Along the riverbank near Central Market you'll find beautiful works of street art. These paintings were legally made with the blessings of Kuala Lumpur City Hall which organized a competition recently to allow street artists to express themselves in a controlled environment.

Petaling Street is renowned for selling fake goods, everything from designer watches and bags to football jerseys and video games. Originally, the street was opened to traffic but it's now become an enclosed area, complete with transparent roof for protection against rain. Bargaining is the norm when buying but nowadays stall owners have become so used to this 'game' that they're reluctant to reduce their prices too low (like in the old days). Still, it's a must visit if you're in KL. Even though it's more crowded, it's best to go at night when it's cooler and there are more stalls. The top photo shows the main entrance to the street and the bottom photo shows the view as you walk in.

One of the most iconic buildings in KL is the Sultan Abdul Samad building, located in front of Dataran Merdeka. It was built in the 1890s and was named after the reigning Sultan at the time. The architecture of the building has a distinctive Moorish design and the clock tower is like KL's very own Big Ben. It was at Dataran Merdeka (or Independence Square), which the Sultan Abdul Samad building faces, that Malaysia's independence from British rule was declared on August 31st 1957. The building used to house the Federal Court, Court of Appeals and High Court, but is now home to the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture. Malaysia's Independence Day and New Year celebrations are often held here with dazzling firework displays.

The traditional coffee shop in Malaysia is called Kopitiam (pronounced "ko-pee tee-um"). Here you can find simple food like toast with Kaya (coconut jam), soft-boiled eggs and noodles. And of course, coffee and tea. The decor usually consists of round wooden tables and stools with marble tops. Over the past few years a new breed of Kopitiams has emerged. These are franchised imitation cafes usually found in shopping malls. The decor and menu is the same but of course the prices are a little higher. One of the most successful franchise is the Old Town Kopitiam (pictured).

Central Market in KL started life as a wet market in 1888. It's now a one-stop shopping destination for Malaysian handicrafts and souvenirs. It also holds cultural and arts events at the outdoor stage in front, as well as art exhibitions at the Annexe Gallery in the back. There are several restaurants and food stalls inside so you can shop for hours and not worry when the hunger pangs strike.

As Malaysia is a Muslim country, mosques can be found everywhere. One of the most famous ones in KL is Masjid Negara (the National Mosque). It was built in 1965 and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers. This photo is of the Mihrab. It's a semicircular niche in the wall at the front of the mosque and it indicates the direction of Mecca, which is the direction that worshippers face when praying. The Imam (the one who leads the prayers) stands close to the Mihrab and everyone else congregates in rows behind him. As can be seen here, the Mihrab is usually quite intricately designed and decorated with Islamic motifs.

If you're in KL and you need to buy something to take home, go to Central Market. You can find beautiful hand-made products like batik kaftans and wood carvings. At the same time, you can also find tacky souvenirs like t-shirts and fridge magnets. Take your pick.

The Durian is fondly known as the king of fruits in South East Asia. It's a fruit that the locals love but others hate. In fact, Andrew Zimmern, the presenter of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" (the guy who eats the world's craziest and weirdest things) can't stand durians! The name durian comes from the Malay word "duri" which means thorns. Cutting open a durian is an art. You have to cut along certain lines created by the thorns, which are just about visible. If you get it wrong, it would be tough to open. Once cut, you use your palms to push apart the insides to reveal the yellow flesh. The smell of the durian is so strong, it's enough to make you salivate or faint, depending on which side of the fence you are. If you're ever in Malaysia, you must give it a try. Who knows? You could end up liking something which Andrew Zimmern himself can't stomach!

The best place to view the iconic Petronas Twin Towers is from Sky Bar, across Kuala Lumpur City Park on the 33rd floor of the Traders Hotel. There is construction going on all over KL as an indication of where Malaysia is headed, but in gaping at the awe-inspring steel glow, and when you consider the towers' six-year stint as the tallest buildings in the world from 1998-2004, you could be forgiven for thinking Malaysia has already arrived.

The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia houses over 7,000 items. These include old Qur'ans and Islamic manuscripts, textiles, pottery, arms, jewellery, and models of important Islamic architecture. There's special focus on Islam in China, India and the Malay world. It's a truly breath-taking collection. This is one of my favourite places to visit in KL.

An ice drink commonly found in the local stalls or cafes is the Three Layer Tea. It's made up of palm sugar, evaporated milk and tea. The process of making it starts with pouring palm sugar into a tall glass, followed by ice cubes. Milk is then slowly poured over the ice, filling up one third of the glass. And finally tea is poured on top. If carefully executed, you'll see a nice segregation of the three colours: dark brown, white and light brown. Of course, after you've admired the look, you need to stir it well before you drink it.

A devout hiking a flight of steps at the National Mosque (Masjid Negara) in Kuala Lumpur. There are special visiting hours for those who are not Muslim (these are typically between prayer times) and to visit those inappropriately dressed can borrow robes from the Mosque free of charge.

On a photo walk in Kuala Lumpur I came across this kind gentleman who had a cigarette in each ear. I asked him If I could take his portrait, he took ONE out and then struck a pose. People are fascinating.

The largest collection of Islamic art in South East Asia can be found in the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. There are four floors, spread over 30,000 square meters. Two floors are designated for permanent collections, while galleries in the other floors are for temporary exhibitions. The museum has a lovely Middle Eastern restaurant and a wonderful gift shop. Not only can you buy souvenirs and books but also actual Islamic artefacts from around the world.

An independent museum (not sponsored by the government of Malaysia) which aims to collect the finest of artwork from all over the Islamic world. Like most museums in Malaysia the museum is divided by three sections, Malay, Indian and Chinese, to reflect the three majority groups of the country. In addition you will find sections on architecture (prominent mosques around the world in miniature models), textiles, ceramics, jewelry, glass, and manuscripts including Korans. I can say with ease that this is one of the most beautiful museums in the world, and travelers to KL would be crazy to not set a half day aside to visit this museum.

The old KL Railway Station on Sultan Hishamuddin road used to be KL's main station. At one time it was the most important and busiest station in the whole of Malaysia. As a child, I remember feeling very excited when we went there to see relatives off or to board the train ourselves (which wasn't very often). The station was built in 1910 and has a colonial style architecture, heavily influenced by Moorish and Mughal designs. There used to be a famous hotel within the building called the Heritage Station Hotel. Sadly it closed down a couple of years ago. The beauty of the building is what is seen on the outside. There is nothing extraordinary inside apart from a little railway museum. The station now serves only local commuter trains and has lost its importance since the bigger and more modern KL Sentral Station was established not too far away in 2001.

I don't think it is any big secret that one of the best views of Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers can be seen at the Sky Bar. The Sky Bar is located on the 33rd floor of the Traders Hotel. It is uber hip with an amazing interior, but its coolness doesn't warrant the prices to eat there (considering you can have a fabulous meal in KL for $5-10USD), so I would recommend just going for a drink (or three in my case). No reservation is needed to grab a table near the bar and if you're lucky enough you can get a high-top table near the windows. Have a few drinks while ambient lounge music pumps from the speakers and have fun people watching.

Reputed to be 'the largest walk-in free-flight aviary in the world', the KL Bird Park is home to more than 3,000 birds. It's located in the Lake Gardens and covers approximately 20 acres. There are daily feeding sessions with various different species - a great opportunity for taking photos. Though some of the birds are in cages, most of them roam about freely, flying around and walking right pass you. Being in the park makes you feel like you're in a tropical rainforest. It's hard to believe that you're actually in a city. Whether you're a bird lover or not, the KL Bird Park is something special you should check out. There's a nice restaurant and two well-stocked gift shops.

The Feathered Friends Photo Booth in the KL Bird Park gives you the rare opportunity to have your photo taken with some exotic birds. I had a go with my family and we were all very nervous having these birds perched on our arms and backs. We ended up having stiff poses and forced smiles but it was worth it! This lady who came in after us was very brave. She had seven birds on her!

Since Islam is so prevalent in SouthEast Asia, head to a mosque to experience the culture (and to check out the architecture). Our group had a great time soaking up some quiet in the mosque during our Kuala Lumpur trip.

Bak-kut-teh literally translates as "meat bone tea". It consists of meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of herbs and spices for hours. In addition, the soup-like dish ingredients may include offal, varieties of mushroom, and small dishes of choy sum, and pieces of dried tofu.

Without a doubt, some of the most significant and profound travel experiences I’ve had were in Asia, and the diversity of the landscapes in Southeast Asia is absolutely awe-inspiring. And no country embodies this wonderful diversity in landscape, culture and people of Southeast Asia like Malaysia, and it has everything that one can hope for in vacation destination, a great mixture of cultures, history, people and some of the most delicious food I've had in SE Asia! http://0dysseusjournal.blogspot.com/2012/01/magnificent-malaysia-undiscovered-gem.html