My Dream Asian Destination - Kuala Lampur

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” ― Rumi

Yes, I believe in the quote, and so I go to travel in new places, whenever I can manage some times, to boost and discover love in my life! When I can’t go for new excursion and life becomes so boring, I read and search Internet about the places where I want to go. A place, about which I love to read most is Kuala Lampur. I determine that Kuala Lampur would be my next destination, whenever I will make my mind to move. Let me allow sharing my plans and wishes with you.

About Kuala Lumpur:

The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a clean, safe, top modern cosmopolitan city that has not forgotten it´s old heritage. Geographically, Malaysia is almost as diverse as its culture. 11 states and 2 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) form Peninsular Malaysia which is separated by the South China Sea from East Malaysia which includes the 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) and a third federal territory, the island of Labuan.

The City of Kuala Lumpur, popularly named K L, has the last decade become one of the most vital cities in Asia.  Kuala Lumpur is an ethnically diverse city with well-educated, multicultural, multilingual inhabitants. Even if the official language is Bahasa Malay, most people speak good English. It has flourishing economy and the vitality of expanding cities. K L is not only a financial centre in the Far East, but also a unique city for tourism that offers first class attractions, entertainment and shopping facilities. A world class capital with all facilities you can expect! 

What I want to do there:

There is so much to experience in Kuala Lumpur, this city with a magical blend of East and West! There is never a lack of things to do; you find always something that can satisfy your needs from morning to dawn.
Let´s start with sightseeing. You will find some of the most magnificent modern buildings in the world, Petronas Twin Towers and Menara Tower. Add the historical places as Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Merdeka Square and the Masjid Jame Mosque, museums and the Orchid Garden, just to mention a few, and you will find a city with attractions for every taste!
If you like culture, why not visit Dewan Filharmonik Petronas DFP - Home of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. An orchestra with 105 musicians from 21 countries that receive. Standing ovations and rave reviews more or less at every performance. All music is culture so you can find everything from Irish folk music to soul spots in KL.
If you prefer golf you will find nine golf courses in and around the city. Football (soccer) is a very popular

sport together with badminton. Every year is also the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon arranged. And Formula I was arranged this year in the city.

And most attraction (for a woman), KL is a haven for shoppers with plenty of malls and stores. The city is literally cramped with malls that cater to all kinds of shoppers.

The places where I want to go in KL:

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”  ― Lao Tzu

It’s really true but, not appropriate for Kuala Lampur! It offers a wide range of activities to the visitor from shopping, dining, cultural exposure and craft making as well as nature trips. I have made a list of the Top 10 the best places In Kuala Lampur to experience the Malaysian culture and discover the city.

1. Petronas Twin Towers

The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world and one of the top places to visit in Kuala Lumpur. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, it contains a complex of office buildings, conference halls, an upmarket shopping complex and a sprawling park.
The Towers' entrance lobbies are a showcase of Malaysia's cultural heritage with contemporary Malaysian motifs adapted from traditional handicrafts and timber carvings. The floor design has been laid in a popular 'mengkuang' weave mat design.
A 58.4 meter sky bridge at levels 41 and 42 links the two towers. The unique double-deck sky bridge stands 170 meters above street level with its arch support forming a symbolic gateway to the city centre. The sky bridge is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday and is one of the top places to visit in Kuala Lumpur to get an aerial view of KL.

After visiting the Twin Towers, Suria KLCC would obviously be the next stop. It is Kuala Lumpur's premier shopping destination and part of the complex housing the Twin Towers. With 6 levels of retail outlets it is a shopper's paradise from fashion, entertainment, arts & culture to local delicacies and international gourmets and one of the top places to visit in Kuala Lumpur for shopping.

A popular tourist destination at Suria KLCC is the Aquaria, a giant aquarium which is both an educational as well as an entertaining excursion for adults and children.

2.The Forest Research Institute 

 

 

 

The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia or FRIM is a must for all nature lovers. It is the best place to visit in Kuala Lumpur to appreciate the rain forest. Located just 16 km from the city, this1528 hectares of forest contain a wealth of flora and fauna. One of the things to do in the city is to take a walk on the canopy walkway which is suspended 30 m from the ground and is over 200 m long. You will enjoy a breath-taking view of the city and its greeneries.

3. Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur

 
Petaling Street, the centre of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown, maintains much of its traditional atmosphere, particularly at night when vendors fan out their merchandise along the street. It is one of the top places to visit in KL. At night the streets are turned to pedestrian walkways where you will find all sorts of bargains. Even if you don't buy anything, the stalls themselves are great tourist attractions. You also get the opportunity to taste some Malaysian street food.  Also cheap souvenirs and local Chinese food are aplenty.
 

At the end of Petaling Street, you can further explore the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple which dates back to 1906. The interior of this building features open courtyard pavilions, intricate carvings and paintings. Further down from Petaling Street, there is the South Indian Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. This temple is situated at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee which is within walking distance from Chinatown. Built in 1873, the temple is said to be the most ornate and elaborate Hindu temple in the country. 

4. Batu Caves 

 

 

One of the places to visit in Kuala Lumpur  would be the Batu Caves. It is located just 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. It is a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temples. The limestone around the caves is said to be around 400 million years old. 

Batu Caves is a sacred place of worship for the Hindus. Rising almost 100m above the ground Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest cave is called the temple cave and has a 100m high ceiling. The Hindus make an annual pilgrimage to the caves around January climbing 272 rock stairs to reach the main cave to pay homage to their deity Lord Murugan at a festival called Thaipusam. Standing at 42.7 meters it is the world's largest statue of Lord Murugan.

5. King´s Palace  

Surrounded by a beautiful park, green lawns and ponds; the King´s Palace, Istana Negara, is the official residence of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, a Malay title usually translated as "Supreme Head”. You can watch the Palace from outside the main gate where the Royal Guards, dressed in white Malay as well as red British inspired uniforms, are guarding the main gate on horse and on foot.

6. National Mosque 

 

 

Masjid Negara, The National Mosque is a uniquely designed building that embodies a contemporary expression of traditional Islamic art. Its design is based upon the Grand Mosque in Mecca with 48 small domes and the main dome has the character of a multi-fold “semi-opened blue umbrella” that is the roof which symbolizes the 5 pillars of Islam and the 13 states of Malaysia. The 73 meter tall minaret has the shape of a “closed blue umbrella”. 

 

7. KL Bird Park 

 

 

The KL Bird park is the place to visit in Kuala Lumpur for those who love to see birds in its natural habitat. Located 10mins from the city center. It is home to more than 2000 birds. It is divided into 4 zones - Zone 1 and 2 are the free-flight zones while Zone 3 is the Hornbill Park and Zone 4 has birds in cages and mini aviaries.

See a wide variety of birds from parrots, flamingoes, owls, horn bills, etc in a natural environment and the beautiful peacock with its 5 feet colorful train. It is also home to the Crowned Pigeon, the largest pigeon species in the world with a body as large as a turkey. You can also observe storks in their nesting colonies.

The Hornbill Park showcases the Malaysian rainforest with its lush evergreen trees some as tall as a 10-storey building. It is home to the Rhinoceros Hornbill, one of the largest Hornbill species in the world.

8. National Museum 

 

The Malaysia National Museum, a popular place to visit in Kuala Lumpur is built in the style of an old Malay palace. The facade looks magnificent with two enormous and beautiful murals. One mural depicts Malaysian history from the Melaka Sultanate while the other mural depicts the culture and handicrafts of Malaysia.

The National Museum comprises of 4 main galleries. The Cultural Gallery exhibits costumes of the different cultural races of Malaysia; the Faces of Malaysia Gallery introduces visitors to different ethnic groups that live in Malaysia through photos and replicas; the Weapons, Music and Ceramic Gallery showcases the evolution of weapons from 35,000 to 2,500 years ago including the "keris", a weapon unique to the Malay culture with its distinctive wavy blade. Musical instruments of each culture are also different, each with its own unique sound and the way it is played.

9. KL Butterfly Park 

 

 

Just a short distance from the KL Bird Park, the Butterfly Park is home to more than 6000 butterflies of over 120 species. The park is the best place to visit in KL if you love butterflies as it is an imitation of the butterfly's natural habitat in the tropical rainforest. It includes more than 15,000 plants from 100 species. There is also a nursery and breeding area for the butterflies. The park has both preserved and live butterflies on display.

 

10. Cultural Craft Complex 

 

The cultural craft complex is styled like a Malay village and houses handicraft shops, art workshops and craft museum. It presents exclusive Malaysian handicrafts like silk kaftan, silk batik paintings, songket (brocade material), pottery, mengkuang products and pewterware.
Craft demonstrations and practical interactive sessions are held at the craft museum where visitors can try their hand at making batik, pewter, ceramic or wood carving.

The tips which I will must keep in my mind:

1. Make sure to do all the research on the internet. Plenty of information available on what do do in KL.  Ther vacation cost can be cheap or terribly expensive depending on the kind of research effort I put in.
2. Decide upfront as to what I want to do in KL.
3. Try to find good deals on airfares. Air Asia,  World’s Best Online Travel Fair  is a wonderful low cost airline that flies into KL from the most popular international airports. 
   
4. If one is going to get in by Air like most people do, it will arrive at one of the terminals that is KUL airport, the LCCT (low cost carrier terminal) or at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) depending on the airline you fly. Only Air Asia,  World’s Best Online Travel Fair and a handful of other low-cost-carriers operate through LCCT.
5. I must will make sure about get a good hotel deal book well in advance.

Well, I don’t know, when I will get the chance, but sure, it will be an unforgettable tour I ever travel in my life! 

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― Augustine of Hippo.

This post is written for the Dream Asian Destination Bloggers Contest organized by Air Asia in association with Ripple Links and Women's Web


Image Courtesy: https://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&noj=1&tbm=isch&sa

An Immune India

“It's the children the world almost breaks who grow up to save it.” ― Frank Warren

Every child in the World is important for a better World.  As a plant speaks the name of the tree, a kid shows how the Nation is; what’s the future of the country! So, we have to give our children a healthy environment; not only enough food, wears, school; but also healthy mind, fresh thinking and most important, natural  immunity system that makes a child strong to fight against enemy of health as well as Nation.

India is home to the largest number of children in the world, significantly larger than the number in China. Also, India contributes to more than 20 per cent of the child deaths in the world. In many states of India, children are suffered with Mal-nutrition, anemia, low BMI etc. Only four diseases – respiratory infections, diarrhea diseases, other infectious and parasitic diseases and malaria – account for about half of under-five deaths in India. Many of the factors are strongly correlated with low birth weight and thus with unfavorable outcomes for the mother (increased risk of maternal deaths) and the neonate. This highlights the need to have focused interventions for improving maternal nutrition. So, to make a child stronger, the possess must be started from the mother’s womb.

Breast-feed the child:

Breast milk contains immunity-enhancing antibodies and white blood cells. Nursing guards against ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary-tract infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. Studies show that it may also enhance your baby's brain power and help protect her against insulin-dependent diabetes, colitis, and certain forms of cancer later in life. Colostrums, the thin yellow "premilk" that flows from the breasts during the first few days after birth, is especially rich in disease-fighting antibodies. Give breast-feed to the child for at least the first two to three months in order to supplement the immunity your baby received in uterus.

Guard against germ spread: 


Fighting germs doesn't technically boost immunity, but it's a great way to reduce stress on a child's immune system. Make sure kids wash their hands often with soap. We should pay particular attention to their hygiene before and after each meal and after playing outside, handling pets, blowing their nose, using the bathroom, and arriving home from day care. When the time to out, carry disposable wipes for quick cleanups. To help kids get into the hand-washing habit at home, let them pick out their own brightly colored hand towels and soap in fun shapes, colors, and scents.

Exercise as a family:  

Regular activity can benefit kids. To get children into a lifelong fitness habit, exercise with them. Let them play in the dirt; dirt makes them grow. Exposure to dirt and other microbes make our immune systems stronger.

Serve more fruits and vegetables:

Foods that boost the body's immune system can offer a lot of healthy options for those who wish to be more conscious in what they take in. To be sustained, the immune system heavily depends on the stomach for support. Malnourished individuals are more susceptible to disease as opposed to those who observe a healthy nutritious diet. Be sure they are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables which are fresh and good quality.  Carrots, green beans, oranges, strawberries- they all contain such immunity-boosting phytonutrients as vitamin C and carotenoids. Phytonutrients may increase the body's production of infection-fighting white blood cells and interferon, an antibody that coats cell surfaces, blocking out viruses. Studies show that a diet rich in phytonutrients can also protect against such chronic diseases as cancer and heart disease in adulthood. Try to get your child to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day.

Boost sleep time.  
  
"If your child can't or won't take naps during the day, try to put her to bed earlier," Dr. Kemper.

Studies of adults show that sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to illness by reducing natural killer cells, immune-system weapons that attack microbes and cancer cells. The same holds true for children. Children in day care are particularly at risk for sleep deprivation because all the activity can make it difficult for them to nap. A newborn may need up to 18 hours of cribtime a day, toddlers require 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours. 

Make strong immunity system with herbs: 

Avoid overusing antibiotics unless necessary- compromise gut health, our gut makes up 70% of our immune system. Of the many systems working within the human body, the immune system is an excellent example of complex efficiency. A network of participating cells and organs, it synchronizes its responses when defending the body from infection and disease. The Immune System is the body's defence mechanism to handle invaders. It is an amazing work of nature. It does a very good job of fighting off illnesses and infections when it is in good condition. Ayurveda was well knowned in ancient India. For many critical dieses, Ayurveda is continued in modern days too. One can use for their child, holy basil, garlic, Ginger; which help to enhance your natural defense power. These natural herbs and spices can also boost your child's immunity. If the herbs are not available, you can purchase Ayurvedik products like Dabur Chyawanprash, not anti-biotics.

However, the simple thing to remember is that if you make things easy for your body, it will be able to cope well and reward you with good health. If you keep putting too much strain on the body in terms of bad diet, no exercise or lack of sleep, anti-biotic it will eventually suffer. You may not notice this negative effect immediately, but instead only when something harsh occurs. Don't let things get this far.

Lastly, the main thing is awareness. We must have to aware about strong health and immunity of children and take an oath to build a stronger, healthier and a more immune India.

“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.”  ― Carl Sandburg

This is written for the http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=92 contest conducted by www.daburchyawanprash.com