Bukit Bintang – Chris Parry Writes For Us

ABC Victoria Statewide: KL has everything but food comes first

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025Posted in #abc, ABC, Air Asia, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, KL, KLIA, Kuala Lumpur, luxurytravel, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, Tourism Malaysia, travel newsTagged adventure, asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, travelLeave a comment

On ABC Victoria Statewide the timing was perfect for Prue to want to know more about Kuala Lumpur. I’d returned from Kuala Lumpur only a few hours before our discussion.

We wandered through Kampung Baru and found a streetside stall selling Nasi Lemak. I explored the streets around my hotel, Hotel Stripes, and found a refreshing bowl of Cendol. At Chow Kit Hotel I enjoyed sambal prawns and satays with sophisticated cocktails in lamp lit dining rooms oozing speakezy vibes.

Prue and I talked about the melting pot culture of Malaysia and what this means beyond food. You can discover beautiful temples and mosques dating back to the late 1800’s. There is architecture from the 1940’s being reincarnated from laundries and residences into galleries, cafes and bars.

We discovered the green lungs of KL, those green spaces like Kabun Kabun Bangsar – a community garden with vege patches and squabbling turkeys and geese. There’s remnant jungle surrounded by urban jungle and parks with walking trails through shady trees that cast dappled light as you meander through opportunities to get away from the hustle and bustle of this amazing city.

It’s an exciting time to get to KL. Air Asia is flying new direct routes from Darwin and Adelaide and there’s always great deals on the established routes from the other state capitals. I also found that Air Asia has its own ride share service and partners with luxury and boutique hotel brands. I flew Air Asia, caught Air Asia ride share and for two nights enjoyed the remarkable Chow Kit Hotel. It’s a great way to travel, being able to bundle everything under one umbrella of service.

Hotel Stripes roof pool and bar with views to KL Tower (including remnant jungle). A beautiful hotel in a heritage neighbourhood.

Chow Kit Hotel feels like a Gatsby era gambling den. It makes you smile as soon as walk into the hotel.

Kebun Kebun Bangsar is a beautiful respite from the urban jungle

Captain Nasharudin and all of the Air Asia staff I met were so excited about the new direct routes to KL. KL is not a stopover city, it’s a destination.

6PR with Burgo: Kuala Lumpur? Absolutely!

March 22, 2025March 22, 2025Posted in 6pr, 6PR Perth, Air Asia, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, family travel, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysian consulate-general, malaysiatrulyasia, Shopping Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, UncategorizedTagged Air Asia, KL, MalaysiaLeave a comment

For my second show with Burgo we decided that the new Air Asia flights from Darwin to KL were a great opportunity to talk about why KL makes a wonderful holiday destination.

Enjoy the audio below and maybe just a few of my favourite KL pics.

Air Asia flights are taking off from Darwin to KL, connecting the top end to top destinations across Asia.

The street food on Jalan Alor will fill you with dumplings, satays, laksas, fresh fruit and maybe you can even try a durian!

Exploring Little India during Deepavali, the Indian Hindu Festival of Light, is also a time where crackers are sold in stalls and then held at arms length and aimed (sometimes) skywards.

I love old fashioned Kampung Baru, the energy of Bukit Bintang, the vibrancy of Jalan Alor and so much more, but make time to sit at the base of the Petronas Towers for an awesome look upwards at these beautiful twin towers.

ABC Alice Springs & ABC Darwin: Air Asia Flights to KL

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025Posted in #abc, ABC, ABC Alice Springs, ABC Darwin, Air Asia, Bukit Bintang, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, Shopping Malaysia, travel newsTagged abcalicesprings, abcdarwin, Air Asia, Jalan Alor, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Nasi LemakLeave a comment

It was a battle that was broadcast across the ABC airwaves of the Northern Territory with Andrew Murdoch and he graciously gave me the win. He wasn’t convinced that the new Air Asia flights from Darwin to Kuala Lumpur would fill many seats but after my descriptions of a city full of vibrant culture – from architecture to food – and monorails, shopping malls, secret bars, street food and so much more, I won the debate!

Enjoy just a few pics below of KL days and nights:

It’s not the Petronas Towers, Bukit Bintang or Petalang Street, it’s just a little cafe in 2D and it defines the quirkiness you’ll find in a city that enjoys having fun around every corner.

Nasi Lemak is a meal you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My favourite Nasi Lemaks in KL are in the old streets of Kampung Baru.

There’s nothing wrong with too much food in KL. Jalan Alor is just behind the bright lights of Bukit Bintang’s high end shopping malls. You’ll find fresh fruit, grilled satays and all sorts of curries and barbecue meats and vegetables that all go very well with a freshly made coconut juice or chilled Tiger beer.

Radio Melayu: From KL to Putrajaya and over to Amazing Sabah

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019Posted in best sunsets, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, family travel, luxurytravel, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, radiomelayu, Shopping Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Sabah, travel, travel funLeave a comment

https://www.facebook.com/radiomelayuperth/

Radio Melayu is such a wonderful community radio station and I love any chance to contribute to their programming.

If the link above works it may not take you straight to my discussion but if you scroll down through the posts then my latest chat was on October 18.

DJ Wan and I talked about KL nightlife and views, the pink mosque at Putrajaya and then we talked about my time off the coast of Semporna on Mabul Island and a bunch of other islands with high peaks, white beaches, sea gypsies and Nemo.

I was travelling on the Tourism Malaysia Mega Fam with a bunch of travel writers, journalists and bloggers from India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand. We shared adventures and quickly felt like we were doing more than capturing moments we could write about or describe on radio. We became friends and fellow travellers, soaking up experiences that were genuinely breathtaking.

The land below the wind always takes your breath away, whether from the exertion of a trek or just sitting on a beach watching a Sabah sunset. The resorts are safe and friendly and the adventures feel undiscovered and exotic.

Make the most of your time in Malaysia. Whether its shopping, street food or hidden bars in KL or the tropical paradise of life on the islands off the coast of Sabah, there’s something for all travellers, all the time.

Mabul Island: All your days I will sing in praise of your forests, waters, your shining sands.

6PR Radio: Chrissy and the Gentleman Traveller Find Luxury Abroad

October 2, 2019October 2, 2019Posted in 6pr, 6prnews, Bali, Bali resorts, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, family travel, Holiday with kids, Kempinski, KLIA, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, roadtrips, Shopping Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, travel, travel bucket lists, travel essentials, travel fun, travel newsLeave a comment

On Perth’s best talkback radio station, 6PR, I recently discussed with my fine friend and colleague Chrissy Morrissy some options for luxury abroad; the magnificent Apurva Kempinski in Bali and the distinguished Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur.

A bit closer to home I spoke about day trips through the Avon Valley, from bakeries to canola crops, from Bentley Blowers to the history of this beautiful part of Western Australia.

The featured image for this post is the Apurva Kempinski Bali, located in Nusa Dua. The inspiration for the design are the classic and iconic rice terraces found throughout Bali.

Above: The sumptuous lounges of the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur are perfect for high tea, gin and tonics or just resting between shopping sprees.

Above: What makes a beautiful resort that you will return to again and again? Water slides for the kids? Restaurants? Waterfront views? Rooftop bars? Maybe. The Kempinski has all of these things but I think it’s the people who work there that are the greatest influence on your enjoyment. Tom is holding a soft toy of the Bali Myna, an endangered local species of bird that the Apurva Kempinski is working hard to protect.

Above: The Library at the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the food. An enchanting and refined menu full of passion for the flavours that represent the melting pot culture of Malaysia.

Above: The Avon Valley has rolling hills filled with wildflowers, rolling fields of canola crops and great towns with bakeries, museums, galleries and pubs.

6PR Radio: Chrissy and Chris talking about luxury destinations, including Apurva Kempinski Bali and the Ritz Carlton KL

September 9, 2019September 16, 2019Posted in 6pr, 6prnews, Bali, Bali resorts, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, Holiday with kids, Kempinski, luxurytravel, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, Shopping Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, travel, travel newsLeave a comment

A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon is to listen to Chrissy and Chris on 6PR 882, Perth’s only commercial talkback radio station.

For this chat, I described how luxury travel can be exciting and affordable.

We talked about the all new Apurva Kempinski in Bali and how its architecture sets the heart racing with awe and how there is so much space to hide away and relax or strut your gut in front of other guests if that’s your thing. Most of the Kempinski rooms have their own private plunge pool or access to small lagoon pool while there is also a massive lagoon pool and another good sized pool that includes a water play are for kids, including three waterslides.

ABOVE: APURVA KEMPINSKI NUSA DUA, BALI. ARCHITECTURE INSPIRED BY THE RICE TERRACES AROUND UBUD.

We then talked about my experience at the Ritz-Carlton KL, located in the heart of Bukit Bintang. With a level of refined luxury, complete with crooners and jazz bands around every corner, this hotel reminds you of travelling on a 1920’s ocean liner with its sumptuous lounge chairs and library restaurant.

ABOVE: THE RITZ-CARLTON KL, FULL OF SUMPTUOUS LOUNGES FOR DRINKING, EATING OR COLLAPSING IN AFTER A DAYS SHOPPING IN BUKIT BINTANG, JUST A MINUTES WALK AWAY.

The food options at the Ritz-Carlton’s renowned Library restaurant provide some of the best food available in Kuala Lumpur.

ABOVE: RITZ-CARLTON LIBRARY RESTAURANT EXECUTIVE CHEF WAI COMBINES MODERN AND TRADITIONAL CULINARY TECHNIQUES AND DEVELOPING FLAVOUR PROFILES THAT ARE FRESH AND LUXURIOUS.

If you’re considering a luxury experience, take advantage of offers that pop up on popular websites and I always recommend then contacting the hotel/resort yourself and making yourself known and maybe negotiating some of the inclusions. Maybe you want more golf and less day spa time. Maybe you’d like to give up the fine dining vouchers for pizzas and chips around the pool for your kids. Try making a relationship on your own that provides the inclusions that are important to you.

With Have A Go News Newspaper, Let’s Go Travelling…to KL!

March 8, 2019June 28, 2019Posted in 6pr, abcperth, abcperthsaturdaybreakfast, Bukit Bintang, Chris Parry travel, family travel, KLEkspres, KLIA, luxurytravel, Malay culture, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasia, radiomelayu, Shopping Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, travel, travel bucket lists, travel newsTagged Bukit Bintang, BukitBintang, JWmarriott, Malaysia, malaysiatrulyasiaLeave a comment

Have A Go News

In the link above to Have A Go News enjoy reading my feature article on travelling, eating and shopping your way around Kuala Lumpur and making sure you stay somewhere amazing as well. You can also find Have A Go News in over 1800 outlets across Perth and regional Western Australia.

Love Lot 10! From the Hutong Food Court in the basement, amazing shops and activities in between and the cheesecake in Tokyo Restaurant at the top, you’ll be splashing your cash and loving every minute of it.

Travel from KL airport to Kl on the fantastic KLIA Ekspres. The best way to travel into KL and also the easiest and most comfortable.

Stay in the heart of KL’s shopping precinct, Bukit Bintang, at the luxurious and very friendly JW Marriott. If you’re not doing the shopping, this will be the perfect place to wait for your shopping partner to return. Look, they even parked my car under the hotel sign!