The Peak Of Kuala Lumpur

I've wanted to write about my one in a lifetime experience trip to the highest peak of Kuala Lumpur a while back now. Fortunately, my old photos at about 7 years now are still in good resolution. Those days the the digital camera is probably 1 or 2 megapixels. Nevertheless, here are the shots of our trip to the gondola level of KLCC Twin Towers.

 

Photo above showing massive gondola structure supporting the arm carrying the gondola bucket.

You may wonder how we actually gain access to the highest peak of the Petronas Twin Towers. Well, our firm happens to design an upcoming highrise commercial building then which requires a pretty good gondola system. So, maybe to cut the story short, the industry specialist in gondola system invited 4 representatives from our firm to view the existing one in KLCC. After much walking around the back of house (BOH) and through various checkpoints, one of which requires going through a magnetic scanner in the BOH, we were then allowed entry to the upper floors.

For a while I thought we must be going to some highly secured area of sorts. Eventually we reach the gondola level which was in fact higher than all the KLCC floors. The ex-Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad office was a mere 4 floors down below us.

The gondola arm extending out from the highest peak of KLCC.

It was rather interesting to know that the steel cladding can open around the gondola level at 360 degress and the gondola arm can operate at any facade of the windows all around. The opening sequence of the steel cladding was mesmerizing, kind of like we were transported into the fortress of the 'Dark Knight'. We were allowed to walk out the external perimeter deck of the gondola level. The cross wind was pretty strong and the steel deck are also vibrating. We can actually see thru these steel deck between 2 panels where a gap of 15 to 20mm is showing the earth below. Frankly, our legs were quite shaky standing on the perimeter open deck.

Gondola workers climbing into the bucket in a rather daredevil style.

I must admit although gondola level seems to be the highest peak but there is one last stop which we sort of regretted for not participating and that was the antenna section. The antenna reaches the clouds above at 451.9m (1,482.6ft) and with 88 floors below it, there is no other monument ihigher than this.The antenna seems to be accessible from within the gondola floor level. I manage to take the shot  below showing the structural support on the antenna of KLCC. It was some sort of a base plate support from the bottom.

Sadly, it was quite windy and hazy to take a wide shot over the city skyline of Kuala Lumpur. Here's the several other shots which I manage to take on this marvellous trip to the peak of KL. I hope those of us who knew KLCC will know now a bit further in terms of the cleaning mechanism which goes into cleaning of the facade of high rise buildings using gondola.

The Social, Culture & Its Heritage Underpinnings

 

 

I took this two photos while I'm on my way home from Kuala Lumpur on 15 November 2009, Sunday afternoon. I thought it was quite vibrant and perhaps hoping it may turn out to be a nice photo. While posting the photos here, I realise these days signages do use Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language) rather often than some previous years. I guess these are efforts by either the present government or initiatives by financial banking. Nevertheless, a main medium of instruction can in some ways promote the community or the society into uniformity of communication.

Today, a walk down the city of Kuala Lumpur, one will see multi cultural people ranging from malays, chinese, indians, indigenous and others. There is no doubt that our society has diversified in various sectors regardless of it's race or religion. However, there are still Jalan Chow Kit, Petaling Street and Jalan Masjid India where each of these streets are catered by vendors who are predominantly malays, chinese and indians. Any foreigner looking for sarees, textiles or a money changer can have a look at Jalan Masjid India or what they call as 'Little India'. If you need to see the largest wet market in Kuala Lumpur, there is no other than Bazaar Baru Chow Kit with selection of vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and crabs. For those of which who want some inexpensive dresses, sunglasses, shoes, fabrics and souvenirs, head on to the chinatown of Petaling Street.

In some ways despite having 3 different shopping havens, these streets were rather segregated from each other.  Sometimes, I'll go down to Petaling Street on a weekend but I find it rather small with half and hour walk, I'll probably finish seeing the whole area. I feel strongly that these 3 streets should be given a chance to be relocated to a central bazaar in Kuala Lumpur which is similar to some of the much well known markets like Chatuchak in Bangkok. This will surely be a major tourist attraction for foreighners and locals alike. In other words, a closer interaction among races will give a better chance for each of us to understand our culture and foster harmony. The government should in some ways lay the foundations and path underpinning the social, culture and heritage into a truly '1 Malaysia' rather than pure advertisements.

For the moment, here's some of the shots I took for our very own small Chinatown in Petaling Street.

 

 

 Finally, for those of us here who are participating BLOG4FT and also my readers, here's a wallpaper for your desktop. Cheers!