KL – A City of Contrasts

Old worn out buildings with newer structures in the background

After my cooking class, I got back to the hostel at about 3 pm and decided to go for a little bit of a stroll through the local Chinatown and Little India.  This part of Kuala Lumpur is certainly a city of contrasts – old and new – clean and dirty – shiny and dull – etc… The population of KL is made up of Mayas, Indians and Chinese.  Of course other nationalities can be thrown in there given the colonization over history.  But for the most part, these are the more prominent ethnicities which is also mirrored in the cuisine, religions and clothing.

An Indian temple set between Chinatown and Little India

I visited both an Indian/Hindu (??) temple and a Buddhist temple.  What amazed me is how clean these places are kept in contrast to their communities and streets.  Why would that same value towards their temples not be placed on their own homes and locales.  I always find that a bit baffling.  Regardless, both temples were really interesting with their detailed characters adorning their structures.  I don’t know the meaning of any of them, but they are neat to look at.

I keep wanting to say this little piggy went to the market when I see this picture, yet it is clearly an elephant.

Detailing at the Buddhist Temple

I don’t know why it is, by temples aside, I find old dilapitaded buildings somewhat fascinating.  Maybe it is because I wonder what they looked like in the heyday when they were new, shiny and cared for, and I wonder what fate befell them to become so derelict.  I wonder who lived in them and what sort of life they had.  Perhaps the more dilapitaded they are, the more they speak to me of tragedy and violence.  Maybe not, but something about them is both eerie yet romantic.

Another derelict although I am unsure whether it is still being used.

What is interesting though are the number of building that look derelict to me but are actually still being lived in.  It could be the combination of buildings surviving in the constant tropical climate with its consistent heat and rainy seasons, it could be the turnover of non-caring governments, it could be colonization, who knows but the mould and other building wearing effects result in such interesting looking structures.

The run down building just across from my hostel