RadioRoryGoing vertical in Malaysia is more than going to the top of the Petronas Towers of Kuala Lumpur. It’s your camera that will be going vertical the whole time too. So many of the sights in Malaysia’s capital will have you twisting your camera to try and squeeze it all in.
The towers are no longer the world’s tallest building (though them claim they’re the tallest twin structure), but 20+ years after their construction they remain a marvel.
Have you heard that tourists in New York City often prefer the view from the top of 30 Rock over the taller Empire State Building? That’s because from 30 Rock you can SEE the Empire State in all its glory. With a trip to the top of these towers, you can see the other one, even if it’s impossible to appreciate its grandeur.
Even better than the view, I enjoy learning about the engineering involved in creating these landmarks. The HVAC, elevators, plumbing, window washing, and trash all create challenges for architects. They do a great job of explaining the ins and outs of the design. It’s about $22 for a ticket to the top. That’s one of those prices points that make you say, “Well, I’m already here so….”
One of Malaysia’s natural wonders is just a few miles outside of town.
Batu Caves can be reached via a 272-step climb. As you approach the steep stairway, you will pass an impressive 140-foot-tall statue of Kartikeya. That’s a Hindu deity normally associated with India, where he is called Murugan. Lines for the slow-moving climb can be long and it can be very, very hot. In my case, I went near sunset on a rainy day. I miscalculated my train ride a bit and arrived at nightfall. I think there were four of us there. It made for an easier climb, but there was none of the activity normally associated with the scene. No merchants, no food vendors, not even the famous monkeys known for stealing from unsuspecting tourists.
I’m not exactly sure what construction work is going on inside the large limestone chamber at the top of the stairs. The entrances to some of the other caves were closed (a sarcastic “Oh darn!”) but I didn’t get the sense I was missing anything.
Back to my crappy Air BnB, where the roof affords a great view of the Petronas Towers and the downtown skyline, but from my apartment window it’s the Masjid Wilaya Persekutuan mosque that I see. My feeble photo skills fail to capture the size of this modern monstrosity, capable of holding 17,000 worshipers. Also known as the Federal Territory Mosque, I went there on my own, uncertain how’d they’d welcome a big, pale American.
Wow, they couldn’t have been nicer.
They showed me where to drop my shoes and backpack. Then, a woman spent at least a half-hour walking me through the mosque and explaining its brief history as well as the rituals that occur inside. I answered many of her questions about Catholics and vice versa. The roles of men vs. women vs. children. After, she took me back to the office where a half-dozen people peppered me with questions about America, Florida, Disney, and NASA. They had a copy of the photography book “A Day in the Life of America.” It contains pictures from all 50 states and I was able to point to scenes from Rhode Island and Florida and explain the great distances between the two.
When I left, they gave me a book about their faith and many of the misconceptions that still exist.
I already shed more than a few misconceptions.