Travelogue KL: Aquaria @ Suria KLCC

Hey guys! I’m back with more blog adventures 😀

This is one of the last posts from when the Boy was visiting KL – took him on a day trip to see all the stuff we didn’t manage to fit into our earlier itinerary.

One of the places we went to was Aquaria, an oceanarium and discovery center at Suria KLCC.

Did not know that birthday babies get a 20% discount for the entire group they’re travelling with, so that was a nice bonus. 🙂

The last I visited Aquaria was in 2014. Most of the exhibits at the front sections are the same, but they’re all well maintained. Spanning 60,000 square feet of space, there are over 250 species of oceanic and river life that call Aquaria home. Sections are divided into themes, such as rivers and mangroves, coral reefs, and the deep blue sea.

Once you enter, you’ll be greeted by a school of piranhas in a tank on your left. They look docile, but appearances can be deceiving. You can catch them at feeding time if you’re lucky.

To the right are several open shallow pools. Visitors can dip their hand in (gently, of course) and interact with the fishies. It is important not to splash and muck about so the fishes have a stress-free environment.

Saying Hi to Patrick

Adorable otters that seemed to be posing for the camera

The Undersea Shipwrecks was new to me – it wasn’t here on my last visit. The section is made to look like the bowels of a ship, with ‘treasure chests’, broken jars and fishnets as deco. Most of the fish here are the types that you can find in shallow waters and coral reefs.

Yellow angler fish

One of my favourite parts of Aquaria is the Flooded Forest, which features a water-filled pillar with a tree rising from a pool. It is supposed to replicate an Amazonian river ecosystem, and as you descend the stairs, you will see dozens of fish swimming in the crystal clear water.

Going through the Tunnel is always a fascinating experience, as you can see the different types of ocean life swimming all around you. I especially enjoyed getting up close with the stingrays – they look like they’re smiling when you look at them from underneath! There were loads of sharks as well, some which swam close enough for visitors to observe the rows of their razor sharp teeth.

Objects are 30% bigger than they appear because of the glass. Still, one big ass shark.

A ‘sunken ship’ makes a fun playground for the fishies.

If you don’t have a diving license for the open ocean, you can try Aquaria’s Cage Rage, which lowers you down into the massive tank, so you can have a taste of how it is to swim with the fishes (and sharks) !

idk why I’m reminded of this meme

The tunnel ride takes 15 mins tops but if you can’t get your fill of it, you can always go for a second ride!

The Jellyfish lab is also new from my last visit. Here you can see the different developmental stages of jellyfish. The babies were extremely tiny and being translucent, were like flecks of booger floating in the water lol. #lifeuhfindsaway #jeffgoldblumisdaddy

Cabinet of preserved curiosities

Frogs in a tank. They looked so squishy it reminded me of pudding.

Aquaria isn’t very big so I recommend allocating two hours. It is still a good place to visit, especially if you’re in town for Petrosains and the KLCC Towers.

Entrance is RM49 for adults and RM39 for kids (Malaysians), and RM10 extra for foreigners.

Opening hours are from 10AM – 8PM daily. I suggest avoiding the place on weekends/public holidays because the place is rather small and it gets really packed. You won’t be able to enjoy yourselves.

Speaking of which, we had the evening to kill so we went for a walk at the nicely kept KLCC Park, adjacent to the Petronas Twin Towers. A green lung in the middle of a concrete jungle, it’s a popular place for families and expats.

View of the Twin Towers from a bridge at KLCC Park. Next to it is the new Four Seasons Hotel.

We also hopped on over to Central Market to get some pasalubong (souvenirs) for N’s fam. It was the night of the Mid Autumn Festival during our visit, and we stayed to watch some cultural shows.

We then walked to the Masjid Jamek area, where they have lights lining a stretch of the Gombak river, and a dancing fountain in front of the mosque.

And just nearby is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which faces Merdeka Square – the place where our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared Malayan independence. The architecture is something to behold, a mix of Moorish and colonial British elements.