SG, KL, and Tokyo (4) - Kuala Lumpur I

From Singapore, I went to Kuala Lumpur by bus. My friend Rong lives in Mont Kiara, a township just north of Kuala Lumpur City Center. We were good friends in high school, but barely got to see each other later since we lived in different countries. She just moved to Kuala Lumpur from Beijing with her son a month ago, and invited me to live with them during my Kuala Lumpur visit. I can't tell you how nice the experience was. Not only I got to live like a local, but also it made us close again, better than we ever were in high school. In this day and age, friends often live hours away if not continents away from each other, getting some face time requires both time and effort. That is why this trip was so special to me. I got to see two high school friends, and my brother later. Details to come.

1. There were many bus companies doing the Singapore/Kuala Lumpur route. But Odyssey was the only one that stopped at Mont Kiara. Also they had Wi-Fi on board once the bus was in Malaysia. That made the 5-hours trip seem quicker.


2. Mont Kiara had a lot of High-Rise Condominiums, yet they were still building more. People here like to have their windows open instead of using a/c even though it was 90 degrees every day when I was there. I could hear prayer calling starting around 5:30, and construction noise starting around 7:30 every morning.


My friend Rong didn't drive, but she managed to borrow a car and a driver for me for the next 4 days so we got to sightsee in comfort.

3. National Mosque of Malaysia. It was free to get in, but non-Muslims were only allowed to go in during certain time.


4. National Mosque of Malaysia.


5. Robe and head scarf were a must for women (the mosque lent them for free). They were made of lightweight material, so even though it was 90 degrees, I didn't feel extra hot wearing them, and they looked quite nice in pictures.


6. Main Prayer Hall. Muslim Only.


7. Main Prayer Hall. Muslim Only.


8. National Mosque of Malaysia.


9. National Mosque of Malaysia.


10. Looking from National Mosque of Malaysia.


Just down the street from National Mosque of Malaysia is the Islamic Arts Museum. It was really good inside, lots of mosque models, clothing, jewelry etc. on display.

11. Inside Islamic Arts Museum.


12. Inside Islamic Arts Museum.


13. The ceiling dome is amazing.


14. Some mosque model inside Islamic Arts Museum.


15. Some mosque model inside Islamic Arts Museum.


16. Some mosque model inside Islamic Arts Museum.


Not far from the Islamic Arts Museum is the KL Bird Park. The park itself was quite good, about as good as Singapore's bird park, but its bird show was very basic comparing to Singapore's bird show. It lasted about 15-20 minutes with a handful of birds, one or two at a time. If you had seen the one in Singapore's, you probably can skip this.

17. Inside KL Bird Park.


18. Don't get too close to the bird, because it will peck you on the neck as it did to my friend Rong :)


(To be continued)