The National Mosque (Masjid Negara) is located in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The Mosque was opened in 1965 and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers. Islam is the official religion of Malaysia.
Even when you can’t enter the Mosque itself the surrounding grounds provide nice views.
Malacca (Melaka) has a beautiful historic district; it is even designated a world heritage city (by the United Nations – UNESCO). The atmosphere encourages artistic thought and expression. And that is shown in art as you walk around the city.
Text: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression…
Some of the art is maybe not what we normally think of as art. But the painting of walls and shutters gives very artistic views as do arched walkways and other elements of the urban architecture.
Masjid Jamek is a Mosque one block from Merdeka Square in downtown Kuala Lumpur that was built in 1907.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building, was designed by the same architect and shares a similar style. That building sits between the mosque and Merdeka Square.
The webcast includes audio of the Adhan (“call to prayers”).
The mosque sits at the confluence of Gombak and Klang rivers.
The Cheng Hoon Teng temple (Temple of Green Cloud) is a Chinese temple practicing the three doctrinal systems of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. It is the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia; built in 1673.
Ceramic art on the temple roof
The ceramic tile roofs are great.
Pine Hill Trail is the longest trail in Fraser’s Hill. It is a bit difficult to find the trailhead, it was further along the road than I thought. They suggest letting your hotel or Inn know your plans (how long you plan to hike, when you should be back, etc.).
The trail was blocked in several places giving you the chance to climb over or around fallen trees.
I found it to be a wonderful hike. It is quite a bit of up at down at the beginning.
At one point I say a huge monkey swinging from banches high in the canopy but I couldn’t get a photo of it ๐
Batu caves is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia. To reach the caves you must climb 272 concrete steps up the limestone formation that make up this site.
The stairway to Batu Caves.
The caves are in Kuala Lumpor (technically a bit north of the city) but reachable by commuter train, Komuter train Batu Caves-Port Klang Route. The cost is 2 MYR (less than $UD 1).
Inside Batu Caves. The cave is partially covered with several large opening on top.
The video shows a view of the caves. The water is from water seeping down from the ceiling (it hadn’t rained that day). There are also several large openings letting in light from above. The main area with the temples has very high ceilings.
There are 6 clan jetties in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. The historic sites include housing built over the water, which continue to be lived in today. Old town Georgetown, including the clan jetties was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 (along with Melacca).
When the jetties were established in the mid-19th century everybody who lived on the same jetty had the same surname because they all came from the same fishing village in Chinaโs Fujian Province. When they arrived they did not have money to buy land and so decided to build their own villages: the jetties. The families were used to living close to the water and most men who lived on the jetties worked as fishermen or as coolies in the port.
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The UNESCO World Heritage status saved the jetties from planned demolition. The fact that the jetties now have heritage status guarantees that they will stay.
– Francine Linssen, Passage magazine, Friends of the Museums of Singapore, Jan/Feb 2012
The Old Chinese Temple is one of the oldest structures in Johor Bahru. It is located downtown, surrounded by sky scrappers, malls and other temples.
Bells on exterior wall of the old Chinese Temple. Note the turtle at the bottom of the flagpole.
The temple is a place of worship and a symbol of unity among Five Chinese Dialect Groups which are “Teochew”, “Hoklo (Hokkien)”, “Cantonese”, “Hakka” and “Hainan”.