Upon reaching my 40s, I began to see things differently. I am reminiscing about the last 40 years of my life. Growing up, I had no idea about other races, but now I can respect all cultures. Throughout my life, I have met many beautiful people.
To give myself a gift, I engaged my cousin brother cum photographer to do my portraits. This is my 2nd Portrait with him and 3rd in my life. As for my background, I would rather have something that is called ‘Malaysian’ featuring a couple of prominent areas in KL.
Whenever I claimed to be Malaysian, food has always been one of my greatest assets. We can have food just about anywhere by inviting others to eat with us. Multiracial countries like Malaysia have a variety of food to choose from, including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kelantanese, Sawarakian, Sabahan, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Pakistanis, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. We have it, you named it.
One of the cultures of Malaysia is having breakfast at a Kopitiam, which you can find around every corner. The regular combo is a hot kopi and roti bakar. Some people prefer half-boiled eggs (just like me) with peppers and soy sauce on top. A lot of old folks love to hang out at Kopitiam in the morning for a kopi and chit chat with their friends. The Kopitiam-style has been transformed into a modern type, with a better and more comfortable atmosphere compared to having just fans or open air.
Prior to the pandemic, Petaling Street or Chinatown was one of the places I was curious about. There are many hidden gems there with good food and authentic decor, where most of the original structure remains. There are a few main streets worth visiting, including Jalan Sultan, Jalan Petaling, and Jalan Tun HS Lee.
For my 41st birthday, I want a portrait of Petaling Street and a few prominent buildings that represent us, Malaysians. Let’s start with breakfast at Kafei Dian on Jalan Panggong. I ordered a Kopi Bing (Iced Coffee) with half-boiled eggs and Roti Bakar with kaya & butter (Grilled Bread). The oldest Hindu temple in KL, founded in 1873, is SRI MAHA MARIAMMAN Temple on Jalan Tun H S Lee. Currently, it is undergoing maintenance. This is our best attempt at getting some shots.
Street art and murals are easily spotted here. In my Portrait, I have chosen Jalan Petaling. It was built by Yap Ah Loy, the Chinese Kapitan of the city, in 1888 as a wet market. It was a prominent landmark in colonial and modern-day Kuala Lumpur. The Central Market is also known as Pasar Seni. You can find souvenirs here for your expat friends. It’s also a place for art, where you can get your hand painted by some artists.
Featured in my portraits are two prominent buildings: Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Warisan Merdeka Tower (KL118).
In the late 19th century, Sultan Abdul Samad Building was built and became a major historical landmark in Malaysia. Located opposite Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and the Royal Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur, the building was inaugurated in 1897 and named after the ruling sultan of Selangor.
The Merdeka 118 skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is also known as Warisan Merdeka 118, KL 118 Tower, and KL 118. The tower is the world’s second-tallest structure, surpassing the Tokyo Skytree at 634 m.
Overall, I am happy and satisfied on this chapter. Big thanks to my photographer.
Photography Works https://jack-folio.wixsite.com/jackphotography
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