Kuala Lumpur Malaysia info and facts
The patriotic National Monument of KL
Kuala Lumpur facts: The direct dialling country code for Malaysia is +60 while the area code for Kuala Lumpur is +603. Malaysia is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the country does not employ any system of daylight saving time. It is one hour ahead of neighbours Thailand to the north. More on calling home.
Kuala Lumpur facts: The weather in Kuala Lumpur is tropical with an annual southwest monsoon taking place from April to October and northeast monsoon from October to February which both have an effect on the capital. Generally the days are bright in the morning with sudden torrential downpours in the mid-afternoon. More on weather.
Kuala Lumpur facts: Every year a haze descends on the city from June to October as workers on nearby farmland perform a slash and burn of the agricultural debris from their fields. The west coast is worst affected and the whole of Kuala Lumpur gets blanketed with a thick smog. Visibility is reduced to barely a kilometre and those with respiratory problems are advised to stay away. More on Kuala Lumpur safety.
Kuala Lumpur facts: The electricity supply in Kuala Lumpur is 220 volts AC, 50Hz, with three or two pin British-style plugs used as standard across the vast majority of the city. If coming from Europe or the Americas it is wise to get an appropriate adaptor before travelling.
Kuala Lumpur facts: The national anthem of Malaysia is the Negaraku which means ‘my country’. The melody had originally been used as the anthem of the state of Perak and was adopted from the popular French melody ‘La Rosalie’ which was composed by Pierre-Jean de Béranger.
Kuala Lumpur facts: The phone number to call in an emergency in the city is 999 (police, medical and fire) as in the UK. Hospitals in Kuala Lumpur are of a very high standard and most doctors and nurses speak some English. More on health in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur facts: The main backpacker area in Kuala Lumpur is Chinatown, located a short walk from the Pasar Seni metro station. Little India is just a few blocks to the north of Chinatown while most expats in the city reside around the affluent Bangsar area, a few kilometres west of centre which has a lively nightlife scene. More on Chinatown.
