DJ Trava

Posts Tagged ‘hotel’

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most unusual places on earth, with a vibrant city scene that speaks to a splendid mix of cultures and traditions.  There are multiple realities that exist simultaneously here, and it’s evidenced in the art as well as the cuisine.  This makes it a particularly good place for travelers, since the culture is visible, and it’s possible to have an entirely other-worldly experience, while also enjoying many of the amenities and conveniences of home.  For all the things that a tourist can find in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hotel accommodations are some of the most attractive offerings, because they can offer a beautiful center for all your new adventures here.

There is a concentrated effort here to blend culture and sensibility in the lodgings, so that the fantastic appeal of the city can greet you first thing in the morning.  Waking up in splendor is always a nice way to begin a day, especially in a foreign country, refreshing your spirit so you can begin your day in style.  Touring the city is a heady experience, with many different smells and colors that make it unusually attractive, and it’s obvious that there are spectacular treasures to be found here.  Some of the treasures can only be enjoyed in the moment, and for all the sights and smells, there are beautiful sounds here as well.

One of Malaysia’s most interesting emerging sound artists is Goh Lee Kwang, whose music is enormously interesting.  It’s like an electronic mediation on city life and global identity.  He is based in Penang and Germany, and plays all over this region as well as in Europe.  His sound stylings are used in theatrical performances, dance concerts, and well as video scores, and he performs here frequently.  It’s worth looking for, because his techniques are extremely innovative, and he’s making some interesting new works that push the form into the future.  His label, Herbal, is based in Kuala Lumpur, and is one of the major producers for new experimental music.

“Taman Werdi Budaya?” we asked at the desk of the Hotel Bali Indonesia. The smartly dressed fellow in the powder blue Nehru jacket and ruffled shirt replied in perfect English. He sounded like he was part Texan, part Indonesian. “Well, lemme tell ya..” he drawled, and I could not tell if he was teasing us or not. No matter, we got directions he wrote on what looked like parchment paper from the nineteenth century and we were off to the train. In our room I had  boomed out “I want Malaysian culture and I want it now!” until Suzy told me to calm down and we would ask how to get to what is also known as the Bali art center. Suzy teaches art in high school and goes to art museums wherever she goes, and this trip to Bali was no exception. As it turned out the train let us fifteen minutes form the building, and we walked through the lotus gardens of the wonderful reddish building, heavy and beautifully decorated with Balinese symbolism. It was, well, and exhaustive display of Balinese art, carefully and lovingly displayed. Weaving crafts, work on silver, incredible paintings, and incredible blend of contemporary and traditional works of art. Kim seemed to really dig the digs here.

Later we decided dinner would be in order, and I had done my research, and stopped for Chicken with Balinese Spice, or, Ayam Betutu which is just fun to say, and even more fun to eat. A chicken is boiled with spices and chillies and somehow roasted to a tender, crisp tantalizing skin that was incredible. it came with white polished rice and vegetables. It came out so wonderfully crisp and brown, I immediately suggested that this was a true work of art, worthy to be in the art museum as much as any painting or sculpture!