Best things to do in Klang

By the Klang railway station is a few rows of pre-war shophouses, some built as early as 1926. While some of them have been converted to modern shops, many of the traditional businesses (tinsmiths, framemakers, scalemakers) are still thriving. Take a stroll through the five-foot ways to admire the colourful façades (complete with plants growing luxuriantly from the framework), neo-classical motifs and vintage terrazzo tiles.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Paris has the Seine; London has the Thames; Klang has the Klang river. And when in Klang, what better way to check out the river than on foot. Intended to ease traffic flow, the double-decker Kota Bridge was first opened in 1957 with the upper tier for automobiles and the lower tier for cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite the construction of bigger bridges and the closure of the upper tier, the lower tier of Kota Bridge is still open to use for motorcyclists. Take a stroll along the bridge for a vantage view of the Royal Klang Mosque. After that, take the stairs to the upper deck to get to the Klang Minicipal Council Hall, where an ancient fort – Kota Raja Mahadi, built by Raja Mahadi in 1866 – remains.

Photo: Joyce Koh

It doesn’t get any more Klang than this. At Yap Kee, you’re not getting just any banana leaf rice, but banana leaf served in a Chinese kopitiam. Get there early to avoid the onslaught of the lunch crowd, and secure a serving of mutton peratal while you’re at it.

Photo: Stacy Liu

Operated by the 96 Seranas Group, the mini buses in Klang are slightly different from the notorious KL mini buses of yore. Sporting popsicle colours (blue, red and yellow), the iconic Klang mini buses are the main mode of transportation if you’d like to get around Klang, Meru, Klang Utama, Kapar and Bukit Tinggi without driving. Alternatively, you can get on the Selangor Smart Bus for free, which runs on a 15-minute frequency from Jalan Batu Tiga Lama near Wisma Hafiz to Klang South.

Check bus route and the full schedule at www.seranasgroup.com.my and www.mdks.gov.my

Photo: Joyce Koh

One of the best things to do in Klang happens to be free, and that’s walking along the coastline of Bandar Sultan Suleiman at Tanjung Harapan. The warm glow at dusk will whisk away your worries (and Klang’s traffic woes) as the sun dips behind the Bugis schooner replica next to the walkway. If the weather is right, cycle along the beach and take in the view.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Sit down to a cup of Seraph Awaken’s signature drink (hand-brew coffee with ice cubes made of hibiscus tea), and write a postcard to post at the post office located less than a minute’s walk away. This lovely café and roaster tucked away in the quiet lane of Jalan Stesen Satu also occasionally hosts events, talks and exhibitions.

Photo: Joyce Koh

For many, Chong Kok kopitiam is nostalgia therapy; a daily ritual for those who depend on the kopitiam’s toast, tea and nasi lemak before they start the day. The place is historical gold, and rightly so: The 76-year-old kopitiam, still adorned with ornate Chinese characters on its pillars, used to be a hotel and bar. Customers of different generations have visited the kopitiam for decades – some for the food; some to recapture the lost muhibbah feeling amid Klang’s rapid transformation over the years.

Photo: Daniel Chan

We love the bas mini as much as the next person, but if you want to explore Klang, you’ve got to do it on foot – and there’s certainly no shortage of sights on Jalan Sena and Lorong Sena. A traditional tailor still reigns supreme at Tukang Jahit Bee & Company, which, incidentally, shares a space with a kedai ubat (bring home a bottle of rice wine). For cuts and shaves, there are the barbershops. For ear-cleaning services, head to Heui Sai Thong just down the road. Finally, stop for luk luk and tong sui at the food street.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Immerse yourself in a world of old architecture and establishments that makes up Klang’s multiracial identity as professional tour guides regale you with tales of the Dutch-style former Chartered Bank building (also Malaysia’s first and oldest bank with over 140 years of history; it’s now Chennai Silk Palace), Klang Railway Station, Raja Mahadi Fort, Kota Bridge, Sri Nagara Thendayuthapani temple, and more. The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has identified at least 24 places of interests along the walk so bring your sunnies, camera, and a sense of curiosity.

Every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-12.30pm. Call 03 5513 2000 or check www.mpklang.gov.my for more info.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Space is lacking, but that’s because there’s so much to sift through in the singular secondhand store of Perangsang Jati. Antiques, collectibles and trinkets crowd the cupboards and shelves, which fill up the floor space; advertising signs, mirrors and paintings hang from the walls; bikes are lined up outside. And there’s no need to break the bank too.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Having long been the go-to spot for students shopping for shoes on their student loan’s dime – or sneaker collectors – Stwo Bundle stocks almost exclusively vintage well-worn wears: think adidas, Converse and Doc Martens, plus cowboy boots, leather shoes and tennis kicks. Half the battle is in finding the store in the first place (good luck, shoppers); the other half is in choosing what to buy and bring home.

Photo: Ng Su Ann

Open since 1930, Wah Sang Brothers stocks a range of classic Japanese timepieces from Seiko and Casio in its glass cases. Pick up a retro digital watch for less than RM100, or get a secondhand watch strap for your collection. They also provide watch repair services.

Photo: Daniel Chan

The 1909 colonial building housing Galeri Diraja Sultan Abdul Aziz – previously a land and administration office for the British, as well as the headquarters for the Japanese army during World War II – was converted into a ‘Memorial Museum’ by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in 1988. His son, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who ascended the throne in 2001, turned the museum into the new Royal Gallery and dedicated the gallery to his father, highlighting the heritage of the Selangor Sultanate that begun in 1766 from the Bugis Sulawesi royal family of Opu Tanreburung Daeng Relaka of the Malay Archipelago. The late sultan was cooler than you think – he owned cameras of various models, played golf, sailed and collected antique cars.

Photo: Joyce Koh

Just a 35-minute ferry ride from the Port Klang jetty, Pulau Ketam is known for its seafood restaurants. The island is made up of mostly Teochew and Hokkien Chinese fishermen, whose ancestors have lived here since the 1880s. Houses are propped on stilts and the walkways are narrow, which is why cycling is a norm here. Because of its photogenic location, Pulau Ketam has played host to several local TV series and films – the mural from the ‘Paint My Love’ movie is still around, so remember to snap a picture. If you have time to spare, Pulau Ketam’s neighbour, Kampung Bagan Sungai Lima, also warrants a visit – remember to bag up some dried shrimps and belacan on your way home.

Depart from Terminal Penumpang South Port, Port Klang. Ferry, RM7 one way; speed boat, RM10. More info on www.pulauketam.com

There’s a reason why folks brave the pothole-ridden roads of Telok Gong to get to Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant. Coconut Flower brews its own toddy – sweet, sour and served chilled. Mix this coconut fermented palm wine with Guinness Stout for a local cocktail – a perfect pairing for the deep-fried squid and kam heong crabs.

Our favourite childhood treat wasn’t the neon orange Super Ring (that would be the second most favourite). Ice lollies – or ais batang – are the epitome of frozen thrills. They almost feel like a scam; you can only taste the flavours – grape, ‘oren’ or assam boi – in the first five sips before they dissolve into icy nothingness. But it’s a treat we’re willing to pay for.

One of the best ways to experience Klang – sitting down to a fried porridge feast when the clock strikes midnight. The nondescript Restoran Bubur Goreng serves fried porridge up until one in the morning. This rich, hearty, wok hei-laden dish – fried with dried shredded cuttlefish, shrimps, bits of yam, yao char kuey and golden pork cracklings – can only be elevated with a spoonful of their signature house-made green chilli sauce.