We brought nature lovers to the outskirts for some quality unwinding in our last feature, but don't worry, we haven't forgotten about those who're more comfortable being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the big city!
This week, The Local Scene is taking you on another joyride – this time a picturesque adventure for avid photographers! Kuala Lumpur might be infamous for mind-numbing traffic jams (and more recently, haze), but looking past that, our bustling capital city is home to several beautiful sights that are simply stunning in pictures.
Petaling Street, widely considered the hub of Malaysian culture, is our first pit stop! Home to the city's central market, its main attraction is Lorong Melayu, which specialises in local arts and crafts. Meanwhile, a short 20-minute walk away is Little India, which is bursting at the seams with strong colours and even stronger scents!
These two areas are most exciting during the day, as traders will be milling around with goods like traditional clothing, pottery and craft. Steeped in culture, the streets here are wonderful to photograph as you'll get a glimpse of the heritage that truly makes Malaysia special.
Located at Batu Caves, the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a holy shrine that consists of five small temples. Set against a background of age-old mountains, its beautiful, golden architecture and perfect lighting casts a peaceful veil over the area. The ambience is truly calming, not only to temple-goers, but also tourists! Trust me; that climb of 272 steps? Completely worth it for the breathtaking pictures you'll end up taking.
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| The temple is best photographed in the evenings, when the dusky pastel skies bring out its structure and warm lighting. |
Closer to the heart of the city is the recently-built Nu Sentral shopping mall, a true feat of engineering and architecture. Located a stone's throw away from KL Sentral station, this brilliantly-built metallic structure glistens like diamonds when sunlight beams down on it. Even local pedestrians stop to photograph it sometimes, not just regular tourists! I know I do, that's for sure.
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| Fine metallic sheets beautifully arranged into an elegant structure outside Nu Sentral. |
Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang is an area true to its name because it truly comes to life when the stars are out to play. At night, the streets transform into Malaysia's very own version of Times Square – brightly-lit restaurants and shops are woven perfectly between posh buildings, and the roads are jam-packed with all walks of life.
The contrast between the colourful streets and night skies are truly a treat for photographers, especially those who enjoy snapping city nightlife and posh buildings. Do keep safety in mind, though, as the traffic here is heavy no matter what time of the day it is!
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| Nestled in the middle of two beautiful skyscrapers in Bukit Bintang is a quiet alley lined with trees and bathed in warm light. |
Iconic Malaysian landmarks that we definitely can't go without mentioning is the scenic KL Tower and its equally mesmerising companion, the Petronas Twin Towers – two of the tallest buildings in the nation. Flanked by towering skyscrapers and stunning nature courtesy of the nearby park, these two beacons of light look best at night, set against the glistening Kuala Lumpur cityscape.
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| KL Tower playing peek-a-boo with the greenery surrounding the very heart of Kuala Lumpur's city centre. |
Scattered all around Kuala Lumpur, these Malaysian landmarks are easily accessible via public transportation like train lines, so don't worry! Commuting would be the least of your hassles, though, believe me; as an avid photographer myself, I can tell you that once you start adjusting your camera settings and immersing yourself into taking pictures of these breathtaking places, you'll appreciate these Malaysian landmarks as more than just national icons.
They truly are a window to the city life in Kuala Lumpur – bustling and jam-packed, but 100% Malaysian and always, always feels like home.
The Local Scene has done our fair share of travelling this past month, and this marks the end of our adventures around Malaysia! Next week, our resident tech geek will be taking the stand and shedding some light on a different kind of Malaysian pride, so keep your eyes peeled!
Bibliography
About (Centre for Malaysian, Culture, Heritage, Art and Craft). 2015. Retrieved 29 October, 2010 from http://centralmarket.com.my/about.php
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