If you want to broaden your perception of daily life in Malaysia then there is nothing better than to take the tour below. It will take you through places that are frequented by the locals and will help you appreciate the rhythm and the substance of the daily life of the city.
1) Central Market
The Central Market of Kuala Lumpur is a place thickly populated by Malaysians. It brings together traders and clients. There are plenty of shops and stalls within this expensive, modern building, selling a broad choice of local handicrafts, Asian artworks, clothes, spices, souvenirs, batik fabrics, and gifts. You can bargain hard for antiques and jewelry. Besides shopping, you can meet up with friends in the numerous restaurants and bars that dot the market.
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2) Sze Ya Temple
Sze Ya Temple is devoted to the inhabitants of Kuala Lumpur who, with faith and love in their hearts, go there to pray everyday. In the Sze Ya Temple the divine beings venerated are not the usual Chinese divinities; actually they venerate two people, who were so eminent that they were elevated to the status of divine beings.
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3) Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
Kuala Lumpur in itself is a culmination of brewing together different cultures and people. The resultant of this rich blend of ideas, philosophies and heritage coming from different cultures and parts of the world is what makes Kuala Lumpur a fascinating place to visit and a tourist’s paradise. Another effect of cosmopolitan culture can be seen in the architecture and heritage of the city. One such example is the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. Built in 1873, this enchanting temple is the oldest functioning Hindu Temple in Malaysia. Founded by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, a pre-independence Tamil settler and one of the most prominent figures in the Tamil community in the country, the Temple was initially used exclusively by the Pillai family. It was not until the 1920s that they opened the doors for the general public to offer their obeisance to Lord Murugan, the deity of the Temple. One of the most striking features of the Sri Mahamariamman is its dramatic tower filled with intricate sculptures of the various Hindu deities. Known as the ‘gopuram’, the tower was created by sculptor, S. T. Muniappa, from Tamil Nadu, who is credited for having adorned the structure with a whopping 228 idols.
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4) Koon Kee
Koon Kee is located in Petaling Street. It is a small restaurant where people, who come to eat here, share tables with other people. The restaurant is famous among locals for the Wan Tan Mee which they serve. The noodles, here, have a different consistency and taste.
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5) Chin Woo Stadium
Located on Jalan Hang Jebat, the Chin Woo Stadium is a very old and popular venue in Kuala Lumpur. There, locals go to play badminton, basketball or to swim in the stadium’s pool. It provides facilities and is witness to quality competitions between local sport teams. It also hosts badminton tournaments. People can hire the basketball and badminton courts. The stadium is open from 10am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to 9pm.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Kamal Sellehuddin
6) Chen Academy
Chen Academy, as well as many other academies of Kuala Lumpur, provide education for thousands of young Malaysian people, who are determined and eager to learn. The traditional educational system has been quite efficient in encouraging the student's psychological and academic growth.
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7) Railway Station
There's hardly any other railway station in the world as grand and spectacular as the one on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin Road in Kuala Lumpur. With an immaculate exterior and bold Indo-Mughal pillars and arches, the railway station can be easily mistaken for a palace in the city. A must visit on your architectural tour of the Malaysian capital; this railway station is one of those structures that make architectural landscape of Kuala Lumpur not only unique but also unforgettable.
Built in 1910, the present structure took place of the preceding railway station, known as the Resident Station, which stood on the same site. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, the architect who has many renowned buildings to his credit, the design of this magnificent structure came into being only courtesy of inspiration from the Anglo-Asian architecture. Having spent many years in India, Hubback architected many buildings throughout the country after which he moved to Malaysia.
A total sum of around RM 23,000 was expended on construction of this masterpiece of a terminus. The Indo-Saracenic connection is evidently seen in many structural monuments in the city and the railway station is one of them. Although the exterior of the station has remained unchanged, the interiors have been redone several times.
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