Kuala Lumpur

  • Kuala Lumpur,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Amazing Fun Theme Parks in Kuala Lumpur

    Hello, travel-lovers and avid readers! How are y’all doing? Hope you’re having a blast each second of every day as I am. We are not getting any younger, so, why waste our time worrying about little things, right? Today’s entry is going to be about that – about having fun while we still have the energy in our bones to have it! We’re going to dive into some of the best theme parks you can find in Kuala Lumpur.

    Imagine this, let’s say you are travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur and you began to wonder, “Where’s the fun in this bustling city?” Well, that is a question I might be able to help you out with.

    Behold! 3 Fun Theme Parks in Kuala Lumpur!

    I-CITY SHAH ALAM 

    i-City Shah Alam is as much fun when it is daytime as it is night time. I hope that’s not confusing. Okay, bear with me, we’re about to go technical for a bit. i-City Shah Alam spreads about 72 acres of land and established in 2009. Apart from coming out as a major business centre comprises of various industries including biotechnology and software development, this place is mostly known to its theme park nature that never ceased to bring joy and fun to both kids and adults. i-City Shah Alam looks even prettier at night because of its colourful lightings that are both artistic and mesmerizing. At the theme park itself, you’ll be able to find various attractions such as the Outdoor Park Rides, Snowalk, Fun World Rides, Red Carpet, House of Horror, Trick Art Museum and WaterWorld. Each attraction will range from RM5 to RM100 per pax and it varied according to the attractions of course.

    SUNWAY LAGOON THEME PARK

    Sunway Lagoon is one of the pioneers of theme parks in Kuala Lumpur. I can still remember when it was first just a water theme park. It’s amazing how a simple water theme park now evolves into something this big and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to end there. Again, switching to the technical aspects for a bit. Sunway Lagoon covers over 88 acres with 90 attractions open for visitors. Its main attractions including the Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, Extreme Park, Scream Park and Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon. Admission rates for an adult of 13 years old and above are RM169.80, children of 12 years old and below is RM141.50, while a senior citizen of 60 years old and above is RM141.50. IFor international traveller, an adult of 13 years old and above is RM254.70, children of 12 years old and below is RM212.30, while a senior citizen of 60 years old and above is also RM212.30. Just by looking at everything from afar is going to blow your mind, let alone actually experiencing each and every one of those rides. I’m sure you’ll leave the theme park feeling blessed.

    DISTRICT 21 KUALA LUMPUR

    Do you like to get your gear on and live on the edge? Do you like to feel the adrenaline pumping in your chest and blood rushing through your veins? District 21 is an adventure theme park situated inside a shopping mall that will give you the rush you crave for. Inside IOI City Mall, Putrajaya on the top floor where you will find the post-apocalyptic style entrance to District 21. There are 11 attractions inside with different level of difficulties. Not all children can play the attractions provided. The attractions consist of suspended ropes, chains and platforms. If you have a high level of fear of heights, this might be a challenge for you. The entrance fees are RM58 on weekdays and RM76 on weekends. Visitors who are wheelchair-bound and children below 90 cm in height are not applicable to pay any admission fees.

    So, what do you think? Are you up for it? If you really fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, let me give you a little hint on the best deals you can get. Traveloka. They got some pretty good deals too. If you have experience buying with them, share me your stories. If you’ve gone to the listed theme parks, share me your stories too!

    Until then, see you in my next entry.

  • Kuala Lumpur,  Malaysia,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    A day trip to Royal Selangor Visitor Centre

    Royal Selangor. I’ve heard the name, seen the pewter, admired the craftsmanship from glass window of its retail outlets namely in Suria KLCC and Central Market, wanted to visit the place but never made an effort to do so, until last Saturday. The main reason was because I didn’t know that I can just walk in and visit.

    The visit begins when I take the escalator up to the first floor from the main lobby to reach the museum area.

    Back in 1882, in a port town of Shantou, China, a young boy named Yong Koon, age 11, learned how to make pewter. Three years later, at the age of 14, he braved himself to sail to Malaya and join his brothers, who both had already established themselves as tinsmiths in a town of tin mining known as Kuala Lumpur. The Yong brothers had a shop called Ngeok Foh (Jade Peace), hand-crafted pewter objects mainly for ceremonial use.

    In 1930, Yong Koon, his wife and sons moved to their own shophouse at Jalan Pudu and named the shop Malayan Pewter Works. The next decade saw how family disputes had Yong Koon’s sons shuffled allegiance and formed 3 other companies namely Tiger Pewter, Selangor Pewter and Lion Pewter. It was that Selangor Pewter that was run by Peng Kai, Yong Koon’s 3rd son that had survived to this date.

    Selangor Pewter was renamed Royal Selangor in 1979 when The Sultan of Selangor conferred them the warrant as Royal Pewterer.

    Yong KoonLeft: Yong Koon in front of Jade Peace situated at Cross Street (now Jalan Silang), KL. Right: Yong Koon in his old age.

    Other than history, the museum features old tin currency, pewter artefacts and Yong Koon’s original pewtersmithing tools and personal effects. The museum also houses the Melon Pot, one of Yong Koon’s original pewter pieces that found its way back to the founder’s family members in an unusual way.

    MelonpotThe legendary Melon Pot that bears Jade Peace touchmark. It was found by Ah Ham, a villager in Kajang during WW2. The pot made it’s way to Selangor Pewter in the 70s for polishing and it was quickly recognised as it has Jade Peace touchmark. Selangor Pewter tried to acquire the pot but Ah Ham could not depart from the pot that he thought had saved his life during the war. But years later, before he died, he sold the pot to Selangor Pewter.

    mythicaldogOne of Yong Koon’s early works—a teapot that features a mythical dog that is believed to bestow good fortune and success.

    touchmarksLeft: Evolution of touchmarks. Right: The legendary first touchmark.

    There is also few interesting sections such as The Science of Pewter, Giant Weighing Scale, Chamber of Chimes, where I think that will attract kids. Other than that there’s Wall of Finishes (each wall displays different pewter textures and patterns), Hall of Frames (more than 200 photo frames on display) and Twin Towers Replica (constructed completely out of 7,062 tankards, standing at 9.1 meters).

    SciencePewter is made of tin, antimony and copper. You and your kids can learn this and many more at the The Science of Pewter section.

    framesHall of Frames!

    Then I visited the factory. The factory tour shows visitors the elaborate processes of pewter-making; detailed hand-crafting that goes into each piece include casting, filing, polishing, soldering and hammering. This factory has 250 skilled craftspeople who create beautiful pewter pieces that are sold in over 20 countries. As Royal Selangor maintains its tradition of craftsmanship, every piece made is still hand finished to an astonishing degree.

    employeeA skilled worker removing rough edges using steel a blade.

    Here how it’s done: the first step is casting, a process where tin, antimony and copper are melted at 250 degrees Celsius to make molten pewter. Skilled artisans pour the molten pewter into moulds. After it solidifies, the mould is dismantled and the casting is removed. To remove the oxidation and rough edges, a steel blade is used to skim over a rotating piece of pewter to give the surface a satin-like finish. Designs in different shapes and sizes and with motifs are polished in a different manner. Rough edges are removed using small hacksaw blades and filing tools. Fine sandpaper is also used to remove the yellow patina. The hammering process is a traditional method of pewter decoration made by a steel hammer. A steady hand, precision and consistent strength is needed to create a neat and even line of dimpled patterns.

    And the highlights of the visit are The School of Hard Knocks and The Foundry. I had fun at these two sections.

    workshop My pewter dish.

    At The School of Hard Knocks, I experienced the rigours of traditional pewter-crafting! I was guided through the process of creating a pewter dish using traditional tools such as the hammer, mallet and wooden mould. At the end of the session, I get to keep my bowl. In addition, I was given a certificate of completion, and that makes me a certified bowl artisan!

    Details of workshop:
    Cost: RM 60 per person
    Time: 30 minutes
    Group size: 50 (maximum), 4 (minimum)

    EpendantMy E pewter pendant, made by my own hands.

    At The Foundry, I get to unleash my artistic talent! I was guided through the process of casting, polishing and decorating a pewter accessory by an experienced instructor. At the end of the session, I get to take home my own pewter accessory.

    Details are as follows:
    Cost: RM 150 per person
    Time: 60 minutes
    Group size: 12 (maximum), 4 (minimum)

    I had a great time at The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre and will certainly visit again with my family. I showed photos of the visit to my son and he is all envy and wants me to take him there next weekend.

    If you like to experience the tour and making your own craft at The Foundry, I have a great promotion offer for you, in collaboration with Royal Selangor: you can purchase two passes at RM150 (you save RM150!).

    Here how it works:

    • Purchase workshop passes at the information counter, Royal Selangor Visitor Center (Setapak branch only) or purchase via e-mail: visitorcentre@royalselangor.com.my.
    • Mention the promotion code: FOUNDRY EMILA
    • Book the date slot (anytime from 18 August to 19 October 2014)

    Enjoy the promotion and enjoy your visit soon!

    Address: Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya, 53300 Kuala Lumpur. GPS Coordinate: 3.196, 101.724 Contact: +603 4145 6122 | +603 4022 3000 | visitorcentre@royalselangor.com.my

  • Art & Places,  FT of Malaysia,  Kuala Lumpur,  sculpture

    Art & Places: The Wave, KL

    I was looking for some information about Whale and Dolphins sculpture when Niza told me it might be Abdul Multhalib’s work. I went google-ing his name and came across Arcawam’s blog article about local sculptures in Malaysia where it features Abdul Multhalib. Thanks to the writer/sculptor, Rosli Zakaria, I managed to get information about who sculpted Whale and Dolphins.

    So later, I became interested in finding more information about Abdul Multhalib and his works. From his website, I found out that some of his works are displayed here in KL and jotted down the list on my phone. Last weekend I made that effort (it’s not like I have to take cheap flights to get there, it was just a 20 minutes drive) with my son to go and find one of his outdoor sculptures named The Wave, situated at Wisma Selangor Dredging. But of course, this won’t be the only only as I’ll be making the hunt for his other sculptures when time permits.

    Abdul Multhalib Musa is known for his ‘fluid metal sculptures’ which seem to have been effortlessly carved out of metal. He has been granted numerous international awards and residencies in recognition of the works that he has done. An architect by training, Abdul Muthalib chose to be a sculptor and artist because he loves art more and according to him, he would be doing art and art related stuff, even if he was working as an architect. Using his knowledge in architecture, he created a one-of-a-kind style in his work. This is to bridge the highly technical aspect in architectural work and abstract representation of form more commonly associated to art. Cutting metals for these sculptures may be needing equipment like this Squickmons CNC plasma cutter here.

    Now let’s take a look at The Wave.

    The Wave by Abdul Multhalib Musa.
    The Wave.

    Yassin and the wave
    My son,Yassin, in front of The Wave.

    According to Abdul Multhalib, The Wave reflects the eminent presence of Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) over the years, creating a wave in the market that has been sustained since being established in the 1960s. The overall undulating element of the sculpture evokes a strong presence that is responsible in creating this continuous flowing motion. This is the intangible yet prominent force that the SDB exudes to its surrounding environment.

    The mound at the base of the sculpture creates an illusion that the sculpture is rising from the earth. This relates thematically to the history of SDB, beginning as a company that is literally, down to earth. The earth and the mound acts as a firm foundation and rising from this is the artwork, a steel sculpture design that reflects a modern and contemporary style of living. This is in line with the current focus of SDB to promote a better quality lifestyle for the Malaysian public. The sculpture conveys a new direction towards strength and innovation as SDB seeks to build lifelong relationships by being caring and respectful towards their stakeholders, the people and the environment.”

    The Wave was completed in 2006 and was made from mild steel tube. It stands at 2.2m high with 4.8m length x 5.5m width. This work gave rise to another similar work of his; ‘Swell‘.

    If you are interested to see The Wave, do visit Wisma Selangor Dredging, just opposite Angkasa Raya building at Jalan Ampang, very near to KLCC.

    Last but not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to Abdul Multhalib for taking the time to reply my e-mail regarding this particular work of his. Please do check out his works here: ((())) and Inchek Multhalib’s FB.

    Reference:
    http://www.multhalib.com
    Abdul Multhalib himself (through e-mail conversation)

  • Art & Places,  Family travel,  Kuala Lumpur,  sculpture

    Art & Places: Whale and Dolphins Sculpture, KLCC Park

    This Whale and Dolphins have always been intriguing to me. My son loves them and I bet other kids love them too!

    whale01My son (right) and his cousin Idham admiring Whale and Dolphins.

    whale
    Whale up-close.

    dolphins
    Dolphins.

    Whale and Dolphins were created by Australian sculptor, John Underwood in 1997. This multi-layered sculpture consists of a 6 meter high whale and two 2.5 metre dolphins. The concept reminds me of three dimensional topography charts.

    One might be wondering why whale and dolphins? As a mother to a kid whose fascination with these animals is humongous, I think I know why Underwood built these animals here. Whale and dolphin can only be found in certain part of the world but certainly not in Malaysia. He is bringing these animals to the local kids in the form of art. This is to let kids appreciate both the animal and art. This sculpture will spark questions of where the animals came from, the taxonomy, the ecology, the evolution, anything there is to know about them. It is our duty to educate our kids about these animals and maybe someday we can take our kids to see the real ones around the world.

    Bring your kids here to enjoy the shallow swimming pool while admiring great public art. Location: KLCC Park near Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur. View map.

     

    Some reference are from: Arcawam

     

  • Family travel,  Kuala Lumpur,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    7 parks and gardens to visit with kids in KL

    Parks and gardens can be magical places for kids. They offer kids the chance to be close to nature, to smell the fresh air, to enjoy the beautiful colors and best of all to just be themselves; run, jump and run some more!   I have some favourite parks and gardens in Kuala Lumpur (KL) that I have visited and below is a list of 7 parks and gardens that I like you to visit with your kids. A trip to the parks and gardens can open up a whole new world of nature appreciation.

    PBG
    Perdana Botanical Gardens.

    1

    Perdana Botanical Gardens | Perdana Botanical Gardens has always been my top favourite spot with family. Sits on a sprawling 101 hectares of land right in the heart of the city, the 133 year-old park gives visitors the ambiance of being in a tropical rainforest. It has been the most popular public recreational park in Kuala Lumpur.

    Take your kids here and learn the name of plants, trees and flowers with them. Walk (or ride on bicycle) on the trail with them and get that sweat out. Look up and see different kind of birds. Enjoy the train ride around the gardens with them. Let them be themselves at the playground. Visit the waterfall and get to see fish and insects. The activities and things to see here are endless. Visiting hours: Mondays to Sundays, 7am to 8pm. View map.

    KLCC Park
    KLCC Park.

    2

    KLCC Park | The beautiful park is inspired by the talented Brazilian master of gardens, the late Roberto Burle Marx. Spread over 50-acres, here you can find combination of trees, shrubs, structures of cement, stones and wood as well as various water features not to mention elements of shapes. About 1900 indigenous trees and 66 species of palms have been planted at the park to encourage bio-diversity. Part of the park is also designed as haven for birds and other local faunas.

    The main attraction for kids here are the playgrounds and children’s pool area. There are also public amenities such as shelters, benches, rest areas, drinking fountains, public toilets as well as 1.3 km jogging track encircling the park. The children’s playground opens everyday from 7am to 10pm and as for the children’s pool, it opens from 10am – 7.30pm during weekdays and 10am – 9.30pm during weekend and public holiday. It closes for maintenance on Monday. Please take note that only kids below 12 are allowed to use the play structures. Eating, drinking and smoking are also not allowed here else the guards will blow off their whistle. If your playground lacks clearly defined play areas, children may struggle to understand where they should engage in specific activities like hopscotch, basketball, or four square. Consider having playground markings from https://www.playgroundmarkings.org.uk/ painted.

     Ecopark
    KL Forest Eco Park.

    3

    KL Forest Eco Park | KL Forest Eco Park is one of the oldest permanent forest reserve in the country.  It covers an area of approximately 11 hectares and is the only remaining tropical rainforest in the heart of the city of Kuala Lumpur. It was gazetted in 1906 and was formerly known as Bucket Weld Forest Reserve. In 1934, it was gazetted as a Wildlife Reserve and Bird Sanctuary. In 1950, a pristine section of about 5 hectares was gazetted as a Virgin Jungle Reserve.

    KL Forest Eco Park functions as a Green Lung as well as a recreational area for city dwellers. Here you and your kids can see and learn names of the rich variety of flora that flourishes within the forest includes rare herbs, creepers, ferns, climbers and giant bamboo grasses. Visiting hours: 7.00am to 6.00pm daily including weekends and public holidays.  View map.

    Titiwangsa

    4

    Titiwangsa Park | Titiwangsa Park is a recreational park for family with a large lake as its main attraction. This 95 hectares park offers aquatic activities like boating and canoeing, two playgrounds areas for children, a remote control car track, horseback riding, football field, badminton court, tennis court, squash court, jogging tracks, cycling area, pavilion, food stalls, a stadium and golf-course. Visiting hours: Mondays to Sundays, 7am to 10pm. View map.

    Butterfly Park
    Butterfly Park.

    5

    Butterfly Park | Butterfly Park is the largest butterfly garden in the world spanning over 80,000 sq ft of landscaped garden with over 5,000 live butterflies, exotic plants, butterfly-host plants and ferns. Contributing to Butterfly Park’s beautiful landscape is a uniquely designed hydro-pond built with a limestone path right in the centre. Other attractions here are Japanese koi fish, fresh water turtles, live insects and an insect museum where you and your kids can learn names of insect and butterfly species. There is also a nursery and breeding area for the butterflies as well as a souvenir shop near the exit selling local handicrafts, fridge magnets, t-shirts, caps, bags, framed butterflies and many more. Visiting hours: Mondays to Sundays, 7am to 10pm. View map.

    Permaisuri lake
    Permaisuri Lake Garden.

    6

    Permaisuri Lake Garden | Taman Tasik Permaisuri is a recreational park that boasts a synthetic jogging track, reflexology walking path, topiary gardens, floral arch trellises, children’s playground, gazebos,man-made island, a variety of jogging routes, ornamental fountains, a 7-tiered flower terrace, a tropical flowers garden and a herb garden.

    Nestled between the concrete jungle of Kuala Lumpur City Center and the many highways that serve this area, this park has a large catchment of residents staying around Cheras, Ampang, Bukit Jalil and adjacent neighborhoods. Visiting hours: Mondays to Sundays, 7am to 8pm. View map.

    wonderland

    7

    Science Wonderland | Located at National Science Center at Bukit Kiara, Science Wonderland is an educational park that encompasses all aspects of science, technology, innovation and nature. The wonderland consists of Focal Point, Activity Arena, Waterplaza, Interactive Zone, Subterranean Journey, Garden of Nature, Pocket Garden, Herb Garden, Aquatic Life and Pre-Historic Garden. Visiting hours: Mondays to Sundays, 9am to 5pm. View map.

  • Art & Places,  FT of Malaysia,  Kuala Lumpur,  Malaysia,  sculpture,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Art & Places: Dataran Merdeka Fountain, KL

    If you are visiting Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square)  in Kuala Lumpur, do take the time to look for the fountain situated near the flag-pole here. And also, please look at the very interesting details of the fountain.

    Dataran Merdeka Fountain

    Also known as Queen Victoria Fountain, this fountain was imported from England and assembled in 1897. The fountain was originally erected at Market Square, but was moved to Dataran Merdeka (previously known as Parade Ground) upon objection from the police as it obstructed the traffic flow. This fountain was erected as a tribute to the Queen.

    Close-up of QV Fountain

    The base of the fountain is a basin and from the centre, an octagon-shaped marble stones rise to support five tiers of basins and above them, a pinnacle where the water comes out. The basins are decorated with floral and shell reliefs.

    The art nouveau fountain features Heraldic creatures of lions and dragons that I supposed to represent the Victorian empire. Nevertheless, the iconic beasts have been characterized as having the intelligence, loyalty, honesty, and strength necessary to guard what is valued.

    The combination colors of green, blue and brown represents the colors of nature; tree, sky and earth.

    Location: Jalan Raja, 50150 Kuala Lumpur.