In Awe of Batu Caves

 

Last weekend my friend and I made a trip to Kuala Lumpur to visit the Batu Caves.  Batu Caves is a limestone series of caves and cave temples located in Gombak district; 13 kilometres (8 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur. After reaching at the new bus station TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), we hopped on to the KTM and Batu Caves is the last stop on the route.

Right outside the caves is a giant statue of Lord Subramanya or Lord Murugan which is 140ft tall.  The statue, which cost approximately RM2,5 million,  is made of 1550 cubic metres of concrete, 250 tonnes of steel bars and 300 litres of gold paint brought in from neighbouring Thailand.  It took 3 years of construction and unveiled in January 2006 during Thaipusam festival.

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Durian – The polarizing fruit

 

 

The Durian is one of the most polarizing and controversial fruit.  Take the name of ‘durian’ and you can divide your audience into two instantly.  Those who swear their love for it and those who will vanish at the mention of it.

Anthony Bourdain calls it  “indescribable, something you will either love or despise…Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.”

Learning to Unlearn

(This is the script of the speech that I delivered at Bishan TM Club’s International speech & table topics contest)

When I was in primary school, during recess, this man used to come near our school compound to sell icecream.  He rang the bell and shouted icecream – come on boys.  His smile lit up his face and we all enjoyed the different colours and flavours of the icecreams.

Contest chair, judges and fellow toastmasters –

My parents asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said – I want to sell ice cream.