Firstly we caught the underground train to Merdeka Square which is the place where Malaysia's independence was proclaimed on August 31, 1957. This wide open rectangular-grassed area was originally the cricket field for the Royal Selangor Cricket Club which was founded in 1884 for members of the British community. The original Tudor-style club house building with its signature British colonial black and white half-timber stands as a reminder of past days and even today the Long Bar only admits men –some customs never die! The massive 100 metre flagpole rising from Merdeka Square is one of the tallest in the world. It displays the Malaysian Flag which can be seen from many parts of the city.
Leaving the Square we took a peaceful walk along the riverside. The water in the river doesn't look inviting but the river has been channelled through canals across the city and the tree-lined walk was cool and interesting. On this walk we passed some beautiful high-rise buildings with Islamic arches and the sparkling-white Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque which stands at the junction of two canals.
This mosque was built in 1909 and is one of Kuala Lumpur's most significant buildings of Monhul influence architecture and heritage. It has three Monhul domes, a courtyard, minarets positioned symmetrically to the mosque. Beautiful arched corridors (chhatris) surround the mosque' exterior and it looked resplendent in the morning sunlight.
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