Dining in Kuala Lumpur

My meals in Kuala Lumpur consist principally of assortments of tasty and intriguing items on small plates.  My first dinner starts with steamed bread with sauce and nasi goreng (fried rice with soy sauce, shallot, garlic, tamarand, and chili, generally served with either egg, chicken, or prawns), followed by assorted small bites of fish, chicken, and beef.

Steamed bread with sauce, nasi goreng

Assorted small bites

Another dinner consists of small plates of beef, fish, and pork, with the fish steamed in leaves.

More small bites

Following a similar theme, I later have laksa (spicy noodle soup served with egg and chicken, prawns or fish) and pandan-leaf chicken (chicken steamed in a pandan leaf to give it an aromatic flavor)

Laksa and pandan-leaf chicken

Wandering through Kuala Lumpur, I see hawker stalls in all the markets serving these foods and people dining at tables scattered throughout market enjoying them.

 Hawker-stall dining

However, I don't find one of my favorites, roast duck, until I get back to Singapore where I catch my flight to San Francisco the next day.  I go to my favorite hawker stall and have a half duck to  complete the dining experiences for this trip.

Wrapping up the trip with 1/2 roast duck.

Markets in Kuala Lumpur: Central Market, Petaling Street

Kuala Lumpur's Central Market was founded in 1888 and is located near Little India and Chinatown in an Art Deco style building convenient to the main bus station and train station.

 Central Market

The market is organized in traditional stalls with sections for each of the main ethnic groups in Malaysia:  Malay, Chinese, and Indian, with a food court on the second floor serving meals made from the ingredients below.

 Central Market

Second floor food court

A few blocks away from Central Market, Petaling Street is located in Chinatown with its own collection of products, food stalls, and restaurants.

Petaling Street market

Petaling Street is covered to provide relief from the sun and rain and the vendors are principally Chinese, with some small representation from the other Malaysian ethnic groups.

 Petaling Street market

I hurry through the merchandise to the food and dining section, to see the food for sale and some of the Malaysian specialties cooked on site for consumption here, such as barbecued fish, asam laksa (spicy noodle soup), and curry noodles.

 Ingredients for sale

 Dining in

The markets in Kuala Lumpur are appealing, vibrant, and fun to stroll through and spend some time viewing the merger of the different cultures that make up this city and country.  And, of course, to watch the people out and about:  shopping, dining, meeting with friends and family.

National Monument and ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Kuala Lumpur

The National Monument of Malaysia is a short walk from Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, about 1.6 km (1 mile) to the east, across from the Botanical Gardens.  The monument is dedicated to warriors who died defending Malaysian sovereignty.

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden, established in 1987 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is located at the entrance to the National Monument.  The sculptures in the garden are from artists in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, and Brunei.  I wander through the tranquil grounds of the Sculpture Garden as I approach the National Monument, following the winding paths past the lakes, and streams.

 ASEAN Sculpture Garden grounds

Scattered throughout the garden are great works of public art constructed from many materials, including wood, glass, steel, marble, iron, and bamboo.

 Sculptures in the garden

At the back of the Sculpture Garden, steps lead up to the National Monument, which consists of five main components occupying 48,562 square meters (12 acres, 4.8 hectares):  the National Monument, fountains, a pavilion, a war memorial, and surrounding gardens.  In the monument, unveiled in 1966, seven bronze statues represent the triumph of the forces of democracy over the forces of evil. 

Nataional Monument

Pavilion

War memorial

The site of the National Monument has great views back toward the city and, along with the ASEAN Sculpture Garden, provides a quiet oasis for reflection.

 Views of the city

Quiet gardens

I enjoy the break from the busy city, but soon head back toward the Merdeka Square to continue my exploration.