I'm in a quandary. I need inspirations. I'm at my wits' end worrying on how to start my blog. Initially, my hope of giving Kuala Lumpur, one of the three Federal Territories of Malaysia a boost gradually withered away. I do not expect anyone to hold the fort for me. That would be foul play. It would be a grave injustice to this city if I do not come up with something to blog on.
Kuala Lumpur, an ultra modern, dynamic and vibrant city that gives other cities a run for their money. This city never ceased to amaze locals and foreigners alike! A city that fascinates! A city to be passionate about! I do not wish to press the point, but this city is!
This commercial hub is a major tourist draw. Tourists from within and without flocked to this city like bees to honey. So, what makes this city so special? Makes it tick?
We are a multicultural society. We are people of diverse cultures but we are not a racially diverse community. We live as one. We are living in relative comfort. Our mutual respect for one another has prevailed for a long time. We can get along just fine. We've been together through thick and thin to be where we are today. We can blend well. That's no doubt about that! We're blessed. There's no bad blood among the races. Incidentally, there was the racial riots on May 13,1969. That caused a serious blot in our history. All of us learnt from that bitter experience. If everyone does their bit, I'm sure we can go a long way. Think twice before you get that crazy notion of trying to drive a wedge between us. Not anymore!
1Malaysia. Do these snapshots qualify? By the way, these were not taken under false pretences.
Take a look at the picture above. How would you rate it? It was taken at my LCCT ( low cost Chinese teashop). It is my eatery. Those smiling faces that you see are of my customers who are very close to me and my family. Some have been with me for more than ten years. They would be at my eatery five days a week without fail. They are not from my race but for many of us, R&R, sorry guys, not Rest and Recreation but Race and Religion are no issues at all! You’ll be surprise at the age gap. I’m a fatherly figure to them. Most of them are more or less half my age.
This was taken during lunch. Need I say more?
Let’s get back to my city. If my city is next on your 'hit list', you have to be ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure of absolute fun and excitement. You'd be enthralled! You'd be thrilled! You had been warned. Now let's see how to get you to start on your adventure.
My city is full to the brim with activities. Certainly you're not going to sit through the day doing nothing. You'd be amazed to see the rows and rows of shopping complexes and premier malls all within walking distance. Many are award-winning aces that are unrivalled in luxury retailing. Fashion, food and urban leisure. You name them. This city has them all. Still not satisfied? You can always make your way downtown to Chinatown. This is predominantly a Chinese enclave. There are many locally manufactured products sold here. You must always bargain here or you would end up getting more than you bargained for! Again, be warned. This is one of the many happy hunting grounds for the pickpockets. You might just be their next prey.
The food here is fabulous. There's no doubt about that. Eat whatever you fancy. The food here would not cause you a bomb. From hawker stalls to sidewalk cafes. From restaurants to fine dining in hotels. Take your pick. You'd be delighted with the savouries offered. Tickle your taste buds by savouring the variety of local foods. You may not get them elsewhere.
My city has a year-round equatorial tropical rain forest climate. Warm and sunny. So, for day outings and sight-seeings, there shouldn't be any problem! There are many interesting places to visit. But not before you take this History lesson.
Year:1957. We were fortunate. Great Britain was kind enough to let us fend for ourselves. Everyone was happy. When the 'Johns' and 'Johnnies' (that was how we addressed the British back then) left, they left us with a legacy. We learned the language of the colonial masters. Colonial masters? I begged to differ. If they were the masters, were we slaves? When we were 'freed at last' did we tear down their buildings or did we desecrate their churches? No! We did not carry out those despicable actions. In fact we maintained and preserved everything British! Their buildings and churches still stand today. Malaysians are not that bad but some chose to think otherwise! One of the best ways to dispel the myth is to pay us a visit. Don’t run away with the idea that I was pulling your legs.
Upon your arrival to my beautiful city, you’d know that I was telling you the truth from the very beginning. We have some of the tallest structures in the world. Awe-inspiring towers. For a breathtaking view of my beautiful city, you must visit the 'lookout' tower. It is situated in one of the oldest virgin forest in the world within a city. It is a 421m high telecommunication and broadcasting tower and it has a revolving restaurant at Level Two of the Towerhead. There is something very special about this tower. There would be two international sporting events yearly. One, the participants would have to start from the base of the tower and would end at the top. The second, the participants would have to start from the top and end at the bottom. You guessed right. Yes, I was talking about the KL International Towerthon Run and the KL International (BASE) Jump. This tower is one of the favourites for many athletes from all over the world.
The 'Goliath' twins are no pushovers either! Easily recognizable. Immensely tall and impressive, almost touching the sky! These structures were completed in 1997. An epic achievement! A brilliant feat of engineering, The pride of the city. This is not a flatulent boast! Even Alain Robert aka Spiderman from France could not resist the temptation to 'crawl up' to the top of one of the twins. No mean feat! Would there be another superhero? Cicakman ( our very own superhero), are you up to the challenge?
Next stop: the cultural centres, the flea market.....
When night falls, night-life begins. It's party-time! Feast your eyes on the transformation of my city in the night. Entertainment centres and nightspots would be like new buds sprouting from the trees. They are almost everywhere. There’s no shortage of razzamatazz too! Everyone is trying to outdo everybody. A convivial atmosphere, surrounding the city. It’s simply amazing!
I’m sure you’re not going to sit through the night staring at the ceilings of your rooms, right? For the red-blooded young males and females, it's time to let your hair down. Raise your hands and swing your hips! Strut your stuff! Join the jolly and rumbustious crowd. Show everyone what you got! Paint the town red! Enjoy yourselves. For the more conservative ones, there is contemporary music, the mood music for your listening pleasure. There's always something for everyone. Nobody would be left out! Jive! Jive! Jive all night long!
After a night of jiving and swinging, it would be good to take a breath of fresh air the next morning. Take a stroll in the beautiful parks in my city. Enjoy the lush greenery, the beautiful lakes and feel the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Do these at your own leisurely pace. You’d feel nothing but sheer exhilaration by your walks. Be cautioned. Do not violate the parks in any way. Violation is against the law. Everyone knows that! Silly me!
My city provides excellent public amenities. They are at your disposal. Use them at your own convenience. Do not show a total disregard for them.
I have blogged at length about the city and it would be appropriate to shift my attention to an individual who has won wide recognition for his achievements.
1Malaysian. This is about one young man who made it to the stars. A young man who has his life spaced out. A medical career. His social obligations and his impending marriage. Many of you would have guessed who I was referring to. We’re fortunate to have him with us. He’s our astronaut-surgeon, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar, who shot to fame after he was shot into space two years ago. He recently opened a clinic in the city and three orphanages were picked to receive free treatments. That’s quite something!
There are many charitable organisations and social volunteers in my city. Besides fund raising campaigns, there are many who sacrificed their time to attend to the needs of the orphans, the old and homeless and the terminally ill. Their plight did not go unnoticed. Even strays and unwanted pets are not overlooked. Feel like getting rid of your arowanas? Call me!
I can go on and on and on but it’s best I leave some things for you to discover yourself. Why hummed and hawed? Decide now. While you’re at it, I bid you adieu.
My city beckons you. My country awaits you. W E L C O M E !
p/s We’ve rolled out the red carpet for you, just in case.
Let’s get back to my city. If my city is next on your 'hit list', you have to be ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure of absolute fun and excitement. You'd be enthralled! You'd be thrilled! You had been warned. Now let's see how to get you to start on your adventure.
My city is full to the brim with activities. Certainly you're not going to sit through the day doing nothing. You'd be amazed to see the rows and rows of shopping complexes and premier malls all within walking distance. Many are award-winning aces that are unrivalled in luxury retailing. Fashion, food and urban leisure. You name them. This city has them all. Still not satisfied? You can always make your way downtown to Chinatown. This is predominantly a Chinese enclave. There are many locally manufactured products sold here. You must always bargain here or you would end up getting more than you bargained for! Again, be warned. This is one of the many happy hunting grounds for the pickpockets. You might just be their next prey.
The food here is fabulous. There's no doubt about that. Eat whatever you fancy. The food here would not cause you a bomb. From hawker stalls to sidewalk cafes. From restaurants to fine dining in hotels. Take your pick. You'd be delighted with the savouries offered. Tickle your taste buds by savouring the variety of local foods. You may not get them elsewhere.
My city has a year-round equatorial tropical rain forest climate. Warm and sunny. So, for day outings and sight-seeings, there shouldn't be any problem! There are many interesting places to visit. But not before you take this History lesson.
Year:1957. We were fortunate. Great Britain was kind enough to let us fend for ourselves. Everyone was happy. When the 'Johns' and 'Johnnies' (that was how we addressed the British back then) left, they left us with a legacy. We learned the language of the colonial masters. Colonial masters? I begged to differ. If they were the masters, were we slaves? When we were 'freed at last' did we tear down their buildings or did we desecrate their churches? No! We did not carry out those despicable actions. In fact we maintained and preserved everything British! Their buildings and churches still stand today. Malaysians are not that bad but some chose to think otherwise! One of the best ways to dispel the myth is to pay us a visit. Don’t run away with the idea that I was pulling your legs.
Upon your arrival to my beautiful city, you’d know that I was telling you the truth from the very beginning. We have some of the tallest structures in the world. Awe-inspiring towers. For a breathtaking view of my beautiful city, you must visit the 'lookout' tower. It is situated in one of the oldest virgin forest in the world within a city. It is a 421m high telecommunication and broadcasting tower and it has a revolving restaurant at Level Two of the Towerhead. There is something very special about this tower. There would be two international sporting events yearly. One, the participants would have to start from the base of the tower and would end at the top. The second, the participants would have to start from the top and end at the bottom. You guessed right. Yes, I was talking about the KL International Towerthon Run and the KL International (BASE) Jump. This tower is one of the favourites for many athletes from all over the world.
The 'Goliath' twins are no pushovers either! Easily recognizable. Immensely tall and impressive, almost touching the sky! These structures were completed in 1997. An epic achievement! A brilliant feat of engineering, The pride of the city. This is not a flatulent boast! Even Alain Robert aka Spiderman from France could not resist the temptation to 'crawl up' to the top of one of the twins. No mean feat! Would there be another superhero? Cicakman ( our very own superhero), are you up to the challenge?
Next stop: the cultural centres, the flea market.....
When night falls, night-life begins. It's party-time! Feast your eyes on the transformation of my city in the night. Entertainment centres and nightspots would be like new buds sprouting from the trees. They are almost everywhere. There’s no shortage of razzamatazz too! Everyone is trying to outdo everybody. A convivial atmosphere, surrounding the city. It’s simply amazing!
I’m sure you’re not going to sit through the night staring at the ceilings of your rooms, right? For the red-blooded young males and females, it's time to let your hair down. Raise your hands and swing your hips! Strut your stuff! Join the jolly and rumbustious crowd. Show everyone what you got! Paint the town red! Enjoy yourselves. For the more conservative ones, there is contemporary music, the mood music for your listening pleasure. There's always something for everyone. Nobody would be left out! Jive! Jive! Jive all night long!
After a night of jiving and swinging, it would be good to take a breath of fresh air the next morning. Take a stroll in the beautiful parks in my city. Enjoy the lush greenery, the beautiful lakes and feel the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Do these at your own leisurely pace. You’d feel nothing but sheer exhilaration by your walks. Be cautioned. Do not violate the parks in any way. Violation is against the law. Everyone knows that! Silly me!
My city provides excellent public amenities. They are at your disposal. Use them at your own convenience. Do not show a total disregard for them.
I have blogged at length about the city and it would be appropriate to shift my attention to an individual who has won wide recognition for his achievements.
1Malaysian. This is about one young man who made it to the stars. A young man who has his life spaced out. A medical career. His social obligations and his impending marriage. Many of you would have guessed who I was referring to. We’re fortunate to have him with us. He’s our astronaut-surgeon, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar, who shot to fame after he was shot into space two years ago. He recently opened a clinic in the city and three orphanages were picked to receive free treatments. That’s quite something!
There are many charitable organisations and social volunteers in my city. Besides fund raising campaigns, there are many who sacrificed their time to attend to the needs of the orphans, the old and homeless and the terminally ill. Their plight did not go unnoticed. Even strays and unwanted pets are not overlooked. Feel like getting rid of your arowanas? Call me!
I can go on and on and on but it’s best I leave some things for you to discover yourself. Why hummed and hawed? Decide now. While you’re at it, I bid you adieu.
My city beckons you. My country awaits you. W E L C O M E !
p/s We’ve rolled out the red carpet for you, just in case.
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