The street of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Sometime back, I was walking up and down the cheaper, touristy part of Jalan Bukit Bintang with a camera in hand, because.

I saw a young man grilling corn for sale. He saw me and my camera. I half smiled at him. He didn’t smile back. I possibly do not look like a customer who would buy grilled corn in a place where I’m no tourist. S’ok, I understand. I wouldn’t smile at me either.

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - corn seller

But his two customers were the HAPPIEST corn eaters I’d seen!

That didn’t come out quite right. Yet there they were, two grown men sitting at the edge of the walkway with half-eaten grilled corn in hand. The guy in spectacles beckoned me over, “TAKE A PHOTO OF MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Yes sir!

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - eating corn

More photos:

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - street vendors
Proof that street vendors care more about Saudi Arabia tourists’ money.

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - street buskers
A large crowd gathered in front of Pappa Rich for the melodious, talented and engaging Sentuhan Buskers. I would have gladly sat and watched them play forever for an hour.

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - open roof car
Hello you brave (?) man choking in the fumes of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - henna
Get a temporary henna tattoo, why not?

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - human services
Window shopping.

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - snatch thieves sign
Reality.

DBKL is ‘cleaning up’ the main Bukit Bintang street. Where there used to be plenty of massage parlours with girls standing outside, massage menu in hand inviting you in for relaxation; legit or otherwise, they have since been ‘encouraged’ to move out (aka no license renewal). Apparently it’s a move to ‘class up’ the place. I wonder what the outcome would be.

So yes, I find the main Bukit Bintang street a tad less lively now. The massage girls sure left a void. If you’re looking for real, legit Bukit Bintang massages, you can find a row of them between Changkat Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor.