 Kuala
Lumpur, meaning a muddy confluence, had its origins as
a shanty mining outpost for the tin trade in the 1800's
at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers. Today,
KL as it is popularly known, is a bustling metropolis,
the federal capital of Malaysia and is the principal center
of commerce, politics, entertainment and international
activities. The site of the original settlement draws
a steady stream of tourists, largely to the adjacent Sultan
Abdul Samad Building and the Merdeka Square where the
British flag was lowered for the last time on August 31,
1957 and replaced by the new Malaysian flag.
 The
city's skyline is rapidly changing and presently boasts
of the world's tallest building, the magnificent Petronas
Twin Towers standing at 452m as well as the Menara Kuala
Lumpur, the world's fourth tallest. Modern transportation
that includes the Light Rail Transit monorail system,
currently under construction, mean getting around is a
breeze. However, despite its transformation into an ultra-modern
city, KL still retains its old world charm depicted in
the majestic buildings of the colonial era, quaint pre-war
shop-houses and the way business is conducted. |
