Monday, December 28, 2009

Kuala Lumpur: Nature in the City!



Have you ever been to a forest? If you're a real KLite and haven't, you don't know what you're missing! But don't complain, I will take you to one. This might come as a surprise, but it's right here in the middle of our beloved Kuala Lumpur! Taman Tasik Perdana (also known as the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens) is a great spot to check out Malaysia's forests without having to travel too far away from home.

The next weekend you're free, put on your caps and sneakers and head towards Jalan Parliament. Turn right at the Tugu Negara's traffic lights and you can easily enter and park for free at the Taman Tasik Perdana car park. Now you're ready to face beautiful butterflies, monitor lizards and maybe even monkeys, but don't worry about facing tigers or bears in this jungle!

Upon parking, you would face the great playground located right in the middle of a beautiful clearing, surrounded by beautiful plants and shrubs. You'll see children of all races and religions jumping, running and giggling as they play with one another happily. Seeing the smiling faces and hearing the delighted laughter of the children makes it a great place to sit and relax... What a sight to see, a truly 1Malaysia scene!


Across the playground is a trail leading you straight into the Taman Tasik Perdana's 'jungle'! Soon you'll be staring at breathtaking flora and fauna the teachers were telling you about in Malaysia's great rainforests. Don't just stand and stare, grab the giant tree trunk with the hanging roots and marvel at its sheer size. Look up at the sky and you'll see the large canopy of leaves obscuring the sunlight from view, leaving the trail cool and fresh.


Of course, a trip to Taman Perdana won't be satisfactiory without a detour to its Taman Herba! Here you'll see our local plants and trees--see if you can recognize them in its natural setting. I saw many fruit trees like pineapples, vegetable plants like chilies and flowers like the bunga raya, which is our national flower.


Didn't think that bananas have flowers? And pink flowers, at that! You know what they say, seeing is believing! Imagine my delight and surprise to see a banana tree's pink flower, right here in Taman Tasik Perdana. Of course, I had to take a picture to remember it by.

Aside from fruit trees, there are a lot of herbal plants which has medicinal value. Not only are the flora in the park are visually pleasing, we can also learn about its history and uses! In front of every plant, a small white sign gives information about the particular plant--which I think is a great way to educate the public about Malaysia's rich ecosystem.

Next, you won't miss the sea of blooming flowers that'll keep your camera busy clicking away! While you're mesmerized by the nature that surrounds you, be careful not to bump into the other forest visitors. I noticed many families of at least three generations enjoying themselves in the tropical paradise of KL. Its also a great spot to have lunch, as many tables are strategically placed under shady trees for the perfect picnic setting.

If you believe in fairytales, I almost crashed into Cinderella hurrying home from the ball! Many newlyweds come to take pictures in the peacefully natural settings of the park. During the morning I was there, I spotted three newlyweds posing for pictures in all their wedding finery. They looked amazingly happy to be with their partners in such a beautiful setting.

Finally, gasping for breath and dying for a drink, you can rest your body at a delightful cafe located at the far end of the carpark. After all, what is nicer than a cool ice lemon tea after getting lost in a tropical forest and surviving to tell the tale? ;)

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Kuala Lumpur: The Lost Art of The "Serunai Burung"



A trip to Taman Tasik Perdana brought me more than I can imagine! Lush greenery surrounded us and a delightful scene of children running around at its playground provided a peaceful ambience. It certainly was the perfect place to rest and relax! That day, I certainly didn't expect to make a new friend--but this shows you how friends appear in the most unlikely of places :)

I first noticed a cheerful Chinese man talking to two women wearing tudung while my father was trying to park the car. The Chinese man handed the women two long things that resembled a chopstick from afar. He lifted the chopstick to his lips and blew--and it emitted a lovely shrill sound like a bird's song.



I realized what it was--a serunai burung! Or rather, a bird-whistle! I quickly snapped a picture through the side window, curiosity getting the better of me. My dad parked the car at the side of the road and I went to check out the whistle, marveling at the melodic sounds that were produced just by effortlessly blowing into the whistle.

Reaching him, the cheerful man introduced himself as Uncle Cheng. He was selling the bird-whistles at RM4 each. He told me that for every whistle sold, RM1 would be given to Charity for the Handicapped. Uncle Cheng pointed to his leg, and I was shocked for a moment to see that his right leg ended at his knee. He just smiled and said, "I wanted to give back to them somehow."


Uncle Cheng's words really made me feel touched. Imagine his strength going from place to place not only to earn his bread, but also to collect funds for charity! This was truly a hero--he had no medals and no recognition by our society, but to me Uncle Cheng would always be a hero in his own right.

As he taught me how to use the whistle, Uncle Cheng mentioned that he had made the whistle himself! I was amazed and asked him more and more about the serunai burung.

Friendly and courteous, Uncle Cheng's voice was animated as he told me about the art of his forefathers. "I learnt this from the olden people," he said with a smile. "Now seventy years and I'm the only one who bikin [make] by hand. Gone is this practice..."


The bird whistle in my hand felt light, smooth and an intricate design decorated around the bamboo in a spiralling pattern. It's fully handmade, Uncle tells me. He cuts the 'body' of the whistle from the bamboo tree until a suitable length is met. Then he rubs it with sandpaper, ensuring its smoothness.

After that, Uncle cuts its 'mouth' with a sharp knife, making sure that there is no sharp edges to hurt the mouth of the whistler. He makes the intricate markings on the whistle carefully with a brush to make the whistle more visually pleasing, finishing the art by painting it with syelek to ensure its sturdiness.


"Nowadays, noone bikin [make] anymore. That's why I usually sell to tourists." He smiles impishly "I charge them RM5, RM6. More bussiness over at Sungai Way where I came."


When I asked uncle why noone makes it anymore, he sighs. Whistle-blowing is an art! And so he launches into an interesting story. Back then when Orang Asli (indigenous people) ruled the land, they hunted for animals for their nourishment. They made simple bird-whistles from the bark of trees to attract wild birds to be caught and bred. It soon became an art to them, even when bows and arrows were more successful in catching birds.

"This should be a heritage." Rueful was his expression. He blows air into the whistle in rhythm, making a shrill hooting sound not unlike a raven's call. "It's great fun, especially for children. Now, they use the internet and tweet there. Where's the fun in that? Let's use the serunai to make real bird songs!"

...and so we did :)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Kuala Lumpur: Its Colourful Portrait!


In Kuala Lumpur, the streets are bustling with people. The citizens of Malaysia throng the streets to shop, to grab a bite to eat, on their way to work--carrying out their lives easily and naturally. Why shouldn't they? Fifty-two years after our country's proud independence day, the spirit of 1Malaysia is truly portrayed in the streets of KL, our federal territory.

When I went there recently, I witnessed everything Kuala Lumpur had to offer. Kids ran about, excitedly pulling their [tired] parents along. In shopping areas such as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (popularly known as Jalan TAR amongst us locals), hawkers do a brisk trade on the streets as they busily cater to the needs of their customers. Smells of pisang goreng and keropok permeate the air, catching the attention of passers-by. It really is a happening place to shop!

Malaysian flags flag proudly in the air, flapping in the slight breeze of noon. Small flags decorated the small shoplots of Jalan TAR, while the Jalur Gemilang flag was hung on the side of several buildings.

Everywhere I turned I could see colourful 1Malaysia posters decorating the buildings,
adding colour to the walls just as our multi-racial nation adds colour to its portrait! :)

Even a trip to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman portrays the colourful side of Kuala Lumpur. Enter a mamak stall and you'll see Malaysians regardless of race or colour sit down to catch their breath and enjoy a cup of teh tarik. Friends of all races chat animatedly, tucking into freshly-tossed roti canai with sambal, hot nasi lemak and tasty char kuey teow. In my opinion, the spirit of 1Malaysia is best reflected in these sort of places. :)

Other than the mamak stalls galore, there are always activity on the streets! Busy shoppers browse through displays in the numerous shops dotting Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Name it, you have it: supermarkets, clothes shops, handicraft shops, boutiques, carpet shops--everything is sold on Jalan TAR!

Since most of the stock is acquired by the shopkeepers in bulk, it's generally cheaper than the normal market prices. Moreover, its easy to reach by car or public transportation. No wonder it's so popular with foreigners and the locals.

Speaking of which, a note [or a warning, really!] to all men: If you let your wives and daughters shop there, resign yourself to waiting in the nearest mamak for hours! :P Clothes and cloth are
the main attraction of Jalan TAR.


Next to this famous road lies Jalan Masjid India, which is famous for its Indian apparel. No wonder it's nickname by the locals is 'Little India'! People of all races shop there to get the best deals on colourful patterned clothes, bangles of all sizes and colours and brightly-hued sarees.


On a side note, well-known fabric store JAKEL is also located on this road. Now, who could resist shopping there when there is more than four floors of fabrics to browse through? Certainly not
my mom! ;)

Due to my ethusiastic mother and sister, my father and I had to wait for hours while they shopped for new curtains in the JAKEL building. Thankfully, we could rest and have a cuppa while waiting. Many restaurants, food stalls and foodcourts were located along Jalan TAR and Jalan Masjid India, so no worries for the husbands! Granted, most of the people enjoying their teh tarik were men. :)

I've shopped at Jalan TAR numerous times over the years. However, it never failed to amaze me what I saw there each time. The harmonious atmosphere, the great ambience, the delicious food, the friendly people and of course the satisfying shopping--you can bet that Jalan TAR will be my preferred shopping destinations for years to come!