The Petronas Twin Towers are the iconic symbol of modern Malaysia, and the Skybridge that links the two buildings at 170 metres above the ground is a great destination for kids. Even if they are too young to have seen Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones make their famous jump from it in the 1999 movie “Entrapment.” acilisi.
The highlight of the new wing at 1-Utama Shopping Centre is Asia’s largest indoor climbing wall. Kids as young as three scale the walls, and there are plenty of adults too. The climbing wall is there because the Swiss company that manufactures the best climbing walls has its production factory nearby.
The capital of Malaysia was literally built on tin. There was nothing but jungle until 1857 when prospectors found tin in Kuala Lumpur. Pewter is 90 percent tin and the history of Royal Selangor Pewter mirrors the history of tin in Malaysia. Take your kids and bash out your own pewter bowl.
By the time most people arrive at the planetarium, they are thoroughly hot and sweaty. That is because there are 120 concrete steps to get to the entrance. But at the top, you go through a “space lock” and find a great anti-gravity room , a black hole simulator and a movie dome. Also on display is the Ariane IV space engine, which launched Malaysia’s first satellite into space.
The Times Square shopping complex is home to a big. bold indoor theme park with 14 major rides that span nine floors. Cosmo’s World has a large toddler-and-kids section with carousels, a crazy school bus and train rides. Older children and adults have the “Galaxy Station,” with suitably stomach churning rides like the DNA Mixer.
At the back of the Jalan Conlay craft complex, three Malay women run a brilliant batik making centre. Both adults and children are welcome and children from age four and up can do batik with some adult help. The traditional studio has a high-pitched roof, with cross ventilation and ceiling fans that keep it remarkably cool, without any need for air conditioning.
The futuristic KL Tower is easily the tallest building in the city. Well, that is what it looks like when you are looking down on the rest of Kuala Lumpur’s skyscrapers. Infact, the tower sits on top of a jungle-clad hill. This gives it the extra height and a great flying fox ride over the forest.
This jade green dome of a building is perched on a hill at the back of Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur’s western suburbs. It has some great flashes of genius coupled with a few funding gaps. Medical science, optical illusions, dinosaurs, the human body, bridge building and transport are some favourite spots.
The aquarium opened its doors to massive crowds in 2005, as adults and kids alike jostled to get a look at the sea rays, sharks and some 250 other species in this underground sea complex in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. The highlight is a 90-metre-long moving floorway that gives excellent views into a magical water world all around.
Oil has replaced tin as Malaysia’s most significant commodity. Visit this large interactive museum in the Suria KLCC shopping centre, and your kids can learn about the importance of petroleum. There is a simulated volcano, earthquake and helicopter ride. There are also lots of hands-on exhibits.