Visiting the Blue Mosque
Over the weekend, I paid a visit to Malaysia's famous Blue Mosque, a well-known tourist spot featured in travel guides alongside Putrajaya's Pink Mosque. Situated in Shah Alam, Selangor, a bit away from Kuala Lumpur, you can easily reach it by taking a bus from the Brickfields bus stop, near KL Sentral station, for about 3 Ringgit.
In Malaysia, you'll find "I♡City or Place" monuments everywhere you go. The one at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, with "I♡KL," is smaller compared to this monument, which boasts more characters and has a solid presence.
The Blue Mosque
The formal name of the Blue Mosque is the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, named after a king. Its distinctive features include four minarets and a captivating blue design. I've visited other mosques before, but this one is considerably larger.
You can tour the mosque outside of prayer times. You'll need a guide during your visit, but you'll be approached at the entrance, so you won't need to wander around looking for one.
Many Japanese Tourist?
What surprised me during this visit was that everyone in the guided tour group (around ten people) turned out to be Japanese. Later, when I asked my Malaysian friends, they knew about the mosque as a significant place but were unaware of its popularity among tourists, much like the situation with Central Market's sea cucumber soap.
As a Japanese person myself, I don't mind participating in tours with only Japanese participants when traveling abroad. The guides can speak a bit of Japanese, but it's primarily an English tour, focusing on the mosque's interior and insights into Islamic life.
However, probably due to past experiences, Japanese tourists are perceived as not very interested in religion, so about 40% of the tour was about the mosque, while the remaining 60% was geared towards Instagram-worthy photos.
I had visited the National Mosque, which is a self-guided tour, so this was my first time having a guide show me around a mosque, and I wished for a bit more depth. It depends on the guide, of course, so if you feel like you'd like to know more, don't hesitate to ask questions directly. Naturally, the guides can provide detailed information about the mosque and Islamic practices if asked.
Despite its vast size, this mosque has a local feel to it. I had the opportunity to witness an actual wedding ceremony and saw mothers watching their children play in the corridors, creating a heartwarming atmosphere.
When you visit, don't just admire its beautiful exterior and design; savor the ambiance as well.
Getting Back Home: Grab & KTM Commuter
After the guided tour ended, everyone promptly called for a Grab ride. You can return by bus, but the uncertain schedule made us opt for a Grab to KTM Shah Alam station.
As a side note, when I got off at the station, I was the only one. It seemed like everyone else had taken Grab rides all the way back to Kuala Lumpur. I waited for the KTM Commuter train among local youths and returned home from KL Sentral.
While it might not be highly recommended for those on a tight schedule visiting Kuala Lumpur, it's a perfect spot for a quick day trip.
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