Malling In Love

Another tourism program Malaysia is proud of is the Homestay Program. For RM50 a night (about P700), students can learn the culture by living with a Malaysian family, eating with them and even seeing them at work.

However, the main attraction for most Pinoys is still shopping. Kuala Lumpur alone has a wide range of cheap-to-luxe shopping establishments, and here is a quick survey of the best:

• Petaling Jaya - Petaling Street market is made for bargaining, and its night market is famous with locals. Though the usual bags, watches, clothes, shoes and fakes are on offer, you can also find Chinese artifacts, gold jewelry, gems, home décor, traditional herbal remedies, fresh flowers and textiles.

• Central Market is where you can score ethnic souvenirs. This souk-style indoor bazaar is where local artists hawk wares like batik, labu sayong (the gourd-shaped carafe Malays use to keep water cool), Sarawak pottery, and traditional Malaysian kites to fly or just hang on your wall. Non-shoppers can sit and have their portrait sketched or sip a white coffee at one of the quaint cafés.

• Mid Valley Megamall - This was the mall connected to our four-star digs, the Boulevard Hotel. Popular brands like Topshop, Zara and Mango compete with local labels like Vincci, Seed and Philosophy. Anchors include Jusco, Carrefour and Metrojaya, plus there's a one-stop IT center, Pet Wonderland, large MPH bookstore and feng shui outlet. Mid Valley connects via bridgeway to...

• The Gardens Mall - Anchored by Japan's Isetan and Singapore's Robinsons, this high-end mall -- connected to the brand-new, five-star Gardens Hotel -- features designer brands like Coach and Ted Baker. Concept store M houses labels from Tom Ford to Alexander McQueen's McQ. Local designers show their stuff at 2201 Fashion Avenue, where you can shop for batik resortwear, edgy streetwear and funky jewelry.

• Sunway Pyramid - Malaysia meets Vegas in this hotel, leisure and shopping complex housed under an Egyptian sphinx and pyramid. Sunway's 700 shops include fast-fashion and high-street stores such as Miss Selfridge and Diva accessories. For men there's Camel Active, Timberland and Valentino Creations; kids have Sesame Street.

• Starhill Gallery - Home to Louis Vuitton, this sleek mall has seven themed floors. For example, "Indulge" boasts luxury fashion brands, "Adorn" has collectible watches and accessories, "Pamper" offers wellness and beauty, and "Feast Village" emphasizes civilized dining.

Did I also mention KL has its own IKEA? With our hectic schedule, however, there was no time to even locate it.

Taken from The Philippine Star