I was a little apprehensive about coming to this place - Kuala Lumpur - that seems so far away from the world I live in now. One never hears of Malaysia in the USA, so worries about language and finding my way around and food and being ripped off or robbed or worse had some real estate in my mind.
This was the hotel I went to for breakfast - Sarah & Chuck would not have approved, as it was expensive! ($10 USD for a buffet!)
However, I have learned much from the masters of this travel business - Sarah and Chuck hauled me around Vietnam and Japan and Thailand - and maybe I learned a thing or to about doing this! At least I knew there were restaurants in my building, so if it had been awful, my plan had been to hole up for two days and move on to China on Friday. Instead it is clean and orderly compared to other Asian cities I've visited - with the exception of Singapore which is in a class of its own!
This is the view outside the door of my apartment when I wait for the elevator. I'm on the 19th floor.
Let me tell you, travel has become much easier since the invention of the internet and the little devices we carry around in our pockets. British colonialism also helps when it comes to communicating in foreign places.
So I started my morning with my first GRAB ride - similar to Uber, but more popular here. I was looking to join a heritage walk that was due to start at City Hall - but alas, it was the City Gallery I later discovered.
This is the Malaysian flag. The view is close to City Hall - which was the wrong place!
Undaunted by this small mishap, I got a cup of coffee and free wi-fi and set up my Google maps to visit the textile museum, a prominent government building and the Petronas Towers. I have now figured out how to save the maps to my phone so I can access it without internet while I walk! See what I mean - I've learned a thing or two!
The textile museum was great! Apart from the fact that I love fabrics, one could get a sense of the culture here before the introduction of Islam in the 12th century and later British imperialism.
I loved the spectacular colors in this beaded collar.......
.........and these traditional costumes.
I was intrigued to learn that pounding bark into clothing was probably one of the earliest fabric techniques used here. These bark costumes were very elaborate!
The hats were brilliant, too. This one was from Sarawak.....
........and this was a more contemporary style such as would be worn by a dignitary.
I was surprised to learn that Malaysia is younger than I am - it was unified and became independent from the British in 1957! It has a Westminster style of democracy. I have been curious to see absolutely no images of the king - in stark contrast to Thailand which borders it to the north. I suspect it could be due to the Muslim art not being able to use human forms or faces- so no king worship here from what I can see.
The government building - Sultan Abdul Samad Building - was a disappointment as it is in the process of significant renovation and one could not see inside. It was finished in 1897, so I guess it was wearing out! Nevertheless, it was very interesting architecture - Wikipedia describes is as 'indo-saracenic'!
The sweeping openings create a lovely keyhole into the world inside.
The clock tower was designed to evoke Big Ben in the style of the building. It is a stark contrast to the modern buildings surrounding it.
From here it was 'shank's pony'! Just a couple kilometers to the Petronas Towers - an iconic structure here. At 1,483 ft, and 88 stories, they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world.
A few street scenes from my walk. Don't ask me where or what. I just liked them!
You can see the twin towers off in the distance.
On the way, I stopped in a restaurant that looked as if it was a place where working people ate. Chuck Mason, you will be pleased to know I was just about the only European there. I have no idea what I ate, as I just pointed at something that looked like chicken behind the counter, but it tasted pretty good! The restaurant also had chrome tables and chairs.
Once I arrived at the Petronas Towers, it was tempting to go to the top and walk the linking platform - but it just seemed a waste of time and money (about $32 USD) and is the type of thing I can do in the world where I live.
However, I did enjoy some time sitting in the KLCC Park watching a very lovely water/fountain display.
While there I was approached by a couple of young women who presented their University ID's and asked if they could practice their English with me. Of course, I thought that was great fun and much better than going up some building. They were studying cuisine, but English is one of the required classes. Aren't we lucky to already be able to speak English!
To get to my next destination, I was keen to use an above ground air-conditioned walk way.
It links the shopping malls at the Twin Towers with the VERY HIGH END shopping mall at a place called Bukit Bintang. There were stores for European designers I have never even heard of and they all looked pretty empty. I don't know who has that money in their pockets!
My destination was a traditional Malay house that had been moved here from Northern Malaysia in the 1990's. It is called Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman and is one of the oldest surviving traditional Malay houses. Built in stages between 1910 and the early 1930s, it housed a chieftain and his family. When discovered, the jungle had completely surrounded it and the house could barely be seen.
It now rests surrounded by the high rise modern buildings of Kuala Lumpur.
The porch was used for official business. The chieftain emerged down the steps like a judge coming into the courtroom and the assembled villagers were then able to sit down when he sat at desk there at the base of the stairs.
The designs evoke animals, as the use of human or animal form is not used in Muslim architecture or art.
The dark interior made it feel very cool and the intricate designs in the wood allowed for lots of air being circulated. This was our guide.
There were several bedrooms for married couples. The single people had to sleep up in the attic so that no intruders would take them. Intruders were often mentioned as being a problem - there was a separate entrance for women and it sounds as if they were careful to keep the girls in the house.
Lovely feel.
I liked the woodwork in the kitchen - evokes venetian blinds.
By the end of the tour here, it was time for tea at the hotel opposite, the Royale Chulan, while I used their wi-fi to arrange my GRAB ride back to my apartment.
I was pretty tired after all that walking, but it seemed like a great time to check out the infinity pool on the 37th floor of my building!
It was pretty thrilling to see that skyline laid out before us like that.
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