Kuala Lumpur

One of the youngest Southeast Asian capital cities is Kuala Lumpur or KL, the nickname residents and tourists give it now. After Singapore it's one of the most economically successful cities and has about 1.8 million inhabitants.The city was founded in 1857 and the first people to settle there were Chinese merchants. Later on, in the early years of the twentieth century British investors, Malay farmers and Indians moved in, searching for work and opportunities. All of these groups influenced the look and feel of Kuala Lumpur. Even today, it's a jigsaw of different periods and styles but many say this is part of the charm of the city.KL can be described as a friendly and safe place with lots of attractions and sights to keep tourists busy, temples, gardens and mosques can be found all over the city. Most of the city centre is easy to cover on foot and then the real spirit of the city can be experienced. The street life is one of the most interesting things to experience. There are over 80 open markets in the capital selling everything from fish to watches. On every street corner is a 'hawker stall', a place cooking and selling inexpensive food in the open air and stalls selling soy milk, fresh fruit and special juices.One reason why KL is known throughout the world is the 'Petronas Towers'. This is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings in the city as it's over 490 metres high, modern and different. It's made up of twin towers joined by a bridge more than 40 floors up and the design is said to symbolize harmony and strength.KL balances traditional and modern and has a cultural and ethnic mix, it is always changing and you never know if what you see today will be there tomorrow.