Around the World

We arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 6:00 am and checked into the Traveler's Station (inside the train station building). The Station is located at Jalan Hishamuddin, inspired by Moorish architecture. Designed by A.B. Hubback it was built in 1910.

I ended up with a bad cold after that train trip with the cold air conditioning. We took it easy and just visited the National Museum. I saw some cultural exhibits about puppet shows and circumcision ceremonies. I saw some animal exhibits and the Amok catcher, a barbed pitch fork for catching men on the run. I also saw some weapons, musical instruments and ceramics.

The National Museum is just outside the Lake Gardens. It is a palatial structure built in style of old Malay Architecture, Its imposing entrance is flanked by murals depicting aspects of Malaysian culture and history. Located atop a hill at Jalan Travers, it provides an interesting introduction to the history and culture of Malaysia. Inside are interestingly laid out displays and exhibits on local history, culture and traditions, arts and crafts; economic activities; local flora and fauna; weapons and currency. Outside were old locomotives, vintage cars and other relics of transport from days gone.

I came back and saw the end of "Liar Liar" at our hostel. The place we stayed was crazy. There was a fire and the place was full of smoke, I had to change to a different dorm room. I was getting more sick.

Still sick. I walked to the general post office and mailed some letters. Then walked to Merdeka Square. I saw the Sultan Abdul Samad building. Took some photos of the Supreme Court and "Big Ben" clock. The Dataran Merdeka (or Independence Square) is where the annual celebration of independence takes place. During the British colonial presence in Malaysia it was the focal point, and cricket green (incl. hockey, tennis, and rugby matches). Appropriately enough, it was on the Dataran Merdeka that at 12:01 am on August 31, 1957, the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted up for the first time to the resounding cries of "Merdeka", signaling Malaysia's independence as a nation. The 100-meter flagpole, the tallest in the world, marks that spot with a flat, round black marble plaque. Across the road, are the gleaming copper domes and the 130-meter clock tower of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It is a blend of Moghul, Moorish, Arab and British neoclassical architecture. The bulding was designed by architects Norman and Bidwell, took more than two years to build, and was completed in 1897. It houses the Judicial Department and Infokraf, a center for Malaysian handicrafts. Once it served as the center of British colonial administration in Malaysia.

Then we went to the central market and then the S&M Plaza. I had some stew and got some groceries before coming back to our hostel. We ended up walking through Chinatown and through some desolate tunnels under the highway. I took a nap immediately when we got back. That evening I sent some email and watched "Double Team" another pirated video. In fact some of the videos you can obviously see that they were camcorder recordings from a movie theater with people walking in front of the screen.

I started feeling better from my cold. We took a walk to the central market to catch the bus to Lake Gardens. We saw a par course station that was a figure eight walkway of sharp stones. There was a sign that explained how walking barefoot on these sharp stones would relieve pain. But after trying it I found that it caused more pain than helped. We then went up the hill to see the National Monument.It looked similar to the image of Iwa Jima. It is one of the largest freestanding bronze sculptures in the world. The monument commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggle against Communist insurgency in the 1950s. Then we walked past the lake, saw turtles and an iguana swimming. There was a planetarium in an unusually shaped building located atop a hill in the Lake Gardens surrounded by the National Mosque, National Museum and the Bird Park. It has a working observatory equipped with a 14-inch telescope.

When we got to the bird park it had already closed. Instead we were entertained by wild long-tailed macacque monkeys that roamed the streets, climbing up trees and looking through garbage cans. On the way back to our room we passed the National Mosque and heard them saying their prayers over loudspeakers.

I walked to the central markets from the train station and looked around the shops. The art-deco structure of the Central Market is a center for the display and development of Malaysian culture, arts and crafts as well as a haven for local artists and craftsmen. In the shops and stalls of the market you can find a variety of antiques, Asian artifacts, curios, souvenir items and handicrafts. Portrait artists and small-time craftsmen work, under the stares of people who walk around admiring the colorful atmosphere. You can visit the amphitheatre in order to see one of the regular performances of traditional and contemporary dances and musical concerts. I had lunch on the roof of the market building. I had something called mee goreng which is a dish of fried noodles with meat and veggies on it.

I walked across town to get a view of Petronas towers. I also went to the bird park but got there after they closed. I was disappointed because I really wanted to see a hornbill. But while I was walking down the street beside the enclosed bird park I heard a strange noise and when I looked to see what it was, there was a hornbill sitting in a tree behind the fence. There was a Carl's Junior near by and I went inside to see if I could get a better look at the birds. From inside I could see monkeys and more birds through their window. I was happy that I got a chance to see the hornbill before we left. That evening we boarded the train at 9:40 for the trip to Penang.