Things to check out in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a nice place.

Live Fact

I pulled up to KL on a Sunday, so there's a lot of music I ended up missing out on. I did find this place called Live Fact, which is a little studio/venue in Petaling Jaya. It's pretty intimate, and appears to be the spot for the local shoegaze scene. I got to see Commemorate's album showcase, opened by Aurum, Feral and Suur. Pedal-laced walls of sound do get pretty repetitive (especially for a show that goes on for over 3 hours), but I suppose that isn't really news. Good vibes, nice people, and solid music. There didn't appear to be a kitchen or anything in there (there was some kind of pantry but I wouldn't really call the place a diner) so don't go on an empty stomach.

Amcorp Mall

This isn't a mall in our sense of the word. Think Palika Bazaar, except it's 50% record, comics and collectibles stores + not sketchy. This place alone would make KL worth coming back to, considering that I haven't found anything of the like back home. 5-15RMB (₹100-300) CDs, 10-20RMB vinyls, and similarly cheap cassettes. I didn't go with the mindset to truly Consume, so I just got a handful of no-name CDs. Sort out a bucket list of whatever physical media/otaku shit you want before you come here. There's also (at least one) really dope antiques store, picrel so you can orient yourself a little before coming. Cool place, absolutely would recommend.

Petronas Twin Tower

This place is for the vibes. There isn't much to do as such, unless you're rich enough to transcend price-consciousness. The shops here are pretty much there only for brand-positioning. The only activity is a tour to the bridge between the towers — you have to book tickets for it, and make sure to book them BEFORE you go there, it is usually overbooked. The tour itself is pretty nice, albeit at a steep price (100RM).

Chinatown (Petaling Street)

Avoid it. The market itself has precisely the quality of goods you'd find at Palika, and at similar prices. There's also no interesting goods, mostly typical knockoff-branded clothes and other mass-market stuff.

KL Butterfly Park

Great place. It's a little greenhouse that's very nicely landscaped, and hosts a bunch of butterflies (and other bugs, but they're in enclosures if having bugs free roam bothers you). The entry fee is 60RM or something like that. Ask for a student discount, I forgot to so I'm not sure if there is one.

Islamic Arts Museum

This museum is in walking distance of the butterfly park (matter of fact, most of the places I mention here have the same closest train station, Pasar Seni). 20RM entry, 10 for students — don't leave your ID card at home. Highly recommend. Lots of ancient Quranic manuscripts, Persian (and other) illuminated miniatures and other Islamic relics. There's a gift/book store too.

Petai Balalang

Full-house grindcore on a Tuesday fucking night. Small scene venue where everyone knows everyone. I have accepted that we Asians cannot mosh. Saw Tools of the Trade and _. This place also doesn't serve anything (they have an amateurish drinks counter much like Live Fact), so go with a full stomach or bring whatever you want with you. Sovl place, make sure to drop by.

Guru Nanak Darbar Tatt Khalsa Diwan Gurdwara

It's a pretty nice Gurudwara. Kirtan is at 6.30am and 7pm (not sure about the latter). They don't serve Langar on Wednesdays, and that's when I visited. There isn't a lot more to say about the place, I suppose. The nearby area is interesting to walk through.