Stop thinking of Mersing as a gateway to islands in the South China Sea. The town has lots of attractions and adventures for the traveller.
Mersing is more than just the gateway to Johor's exotic, beautiful islands like Rawa, Sibu, Besar, Aur, Dayang and Pemanggil.
Nor it is just a sleepy fishing village where holidaymakers can rent fishing boats to go to the islands. Spend a little more time in the town and go a little further away from the jetty, the bus station or the usual kedai makan.
Mersing has lots of attractions--sunny beaches and dense rainforest--all along the Mersing-Endau trunk road. Beach lovers will have a tough time choosing between Tenglu (eight km north of Mersing), Teluk Buih (12km). Air Papan (14km) and Penyabong (45km).
Southwards is Tanjung Leman Beach,66km from Mersing. Dotting the beach are charming, family-run chalets near seafood restaurants and ikan bakar stalls.
Apart from the beaches, jungle lovers can explore the coastal forest at Gunung Arong Recreational Forest. The forest is ideal for outings and motivational camps as it offers facilities for such activities.
Like other towns in the east coast, Mersing is also known for its seafood products, fresh or dried. Few visitors ever leave the town without a supply of keropok lekor, fish crackers or dried fish.
Prepared by:
Abd Rahaman Rasid
abdrahaman@gmail.com
Source: Zalina Mohd Som, The New Straits Times, December 23, 2008
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Fascinating Putrajaya
Fascinating Putrajaya
By: Faridah Begum
The nation's administrative city has many attractions that make it a worthwhile place to visit.
1. PERDANA PUTRA
Inspired by former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Perdana Putra houses the Prime Minister's Department and overlooks the beautiful Putrajaya Lake. The structural design is strongly influenced by the Malay, Islamic and European cultures.
2. PUTRA MOSQUE
The Putra Mosque is the principal mosque of Putrajaya and is located next to Perdana Putra. There is a large square in front of the mosque that has flagpoles flying the Malaysian states' flags and is a stopover for the numerous of foreign guests who visit daily.
3. PUTRAJAYA INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
The Putrajaya Independence Square or Dataran Merdeka is a city square used or the national day parades and for festivals. It is located opposite the Perdana Putra.
4. Millennium Monument
This national monument is located in a 25ha park in Precint 2 of Putrajaya and was the first national monument to be built here. Built in the shape of the national flower - the hibiscus - it stands at 68m tall and is constructed of solid metal structures.
5. PUTRAJAYA WETLANDS PARK
Putrajaya Wetlands Park is believed to be the largest constructed freshwater wetlands in the tropics. It has a total area of 3.35 sq km and comprises the Wetlands Park, which is also a wildlife sanctuary which attracts a huge variety of animals to the combined terrestrial-aquatic wetland environment.
6. TAMAN SELATAN
Taman Selatan or Southern Park is a cemetery quite like the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, in the United States. It has 570 grave plots, of which 331 are reserves for Muslims, 94 for Buddhists, 55 for Christians, 61 for Hindus and the final 29 plots for those of other religions. Among the notables buried here are the current Prime Minister's late wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood and Petronas president Tan Sri Azizan Zainal Abidin.
7. MELAWATI PALACE
The Melawati Palace, also known as Istana Hinggap, is a retreat of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Located in Precint 1, Purtajaya, it was completed in 2002.
8. PUTRAJAYA LAKE
Located at the centre of this new and latest Federal Territory of Malaysia, it is a 650ha man-made lake that acts as a natural cooling system for the city and is also used for recreation, fishing, water sports and water transport. In September 2004, the F1 Powerboat Championship was held on this lake for the first time and in 2005, Putrajaya hosted the Asian Canoeing Championships.
9. ALAMANDA PUTRAJAYA
Alamanda Putrajaya is the first shopping centre built in Putrajaya and has French hypermarket giant, Carrefour, as an anchor tenant and 180 other tenants. The shopping centre has a variety of shops, restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theatres and a food court illuminated by natural lighting. The centre also features Malaysia' first travelator within a shopping complex that connects the retail outlets and provides access directly to car parks.
10. FOOD
All Malaysian food, even those peculiar to the individual states, can be found here especially in the food court adjacent to the Putrajaya Mosque and in the shopping centre, Alamanda Putrajaya.
Source: Sunday Metro, February 3, 2008
Photographers needed worldwide!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Peel Road
PEEL ROAD
By: David Koh
In the early days of Kuala Lumpur, Pudu was considered one of its boundaries. Jalan Cheras begins at this border and was part of the trunk road to Kajang and further south. (For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and search for Kuala Lumpur.)
Although some development took place here, as with the northern trunk roads, Jalan Batu and Jalan Ipoh, somehow it did not quite achieve the same heights of success. Many government staff quarters were located here and many remain to this day, around Jalan Cochrane and its vicinity.
There is also a heavy concentration of schools here, with no less than seven in the Jalan Peel-Cochrane area! SMK Cochrane was founded as far back as the year of our nation’s independence!
If that is any indication, it shows that this area is old. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic church was established here in 1960. Many of the features of this tiny pocket of Kuala Lumpur remain unchanged despite rapid development surrounding it.
Redevelopment efforts along Jalan Peel have so far yielded only Plaza 393, an integrated apartment and shopping mall, with the hypermarket Carrefour as its anchor tenant; and the Queen’s Park concept retail store next door.
ACTING PEEL
Peel Road was named after Sir William Peel, who was a British colonial administrator in Malaya. Surprisingly, Jalan Peel survived in the street-renaming frenzy that followed independence.
This area is surrounded by the Ampang River and Pudu’s “tai sui hum” on the north, and Kerayong River down south. These water forms flow in a southwest direction. Therefore, the ideal orientation for buildings here would be southwest.
DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION
Jalan Peel follows a roughly northwest-southeast direction, which is nearly perpendicular to the rivers. Thus, properties on one side of the road face downstream (good) and those on the other side face upstream (not so good).
Based on this observations, Carrefour is likely to do better if its main entrance were moved from its present northeast direction to southeast or south, where the apartments are located.
Queen’s Park located next door along Jalan Peel would also be likely to do better if it follows the flow of the river. In any case, individual outlets within the complex would also fare differently based on where their entrance are located.
ST JOHN AMBULANCE
Across the road behind the Shell petrol station, is the headquarters of St John Ambulance on Jalan Shelley. The St John Ambulance Association was established in Kuala Lumpur in 1908 by British civil servants and British army medical officers stationed here.
The main entrance of the headquarters faces southwest, which is ideal and may be a factor to its lasting success as a charitable organisation. However, it could do better if the building’s energy is reignited as energy tends to deplete over time in a cyclical pattern.
In other streets in this area, we can see the side that faces southwest seems to fare better than the northeast. The occupants of the former appear to prosper and spruce up their homes more than their neighbours across the road.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Sure, we will still find the occasional home or two on the “unconducive” side looking better with extensions and renovations. This could be because they are new occupants who just bought the property and making a new start.
The current occupant would have decided to have a makeover to improve his comfort or try and fetch a higher resale price. Or it could be someone trying to implement some geomantic remedies.
KERAYONG RIVER
The next best orientation for this area is southeast toward the Kerayong River. Since this is the nearest river, its impact on the vicinity would be greater. Nonetheless, by facing Kerayong, the buildings will have theirs backs turned to Ampang River. This normally means occupants of buildings here may experience mixed fortunes.
The Cheras District Police headquarters is located at the intersection of Jalan Peel and Jalan Cheras. It has a roughly southwest facing direction. That is quite a good direction.
As we proceed down Jalan Cheras, we come across Taman Maluri, most notable by its landmark, Jusco Maluri. This is a bustling complex that does fairly good business. This part of town is very near the Kerayong River, which runs between Taman Maluri and Taman Shamelin Perkasa.
HIGH TENSION
The Jusco building has two main entrances: one follows the river flow and the other faces the river. This could be a strong factor in favour of its continued success thus far. The only downsides we can see are the high-tension power cables and LRT line that run along the river.
High-tension cables emit a field of electromagnetism. Their impact on health has been hotly debated for years and the verdict is still out. Some quarters believe that they do cause health problems.
Thankfully, these are quite a distance away and the effects may be lessened somewhat. On the other hand, there could be long-term detrimental effects arising from these.
*Log on to www.star-space.com for more. You can also e-mail questions on feng shui and properties to annieo@thestar.com.my. This series appear courtesy of the Malaysia Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS)
Source: The Star, Friday, April 11, 2008
Photographers needed worldwide!
By: David Koh
In the early days of Kuala Lumpur, Pudu was considered one of its boundaries. Jalan Cheras begins at this border and was part of the trunk road to Kajang and further south. (For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and search for Kuala Lumpur.)
Although some development took place here, as with the northern trunk roads, Jalan Batu and Jalan Ipoh, somehow it did not quite achieve the same heights of success. Many government staff quarters were located here and many remain to this day, around Jalan Cochrane and its vicinity.
There is also a heavy concentration of schools here, with no less than seven in the Jalan Peel-Cochrane area! SMK Cochrane was founded as far back as the year of our nation’s independence!
If that is any indication, it shows that this area is old. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic church was established here in 1960. Many of the features of this tiny pocket of Kuala Lumpur remain unchanged despite rapid development surrounding it.
Redevelopment efforts along Jalan Peel have so far yielded only Plaza 393, an integrated apartment and shopping mall, with the hypermarket Carrefour as its anchor tenant; and the Queen’s Park concept retail store next door.
ACTING PEEL
Peel Road was named after Sir William Peel, who was a British colonial administrator in Malaya. Surprisingly, Jalan Peel survived in the street-renaming frenzy that followed independence.
This area is surrounded by the Ampang River and Pudu’s “tai sui hum” on the north, and Kerayong River down south. These water forms flow in a southwest direction. Therefore, the ideal orientation for buildings here would be southwest.
DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION
Jalan Peel follows a roughly northwest-southeast direction, which is nearly perpendicular to the rivers. Thus, properties on one side of the road face downstream (good) and those on the other side face upstream (not so good).
Based on this observations, Carrefour is likely to do better if its main entrance were moved from its present northeast direction to southeast or south, where the apartments are located.
Queen’s Park located next door along Jalan Peel would also be likely to do better if it follows the flow of the river. In any case, individual outlets within the complex would also fare differently based on where their entrance are located.
ST JOHN AMBULANCE
Across the road behind the Shell petrol station, is the headquarters of St John Ambulance on Jalan Shelley. The St John Ambulance Association was established in Kuala Lumpur in 1908 by British civil servants and British army medical officers stationed here.
The main entrance of the headquarters faces southwest, which is ideal and may be a factor to its lasting success as a charitable organisation. However, it could do better if the building’s energy is reignited as energy tends to deplete over time in a cyclical pattern.
In other streets in this area, we can see the side that faces southwest seems to fare better than the northeast. The occupants of the former appear to prosper and spruce up their homes more than their neighbours across the road.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Sure, we will still find the occasional home or two on the “unconducive” side looking better with extensions and renovations. This could be because they are new occupants who just bought the property and making a new start.
The current occupant would have decided to have a makeover to improve his comfort or try and fetch a higher resale price. Or it could be someone trying to implement some geomantic remedies.
KERAYONG RIVER
The next best orientation for this area is southeast toward the Kerayong River. Since this is the nearest river, its impact on the vicinity would be greater. Nonetheless, by facing Kerayong, the buildings will have theirs backs turned to Ampang River. This normally means occupants of buildings here may experience mixed fortunes.
The Cheras District Police headquarters is located at the intersection of Jalan Peel and Jalan Cheras. It has a roughly southwest facing direction. That is quite a good direction.
As we proceed down Jalan Cheras, we come across Taman Maluri, most notable by its landmark, Jusco Maluri. This is a bustling complex that does fairly good business. This part of town is very near the Kerayong River, which runs between Taman Maluri and Taman Shamelin Perkasa.
HIGH TENSION
The Jusco building has two main entrances: one follows the river flow and the other faces the river. This could be a strong factor in favour of its continued success thus far. The only downsides we can see are the high-tension power cables and LRT line that run along the river.
High-tension cables emit a field of electromagnetism. Their impact on health has been hotly debated for years and the verdict is still out. Some quarters believe that they do cause health problems.
Thankfully, these are quite a distance away and the effects may be lessened somewhat. On the other hand, there could be long-term detrimental effects arising from these.
*Log on to www.star-space.com for more. You can also e-mail questions on feng shui and properties to annieo@thestar.com.my. This series appear courtesy of the Malaysia Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS)
Source: The Star, Friday, April 11, 2008
Photographers needed worldwide!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Best of Kuala Kangsar
Best of Kuala Kangsar
By: William Thaddaeus
Kuala Kangsar-there is just so much history and beautiful sights to take in here. It is recorded in history that Kuala Kangsar is the oldest district in Perak with a rich legacy of 150 years that dates back to the time of the Malay Sultanate in the Seventh Century.
The focus in this royal town of Perak is Bukit Chandan where several royal palaces and museums are located. Then there are many old heritage buildings and institutions like the Malay College and Clifford School, both of which are over 100 years old as well as several other heritage type buildings spread across the town.
Kuala Kangsar itself sits squarely on the Sungai Perak and the locals like to gather here to take in the lovely vistas or to simply go fishing. There is a souvenir and handicrafts centre at Arena Square where traders not only sell local handicraft but also products from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and other neighbouring countries.
As for food, you will be spoilt for choice-Malay, Indian, Chinese and lost more-and all are so reasonably priced too. A banana leaf curry meal with your choice of meat or fish is only RM3.50 and any Chinese noodle dish hovers around RM2.50. I would say food prices here are about 40 per cent lower than that in large cities.
The real charms of this town, however, are not so easily experienced by the casual visitor because they are hidden away in quiet nooks and corners. You will need to spend more time and use local contacts to discover them. Here are some pointers.
Colourful Village Life
To start which, there is a village built during the communist emergency period called Kampung Station. This village is a cluster of a few hundred houses, mostly wooden and predominantly occupied by the Chinese and Indians. Here, locals come to buy fresh vegetables, eggs, cow’s milk and free range chickens. The villagers are mainly farmers or tradesmen and they live simple but active lives.
There are also many Chinese temples here and if you come at the right time, you can witness the many cultural activities and festivals, very much in the way of old Chinese traditions and all are welcome to join in their sumptuous feast without any invitation.
The village is also dotted with several eateries by the roadside and there are also many restaurants set within the locals’ homes. The village bakery is a must-stop and its specialty is the high quality bread rusks.
When it comes to cultural and religious events, including funerals, many parts of KK come alive. This is what makes the place so special, be it when the people are celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesa, the midsummer harvest festival or other festivals. Street processions with police escort are very common here and school bands are often hired to add colour to the events.
Plenty Of Fresh Air
Villages and events aside, what really makes KK so special is the abundance of Nature and fresh air. The town is backed by the imposing Main Range with puffs of clouds resembling sheep grazing in the air! Mornings are fog-filled and air is crisp and cool.
The best way to experience this is to take a stroll up Bukit Chandan. Here, you can enjoy views of the beautiful Sungai Perak, walk under the shade of centuries-old trees and take in the breathtaking sight of the surrounding mountains.
This is also a bird watcher’s paradise as regular “visitor” here include magpies, bulbuls, kingfishers and green pigeons.
A family of about 10 hornbills also make regular visits to feast on fruit. Sometimes, they can be seen perched on structures within the town itself.
Other Attractions
In and around KK are many other interesting places, including Tasik Raban, a lake laden with prized freshwater fish like berlidah, toman, kaloi and lampan.
Tasik Raban Resort sits on this lake and Lenggong Resthouse is only a stone’s throw away. The waterfalls Perahu and Kekabu, located 44.8km away on the road to Grik, are also worth a visit. These amazingly pristine waterfalls are located in thick jungle with treks that are well maintained by the local authorities. If you plan to scale right to the top, do watch out for leeches because the sprays from the waterfalls encourage these blood-sucking creatures to breed. Swim in the lower reaches where you will be safer from leech attacks!
Another attraction is Ulu Kenas a recreational park on the road to Parit/Manong and 16km from KK, with beautiful streams and a camping site.
How To Get There
KK is about 50km to the north of Ipoh, the State of capital of Perak. All major cities and towns in the peninsula are connected by roads or highways with Ipoh from where it is easy to reach KK.
Use the North-South Expressway and exit at the KK toll plaza. Follow signboards to get into town. It takes about three hours' drive to reach KK from Kuala Lumpur.
Where To Stay
There is the government rest house and the Sg. Perak Safari Resort, both managed by the local town council, as well as several other hotels but the Double Lion might be your best choice because it has been run for three generations by the very experienced Leong family. The hotel display many colonial artifacts and antiquities and it has a bakery that adds to a refreshing ambience.
For reservations, call Kuala Lumpur Resthouse (05-776 4262), Double Lion Hotel (05-776 8010) Sg Perak Safari Resort (05-777 2020), Tasek Raban Resort (05-751 2799) or Lenggong Resthouse (05-7677 2077)
Source: The New Straits Times, Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Photographers needed worldwide!
By: William Thaddaeus
Kuala Kangsar-there is just so much history and beautiful sights to take in here. It is recorded in history that Kuala Kangsar is the oldest district in Perak with a rich legacy of 150 years that dates back to the time of the Malay Sultanate in the Seventh Century.The focus in this royal town of Perak is Bukit Chandan where several royal palaces and museums are located. Then there are many old heritage buildings and institutions like the Malay College and Clifford School, both of which are over 100 years old as well as several other heritage type buildings spread across the town.
Kuala Kangsar itself sits squarely on the Sungai Perak and the locals like to gather here to take in the lovely vistas or to simply go fishing. There is a souvenir and handicrafts centre at Arena Square where traders not only sell local handicraft but also products from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and other neighbouring countries.
As for food, you will be spoilt for choice-Malay, Indian, Chinese and lost more-and all are so reasonably priced too. A banana leaf curry meal with your choice of meat or fish is only RM3.50 and any Chinese noodle dish hovers around RM2.50. I would say food prices here are about 40 per cent lower than that in large cities.
The real charms of this town, however, are not so easily experienced by the casual visitor because they are hidden away in quiet nooks and corners. You will need to spend more time and use local contacts to discover them. Here are some pointers.Colourful Village Life
To start which, there is a village built during the communist emergency period called Kampung Station. This village is a cluster of a few hundred houses, mostly wooden and predominantly occupied by the Chinese and Indians. Here, locals come to buy fresh vegetables, eggs, cow’s milk and free range chickens. The villagers are mainly farmers or tradesmen and they live simple but active lives.
There are also many Chinese temples here and if you come at the right time, you can witness the many cultural activities and festivals, very much in the way of old Chinese traditions and all are welcome to join in their sumptuous feast without any invitation.
The village is also dotted with several eateries by the roadside and there are also many restaurants set within the locals’ homes. The village bakery is a must-stop and its specialty is the high quality bread rusks.
When it comes to cultural and religious events, including funerals, many parts of KK come alive. This is what makes the place so special, be it when the people are celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesa, the midsummer harvest festival or other festivals. Street processions with police escort are very common here and school bands are often hired to add colour to the events.
Plenty Of Fresh Air
Villages and events aside, what really makes KK so special is the abundance of Nature and fresh air. The town is backed by the imposing Main Range with puffs of clouds resembling sheep grazing in the air! Mornings are fog-filled and air is crisp and cool.
The best way to experience this is to take a stroll up Bukit Chandan. Here, you can enjoy views of the beautiful Sungai Perak, walk under the shade of centuries-old trees and take in the breathtaking sight of the surrounding mountains.
This is also a bird watcher’s paradise as regular “visitor” here include magpies, bulbuls, kingfishers and green pigeons.A family of about 10 hornbills also make regular visits to feast on fruit. Sometimes, they can be seen perched on structures within the town itself.
Other Attractions
In and around KK are many other interesting places, including Tasik Raban, a lake laden with prized freshwater fish like berlidah, toman, kaloi and lampan.
Tasik Raban Resort sits on this lake and Lenggong Resthouse is only a stone’s throw away. The waterfalls Perahu and Kekabu, located 44.8km away on the road to Grik, are also worth a visit. These amazingly pristine waterfalls are located in thick jungle with treks that are well maintained by the local authorities. If you plan to scale right to the top, do watch out for leeches because the sprays from the waterfalls encourage these blood-sucking creatures to breed. Swim in the lower reaches where you will be safer from leech attacks!
Another attraction is Ulu Kenas a recreational park on the road to Parit/Manong and 16km from KK, with beautiful streams and a camping site.
How To Get There
KK is about 50km to the north of Ipoh, the State of capital of Perak. All major cities and towns in the peninsula are connected by roads or highways with Ipoh from where it is easy to reach KK.
Use the North-South Expressway and exit at the KK toll plaza. Follow signboards to get into town. It takes about three hours' drive to reach KK from Kuala Lumpur.
Where To Stay
There is the government rest house and the Sg. Perak Safari Resort, both managed by the local town council, as well as several other hotels but the Double Lion might be your best choice because it has been run for three generations by the very experienced Leong family. The hotel display many colonial artifacts and antiquities and it has a bakery that adds to a refreshing ambience.
For reservations, call Kuala Lumpur Resthouse (05-776 4262), Double Lion Hotel (05-776 8010) Sg Perak Safari Resort (05-777 2020), Tasek Raban Resort (05-751 2799) or Lenggong Resthouse (05-7677 2077)
Source: The New Straits Times, Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Photographers needed worldwide!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square
By: David Koh
DATARAN Merdeka has been a focal point for many events. This was the historic site where the Union Jack flag was lowered and the Malayan flag first hoisted at midnight on August 31, 1957, our Independence Day.
This was originally the cricket green and rugby field belonging to the Selangor Club, now called Royal Selangor Club. The field was reclaimed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 1987 and developed into an underground shopping mall-cum-car park, with a new field laid on top of it. Plaza Putra, as it is called, is also the site from which a 100-metre high flagpole rises.
Dataran Merdeka is also known for the distinctive and icononic Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad.(For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/and search for Kuala Lumpur).
SUPREME COURTS
After Independence, the building became the site for the Federal Court and Court of Appeals, Both courts have since been relocated to Putrajaya.
The building’s clock tower was used for the countdown to usher in every New Year. Dataran Merdeka attracts a large number of tourists each day. This historic venue is located between the hills of Lake Gardens and the Gombak River. In fact, just behind the courts, there is the famous muddy confluence that gives Kuala Lumpur its name.
RIVER’S EMBRACE
Dataran Merdeka happens to be located in an embracing concave of the Gombak River as it bends twice before joining Klang River. This is where gentle homogenous energy collects and attracts people. Further north, St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral is located at the convex of the river.
Properties located in the concave side ought to do well, provided their orientation is correct. This would be eastward to face the river or southward to follow the river flow. Those facing westward away from the river would struggle in business while north-facing buildings that go against the river flow would find its occupants experiencing mental problems.
Jalan Raja used to encircle Dataran Merdeka anf the Royal Selangor Club. However, part of the road is now sealed off and turned into a pedestrian walkway.
UNDERGROUND
Plaza Putra is an underground shopping complex-cum-car park. It has two entrances that face west and south. The south entrance is quite good as it follows the river flow. However, the west entrance is not as conducive because it faces the hills and puts the building’s rear to the river.
I am not in favour of underground buildings. Hollow spaces in the ground disrupt the flow of earth energy. Energy simply is blocked when it encounters the blank space.
Despite Plaza Putra’s uniqueness, Dataran Merdeka’s popularity with tourists and proximity to the business district, I fear it is not likely to do well.
The Royal Selangor Club, which used the Dataran Merdeka’s field for cricket, was and still is an exclusive club. This old Tudor-style building has two entrances but neither of them is ideal.
Next to the club is St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral. Its entrance faces south which follows the flow of the river. The church is also located on the outer convex of the river.
Let us take a little detour across Jalan Kinabalu, where we find Bank Negara. The entire central bank complex runs parallel to the Gombak River. The main entrance faces south and follows the flow of the river. This is a good configuration.
What keeps the central bank-and the nation’s fiscal health – going? The internal entrance from the car park into the building, I believe, also happens to face south. If it faced north, I would fear for our nation’s monetary future. An entrance that runs against the river flow would create problems.
Nearby, we find Bank Rakyat. Its entrance used to be at the back, facing the hill, into Jalan Tangsi. From a geomancy perspective, it is not good since it faces a hill and has Gombak River at its back.
Bank Rakyat was recently renovated and now has an entrance that faces the river. However, the entire Jalan Tangsi area sits at the outer convex of the river.
CONVEX VS. CONCAVE
Earth energy does not accumulate on the convex side of rivers. As energy reaches the riverbank, it is stopped by the river and deflected in an outward dispersal pattern. Energy only pools in an embracing concave. Thus, properties in this vicinity may not benefit much even if they face the river or have their backs ti higher ground. There is also the elevated highway, Jalan Kinabalu to contend with. Not only is it now “higher ground”, but fast moving traffic create strong winds that disperse energy.
The Sultan Abdul Samad building is located just beside the Gombak River on the embracing concave side. This is a very conducive location and probably explains its durability. Entrances that face the river (eastward) or follow the flow (southward) are good. When it was used as the courts, this was the case.
Source: The Star, Friday, February 22, 2008
Photographers needed worldwide!
By: David Koh
DATARAN Merdeka has been a focal point for many events. This was the historic site where the Union Jack flag was lowered and the Malayan flag first hoisted at midnight on August 31, 1957, our Independence Day.
This was originally the cricket green and rugby field belonging to the Selangor Club, now called Royal Selangor Club. The field was reclaimed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 1987 and developed into an underground shopping mall-cum-car park, with a new field laid on top of it. Plaza Putra, as it is called, is also the site from which a 100-metre high flagpole rises.
Dataran Merdeka is also known for the distinctive and icononic Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad.(For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/and search for Kuala Lumpur).
SUPREME COURTS
After Independence, the building became the site for the Federal Court and Court of Appeals, Both courts have since been relocated to Putrajaya.
The building’s clock tower was used for the countdown to usher in every New Year. Dataran Merdeka attracts a large number of tourists each day. This historic venue is located between the hills of Lake Gardens and the Gombak River. In fact, just behind the courts, there is the famous muddy confluence that gives Kuala Lumpur its name.
RIVER’S EMBRACE
Dataran Merdeka happens to be located in an embracing concave of the Gombak River as it bends twice before joining Klang River. This is where gentle homogenous energy collects and attracts people. Further north, St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral is located at the convex of the river.
Properties located in the concave side ought to do well, provided their orientation is correct. This would be eastward to face the river or southward to follow the river flow. Those facing westward away from the river would struggle in business while north-facing buildings that go against the river flow would find its occupants experiencing mental problems.
Jalan Raja used to encircle Dataran Merdeka anf the Royal Selangor Club. However, part of the road is now sealed off and turned into a pedestrian walkway.
UNDERGROUND
Plaza Putra is an underground shopping complex-cum-car park. It has two entrances that face west and south. The south entrance is quite good as it follows the river flow. However, the west entrance is not as conducive because it faces the hills and puts the building’s rear to the river.
I am not in favour of underground buildings. Hollow spaces in the ground disrupt the flow of earth energy. Energy simply is blocked when it encounters the blank space.
Despite Plaza Putra’s uniqueness, Dataran Merdeka’s popularity with tourists and proximity to the business district, I fear it is not likely to do well.
The Royal Selangor Club, which used the Dataran Merdeka’s field for cricket, was and still is an exclusive club. This old Tudor-style building has two entrances but neither of them is ideal.
Next to the club is St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral. Its entrance faces south which follows the flow of the river. The church is also located on the outer convex of the river.
Let us take a little detour across Jalan Kinabalu, where we find Bank Negara. The entire central bank complex runs parallel to the Gombak River. The main entrance faces south and follows the flow of the river. This is a good configuration.
What keeps the central bank-and the nation’s fiscal health – going? The internal entrance from the car park into the building, I believe, also happens to face south. If it faced north, I would fear for our nation’s monetary future. An entrance that runs against the river flow would create problems.
Nearby, we find Bank Rakyat. Its entrance used to be at the back, facing the hill, into Jalan Tangsi. From a geomancy perspective, it is not good since it faces a hill and has Gombak River at its back.
Bank Rakyat was recently renovated and now has an entrance that faces the river. However, the entire Jalan Tangsi area sits at the outer convex of the river.
CONVEX VS. CONCAVE
Earth energy does not accumulate on the convex side of rivers. As energy reaches the riverbank, it is stopped by the river and deflected in an outward dispersal pattern. Energy only pools in an embracing concave. Thus, properties in this vicinity may not benefit much even if they face the river or have their backs ti higher ground. There is also the elevated highway, Jalan Kinabalu to contend with. Not only is it now “higher ground”, but fast moving traffic create strong winds that disperse energy.
The Sultan Abdul Samad building is located just beside the Gombak River on the embracing concave side. This is a very conducive location and probably explains its durability. Entrances that face the river (eastward) or follow the flow (southward) are good. When it was used as the courts, this was the case.
Source: The Star, Friday, February 22, 2008
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