Kuala Lumpur and Malacca

After a very nice week in Sipadan-Kapalai, I went to Kuala Lumpur for the umpteenth time to visit my friend MH who has been living there. It was interesting to reflect between the first time that she went to Asia in 2003, to now in 2007, where she is really, a local living in Kuala Lumpur. Since her return home is planned this year (and will happen, I am sure!), I predict that she will miss the variety of Asian foods that she has grown accustomed to in Kuala Lumpur.

We went to Malacca on the West Coast, part of the Straights Colonies. It is a beautiful city full of history, where the Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, British, Malay and Indian cultures have all mingled. We visited the Baba-Nyonya house; the Peranakan (men= Baba, women=Nyonya) are the ethnic Chinese who mixed with the Malays back in teh 1500's and created their own culture. DK from work had referred me to her brother there but I didn't think of bothering him; it's too bad as it turned out he is the president of the Baba-Nyonya in Malacca!

Typical Baba-Nyonya architecture on Heeren Street:

melaka, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

Then the following day we took a day trip to FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia), located in the rainforest adjoining Kuala Lumpur. We did a canopy walk amongst the greenery. I'd done a jungle walk in Borneo before and didn't meet the dreaded leeches. This time too, I was looking for them, and they were not around!

Canopy Walk

canopy walk, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

jungle girls, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

jungle, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

jungle bridge, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

rock jungle, originally uploaded by Galadryel.