Malaysia's Cultural Galore

One of our best optional tours undertaken during our visit to Malaysia was the 'Night tour and Cultural Show'. An authentic experience and genuine alternative, the night tour that we availed at around Rs.1500 per person,gave a true feel of the country's culture.

The 3-4 hrs of bona fide Malaysian experience started at around 7 0'clock in the evening.Our first destination was downtown to the Old Hindu temple,Mahamariammam, which was erected in 1873, a typical display of refined South Indian architecture.

One can witness how prayers are offered to Hindu deities by the priests and even participate in it.A justly divine atmosphere created by the smell of the burning incense and fresh flowers that were offered to the deities by the devotees.

Our next stop was at the crowded streets of Old China Town which was getting ready for the night market with makeshift shops selling almost all kinds of products one can imagine. However,it is prudent not to indulge in binge shopping as most products which are tagged as branded are actually fake and may not endure long.

As our guide joked about the 3G T-shirt available in China town market.3G refers to three generations.Thus,if one bought a t-shirt from the China Town market and after wearing it just once ,washed it,it would shrink in size.It would no longer be able to be worn by you,but passed onto a younger one in the next generation.Again,when the new person washes it ,it further shrinks and has to be passed on to the third generation and hence it could not be worn anymore. In a nutshell,most of the China Town products are bogus and has little or no forbearance.

But,don't forget to try your bargaining skills in the Petaling Street, a fabulous option for the keen shopper that makes the marketplace come alive every night.

After strolling and haggling in the packed streets of China Town,it was time to relish some local Malaysian cuisines whilst enjoying an array of cultural performances at one of the traditional Malay restaurants. We were driven to the 'Saloma' restaurant (http://www.saloma.com.my/) where we were greeted by local dancers and the view of the glitzy Twin Towers at the backdrop of the restaurant created a tranquil atmosphere. Another traditonal option could be the Seri Melayu restaurant (http://www.serimelayu.com/).

A diverse range of local Malay buffet that included different types of starters and appetizers,salads,main course,sweets and desserts,awaited us. As we relished them, we were entertained by the indigenous dances that reflected potpourri of Malaysian culture. A unique experience was trying out the bamboo dance along with the local dancers on the stage at the end of the show.



Another preferred option could be dinner at the revolving restaurant at the Kuala Lumpur Tower from where one can see the bustling skyline of Kuala Lumpur.

A not to be missed option,the orientation night tour and cultural show of Malaysia, enlightens one to the varied and vivid lifestyles and cultural aspects of Malaysia which aptly makes it an imperative part of Asia.