In this episode, we talk with Victoria Heinz of www.guideyourtravel.com about one of the most underrated cities in South East Asia, Kuala Lumpur.
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The Why We Travel Podcast website: https://whywetravel.net/
Visit our website at https://whywetravel.net/
In this episode, we talk with Victoria Heinz of www.guideyourtravel.com about one of the most underrated cities in South East Asia, Kuala Lumpur.
On the Show Today You’ll Learn:
Links & Resources
Website: www.guideyourtravel.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/guideyourtravel_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/guideyourtravel
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/guideyourtravel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/guideyourtravel
The Why We Travel Podcast website: https://whywetravel.net/
Visit our website at https://whywetravel.net/
Claus Lauter: Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Why we Travel Podcast. Today our journey takes us to Southeast Asia, to Malaysia, and specifically there to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. So as a guest on a show today, I have Victoria Heinz. She's a travel blogger and freelance writer based in Bali, Indonesia, and she started the Blog GuideYourTravel.com in 2018 and covers , budget, travel.
So, Asia Travel Destination Guides, and her blog also will introduce you to the world of becoming a digital normad and blogger. So let's welcome Victoria. Hi Victoria. How are you today,
Victoria Heinz: Hi. I'm very good. Close. Nice to meet you.
Claus Lauter: Victoria, tell me a little bit what got you into traveling?
Victoria Heinz: , I was lucky enough to travel a lot growing. , and then I just continued. I studied abroad, so I left home and then I just never came back really
Claus Lauter: Okay. Was there any particular experience as a child or whatsoever that got you to travel back that really wanted to make you be becoming a travel?
Victoria Heinz: , My parents, especially my mom, introduced me to traveling, so I was very, very lucky. And I just always remembered our trips and there's such fun memories. I want to create more.
Claus Lauter: Okay, cool. Now we're talking about Southeast Asia. I understand you're living in Indonesia right now on the beautiful island of, , Bali, so that's not that far away from Malaysia. Let's talk about Kuala Lumpur, also one of my favorite cities. What got you to Kuala Lumpur? Tell me a little bit about it.
Victoria Heinz: , I actually did an internship there in 2019. Yes. Right before Covid. , and I just loved it so much. It was very unexpected. I didn't have any expectations and I fell in love with the city. It was amazing.
Claus Lauter: Okay. What makes you falling in love with Gu Lupu?
Victoria Heinz: I don't know. I like big cities in general, , especially Asian cities. I love Bangkok and Laur, but Ku Lumpur for me was special cuz I don't know, there's so much to see and do. It's that melting pot of different cultures. So you can go to different countries in one day in one city and it feels like a completely different place.
I always loved that about co.
Claus Lauter: Now, as you said, , it's multicultural, it's multiethnic. , give our listeners a bit of an idea what they can expect when they come there.
Victoria Heinz: Well, you've got a big Chinese influence, you've got Chinese, Malaysians, , amazing , Chinese food, beautiful temples. And then you've got the Indian side. You've got Indian Malaysians, Little India. so cool again, amazing temples. Completely different culture, completely different food. And then you've got the Malaysian culture, which of course also exists.
You've got Malay people who have their own culture, and it's just this combination. You've got more expects as well from all around the world. So it all just blends into one.
Claus Lauter: So it's a big city. , I think the city has about 2 million people and the surroundings gives you another five or something like that. What kind of wipe would you expect there and what makes a difference of Kuala Lumpur compared to other cities in Southeast Asia?
Victoria Heinz: I don't know. Singapore is very clean, of course, very modern, for me, one of the most impressive cities in the world, whereas Ur. got a lot more original culture, I would say, like just life happening that isn't heavily influenced by big companies or lots of tourists. There. Of course, you'll find companies, tourists, but it feels a lot more original to me still, and I appreciate that you get amazing street food, but also expensive restaurants all within one and it's not too expensive, which I appreciate.
Claus Lauter: Okay. What would you recommend for a first time visitor of Kupo or kl? Locals call it what, would be a itinerary or what the truth they see and do once they arrive.
Victoria Heinz: for me the most exciting thing, very straightforward, but the battle caves, they always impress me. I think I've been there like six, seven times. I still go. , they're free. You can reach them by public transport. Super easy, and they're just incredible, like so, so impressive. , That would be my favorite thing to do, I think.
And then I would continue to China Town, which is just amazing for food, for walking around, doing some shopping, seeing some cool temples. I'm very passionate about P . My favorite temple is Ho Temple. It's a bit , off the radar. Not everyone goes. , and it's so cool.
It has amazing city views, beautiful temple, great for taking photos, and yeah, I think those three places would be where I would start.
Claus Lauter: Okay, so how do you get around in the city? What's the public transport situation in colo?
Victoria Heinz: the Metro, I think is the easiest way to get around. The trains, they're very easy to use, very affordable. They take you almost everywhere, like important places. And then you've got buses as well. They're a bit more tricky if you don't speak the language, but you'll figure it out like it works.
And then it's also a very walkable city, it's quite safe. You can walk to most places. , when I lived there, I was there alone. I always walked. I enjoyed it.
Claus Lauter: Talking about living there, are there any specific areas, neighborhoods that you would recommend.
Victoria Heinz: I lived in K L C C, which is very central, very financial. , I like it. It was nice. You get lots of shopping malls. , again, you can walk around. You have lots of food ports, , that I really appreciated. I was very close to Klcc Park, so I used to go on runs there. I loved that. , but most travelers do stay in China.
Where I stay now when I visit Gayle, is it worse? And I think it's very fun. You have bars, street food, lots of other travelers around. Very lively
Claus Lauter: How are the people, the Malaysian people, , what's your experience with the Malaysian people?
Victoria Heinz: Oh, so friendly. I love them. I made a lot of friends. I worked , in an office and most of my coworkers were Malaysian, obviously. And we had a great time. They introduced me to the city. They took me along with them. Very, very happy that I found such a group of nice people.
Claus Lauter: Okay, so the country obviously, mainly Muslim country. Did that have any kind of impact on how you could travel, what you could do in a city?
Victoria Heinz: No, not really. . I went into the Indonesian embassy ones. In shorts and I was immediately covered with a song and a jacket and everything does, I think the only time. When I did realize that wasn't an okay thing to do, but I did it once and I learned and next time I came covered up.
Claus Lauter: let us know any kind of funny or interesting, Story that you had in kl. Is there anything specific that really stands out?
Victoria Heinz: What I always keep as a special memories, going to like banana leaf restaurants, that's what I call them. I'm not sure if they have a proper name. , it's Indian food and you just get a banana leaf. Everyone sits around the table and then, Someone ordered something was never me cause I don't speak Malaysian
And then they just waiters come around and throw random dishes on your banana leaf at rice and you get all these curries and they're so good. But the whole table was just full of food and it was such a happy memory for me. You sit on the street and you share food with people you don't even know.
And I thought that was very, very cool. I've never experienced that.
Claus Lauter: Okay. I'm at there. How's the weather?
Victoria Heinz: Very hot and humid every single day. , When I was there, there was no real like wet or rainy season. It was just rain all the time. Mostly get a lot of haze sometimes during specific seasons, but I compare it to any Southeast Asian place. Just be prepared for the occasional storm and then it's fine.
Claus Lauter: Okay, so K is the capital city. Capital city's normal, a little bit more expensive than other places. How much does it cost the traveler to stay in KL for a while?
Victoria Heinz: I think if you wanna do kale on a budget, you definitely can. , it's a very cheap place to eat out. , you can find very, very good street food, or if you go to food courts. , you can eat four between one and three euros, get a great local meal. And then if you stay in the hospital, I think you can stay below 10 euros a night.
You're very basic, not very , interested in a nice hotel room. Hotel rooms say maybe 30 euros a night, you get something decent. , but Airbnbs are also very good in kale, has a great selection of apartments. You get nice views. Cool. That's a bit more expensive.
Claus Lauter: so getting there, how do you. Two kl, , what's the best way to get in and ,
Victoria Heinz: the giant airport, Kia or k l i a. , it's a beautiful airport. There's actually two of them and yeah, that's easiest way to get there. I've also taken the bus there. That's very interesting. Crossing the border from Singapore. Highly recommend. The buses are amazing, very comfortable. The ride was smooth and.
So if you are in Singapore, I'm guessing in Northern Malaysia as well, you can just take a bus.
Claus Lauter: Okay, so what would you recommend for someone who wants to go first time KO Lumpur, what kind of itinerary would you do? How many days should they schedule? What kind of timeframe would you recommend there?
Victoria Heinz: Like most travelers are quite short on time, obviously. , so I'd start with maybe. Two to four days. I think if you're very short on time, two days is probably fine. , I love the city a lot, so we can easily spend a week or two there. Plenty of things to do, but , I do understand you have other places to see in Southeast Asia, but I think one day to see battle caves, , Chinatown, maybe walk around Puit Bintang, which is , more fanciest place of care.
It's a shopping malls, nice bars. Plan a night to go out in the evening. Just Kale has amazing bars like Hidden Speakeasys and stuff. That's always one of my favorite things to do there. K lcc. He powers, I haven't even mentioned them. Most important part of scale.
The Kale Tower is also very nice. So I'd say two to three days minimum.
Claus Lauter: Okay. Now, if you're not only a traveler and traveling through, if you're a digital Noma and you wanna stay there a little bit longer, what recommendations do you have them?
Victoria Heinz: I would get an affordable apartment somewhere. , I think there's a decent selection if you look, , and then just enjoy yourself. Spend some time this is a strange recommendation, but go to local food courts where office workers go. They're not always easy to find, but they have the best food.
And you might meet some people along the way, other people who work nine to five and just immerse yourself in their culture and just try some of the best and most affordable food in town. And then of course, go out at night, , mingle. I don't know. There's some great co-working spaces popping up now. I'd highly recommend it to digital.
Claus Lauter: Okay. Sounds great. Are there any other places around Kuala Lumpur that you would recommend to just get out of town for the weekend or something?
Victoria Heinz: I don't know. Back when I was in Cale, I actually spent most of my time in the city. I do like Langkawi used to go there. , but it's obviously not very close to ca close to the tide border of beautiful island. If you get the chance, lights are very cheap. And then there's a mountain town everyone goes to.
Do you know by chance? I forget.
Claus Lauter: It's the one place I haven't been in Malaysia,
Victoria Heinz: Heights. Yeah. I haven't been there, but I hear great things. it's not too far away. So highly
recommended,
Claus Lauter: I think everyone goes there because it's, , on higher elevation, so it's not as humid. , so that's why people, have a refugee and go over there over the
weekend.
Victoria Heinz: that's true.
Claus Lauter: Cool. Sounds good. Thanks so much. What's your next destination where you want to.
Victoria Heinz: , I just got to Bali a few months ago, so I'm hoping to stay here for a bit. We've been traveling quite a lot, so this is time to take a break, get some work done, and recharge. Hopefully stay here for a while.
Claus Lauter: Okay. Sounds good. Victoria, where can people find about you? Is there any specific place on the interwebs where they can find you?
Victoria Heinz: I think my blog is a good place to start. I have a lot of kale content if anyone's interested. Lots of ballet content as well. And then I'm quite active on Instagram if you wanna look me up there.
Claus Lauter: Okay, excellent. I will put the links in the show notes, then you just one click away. Cool. Thanks so much for giving us a bit of an insight into kl. I highly can recommend the city. I have been there a few times and I also love it a lot. And that was a good summary of what people can expect in kl.
Thanks so much for your
Victoria Heinz: I hope so. Thank you.