Kuala Lumpur is a great shopping
destination with an eclectic selection of retail outlets, ranging from
air-conditioned department stores to the frenetic market stalls. Prices are
great and bargaining is the essential way in the market stalls and even
in some of the shopping centres, where massive discounts can be found. The city's
many malls are impressive with bowling alleys, cinemas,
discos (one of them with a canal) that add a surreal touch to the shopping
experience.
A number of shopping venues are situated on Jalan Bukit Bintang
and are marketed under the term of Bintang Walk. Visitors can purchase
electrical products which are available in Bukit Bintang Plaza,
garments and shoes which are available in Lot 10, designer
bargains which are available at Star Hill Shopping Centre
or explore the boutiques in Kuala Lumpur Plaza. High and
modern fashion blends with one of the world’s highest buildings
at the Suria KLCC Shopping Centre, in the basement of the
Petronas Twin Towers. Here you can find big designer names,
including Hugo Boss, Karl Seeger and Laura Ashley. A newer mall,
known as the Times Square is set on the fringes of Bintang
Walk.
KLIA is more like a shopping
centre than an international airport and presently has over 70 retail shops,
with first-rate duty-free shopping.
A world away from the malls is the night market. Vision KL Magazine
provides an up-to-date information on when and where the best markets take place. The only
regular market remaining is the nightly Jalan Petaling. This Chinatown institution
sells CDs, electrical appliances, perfume, clothing and
watches including some of Kuala Lumpur’s best hawker food. Some of the
best souvenirs are traditional handicrafts like pewter-ware.
The factory outlet Royal
Selangor Pewter, 4 Jalan Ushawan Enamis is open to the public from 8.00 am - 5.00 pm daily. They offer free guided tours with access to
the factory outlet and the world’s largest tankard, which
is on display. Batik, the Indonesian dyed cloth may have been originated in
Indonesia but Kuala Lumpur provides great quality batik. A
wide variety of batik is found at Central or in Kompleks
Budaya Kraf, Jalan Conlay.
Shops are open from 9.00 am - 5.00 pm daily while the shopping centres are open from 10.00 am - 10.00 pm.
Some shops are close on Sundays but the shopping centres stay open. Sales tax is
around 10%, some products are taxed at 5% or 15%, or are exempt
from sales tax. Tax-free shopping is available but remember to ask
the shop for a visitor form, which can be presented at the airport
for refund upon departure. |
