Bustling in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur captivates me with its blend of cultures reflected in the lifestyle of its people, its delicious food, and its poetic riverside streets. However, it is hard for anyone here to just stroll around and eat delicious food while ignoring the shopping malls. Coming to Kuala Lumpur and skipping the journey to explore the shopping malls also means you have ignored “a corner of the soul” of the city.

With the help of my Malaysian friend, I had an exciting day of “shopping hunt” from morning to late afternoon in the heart of crowded Kuala Lumpur. The journey of discovery spread across the 3 most famous shopping streets of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Although tiring, it was full of interesting things. Starting from Suria KLCC, the shopping mall located inside the famous Petronas Twin Towers, this is the only place where visitors can find some high-end brands such as Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Dior Homme… Right at the foot of the shopping mall is the LRT station from which you can continue your journey to Bukit Bintang, the bustling shopping mecca of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang is home to a series of bustling shopping centers, including: the large Pavilion with 8 separate shopping areas, Fahrenheit 88 with the cheapest Bookxcess bookstore in Malaysia, or Low Yat Plaza - a technology paradise with rare and hard-to-find products and a luxurious red carpet Berjaya Times Square with lavish, splendid booths...

Leaving the complex of bustling shopping centers, take the monorail and the next destination is Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman - a 1.7km shopping street with a series of bustling retail stores. This is a street of bright colors from blue and yellow painted houses to shops covered with countless pieces of fabric or gorgeous traditional clothes. You will encounter a glimpse of traditional Malaysian commercial culture if you visit long-standing fashion stores such as Harison, Gulati's Silk House... Current retail units also gather in the 10-storey space of Sogo - the largest department store in Malaysia.

An interesting destination that cannot be missed if you want to really learn about the traditional culture as well as the long-standing trading activities of Kuala Lumpur is Central Market. The beautiful market with stalls selling souvenirs, cuisine, handicrafts with a blend of Indian, Malaysian and Chinese cultures. I ended my “shopping hunt” journey perfectly with a delicious meal at Precious Old China restaurant, which owns dishes with a delicate blend of traditional Chinese and Malaysian cuisine. The cozy space, exquisite furniture, and great cuisine are the simplest way to soothe your stomach after a long and exciting “shopping hunt”.

I ended my journey to discover “a corner of the soul” of Kuala Lumpur with my feet aching, my face flushed from the sun, and full of excitement for having successfully discovered one of the most modern and lovely corners of Kuala Lumpur.

It can be difficult to plan a shopping hunt for first-time visitors to Kuala Lumpur, so here are some must-sees if you want to experience shopping in Malaysia's capital.

For book lovers

KinokuniyaKinokuniya Suria KLCC is a Japanese bookstore chain founded in 1982. It is currently one of the largest branches in Southeast Asia. It gathers more than 300,000 books written in English, Japanese, Chinese and Malay. For those who love Japanese culture, Kinokuniya will be a paradise with English comic books, art books of famous animated films...

Kinokuniya, 4th floor, Suria KLCC

Junk Book Storeis the largest and oldest used bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. The bookstore is located near the famous Central Market. The narrow aisles with shelves stacked with all kinds of genres from novels, magazines, detective stories, picture books, comics... will definitely be a paradise for book lovers. Although not new, the books at Junk Book Store are of quite good quality and of course sold at very affordable prices.

Junk Book Store, 78 Jalan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur

Fabrics and crafts

Central Marketis where you will find very traditional Malaysian items, from cuisine to handicrafts. The market is divided into 3 areas, including the Indian area, the Chinese area and the Malay area. Each area sells its own typical items and is also decorated in a different style. Remember to prepare a little more money because you will hardly be able to refuse some small and pretty handicrafts such as wood carvings, bracelets and colorful Batik fabrics...

Jalan Hang Kasturi, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Jakel Mallis a large commercial area with 5 floors selling high-end fabrics and silks of the Jakel Trading textile group. Here, you can buy high-quality fabrics of Jakel from silk, lace, to materials of famous brands imported exclusively from Italy such as Gucci, Valentino, Prada and Versace. In addition to garments, you can also find furniture, bed sheets with delicate and unique patterns.

Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Peter Hoe Beyondis a unique store in Kuala Lumpur that houses a souvenir shop, a clothing shop and a cafe all in one. Here you will find unique products from all over Asia designed or collected by Peter Hoe. There are countless things you can look forward to taking home from Peter Hoe Beyond: hand-dyed tablecloths, delicately embroidered cushions, exquisite silverware and countless rare souvenirs.

No. 145, Jalan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur

Jewelry

Habib JewelsHabib Jewels is famous in Malaysia for its exquisite diamond jewelry. The sparkling diamond rings, necklaces, bracelets with classic designs and meticulous workmanship from Habib Jewels are definitely the choice not to be missed if you want to go home with something sparkling.

Lot C49, Concourse Level, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Meanwhile,Shinju PearlsShinju Pearls is strong in exquisite pearl jewelry. In addition, at the company's stores, you can also find unique jewelry made from other gemstones. Shinju Pearls' designs are very diverse, from simple, elegant necklaces to luxurious and lavish jewelry.

F084 First Floor, Midvalley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur

Experience Hi Tea

Hi Tea is a form of afternoon tea that is very popular among Malaysians and is also one of the traditional cultural features here. In Kuala Lumpur, the Majesty Hotel is the ideal place for you to experience this unique culture. Sipping a cup of fragrant tea in the orchid garden or in the middle of a classic luxury space is an experience worth trying. The price for one person ranges from 48 RM++ to 88 RM++ depending on the space you choose.

5 Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, KL City Center Malaysia

"Hunting" for promotional items in Kuala Lumpur

Every year, Malaysia usually organizes 3 Mega Sale periods: 1Malaysia Super Sale, 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnaval and 1Malaysia Year-End Sale. In 2016, these 3 big Sale periods will take place from 1/3-31/3, 15/6-31/8 and from 1/11-31/12, this is the time when many shopping centers simultaneously discount many items.

Additionally, you can access Facebook, Instagram, Twitter with Miss SHOpphia - the representative icon of shopping experiences in Malaysia - to be provided with information on shopping destinations as well as ongoing discounts and Mega Sales.

Article: Thuy An. Photos: Various sources

The Thanh