Our last few days in KL were both wild and peaceful. The WILD was Mike scuba diving in the KLCC Aquaria with about 20 fiercesome-looking sharks, sea turtles, mantas, and 200 other species of fish. But all we need to talk about are the sharks. Check them out! They were always just a few inches away from Mike and the dive master, sometimes coming around the bend behind them, catching them unawares, and sometimes head on. It was truly a great experience to see these magnificent beasts up close and personal, and Mike would do it again in a heartbeat. He thought at first it might be a cheesy experience, as he has only gone scuba diving in the ocean before, but it was memorable. After all, both humans and creatures are captive in the same area. So you have to interact. The sharks are well fed and the most fiercesome-looking were Sand Tigers, which are prized by aquaria for their tough look and gentle demeanor, so there is really no danger, but it still feels a little exciting, much like the Jungle Cruise Ride at Disneyland, but with live animals rather than animatronic ones. And, you get to get wet. Mike was in the tank for about an hour, and Jan “only” took 267 photos of Mike diving, along with about 15 videos. As most divers would also say, Mike had never seen footage of himself diving before, and has never gotten such clear photos of what he was seeing, as it is difficult underwater without highly sophisticated equipment. When he has tried to do photography underwater, the results have been weak and murky, with the vibrant colors of the fish grayed out. But since Jan was outside the tank, everything was crystal clear. A great experience!
Last week, we did a post on the Petronas Towers, which are the heart of KL. Most everything in the city takes place inside and around the towers. We went to a youth symphony concert, as Philharmonic Hall is inside the towers. The last two photos are the pipe organ and the gorgeous ceiling lighting. The musicians were excellent…we heard some Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Bizet, and a very unusual piece by the contemporary Welsh composer, Gareth Wood. It was Four Pieces for Four Trombones, and was very interesting, as all four trombones took the lead at various times to produce some interesting trombone sounds and passages. It was the peaceful part of our last days in KL. Malaysia was great. We would love to return for more of the Malay culture in the future.
