Singapore - A Journey Through Life (Final Part)

During our trip to Malaysia, we had the opportunity to visit many magnificent architectural landmarks, which are also unique cultural features of the country…

The Putra Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, is likened to a giant and magnificent ruby in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Inaugurated in 1999 with a capacity of 15,000 people, it remains a popular destination for tourists from near and far.

Malaysian Islamic architecture is distinctive. The exterior features a tower over 100 meters high, with five levels symbolizing the five pillars of Islam. The pink dome, primarily constructed of granite, is grand and aesthetically pleasing, imposing, solemn, and magnificent, becoming a unique symbol of Malaysia's national religion.

Pustra Mosque.

Visitors are allowed inside the mosque but must adhere to strict dress code regulations. Inside, although lacking the ornate decorations of the exterior, the mosque is still majestically beautiful and serene, with ample open space. This may be due to the beliefs of Muslims, who consider their supreme being, Allah, to be omnipresent, manifesting in countless forms, not in any single specific image. Therefore, there are no paintings or sculptures depicting Allah.

Our tour guide informed us that Malaysia has 13 states, each with a sultan in a centralized, hereditary system. The king (the monarch) of Malaysia is elected by a council of sultans for a five-year term. Whoever is elected king and his family resides in the royal palace, returning to their original residence after their term ends. The current king is from the border state of Johor, which borders Singapore. Although Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's role is more ceremonial and symbolic than one of real power.

The Royal Palace, built in 1927, features a blend of Malay and Islamic architectural styles, resulting in a structure that is both grand and exquisite.

Despite the sweltering heat, thousands of tourists flocked to visit the royal palace. A luxurious and magnificent palace, it was certainly worth the journey for visitors traveling thousands of miles to admire it.

The palace guards were a force similar to the royal musketeer. We arrived at the side gate of the palace. Before we could even admire a pretty female musketeer riding a chestnut horse, looking very graceful, it was time for the changing of the guard. A seemingly knowledgeable tourist explained, "It's getting hot, the horses will go into the air-conditioned resting room, but the guards will continue on duty." Now I understood why the horses guarding the royal palace here had a better life than the soldiers!

Batu Caves, located more than 10 km from the capital Kuala Lumpur, is considered the holiest place for followers of Hinduism.

According to the Ramayana legend, this is where the god Rama and his wife Sita once resided. Visitors here will hear the story of two brothers, sons of a king. One day, to test their abilities and also to determine the succession to the throne, their parents told them to travel the world to find the most precious thing to offer them. Whoever returned first would inherit the throne. The elder brother toiled and traveled the world for 272 days searching for the most precious thing, but the younger brother inherited the throne. The parents explained to the elder brother: "While you were traveling all over the world, your younger brother brought two chairs for us to sit on and said: 'There is nothing more precious in this world than our parents, so I didn't need to search. We inherited the throne because of our correct thinking.'" Hearing this, the elder brother became angry and resentful. The younger brother, fearing that their brotherly relationship would be damaged, went to the Batu Caves to pray. Regretting his actions, the elder brother tried to call his brother back but failed. Out of love for his brother, he stood guard outside the Batu Caves...

Currently, to the right of the Batu Caves entrance stands a colossal statue of Lord Murugan, 42.7 meters tall, guarding the area and protecting the well-being of the people. Every year, in the seventh lunar month, Malaysians, especially Hindus, come here because they believe that at that time, Batu Caves connects with the spiritual world of condemned prisoners, allowing their souls to find peace and forgiveness. The striking golden statue, standing out against the green natural landscape, is a remarkable work of art representing Hindu religious symbolism.

Notably, despite being a legend, when building the Batu Temple, they still constructed exactly 272 steps, corresponding to the number of days the elder brother traveled the world. The lesson about filial piety and brotherly love remains ever relevant.

There's a popular saying in Malaysia that says if you visit Kuala Lumpur and don't see the Petronas Twin Towers, you haven't really been to the country. This shows just how much influence this iconic landmark has on the daily lives of both locals and tourists.

Petronas Twin Towers.

The sheer numbers of these twin skyscrapers are enough to make many people dizzy: each tower is 452 meters tall, with 88 floors, and a total of 32,000 windows… Since their construction in 1999, these towers have become a symbol of Kuala Lumpur. They are also a unique architectural blend of modern and Islamic styles, likened to two diamonds in the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

The tour guide added, "Renting office space here is incredibly expensive. But many companies still try to rent it, because once they've secured a place to do business, it's like they've already built their brand to some extent."

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202508/sing-ma-du-ky-bai-cuoi-a1901b2/