The new Asian capital of cool?

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This was published 14 years ago

The new Asian capital of cool?

Aussie magnet ... the Petronas Towers in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Aussie magnet ... the Petronas Towers in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.Credit: Greg Elms / Lonelly Planet

Warwick Stanley discovers why Australians are flocking to Malaysia's capital.

The Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre could well be dubbed Malaysia's Little Australia.

Our tour party's recent arrival at the hotel on a shopping expedition coincided with that of the Australian men's and women's hockey teams, along with a large contingent of Australian retired commercial pilots who were attending a convention in the building.

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After these groups had departed, the Aussie connection remained strong.

Strine resonated through the hotel's lifts, lobby and restaurant for the four days my wife and I were there, leaving us to assume that word was out about KL's attraction as a shopping destination to match its neighbouring rival, Singapore.

It's little wonder that Australians are making the trek to the Malaysian capital, with economy airline Air Asia X offering $150 flights from Perth and $200 from the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

By doubling their fare, passengers can enjoy wider seats and ample leg room up front in premium economy.

The 28-storey Novotel is a great choice for visitors to KL, with its friendly, efficient staff and well appointed rooms.

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Ideally located in the middle of the area known as the Golden Triangle, it's just a short stroll away from the multi-storey shopping complexes at KL City Centre in the spectacular Petronas Twin Towers and the newly opened Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

There are also endless options for dining, from the ubiquitous restaurants to the buffet food malls that offer every imaginable Asian cuisine and the well-known Bintang Walk with its outdoor cafes.

For those who want to venture further afield, getting around this clean and tidy city is easy by way of its cheap and plentiful taxis.

The Chinatown markets are a paradise for bargain hunters but the tip is to know what you are going to pay before you start bargaining.

After being ripped off at the first stall my wife and I visited, we soon learnt the drill. Start at half the advertised price and work your way down.

The same doesn't apply at the city's boutiques, where the accepted approach is simply to ask if there's any special discounts on offer.

Shopping is a civilised day and night affair, with 10am openings allowing a good sleep-in and 10pm closing providing the visitor with plenty of time to give the plastic a good workout.

Other tips: Avoid travelling by road between 4pm and 6pm - the city becomes a car park - and don't step onto anything resembling a pedestrian walkway with presumed immunity. Nothing's going to stop.

When you have the chance to do some sightseeing, visit the KL Tower, a 421-metre telecommunications tower affording 360 degree views of the city and surrounds, superior to those from the Skyway at the slightly taller Petronas Towers.

It's only a short trip from there to the beautiful Butterfly Park and nearby orchid gardens.

On your way between attractions you'll see the pre-war heritage buildings and lush greenery for which KL is famous, and which are now quaintly juxtaposed with the city's stunning skyscrapers.

Back at the hotel, the Square Restaurant offers Malaysian cuisine - something, surprisingly, not as common in downtown KL as you'd expect.

There's also exotic dining at the Qing Zhen Chinese Muslim Restaurant, or the opportunity for a beer and cocktail in the relaxed atmosphere of the Spiral Lobby Lounge or Pool Bar.

The hotel has five function rooms and can accommodate conventions of up to 250 people.

All 291 rooms have WiFi access, an electronic safe box, hairdryer, sofa, working desk and flat-screen TV.

IF YOU GO:

From June 15 to August 15, Novotel is offering the same room rates at its KL City Centre as it does for all its hotels apart from those in the Middle East, ranging from 220 ringgits per room per night with breakfast included.

The writer was a guest of Accor Asia Pacific, flying to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia X.

AAP

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