Lord Murugan
Malaysia
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Landing in Malaysia wasn’t the smoothest but something struck me as odd once we had our luggage. Outside the airport, I realized all the cars were smaller than usual. I remember asking Orsha if it was just me thinking that, but nope, it looked that way to her too. We were in Kuala Lumpur, and it wasn’t as busy heading to our Airbnb from KUL airport as we had imagined. Kuala Lumpur looks spacious. The city is alive, and people are always on the move.
I should tell you it is imperative to get a sim card and we got ours at the airport. The app we used to get around in Malaysia is called Grab. You can use it to grab a taxi, grab takeout, or groceries. Uber works in Malaysia as well but Grab worked out much better. You’ll need a Malaysian number to sign up before using its services though.
On the first night of our arrival, we saw fireworks. It was beautiful, and it seemed Malaysia was welcoming two strangers so far from home onto its shores (well, that’s certainly how we chose to look at it ☺ ).
People and Religion of MALAYSIA
I didn’t know what to expect when it came to the population of Malaysia, but I was still surprised. I expected a lot of Chinese living there, but it’s a whole mix of ethnicities. From native Malays, Indians, Chinese, Thai, and Filipino. Many celebrate the Islamic religion as well but because of the substantial influx of Chinese and Indian people-you find many places dedicated to Buddhism and Hinduism. Two of the most prominent ones are the Lord Murugan statue nearby Batu Caves (https://goo.gl/maps/SUbK2PXpmL1yzNwYA) and the Buddha Staue at Thean Hou Temple ( https://goo.gl/maps/Uxbjj9uhPuXEj8Qh6). The figure at Batu Caves is considered the tallest of any deity in Malaysia. It towers well above you and truly is a work of art.
Thean Hou Temple, on the other hand, is a six-tiered temple devoted to the Queen of Heaven. It is one of the oldest Buddhist Temples in Southeastern Asia, having been around since 1987. When my sister and I made it to the Temple, after snapping a couple of photos, one of the worshippers mentioned some poses, such as sitting cross-legged, were not permitted. In addition, before you can enter the Temple, it is a requirement for your shoes to be off as you are now on sacred grounds. It’s important to note when visiting the above places- you must not show skin. So leave the sleeveless tops, skirts, and shorts at your hotel.
Another place of worship is the National Mosque of Malaysia: https://goo.gl/maps/RwsJ6Jcyty9bfc3g9 The mosque was quiet. Before you go, be aware of the open and closed times for viewing. I’m sorry, I never took that picture but perhaps googling will provide it or give them a call. You will be asked to sign in; then, once you do, prepare to remove your shoes and put on the gown provided.
Tourists who aren’t Muslim must wear it, but Muslim tourists would already be in their own gowns and need not wear the ones provided. If tourists who are not Muslim bring their own robes, they’ll be told no, “you must wear the ones provided.” Cover your head, and don’t let your hair show. I totally understand; it is one’s religion so let’s be respectful and follow the rules. We spent about 15 minutes here before leaving, so there isn’t much to do.
Petronas Twin Towers
You should not go to Malaysia and bypass the Petronas Twin Towers. Please permit me to be straight with you; there is a crowd at 6 am or even midnight. It was hard for us to get one good picture without people in the way. You’re competing with other tourists who came for the attraction and locals trying to sell you the latest iPhone or fish-eye lenses to put on your mobile. I went with an 18-55mm lens, and it obviously wasn’t enough to capture the full magnificence of the towers.
Some words of advice, you will be haggled and bombarded by many sellers to buy a lens from them, so it’s better to bring your own beforehand. Invest in a wide angle or fish eye lens for your DSLR too. If you forego either of these options and would willingly buy one from vendors, please fit the product up with your camera before you purchase. Some of the lenses sold are blurry, and your pictures have no clarity or sharpness. Lastly, try to get a complete view of the tower far from the crowd, and it’ll work out the best for you.
We went to the towers twice to experience it during the day when its’ reflective surfaces glistened in the volcanic heat of Malaysia (yes, it felt that hot), and then we saw it’s formidable mass lighting up the night for all to see. I much preferred viewing at night up close and at a distance too, although the area is busiest at night. Nearby the Petronas Towers is a visually appealing show called Lake Symphony. It was gorgeous and took place at night because that’s when the colors jump out at you.
We hadn’t the faintest idea there was a water performance at the lake until we saw people madly dashing across the street from the towers. Everybody jumping and running at breakneck speeds made us curious as to what all the fuss was about. Luckily we made it there to see the fountains come alive at night since they were unavailable throughout the day.
It was an entire orchestra, and the jets of water were the musicians. It was as if the water was a prima ballerina under the spotlight. We enjoyed this immensely, and it is a must-see. They do it at a specific time, maybe around 7 or 8 pm but don’t quote me on that. Just ensure you are nearby when it is about to happen.
Merdeka Square
This square was on Sweet Pea’s list of places to see in Malaysia. While I didn’t know it at the beginning, I learned the reason this square is famous has to do with Malaysia celebrating its independence. The people of Malaysia first raised their flag here on the 31st of August 1957. They regained their independence from British rule. All we wanted to do was go into the middle of the street and take a picture of the impressive Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
Actually, we did do that. There is a traffic light nearby the square, so I set up my tripod and told Sweet Pea to dash across the street and pose. You should have seen us dashing across the street ever so often as the light blinked red and traffic came to a standstill. I bet the locals laughed when they saw tourists behaving this way. We didn’t care if we looked strange, we got some photos without moving cars. Let me be perfectly clear, I am in no way, shape nor form telling anyone to dash across the street for a photo op. Please be safe on your travels, and always be alert.
At Independence Square, you might find photographers who take your picture without permission. I’ll be honest; I was not too fond of this. What a brazen thing to do, I thought. However, I soon got over the intrusion when I saw the results. While my friend and I were taking a selfie, they took a picture of us and placed it on a small plate with symbols of KL. We immediately liked it and ended up supporting their hustle. They made pretty good souvenirs, right?
You will also find the “I love KL” sign close to the square; yet another photo op for you to check out. Other notable places we visited in Kuala Lumpur included Kuala Lampur Eco-Park, Laman Perdana Botanical Garden, and Jalan Alor Food District. You can go as far as your money will allow you. Our we’re-out-of-debt-and-celebratory-birthday-trip allowed us to see the above. Consider using Trip.com for your travel arrangements. They offer good deals on flight and accommodations. Plan your vacation and choose wisely, don’t bite off more than you can chew, it could very well lead to a bitter aftertaste, and you don’t want that. Check out Crimson21.com for more travel destinations and leave a comment if you have questions.
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October 6, 2022
