Hibiscus – National Flower

• The national flower of Malaysia - Bunga Raya

• Hibiscus Rosasinensis

• Its flowers are large and trumpet-shaped, with colours ranging from white through yellow, orange to scarlet and shades of pink.

• Official Launch as our National Flower 28/7/1960

• Chosen by our 1st Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman

• The five petals of the Bunga Raya symbolise the Rukunegara (the Five Principles of Nationhood), while the colour red represents courage.

• From early times, the hibiscus has been known to have many uses, mostly medicinal. Its petals were commonly used to darken and enhance women’s eyebrows; while some people still use the roots of the hibiscus plant as a cure for fever and other ailments. Skin eruptions and glandular troubles are said to be relieved by the application of the juice obtained from its leaves and roots while a poultice prepared from the leaves is often applied to cure headaches. It can also used as a shoe polish to shine your shoe.

National Musuem

National Musuem – Musuem Negara.

What?

• Most important place, preserving, conserving and disseminating knowledge about the Malaysia historical, cultural and natural heritage.
• A place to explore the history of Malaysia from ancient times to the present.
• 3 Storied Structure of 109.7m / Old Malays Architecture.
• Divided into 4 Main Gallery:
• Gallery A = Early History
• Gallery B = The Malay Kingdoms
• Gallery C = The Colonial Era/ Event year 1511 to 1945.
• Gallery D = Malaysia Today

Where?

• Located at Jalan Damansara. Between Jalan Travers and Jalan Mahameru.

Who?

• Founding Director of the museum of Malaysia Tuan Hj Mobin Shephard Abdullah.
• Imposing design is chosen by YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj , the Father of Independence and first Prime Minister of Malaysia. In front of this building there are decorative muralyang made of a large mosaic.

When?

• Re-launch on the 31st August 1962.

How?

• Established on the site of the former Selangor Museum.
• Built by the British and Selangor governments in 1898 following the formation of the Federated Malay States in 1896.
• On March 10, 1945, during the end of World War II, the right wing of the museum was bombed and destroyed by the US B-29 bomber, from the Allied Forces.
• After World War II, the left wing of Selangor Museum was still in use as a historical site. After the Federation of Malaya achieved its independence on August 31, 1957, the federal government decided to build the national museum at the old site of Selangor Museum.

Admission

• Visiting Hour: 9am to 6pm
• Opening: Everyday (Mon to Sunday)
• Entrance Fees: RM 4.00 for Foreigner/ RM2.00 with MY Card/ FOC for Children Age 12 below/with Uniform.

China Town - Petaling Street

• Petaling street is also known as "China Town"
• Chinese Dominated Area
• Open Air Day and Night Market (Best to go at Night)
• Bargain Hunter
• Shopping and Food Heaven.

The History

• The original Chinatown centred on Market Square.
• Back in the olden days when Malaysia was still known as ‘Tanah Melayu’ or Malaya, the Chinese had come to this country to work at the tin mines. However, during the Selangor Civil War, the tin mines were temporarily abandoned. The Chinese returned after the war, only to find the mines flooded. Yap Ah Loy, an influential Chinese figure back then, had opened a tapioca mill on Petaling Street in his bid to persuade the Chinese to stay on.
• Petaling Street is called ‘Chee Cheong Kai’, meaning ‘Starch Factory Street’ in Cantonese, referring to its history as the centre for the production of tapioca flourback then.

Development

• Petaling Street is now sheltered- keep you dry and out of the heat.
• 2003- Government spent RM11.3mil to face lift with two large Chinese arches placed at both ends of the street to welcome visitors, and a roof cover was made covering the street, dubbed as the "Green Dragon".

Operation Hour

• 10am - mid night
• 365 days a year

Getting There-Good Network of Public Transport

• Major bus routes operate through this area – just take the ones heading for ‘Kotaraya’.
• LRT - Pasar Seni or Masjid Jamek station
• Monorail (Maharajalela station)

FOOD OF HEAVEN!!!
Check out More food at below link:
http://www.everydayfoodilove.com/2010/02/china-town-seng-kee-petaling-street.html

Look out for Yook Woo Hin restaurant on Petaling Street. It is one the longest surviving family-run food places in KL.

It is one of the oldest and most famous Chinese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Established in 1926 by a Lee Hoi from Canton, China, it was located, as it is now, along Petaling Street.

Yook Woo Hin, meaning "jade pot", has been run by three generations of Lees. The current owner, Lee Keng Chee, the grandson of Lee Hoi, has maintained the place with memorabilia like the founder's portrait and old teapots. Even the old staff is retained as far as possible to retain the work culture and ambience.

It is no wonder that you still find huge crowds, especially older people with their families, at the restaurant.