Things to Do in Petaling Jaya

Crab Island (Pulau Ketam) is a small fishing community located off the coast of Klang in Malaysia. Divided into two villages, around 6000 people—mainly Chinese settlers—live here permanently, but you wouldn't be able to guess that from a glance on the street. There are no cars or motorcycles, and the only way to get around is by walking or cycling the narrow boardwalks that connect the island.

Visitors to Crab Island, also known as Ketam Island, will experience the unique lifestyle of this small corner of the world, from its 'floating houses' perched on long wooden stilts above the mangrove swamps, to its renowned seafood cuisine. True to its name, the island is know for delicious fresh crab, as well as prawns and fish.

To get an insight into the history and culture of Pulau Ketam, book a full-day trip to Crab Island from Kuala Lumpur, or join a Pulau Ketam village tour that also includes a visit to Thean Hou Temple. Because the island is something of a haven for seafood fans, most tours include lunch as part of the deal.

The sprawling 88-acre (36-hectare) Sunway Lagoon ranks among Southeast Asia’s biggest theme parks and boasts rides, water slides, a man-made beach, a wildlife park, and Malaysia’s first surf simulator. It’s one of Kuala Lumpur’s top family attractions, offering activities that will suit kids of all ages.

Sekinchan is a small fishing village located around 100 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the major rice producing towns in Malaysia, and has become a popular place for tourists and KL locals to visit in a bid to escape the city and enjoy a slower pace of life. The Sekinchan Paddy Fields (Sekinchan Padi Fields) are the major attraction here, along with the delicious fresh seafood on offer.

Even the journey to Sekinchan begins the process of easing out of city life, as you wind along coastal roads lined with oil palm plantations. Finally, upon reaching the paddy fields – an expansive carpet of brilliant green that seems to go on forever – the bustle of city life seems like a distant memory. A walk through the paddy fields is quite the experience, and nature enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that dragonflies and a number of bird species, such as swiftlets, are part of the ecosystem here.

You can also stop by the Sekinchan Paddy Fields Processing Factory during your visit, which features a small museum charting how rice is harvested and how these methods have changed over the years.

Visiting the Sekinchan Paddy Fields is best enjoyed as part of a full-day Sekinchan sightseeing trip from Kuala Lumpur, which usually includes a delicious seafood lunch and stops at Redang Beach and Nan Tian Temple.

Wet World Water Park in Shah Alam is a place for visitors of all ages to have fun on a hot day. Enjoy rides such as the Thunder River, Pirate Challenge, and Super Hurricane—then have lunch at one of the on-site food venues, or relax in one of the cabanas available for rent.

Melawati Hill (Bukit Melawati) served as a stronghold for the Selangor Sultanate during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Remnants of the fort still dot the landscaped park now occupying the hill, including sections of wall, grave sites, a few cannons and a flat stone that was once used for beheadings.

Today the hill, which is sometimes written Bukit Malawati (Malawati Hill), attracts not only history buffs, but nature lovers and other visitors who come to take in the panoramic views of the Selangor coastline from the top of the hill. On a clear day the Straits of Malacca are visible in the distance. A lighthouse, built in 1910 by the British, sits at the summit, through it’s not open to visitors.

Silver-leafed monkeys and long-tailed macaques often hang around the park, hoping for a meal of peanuts or stolen snacks from unwary visitors.