Skyscrapers, monorails and vast shopping malls notwithstanding, Malaysia's thriving capital still maintains traces of local color and has managed to escape both the chaos of Bangkok and the sterility of Singapore. A lively confluence of Chinese, Indian and ethnic Malay cultures fuels this welcoming and eclectic city, which offers incomparable pan-Asian cuisine. Ask your concierge to direct you to his or her favorite kedai kopi, or outdoor food stall, for a true Malaysian dining experience. City Centre is worth a stroll for the grand Moorish stylings of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the pith-helmet colonial charm of the Royal Selangor Club and the pleasant green where independence was announced in 1957.