Malaysia Trip Journal #3: KLCC and Dataran Merdeka

This post probably be the last post for my journal of my trip to Malaysia. For this last day, I went to KLCC, the very centre of Kuala Lumpur, and Dataran Merdeka, some kind of the Old City of Kuala Lumpur where several museums, historical buildings, and library are there. Today's trip took much shorter time than yesterday, due to the time to leave for the airport back to Jakarta is around 3 PM that day.

So, it's actually very easy to get to KLCC from Bukit Bintang. There's a indoor access that you can walk through via one of the shopping malls in Bukit Bintang named Pavilion. The indoor access will get you to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and KLCC Park, which is already a part of KLCC area. You can see Kuala Lumpur's most famous landmark, Petronas Twin Tower from KLCC park or even closer. Here's a (not-so) candid picture of me walking down the hallway to KLCC.

Below, the scenery in KLCC park. It was a serene morning that day. I spent some of my time walking around in the park. People were having their morning jog here.

Since the lack of time I had that day, I decided to take the picture of the Petronas Twin Tower from KLCC park. It's time to move on to another place!

Well, this place is actually not in my number one list, but I think it's a must visit place since Petronas Twin Tower is a famous landmark of Kuala Lumpur. Visiting this place in the evening might be better! The tower will be beautifully illuminated.

My final list of places to visit finally comes to the end. This last place probably will be my most favourite place to visit in Kuala Lumpur because it's historical and I'm a history freak (you'll notice my favourite place to visit while travelling are museums, old buildings, or libraries, hehehe). As I stated before, the name's of the place is Dataran Merdeka, and it's a complete set consisting of museum, art gallery, library, and some old buildings. 

I went there with train with Masjid Jamek as the final stop. Once I got out from the station, I took 3 minutes walk to Dataran Merdeka  and voila, it's time to explore!

You'll walk through the series of columns of this old building. I can't stand for not taking pictures of this building.

Dataran Merdeka is across the road!

Let's start by visiting Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. The place showcases the arts and cultures of Kuala Lumpur and some history of it. The ticket price is not really expensive and you can use the ticket to get some free drinks, foods, or discount voucher for the souvenir shop. 

Another obligatory tourist photo while visiting Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.

A view inside the gallery. Displaying a brief history of old Kuala Lumpur.

A wall display that I love I can't stand not taking pictures with it. Notice my face was a little bit annoyed with a Chinese lady on my right who can't stop talking and won't move.

Not pictured, there's a room filled with a miniature of Kuala Lumpur in the night time. It's beautiful and I can't believe it when they said the miniatures were handmade. They took me to a room where I can clearly see the miniatures being made, pictured below. I feel like crying.

And yes, it's sold as merchandises and souvenirs. Here's an amazed me taking pictures of some beautiful pieces of manual wood (or paper?) cutting.

Next stop: the one and only library!!! The main library is actually closed that day (it was Sunday) but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy being at the library. There was a Science Fiction Convention... at the library! Gee, I wish they have this kind of thing in Indonesia. Hehe.

Another exhibition area inside the library.

Looking at the displays in the convention.

Yes, I did!

The last destination of my Malaysia trip was probably the most memorable one. Kuala Lumpur was awesome! Thank you for reading my journal, it might be suck but I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I write it! Once again, thank you for reading! Don't forget to read the first part and the second part for those who haven't.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Malaysia Trip Journal #2: Putrajaya, Petaling Street, and Central Market

I had a nice sleep and woke up before dawn the next day. Made a cuppa and watched TV (although I didn't fully understand what Malaysians said on it. They had this Islamic morning devotion thingy show every morning, just like Indonesia.). Took a nice, warm shower and ready to explore what Kuala Lumpur has to offer us. Today, I decided to spend more time inside Kuala Lumpur, strolling around the city and discover some new places that might tingle my curiosity.

The first place I'd went to is a place that shaped and control Malaysia as a whole nation. It was the federal administrative centre of Malaysia, located 25 km south from Kuala Lumpur, named Putrajaya. It was a beautiful, well-planned, and aesthetically decent governmental area. It amazed me. The first stop I had in Putrajaya is Putra Square. This place offered me some nice view of Putra Mosque, the Prime Minister's Office, and a river located around the corner of the square.

Captured below, is how the Malaysia's Prime Minister's Office looks like. Heavily influenced by Islamic architecture and its ideology, the building's mint coloured dome looks beautiful in the blue sky.

These flags below are placed in the centre of Putra Square. It shows Malaysian flag, and supposedly the flag of monarchies of Malaysia. I almost get blinded taking the picture because it was a really hot, sunny day. Shades are essential when it comes to travelling to Putrajaya.

Putra Mosque is grandeur. There's a promenade located near the mosque where you can take some walk while enjoying the view of the river and Putra mosque from a different perspective. And if you're stomach growling, there's always a food court to treat the monster inside your tummy, haha.

The two pictures below were taken while I'm inside the bus. I saw a public park inside of this area with a swimmable pool and saw bunch people playing in it. Some view that I can never had in my country. 

What else I can say about this place? It's really well-designed, and placed in a really strategic place for a governmental area.

After having lunch at a shopping mall in Bukit Bintang (near the hotel), I decided it would be a nice idea to take some afternoon walk... Using public transportation in Kuala Lumpur! So, I walked from Bukit Bintang to Raja Chulan, the nearest monorail station and headed to Pasar Seni, a shopping district with the famous Petaling St. Chinatown and Central Market in it.

Petaling St. was packed with people and vendors! They sell mostly merchandises, clothes, shoes, and bags with much cheaper prices. You can also bargain with the seller so if you're good at bargaining, this is the right place where you can get stuffs you like on its cheapest price, haha!

After I walked through the whole Petaling St., it's time to move on to Central Market, an art market that sells lots of artistic items and merchandises. The market itself was inside a supposedly old, blue building, with Central Market written on it. The market can be reached in some minutes walk from Petaling St.

Central Market is awesome! The place is quite cool with air-conditioning so I can finally chill after spending hours under the heat. The market is divided into some areas, based on the items that were sold origins. If you're looking for a Chinese antiques, you can go to the Chinese sections. If you're looking for some local products, you can go to the local sections, and so on.

Captured below is how Central Market looks like inside.

A Chinese themed merchandise shop. Red is everywhere.

Shots that were taken on my way home to the hotel at Bukit Bintang.

For those who like to shop in a much cheaper price, these two places might be a perfect place to visit while you're having your trip in Kuala Lumpur!

Stay tune for another journal entry of my trip to Malaysia!

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Malaysia Trip Journal #1: Batu Caves, Colmar Tropicale, and Durians!

I had this short weekend getaway to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and it was amazing. It's been a very long time since my very last getaway (to Manado) and I feel I need a time to relax myself from those thesis writing that takes up most of my time during the seventh semester. For this time, my mom's joined the trip with me.

I had a sudden fever the night before the trip (I froze myself inside a cinema building earlier... How careless of me) but luckily, after some shots of medicines and a decent meal, I was able at least to get up and went to the airport in the early Friday morning. I spent most of the time sleeping in the airplane in order to get well. But hey, at least I still managed to go on a vacation, huh? Hahaha.

The first destination I would like to visit is a Hindu Temple that was attached on a beautiful, green cliff located on Selangor, some few kilometres north of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. The first thing I notice when arrived in the temple was this gigantic, yellow statue of a Hindu god (I searched it up on the web it's a Hindu deity named Muruga). It's amazing on how there's a glimpse of yellow in the midst of green, representing the god's mightiness as believed in Hinduism. There was a stair leading to the main temple (in which I never explore due to my sickness, duh).

There were also statues of Hindu gods and deities on the top of Batu Caves buildings. Captured below are the many colours of Ganesha, known as the god of knowledge and wisdom with the form of an elephant. I just love taking pictures of them. Such an eye candy.

The following picture shows some many other Hindu gods and deities that I couldn't name it all but only some few of them. I believe the one's riding a peacock is another representation of Muruga that I just stated above, and the others that are unfamiliar to me. Any idea who they are? Hindu mythology starts to intrigue me. Hahaha.

And lastly... The photo below capture some another intriguing Hindu deity that somehow looks like what we Indonesian have in traditional folklores and tales. Buto Ijo. Hahaha. No, he's more like Dwarapala, that scary statue I've seen in traditional Javanese building.

Enough with Hindu gods and goddesses. Oh, make sure to bring some crackers to Batu Caves. There are so many birds you can feed here, and it's quite picturesque to take some pictures there with birds flying around above you haha!

I think Batu Caves is a nice place for those who love to learn more about cultures and other religion. It was amazing to know that Malaysia displays such a breathtaking diversity and tolerance in worshipping.

The next destination that was on my itinerary list is Bukit Tinggi, located in Bentong district of Pahang. I was visiting a French-themed resort called Colmar Tropicale and had lunch there. And of course, taking pictures is totally obligatory.

I had lunch in an Italian restaurant and finally gained some of my energy back after walking around aimlessly around the area. Hot chocolate is essential!

Me, after I threw coins into the wishing well. You know what I wished for (re: boyfriend). There was an arcade inside one of the building, and I was so curious I tried its 4D Cinema. It's somehow horrible. It only made me sicker and nauseous.

Well, there's not much thing I would like to say about this place. Well, Colmar Tropicale was beautiful, pretty resembles a French village, but it's not really my thing. I think it's a nice place for those who would like to relax more rather than explore. The pizza's taste good. The hot chocolate too. Hahaha.

 slept all the way through the way back to Kuala Lumpur due to medicines that I took. I realised it was time for dinner the moment I woke up. So, we went to a restaurant located in Selangor named Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar, with Nasi Kandar (some kind of spice rice) as its speciality menu. It's usually served with fried chicken and curry sauce and it tastes SO GOOD (writing it with caps lock on to show you how I love it).

I had Roti Tisu as dessert and so stuffed afterwards. My friend that traveled to Malaysia before me said Malaysian foods are too good to be true, and I must agree with her. Sigh. Weight gain.

After some food indulgence, I went back to the hotel, located in Bukit Bintang, a shopping malls district near central Kuala Lumpur. Took another medicine and fell asleep shortly. And yes, I do feel better the next day and so on. Oh, here's a bonus for making it to the end, which unfortunately, one of many fruits that I don't like. Here comes, the King of Fruits!

Stay tune for another journal entry of my trip to Malaysia!

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3