IRSE News 176 Mar 12 with Watermark.pdf

IRSE CONVENTION - PART 2
hillsides boasted an impressive variety of
orchids. The cameras were clicking
furiously here. After an essential stop in the
gift shop, we headed to our hotels for a
free evening with our companions.
There were no technical visits early
Wednesday as the entire conference
boarded the train for Malaysia, the second
host country. Travelling through lush green
palm tree plantations, our final destination
would be Kuala Lumpur, known as KL,
Malaysia’s capital. We stopped for a
diversion in Melaka (Malacca), the historical
state of Malaysia. The Resort Afamosa,
where we lunched, was a tropical retreat
with gardens, fountains and pools of giant
koi. From there we headed into the historic
city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The imprints of Portuguese, Dutch, and
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British forces were evident in churches, ancient landmarks and
colonial structures. Most delightful were the vibrantly decorated
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trishaw bicycles encircling the city centre fountain, their drivers
beckoning to show you the town’s sights. Our group visited
Christ’s Church, the hilltop ruins of St Paul’s, and the remnants of
the Portuguese fort. On Jonker’s street in Chinatown, we
explored the magnificent Cheng Hoon Teng temple, believed to be
the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. We boarded the buses for
an after-dark arrival in KL, the brightly lit PETRONAS Towers
standing proudly in the distance to welcome us.
Thursday, we, the guests, visited nearby Putrajaya, an
“Intelligent Garden City”. This planned city became the new
federal administrative centre of Malaysia in 1999 to relieve some 24
of the overcrowding and congestion of KL. We started our tour at
the Taman Warisan Pertanian, an agricultural park where we
learned about Malaysia’s traditional crops, like rubber trees, a
huge variety of palms, fruits, herbs and spices. We then drove
around to see the town’s impressive architecture: government
buildings, temples, monuments, and bridges. Putrajaya Seafood
Restaurant served us a Chinese lunch in their pleasant lakeside
location.
The guided portion of the day ended in Kuala Lumpur, to see
the views from the KL Tower, which was recently featured on the
American television show ‘The Amazing Race Asia’. The rest of
the afternoon was free and many guests decided to enjoy the 25
beautiful Hilton Hotel rooftop pool for a refreshing swim. We later
joined our companions for supper at the Royal Selangor Club, a
prestigious social club founded in 1884.
Our last sightseeing day was a brief KL city tour on Friday.
The remainder of the day was open for much desired shopping.
The colourful Central Market offered local crafts and bargains in
cool air conditioning.
NOT FOR RE-PRINTING
©
Kuala Lumpur
21.
The elegant and
soaring KL Tower
22.
The twin Petronas
Towers dominate the
skyline
23.
The beautiful rooftop
pool at the Hilton
24.
Traditional produce on
view at Taman Warisan
Pertanian
25.
The Putra Mosque
completed in 1999 is
part of the “Intelligent
Garden City” Putrajaya
The final evening gala brought the entire group back together
at the Hilton Hotel. Local artists creating caricatures, Chinese
scripts, and batik style pictures entertained us at the friendly
reception. After a sumptuous meal, cultural dancers performed. Brief speeches from our gracious president, Claire Porter, and others
included accolades and farewells, with a tease of the fantastic plans for the 2012 centenary celebration of the IRSE in London. The
program was concluded with live music and dancing. Afterward, members and guests reminisced, talked of extended travels, made
plans for the next year, and said their goodbyes. Thank you to the coordinators for another informative and enjoyable event.
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IRSE NEWS | ISSUE 176 | MARCH 2012