Batu Cave, Birds and KL Tower

Batu Caves are about 30 minutes outside of the city and is a principal place of worship for Hindus in Kuala Lumpur ("KL"). A visit to this site involves climbing 272 steps along side a huge statue of Muruga, the Hindu patron deity of caves. The leg workout takes you to a huge mountain cave complex scattered with shrines...and graffiti...and souvenir stalls. We were taunted by monkeys who paused for a snack (or a pee) as we grunted and climbed.

We missed the festival of Thaipusam (Murgua's birthday) by 2 weeks and are glad we did. Apparently 1.3 million Hindus come to the cave to celebrate and to give thanks for answered prayers. The procession includes a huge number of worshipers carrying decorated spike cages that pierce their skin (kavadis); with milk pots (paal kudam) connected to their skin by hooks, or with other offerings dangling from their bodies by skewer piercings. Our taxi driver told us he dare not watch it...but suggested we come back for it next year!

We went from there to Lake Gardens which house several city parks. The Bird Park boasts the world's largest free-flight aviary and at 22 acres, I believe it. There were amazing birds flying through the jungle canopies- peacock, cassowary, ostrich, parrots, hornbills, you name it. The Orchid and Hibiscus Parks are across the street so we wandered over only to discover that, well, it is not orchid or hibiscus season. There were some in bloom (including the red hibiscus; Malaysia's national flower), but we could tell that these gardens would be bursting with color at another time of year. We ran out of money (we are NOT finding Malaysia to be low cost) before we made it to the Butterfly Park and learned that the free Deer Park (reported to have mouse deer-the worlds smallest hoofed mamals) was no longer there.

Ready for a change of pace we hopped a cab and went to KL Tower (like Seattle's space needle) for a view of the city. 420 m above the ground, its not the highest building but does afford a great 360 view...through some smog. Addi got a free pony ride and Jim got a free Formula 1 simulation ride with our ticket. We also got free admission into this freaky little "zoo" which had huge snakes and spiders, chipmunks and racoon's, albino rats, turtles and monkeys and a double headed turtle (for "double prosperity") Addi held a snake and I didn't like this place at all. It gave me the heeby-jeebies.

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