Quick trips for when you feel like a break from the city.

i-City

i-City is a large property development project in Selangor which aims to be Malaysia’s version of Silicon Valley. But the real appeal of i-City is at night, when its large grounds are lit up with millions of different colored LED lights. Opened last year it’s a romantic spot for a stroll with your lover underneath an array of LED-lit trees? There’s a fake snow dome nearby as well if you want to cool down.
i-City Shah Alam, Selangor, +603-5521-8800. www.i-city.my

Astaka Morocco

Astaka Morocco is situated in the heart of the equally beautiful and serene Putrajaya Botanical Gardens. The vast, 18,000-sq-meter authentic Moroccan pavilion is made entirely of marble and was built as a symbol of the good diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Morocco. Most of the decorative details were carved and created in Morocco before they, and a number of the craftsmen, were flown over to Putrajaya to complete the final touches.
Taman Botani, Putrajaya, +603-8888-9090. Entry is US$2 for the park, and an additional US$1 to get into the Moroccan pavilion. www.ppj.gov.my

Sunway Pyramid/Sunway Lagoon

If you’re done with sightseeing and shopping and simply want to cool off—or more importantly, if your kids do—then your best bet is to head to Petaling Jaya to splash about at Sunway Lagoon. The 80-acre water park, which is handily adjacent to a large shopping mall (see shopping), is a vast fun park which consists of an amusement park, a mini zoo and the water park with its faux beaches, death-defying slides and world’s largest beach, complete with a man-made 75 feet high volcano as a background.
Sunway Lagoon. 3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, +603-5639 0000. Rates: US$27 for limited zones and US$33 for all areas. www.sunwaylagoon.com

Kampung Kuantan

For something completely different why not head to Kampung Kuantan, a small village in Kuala Selangor. Here, locals will put you into a small row boat that fits only 3-4 people, then row you to see the huge gatherings of fireflies along the dark, quiet river. You’ll be amazed by the millions of blinking lights that seem to hang from every bush and tree like Christmas decorations. Any time of year is good to go and spot the little glowing bugs.
Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, +603-3289-1439, +603-3289-7046. Rates around US$13 for a 20-min boat trip of four people.

Batu Caves

Just a short train or taxi ride from downtown KL this limestone outcrop and its three main caves containing a series of temples and Hindu shrines is a hugely popular tourist destination. A large statue of the Hindu God Shiva protects the entrance to the caves, which are also home to groups of Long tailed-macaque monkeys. The best time of year is during the Hindu festival of Thaipusum (usually around Late Jan) when hundreds of thousands devotees flock to the site carrying kavadis or (burdens) in the form of jugs to show penance to the gods.
Kuala Lumpur Tourist Office Tel: +603-2615 8188 Tourism Infoline : 1-300-88-5050

 

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