Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Batu Caves) (October 2006)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Batu Caves) cover page.	Map of Malaysia with the star indicating Kuala Lumpur.	Sign at the entrance of the Batu Caves (located 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur).	View of the 272 steps to the Temple Cave at the summit of the hill. The statue of Lord Muruga is to the right.
Closeup of Lord Moruga, the most popular Hindu deity. The statue was installed in January 2006.	Once a year the Hindu Thaipusam festival is celebrated by as many as 800,000 devotees at the Batu Caves.	A Hindu statue with an interesting geometric design at the base.	There are Hindu works of art underneath each of these monuments.
Hindu statues dressed up in bright colors and with garlands around their necks.	Colorful figures adorning the rooftop.	A bachanalian-looking figure with a big stomach.	Hindu statues seated under beautiful arches.
More colorful and whimsical rooftop figures.	An amazing sculptural entryway to the 272 steps.	Closeup of the Hindu figures on top of the entryway. Statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, I suppose.	Looking up the steps (at least 200 to go)!
Incense burning on the steps on the way up.	There was a lot of traffic on the steps that day.	About half way up the steps, I ran into this handsome long-tailed macaque monkey.	He was watching me and the rest of the crowd going up the stairs.
He's giving an intense look from his green perch.	Now, he has a contemplative look.	My new friend was a great model that any photographer would admire!	I am getting winded, but close to the top of the 272 stairs.
About a dozen more steps to go!	The view from the top of the stairs showing the back of the Lord Moruga statue.	View of the opening of the Temple Cave	Interesting Hindu figure with an umbrella.
A Malaysian man was charging people to get a photo with this gorgeous iguana.	These figures were inside the cave. More Hindu gods and goddesses, I suppose.	A souvenir stand inside the Temple Cave. I bought a refrigerator magnet there.	The caves are made of limestone and are 400 meters long and 100 meter high.
An alter inside the cave with more Hindu deities.	Once inside the Temple Cave, there are some stairs to an area where their is a chimney opening.	Closeup of the stairs leading to the opening. Note the sunlight pouring in.	Here, you can see how the cave opens up at the ceiling.
Once at the top of the stairs, I met a mean macaque.	He chased down a little kid who wouldn't give him a snack that he had!	Some amazing sculptural and architectual details inside the cave.	I tried to make another new friend.
Unfortunately, these macaque monkeys were not very friendly!