Mr. P Climbs KL Tower (well sort of...)

It seems that every city I have been to so far has a special place where you can take in how the city looks from way up high.  Kuala Lumpur is no different.  In among the Bukit Nanas Forest (a tropical jungle in the middle of the city) stands the KL Tower (also known as the Menara Tower). 

Surrounded by tropical plants and monkeys swinging from branches, the
KL Tower is tucked away from the noise of the city below.

At 421m tall the KL Tower provides some pretty impressive views of all the neighbourhoods around Kuala Lumpur.  While up on the observation deck you can see caves, jungles, palaces, mosques, skyscrapers and even tiny little houses (quite the interesting mix).  All these buildings come together to make Kuala Lumpur a very special city.  Also, from high up you can see that Kuala Lumpur isn’t a huge city.  Just over 100 years old, it is a new city (just like Toronto) and it is still growing and getting bigger every year.

Look at all the different buildings you can see spread across Kuala Lumpur.

The KL Tower isn’t just for tourists.  Muslims also use the tower as an Islamic Falak Observatory and from here look for the crescent moon that marks the start of the month of Ramadan.

Now  sure, 421m is pretty tall, and the KL Tower is the 18^th tallest tower in the world, but can you guess what tower is the 2^nd tallest at 553m?  I bet you can.

Shark Attack!

On the hunt, this shark looks hungry.

Oh no, that diver is about to be attacked!

No, no, no.  This isn't really a shark attack, it is just shark feeding time, part of the Aqua Theatre experience at Aquaria, an indoor mini zoo and aquarium in Kuala Lumpur.  Spending an afternoon at Aquaria was a great way to get my brain working because there was so much new information to learn.  My favourite part of Aquaria was getting to see all the local fish and animals that are native to Malaysia.  I saw tons of spiders, snakes and lizards that call Malaysia home, and lucky for me I saw them at Aquaria and not running around the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Can you see the Malaysian Earth Tiger Tarantula?

I learned that a Malaysian Earth Tiger Tarantula will stop eating for months before it molts (sheds its old skin).  I wonder what a Malaysian Earth Tiger Tarantula likes to eat?  Do you know any other interesting facts about spiders?

And then there are the neat looking Potbelly Seahorses from Australia.  They look quite funny floating around with their little bellies sticking out (they look like me after a big Malaysian dinner).  I wonder why they have these little bellies?  Do you know why?  Maybe you can research and let me know.

Do you think they have potbellies because they just ate too much?

The Colourful Day in Kuala Lumpur

Being back in a big city after all that quiet time in Phuket has taken its toll on me.  I am exhausted.  So today I went in search of some peace and quiet, and I found it at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

Hidden among the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur, I see some peace and quiet.

This beautiful temple stands out from the buildings around it.  Its colourful statues, piled high in a pyramid formation (or is it a triangular prism?) above the doorway, welcome all visitors, Hindus and non-Hindus alike.  The temple was built in 1873 by workers that came to KL from India.  It is dedicated to the mother goddess Mariamman, and Hindus come here to make her offerings and to ask for her support and guidance.

This colourful pyramid sits ontop of the temple's entrance.

Before you go in you have to remember to take off your shoes (Hindus feel it is respectful to do this, and will even remove their shoes before entering someone's home or store).  Once you are inside the temple you will find many quiet places to sit, pray and even meditate.  You can close your eyes, take deep breaths and enjoy the smell of flowers and incense that scent the temple.  I sat in Sri Maha for a while and thought about my trip and all the temples I have already seen, and all the places I still have to explore (I wonder if there will be more temples?)

Do you ever meditate or enjoy some quiet time?  What are some things you like to think about when you are sitting quietly?

Putting on a Puppet Show

Shadow puppet shows (known as wayang kulit) were once a very popular form of entertainment in Malaysia.  In these shows the puppets were kept behind a screen and the audience only got to see the puppet's shadow,  I guess calling them shadow puppet shows made sense!

A shadow puppet of Hanuman.  Look closely at all the detail that has been carved
out of his clothing.  He must have looked pretty impressive as a shadow.

You have to be very careful when you make a shadow puppet.  If you want the audience to see your puppet's face you can't paint on features like eyes, a nose and a mouth, because the paint can't be seen through the screen.  Puppet makers used leather to make their shadow puppets, and they would carve out all the details using special tools.  If you take a close look at the puppets here you can see how carefully the details are carved out, even things like hair and scales would be carved out so they would be seen by the audience.  The puppet makers would then paint the puppets just to decorate them, but during the show this paint isn't seen and doesn't help the actual performance.  The puppet would also have moving arms and legs that would be attached to its body by special clips.

The puppeteers would use special sticks attached to the arms and legs to move them around.

Have you ever made a shadow puppet?  Get an empty cereal box and try making a shadow puppet of your favourite animal.  Get an adult to help you test it out (you will need a flashlight and a white sheet or t-shirt to do this)  Go back and add the details that are missing once you test it out.  If you get really good at making shadow puppets you should put on a show for your friends and family.  Have fun!

1Malaysia

All around the city you can see posters with the slogan 1Malaysia written across them.  What do these posters mean?  What are they trying to teach us?

A poster at the LRT (Light Rail Transit) stop.

You see, just like Canada, Malaysia is a country of immigrants.  Over the centuries people from other countries have come to Malaysia (even before it was known as Malaysia) and they either colonized (took over part of the land), or decided to live and work with the locals in a more peaceful way.

When you look around the streets of Kuala Lumpur you can see many different faces.  You will find people from China, India, Turkey, Japan, Thailand and Burma (to just list a few) living together side by side.

The different faces that make up 1Malaysia.

The government is trying to remind Malaysians that no matter where they are from, no matter what language they speak, what religion they practice or what colour their skin is, they are all Malaysian, and all citizens of the country.  The hope is that things like racism (when people are treated badly or differently because of their race) won't be a problem in Malaysia if everyone remembers that together they all make up "one Malaysia".

A poster showing children dressed in different traditional clothing all holding the Malaysian flag.

The National Museum in Kuala Lumpur

The National Museum in Kuala Lumpur does a great job at taking you through history and showing you not only how Malaysians once lived, but how they live today.

Getting to the National Museum is tricky, and if you are walking
you have to cross a six lane highway to get there.  I felt like Frogger!

The museum is divided into different time periods, and my favourite was the Prehistoric room.  In this room, many of the tools that humans used thousands of years ago (way before electricity) are on display.  One set of tools are these stones,  can you guess what they were used for?

Do you know what these textured stones were used for?

They were used for beating bark (that had been soaked in sea water for two weeks) to make bark fabric.  This fabric could then be used just like we use woven fabrics today. 

Tree bark that has been beaten into fabric.

How about this black stuff, what do you think humans did with it?

Is it just a pile of rocks?

That's right, they used this charcoal to draw pictures on cave walls.  These pictures are usually scenes about things that were happening in the area at the time, so they help historians piece together a better understanding of what life was like long ago.

A diorama showing how humans would use cave drawings to document their
daily lives before they started using words.

Malaysian Tiffin

Malaysians love food. They love food so much that they don't only enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, but they will also enjoy tiffin (a snack) maybe once or twice (or three times) a day.  So while in Kuala Lumpur I had to try out one of the best "tiffin" restaurants in the city.

Restoran Yusoof, serving up tiffin all day and all night.

Restoran Yusoof is famous for their roti canai, thin bread like crepe that is served with curry sauce, and their teh tarek, hot tea with condensed milk.  I ordered both and enjoyed washing down the spicy curry soaked roti with the sugary sweet tea.  The only problem was I got so full I had to skip dinner!

It might not look fancy, by my roti canai and teh tarek were delicious.

There are lots of other tiffin you can try when you are in Malaysia.  What are some of the tiffin (snacks) you like to have at school?

The tandoor oven (big red clay pot) where some of the bread and meats are cooked.

Kid's Guide To Kuala Lumpur

Here are some of the things you think I should get up to while in Kuala Lumpur.  I have already seen the Petronas Towers in the distance.  I can't wait to walk across the 41st story glass bridge!

Happy Halloween From Malaysia

I have really been enjoying my time in Kuala Lumpur.  There is so much to do, and so much to see. 

Today I spent the day at Suria KLCC.  No ordinary shopping mall, Suria KLCC has several different shops and activities spread over its five floors.  There is a science centre, several food courts and restaurants, a movie theatre, an art gallery, a medical centre, a stage for performances and an aquarium (take a breath) just to list a few of the things you might see.

Suria KLCC makes the shopping malls in Toronto look tiny.

As you can imagine, exploring Suria KLCC got me hungry for a morning snack, so I decided to stop at Boost Juice Bar for a smoothie.  The girls who work there were very friendly.  They asked me where I was from, and I told them Canada and they then asked me for some help.  They were in the middle of carving jack-o'-lanterns (for the very first time) and needed some help drawing scary faces.  I did my best sketching one that had a jagged mouth and slanted eyebrows.  I handed them my drawing and told them I would be back to see their finished pumpkins.  When I returned both pumpkins were carved, and I have to admit both look quite scary.

I think they should be proud of their scary jack-o'-lanterns.

Halloween isn't a big holiday in Malaysia.  Children don't dress up and go door to door in search for candy, but they might dress up and go to a Halloween party, or head to Suria KLCC in their costume.  If they show up wearing a costume on Halloween at Boost Juice Bar, not only will they get to see two scary jack-o'-lanterns, but they will also get a free juice!  Now that is a treat.

A store in the mall selling Halloween decorations and cards.

Instead of celebrating Halloween, some of the children in Malaysia will be celebrating Deepavali.  Do you remember what happens during Deepavali?  Is it anything like Halloween?

I look forward to hearing all about your Halloween adventures.

I Am Here - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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