Places of interest around Jalan TAR

I think is it useful to provide traveling tips to those who are not familiar with Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman or downright afraid of getting stuck in traffic there.

I've list the places of interest, places to eat, places to shop and places to park your car and basically finding your way around in this part of town.

First up - PLACES OF INTERESTS
If you want a piece of Malaysian history, then you have come to the right place!

If you want old, I dont mean Melaka old but older than most of us - there's:-

- Masjid India (lit: Indian Mosque)

- Masjid Jamek

- Dataran Merdeka (independence square)



PLACES TO EAT
- Coliseum restaurant - it can come under place of interest as well

- A&W - it has just recently been given a facelift

- Nasi kandar - there are a few but one of my favourite is the one opposite Sogo shopping centre, KL

- Nasi briyani @ Insaf where else. Note there are 2 outlets very near to each other

- Banana leaf rice - just behind Mydin - there's ABC restaurant and another whose name I just cant get about to remembering

- The Ship - for western style food

- Sogo's japanese and chinese restaurant. Real value for money if you are in this area especially the japanese restaurant. They offer RM15 meals everyday after 230pm and it's good!

- Chicken rice in Semua House food court is fantastic but they also sell non-halal food.

- Nasi minang at Capital cafe but my favorite is Seri Minang which is in the alley beside Mydin. Love their chilli merah and hijau.

- Apak tom yam and nasi paprik in City One. Really cheap and good but dont go during lunch time as there's a long wait with all the sogo staff eating there.

- Chee cheong fun beside Haniffa. Business has been taken over by the daughter so you can imagine the history.

- Saturday's pasar malam - the roti john and meehoon sup are great but there are plenty of selection esp if you're a fan of keropok lekor.



PLACES TO SHOP

- Turkuaz of course!! For all your muslimah needs

- Sogo, KL - no mall comes close to their weekend crowds. Many customers vouch for their price as well as choices. Recently went through a facelift too.

- Pasar malam every Saturday. It's not really a pasar malam since business starts as early as 1pm till midnight. I'm not a big fan since I find it too squeezed especially if you come with children.

- There's the textile street with names like Gulati's, Euro Moda, Jakel and Harison. Gulati's latest outlet is GSH (short for Gulati's Silk House - how creative)

- Mydin - the cheap cheap and cheap place.

- Haniffa - which is like Mydin but slightly more comfortable and higher prices cos the quality is slightly better. So the choice is yours.

- if you're buying gold, would recommend DEEN SMS, it's the same gold but at lower prices (just opposite Mydin's police base)

- money changer is ARC which is just behind Mydin's police base. They offer very good rates.



PLACES TO STAY

Many many hotels have mushroomed recently, from budget to slightly higher star ones like the latest Frenz just adjacent to Haniffa and MayTower hotel and service apartment which is opposite CapSquare but many vouch for Noble hotel for it's location.


PLACES TO PARK YOUR CAR

- the best at the moment will be Sogo, KL since they just expanded their underground parking. It's per hour charge and if you're eating at sogo's restaurant or made purchases as sogo's member, you'll get free parking for first hour.

- there's CIMB new HQ and you can park there or the adjacent outdoor parking there.

- outdoor parking behind Harisons/ Mukmin is usually full or inaccessible on Saturdays plus the per entry rate is quite high of RM7 but subject to change during weekends.

- Semua House - per hour and can give you a heart attack if you park the whole day so better option is City One but remember to remove your car if it rains heavily as there once it flooded since it's basement parking.

- otherwise you can be like me either take the LRT to Bandaraya St. or park opposite the about to be opened new police HQ cos it's per entry fee is cheaper than the one behind Harisons of about RM5 but again subject to change depending on demand.


Note there are 3 outdoor parking just opposite the police station. They have different rates and the priciest is the one nearest to Sogo as they charge per hour. You could get a heart attack or suffer from cursing fits if you park there.

To get a better deal just park further from Sogo but the only setback is have to walk a bit but it's good to exercise once in a while.

The furthest I have parked is near the heritage row as that was during the fasting month ie shopping frenzy month. But this should not deter anyone from making an annual shopping pilgrimage to Jalan TAR as it is definitely an experience you'll never forget not to mention the vast amount of choices, prices and food which you cannot find anywhere else.