July 2, 2010
2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 10)
By Simon J. Lau
I’ve spent the past 3 days in Kuala Lumpur and will be heading to Singapore today. While I can’t say Kuala Lumpur has been particularly exceptional, I did manage to visit several regional landmarks, including Petaling Street (Chinatown), the Petronas Towers, and the Batu Caves – places I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t come here. Nonetheless, I’m eager to explore Singapore, where I believe I’ll find more to do. Before I depart, here are some pictures I’ve taken in and around KL!
Meet Nora and her owner. I encountered this macaque on my way from my hostel to the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). Nora was keeping herself entertained while her owner worked nearby. Seeing a monkey outside of a cage was quite an experience, and I even got to pet her. She was adorable and even gave me a gentle love bite on my hand (thankfully, it didn’t leave a mark). If I ever lived in KL, I’d definitely consider having a pet like her!
Here is a shot of the Petronas Towers at KLCC. At one point, these towers held the title of the world’s tallest buildings. Although newer, taller structures have since been constructed, they still hold the distinction of being the tallest twin towers globally. Malaysians take pride in this achievement, seeing it as a symbol of Malaysia’s industrial and economic advancement. While the towers are impressive, their design, which was cutting-edge at the time of construction, now feels somewhat outdated. Personally, I prefer structures with enduring appeal over towering skyscrapers that may become dated over time. But, of course, opinions on architectural preferences vary.
On my last day in Malaysia, I woke up at 6:45 AM to visit the sky bridge. Despite waiting in line for several hours, it was worth it to see Kuala Lumpur from the 41st floor. This picture captures distant parts of the city and a park below the towers. Before the city center was built, this area was part of a racetrack.
This is an exterior photo of the Batu Caves, a popular Hindu shrine just outside Kuala Lumpur. To enter the caves, you need to climb those steep steps while also fending off groups of aggressive and clever monkeys attempting to get food from you. It’s definitely a site worth visiting!
A picture of a monkey at Batu Caves successfully stealing a banana from someone.
I have a soft spot for animals, so I found myself at the Kuala Lumpur Zoo. The place wasn’t as impressive as the Beijing Zoo, but I found some really interesting animals. That includes this stork that managed to escape its enclosure and was seen eating a snake. I also had the opportunity to pet a porcupine!
Finally, this was my last meal in KL. I stumbled upon this small restaurant near my hostel and struck up a conversation with the owner. To my surprise, when I finished my meal, the owner insisted on giving it to me for free! Such hospitality. I couldn’t accept the offer, but I was grateful nonetheless.
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