Exploring KL

My day of sightseeing relied heavily on Emilie, as she lived in KL for 18 months after she finished university and was thus able to provide me with a nice itinerary. Consistent with Sunday morning, the weather was unbearably humid and it was easy to tell who the tourists were on the metro – basically anyone wearing shorts. The locals went with pants, which actually turned out to be a smart move on the trains given the ice-cold AC that was running full force.

In the morning I visited the Masjid Jamek, which is one of the oldest mosques in the city. In order to enter I had to wear a black visitor’s robe that took the oppressive 100% humidity to another level. It also had a burlap texture that added to the comfort.

I then walked around Chinatown for a bit and saw a number of Chinese temples including Sin Sze Si Ya, Guandi and Koon Yam. The feel that I got from them was kind of a mixed religious and cultural / community center. The colors and artwork were very nice, though the dense incense smoke was a bit stifling.

This painting, which stood over the inside of an arched entryway at the Koon Yam Temple, creeped me out a bit. You'll probably need to click on the photo for a larger version. Focus on the what the small guy on the left is doing.

I also saw the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple. The roof architecture was particularly impressive, with detailed carvings and rich colors.

 

There were two main markets in the area: Central Market and Petaling Street. If I had more time I probably could have found some nice gifts, but I preferred to move along to other sights to make the most of my free day.

Next I walked to Merdaka Square, which was the heart of Colonial KL. The grass square is bordered by the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (a blend of Moorish and Victorian architecture, with a prominent clocktower) and the Selangor Club (the social center for the city’s high society during the late 19^th century).

I then visited the main train station. The Moorish-style building is celebrating its centennial this year.

A short walk from the train station is the Masjid Negara (National Mosque), which is known for its Malay-Islamic rather than Arabic-Islamic architectural influences. Unfortunately, I arrived during prayer, so I wasn’t able to visit the inside. Here's a photo from the outside, though it's a bit hard to see the mosque itself due to the palm trees.

I spent the balance of the afternoon just walking around and battling the humidity. Fortunately, there weren't any major thunderstorms. Here's a nice view of the Petronas Towers from the Little India neighborhood.