On a cold, drizzly, rainy morning in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I stepped out of a taxi at the foot of the KL Tower, a 421 meter tall telecommunications and observation tower in KL and one of the city's most famous landmarks.
The KL Tower is the seventh tallest tower in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. It was built between 1991 and 1996 and officially opened by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 1 October 1996.
KL Tower offers a panoramic view of the city from its observation deck and revolving restaurant. The tower is seen as a symbol of Malaysia’s technological advancement and cultural diversity.
Since my first visit to Kuala Lumpur years ago, I'd wanted to visit the tower. I finally decided to buy a ticket to the observation deck, which cost about $20 USD.
As I waited in line for the elevator, I admired the multi-faceted domed roof of the lobby. A plaque informed me that the mirrored dome was constructed by artisans from KL's sister city, Esfahan, Iran, and that it is meant to symbolically represent the rays of the sun as a "fatwa", or a symbol of Quranic advice on human life. Geometric patterns are important in Islamic art, as I learned 4 years ago when I visited KL's Museum of Islamic Art.
Maybe next time I'll book a ticket up the Petronas towers, but this is the second-best thing!
Far below me, I could see the dense forests of the KL Eco Forest Park.
The Blog of Michael Desrosiers: Bird Park and Eco Forest Park
Malaysia is famous for its tall buildings. From 1998 until 2003, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world, until they were surpassed by Taiwan's Taipei 101.
I've never been up the Petronas towers, but I'd love to... maybe next time! Even if they aren't the world's tallest buildings anymore, they are an iconic Malaysian landmark, and a recognizable manmade wonder in the world.
I descended the tower and walked through the grey, drizzly day to the adjacent KL Eco Forest Park.
I just think it's fantastic how the city preserves this incredible green jungle in the midst of a huge city! It's really admirable.
I finally got my clearest view yet of the Merdeka PNB 118, which displaced the Petronas Towers as Malaysia's tallest building.
Merdeka (which means "Independence") was finished in 2021 while Malaysia's borders were closed due to the pandemic. At 678.9 m (2,227 ft) tall, it is the second-tallest structure and the second-tallest building in the world, behind Dubai's Burj Khalifa at 828 m (2,717 ft)!
Now, it is the tallest building in Southeast Asia, and the first skyscraper in the country to receive a triple platinum rating from worldwide sustainability certifications.
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| the Petronas Towers |
In the distance, if I zoomed my phone's camera to its max, I could just barely make out the golden domes of the Royal Palace. The Istana Negara is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the monarch of Malaysia.
Malaysia's monarchy is fascinating! Malaysia has a unique rotating monarchy system where the position of the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is rotated among the nine hereditary rulers, or sultans, of the country's states every five years. The sultans themselves are hereditary monarchs and have a great degree of autonomy over their independent states, or sultanates.
The system was established in 1957 when Malaysia gained independence from the British Empire and was designed to ensure that no single state dominates the monarchy. The rotation is based on the order of seniority of the rulers, with each state taking its turn to supply the king. While the monarchy has largely ceremonial duties, it is highly respected and plays an important role in Malaysia's political and cultural identity.
The KL Eco Forest Park is a forest reserve located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Spanning over 9.3 hectares, the park is a popular green space in the city that offers a range of recreational activities and serves as an important ecological corridor.
The park, which dates back to 1906, was originally built by the British colonial government as a forest reserve in the heart of the bustling capital city. Today, it even has several campsites! I really wish that Bangkok had a place to go camping right in the city.
The park features several walking trails, an observation tower, a canopy walkway, and a forest museum. Visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the forest and take in the stunning views of the city skyline from the tower and canopy walkway. The park also serves as an important habitat for various species of flora and fauna, including birds, insects, and small mammals, and is an important part of the city's efforts to promote urban green spaces and preserve the natural environment.
It was raining. I tried not to let it bother me, but it made the walkway extremely difficult and slippery to walk. I got soaked, but I really enjoyed a walk through nature in the middle of the city.
I took in the nature, and appreciated the jungle sounds all around me. Because of the dreary weather, I was the only visitor at the park, and I enjoyed the quiet moments alone in nature.
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