MALAYSIA, A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY / MALACCA / SELANGOR

                                                                                                                                                      HISTORY

In the 15th century, Selangor was ruled by the Sultanate of Malacca. After the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511, the area became hotly disputed between the Portuguese, Johor, Aceh and Siam. When the Dutch displaced the Portuguese from Malacca in 1641, they brought in Muslim Bugis mercenaries from Sulawesi. They established the present hereditary sultanate in 1740. In many districts, Bugis settlers displaced the Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra, who had established themselves in Selangor some 100 years previously.

In the 19th century, the economy boomed due to the exploitation of huge tin reserves and the growing importance of rubber. This attracted a large influx of Chinese migrant labourers. Chinese secret clan societies, allied with Selangor chiefs, fought for control of the tin mines. The increasing violence created social and economic havoc. It also opened a window of opportunity for the British government, which forced the Sultan of Selangor to accept a British Resident in 1874. Under the stability imposed by the British, Selangor again prospered. In 1896, largely through the co-ordination of the Resident, Frank Swettenham, Selangor united with Negri Sembilan, Perak and Pahang to form the Federated Malay States, with its capital in Kuala Lumpur.


                                                        



                                                                                                                                                   INTEREST PLACE

Famous tourist attractions in Selangor include the I-City in Shah Alam, a retail and commercial hub with millions of LED lights and a snowalk indoor park.
  •  the National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara) in Ampang Jaya, the largest zoo in Malaysia with more than 4,000 animals. There are 16 exhibits in this zoo. They are: Reptile Park, Monkey, Malaysian Elephants, Lake Birds, Bird Aviary, Nocturnal Exhibits, Pouchland, Humboldt Penguins, Children's World, Bear Complex, Savannah Walk, Nile Hippopotamus, Mammal Kingdom, Freshwater Aquaria, Cat Walk, Ape Centre, and Insect Zoo.


  •  the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, one of the most stunning architectures in the country. It is the state mosque of Selangor, Malaysia. It is the country's largest mosque and also the  second largest mosque in Southeast Asia after Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta in Indonesia. Its most distinguishing feature is its large blue and silver dome. The mosque has four minarets, one erected at each of the corners.




  • Sunway Lagoon in Bandar Sunway, Malaysia's top theme park. The park is home to the world's largest wave pool, world's largest man-made sandy turf beach, one of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, Asia's highest slingshot ride, Malaysia's first interactive zoo and one of Asia's longest flying fox trails.
                                                                                                                                                                              









                                                                                                                                                    POPULAR FOOD

      - Burger Bakar- A pile of freshly half burned bun with melted cheese onto the savory water-mouthed hot chicken slice.
                                            
      - Rojak Mamak- A combination of chunk of meat and vegetable, with delicious kuah rojak on top of the rojak, you bet it will cost a penny for it.

     - Satay Kajang- Chunk of meat being sticked and burned untill crisp, smoked and barbequed with kuah satay that you cannot imagined.
                                              

                                                

                                           
                                                                                                                                                        CULTURE

The Blue Mosque

The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam is one of the most stunning structures in the country. Commonly referred to as the 'Blue Mosque', it boasts the tallest minarets in the world.

As visitors approach the mosque, the awe-inspiring blue dome welcomes them. Decorative Islamic calligraphy dominates the edges surrounding the dome and main prayer hall, while the interior architecture exhibits ethnic Malay design elements.

Sunlight filtering through the blue stained glass of the mosque renders a bluish ambience to its interior, evoking a sense of peace and serenity.

Garden of Islamic Art
 Overlooking the Blue Mosque, the Garden of Islamic Arts is a beautifully landscaped park inspired by the Quranic Garden of Paradise. Covering 14 hectares, this spiritual sanctuary houses nine galleries that exhibit a rich array of Islamic arts such as calligraphy, sculptures, paintings and architecture. Occasionally traditional Islamic performances are held here.

Batu Caves

Located in a limestone outcropping 15 km north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Selangor.

This famous destination draws people from all over the world during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam. It consists of three big caves, including the main temple-cave which features ornate Hindu shrines.

Scaling the 272 steps leading up to the temple is one of the highlights of a visit to Batu Caves. Nearby is the Ramayana Cave where evocative scenes of Indian epic myths are artistically painted along its walls. This massive limestone hill is also a popular spot for rock climbing.