somewhere in the city center. For
example, Radium Palace is located 1 minute from the food street, from
Capitol Hotel it is a 2 minute walk and 5-star Grand Millennium is only
10 minutes from Jalan Alor. If you are staying outside the city center,
you can get to Jalan Alor by metro. Get out at Bukit Bintang Station
(right next to Lot10 Shopping Mall). From there it is a 5 minute walk to
Jalan Alor.
KL’s burger bar scene is bursting at the seams. Over the past few
years, there has been a tremendous boom in burger joints, each trying to
stamp a signature onto their craft to set themselves apart from the
rest. Here are some of the best burger places in Kuala Lumpur.
1. MyBurgerLab
Burger-making is both a science and an art form at My Burger Lab. Their
special ‘smash’, for which meat is flattened into balls and mashed,
ensure the juiciest patties which are then stuffed into a jet-black
bamboo charcoal bun, lovingly topped and smothered in sauce. The buns
are baked daily for that fresh-from-the-oven taste; they have the ideal
balance of a light, crispy crust outside with a soft and fluffy inside.
The Beautiful Mess burger is exactly that; a beef patty
oozing with sharp Cheddar cheese, fried portabellas, a sunny-side up and
honey mustard sauce. If you are not completely satisfied with their
glorious creations, you can personalise your burger with an array of
add-ons. My Burger Lab: making the world a happier place one burger at a time.
If the smells seeping for Burger Junkyard’s kitchen don’t
grab your attention, their eye-catching graffiti wall is sure to. This
fantastically finger-licking burger joint (no cutlery supplied here)
offers up classics with an inventive twist. Their unique ‘steamed
cheese’ will get your digestive juices flowing; an almost magical
concoction of pressed Cheddar, sharp Cheddar and smoked mozzarella all
melted together and poured over your burger just before serving. Each
patty is paired with well-thought-out ingredients and the sweet and
buttery brioche buns add a wonderful sweet-vs-savoury element.
A popular pick is the Buffalo Soldier burger with
char-grilled chicken thigh, Buffalo hot sauce, celery, tomatoes and
scallion root sour cream; a winning combination of sweet, sour and
spicy. The Balsamic Beefin’s Onions burger is a tangy delight
with caramelized French onion chutney, roasted tomatoes, pickled
beetroot, balsamic-raisin sauce and fresh garden greens. Vegetarian and
vegan options are also available, such as The Ratatouille burger,
spilling over with soft stewed courgette, aubergine, bell peppers and
tomatoes; delightfully sloppy! Be sure to leave room for one of the
stand-out desserts. The creamy panna cotta is creamy, light and wobbles obligingly when shaken.
Following KL’s burger boom, KGB set out to distinguish their burgers
from the rest. Their beef patties are made from Australian 100%
grass-fed beef that contains less fat, cholesterol and calories than
your average burger, but maintains all the flavour. KGB’s signature
buttery, yellow-hued buns are proudly brandished with their logo; a
stamp of quality perhaps? Mirrored walls give the illusion of space in
this cosy, all-American-style joint. Hungry diners browse the chalkboard
menu where there is the choice between regular or gourmet burgers; the
latter using a thicker and juicier patty.
The Shack burger, a smashed patty, sharp Cheddar cheese and a
zesty NYC-inspired ‘Shack sauce’, is exactly what a cheeseburger ought
to be; no more, no less. If you’re brave enough, take on The Bash. You’ll
have to push down the layers of beef, bacon relish, Provolone cheese,
caramelized onions and maple cornflakes, unless you have a mouth the
size of a bulldog! This burger is sumptuously juicy and the Cornflakes
provide a childhood-evoking ‘crunch’. Possibly one of the spiciest
burgers around is The Bobcat. The tender grilled chicken is
spread liberally with an eye-popping green chilli slaw and jalapeno mayo
for a spicy-tangy burst. Wash it all down with KGB’s fresh
lemonade or passion fruit juice, served in a clear pack punctured with a
straw, just like your favourite childhood juice box.
Harley’s Malaysian founder dreamt of bringing no-frills,
back-to-basics burgers to KL. Selected cuts of meat, crispy lettuce,
melty cheese and tasty secret sauce make his burgers a simple and
comforting treat. For extra hungry customers, there is the option to
double- or triple-up on patties or order yourself a side of the moreish
crunchy fried chicken.
For burger beginners, there are basic beef and chicken burgers for a
cheap and cheerful RM6.90+. For the more adventurous eater, the 2×2 Beef Burger with
its smoky and pleasantly charred patty and a choice of ‘classic’ or
‘secret’ sauce is a sure-fire winner. Harley’s outdoor seating section
is perfect for a cool evening; inventively-designed for a
family-friendly and spacious feel. When the sun is scorching, hop back
inside for air-conditioned relief.
Situated on the highly competitive strip of Section 17 that houses the like of The Humble Pie Co. and Kanna Curry House, The Grind Burger Bar serves
its gourmet burgers to brewing crowds. This is not your ordinary burger
joint; with its exposed red brick walls, long bar and ingenious moody
lighting, you’ll feel as if in an uptown Soho bar rather than a sloppy
burger joint. The Grind is known to serve some of the best
onion rings in town and their Swedish meatballs with house gravy and
Lingonberry jam will have you ignoring the main attraction.
But back to the burgers; the JD Burger with secret Jack
Daniel’s sauce, crispy bacon, Cheddar, onion slivers, tomato and a pork
patty is an instant classic. Make the most of their revered onion rings
with the Lord of the Rings burger, stuffed with a pork patty, onion rings and bacon. The crispy battered onions add a textural crunch to the ensemble. T
The Grind is all about helping you get your five-a-day.
Expect the unexpected with peach halves and pineapple slices appearing
in some of their concoctions. Finally, for the carb-avoiders among us,
burgers are no longer ‘out’. Bun-free burgers are available too.
Hiding in the shadow of Bangsar Village is another trendy hangout for burger fans. Burgers at The Daily Grind draw inspiration from around the world. Representing the UK is the All Day Breakfast Burger; the whole works, topped with baked beans and a runny sunny-side up, all sandwiched into an English muffin.
Italy marks its ground with the Italian Mozza Burger; a beef
patty with melted mozzarella, grilled peppers, smoky tomato sauce and
basil pine nut pesto. Another Mediterranean marvel is the My Big Fat Greek Burger featuring a flavourful lamb patty, grilled eggplant, cucumber yoghurt and Greek salad. Heading over to Asia, The Daily Grind give you a spicy Vietnamese-inspired chicken Bahn Mi Burger with
creamy chicken liver pate, pickled cucumber, carrot, jalapeno, chilli
and fresh coriander. Attention to details is paid to every element of
the burgers.
The Daily Grind even makes its own ketchup from fresh pureed tomatoes.
Sinning seldom gets deadlier than at Burgertory, where their
juicy patties are transformed into burger bacchanalia. Rows of wooden
workbench seating, complete with exposed nuts and bolts, and illuminated
by industrial-type lighting give a surprisingly relaxed feel.The
canteen-style ordering system will take you back to your school days;
line up at the counter to place your order, fill your drinks cup at the
‘help yourself’ free flow drinks area and receive your meal stuffed into
a brown paper bag and placed in a metal basket along with your choice
of sides.It’s certainly not grand, but we love the laid-back, ‘dining
amongst pals’ atmosphere.
The Pioneer burger; a pork patty partnered with blushing
crab meat, cabbage, Cheddar cheese, tobiko and pimento sauce is pure
gluttony, as is the Burgertory Treasure, brimming with croutons of crispy pork lard. For those who can resist the meaty temptations, try the Mixed Grain Burger with
a protein-packed chickpea and bean patty topped with caramelized
onions. Swap out your fries for a healthy apple salad which perfectly
complements pork. Did you know: the restaurant was built by the staff
members themselves; check out the ‘storyboards’ that line the
restaurant’s walls.
Exposed brick walls, a concrete floor, steel chairs, light wooden tables and black-and-white illustrations give Buns Burger Bar all
the airs and graces of a contemporary downtown art gallery rather than a
burger joint. This ‘Instagram ready’ restaurant has become a trendy
hang-out spot for carb-cravers.
The S.E.A Burger oozes Asian flair with a lemongrass-infused beef patty, fish sauce, coriander, sambal mayo, carrot, daikon radish and cucumber. The Guac is
generously topped with lashings of house-made guacamole and
hand-chopped tangy salsa for a taste of Mexico. For a lighter seafood
offering, opt for the Scampi-dori with refreshing cucumber ribbons and citrusy lemon-mint mayo. The vegetarian options at Buns are no bland affair; The Shroom Burger comes with a juicy mushroom, crispy corn tempura and fiery siracha mayo.
What sets Buns apart from the rest are their unique side
dishes, such as ox tongue with radish, cheesy potato croquettes with
fruity raspberry sauce, garlic prawns and lamb meatballs; all served in
mini skillets. Buns is also dedicated to giving you a sweet ending, calling upon the baking brilliance of Switch Café founder, Lim Cheng Cheng for her incomparable cakes.
Fatboy’s provides diners with ‘build-your-own’ burger
satisfaction, giving us the go ahead to pig-out with no boundaries in
their black, red and white ‘art-attack’ eatery. Choose your bun, patty,
sauce and add-ons to construct your perfect flavour symphony. Fatboy’s signature barbecue sauce is
a popular choice, but if you are not a fan, try the roasted garlic
aioli, wasabi mayo, chipotle, blue cheese, hot wings sauce or even
peanut butter and Nutella! Add-ons are similarly plentiful in their
variety, from classic salad items, pickles and cheeses to more inventive
choices such as chutneys and even fruits for a sweet hit.
Feeling like a deer in the headlights? If you are overwhelmed by the choice let Fatboy’s do the hard thinking and order from their menu of creations. The Fat Basterd Burger is their ultimate combination of double beef patties, bacon, Cheddar cheese, an egg and their BBQ sauce. The Holy Caesar burger
sandwiches tender chicken, classic Caesar dressing and crumbly parmesan
into a fluffy sesame seed bun. All this burger talk is Jamaican me Hungry; Jerk-seasoned bacon stuffed pork patty with sundried tomatoes and crunchy house-made coleslaw.
The Counter elevates the concept of building your own burger to
dizzying heights – pick from five types of patties (halal-certified
beef, turkey, chicken breast, hand-cut ahi tuna or vegan veggie, in
weight categories of 150gm, 225gm or 450gm), then choose from a dozen
cheeses, 23 kitchen-made sauces and 44 toppings, packaged in a pretzel
bun, brioche-style bun, multigrain bun, ciabatta, English muffin or
sourdough bread. It’d take more than a lifetime to try every potential
combination.
So there you have it; KL seems to have all bases covered on the
burger scene, from fast-food simplicity to the more gourmet touch. Which
one will win over your heart and more importantly, your stomach?
2016年11月15日星期二
20TH CENTURY FOX WORLD GENTING
The first ever 20th Century Fox World Genting Malaysia theme park is set to open in late 2016 but to date, there is some news that the new theme park in Genting will only open in early end 2017. This is currently the most talked about theme park in the world as it is the first of its kind and being built here in Malaysia.
Costing over US$300 million, this first ever film-inspired theme park located up in the cool highlands of Malaysia will surely be the magnet of tourism for Southeast Asia and even greater Asia. This massive theme park is also taking over the 30-year old iconic Genting Theme Park which has since closed in September 2013 to make way for the new park.
In total, the entire 20th Century Fox World Genting theme park located 6000 feet in the highlands will be 25 acres in size and will feature around 25 thrill rides and attractions based on films and franchises from popular movies and cartoons. Their aim is simple - to bring the rich storytelling by Fox to a whole new level with an interactive theme park for all walks of life.
20th Century Fox World Genting Theme Park Rides
• Rio
• Ice Age
• Titanic
• Life of Pi
• Planet of the Apes
• Alien vs. Predator
• Night at the Museum
*The above are still tentative popular rides as they are yet to announce the actual line up of attractions. For now, those above have been quoted from press conferences and other news portals.
20th Century Fox World on going renovations at Genting Highlands - Photo by Greater Kuala Lumpur
There is massive construction going on around Resorts World Genting for the completion of the new theme park here. For anyone who has recently visited Genting Highlands, and stayed at the First World Hotel, you would most likely have seen the ongoing construction from the escalators going up the the Highlands Hotel area.
While it is no secret on what is going on, many curious visitors have been seen taking photos of the entire area, some even doing selfies and so on.
While Twentieth Century Fox World is under construction, Resorts World Genting also is undergoing a full refurbishment and upgrade and the popular First World Hotel will have an additional 1,286 rooms by mid-2015, possibly making it the largest hotel in the world, once again.
In total, Resorts World Genting has six hotels, and has one of the biggest hotel in the world, First World Hotel with over 7300 rooms. Their premium brand of hotels include Crockfords, Genting Grand and Maxims, together accumulating about 10,000 hotel rooms, over 60 food and beverage venues, a golf courses, and numerous other attractions to serve over 20 million customers annually.
New attractions at Genting Resorts World
Horizon 50 - A unique galleria spanning 16,000 square feet which showcases Genting's inception and development in conjunction with its 50th anniversary. The gallery also features the Genting Integrated Tourism Plan (GITP), a development road-map for the next 10 years and if you wanted to know more about Genting Highlands, Horizon 50 is the place to check out and it is free entrance.
Sky Avenue Mall Genting - This new attraction is set to open in 2016 and will be another star attraction here with an incredible size of 390,000 square feet housing over 165 retail lots, food and beverage outlets and cinemas. There are also around 76 shopping units. The Sky Avenue Mall Genting is planned to be the main hub for people to shop, dine and enjoy the overall atmosphere of Resorts World Genting. Genting Premium Outlets (GPO) - Malaysia's second premium outlet center, similar to Johor Premium Outlet (JPO) will be approximately 480,895 square feet and will have 120 outlets with a total of NLA area 260,895 square feet. Costing RM200 million, this will be Southeast Asia’s first hilltop Premium Outlet Centre and will house 150 designer brand name stores with a total 4,000 parking bays for cars and buses. This is also being built at the Awana Resort and Golf Course area of Genting with a new mid-hill cable car station here. Originally set to open by late 2015, this project was pushed to 2016.
Sky Plaza Shopping Mall - A newly renovated and modern shopping mall catered to all walks of life which is connected to Sky Avenue.
New Skyway Cable Car Station - After closing down the first cable car system or Awana Cable Car, renovations are on going now for the new cable car system which is able to transport 4,000 people an hour. This new Genting Cable Car is also located at the Sky Avenue area and will connect the mid-hill Genting Premium Outlet.
A beautiful aerial view of Resorts World Genting - Stock photo
The massive overall project is part of a RM5 billion makeover of the Genting Highlands resort, which started in December 2013 and scheduled to be completed in 10 years under the Genting Integrated Tourism Plan. The initial article on the 20th Century Fox Theme Park was done by me in 2013, while much has changed since the news came out. In 2013, Resorts World Genting attracted 19.6 million visitors and it is now targeting 30 million visitors by 2020.
To date, the last known news was that the entire project has been rescheduled to open in 2017, but there is no exact date mentioned. 20th Century Fox World Genting will also have a soft opening before the official launching. Till then, You can always check the many other theme parks in Malaysia to visit if you are coming here in 2016. Update October 2016: There was some recent news in July / Ausust of 2016 that mentioned the new theme park is scheduled to open only in late 2017 .
