In conjunction with the
annual Federal Territory day, we went roving around the streets of Kuala Lumpur
to uncover for ourselves the insights to this vibrant and dynamic city where
typical urbanites like us live, eat, work, sleep, play and breathe in on a
daily basis.
As it turns out, there are actually so much more than just modern
skyscrapers and well, ahem, severe traffic congestion to the Federal Territory
of Kuala Lumpur, while we specially handpicked just a few of them to be bragged about. ;)
Our
journey began at no other than the heart of Kuala Lumpur itself that gives
pulse to the city. As it is well-said that history are often written by winners
or people in power, little actually knew
that there were a few other street names that took precedence over what prevalently
known today as the famous Jalan Tun Perak.
Jalan Tun Perak which started as a busy commercial district in the past still remains one of the main arteries of the city today.
The bustling street
that gathers people from all walks of life today was once known as Java Street for
more than half a century until before World War II. It was only until after
Independence Day that the street was renamed Jalan Mountbatten after Lord Louis
Mountbatten - who was the Allied Supreme Commander in Southeast Asia during the
period of warfare.
Jalan Mountbatten around the 1960s
One of the most
symbolic attractions along Jalan Tun Perak would be no other than the very
famous Masjid Jamek or the Jamek mosque. Strategically located at the
convergence of Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak, Masjid Jamek once served as the
primary venue of congregation for the local Muslim community, until more than
five decades later when the national mosque was built.
Masjid Jamek or the Jamek Mosque also serve as an important landmark along Jalan Tun Perak today.
Finally getting to witness the legendary Sungai Gombak flowing in real, we brats must say that it is, well, ahem, overrated for most of the time.
Well, we believe much more efforts should be done to preserve the rivers, especially when they are associated with national heritages and being widely promoted as tourist attractions.
Where there is a Big Ben in London, there is also a Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur. Located just across the Klang river from Masjid Jamek, the 40m high clock tower crowned by a golden dome bears resemblance to the Big Ben in London. It was built by the British governance to house important government departments back then during the colonial era.
The Moorish architecture of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building also resembles that of the Jamek Mosque.
Sultan Abdul Samad was the fourth ruling monarch of Selangor.
While the Sultan Abdul Samad building could have signified the British colonial era in Malaysia, ironic enough is such that located just opposite the building is Dataran Merdeka, or the Merdeka Square, where the Union Jack was lowered and where Malaysia was finally declared as an independent nation. Merdeka!
Dataran Merdeka marked the termination to the British colonial era.
The 95m flagpole in Merdeka Square, ehem, the tallest in the world. :)
Sincerely,
The Bragging Brats
