A trip To The Kuala Lumpur Zoo

What to do, where to go during a pandemic? The zoo seems like a decent option. Outdoors, smelly cages, animals who don't know a global meltdown is happening.

What's for lunch? In a cat's cage, something hanging and raw.

Tapir, taking a secret nap. In the penguin tank, a fantasy environment.

A rolling leopard.

More cage environments, blurring the real and the imagined.

An orangutan, native to only parts of Malaysia and Indonesia, knocking for its dinner.

Oh, Deerland Park

After you've seen the big boys at the nearby Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre, head to the nicely low rent little animal park, Deerland. The place seems like a family affair, a small walk through the flora to enjoy a dozen or so cages of mostly birds and small animals.

First up, feed some deer. They're not shy.

They are cute! Pensive cat.

Cock on the walk.

Toad gone splat. Getting the blues at a picnic area.

Peahen tail.

Getting To The Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre

A great day trip from Kuala Lumpur is hopping in the car, heading to the jungle and seeing elephants. Who doesn't love a good trunk show?

The Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre is dedicated to rehabilitating and caring for lost, damaged, returned, orphaned elephants. Bring them your tired pachyderms and they'll get them healthy and happy again.

Hello elephant. Looking for a handout.

A baby elephant displaying its leg splint. Tails, you may be it.

An adult elephant that's lost its tail.

Mud disguise. Trying to disguise the center among the jungle flora.

Sarah, as usual, much in demand.

Finding Fabric In Kuala Lumpur

If you need to get a color and pattern fix, head to old downtown Kuala Lumpur and pop into the many fabric stalls. The stores are packed with so much sensory overload, it's almost impossible to make a decision. One wants it all.

Typical store, typical merchant, ready to help.

On to the samples, whether Indian or Malay in style. Rich.

Young shopkeeper.

Rhinestone encrusted headscarves, hijabs. So much fabric, some of it still bound in bundles with no room for display.

Another store, another person ready to offer guidance.

Details Of Tawau

Lots of good things to stare at in Tawau, those little details that give a place a little identity.

Disco mosque dome.

Way to up-cycle an old chair, nothing a lot of plastic wrap can't accomplish. Eyes need to match the outfit.

Vices evidence in a stairwell.

Hawker stall staples, chicken wings marinated, ready for grilling and a beverage cooler dunk.

Tough town. "Do not take my Singer!"

Time to take a look at the local fishermen. Busy sorting the catch and a portrait.

What did you catch today?

The Big Shop In Tawau

Nothing more central in a Malaysian town than the central market. Tawau has a big one, crammed with all food stuffs, clothing, hawker stalls, home goods, all one needs throughout the day and more.

Keeping watch over one's stall.

Pro tip, use a little plastic wrap to make the cut fruit look super shiny. The specialty in Tawau, dried fish.

Market sign, everywhere you need to go, in pictures.

Shiny pots. The place is customer friendly. Pre-bagged mixes of vegetables that are prepped for juicing.

What do the kids do while the moms are working the stalls? Make their own fun. Ode to Helen Levitt.

The Architecture Of Tawau

Tawau's a typical Malaysian town, heavy on the use of concrete with a sprinkling of mosques around.

City vista, receding to jungle.

Classic government buildings, sprouting from the overgrowth and a funky, curvy library. Nice carports.

Old Tawau, a 1960s concrete jungle.

Busy commercial area. The old Bandar mosque.

Inside the bigger, more modern, Al-Khauthar mosque.

Patina rising, an old apartment building and a ruined house.

Tawau is on the water, with a view of Indonesia in the distance. Stroll the promenade to see it.