Welcome to my Kuala Lumpur

This is my way of sharing my discoveries, re-discoveries, memories & experiences

as well as other bits & pieces of information I have of

growing up in Kuala Lumpur.

Your comments & suggestions to make this blog your reference to all things KL would be very much appreciated.

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

It's been quite awhile since I went on my walk-abouts around KL to share my stories here.  The other day I had to send my car for service and had some time on my hands waiting for it to be ready. So I made my way to Chow Kit and started to walk along Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz.
This used to be Princess Road, later renamed Jalan Raja Muda before it's present name to commemorate HH the Late Sultan of Selangor when he was crown prince.
Universiti Utara Malaysia or the Northern University of Malaysia, one of our public universities, has it's main campus in a little town called Sintok in the northern state of Kedah.
Before this building was erected at this site, there used to be a Pakistani food stall selling chapatis and an open-air badminton court with little wooden building attached where many taxi drivers used to meet.  I also remember seeing many of the artistes of yesteryears like SM Salim, Mak Enon and others, whose names I cannot recall, in that area.
This is an old building belonging to a co-operative (notice that many of the alphabets naming the building has fallen off).  It has always had a Malay restaurant operating here.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia or the National University of Malaysia also still maintains a campus here.
When UKM started their medical faculty, HKL, or the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital then, was their training facility.  They have since moved to Cheras at the site where the former Lady Templer Hospital used to be.  The new hospital there is the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia or HUKM for short.
As the area is also within the HKL (Kuala Lumpur Hospital) area, the Pediatrics Institute of HKL is also along this road.
This is the Jalan Raja Muda Stadium, formerly known as the TPCA Stadium before it was acquired by the Government in the early 1980s.
The Tamilian's Physical Cultural Association or TPCA was founded in 1914 by a group of Tamil government servants.  For more information visit their website here.
The food court next to the stadium is very popular.  Parking is limited and double parking is common.  So if you visit here and find yourself unable to move out, just be patient, or blast your horn ;-).
 
The National Cancer Society, Malaysia is located along Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz.
This is not the same as MAKNA, Majlis Kanser Nasional or National Cancer Council.  I mention this because I was previously under the impression that NCSM and MAKNA were the English and Malay acronym of the same organization.
For information on NCSM, click here.  For information on MAKNA, click here.
Medicine has come a long way since Avicenna (Ibn Sina).
Sungai Bunus cuts across Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz.
At this point, the river looks just like a monsoon drain.
There still are a few such houses still standing along this road.
NAZA, a local conglomerate, has a strong presence along Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz...
... as do other automobile dealers, of both local and foreign makes.
Some of the alternate medicine practitioners of Kampong Baru can be found here. 





Thursday, October 21, 2010

Hadramawt

The other day, some of my colleagues gave me a lunch treat.  As I do like lamb, they decided that middle eastern fare would be the best option.
So we headed for Hadramawt in Chulan Square.  The restaurant claims to be the first Yemeni restaurant in Malaysia.
Hadramawt (or Hadramaut) refers to the region at the south of the Arabian peninsular including Yemen.
There are pictures of Yemen on the wall.
There is ample dining area on the ground level...

...but they also have dining upstairs...
... including an open area where smoking is allowed.
This was not our first time here, and knowing the size of the portions they serve in relation to our appetites, we were economical in our orders.
The food and ambiance are excellent.  You can log on here to find out more.
The place is cozy enough for two, but if you want to savor the variety on offer, do get a big enough group to dine there.





Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Klang Gates Dam Recreational Park

When going mountain hiking or jungle trekking, a good pair of hiking/trekking shoes is very important.  I choose to wear a pair, which I have not used in years, for my hike up Bukit Tabur.  As you can guess, the sole decided to divorce itself from the rest of the shoe.  Fortunately for me this only happened when I had descended from the hill.  Before I walked to my car to change into my spare shoes, I noticed this sign.
A recreation park so close to home! Let me check out the place.  So after changing my shoes and with Eugene and Mike in tow, I entered what is the Klang Gates Recreation Park.
First we had to descend a long flight of stairs which has not been cleared in days.
At the foot of the stairs, we are greeted by a wide field with 2 make-shift goal posts, probably erected by the local boys.  The grass had been recently cut, but not completely, we can see the at the far end.
Another signboard greeted us as we got closer to the stream.
 
 
The place is unkempt and rubbish is disposed of irresponsibly -  a vast difference going up Bukit Tabur and going down to the Recreation Park.
A group of youth had gathered there to cool off on that hot afternoon.
 
 
 
 
Looking at the moss and lichen that colored the waters, I was wondering if the boys would be successful in their quest.
 
Just then another group of cyclists passed by that area.
 
They stopped to pose for me.
He had already crossed the stream, but he too wanted to be photographed.
Then they made their way across one by one.

And I was wondering if the boys would have their intention of cooling off fulfilled.  I needn't have wondered.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When kids wanna have fun, they'll make their own.  What do they care if it is safe or hygienic.