Hacked out of the jungle by Chinese tin prospectors in 1857, Kuala Lumpur quickly grew into a 19th-century boomtown inhabited by entrepreneurial Brits, Malay sultans and Indian bricklayers. Peek into monkey-inhabited jungles, stumble across hidden temples and drink in dizzying high-rise bars — you’ll be glad you stayed awhile
Forego the hotel bacon and eggs and hot-foot it to Imbi Market for breakfast instead (Tues-Sun, 6.30am-1pm). First thing in the morning, this food arcade is a microcosm of KL society, with housewives rooting through mangoes and melons, white-haired old men slurping on frothy Hainanese tea, and suited-and-booted commuters on their way to work munching local favourites such as sweet, puffy polo buns and pearly egg tarts.
With pockets of jungle, layers of history etched