Our visit to Taman Rama-Rama (Butterfly Park) was not planned. It was randomly suggested by a local as well as the other attractions en route to Malacca. Since we still have an extra hour (so we thought), we allocated 30 minutes for this. But upon seeing the butterflies feeding through the pineapples (I did not know they seriously like it), I knew we would stay longer.
Continued from [the monkeys and fireflies of Kuala Selangor] [Putrajaya] and [Malacca at a glimpse]
A Famosa (“Kota a Famosa” or “The Famous”)
A Famosa was a fortress built in Malacca during the Portuguese occupancy. However, upon Dutch invasion and its subsequent hand over to British, its destruction was set. It was almost demolished when Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore, intervened when he visited Malacca. Thanks to his passion for history, the Porta de Santiago (small gate) remains– from the used to be four major towers.
The fortress is not only popular among tourists, but especially to students who integrate lessons on field. During our visit to the equally interesting Mini-Malaysia (details on separate entry), we noticed a number of gradeschool students, too.
Continued from [the monkeys and fireflies of Kuala Selangor] and [Putrajaya]
(The Christ Church is said to be originally painted white. However, this and the neighbouring Stadthuys building was painted red in 1911 and this distinctive colour scheme has remained the hallmark of Malacca’s Dutch-era buildings. It is the oldest surviving Dutch church building found outside the Netherlands.)
Where to find one of those graciously decorated bicycle rickshaws in the world? In Malacca. The moment I saw this corner, I told myself that this third smallest state in Malaysia definitely deserves a re-visit.
Even without the very detailed checking of history, the architecture within Malacca can tell you about its yesteryears. Take for example its town hall, popularly known as Stadthuys or Red Square. It mirrors the Dutch invasion for almost 183 years. In reference to the above photo, the structure to your right is said to be the oldest remaining Dutch historical building which now serves as the Museum of History and Ethnography.
Continued from the monkeys and fireflies of Kuala Selangor
The Prime Minister’s Office
My interest to visit Putrajaya was piqued when Mimi of SleeplessinKL posted about a glimpse to it. I thought that it is simply a counterpart of Malacanang Palace. But after enough googling and finding out that it is a planned city which currently serves as the federal administrative center of Malaysia, the more I got interested. A slice of my current job is somehow related to the planning for the entire Emirate of Abu Dhabi towards 2030 and the ongoing establishment of Capital District will have resemblance to the premise of Putrajaya.
How’s everyone? I am back with loads of memories of my trip to Singapore and Malaysia. I always struggle with the starting point of sharing travel stories. It is like talking to a friend about my experience and/or someone asking me about the highlight of it — and I can not tell exactly because everything was part and parcel of this wonderful wandering. As I still need to catch up on a lot of things, here’s a primera.
We left Kuala Lumpur at 5:00 PM and reached Kuala Selangor after an hour drive. The road going up to the feeding area of the monkeys is steep. The encounter with these friendly creatures, they are claimed so to be, because they do not bite, still fascinates me to this minute. I bet it is going to be like that forever.
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