The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019)

To be honest, Kuala Lumpur was never one of my favorite cities. It reminded me too much of Manila. It’s big, it’s hot, it’s crowded, and it can often be overwhelming. For us, it was always a point of entry and quick stopover on our way to more interesting destinations in Malaysia.

But something happened on a recent trip. I was in Malaysia to do a project in KL and it forced me to look at the city in a different light. Instead of seeing all the things I didn’t like about Kuala Lumpur, I started noticing all the things I did.

Like its extensive and efficient metro system, its modern shopping malls, colorful neighborhoods, and adhan.

I was at Masjid Jamek during a heavy downpour and was moved by the sight of latecomers kneeling and praying at the metro station. The floors were filthy and…