A Dream Come True: Flying with KLM to See the Petronas

We all have dreams, a place we want to see, a landmark we hope to take a closer look at. As far as I’m concerned, that place was the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur

We flew from Madrid on KLM. It was a comfy flight that met our expectations and beyond, beginning with the snack (sandwich) dished out during the leg between Madrid and Amsterdam. Once at the Schiphol Airport, we headed straight to the gate to embark on our second flight: a 12-hour ride on the road ahead, we thought.

As we saw our comfort tourist-class seat we put broad smiles on our faces. We could stretch out our legs! For just a small supplementary payment, you could get an over-reclining seat with 4 inches of additional legroom on the front row of the cabin (tourist class). And of course, the a-la-carte entertainment screen just for you.

We are the kind of travelers who either take occasional naps or don’t doze off at all, even on a 12-hour flight. However, we managed to sleep for seven hours running. What a delight!

The in-flight service is superb; the crew is always smiling at you and at least one of the onboard attendants speaks Spanish –one of the things that surprised us pleasantly.

The food is also top of the line and the helpings are plentiful. We all know plane food is usually far from being tasty.

Once we touch down on the Kuala Lumpur airport, I was anxious to steal the first look at the Petronas Towers, yet we still had a one-drive drive to the hotel ahead of us, but finally, after dreaming of this moment for years, they were standing there right before my eyes.

Majestic, modern, breathtaking… I actually ran out of adjectives to express what I felt as I stood before them. In a word, it was a jaw-dropping moment impossible to forget.

But Kuala Lumpur has a whole lot more to offer. These are some of our recommended must-sees:

- Climb the KL Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the city (clambering to the top floor is 99RM per visitor)

- Enjoy a meal at the MarinisRestaurant on Menara 3, floor 57, where you could feast eyes on views as you have a beer at the bar

- Heli Lounge Bar, on Menara KH,is a heliport open round the clock. The landing platform on the roof becomes a free-entry makeshift bar where you can watch a spectacular sunset if you buy just a little treat.

- The local Chinatown gives you the chance to buy just about everything, from apparel to electronic gadgets

- Central Marketis the place is you’re looking for traditional Asian handcrafts

- The Batu Cave Buddhist Shrine –as its name indicates- is inside a cave you can get to after climbing 272 steps! But the visit is worth the uphill ride since it’s not a palace-style temple.

- Are you craving typical Malayan food at an affordable price? Curry House Nagasari is a traditional restaurant with tables scattered on a terrace that serves the best traditional meals in town. It’s curious to see a good deal of locals, but also lots of tourists. You better gird for spice tastes here.