How not to get bored in Malaysia

Admit it: Kuala Lumpur just doesn’t sound like the coolest vacation in your mind.

I mean, it can be really cool, but when you have Hong Kong and Singapore as ready options for shows and shopping, KL almost automatically gets ignored as an unticked box on your holiday check list.

But imagine you get to go to KL anyway because you had to for family or work. How do you get rid of any self-expected boredom? Here are a few answers to that serious-sounding question.

Don’t shun the fashion

Push your luck further by timing your trip for a rare clothing line launch. Last month, H&M not only hosted their one-month collaboration with Margiela but a no-line entrance to it as well. Jackets made of leather belts, reverse denim jackets, and other reverse-type apparel awaited.

Three floors of other H&M goods are there as well, so that should bore you even less. Just take it easier on any winter stuff for Manila unless you plan to hang out at Imperial Ice Bar every night.

Batu Caves’ monkey thieves

Fine, do a tourist attraction because you’re rarely in Malaysia: the Batu Caves, but do it differently. Their sacred monkeys like stealing junk food from visitors so just give it up. Stage a robbing. Just make sure you bring quality junk food like Lays or export-quality Filipino banana chips because those monkeys seem like the real gods over there.

Other than a staged crime, pack water and an extra shirt since it’ll really take the highly advertised 200 steps to go up (probably more steps if you go back and forth for your fashion blog’s outfit shots). Last tip: if you’re Catholic, don’t hear Sunday Mass right after climbing up to the Hindu gods like me because that would be morally ironic. I personally could not stand myself that morning.

Bundle fest bazaar

The Bundle fest bazaar by Popfest ended last month but it managed to display the kind of bazaars hipsters are capable of in KL. If you were to catch bazaars like this in the future, expect real-deal Metallica and Iron Maiden T-shirts from the ‘80s, Pentax and Nikon film cameras, autographed Fender guitars, vintage 1:43 toy cars, and lots of old man-era Ray-Ban sunglasses. They also had many framed Marvel posters available.

Bahn mi as featured by Bourdain plus other food court fare

Outdoor food stalls will always be hyped, but basement food courts like that of 1 Utama in Petalling is where it’s also at. Anthony Bourdain once featured Bahn Baguette’s beef teriyaki bahn mi and as of my mouth’s verdict, he had every right to do so. Make sure you buy crispy Taiwanese fried chicken chops nearby as a side dish and you’re set. Then get an iced teh to flush it all down.

Other worthwhile restaurants: Penang Flavours at 1 Utama and Ben’s at Pavilion.

Tokyo-Street at Pavilion

Nope, it ain’t outdoors. Tokyo Street’s on the sixth floor of Pavilion, actually, and it’s really interesting up there. The Japanese restaurants, tea shops, and lucky cat stores are designed like authentic Japanese wooden houses. Make sure you also visit The Click Shop for film cameras, black and white film rolls, and other photography equipment.

All in all, Kuala Lumpur is just too, too underrated. Five suggestions can’t fully cut it. KL’s got character and the only way you can lessen tourist boredom is to make an effort to do so. “Only boring people get bored,” they say.