Ancient center of commerce, contemporary center of propoganda?

Hello friends, periodically I try to blog and am unable (the computer will not connect to the web page). This happened yesterday. So, I will have to try and sum up TWO WHOLE DAYS (!!!) of activity in one blog. Sigh.
Yesterday, I began the day by visiting the Central Market. Nothing like the Central Markets in other cities I've been in. None of the pungent smells greeted me as I walked in. The market has been re-done and is now used purely for selling souveniers to tourists. So I left.
Then, I visited the National Mosque. It was built in the sixties and is the only mosque I've ever seen that looks like it was built in the sixties. I will upload a picture of it so you can see it, because I'm not sure that I can describe it.
Afterwards, I visited the fascinating Museum of Islamic Art, apparently the only one of its kind in the world. I learned a lot. I will share some fun facts with you :
-the tesselating geometric shapes you often see in Islamic art symbolize the infiniteness of G-d
-Islamic art generally does not portray living beings (humans, animals)--only G-d can create life
-The dome of the rock in Jerusalem is the oldest muslim building in the world
-the mosque in Mecca holds one MILLION people. Holy crap.
-The Taj Mahal is a mosque. How did I not realize that before?
The museum had an area with models of some of the important mosques in the world. It also featured textiles from around the Muslim world, very old Korans, weapons, jewels, and more. It was a very interesting museum.
When I finished at the museum, I walked into the 200 acre park that's in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. It was beautiful. There were wild monkeys in the trees. I saw some branches moving and at first thought I saw a really big squirrel. Nope. Monkeys.
I had a traditional Malaysian lunch. I thought it was sort of odd. There was rice, a little curry on the side, some roasted chicken, three cucumber slices and then a little pile of dried, fried anchovies and peanuts. These items were all in independent piles on my plate. It was delicious, but spicy.
Then, I went into the KL Bird Park. They have a covered bird park where they let all these exotic birds fly around. It was really cool. I saw birds I never even fathomed existed, that were all colors of the rainbow. I spent several hours in there.
Then I went to the orchid garden. Imagine, Minnesotans, growing orchids in the out-of-doors! Not in climate controlled boxes! They were very beautiful.
I know I'm forgetting to share some things. I'll probably remember as soon as I post the blog.
Today, I got up and went to the bus station and came to Malacca. I met a very entertaining Irishman, whom I sat with on the bus. He was telling me (someone told him) that the Malay, muslim majority keeps the Indian and Chinese ethnic communities as second class citizens. There's very open discrimination against them. Interesting...
Anyhoo, I arrived in Malacca and am staying at a very friendly guesthouse. I went to a rather unimpressive maritime museum this afternoon, that had more information about how great Malaysia is than any actual historical fact. On my way out I met three Indian gentlemen. I talked to them for quite some time. One lives in Malacca, one in KL and one in India. They confirmed what the Irishman was telling me earlier. They were very friendly and the guy who lives in Southern India gave me his email and phone number for when I'm in India, in case I need some help. I told him when I end up at the police station, or run out of money I'll be sure to give him a ring. Just kidding. Oddly enough, when going into the maritime museum, I was required to remove my shoes. This was very strange to me.
They were also telling me (and I heard this from another Indian lady in Siem Reap) that you have to be careful when going to India to meditate or study yoga. There are a lot of con artists posing as swamis and gurus and what-not, poised and ready to make their dollar off Westerners' search for enlightenment. I'm glad I already know where I'm going to study. They also told me how unbelievably hot it's going to be when I get there. Sigh. What can I do?
Well friends, I have uploaded more photos for your viewing enjoyment. http://new.photos.yahoo.com/laurenemilywinter27
I appreciate your emails and comments and hope you're having a lovely day!
Lauren