Kuala Lumpur on foot.

Kuala Lumpur,the capital city of West & East(Sabah & Sarawak) Malaysia.
There are a total of 13 states plus an additional state called Wilayah Persekutuan(Federal Territory) which consists of Kuala Lumpur,Putrajaya and Labuan(an island off Sarawak)
Kuala Lumpur was made the territory on the 1st Febrauary 1974,Labuan on 16th April 1984 while Putrajaya was on 27th March 2004.
Putrajaya is the new administrative capital of Malaysia.



Tourists coming in by flight will definitely take a bus to K.L.Sentral.At K.L.Sentral,use the side escalator to reach the 1st floor and towards your immediate left is the LRT terminal.

Find the word "Masjid Jamek",price RM1.80 and this is the city centre.

As you come out from the Masjid Jamek terminal,keep to your right and that's where the main activities are located.
Guesthouses,hotels,shopping arcades,central bus station,Chinatown,schools etc.

If you choose left straight onwards,3km from here is the Orchid Garden,Butterfly Garden and the Parliament house.



Just beside the LRT terminal is Masjid Jamek which is included in almost all tour packages.
Tourists are allowed in provided your put on the muslim prayer dress,male and female.

This is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak River and was designed by Brig.Gen. Arthur Benison Hubback who was an architect during colonial times.

Across the street where you arrived is the Masjid Jamek LRT interchange station,Kelana Jaya Line,Sri Petaling Line and Ampang Line.

Kelana Line link to Bangsar,Kelana Jaya & Subang Jaya outskirt while inward to KLCC,Ampang,Wangsa Maju.

Ampang Line link to PWTC(World Trade Centre),Sentul and outward to Pudu,Cheras,

Bandar Tun Razak(new southern bus terminal),Sg Besi,Bukit Jalil(near sports complex) will be the,Sri Petaling Line.

Just a kilometeron your LRT right exit  is the Puduraya Bus Terminal.(Pasar Rakyat as noted by Lonely Planet).

Straight ahead beyond the Pasar Rakyat about 2km are the many shopping malls like Sg Wang Plaza,Lot 10,Low Yat Plaza,Berjaya Times Square and many 5 stars hotel.The nightlife of Kuala Lumpur is found here.

Many backpackers have a problem of locating Anjung Guesthouse in Bukit Bintang Road.
Right across Nikko Hotel is a small side road.Walk in and turn right and straight ahead is Tengkat Tong Shin.
Other guesthouses here include Sky Palms ,Bintang,i2inn,Forever Young,Number Eight,Tropical,Diaman Fantasia,KL Heaven to name a few.

These two buildings right in the heart of the city can be used as your main point of navigation.
View is from Chinatown area.

That tall building behind is the Malayan Banking Towers while the front is Cahaya Suria.

KL Tower is behind both the buildings and this will be your grid North where all the offices are located,nothing much to offer except that you arrive at the shopping mall and Bukit Bintang nightlife area.

Grid East is southbound and the Bukit Bintang nightlife area,a much shorter route.

Towards the west,Central Market,Dataran Merdeka,Chinatown,Parliament House,City Hall.





Malayan Banking Berhad or Maybank was incorporated in Malaysia on 31 May 1960  having an extensive global network of 1,750 offices in 14 countries namely Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Bahrain, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Uzbekistan






Mydin Hypermarket is owned by an Indian-muslim just beside Cahaya Suria Building in the city centre.
Inside Cahaya Suria is the Stamford College.

In front of this hypermarket were many local buses that goes to housing estates near the southern edge of the city.

To get to Mines Wonderland,the bus fare aircond  is RM2.50.



These pastel blue buses at the hypermarket sideroad goes to the Kajang Town which is in the southern edge of Selangor State.
About 20km from city.
Beyond Kajang town is the old road to neighbouring state Negri Sembilan,Malacca and finally Johore.

Kajang Town is famous for its signature food,"SATAY"--a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meats, served with a sauce normally chicken and beef meat being used.

It is also popular in many other Southeast Asian countries, such as:Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, the southern Philippines and  Indonesia .

Kota Raya is a shopping arcade just across Chinatown.

KotaRaya is owned by the Berjaya Group(public listed) which in turn is the owner of Berjaya Times Square and also the major shareholders of the Starbuck Coffee outlets.

Also in their list of operations includes gaming like Sports Toto(locally) and Lotto(Philippines)
Buses opposite Kotaraya  have Metro buses that travels via Jalan Tun Sambanthan(Little India),pass Kuen Cheng Girls School(Thean Hou Temple),Mid-Valley shopping mall(near Mobil Station & 2km from Thean Hou Temple),SS2, and ends at Bandar Utama.(lots of megamall group together here,one shop centre).

An old colonial days design building just opposite Chinatown.Built in 1953 and owned by the Rubber Trade Association of Selangor and Pahang.

During those days Malaysia was called Britiah Malaya(1874-1946).

On weekends,the city centre has a complete change of activities.
It becomes the meeting points of foreign migrant workers especially those from Myanmar,Bangladesh and Nepal.







Areas opposite Chinatown right till Bangkok Bank Building near Central Markets are jam packed with these foreign revellers.
It will be so crowded like you're in Yangon,Myanmar.

Surprisngly most of the old shoplots around here have been sublet to Myamarese and Bangaldeshis businesses.

Most of the Myanmar nationals managed to seep through the porous Thai-Malaysian border paying a certain kind of commitment to syndicates.
Their target is the United Nations headquarters to obtain the refugee card id hoping to be relocated to another country.
In this instances they can still be employed without any harassment from the authorities afterall the city is their new found approved santuary.


 Even the Western Union Bank is opened on Sunday.

In this 4 storey building,there is a food court operated by Myanmar people and even there were live entertainment shows.

 The Malaysian flag at the Dataran Merdeka(Independence Square) near the Moorish style architecture building and clock tower.

Loke Yew Building at the corner of Dataran Merdeka.

Wong Loke Yew (1845–1917) was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era.
He played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur.







Bangkok Bank of Thailand branch officefaces a small fountain square and  has become a popular meeting place for locals and outsiders far and near.



 Money changers available along these row of shop lots.

Chill Inn,

5 Jalan Yap Ah Loy 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur - 03-2026-1161

This is a newly open hotel (21st May 2010) within walking distance to many major tourist attractions.
 - Petaling Street (5 mins walk) - Masjid India (5 mins walk) - Central Market (10 mins walk) - KL Tower (10 mins walk) - Dataran Merdeka / Merdeka Square (5 mins walk).

Rates:DormRM17.00 ==1 single bed (double decker) Air conditioned Shared Bathroom.

Standard:RM43.00===1 double bed or 2 single beds Air conditioned Shared Bathroom.

Deluxe:RM56.000===1 double bed or 2 single beds Bathroom Ensuite Air conditioned.

Family:RM64.00===Double bed + 1 Single bed Ensuite Bathroom.

Thean Hou Temple,Kuala Lumpur.

Thean Hou Temple(Queen of heaven) ,built in 1981 is about 4km from Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown.

The temple is off the Klang expressway on top of Robson Hill and impossible to walk there.

 Get Metro bus 27 or 52 opposite Central Market or at the main road across Kotaraya Shopping complex beside Chinatown.Bus fare:RM2.00

After passing Kuen Cheng Girls School you need to get down in front of YWCA next to MCOBA building bus stop and then walk a short distance uphill.



The front entrance of the temple features a multi-arched gateway with red pillars, the colour symbolic of prosperity and good fortune. Entrance is free except for car park.   
 The temple's architecture is reflective of ancient China.The building has four levels, including a marriage registration office on the basement.

The basics of Chinese temples are aimed to bring about integration between heaven and humanity. This can also be cited to be the reason why a majority of Chinese temples are located in the mountains or amidst green forests.

The Hainan Association is the trustee and caretaker of this largest Chinese temple in Southeast Asia.

Hainanese people  migrated from Hainan Island,south China bringing with them their traditional business skills the Hailam Kopitiam (coffeshop) and  their famous signature food is the Hainanese chicken rice.




Various forms and styles of pillars are used to create an interesting architectural style.

 There were pagoda pavillion on both sides of the temple with a commanding panoramic view of the city.

 The main temple shrine is located on the third floor and visitors will be amazed by the dragon-inspired columns and pagoda rooftops.


  

 The dragon,a mythical animal sculptured beside the stairs.

This place of worship with elements of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism is a marvelous structure and represents a successful combination of modern architectural techniques and authentic traditional design featuring decorative beams, spectacular roofs, domed ceiling, calligraphic couplets, murals and elaborate embellishments.



 The dragon near the roof apex. It is considered bad luck to depict a dragon facing downwards, as it is seen as disrespectful to place a dragon in such manner that it cannot ascend to the sky.

 Chinese phoenix(fenghuang). They are mythological birds of East Asia that reign over all other birds.

 The males are called Feng and the females Huang. The Fenghuang is also called the "August Rooster" since it sometimes takes the place of the Rooster in the Chinese Zodiac.
 
 



Chinese Pagodas (Chinese pinyin: Ta) are a traditional part of Chinese architecture.

In addition to religious use, since ancient times Chinese pagodas have been praised for the spectacular views which they offer, and many famous poems in Chinese history attest to the joy of scaling pagodas.





Woman devotee carrying crafted decoratives with images of Buddha.















The shrine of the Thean Hou Goddess(The Heavenly Mother)











 

 Goddess of the Waterfront (or known as Shui Wei Sheng Niang Goddess)

God of Good Fortune.

Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple,Kuala Lumpur.

The Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple along Jalan Tun H.S.Lee across the street from Kuan Ti Temple.
Visitors and tourists are allowed to enter,no entry fees needed.No donations required.
Built during the late 20th century,the temple's architectural structure was imported from South India.

The dramatic 22.9m (75ft) high pyramid-shaped gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods sculpted by artisans from southern India.

 
The design is very standardised similar to those found at Yishun Avenue in Singapore,Kon Zat Dan Street in Yangon and Silom Road,Bangkok Thailand. This impressive gateway into the temple is called gopuram.

  There is a silver made chariot kept in this temple which is specially used during Hindu festival ,Thaipusam which normally falls in May/June every year.
 During this festival,Hindus all over the country will congregate at this temple and a grand procession with kavadi dance performed by the devotees as a dedication to Lord Murugan, the Tamil God of War.

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads bald and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route right in the wee hours till Batu Cave which is about 13 km from Kuala Lumpur city.

Tourists can have a very good chance of witnessing this spectacular event and join the very extremely huge crowd of devotees walking up the 272 steps at Batu Cave where the statue Lord Murugan is located.

Getting to Batu Caves:
Batu Caves is 13 km from Kuala Lumpur City. The easiest way to reach Batu Caves is by Komuter train from KL Sentral station. It costs RM 2 for one way journey. You can also take a taxi, which would cost 20-25 RM from KL Sentral (insist for meter ride).
You can also reach Batu Caves by bus 11/11d Buses from Bangkok Bank Terminus or Bus U6 from Titiwangsa(near Kuala Lumpr General Hospital).



The main prayer hall.This is the inner sanctum (gabagraham) where the chief deity Sri Maha Mariamman(Uma Devi), is installed.
The priest stands in front of the garbagraham when performing the puja (prayers).

Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion.

 The puja altar.

The eight female figures adorning the pillars inside the temple are of Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth).

The one with the yellow dookmalai round the neck is God Ganesha.
He is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu icon.

His image is found throughout India and Nepal.

The Erawan Shrine with God Ganesha in Paknam Municipality near Bangkok in Thailand is also being worshipped by the Buddhist.

Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations.
Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India. Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify.

Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles.

Beside Ganesha god is Lord Vishnu who is the Supreme God in the tradition of Hinduism.
Vishnu is the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of—and beyond—the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.
Vishnu governs the aspect of preservation and sustenance of the universe, so he is called 'Preserver of the universe'.



KRISHNA: One of the most popular Hindu Gods, a dashing, daring blue-skinned hero who drove women wild and demons into despair.






 INDRA: Deva leader and Supreme Ruler of the Vedic Gods. He's in charge of War, Storms and Fighting, and also invented the curious practice of drinking water. 

 SHIVA: The Destroyer. He is Lord of the Cosmic Dance. Around the outside of temple walls at also indian gods in glass casings.

Laxmi sitting position imparts a divine and prcision looks to the ambiance. The lotus sitting position is a cross-legged sitting posture originating in meditative practices of ancient India, in which the feet are placed on the opposing thighs.
It is an established posture, commonly used for meditation, in the Hindu Yoga and Buddhist contemplative traditions.
 The position is said to resemble a lotus, to encourage breathing proper to associated meditative practice, and to foster physical stability. Famous depictions of the lotus position include Shiva, the meditating ascetic god of Hinduism, and Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.





The Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one god; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed.
It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

 


Indian fortune teller. There are instances where a small parrot bird is being used to pick a number from some playcards.From the number the fortune teller will start forecasting your fortune and your inner-self.

A small fee is required.
The Chinese people here also approach the Indian fortune teller foe consultation.