People at the market on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

Malaysia

by Eve Andersson

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Visiting Malaysia is like visiting three countries in one. There are three dominant ethnic groups with different beliefs, appearances, and cuisines: Malay, Indian, and Chinese. Multiple languages are spoken, as well: Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, and English. Mosques, Hindu temples, and Chinese temples abound. Situated near the equator, the weather is hot and wet, and the landscape consists of thick rainforest, punctuated by cities. It's such a nice place to visit; people are friendly and tolerant, the food is incredible, and many people speak English.

Batu Caves

The Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur were the highlight of my trip to Malaysia. Imagine a large set of caves containing Hindu temples, colorful statues, and hundreds of monkeys! The monkeys are very cute but a little bit naughty (stealing food/objects from people) and they will bare their teeth if their personal space is invaded. And imagine being surrounded by beautiful people wearing beautiful saris who smile at you even though you're a scruffy, camera-toting tourist who has entered into their place of worship. How wonderful, feeling so welcome in such an amazing place!

Stairway leading into Batu Caves, with Lord Murugan statue presiding. First level, Batu Caves. Man praying, Batu Caves. Woman in front of Main Temple, Batu Caves. Elephant, Batu Caves. Family, Batu Caves. People descending steps toward fire, Batu Caves. Two people in front of statues, Batu Caves. The goddess Lakshmi under stalactites, Batu Caves. Lord Murugan statue watching over Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves. Signs reading Main Temple and No Shoes. Batu Caves. Main Temple, Batu Caves. Male figure with peacocks, roof of temple, 2nd level, Batu Caves. Man with painted head, Batu Caves. Figures on roof, temple, 2nd level, Batu Caves. Temple, 2nd level, Batu Caves. Woman and baby, Batu Caves. Figure, part woman and part animal, over stairway to Batu Caves.

Monkey using his foot to help peel an orange, Batu Caves. Monkey with orange, Batu Caves. Monkey crouching, Batu Caves. Monkey drinking from a bottle that he stole from a visitor and then unscrewed himself. Batu Caves. Monkey and banana, Batu Caves. Monkey with flower, stairway, Batu Caves. Monkey with flower, Batu Caves. Monkey sitting on banister, stairway, Batu Caves. Mother and child monkeys with banana, Batu Caves. Man feeding monkey, Batu Caves. Monkey family, Batu Caves. Women avoiding monkey who has just stolen someone's bag of food, Batu Caves. Monkey and girl conversing, Batu Caves.

Kuala Lumpur

This is a truly fascinating city, combining extreme modernity (including a pair of the tallest buildings in the world -- the Petronas Towers) with interesting cultural details like tiny Chinese shines in alleys.

View of Kuala Lumpur from the KL Tower. The tall building in the middle is the Petronas Towers. Woman in front of a mannequin at the market on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman. KL Tower, viewed form Jalan Dan Wangi. Shrine, alley adjacent to Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street), Chinatown. Kompleks Dayabumi (Dayabumi Complex), an Islamic style skyscraper, behind the Muzium Tekstil Negara (National Textile Museum). Bazar, Masjid India. Destination sign, Jalan Ampang. Fountain, Merdeka Square. Fountain in front of the Pavilion, Jalan Bukit Bintang at night. Pavilion, Jalan Bukit Bintang at night. Jalan Bukit Bintang at night. Jalan Bukit Bintang at night. Street performers, Jalan Bukit Bintang at night. Bridge over Sungai Kelang, Jalan Dang Wangi. Jalan Petaling, Chinatown. Two women beside a small garden, Jalan Raja Chulan. Man selling flower wreaths, Jalan Tun HS Lee. Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Malaysia. Graffiti at the bank of the Sungai Kelang depicting a veiled woman and a man selling an F-5E engine, presumably one of those from an airbase of the Royal Malaysian Air Force in Dec 2007/Jan 2008. Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Leboh Pasar Besar. View of Kuala Lumpur from the KL Tower. The two pronged building in the center is Times Square. View of Kuala Lumpur from the KL Tower. The large hill on the left in the background contains the Batu Caves. Market on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Building showing a reflection of the KL Tower, Jalan P Ramlee. Straits Chinese, a store in Central Market. Women in front of the Bazar, Masjid India. Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street), Chinatown. Women selling sweets at the market on Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Medan Pasar. House with hanging clothes in front of a skyscraper on the bank of the Sungai Kelang, near Jalan Dang Wangi.

Mosques

Masjid Putra (Putra Mosque), on Putrajaya Lake. Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Shoes at Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Fountain on the grounds of Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Mosque and money changer.

Chinese Temples and Clan Houses

Oranges with stickers still on them, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association building. Dragons and lamp, Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple. Entrace, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association building. Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association building. Artwork showing two men and two women, Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple. Lamps, Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy). Man sleeping outside Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy). Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy). Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple. (If you have more information on what this photo is showing, please let me know.) Fountain, Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple. Details, building exterior, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association building. Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association building. Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy). Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy). Kuan Yin Teng (Temple of the Goddess of Mercy).

Signs and Labels

Kickapoo Joy Juice is actually good (like Sprite). It's not so good to be a Tiger, unless you look forward to a solitary life in which emotions must be hidden.

Kickapoo Joy Juice, a citrusy soft drink. Sign advertising leech treatment, Jalan Tun Perak. Sign declaring that only "bona fide" passengers may board Malaysia Airlines flights, Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Sitting Pan sign, public toilet, Kuala Lumpur. Squatting Pan sign, public toilet, Kuala Lumpur. Robertlooi Products sign, Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street), Chinatown. Sign displaying the qualities of people born in the year of the Tiger (generally negative), Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street), Chinatown. No foot wears & caps sign, Arulmigu Mahamariamman Temple.




More photos: View all photos in the directory /photos/malaysia/.
Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)
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