KUALA LUMPUR MUSEUMS

Museums are scattered around the city, though most visitors only bother taking in the National Museum and maybe the Islamic Arts Museum or the National Art Gallery - the rest are for those with special interests.

•   Muzium Kesenian Islam. Tel no : 2274 2020; Jl Lembah Perdana, 10am-6pm Tue-Sun
•   Just outside the Lake Gardens is the impressive Islamic Arts Museum.
•   The spacious, dazzlingly white building incorporates a dome and other Islamic architectural features.
•   On the third level are scale models of the world's most famous mosques and a full scale interior reproduction of a typical Muslim room of the Ottoman Empire.
•   Upstairs are exhibits of religious calligraphy, textiles, armour, metalwork and carpets. The museum shop sells beautiful Islamic crafts of higher quality (and at higher prices) than elsewhere in KL.

•   Balai Seni Lukis Negara; Tel no: 4025 4990; 2 Jl Temerlohm off Jl Tun Razak; admission free. 10am-6pm
•   The National Art Galery has a permanent collecion of work by contemporary Malaysian artists, and rotating exhibitions of Asian and international art, including photography. The gallery also conducts symposiums and art classes for kids.
•   The Malaysian kite shaped National Theatre (Istana Budaya) next door, with its Langkawi marble and tropical hardwood doors, is a work of art in and of itself. There's a costume gallery on the 2nd floor.
•   Both the National Art Gallery and National Theatre are outside the Lake Titiwangsa Gardens, north of the city centre.
•   Take any Len Seng operated bus from Lebuh Ampang or from along Jl Raja Laut and get off at the hospital stop.

•   South of Tasik Perdana, at the edge of the Lake Gardens, the National Museum was built on the site of the old Selangor Museum, which was destroyed during WWII.
•   There are colourful displays on Malaysia's history, economy, arts, crafts (kites, shadow play, weaving) and explanations of aspects of Malay culture, including circumcision.
•   At the rear are old Malaysian motor vehicles including a fire engine and the Rolls Royce used by Malaysian's first prime minister.

Other Museums

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•   Maybank Building, 100 Jl Tun Perak, admission free 10am-6pm
•   This museum displays a collection of Malay coinage and notes.

•   Tel no : 2690 7461; Central Bank of Malaysia; Jl Dato Onn; admission free; has displays along the money theme.

•   Tel no : 2031 9966; Jl Gereja; admission free.
•   This little place expounds the history of telecommunications in Malaysia from the earliest days to the IT era.

•   Tel no : 2272 5689; 5 Jl Perdana; admission free.
•   In the Lake Gardens, this displays a mix of lethal weapons and anti communist memorabilia.

•   Tel no : 2692 1333; Jl Padang Tembak; admission free
•   A few kilometres northeast of the city, displays weapons, paintings, uniforms and other military paraphernalia; cannons and tanks rest outside.
•   In the same area, the Air Force Museum (Jl Padang Tembak; admission free) displays a few light planes.