Kuala Lumpur Tour
On the 3rd of February 2018, the International Office (IO) and the Sunway International Students Ambassadors (SISA) organised a tour of Kuala Lumpur for new international students of Sunway University. Approximately 40 students joined this fun-filled adventure around the bustling capital of Malaysia.
The tour kicked off with a scrumptious breakfast by the IO in the foyer of the university. Following that, we proceeded to our first stop - Royal Selangor - a Malaysian pewter manufacturer and retailer, the largest of its type in the world. We were introduced to the many creations made of pewter as beautiful pieces to be admired and as a craft. We witnessed live pewter crafting and participated in hands-on pewter smithing workshops. Students were exposed to an industry they had not heard of before.
The second stop was the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Soaring to a height of 451.9 metres, the 88-storey twin structure is Kuala Lumpur's crown jewel. Students explored the area and some took photos to update their Instagram profiles, or shopped their hearts out at the branded outlet.
The adventure continued at the Merdeka (Independence) Square which is KL’s best-known landmark, with architecture from the British era are still evident. Although Merdeka Square seems to be nothing more than a giant field and a centrepiece of the tallest flagpole in the world proudly flying the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag), it was here that Malaysia proclaimed Merdeka (independence) on August 31st, 1957.
Our next stop was at the National Monument (Tugu Negara) which was built in remembrance of the brave soldiers who died fighting against communist rebels. The world's tallest freestanding bronze sculpture depicts seven soldiers standing and supporting their fallen comrades where each figure denotes one of seven qualities: courage, leadership, sacrifice, strength, suffering, unity, and vigilance.
Next was Central Market KL, a centre for Malaysian culture, art and craft located in the heart of the city. As a building with significant historical value, it proved to be a delightful destination for both shoppers, and art lovers. Students explored the many shops proudly selling Malaysian clothing, crafts and food. After a delicious lunch, we were off to the next destination.
The final destination of the day was none other than the National Museum (Muzium Negara). The National Museum holds a variety of national treasures and artifacts that serves as a repository of Malaysia's rich cultural and historical heritage. We were treated to a grand tour of the museum by enigmatic guides who enlightened us about the beginnings and history of this multicultural country alongside numerous fun facts that kept our attention captivated. Overall, the tour of the national museum was insightful as well as fun and we were left satisfied and a tad worn out from this adventure around the city. It was time to call it a day, and an amazing one at that, as we made our way back to our university.
