Solo Trip to Malaysia: My 6-Day Adventure in October 2024

In October 2024, I embarked on a six-day solo journey through Kuala Lampur -Malaysia, a trip filled with spontaneity, discovery, and a few unexpected twists.

Day 1 : Departure

I flew with Singapore Airlines. Besides its excellent in-flight services, I chose it for the transit opportunity at Singapore’s Changi Airport. My flight left early morning from Colombo, Sri Lanka, and I arrived in Singapore by morning. Landing at Changi was exciting — I had missed exploring some of its beautiful attractions during my last trip. However, my layover wasn’t quite long enough to see everything, and I ended up taking a two-hour nap instead to recharge.

Next, I departed Singapore for Kuala Lumpur (KL) International Airport (IA) in Malaysia. I was lucky to have a window seat on this leg of the trip!

The view above Malaysia. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved.

Upon arrival, KLIA welcomed passengers with complimentary lychee drinks and lemon tea, and I took a free shuttle to reach the main exit.

When I retrieved my luggage from the belt, I noticed the padlock had been removed. Fortunately, since I was certain there was nothing valuable inside, I felt secure. It may have been a result of the long layover, with someone at some point being tempted to take a sneak peek — but it was in vain! To avoid potential losses, I strongly advise against placing valuables in checked luggage. If anything seems suspicious, double-check the contents before leaving the airport and report any issues to the airline immediately to handle any potential losses.

My first stop was a currency exchange for some cash to cover the hotel deposit, SIM card, and meals (although I avoided exchanging too much due to unfavorable airport rates). I bought an eSIM from the Maxis store at KLIA, a popular local provider I found through Google, which cost around 50 RM (Malaysian Ringgits). There were also various food outlets, including international brands like Burger King, where I could pay by card.

Then, I booked a Grab ride to my hotel. The 65 km journey cost around 70 RM, and although there’s a train available at the express station in the same building where you only have to go down by the lift, the price difference didn’t seem significant compared to the convenience of Grab. The driver was very helpful with my luggage.

Hotel check-in was smooth; I paid a security deposit, settled in, and went out to explore nearby spots. I discovered a bustling street market, jewellry stores, restaurants, and grocery shops.

Day 2 : Relaxation and Exploration

After consecutive hectic workdays and an overnight flight, I was in desperate need of sleep. Despite setting multiple alarms, I didn’t wake up until noon! No worries — this was my vacation, and it was fine to catch up on rest without conflicting schedules. I embraced the spontaneity and decided to make the most of the day ahead!

One of my must-see spots was the Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, a beautiful structure with Japanese architectural influences I’d only seen in Korean dramas. Given the time, I took a Grab to get there and back. The temple’s architecture and peaceful atmosphere were remarkable, and I managed to capture some great photos. A newlywed couple, dressed in their wedding attire, was performing rituals, adding to the charm of the setting.

Thean Hou Temple. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

Although I had hoped to visit Batu Caves, time constraints and distance led me to roam in the KL city center instead.

Scam Alert: While on the train, I received an SMS claiming that the eSIM owner (me) owed unpaid taxes from the previous year and could face arrest within 24 hours if unpaid! It was a small amount — just enough to tempt tourists to pay up. I checked with police at the KLCC LRT station, who confirmed it was a scam. So, if you get a similar message, check with an official and ignore it!

Up until that point, I hadn’t managed to buy a transportation card due to availability issues. Luckily, the KLCC LRT station (a main hub) had them in stock. The card cost 30 RM and came preloaded with 20 RM. I added another 20 RM for convenience, which ended up lasting for the rest of my trip since I didn’t use the trains extensively.

Next, I visited Suria KLCC, a renowned shopping mall located in the Petronas Twin Towers. It’s filled with a variety of brand outlets for clothes, sports gear, cosmetics, electronics, and more. I exited through the main entrance, which led directly into KLCC Park. Other tourists helped me snap some wonderful photos of the Petronas Towers. The sunset view was particularly striking for the photos, with the lights illuminating as dusk settled.

Petronas twin towers. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

I continued walking toward Pavilion Mall, where a beautiful Deepawali decoration display was set up.

Decorations near Pavilion Mall. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

By 9:30 PM, traffic was heavy, likely due to the weekend, so I decided to take the train back to my hotel.

Day 3 : Journey to Batu Caves

Feeling a bit worn out from all the walking the day before, I still motivated myself to continue exploring, knowing I had only three more days left to fully experience KL.

Today’s destination was Batu Caves! Located about 13 km from the capital, this Hindu shrine is set within a limestone cave complex that formed over 400 million years ago. Given the considerable distance, I initially planned to take public transport. My map led me to a bus stop, but after waiting for over 10 minutes in an uncomfortable atmosphere, I decided to switch to a Grab ride instead.

Batu caves shrine. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

Batu Caves features a significant number of steps leading up to the caves themselves, although there are several Hindu temples located at the ground level as well. Be prepared for the monkeys on the steps; they can be quite aggressive if you’re holding food or drinks, which can be somewhat unsettling. The best times to climb the steps are early morning or evening, as managing the heat while ascending a large number of steps can be quite challenging, especially with the monkeys around!

Dress Code: Remember to wear modest clothing when climbing the steps, as you’re visiting a sacred site for Hindus. If you don’t have appropriate attire, you can purchase shawls from shops located just before the steps.

Towards Batu caves. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

Even if you don’t climb the steps, you can take plenty beautiful photos on the ground. Nearby, there’s a small shopping area with food stalls offering vegetarian options. I enjoyed my first-ever Milo ice cream there! 😊

Afterward, I checked for a train back to the city. Since there was over 50-minute wait for the next train, I opted to book another Grab.

My next stop was Sungei Wang Plaza, a shopping centre known for its numerous affordable clothing shops and grocery stores. I decided to try a Vietnamese dish for lunch at one of the restaurants there, and then I indulged in intense shopping until nearly closing time at 10 PM! I found some lovely dresses and tops at very reasonable prices.

On my way back to the hotel, I encountered a band performing on the street. Although I was tempted to stop and enjoy the music, the crowd was thick, and I didn’t feel entirely safe lingering there, so I continued on my way.

Day 4 : Exploring Local Markets and Aquaria KLCC

Today, I started my day by exploring some gold jewelry stores near Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur. This area features a mix of Indian jewelry shops, including international brands like Malabar Gold and Diamonds and SMSDeen, all offering a variety of designs at reasonable prices.

The Jalan Masjid India street market primarily showcases Muslim clothing, but I also found lovely handbags and backpacks at extremely affordable prices. The people in this area were genuinely warm and welcoming, adding to the experience.

While I couldn’t try out the small food stalls, there are plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants offering generous portions at budget-friendly prices.

Next, I booked a Grab to Aquaria KLCC, located inside the KL Convention Center.

Inside Aquaria KLCC. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

The aquarium provided excellent photo opportunities with a diverse array of fish and sea creatures, including sharks!

Up-close with the sharks at Aquaria KLCC. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

The tour took about an hour, after which I headed back to KLCC Park. There, I met a friendly couple of solo travellers, and we enjoyed capturing some great shots near the water fountain with the Twin Towers in the background. We had a delightful conversation, too!

In the late evening, I visited Petaling Street Market, a place I had read about in several blogs. Here, sellers typically quote high prices, expecting customers to bargain for a better deal. I found it less appealing for shopping compared to other locations, as there are many other hassle-free places where you can find reasonable prices.

Before that, I stopped by Central Market, which I found to have a much better atmosphere than Petaling Market, though I didn’t spend much time there.

I wrapped up my day with dinner at a nearby food outlet and left around 11 PM.

Day 5 : Adventure Took a Turn for the Worst

On Day 5, I visited Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, a vast complex with six parks: a Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, XPark, Sunway Lost Lagoon, and Scream Park. It’s packed with fun and adventurous activities, and since I went on a weekday, it was relatively uncrowded. I’d recommend not buying an express pass beforehand; check the crowd size first. On some rides, it was just me! Although the ticket price is a bit steep, it’s worth it — you can enjoy all the rides, even multiple times.

Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, KL. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

Caution: Before going on any ride, I strongly advise reading the instructions and understanding the nature of the ride.

I learnt this the hard way. I initially underestimated a roller coaster and didn’t realize how intense it would be. The instructions advised against bringing bags, so I left mine in a locker and put my phone in my shorts pocket. There are lockers in the premisses that you can purchase for 25RM and use throughout the day. During the ride, as we hit a steep upward slope, my phone flew out of my pocket. At the peak I momentarily lifted out of my seat, only secured by the seatbelt. I watched in horror as my phone flew up, only to disappear on the descent. It was a nightmare. As a solo traveler, losing my phone felt like losing my lifeline, especially with my return flight the next day.

A rollercoaster ride at Sunway Lagoon, KL. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

After the ride, two staff members went along the track and, thankfully, found my phone. The screen was shattered, but I could still faintly see my lock screen in a thin line. Luckily, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall was right next to the park, and it had several repair shops there. I let the theme park entrance office know, and they allowed me to re-enter after visiting the mall. The screen replacement cost 850 RM and would take around two hours. Reluctantly, I handed over the phone, as there wasn’t really another choice.

Returning to the park, I still felt shaken and honestly just wanted to cry! It was one of those moments where you wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” But then, I thought about how much time I had left on my trip, the cost of the ticket, and the cost of the screen repair — and realized there was no time to waste on feeling down!

I pushed myself to enjoy the day. Changing into swimwear, I entered the Water Park’s walking pool — a long, shallow pool where visitors can walk through. While reflecting on the incident, I reminded myself that accidents happen and not everything goes as planned. I relaxed a bit in the wave pool and even went on a few more rides, including one with steep slopes to avoid being it a traumatic incident further. To wrap up the day, I enjoyed some gentle rides before the park closed.

At closing time, there was a photo booth to capture some memories, but with no phone, I was out of luck. Fortunately, two kind Malaysian girls offered to take photos for me and send them via WhatsApp. I’m so grateful for their kindness!

When I returned to the mall, there were just 20 minutes left before I could pick up my phone. I sat on a bench, feeling emotional. Yes, I cried — I accepted that it’s okay not to appear strong all the time. But I was also proud of myself for handling everything and making the most of my day, without letting any setbacks steal my enjoyment.

Thankfully, my phone was restored, though the fingerprint sensor couldn’t be fixed due to part unavailability. Afterward, I enjoyed some quality shopping at the Sunway Pyramid Mall — a fantastic spot for a variety of finds — before heading back to the hotel for the night

With my return flight the next day, I wanted to complete my shopping before the evening ended. After returning to the hotel, I visited the nearby market for some last-minute purchases. I returned around 11 PM and, knowing I wouldn’t wake up early in the morning, packed my bags while enjoying dinner in my room. By the time I finished, it was nearly 3:30 AM.

Day 6: Departure from KL and quality time at Changi Airport

I woke up at 7 AM, needing to be at KLIA between 8 and 9 AM. Thankfully, I managed to catch a Grab and reached the airport by 8:55 AM. After checking in my luggage, I enjoyed a hearty breakfast at a restaurant. This time, I informed the staff that I would be retrieving my luggage during my transit in Singapore, as my shopping items were inside.

However, when I approached the initial counter on the way to the boarding gate, the scanner indicated that I was running late! To my surprise, I had to take a bus to reach the gate. I rushed to the bus stop and hopped onto a departing bus just in time, arriving at the gate right on schedule!

After arriving at Changi Airport in Singapore around noon, I was excited for my 10-hour layover which I planned while booking the air tickets. However, since I had to clear immigration to collect my luggage, I wasn’t considered a layover passenger and missed out on the airport’s free city tour. No worries, though! I made my way to the self-service luggage drop kiosk and checked in my bags. Though I wasn’t aware on the actual process, I assumed my luggage would be stored securely during the layover time, after the automated luggage drop. With my bags dropped off, I had the freedom to explore the airport!

Attractions in Changi Airport Singapore. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

I exited from Terminal 2 and hopped on the free Skytrain to explore Terminals 1, 3, and 4. I revisited Jewel, my favorite attraction at Changi Airport, and captured some great photos there.

Jewel- Changi Airport Singapore. Image by Rusiri Illesinghe © [2024]. All rights reserved

I also discovered several beautiful spots in the different terminals. Before boarding, I treated myself to an extra-large bubble tea from Terminal 3 and browsed some electronics and gift shops. Just before my flight, I enjoyed an egg olive vegetable porridge from a Chinese cuisine outlet.

I arrived in Colombo that night, marking the end of my unforgettable 6-day journey!

PS : Nothing is as smooth as it seems! While I had imagined a relaxed start to my trip, reality had other plans. — I was tied up with an urgent work project right up until my flight, leaving me with little time to plan. Thanks to online resources and support from friends, I managed to piece together an itinerary just in time. I hope this guide proves useful for other travellers who might also find themselves racing the clock before a big adventure!