Where in Kuala Lumpur can you spend an interesting afternoon with history and nature, without having to travel long distances? At Lake Gardens, of course. Slipping her feet into comfortable sneakers, LAVIINIA DHANAGUNAN is set for fun.
HURRAY! It’s the long year-end school holidays and if you are wondering where you can go without burning a hole in your pocket or are reluctant to join the endless queues of holiday-makers in some out-of-town destination, then come with me on a short, healthy break to... Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens!
The best thing is that it’s practically free except for nominal entrance fees at some attractions like Bird Park and Butterfly Park.
Now, put on your walking shoes, and trace some 4,347 fun steps I took in the Lake Gardens area, starting from the National Mosque.
National Mosque
After prayers every Friday, the sight of people spilling out from the National Mosque onto the footpaths leading to Dataran Merdeka never fails to catch my attention.
So I start my discovery of the neighbourhood from the front of the mosque and spend a few moments to admire the sharp, pointed minaret. Then I look for the KL Hop On Hop Off tour bus stop. The location of the pink flag marking this is at a bit of a blind spot and, as I am crossing the street, I catch sight of something in the distance. It turns out to be a relatively unknown jewel – the Islamic Arts Museum.
325 Steps
Islamic Arts Museum
Taking 325 steps away from the National Mosque, I reach the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (http://www.iamm.org.my). Its facade is a balanced mix of glass and Islamic architecture. Inside is an amazing collection of Islamic artifacts from all over the world.
Trawl the extensive sections and be mesmerised by Quran of different sizes. Some are as small as your thumb and can only be read with the aid of a magnifying glass!
Equally impressive is the intricate details of clothes and jewellery that the museum has amassed from India and China, among other countries.
The building has three peach and blue domes that rise to the heavens. In addition, there is an inverted dome, definitely a unique feature. All four seemingly fragile structures boast of intricate details in design. The inverted dome in the exhibition area is the only thing that tourists are allowed to photograph. Sadly, everything else is off limits. It would have been really nice to be able to snap some pictures of the architect models of mosques from around the world that are displayed on the top floor. They are quite amazing.
2,050 Steps
KL Butterfly Park
Only 1,725 steps away from the Islamic Arts Museum and I’ve reached the KL Butterfly Park (Tel: 03-2693 4799). The entrance is somewhat hidden away and quite ordinary-looking. The real fun begins only after you step in through the mesh and enter a netted area filled with butterflies. These small creatures fly around and are just about everywhere so be careful not to slap at your head or body if you feel something brush against you.
The butterflies come in all sizes. There are some really tiny ones and others that are as big as saucers.
All have one thing in common – the pretty colours that flash as they flutter their wings. If you’re lucky, kindergarten children may be visiting and the sight of little kids marvelling at and running after these precious, small creatures is quite adorable.
Pos Malaysia has dedicated a collector’s series of stamps just for them. These can be bought at the post office (depending on stock availability). There is also a gift shop on the grounds for you to buy souvenirs.
3,090 Steps
KL Bird Park
Still in a dreamy state after the close encounter with so many butterflies, I leave Butterfly Park and trudge 1,040 steps towards the KL Bird Park (http://www.klbirdpark.com), touted as the largest bird park in this region.
It’s located slightly uphill and the walk snaps me out of my reverie. By the time I get to the Hornbill Cafe, I am sweating profusely and taking frequent swigs of water as well as wiping the sweat trickling down my face. I sit and rest before I push on to the entrance gate.
That a member of the male species can be so beautiful is one thought that has never crossed my mind. We are talking about the feathered kind, of course.
But that is before my encounter with a male peacock dragging its gorgeously coloured feathers behind him as he sashays down the footpath. That’s the unique thing about this bird park – the birds here roam about freely and often walk alongside visitors.
I stare at the peacock intensely, hoping it will open up its magnificent tail for me to admire. The bird, however, does not oblige and seems to prefer sitting quietly in a corner than being photographed.
Fifteen minutes later, the sound of the peacock’s cry rings clearly through the 20.9 acres that make up the park. There are some 2,000 species of birds living in the park.
Try not to miss the daily show at 3pm as you get to enjoy light entertainment provided by parrots, eagles and cockatoos. Of particular interest to students and those interested in the life cycle of birds, is the information centre. Among other things, it offers details on the different types of eggs and how you can differentiate one from the other.
3,200 Steps
KL Orchid Park & Hibiscus Garden
Outside the entrance to the bird park, a sign for KL Orchid Park (Tel: 03-2617 6000) across the road catches my eyes. I stop briefly at an empty ticket counter at the end of a flight of circular steps and am puzzled until I realise that there’s no entrance fee.
At the top of the hill (after taking 110 steps), the first things that catch my attention are trellises full of green plants providing shade for pergolas. Actually, the whole walkway leading to the orchids is quite shady.
The Orchid Park is beautiful and there are some 3,000 varieties of the flower here. It’s amazing to see these fragile looking flowers bend as strong winds sweep over the area. Even better, come in the early morning when the flowers are wet with morning dew.
The Orchid Park is a misnomer because it also houses the Hibiscus Garden, which has over 2,000 kinds of hibiscus plants. To see the national flower in full bloom, just walk a little further from the row of stalls selling orchids.
4,347 Steps
National Museum
To my surprise, I learn that I can actually walk to Muzium Negara (National Museum, http://www.muziumnegara.gov.my) in Jalan Damansara from Lake Gardens. It is also accessible from Jalan Bangsar.
From Orchid Park & Hibiscus Garden, I pass by the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial (381 steps) and the guardhouse for the National Planetarium & Space Agency (266 steps from the memorial) to get to the National Museum (500 steps). If you have the time, step into the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial to learn more about our second prime minister and the Planetarium to see how far the country has come in the space industry. But I’m giving these two places a miss this time.
As I walk, I take in the quietness of the area, broken only by the clip-clopping of horses circling the area. Guards frequently patrol the Lake Gardens area on horseback. From the main route, I take a side path to get to a bridge located just before the National Museum. Tiny yellow leaves line the tarred single-lane road that also leads to the parking area at the Planetarium. A few steps down and I am on the bridge, making my way across to the museum, above the buzzing highway.
Worth The Walk
The 200-year-old Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur is certainly a surprise to behold, especially considering the many treasures that lie hidden within its vast grounds.
Perhaps the most treasured gems are the matured trees that extend their branches to create a veil that shelters all that pass through from the hot sun. Except for the tropical heat, walking on the muted terracotta tiles in parts of the gardens makes it almost seem like you’re on holiday in a European city. All in, I spent a whole afternoon enjoying the few limited sights within the Lake Gardens and for as far as my legs could take me.
Apart from the different parks mentioned here, there’s the National Monument, the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, the Deer Park and the Asean Sculpture Garden. You’d need to spend a whole day or two to do the place justice.
There are several paths for those interested in exercising. On my trek, I come across a few runners pounding the pavement furiously. And why not? The air is cool here, thanks to the large lake in this green oasis in the city.
Source: NST Online
