Malaysia: A Lesson in Badassness

Kuala Lumpur continued to surprise us every day we were there. From the delicious food to the amazing public parks, we were infatuated with the city. The day we experienced independence was no different.

It started off fairly the same as any other. We rolled out of bed (literally, I literally rolled off the bed and landed on the floor), got dressed, slathered on a ton of sunscreen and headed out the door.

Our first stop was Chinatown and the Central Market (Pasar Seni), a vast area of street food and vendor shops called Petaling Street. Chinatown was established during the early 20th century, at a time when Kuala Lumpur was a pioneer-type city and Malaysia saw a lot of Chinese immigrants. Most of them were poor, but believed in their abilities to succeed. It’s that kind of fiercely independent attitude that has created the current Chinatown, a place where it’s perfectly ok to haggle for bootlegged DVDs and five n’ dime t-shirts (among other cool gifts), while scoring some delicious Chinese food.

Chinatown’s Petaling Street Awesome little shops Central Market in Kuala Lumpur

Then there was the Old Market Square (Medan Pasar) and the Market Street Bridge, the place where Kuala Lumpur pretty much started. A long time ago, the area around the Old Market Square was a favorite for opium dens and gambling halls. While a few antiquated buildings still exist in the area, they are shadowed by tall, modern businesses.

Old Market Square

Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) literally means “independence.” It’s the place where Malaysia’s independence from foreign powers was symbolically recognized with the raising of the Malaysian flag on August 31, 1957. The flag is flown everyday from what may be the world’s tallest flagpole. Merdeka Square is a vast, open area juxtaposing old Kuala Lumpur with modern Kuala Lumpur, showing how their independence has reaped amazing rewards.

Dataran Merdeka That is one tall flagpole in Merdeka Square

Shortly after Merdeka Square, we visited the National Monument, a large statue depicting Malaysia’s independence from Japanese occupiers after World War II.

National Monument in Kuala Lumpur

Then there was the Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek). It was closed on the day we visited. Disappointment set in and there was nothing else to do to fill the void of a closed mosque, except to fill it with a gigantic, American-sized cold soda at a nearby Burger King.

Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur

Around the time that I was starting to pour the soda’s ice cubes down my shirt (because it’s hot in Malaysia!), we heard a sound that distinctly sounded like the 2010 FIFA World Cup games; the one with the obnoxiously never-ending vuvuzelas. An intense buzzing of horns and noise was coming from outside. The air inside and out became electrified with activity. There was a protest going on and we wanted to be a part of it…or at least stand awkwardly in the middle of it and post photos to Instragram.

A sea of red marched up to the steps of Maybank. There were thousands of unionized bank workers protesting the policies and politics of Maybank, hoping for change. Sometimes, the catalyst for change are thousands of people marching to the same beat. This was the day we experienced Malaysia’s independence, the day we got to see that Malaysia has a history of fighting for freedom and not backing down. Well, Malaysia, si se puede. Yes, yes you can.

They’re not going to take it anymore

Have you visited Malaysia? Tell us about it!

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