Hi there! Today I'm going introduce you one of the piece of gem at the center of Kuala Lumpur, REXKL, an age old REX cinema theater building mutated becoming a mix cultural building. The building seating right NEXT TO the famous China Town. Without further a due, I'm going to give you photo diarrhea follow by description.
Therefore, getting there by driving is entirely a bad idea due to the traffic. However, if you must drive, be sure to park at the Hotel Malaya or another multi level car park behind the hotel. Otherwise, the nearest jokey parking is going to cut throat.
Walking at the street can be quite dangerous, try to keep to the side as much as possible.
The entire road is filled up with eateries. Some of these are traditional food, some are not. Be safe when walking these street, it's way too many tourists around, and beware of pick pocket.
If you seen hold school building, be sure to look at their wall. If it's clean, there's a good chance it has been sold, and someone else is running the business.
There's only handful of authentic old restaurants there. You may try street food. Most of these are Halal, therefore it's also suitable for Muslims.
Apologize on the blur image. The phone isn't cooperating with low lights due to it's slow processor combo with high resolution.
This is the side road leading directly to the middle of China Town, which is next street from this road.
Beside of the side road, there's a bunch of traditional food hawker stall. Don't go crazy on it if you're going to visit China town, there's a lot more food stall in it.
One of the significant food in Kuala Lumpur being chicken wing. By the look of the BBQ pan, I don't think I will try it.
Just before everyone start to give up, don't see anymore hawker stall? Fear not! Our destination is not far from here.
Depending on the timing. At peak, the entire pedestrian walk will be filled with eateries, you're going to have trouble walking by.
Here's another side road, but I have not got the chance to find out what was it. However, the lighting are attractive, so I took a picture. Will be my next visit.
Finally, we're here. By the look of the entrace, you may not be able to tell this was formally an old school cinema.
Note that the Wine Bar was supposed to be the ticketing counter yo.
The lower ground was supposed to be the seating area, is now converted to become a food court.
On the side, there's this huge row of green shop. As the theme suggest, it's organic, and they sell vegan meat. We did considered for awhile, but decided not to.
We found the next shop very interesting, by the name of Ticklish. There's this signboard stating, "No Bull All Babi". For your convenient, Babi means pig. So, no halal yo.
Immediately opposite of Ticklish is another Western Shop. Everything seems very simple and clean.
The food court is properly setup in the property. I also noticed I'm probably one of the "elderly", considering majority of the occupants are young punk.
We also saw this Taco King. Note that behind the Taco King is a real decommissioned school bus. I did took a photo of the school bus with the kids, too bad my phone does it horribly. You guys will have to witness it at this distance.
There's this noodle shop by the far end, has a long queue. I took a quick peek at other's food, doesn't look at all appetizing.
A bicycle repair shop inside the food court. I'm a little lost of word, but the old school style does make it stand out.
Ok. I did turn back and take a photo of that school bus. Please ignore the lady. I was there waiting for her to go away, but it seems she keep standing there to see if I dare to snap the damn photo, so I did.
Kids finally decided to have a beef burger from the pretty darn clean stall. I didn't try it, but the bun looks super soft, and I can smell the beef. Judging by the speed they eat, I guarantee it's nice.
Me and home minister not too hungry, we shared a pot of pig satey ordered from Ticklish. Frankly, I felt regret as I only ordered one portion! This thing is super nice!
The lemonade is also from Ticklish. Apologize I forgot to take a photo before I started drinking it. This is easily one of the most expensive lemonade I had in my life. RM8 yo.
Bila-Bila in Bahasa meaning, anytime. Is a latest convenient shop franchise. We will come back to visit later. For now, let's climb the stairs and explore the old cinema building!
Seriously, more than 20 year I haven't been climbing such old school cinema. The last I went to such old cinema was Titanic, and paid only RM4(like 1.25 today's Dollar)
The wine bar is where the chilling place youngster these days hangout. According to home minister, the food court full of potential chick due to this bar.
There's this corner full of books. Not exactly sure if this is a reading corner.
The mezzanine floor, usually the concessionary station that sell tid bits. Back then, not really a pop corn era. Imagine sitting at the cinema, people still smoke, cracking peanuts there.
I was hoping to take a picture of the board, so I can read it later. Once again, the damn phone simply don't work well at night. Apologize on the blurredness.
As soon as we reached the second floor, this is BookExcess bookshop. They have converted the entire upper floor of the theater into a book shopping place.
I can still smell the old concrete of this stairway leading to the theater. The roof has been reinforced with steel structure. I wish I have a better phone to show you more.
The theatre hall has been converted to become a convention. Noticed how clever BookExcess crafted a customized bookshelf so we can still observe the theater from here?
I took my chance, dodge the security, switch my phone to wide angle, hold my hand extremely still and this is the best I can capture before the security came chase me away.
I've climbed to the top floor book rack and took a photo with wide angle lens, to show you the scale of this entire thing. Pretty darn awesome.
Looking out from the building is the street where we came from. I'm not sure if the sound proof is too good, or the cultural event playing drums covers the street noise.
Like every good thing must come to an end. We went back to BilaBila mart to take a rest, scout for some snack before going home. Home minister is giving an impromptu lecture which the both are pretending they're listening.
A buggy that sells snack at the door. Once again, reminds me of the old days, there's street food selling steamed peanuts and grinding sugar cane juice. Was way healthier then pop-corn and fizzy drinks.
Just before we make a move, I turned back and snap a photo of the convenient shop, that we have purchased some overpriced snacks, but all good. For the economy.
As soon as I left the lights, facing where we came from is a resting lounge of the cafe. Once again, it's actually a pretty darn comfrotable place, but my phone didn't do the justification.
