Skybridge - Petronas Twin Towers

KLites will not take time out to tour their own city. If it wasn't for my friends from America, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Mongolia, the Petronas Twin Towers' Skybridge will still be a bridge in the sky. When I took my Vietnamese friend there for the first time 8 years ago, it was a visit that had shocked me in financial terms or the lack of it. It was free. My friend was pleasantly pleased. Such an iconic place will be a cash cow. There is money to be made. Look at the KL Tower. It's RM20 per visit.

But then Petronas is a gargantuan cash cow unto itself and showcasing the Skybridge free is good for their image. Beyond putting the social bottom-line in the black, maintaining their staff to run operations and making sure all things mechanical is in tip-top condition will run into millions of Ringgit each year. Surely the visitors will not begrudge them when visiting for a reasonable fee. Well, no complaints here.

What Petronas has done is not just in the interest of the company. They have raised the bar in an area where few ventured and fewer still succeed. I am talking about the principle of equality and respect for all. It is free for locals as well as the foreigners. In my last trip in March, I saw a mini United Nation waiting their turns. I heard diverse tongues and saw a kaleidoscope of colours and facial features.

One of the big grouse for the tourist is the two-tier pricing imposed imposed on them just because they come from a different geographical area. Some find this practice objectionable and discriminatory. The feelings can get really toxic esp. for the harassed expatriate already wallowing in the deep throes of culture shock. You would not like to hear the colourful language their used to describe the locals and their practices.

Visitors are organised into small groups of 20 so as not to crowd the bridge that also serve as a viewing platform. The bridge has live traffic and connect personnel from both towers besides functioning as a fire run for either tower. Getting a ticket is not a big hassle. Be there and join the queue. Get your tickets and go for a walk around KLCC Suria, get a drink at the cafes etc. There is no need to be there early in the morning. I have tried mid-morning and still get to go in at around noon. If you have a big group, you may have to wait 2-3 hours. Small group may get lucky as some time slots has 2-3 vacancies to just fit in such small group to make 20. Get more info from WikiHow.

The Bridge is at 41st and 42nd level. The twin towers have 88 floors.

The side with the Public Bank Tower

Close up of the tower

Another close up

The side with the fountain and lake