Have I ever shared how much I like going to the top of tall buildings? I don’t really know why. This is why the first things I did in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were to ascend to the top of KL Tower or Menara Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Twin Towers.
Rain Forest in the City
To get to the KL Tower, I had to go through a small clump of rain forest. The internet made it seem like this little patch of nature was a bit bigger and a bit wilder. I was disappointed to find that it was merely a small city park that had some rain forest qualities. There is, however, a fun canopy walk that can take you from the bottom part of the park to the top near the tower.
KL Tower
This broadcast tower stands atop a rain forest covered hill in the heart of Malaysia’s capital city. It isn’t the tallest structure, but due to its location is feels and looks like it. It definitely offers spectacular views in all directions. I took advantage of this view as long as I could, but it wasn’t long enough. I was forced inside and down to the lower observation deck after just a few minutes of being on top because of the weather.
The upper observation deck is open-air and completely exposed. When the lighting started striking and the thunder booming just meters from the tower, we were ushered inside by whistle-blowing personnel. I got to look all around, but didn’t get to go out on the skybox on the side of the twin towers before we were rushed back inside.
The lower observation level was a bit more crowded. The views a more obstructed with the beams of the tower crisscrossing the windows. However, this was a fantastic place to watch a torrential afternoon thunderstorm.
Petronas Twin Towers
From the Menara, I took a cab to the Petronas Twin Towers. It was still rainy, otherwise I would have walked. While I waited for my tour time, I wandered the mall at the base of the towers. Eventually, my time came and I eagerly checked in.
These towers are the tallest twin towers in the world, with the 2001 attack and collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City. They are also some of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world. People may not know exactly where they are, but they will have seen them before.
Their design comes from Islamic architecture, and their lighting is spectacular. One of the most recognizable features of the Petronas Twin Towers is the double-decker bridge that spans the gap to connect the two towers. The tour guide mentioned a few times that this is the highest bridge of its kind in the world.
After visiting the bridge for a few minutes, the group is escorted to the observation deck at the top of one of the towers. This observation area boasts grand views in almost all directions. I was at the top at night, so my views were limited to what was lit up. Personally, my favorite view was of the other tower. At this vantage point, you could really see the detail of the buildings including the spire. The KL Tower was also visible in its glowing lantern-like state.
Looking Up
I went down and to the front to get some pictures of the towers outside. It had stopped raining and the view was fabulous! I also made my way back a couple of days later to see the towers during the day. For this I went to the back of the towers where a vast park sprawls with a dancing fountain and more great views of this iconic piece of architecture.
