Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ment and predict the future with the aid of green parrots trained to pick out auspicious
cards.
GALERI DIRAJA SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ
colonial building houses the royal gallery, devoted to the history of the Selangor Sultanate
(dating back to 1766); it contains a wide array of royal regalia, gifts and artifacts, includ-
ing replicas of the crown jewels.
MUSEUM
ISTANA ALAM SHAH
(Jln Istana)
Heading uphill along Jln Istana will bring you to the sultan's palace before the
royal capital was moved to Shah Alam. The park opposite gives a pleasant view of the
city.
PALACE
MASJID DI RAJA SULTAN SULEIMAN
(Jln Kota Raja)
East of the palace, along Jln Kota Raja, this former state mosque, opened in
1934, is a striking blend of art deco and Middle Eastern influences. Several sultans are
buried here. Step inside to admire its stained-glass dome.
MOSQUE
WORTH A DETOUR
ISLAND ESCAPES
The islands of
Pulau Ketam
and
Pulau Carey
- one reached by ferry, the other by road - are ideal antidotes to
the Klang Valley's urban sprawl.
Ketam means 'crab' and an abundance of these creatures is what first brought Chinese settlers to the so-named
island, a 30-minute ferry trip (return RM14) through the mangroves from Pelabuhan Klang. On arrival you'll find
a rickety yet charming fishing village built on stilts over the mudflats. Wander around the wooden buildings of
the village then enjoy a Chinese seafood lunch at one of several restaurants. Ferries depart roughly every hour
starting at 8.45am; the last ferry back from Pulau Ketam is at 5.30pm (6pm at weekends).
If you don't have your own wheels, hire a taxi to get you out to Pulau Carey (from Klang one-way/return
RM80/150), an island largely covered with palm-oil plantations. In tiny
Kampung Sungai Bumbon
, home to an
Orang Asli tribe known as the Hma' Meri (also written as Mah Meri), you can see the woodcarvers who have put
Hma' Meri art on the cultural map. There's also a
community centre
( 9am-5pm) where you can pick up
pretty woven baskets and other products made from dyed pandanus palm leaves as well as the interesting booklet
in English about Hma' Meri culture.
