A Malaysian Photo And Travel Blog

Title: Bangkok Bank
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 11:09am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/10.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Twisted angle of the bank's entrance. Looking at this financial building brings back good old memories - I remember those childhood moments holding a packet of soya bean drink from Chinatown and waiting for buses with my mom in front of this building.

Title: RHB Financial Building
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 10:40am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A box-like building - felt like flipping over a huge dictionary.

Title: The Kuala Lumpur Tower
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8:18am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A faraway view of the tower. This picture was taken few minutes after I alighted from the bus. I was walking towards the main gated entrance to the forest when I chance upon this wonderful scenery - I took out my camera and snapped this picture instantly.

Title: The Kuala Lumpur Tower
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8:18am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A close-up shot of the Kuala Lumpur Tower. I skipped the KL Tower trip entirely. Entrance fee per adult is RM38 - way too expensive for me.

Title: HSBC Building
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 11:14am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Argh..this building is an eyesore to modern day architecture - too many sharp edges, dull facade and monotone panels.

I delayed posting Part 3 because I was having extreme fever for three days continuously. I'm feeling much better today after taking cocktails of medicine given by the GP. I'm very disappointed with my sickness because I missed out the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves. I really wanted (desperately and badly) to take a bus to the mythical cave to capture those wonderful kavadi bearers in ACTION and also enjoy the riot of colours, people and festive-like environment over there.

Other than that, I just started working in a new company. Having fever and taking another two days off really set a bad impression on me. I needed to work harder to compensate for it.

The above pictures were taken the moment I emerged from Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. It was a hot and bluish morning. A real good day to take photos. These are the concrete jungle at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Title: A glowing and transparent leafy
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 9:41am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 1600

Love the outcome of this picture. Not using camera flash at all. The natural light in the forest is clearly depicted in this picture - causing a bright green glow.

Title: Tall, big canopy trees
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8:45am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 280

Two words to describe this picture - LUSH GREENERY!

Title: Two blades of GREEN
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 10:09am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 400

This photo is not photoshopped - in fact all my pictures are without any photoshop modification. I chance upon these two blade of green leaves. Visible at the background were dried leaves in grayish and brownish colours.

Title: Feathery Ferns
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.56am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 180

An adult fern plant with overlapping leaves.

Overall, I have to say it was the best hiking trip to a virgin forest by far. Not tired at all even after exploring the entire forest. I guess I am too excited from the starting point up to the last exit point at Dang Wangi LRT station. Got a bit of sunburn and numerous bite marks on my face.

As I am typing away, I am cracking my head for my next photo trip. I felt great whenever I signed out from my office. I am not implying that I HATE MY JOB but I just wanna put everything behind me and enjoy my weekend. Life is too short! I wanna discover more places, meet people from diverse culture and open my eyes and soul!

Title: Mr. Arrow a.k.a MR GREEN
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.56am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

This young plant look like an oversized boy with arrow head :) LOVE IT!!

Title: A fan perhaps?
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.35am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200

A fan look-alike fern plant.

Title: Swirling effect.
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.35am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 200

Just twist your camera and you'll get this swirling effect!

Title: Holed but still A.L.I.V.E
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.56am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 320

A close-up shot. I guess this leaf is still making food. Light is abundant despite the presence of huge canopy trees.

Title: Gimme Light and I'll survive!
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 9.05am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 200

Love this shot. The distribution of green colour in this picture is simply breathtaking!

Title: Twin Wing
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.39am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 220

A unique wing-like flower with papery thin petals. The two petals are brownish coloured.

Title: Light for a fallen leaf
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.55am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

A wilted leaf on the forest floor.

Title: The forest
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 8.45am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 320

An interesting view of the reserve forest.

Title: Nature's Green Lung
Location: Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 28 January 2009, 9.39am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 1600

Light from morning sky illuminate the leaf.

Today is the third day of Chinese New Year 2009. The day before, I was googling for places of interest in Kuala Lumpur and stumbled upon Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. I browse through some pictures on the forest reserve and I fall in LOVE with the place INSTANTLY - no questions ask and no reservations at all.

I've been to Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) at Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, FRIM is too artificial to me. It look like an urban forest to me. On the other hand, Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve seems to be very tempting and attractive to pure nature lover like me. I was impressed knowing that Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve was gazetted as a permanent reserved Forest since 1906. WOW!!! That is a whooping 103 years of protective status given to the forest! NO KIDDING!! Also a forest at Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur - sound unreal to me :)

So, this morning (last day of my Chinese New Year holidays) I took my early bath and drove to Jalan Ipoh. I boarded two buses to the main entrance of the forest at Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. The time of arrival was 8.20 am. I asked around and was given a map cum manual to the forest by a security guard. So, I started my journey exploring the forest. I had a lower expectation because the idea of a reserve forest in a bustling city is really unbelievable to any urban dwellers.

I was wearing a long black pant and a white jersey. The hiking trail is superbly designed with clear pathway, optional trekking to inner forest and clear signboards all over the place. I felt in LOVE with the forest straightaway. The morning sky with bright hue is simply amazing - only faint bright light able to penetrate the forest due to the canopy-like trees in the forest. I enjoyed every single step through my entire hiking!!! The urban concrete jungle slowly disappeared from my sight. In fact, I totally forgotten that I was trekking in a reserve forest at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It was a peaceful, serene and out of the world experience!!

The forest is surreal and mesmerizing! Nonetheless, my excitement was bugged with continuous bites from tiny little flying insects that look like mini-me mosquitoes. These insects really drive me NUTS & CRAZY. I was bitten all over - my hands, neck and face. IT WAS DAMN ITCHY AND ANNOYING!!! At one point, I felt like turning back or even shout for H.E.L.P!! I was cursing these insects non-stop! Trust me - bring along some insect repellent! Those bites are out of the world!!! Fortunately, these crazy flying insects disappeared when the Sun started to rise to the horizon. P.A.T.I.E.N.T is the word!! I am glad that I 'survived' the ordeal!

Remember to check out Part 2 for more pictures and travelogues!!