the height of excitement

THIS MONTH’S WINNING ENTRY IS BY KRISTA PARKER

Kuala Lumpur, home to the world’s tallest twin towers, is an exciting city and although highly developed, its balance between old and new ensures its fascination. My boyfriend and I did not experience a dull moment during our visit.

Being a young backpacker and on a budget, I’ve experienced some “interesting” accommodation during my travels. So when I realised that the hotel we booked at the last minute was in the heart of Chinatown, I was a little worried about the noise level from the street. As it turns out, we couldn’t have picked a better location. The road we were on was filled with endless cheap market stalls that catered for all our needs. And, as a result, we could stock up on shopping, take our bags up to our room, go back down and stock up again.

The food in Malaysia is also a major selling point. The best things to try are pineapple, fruit shakes and spring rolls. Pineapple, sold by street vendors, is perfect for a cheap, refreshing snack on the run. Chinatown also offers sugar cane juice, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend… but it’s fun to try.

But Kuala Lumpur has more to offer than great food and shopping. I was very excited to see the Petronas Towers. Although it’s impressive that they’re the tallest twin towers in the world, my interest in them came about because of the movie Entrapment. I wanted to see the famous bridge that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery swing from in the movie. As it turns out, you don’t actually have to pay to go up to the bridge. You just have to make sure you’re there early enough in the morning to secure a place, as only a certain number of tickets are given out each day.

We had a fun day trip out to Batu Caves. Although you could take a taxi there, we decided to bus it. Once there, you’re greeted by a giant, gold Buddha – oh, and just 272 steep steps to the mouth of the main cave. Your reward at the top, however, is a beautiful traditional shrine.

The ascent to the cave, although tiring in the heat, is made fun by the crazy monkeys that run around the stairs. The caves also held another treat for us. When leaving we noticed a couple of guys sitting with a caged snake and giant lizard. After inspecting the reptiles, the men offered to let us hold them for just a small tip. Of course, we jumped at the chance.

Kuala Lumpur is definitely a destination I would recommend. It caters for everyone, whether you’re travelling alone or in a group, looking for culture or just some great shopping. Either way, it’s a quick getaway, with a change of pace and some fun.

Krista Parker is a 21-year-old with a degree in Media Production who loves to travel.

How to Win:
If you’ve travelled Jetstar to/from or within Australia in the past year, we’d love to hear from you! Send in your 500-word holiday story from any Jetstar destination and six of your best holiday snaps. The winning entry will be published in JETSTAR Magazine and win 2 JetSaver return tickets flying Jetstar between your closest port and a direct Jetstar operated port. It’s that easy! Send your travel story to: writerscomp@jetstar.com

Terms & Conditions:
Contest will run every month. Entry submissions must be received by the 8th of the month. Maximum prize value is AU$756 based on 2 return flights from Adelaide to Cairns. Entrants must be Australian residents. Ink Publishing reserves the right to edit the winning submission and the judges decision is final. Employees of Jetstar Airways and Ink Publishing are not eligible to enter. For full terms and conditions, please visit www.jetstar.com/writerscomp