Some weekend.... Its time for Africa!

Football mania has landed around the world, and Kuala Lumpur is no different. Truly, this is the time when no club is full, when women dance by themselves left alone, and where you will find rows and rows and rows of men sitting silently at a mamak stall staring at a tv screen with their teh tariks next to them.

This time around, KL is truly trying to capitalize on the World Cup. So, question is, where should YOU be when that finals night comes by?

I have to say, I've only managed to see one game - last nights Brazil vs. Portugal game with some friends at Gaja bistro in Bangsar. They have a nice big screen both inside and outside, but the place is quite quiet. Its nice if youre there with your friends and you only want to hang out with your friends, but if where you want to be is a place filled with ambience, I would have to say this may not be the place for you. However, it is located next to Zinc art space, so perhaps you could ditch your artsy gf there if you wanted to sneak away for the game.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kuala-Lumpur-Malaysia/Gaja-Bistro-and-Cafe/247650951345

Behind it though, tucked away somewhere, are numerous mamak's with rows of chairs lined up facing the small tv screen. With a cheap menu of teh tariks and milo ice as well as being surrounded by fellow football fans, this place would deliver the atmosphere, but with a tv that small, you might miss seeing the ball, so remember when choosing a mamak, choose one with a big screen, or a semi-mamak, like Souled out, Sri Hartamas

http://souledout.com.my/

Of course, there was also the Teeq bar on top of Lot 10 that I mentioned in my previous post, where you can see the KL Tower rising behind the screen.

And finally, and my personal favorite, head over to Changkat Bukit Bintang for a street filled with bars, cafes and restaurants. There are screens in almost every establishment, so you know when the game is over, you can easily go out and be surrounded by fellow football fans. For me though, Bar Italia takes the cake. They've rented out the rooftop next door, creating additional space for them to project the game against the wall of the next building. They also decorated the space like a football turf with a giant screen depicting the game line-up. What takes the cake? Its then filled with bean bags and low tables so that you can just lie down on the 'turf' or chill out against the bean bags with your friends. It would feel just like college.... except with the KL scenery behind you and maybe 50 more people around you.

So come 12th July, you'll know where to find me =)





(I forgot!! If youre a Japan fan, head on over to Kampachi in Pavillion! If Japan wins, all food is on the house - though you still pay for drinks)