Trip to 2 most amazing places in Asia : Singapore & Malaysia : PART II

We got to bed early as we were very tired after the exhausting journey and sleepless night the previous day.  Also the wakeup call set for us was 6:30 a.m. so we had to get up early.

There were 2 persons in a room. The king sized bed provided us the much needed comfort. It was really big, neat and plush.

The wake up alarm was loud enough to awake us. It was 6:30 and still I was feeling dizzy but had no other option than to wake up. After getting ready we went for breakfast around 8 a.m. at Makan Kitchen.  There are several cooking stations featuring specialties from Malaysian, Chinese and Indian cooking traditions. In veg section there were around 4-5 types of fruits, juices, yogurts, breads and buns. 

Tea, coffee and milk were served at the table. The staff was friendly and cooperative.

After breakfast we went to hotel’s parking area where a bus was ready to take us for the city tour.
Our guide accompanied us and started briefing about the history of Malaysia.

It’s a federal constitutional monarchy which consists of 13 states and 3 federal territories.
The main religion here is Islam and majority of population consist of Muslims. Currency of Malaysia is ringgit and people prefer using plastic money. The head of state is called king who is elected by the sultans of different Malay states. Head of government is Prime Minister.

Our first stop was Sultan’s Palace which is the official residence of king of Malaysia.

A brief Intro
It is really huge extending in an area of round 13 acres. As the palace is not open for the public
visit hence the main palace entrance is a favorite picture spot for the tourists. The royal guards
in traditional attire are the main attraction.

 
My Experience
The main attraction for Malaysian people was we Indians. My Nanaji and 2 Sardarjis were the celebrities out there. People became crazy for clicking pics with them. In all it was fun.

Next in line was Tugu Negara also known as the Soldiers war memorial.

A brief Intro
This National Monument is a sculpture that commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggle for freedom, principally against the Japanese occupation during World War II and the Malayan Emergency, which lasted from 1948 until 1960. It is the world's tallest bronze freestanding sculpture grouping. Every year on July 31 on Warriors' Day, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Prime Minister and heads of military and the police pay their respects to the fallen heroes by laying garlands at the monument.
The Malaysian Houses of Parliament is situated near the monument.

 

My ExperienceLoved the sculpture, it was really big and patriotic. 

Next on the route was Orchid Garden.

A brief Intro
 Our guide told us that there were around 2000 types of orchids in the garden. It was very big, but we didn’t have enough time to explore it completely. So we decided to click some pics and make a move.

             
My Experience
“Wow this is splendid” is what I uttered when I entered the garden. Beautiful world class orchids were all around me. It was very well maintained and clean.

After travelling for half n hour we reached Merdeka Square also known as Dataran Merdeka.

A brief Intro
It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight (time: 12:00 AM) on August 31, 1957. Since then, Merdeka Square has been the usual venue for the annual Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade). 

 
My Experience
There were many high towering commercial buildings around the square but apart from that there was nothing much to see here. So we took some pics and moved on.

Next in line was the one of the top attraction of Malaysia, The Kuala Lumpur tower.

                                    

                                      

A brief Intro
It is used for communication purposes and features an antenna that reaches 421 metres (1,381 feet). The roof of the pod is at 335 meters (1,099 feet). The rest of the tower below has a stairwell and an elevator to reach the upper area, which also contains a revolving restaurant, providing diners with a 360 degree view of the city.

                              
My Experience
There were binoculars mounted all over the observation deck. The panoramic view of the city was mindboggling. I thoroughly enjoyed the sight.
Also nearby there was a shop where models of F1 cars were kept. 10 Ringgit for as many no of pics you want to take with them was a good bet. I was overall a good experience.

Batu Caves , one of the most popular Hindu shrine outside India was our next destination.

A brief IntroBatu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, in the Gombak district, 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.
The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan.

A 42.7-metre (140 ft) high statue of Lord Murugan was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.

The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 50-foot (15 m) tall statue of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the devotee and aide of Lord Rama. The consecration ceremony of the temple was held in November 2001.

   

My Experience
I was really amazed to see such huge statues of Lord Murugan and Hanuman ji.
There were around 500 steep steps to reach the cave and as usual we were short of time so we decided to skip the visit to cave. Also we decided to have our lunch here.
There were few restaurants run by South Indians and to our surprise we were able to find Veg thali as part of menu.
After a stay of around 1 hour we finally took off to the last place of visit in today’s schedule, Royal Selangor.

Royal Selangor 

A brief Intro
Royal Selangor is a Malaysian pewter manufacturer and retailer, the largest of its type in the world. It is recognized as a Malaysian brand icon.

 

Presently, the company offers over a thousand different tableware and gift items, from traditional tankards and tea sets, to photo frames, desk accessories and wine accessories. 

My Experience
I had never seen something like this, it was phenomenal. The tour of the factory started with knowing about the history of the brand and a little about Malaysian Pewter mining. The demonstrations of various techniques used in making of a handicraft were fascinating. The best bit was to watch the liquid pewter cool down in just a couple of seconds.
The guide was loud, clear and knowledgeable and we understood every word of what she spoke.
Finally we went to the showroom where different items made out of the pewter were kept. Those creations were really beautiful and unique. The replica of trophies of Singapore grand prix was also in display. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

  

Finally our city tour come to an end and it was time to return to the Double tree. Also everyone was very tired and exhausted so we were keen to return to hotel and have a couple of hours Nap in the king size bed before getting ready for dinner..:)

In case you have missed PART I, click here