Hello everyone! Welcome back to Scribbler’s Blogs. Last time I told you all about De Nang, Vietnam. Today, I am going to tell you about Kuala Lumpur City in Malaysia. Before I begin, let me give you some of the general information about Malaysia. The capital of Malaysia is the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The main languages spoken there are Malay and English. Malaysia is most famous for the Petronas Twin Towers, which are the tallest twin towers in the world. Nasi Lemak is their most popular dish. Malaysia is mostly filled with skyscrapers, but there are many hidden spots, where nature is at its best (Langkawi beach for example). Before I reached Kuala Lumpur, I did a lot of research on the plane like I always do. I was extremely sorry at that point of time when I realized that it was mostly filled with towers reaching for the sky. I am the kind of person who enjoys crumbling monuments, beautiful beaches, and wonderful views. But something made me change my mind. A thing that made me feel that Kuala Lumpur is a place that is worth sharing with you all. So, I will tell you all about it. Let me start with the main places you can visit. Kuala Lumpur City Centre KLCC, also known as the city inside a city, is the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Towering skyscrapers, huge malls, giant man-made structures this place is a testimony of how far humanity can reach. The most famous buildings here are, of course, the Petronas Twin Towers. The tallest twin towers on Earth. Awe-inspiring indeed. The towers were built by the revolutionary oil company Petronas, as their international headquarters. They are 1483 feet (above street level) tall, and have 88 stories, a pinnacle, and spire of 242 feet. There is also a double-decker sky bridge that connects the two towers. It is located on the 41st and 42nd floor. The towers were constructed mainly with reinforced concrete, glass and steel, with many Islamic motifs. There is an observation floor, with plenty of models of KLCC, and telescopes with which you can see a lot of the city, and a floor with a gift shop, café, and screens with plenty of information. At the ticket counter, there are online games, information, and quizzes for visitors. I really enjoyed using the telescopes, seeing all the models, and seeing the collection of photos from the history of the towers. What I liked the most was that with two identical towers, covered in glass, in the pouring rain, the spectacle almost looked like an illusion! There is also a mall in KLCC, called Suria through which you can enter the twin towers. It was a really big mall, with plenty of international brands, and restaurants of many cuisines. (I got Indian food there. It was a delight after many days of food from Thailand and Vietnam.) There is also a Science Centre at the top of the mall called Petrosains, which my science-loving brother and I enjoyed. The best part of the Science Centre was the recreation of an oil mining station, in the middle of the ocean. The KLCC park is also really nice. Putrajaya The area where all of the important buildings of the government is located. The buildings and the palace are really beautiful. (I could only see it from afar, as we were in a hurry for our flight.) IOI Resort City Located in Putrajaya, this city has many hotels, resorts, a golf club, and the biggest mall in Malaysia. You could get possibly anything you want there. My brother got a cool new Lego set (we could not find it India), and I got a really bendy and twisty Jibitz for my collection. The mall was very crowded on that particularly hot day. Apparently, people flock to the air-conditioned mall when the heat is unbearable! Now perhaps you will be thinking that Kuala Lumpur is just a city filled with towers and malls. I thought so too. Until… The Kopidulu Experience This was like a traditional, Malaysian tea party hosted by the resort we stayed in. There was traditional Malaysian coffee and snacks, which was really tasty! Forgive me, for I do not remember the names of the dishes they served. Anyway, after the food, we got to try traditional Malaysian games like Congkak and their form of checkers. There were also many beautiful Malaysian clothes and accessories donned by the ladies, who taught us the games. Along with all this, we got to learn about the Wau Bulan, which is a traditional kite shaped like a half-moon. It was really nice to see the fine blend of cultures of various parts of the country. After the Kopidulu experience, I realized that Malaysia was not filled with just modern buildings, but also had many amazing traditions, crafts, and delicacies, all hidden by the mighty skyscrapers of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Because we were only there for 2 days, I could not explore more of the hidden Malaysia. I hope that one day I can go again, to see all that I missed, and I hope you would join too. This is Scribbler signing off. See you next in the Land of the Thai people.
Xin Chao, Here is a Glimpse of Vietnam
I am Elaine Elizabeth Jinto, and I am 13 years old. I am from India, and I love to travel. Along with traveling, I enjoy reading, writing, eating, and innovating. I dream of becoming a writer and a business woman. In my blogs I am going to write about some of the trips, books, restaurants, and unique experiences that captivated me. I hope my blogs will encourage you to experience new things too. So, recently I went to Vietnam, which is a country in South East Asia, and I want to share my experiences. But first I have to tell you that before I went there I had no idea that Vietnam was such a beautiful place. As far as I knew, it was a place where people ate Pho noodles and made Pho noodles all their lives. Luckily, the moment I got there I realized that it was one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. Vietnam has a lot of nice places you can choose from, Halong Bay, Hoi an, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and De Nang to name a few. My family chose De Nang city. (You might have heard of it because Bill Gates has been there.) Anyway, De Nang is really nice, and it is close to many of Vietnam’s tourist highlights. First let me tell you about all the places you can visit. Hoi An- A UNESCO World Heritage Sight. Hoi An is an ancient city close to De Nang. It was a busy port in the 15th-16th century, and now it is a busy tourist spot. The area is famous for its historical landmarks, cultural vibe, shops, and most importantly—lanterns. A whole day would be required to take in and experience everything at this unique tourist spot. A walk around the ancient city should be the first thing to do. The street food and shopping is really delightful, and there are many museums and temples you can visit. You can get the tickets at the Hoi An tourism desk and wander around and see what you like at your own pace. There are also cultural performances, near the riverfront museums in the evenings, and you can spend a wonderful hour there, seeing Vietnamese culture at its best. The best part of the show is when you can join the performers and play Bai Choi, which is a traditional Vietnamese game, which is a lot like bingo and housie. At night you can see the lit up, iconic lanterns which make Hoi An famous. A good place to observe the beauty of these lanterns would be at the riverfront, where you could also go on a mini-cruise or ride on a cycle rickshaw, and take in the wonders of Hoi An. Whatever your age, interests, likes and dislikes, you will definitely find something you like at Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. P.S: I would suggest that you prepare an itinerary before you go. Also remember the afternoons can get really hot. Take me to Sun World, Ba Na Hills Ba Na Hills used to be a French settlement in the 18th-19th century, built because the Europeans could not bear the Vietnamese heat. It was bought and renovated by Sun World, who made it a theme park. A lot of the original buildings are still there, and now they house restaurants, shops, theatres, gaming arcades, and much more. After a 45 minute drive from De Nang city, you have to ride a record-breaking cable car to get to the top of the hill. Literally record breaking, because Ba Na hills had the longest, unsupported cable car system for many years. The views from the cable cars are spellbinding, especially the waterfall, and the small streams that lead up to it. Once you get to your desired cable car station you can grab a brochure, and spend the day doing what you like, where you like, and when you like. I enjoyed Luna Castle, the Atlas Statue, the French village, pagoda and the Debay wine cellar. (It is really cool, and you can get child-friendly wine there!) The gardens were epic, and there was one I really loved with Roman columns, French mills, and ballerina topiaries. Another awesome part was seeing actual suits of armor, with griffins emblazoned on them. I must warn you that there is a lot to see, and you will have a lot of walking to do, so it would be a good idea to use the quaint, old fashioned Funicular trains whenever you can. The highlight of the trip was seeing the golden bridge, which is held up not by pillars, but by two giant hands made of rocks. Ba Na Hills is just the place to spend a hot afternoon exploring a fine fusion of Vietnamese and French culture. Marble Mountains The 5 Marble Mountains are sacred places of worship, and only one is open for tourists. The 5 mountains are named after the elements and are filled with beautiful Buddha shrines, statues, and tranquil areas for meditating. There is a lift that goes all the way up, and you can use the stairways on the way back, and see everything. There is a beautiful view, and you can see the beach and the city from up there. You do not need much time at Marble Mountains, but whatever you do don’t miss it. P.S: There are many beautiful souvenirs made of marble which you can get there. De Nang City Amidst all this beauty there is a big city, with a plethora of sky scrapers at the center of the city. The place looks amazing at night, and there are cruises along the river at night. The main attraction there is the Dragon bridge, which is, no surprise, shaped like a huge golden dragon. At night it breathes fire and water, and it looks totally amazing. A good place to eat dinner when you are at the city would be the
