In relation to my job with a major professional association, I was very fortunate to be hosted by a group in Malaysia that sent me and a business colleague on a first class flight to Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital. It is the largest city in Malaysia and one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in Southeast Asia. The city is is the cultural, financial and economic center of Malaysia. KL is amass with towering skyscrapers like the famous Petronas Towers, colonial architecture, amazing attractions and warm and friendly citizens. Places of interest include the Batu Caves, KLCC Park, Thean Hou Temple, Jalan Alor, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the Petronas Towers. Also, don’t miss visiting the Royal Salanger Pewter Factory, considered the finest pewter produced in the world.
Of course, one of my main interests, aside from the business we were there to conduct, was the cuisine of KL, one of the most diverse I have ever experienced. The cuisine of KL draws from the immigrants that have made this city their home. You will find a delicious fusion of Indian, Chinese, Malaysian and African features. I enjoyed the traditional curry and chicken dishes and the delicious fish and noodles. Rice is the basis of most national dishes. Street foods are also popular. We were there during the Festival of the Sacrifice and Festival of Breaking Fast. Dotted along many of the streets were vendors making Lemang, eaten at the end of daily fasting.
It is an Indonesian traditional food made from rice and coconut milk. 
It is wrapped in banana leaves and rolled into a bamboo stick, then roasted in a slanted position over an open fire, turning often as it cooks. This was one of my favorite street foods. I think we stopped at every concession as we navigated the streets of the city. During these festivals, citizens open doors to their homes and people can go in from the street and be treated to a dish prepared by the homeowner.
One of the markets we visited was the Petaling Street Market.
Located in Chinatown, KL, the market is packed with food stalls, shops and clubs where one could spend an entire day. Besides an array of food, the market is known for selling fake goods, even though there is a sign as you enter the market that warns against selling them. It does not stop the vendors. But, I was there to see the variety of foods. 
The market is filled with a multitude of vendors offering a variety of local cuisine, many of them offering samples. There are many Chinese and seafood restaurants throughout the grounds and many booths that sell all kinds of snacks. I was lured by all the aromas that filled the air and couldn’t resist tasting all that I could handle.
One of the most interesting food items I came across was a fruit called durian.
It is large and it’s skin is filled with thorns that can cause serious harm if it lands on your head! The other thing that I didn’t know about the fruit is that it has the worse smell of any food I have ever experienced. This makes Limburger cheese smell like a good perfume. Yet, despite that it is hard to handle and stinks like never washed gym socks, it is one of the most popular fruits eaten in KL. I now see the fruit in Asian markets here in the United States. The fruit grows on large trees and are quite large. People like to eat it for its nutritional benefits, being rich in amino acids, enhancing human immunity and adjusts the body’s acid-base balance. I will continue to look for nutrients in other foods!
We ate at several restaurants, but my favorite was Bijan. Delicious food, great ambiance and excellent service. All in all, my culinary experience in KL was one of the most unusual and most enjoyable.