Things to do in  Petaling Jaya

Bask in the bioluminescence of thousands of fireflies as they do their mating dance in a mesmerizing display around the berembang trees along the Selangor River at Malaysia’s Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park, in Kuala Selangor. Each species of firefly has a different light pattern. They create a symphony of light in the mangrove swamps as they swarm around their chosen branches. It’s one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular displays.

The sprawling 88-acre (36-hectare) Sunway Lagoon ranks among Southeast Asia’s biggest theme parks and boasts rides, water slides, a man-made beach, a wildlife park, and Malaysia’s first surf simulator. It’s one of Kuala Lumpur’s top family attractions, offering activities that will suit kids of all ages.

Silvered leaf monkeys flit through the trees on the climb up Melawati Hill (Bukit Melawati, the historic epicenter of Kuala Selangor. Besides a colonial-era lighthouse, other relics of past times include cannons, a royal mausoleum, a well with a gory history, the remains of a fort, and a small museum devoted to Selangor state history.

Few capital cities can boast a tropical rain forest within driving distance, but Kuala Lumpur can. The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is a 3,775-acre (600-hectare) expanse that’s home to hundreds of plant species. Visitors can hike along trails that pass secondary forests, a river, and waterfall.

Fringed with mangrove forests and filled with houses on stilts, the relaxed fishing community of Crab Island (Pulau Ketam) couldn’t feel further from nearby Kuala Lumpur. The two villages, which are home to only 6,000 residents, are renowned for their seafood dishes, which tend to feature fresh prawns and crab.

The sleepy coastal town of Sekinchan, north of Kuala Selangor, is Malaysia’s rice bowl, with spectacularly flat, fertile fields that yield more rice per acre than anywhere in the country. The Sekinchan Paddy Fields (Sawah Padi Sekinchan), vast rice fields that roll away toward the endless horizon, are Sekinchan’s star attraction.

Outside Kuala Lumpur, i-City is an urban, business, and tourism development that contains malls, offices, hotels, tourist attractions, and much more. Of most interest to travelers is the theme park, which consists of a water park, museums, fairground attractions, a Ferris wheel, and the largest snow park in Malaysia.

Wet World Water Park in Shah Alam is a place for visitors of all ages to have fun on a hot day. Enjoy rides such as the Thunder River, Pirate Challenge, and Super Hurricane—then have lunch at one of the on-site food venues, or relax in one of the cabanas available for rent.