Street Art in Kuala Lumpur

Travel writer Arman Shah goes in search of graffiti in Kuala Lumpur and finds these artistic murals by the Klang River.

Photo courtesy of Arman Shah

The seed of intrigue revolving around the graffiti scene in Kuala Lumpur (KL) was first planted in me one Tuesday afternoon at work, when I was researching on art-related activities to engage in at the Malaysian capital. I was flying there from Singapore for a business trip, and I wanted to make sure that I fully utilized my time doing productive things – as opposed to being cooped up in the hotel room like the dull young adult who I’m (hopefully) not – when I wasn’t attending any work event.

I remember Google producing a list of articles about street art in Malaysia, and after a few clicks of the mouse and a thorough ingestion of the various features and their accompanying images, I was convinced that I had to check out this fascinating scene. A week later, equipped with a camera and an adventurous spirit, I found myself roaming the city of KL in search of this unique art form.

Lost In The City of Clouds

Machu Picchu. The words hold mystery and adventure for me. The City of the Incas. An ancient center built among the clouds, unconquered by the marauding Spanish. Although this famous sight has attracted scores of visitors, I wanted to experience what it felt like when Hiram Bingham came upon the place in 1911. I hoped to rediscover the intoxication of exploring the “Lost City” in the clouds.

The Secret of Wind Palace

Its cinnamon colored sandstone rises like a lacework curtained veil into the cobalt sky above. From the ground all I see are miniature niches covered with hundreds of tiny windows. Behind its intricate architecture, this lavish latticework hides a mysterious world. I’m in Jaipur, India, the “pink city of Rajasthan,” staring up at the incomparable Hawa Mahal. A strict translation of Hawa Mahal is Wind Palace, but this is no palace. It’s an exotic entrance way into the life of Rajasthan’s royal ladies, and I am about to go behind the wall to see what Jaipur looked like from the other side of the multitiered windows.

Food On Ice

We’ve had drinks at an ice bar, but we’ve never eaten inside an ice restaurant! Would this be a fun adventure, or would you rather not dine with a fur coat on?

SOURCE: Photo from ICEHOTEL.com.