Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Kuala Lumpur Park Tour

Lake Garden is the most popular park in Kuala Lumpur. Built around two lakes, the tropical garden consists of Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Butterfly Park and Bird Park. I have decided to visit the latter two.
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The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park was just a 'so so' park (in my opinion). A walk in the garden, there were not many butterflies flying around actually. I was hoping that the tour would have allowed people to observe butterfly life cycle in action. Couldn't even track down a caterpillar !

They should have stations with butterfly nectars - specially to attract butterflies so that visitors can have a closer look at them. A short video of a butterfly busy collecting nectar from flowers.
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A huge overhead net roof spans the garden. There were actually more trees seen than butterflies !
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A few small flowers seen here and there.
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There is a shallow pond for tortoises - dwelling under the sun. Feeding is possible.
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The vivid oranges, red, black and whites of huge Koi fishes.
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The sighting of other insects too in the park. I actually have had better butterfly pictures during my last trip to the Singapore Zoo.
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The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is the largest covered bird park in the world. Sprawling approximately 30 acres, visitors can enjoy watching melodic birds perching and winging about freely and at the same time relaxing in a natural and beautifully landscaped surrounding.
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The park contains some three thousand or more birds for you to look at and here are some of which pictures I have taken. Above would be a cattle egret (a blonde chick ?).
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Apart from bird watching, visitors can also experience bird (i.e. eagle) feeding at various feeding stations.
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Painted storks - tall and slender and the head is partly bare of feathers, and is orange-red in color (actually gave a ducky expression).
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It has also light fink feathers on its lower back. Nice and elegant.
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Hornbills - their elaborated and brightly colored bills. A variety of species and plenty of them.
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A fat brown owl nodding off but they may look sleepy or even half asleep when really they are wide awake. Be aware you rats !
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The peacock butt - when displays his tail feathers, the peacock shows his intention to the peahen he is ready for mating.
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The many variations of parrots. And my favorite is the Rainbow Lorikeet - a dark blue or violet-blue head and stomach, a bright green back, tail and vent, and an orange breast and beak.
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Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit.
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If you are a Malaysian (plus you bring along your MyKad), admission rate is as following;
Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park RM 5.00 per person
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park RM 12.00 per person

The bird park was worth the visit - I enjoyed the trip quite a bit. If you are a foreigner, then you will have to pay about RM 30.00 per person, unless you are taking the park package which you may then enjoy a few ringgits off.

I would have liked to go explore other places in the city (i.e. Eye on Malaysia) and to meet up friends while back home over the weekends, but heavy downpour and flash flood has kept me at home watching TV.