Difference Between Living in London and Kuala Lumpur
Food
Food is the most distinct difference when comparing the two cities. Asian food is known for the rich flavour and for the variety. Asian people think that food in West is very plain and always the same thing. This is a very personal thing because for me, I am fine with plain food. When it comes to food, my boyfriend likes to call me 'Plain Jane' when I choose my food at restaurants because I would go with the simplest option. For example, fries (chips) with no ketchup, plain roti canai with no sauce, minimal fillings in my sandwiches, less is more when I eat hehe. However, I have a strong liking for spicy food and that is hard to find in London. Good, spicy tomyam for example. It is either not the same as the authentic one or very expensive. Because of this, I learned to cook my own spicy dishes like curry, tomyam, masak lemak, spicy soup, masak merah, sweet sour and the list goes on. I realised people in Asia generally do not like food in London. I am not too fussy with food so I could eat at the college cafeteria anytime because I like what they offer even if Asian people call it plain. Also, I like having chicken breast which is not popular in Kuala Lumpur (never cook chicken breast for my grandma). People usually have chicken drumsticks, wings or anything with the bones. Chicken breast is only for soups or to slice into small cubes for fried rice. For me, chicken breast or wings are the best. I like the dry texture and there are no bones in chicken breast so it makes it easier for me to eat. Speaking of spicy, in Malaysia 'do you eat spicy food' is not even a question. Everyone is expected and 95% of the people I meet would eat something a little spicy. However, I realised in Europe in general 'spicy food' is so foreign as if it were food from a different planet ;)
Apart from that, Asian food involves a lot of frying while food in London is mostly roasted or baked. Frying is not as healthy but yummy so I would say to lose weight, food in London makes it easier. Also, I realised that British people only eat sandwiches or salads or anything light for lunch and a hot meal for dinner whereas I need to eat a full hot meal for lunch and only something light for dinner. It really differs for different people and many Malaysians eat a heavy dinner. Oh and salads in Malaysia? That's a big no to most people here in Malaysia. That is not even a lunch option for them. For me, I have always loved salads, fruits and tea so London was a food haven for me when it comes to these three things. Salads and fruits are definitely not popular here in Malaysia. People here only eat cooked vegetables whereas I like it raw. People here eat fruits with sour powder (Assam) and again I like fruits raw. So, there were things that worked better for me in London in terms of food. Fruits, vegetables and healthy food are quite expensive here in Malaysia so I do not blame the locals. London is vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Malaysia is vegetarian-friendly but not vegan-friendly. People here would think you are insane if you go vegan. It just does not work well here and not encouraged. In London, you get labels that are labelled V and things are mostly labelled if they are gluten-free or contain dairy products. Here you get that for some items but not all.
Restaurants in KL are so much more spacious and there are usually enough seats unless you come at 7pm during Ramadan month without making an early booking, then be prepared to stand throughout dinner until people finish their breakfast. Speaking of which, Muslims in Malaysia are not allowed to eat in public during the Ramadan month and the police can question you for this. Logical, please respect the month. The funny thing is that people who look like Malays can be asked to provide an identity card if caught eating in the day during Ramadan. No biggie, you just show them your card and if it says any other religion, then they leave. If not, then I think they go to the police station and you get a fine for disrespecting the holy month. Malaysia is dominantly a Muslim country hence this rule. If you are not from Malaysia, I can guess your reaction 'but why' ;) There are many unique rules in each and every country that if you are not from that country you can never understand why. For example, in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive. My reaction 'but why'. People in the UK drink alcohol and party too much and have an extreme drinking and getting hungover culture. My reaction 'but why'. So, my conclusion is that if you are from that country you get used to it and it is normal. If you are not, you may never understand but respect is the key to a peaceful nation :) Cheers
Food is the most distinct difference when comparing the two cities. Asian food is known for the rich flavour and for the variety. Asian people think that food in West is very plain and always the same thing. This is a very personal thing because for me, I am fine with plain food. When it comes to food, my boyfriend likes to call me 'Plain Jane' when I choose my food at restaurants because I would go with the simplest option. For example, fries (chips) with no ketchup, plain roti canai with no sauce, minimal fillings in my sandwiches, less is more when I eat hehe. However, I have a strong liking for spicy food and that is hard to find in London. Good, spicy tomyam for example. It is either not the same as the authentic one or very expensive. Because of this, I learned to cook my own spicy dishes like curry, tomyam, masak lemak, spicy soup, masak merah, sweet sour and the list goes on. I realised people in Asia generally do not like food in London. I am not too fussy with food so I could eat at the college cafeteria anytime because I like what they offer even if Asian people call it plain. Also, I like having chicken breast which is not popular in Kuala Lumpur (never cook chicken breast for my grandma). People usually have chicken drumsticks, wings or anything with the bones. Chicken breast is only for soups or to slice into small cubes for fried rice. For me, chicken breast or wings are the best. I like the dry texture and there are no bones in chicken breast so it makes it easier for me to eat. Speaking of spicy, in Malaysia 'do you eat spicy food' is not even a question. Everyone is expected and 95% of the people I meet would eat something a little spicy. However, I realised in Europe in general 'spicy food' is so foreign as if it were food from a different planet ;)
Apart from that, Asian food involves a lot of frying while food in London is mostly roasted or baked. Frying is not as healthy but yummy so I would say to lose weight, food in London makes it easier. Also, I realised that British people only eat sandwiches or salads or anything light for lunch and a hot meal for dinner whereas I need to eat a full hot meal for lunch and only something light for dinner. It really differs for different people and many Malaysians eat a heavy dinner. Oh and salads in Malaysia? That's a big no to most people here in Malaysia. That is not even a lunch option for them. For me, I have always loved salads, fruits and tea so London was a food haven for me when it comes to these three things. Salads and fruits are definitely not popular here in Malaysia. People here only eat cooked vegetables whereas I like it raw. People here eat fruits with sour powder (Assam) and again I like fruits raw. So, there were things that worked better for me in London in terms of food. Fruits, vegetables and healthy food are quite expensive here in Malaysia so I do not blame the locals. London is vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Malaysia is vegetarian-friendly but not vegan-friendly. People here would think you are insane if you go vegan. It just does not work well here and not encouraged. In London, you get labels that are labelled V and things are mostly labelled if they are gluten-free or contain dairy products. Here you get that for some items but not all.
Restaurants in KL are so much more spacious and there are usually enough seats unless you come at 7pm during Ramadan month without making an early booking, then be prepared to stand throughout dinner until people finish their breakfast. Speaking of which, Muslims in Malaysia are not allowed to eat in public during the Ramadan month and the police can question you for this. Logical, please respect the month. The funny thing is that people who look like Malays can be asked to provide an identity card if caught eating in the day during Ramadan. No biggie, you just show them your card and if it says any other religion, then they leave. If not, then I think they go to the police station and you get a fine for disrespecting the holy month. Malaysia is dominantly a Muslim country hence this rule. If you are not from Malaysia, I can guess your reaction 'but why' ;) There are many unique rules in each and every country that if you are not from that country you can never understand why. For example, in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive. My reaction 'but why'. People in the UK drink alcohol and party too much and have an extreme drinking and getting hungover culture. My reaction 'but why'. So, my conclusion is that if you are from that country you get used to it and it is normal. If you are not, you may never understand but respect is the key to a peaceful nation :) Cheers
Transportation
London has excellent transportation system. No city can beat London in that. This is one of my most favourite thing about London. I do not have to drive and can go anywhere by bus, tube, walking or taxi. It very common to walk or the ride the bicycle. The buses come frequently and reliable. There is even an app that tells you how many minutes until the next bus. The public transport fares are quite high in London compared to Malaysia. That is the only downside. I guess if they were to provide excellent and efficient service, they need to charge more. Understandable and that makes people want to cycle and walk more. Many people walk in London and the roads are designed to accommodate pedestrians, Here in Kuala Lumpur, no the roads are not designed to accommodate pedestrians unless you are in a neighbourhood area. The roads are wider and broader in KL but so small and narrow in London. In KL, you have to have a car to get around. We have the LRT (tube system) but that does not get you everywhere. You still need a taxi to get to the exact destination. Also, because in KL everything is spread apart whereas in London it is very concentrated and packed so it is nearer to walk from one place to another. So, in KL if you do not drive GrabCar is your best friend. It is similar to Uber but cheaper and faster.
Apparently, only certain plate numbers are allowed into the London City Centre on certain days and you need to pay to enter the city. This rule was conducted to reduce the number of cars and congestion. There is no such thing in Kuala Lumpur. You can drive anywhere anytime. Also, there are more motorcycles in KL so you need to be careful when driving.
Oh and something cool is that in London and KL, you drive on the left. London is different to the rest of Europe and the USA in terms of driving on the left side of the road but it is cool that it is the same as Malaysia.
Weather
Don't get me started on the weather. I would prefer KL's tropical weather anytime over London's gloomy weather. The Sun makes everything so bright, cheerful and happy. I cannot stand long periods of cloudy, gloomy and dull weather. If Winter was only for 2-3 months that would be OK for me but in London, it is gloomy from Sept/November to March/April. That is practically more than half of the year. I cannot get used to the cold weather. Tropical weather makes it easier to go out and plan outings and get around. I suppose if I were to live somewhere that had Winter, I would get used to it over time but it definitely would not be my favourite. Also, daylight is crucial for me to get things done. I do not fancy running errands or go out often at night so the fact the sunset is at 4 to 5pm in London is not so convenient for me. Tropical weather is my favourite and I like London in May to July. Love love love. London seems like a happier place in these months.
Cleanliness
London is definitely cleaner. KL needs to improve on this especially public toilets. Shopping malls, hotels and airports are pretty OK in terms of cleanliness but other places need improvement. People seem to have a habit in KL to just throw trash anywhere anytime. It's bad and it is based on the general mentality that it is OK to throw small rubbish on the road or in drains. Some people also burn trash especially in the villages so that contributes to air pollution. This is getting better than before and the public and government have shown a big improvement in combatting this issue so well done.
London is definitely cleaner. KL needs to improve on this especially public toilets. Shopping malls, hotels and airports are pretty OK in terms of cleanliness but other places need improvement. People seem to have a habit in KL to just throw trash anywhere anytime. It's bad and it is based on the general mentality that it is OK to throw small rubbish on the road or in drains. Some people also burn trash especially in the villages so that contributes to air pollution. This is getting better than before and the public and government have shown a big improvement in combatting this issue so well done.
People
People in London are so diverse. I really did not expect this. It's good I guess because then it makes people less racist and more accepting of differences. As long as people respect local culture and live peacefully together then that is a good thing. In Malaysia, there are 3 main races; Malay, Chinese and Indian. In London, there seems like many local British, Europeans and Indian British. Most of the people of other races in London seem like tourists or there temporarily for study or work purposes.
Generally, I find people in London more formal, well-mannered and polite. People in KL are more warm and friendly and less formal. This could differ of course from place to place and age group so I think this could be subjective but this is what I think of generally. For example, people in London would say 'how are you' without expecting a reply and would not talk to anyone they do not know. People here would expect an answer if they ask you 'how are you (apa khabar)' and they would talk to or approach someone even if they do not know the person. This is again based on my experience. The chances of someone I do not know approaching me to ask if I am new somewhere is higher in KL than London. To me, London is great for people with the don't-disturb-me-I-am-in-a-bad-mood attitude and those who do not like to be approached by people and just mind their own business. Those who like human interaction and enjoy small pep talk and enjoy people being friendly would find it quite isolating in London when you are by yourself. I may not be the best person to judge how it is in KL because I have family in KL so maybe I feel it less but I just feel most Asian people are generally warm and friendly. It's in our culture. Some British people give me the vibe that they only say kind words out of courtesy or politeness. Please do not be offended by anything I write here, this is genuinely for sharing and learning and hope that many can benefit and know what to expect when visiting or moving to these cities :)
I admire British people for their passion for what they do. I realised that in the UK people generally love their job and very professional. They do not look lazy, lack energy and act like they hate their job even if they are doing a simple counter job. When buying tickets, for example, I am less likely to encounter a moody person in London compared to KL. I find that these people working at ticket counters in KL are often moody and clueless. British people know their facts and if they work somewhere, they can answer any question or most of the questions you ask them. It is good to enjoy what you do even if it is a simple thing. This shows that most British people are professional and efficient in doing any job they do and I look up to this.
People in London are so diverse. I really did not expect this. It's good I guess because then it makes people less racist and more accepting of differences. As long as people respect local culture and live peacefully together then that is a good thing. In Malaysia, there are 3 main races; Malay, Chinese and Indian. In London, there seems like many local British, Europeans and Indian British. Most of the people of other races in London seem like tourists or there temporarily for study or work purposes.
Generally, I find people in London more formal, well-mannered and polite. People in KL are more warm and friendly and less formal. This could differ of course from place to place and age group so I think this could be subjective but this is what I think of generally. For example, people in London would say 'how are you' without expecting a reply and would not talk to anyone they do not know. People here would expect an answer if they ask you 'how are you (apa khabar)' and they would talk to or approach someone even if they do not know the person. This is again based on my experience. The chances of someone I do not know approaching me to ask if I am new somewhere is higher in KL than London. To me, London is great for people with the don't-disturb-me-I-am-in-a-bad-mood attitude and those who do not like to be approached by people and just mind their own business. Those who like human interaction and enjoy small pep talk and enjoy people being friendly would find it quite isolating in London when you are by yourself. I may not be the best person to judge how it is in KL because I have family in KL so maybe I feel it less but I just feel most Asian people are generally warm and friendly. It's in our culture. Some British people give me the vibe that they only say kind words out of courtesy or politeness. Please do not be offended by anything I write here, this is genuinely for sharing and learning and hope that many can benefit and know what to expect when visiting or moving to these cities :)
I admire British people for their passion for what they do. I realised that in the UK people generally love their job and very professional. They do not look lazy, lack energy and act like they hate their job even if they are doing a simple counter job. When buying tickets, for example, I am less likely to encounter a moody person in London compared to KL. I find that these people working at ticket counters in KL are often moody and clueless. British people know their facts and if they work somewhere, they can answer any question or most of the questions you ask them. It is good to enjoy what you do even if it is a simple thing. This shows that most British people are professional and efficient in doing any job they do and I look up to this.
Things to Do
I really like the parks in London and the swans. Parks in KL are nice but there are no swans or ducks. I like London theatres but in KL theatres are not that popular. There is this place called Istana Budaya where they have theatres but that is pretty much it. There are many big shopping malls in KL, people in KL just love shopping. In London, there are not as many big shopping malls maybe due to the limited land area but there are many places you can shop like Oxford Street, High Street Kensington and Covent Garden. Generally, I think KL and London have similar things you can do in your free time. There are many dessert places in KL as there are in London. The museums are more popular in London and they are free. People here in KL do not seem to fancy museums too much and they cost you money to go to museums. I find museums in London more well-kept. There are bars and nightclubs in both KL and London but definitely more popular in London. Here, drinking alcohol is not permitted in many premises and getting drunk publicly is not accepted. Kuala Lumpur lacks libraries. There are only a few, I wish there were more. London has many libraries open to public and it's great because it encourages people to read.
I really like the parks in London and the swans. Parks in KL are nice but there are no swans or ducks. I like London theatres but in KL theatres are not that popular. There is this place called Istana Budaya where they have theatres but that is pretty much it. There are many big shopping malls in KL, people in KL just love shopping. In London, there are not as many big shopping malls maybe due to the limited land area but there are many places you can shop like Oxford Street, High Street Kensington and Covent Garden. Generally, I think KL and London have similar things you can do in your free time. There are many dessert places in KL as there are in London. The museums are more popular in London and they are free. People here in KL do not seem to fancy museums too much and they cost you money to go to museums. I find museums in London more well-kept. There are bars and nightclubs in both KL and London but definitely more popular in London. Here, drinking alcohol is not permitted in many premises and getting drunk publicly is not accepted. Kuala Lumpur lacks libraries. There are only a few, I wish there were more. London has many libraries open to public and it's great because it encourages people to read.
Fashion and Beauty
London has incredible fashion and people there generally gave a good everyday fashion taste. In KL, people usually put more effort for events or special occasions. What is even more exciting is that KL has many brands and stores that are popular in London! M&S, Zara, Forever21, Crabtree Evelyn, Body Shop, small Harrods, Godiva, TopShop, Clarks and the list goes on:) Thank goodness, otherwise, I would miss them so much. The best part is that most of the collections here are the summer collections and they cater for people like me who like more conservative fashion and not too skin-revealing. I can find more long sleeve tops here and longer dresses at these popular shopping outlets. Beauty-wise, people in KL seem to either wear no makeup or a lot of makeup. In London, I see many people wearing makeup moderately but more consistently. Londoners seem braver to try new fashion styles, hairstyles and exotic makeup. It's interesting to see the differences. I have the feeling Londoners seem less judgemental of what you wear if you wear it right but judgemental if you get what seems 'basic' wrong. People in KL are more judgemental if you are plus-sized and you wear a skirt or too revealing clothes but they are not judgemental if you match the wrong colours or wear makeup that does not suit you. It is a different kind of judgement. I have no idea how I realise all this. It's pretty true, I guess I am pretty observant hehe.
London has incredible fashion and people there generally gave a good everyday fashion taste. In KL, people usually put more effort for events or special occasions. What is even more exciting is that KL has many brands and stores that are popular in London! M&S, Zara, Forever21, Crabtree Evelyn, Body Shop, small Harrods, Godiva, TopShop, Clarks and the list goes on:) Thank goodness, otherwise, I would miss them so much. The best part is that most of the collections here are the summer collections and they cater for people like me who like more conservative fashion and not too skin-revealing. I can find more long sleeve tops here and longer dresses at these popular shopping outlets. Beauty-wise, people in KL seem to either wear no makeup or a lot of makeup. In London, I see many people wearing makeup moderately but more consistently. Londoners seem braver to try new fashion styles, hairstyles and exotic makeup. It's interesting to see the differences. I have the feeling Londoners seem less judgemental of what you wear if you wear it right but judgemental if you get what seems 'basic' wrong. People in KL are more judgemental if you are plus-sized and you wear a skirt or too revealing clothes but they are not judgemental if you match the wrong colours or wear makeup that does not suit you. It is a different kind of judgement. I have no idea how I realise all this. It's pretty true, I guess I am pretty observant hehe.
These are a few differences between living in KL and London from my experience. Both are great cities and I enjoy them both equally. KL has a plus plus point because I have many people I love here. Apart from that, I love both KL and London as these two cities have been a great part of my life.
Have a great weekend, take care everyone :)
Hi! Can I have your email? Because I have some questions regarding the Shell Scholarship. :)
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