While researching Kuala Lumpur, we came across the Heritage Walk on Tripadvisor. Originally, it was a free walking tour but as popularity grew it underwent a makeover. It is now known as the Eat Pray Love tour and cost a hefty $51 USD. Although the price tag was steep for a half day tour, it had excellent reviews and it was ranked the #1 activity in KL so we decided to give it a try.
In an attempt to beat the heat and hopefully avoid the torrential afternoon downpoors, we decided to go with the morning tour. First things first; it was time to eat. We stopped at a Malay-Indian cafe which was located near the tour office. We observed how they made pulled tea. Our guide explained that the process cooled the tea to the desired temperature. We prepped our palates as we watched a cook prepare several different kinds of roti as well. The tea and rotis were excellent and we were already off to a good start.
Next up on the walking tour, pray. We visited a Taoist temple where our tour guide explained some of the basic principles of the philosophy. We also recieved our horoscope readings for this year... no big changes and watch your back.
After seeing the Taosit temple, we made our way to a large Hindu temple where we were able to observe a purification ceremony. The statues of three different deities were washed with milk and water while onlookers sprinkled themselves with the sacred liquid.
By now it was time to get back to the food. We made our way down market alley ways in Chinatown where the butchers were in full swing. We were concerned when one of the butchers had a cat in a small cage near the chopping block, but we were reassured that the cat was not for sale and was simply a pet.
We sat down at one of the outdoor food hawker's tables and tried several different kinds of noodles and curries. We also had an ice cendol drink which was a milkier version than the one we had in Singapore.
Back on the move, we ventured past a large mosque that sits at the meeting of the the Klang and Gombak rivers and through Little India. We made our way to the back of a small shop, up some sketchy looking stairs, and ended up at our final stop of the day... an authentic Indian restaurant. The hot and cramped restaurant which had no sign indicating its presence made it clear that the food was the sole focus. Indeed the food was great. To add to the authenticity, it was served on a banana leaf and we ate with our hands. The menu consisted of curry chicken, stingray, and prawns all served with rice and a hefty dose of spice. We cooled down with a drink served in a plastic bag. It was a great way to end the tour.
As for the love part of the tour... well the L word may be a bit serious to throw around after just 4 days in the city, but we definitely liked it. While the tour was a little pricey for our budget, it filled the majority of our day and we were stuffed by the end. It provided an insight into the Malay people, the different religions that coexist in the city, and some eats off the beaten path which we would have missed otherwise.
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