Kuala Lumpur

3 Feb 2011 - We have a bit a strange week in KL with so many holidays. These days we celebrate Chinese New year, and on February 1st it was Federal Territory Day. Kuala Lumpur means literally "muddy confluence" and it is situated at the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers. In the early 19th century tin was found in Ampang, but as merchants could not travel beyond the point of the two rivers convergence, a town soon developed in the area. KL was later made the capital city of Selangor state during the British administration. When the country gained its independence in 1957, bustling KL was made the country's capital. It was accorded city status in 1972 and the city ceded from Selangor on February 1st, 1974, when it was declared a Federal Territory. Although the tin is just a memory now, people from all over the country still flock here in search of fortune. KL has become a vibrant melting pot of cultures and various food traditions.