Chinatown on a rainy day
by Ellen Korn
Jun 10, 2024
#kualalumpurguide
We began our mornings in Kuala Lumpur wandering through neighborhoods where old shophouses stood shoulder to shoulder, their colorful facades peeling under the soft sun. Hawkers bustled to set up stalls selling steaming nasi lemak and curry puffs, and the air was rich with the scent of spices and fresh kopi pulled into frothy glasses. Even just watching the city wake up from a shaded café felt like a perfect start. 🌞🍛☕
By afternoon, we found ourselves exploring Chinatown’s Petaling Street, ducking under rows of bright red lanterns and browsing through endless stalls packed with trinkets, leather bags, and knock-off watches. We paused for bowls of icy cendol, the sweet palm sugar syrup a welcome relief from the heavy heat. Further along, we stumbled into quiet temples where coils of incense burned slowly, filling the air with a calm, woody fragrance. 🏮🥥🕉️
As dusk rolled in, we headed to Kampung Baru, a charming Malay enclave where traditional wooden houses stood in the shadow of the modern city. Food stalls lit up one by one, offering grilled satay, fragrant nasi kerabu, and plates of stir-fried clams that we ate seated on plastic stools by the roadside. Under strings of light bulbs and the easy laughter of locals, Kuala Lumpur felt wonderfully alive, in its most everyday, welcoming way. 🌙🍢🏠
Post by Mighty Bloom | Jul 16, 2025























