Off to Malaysia, Part 3

Batu caves, Temples and a new volunteer.

Second week in Kuala Lumpur, I feel that now I’ve settled in, I know the city better, with Lili we know better each other and we can work more productively. Now we set up a sort of strategy: we signed up to several websites that promote cooking class experiences and, of course, we are working on Instagram and Facebook, please help us and follow the pages. I took some pictures for her and we are making videos about previous cooking classes. On Sunday we had a birthday party cooking class, a girl from Japan wanted to celebrate in this way. I will share with you the pictures and the experience next week.

On Friday a new volunteer from Sweden arrived, he took a gap year at work to travel to southeast Asia. I hope we can get along well, I like to have another person in the group, someone to share the experience with, and I will update you about this.

This week I had two free days, Monday and Tuesday, I spent all Monday with Lili and her family at her father’s house, we had breakfast together eating noodles, I had Indian food for lunch with one of her friends, and in the afternoon I helped a bit in the garden, and I was invited to the family dinner. It was nice to be involved in this family day, I liked to have this experience, and even if I could have been exploring something by myself I think it was a unique opportunity.

On Tuesday I went to Batu Caves and Chinatown. Batu Caves is a renowned limestone hill and cave temple complex located just north of Kuala Lumpur. The site is a popular destination and a significant religious landmark for Hindus.

The main attraction is a massive golden statue of Lord Murugan, standing at the entrance and towering at 42 meters (140 feet) in height. To reach the main cave temple I had to climb a steep flight of 272 steps. The cave is adorned with intricate Hindu shrines and statues, creating a surreal and spiritual atmosphere.

Probably I had too high expectations for this place, or probably from the pictures I had a wrong idea about it, so in the end it didn’t impress me that much, and I wouldn’t say I liked it. I think it is a beautiful place and it is worth a visit, just don't have too many expectations and you will probably enjoy it more than me.

Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant district that reflects the rich Chinese cultural heritage within the city. This lively area is renowned for its bustling street markets, traditional shops, and a diverse array of Chinese delicacies. It is a pedestrian-friendly market street where you can have a sensory experience of vibrant colours, fragrant aromas, and the energetic atmosphere of haggling and bargaining.

Chinatown is also renowned for its culinary offerings. Lili already showed me some of the street food stalls and traditional restaurants. Once for dinner, we went to the night market where vendors set up stalls selling everything from local snacks to handicrafts, we had very delicious food, and I loved the atmosphere of eating on the street in a very simple situation, almost improvised.

I will visit Chinatown again because I just had a fast visit to the market, and I want to take nice pictures from there, I think I will buy some gifts, the pictures are from Kwai Chai Hong, "Little Ghost Lane" in Cantonese, which is a small part, few streets, of Chinatown.

Kwai Chai Hong is characterized by its narrow lanes and restored pre-war buildings that offer a glimpse into Kuala Lumpur's past. The area features vibrant murals and street art that tell stories of the neighbourhood's history. The murals often depict scenes from the early 20th century, showcasing the daily life and cultural diversity that once thrived in the area. It is a very nice corner of Chinatown, that offers an interesting wow effect.

One of the key attractions in Chinatown is the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, an elaborately decorated Hindu temple that stands in contrast to the predominantly Chinese character of the area. This cultural diversity reflects the harmonious coexistence of different communities in Kuala Lumpur.

Also known as Wat Khaek in Thai, it is the oldest Hindu temple in the city and holds great cultural and historical significance. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, who is revered for her healing powers in Hindu tradition. Its architectural style is distinctly South Indian, featuring a vibrant and ornate façade adorned with intricate sculptures and colourful decorations.

When I was there I was lucky to experience a ritual or ceremony, you can see from the pictures someone playing music and people praying. I loved that temple, very interesting, on that day I went for the first time to a Hindu temple, the colours and the atmosphere were amazing for me.

On Thursday morning I went to Brickfields, located just a short distance from the place I live, it is a vibrant and eclectic neighbourhood often referred to as "Little India." This district is colourful and bustling where you can explore colourful streets adorned with shops selling traditional Indian goods, clothing, and spices. The area comes alive with the sounds of Bollywood music, the aroma of Indian spices, and the colours of sarees and other ethnic attire.

Even if from my description it looks very characteristic, in the end, I found it a bit fake, made up for tourists, and it is just in the main street if you walk out of it the magic disappears. But I have to say that I had an amazing ginger milk tea there.

As I said in the previous post, the cultural diversity of Kuala Lumpur impressed me, being able to visit mosques, churches, and Hindu and Chinese temples is amazing, and the same is true for food, architecture and traditions, here you can explore and appreciate the rich tapestry of the religious and historical heritage.

I have to say that this week in several situations I had a nice feeling of happiness, these are the moments that make me grateful for the opportunities I have. I feel lucky to be able to be here and discover new places, and traditions and meet interesting people. I’m sure next week I will have more to share about this wonderful experience, see you soon!

Flavio