S5 Grand Tour Report

KING LING COLLEGE

5B Group 2

Kuala Lumpur 11th April -14th April 2014 Group members

Chan Suet Fei (5B-1) Liu Shuk Wing (5B-15) Cheng Tsz Ching (5B-4) Wong Wun Chun (5B-31) Cheung Yin Laam Sunny (5B-24) Ho Sin Wan (5B-7) Kong Yat Yui (5B-8) Lau Ka Wing (5B-11) 1

Contents

Introduction …………………………………..………………………………………1

Reflection: Day 1...... 2

Reflection: Day 2...... 5

Reflection: Day 3...... 11

Reflection: Day 4...... 15

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………….19

Group Member List ...... 20

Introduction

This is the first time that our school organized the grand tour for all S5 students. By joining the grand tour, students could understand the local conditions and customs of the country. Our class went to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Malaysia is an Islam country so as in fact, its culture is totally different with Hong Kong. After we went to Kuala Lumpur, we had broadened our knowledge.

Reflection: Day 1

Spots descriptions:

Putrajaya is the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. We went to

Istana Melawati and Putra Mosque. Istana Melawati is the Second Official

Palace and Royal Retreat of His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Putrajaya Mosque is the principal mosque of Putrajaya in Malaysia.

Putrajaya Mosque is pink in colour and having 9 domes which can accommodate 15,000 people inside. Since it is located next to the manmade

Putrajaya Lake so it let people have an illusion that it was built on the lake, and also call it the “Floating Mosque”. The basement wall of the mosque resembles that of the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

Reflection:

As Malaysia is a Muslim country, so there are mosques in different places. Everyone should wear long sleeve and trousers when entering the

Mosque and also in daily life.

Since Islam is a maintenance sect, not seems like Hong Kong that we can wear different kinds of clothes we like. Therefore, while enter the Mosque, all the man should cover their bodies from navel to the knee and all the women can only basset their face and hands. If they do not follow this rule, they must wear a coat in pink colour. 3

Putrajaya Mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. A common feature in mosques is the minaret, the tall, slender tower that usually is situated at one of the mosque structures. A Mihrab is semi-circular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the Qibla that is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and Muslims should face to Mecca when they are praying. The domes, often placed directly above the main prayer hall, may signify the vaults of heaven and the sky.

In our mind, Mosque is always white in colour which mean pure, but

Putrajaya Mosque is pink in colour. It let us understand that Putrajaya Mosque have both of solemn and fashionable in the style.

Most of the followers of Islam are sincere while inside the Putrajaya pay respect. They will go to mosque every day. Every follower wears the formal dressing of entering Putrajaya Mosque and also daily life. Also, they will take off their shoes before they go into the worship.

Although Putrajaya is just a small place in Kuala Lumpur, it brings us a lot of fun. We went to the food court near the Putra Mosque. We first tried the fried durian and Sate. The deep fried durian was very tasty. Its taste is differently to the durian in Hong Kong. It’s crispy outside and also cools inside.

The salesperson told us that the fried durian is very popular in Malaysia.

Another thing that can also let us surprised is the protection of the environment. There are many green plants on both sides of road.

Photos:

Reflection: Day 2

Spots description:

A great golden statue is towered in the entrance of Batu Caves. The

272 stairs and handrails are colourful with different colours. Many monkeys climbed and jumped on the handrails. They were so attractive and adorable.

When we entered the cave, it became more dark and moist. We could see numerous colourful Sikhism statues which full of the local cultural and religion features so we could know Batu Caves is the iconic pilgrimage for the

Sikh. Besides,we also found some stalactite hung on the top of the cave.

Reflection:

We understood more cultures about the Malaysian and the religion of

Sikhism through visited the Batu Caves. We would see how the Batu Caves as the holy place in the Malaysians’ mind. Reach the Batu Caves by walking on 272 stairs was their custom and culture. Besides, we learned the architectural and cultural feature from the different statues in the cave.

There were some cultural differences between Chinese and the

Malaysians. One of them is the Malaysians believe in god but not the Buddha.

However, some of Chinese and Hongkongers believe in the Buddha.

For the historical meaning, Batu Caves was the most important pilgrimage for the Sikh and spot for the locals from ancient times to the present. It could also reflect the development of the history of religion and cultural.

The magnificent statue impressed the foreigners. Although the stairs with peeling paint as years passed, it still so eye-catching. Batu Caves was an amazing spot and we could see the wonders of nature from there.

We observed the local people was extremely respect and pious towards the Batu Caves. The local people regarded Batu Caves as their faith.

There was also the most important and iconic pilgrimage for the Sikh. They believed that they could get happiness and release all troubles and problems after took 272 stairs in order to reach the Batu Caves. They would go to Batu

Caves whether they are well or not. Spots description:

Besides, we visited the National Museum, which is introducing the

Malaysians’ culture. In the museum, we can see many exhibits that can show the daily lives of the ancient Malaysians. For example, the instrument of eating beetle nut. Beetle nut like a doping to make people relax. It just like we eat chocolate and drink coffee to let us feel happier and relaxer in our daily lives. There also show the literature replica which about Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He visit Malacca. Moreover, there is some exhibits that about the history of Malaysia and the apparel of ancient Malaysians.

Reflection:

After visit the museum, we knew that some historical documents may not absolutely correct. For example, the information that announced by the government consistent said that some Chinese man who immigrant to

Malaysia would marry a local woman. In fact, the Chinese man can only marry an overseas Chinese woman. Therefore, if the Chinese man wants to get married, they will find a woman from the South China and bring them to

Malaysia.

We need to be careful when we are learning. Also, we have to find more data and analysis by ourselves to make sure that the knowledge we learn is correct. Therefore, if we want to get a new height in learning, we need to have critical thinking. We cannot blindly believe the things we learned.

Besides, we can know more about the culture of Malaysians such as their living style. Though the exhibits are showed in the museum, we could know that the Malaysians living style is very casual. They only work when they have impatient needs.

Photos:

Reflection: Day 3

Spots description:

Mara Village is an outskirt homestay which provides the Malaysians’ traditional gadgets, meals, crafts and houses for the travellers who do not familiar with the Malaysians culture. Its aim is to let all visitors can feel the living style of Malaysian and experience it. This village is in Malacca. It operates by a local family. They tell everyone about the Malaysians culture and promote it.

Reflection:

When we reached this village, there were full of trees and green plants. The first thing that we did was making a rice container called Karas. It made of coconut leaves. Its function is to put rice into that Karas, and boil it for 4 hours. Then it becomes a delicious Malaysian food.

After making Karas, we went to see the fruits and the traditional

Malaysian houses in the village. Walked along the road, we could see a lot of fruit trees such as mango, rambutan, pomegranate and pitaya fruit. After that, we could see a chalet. That was the traditional Malaysian house. As the raw materials of this kind of house are endangered, it is the only traditional house in this village.

Then, we learnt how to make a Kuih Buah Melaka. It looks like dumplings and it tastes like dumplings too. At last, a joyfoy moment with the 12

traditional whipping top has ended our trip in Malacca.

From this trip to Malacca, we understand that Malaysians culture is profound. Not only do the next generation of Malaysians will to pass on, but everyone in the world also wants them to keep their culture. They try to save those species and promote this faith to the world.

We need to learn from the Malaysians that we have to save the culture. If we only focus on the new things, we will never remember this valuable culture. Sooner or later, they will disappear.

Photos:

Reflection: Day 4

Spots description:

On the fourth day, we went to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

The destination is about half an hour away from the hotel. After we arrived there, a tour guide took us to visit the museum as he wanted to show us some exhibits made by woods that hewed from the tropical rainforest. After that, he took us into the rainforest. There were some trees that were notable. One of them is the juice from the tree can help for the wound. Other trees' leaves had a smell like garlic. All of us thought the smell was too strong. The last trees' leaves can expel the mosquito. These trees were not common in Hong Kong and astonishing to see.

Reflection:

Forest Research Institute is a place that for locals to have different researches about the trees in Malaysia. There are many different kinds of trees. Therefore, locals need to have an institute for the research. The forest that we visited was not the main tropical rainforest in the world. In fact, there were many things that we could learn, such as some geography knowledge about rainforest. In the forest, there were different kinds of trees and many buttress roots, which is a huge root that can support the whole tree. The climate of the forest is not too hot, but sultry. Not dry, but a little bit humid. It is the best time for fungi, mosses, and trees to grow.

We thought that the visit was very educational. We cannot see rainforest in Hong Kong. So it is an unforgettable trip. We learned many kinds of trees, which can help for the wound and so on. We learnt that it is important for us to protect the environment. If we do not protect the environment, next generations may not have any chances to visit the rainforests. All of us really want the locals can protect the rainforest as those trees may become fewer and fewer in the future.

The rainforest was keeping well in Malaysia. It is because of the locals.

They use their energy to put on the institute of forest. If they do not have the institute, we will not have chance to visit the forest.

Photos:

Conclusion

Not only can we discover and explore other country, but also understand that we are much blessed than Malaysians. As Malaysia is a

Muslim country, so the locals are innate to be a Muslim. This is a big different with Hong Kong, a city without worries. After we went to Kuala Lumpur, we could get to know more about the Malaysians culture such as religion, living style, history and so on. Moreover, we have learnt to treasure what we have as we are fortunate of more than we know.

Group Member List

Chan Suet Fei (5B-1)

Cheng Tsz Ching (5B-4)

Cheung Yin Laam Sunny (5B-24)

Ho Sin Wan (5B-7)

Kong Yat Yui (5B-8)

Lau Ka Wing (5B-11)

Liu Shuk Wing (5B-15)

Wong Wun Chun (5B-31)