It’s rare that we have a family day out and the adults enjoying it as much as the kids. Our trip to Royal Selangor Visitor Centre in Wangsa Maju however was truly great fun for us all!
First up was a guided tour of the small museum and factory. I was a little dubious about how excited my kids would be about a tour, but I have to say it was excellent. There were so many beautiful and interesting artefacts to look at and lots of exhibits that the kids could interact with – they especially enjoyed the big mirrors.
Since we were there on a Saturday, the actual factory was pretty quiet. However, some of the workers had obviously come in specially, to show us how they mould and shape the pewter items at the demonstration tables. It was fascinating to see this live presentation and we saw how much work goes into every piece of metal.
Next, we decided to stop off at The Café for lunch. This is a lovely space and they serve both Malaysian dishes as well as pasta and sandwiches, all really yummy – no need for a packed lunch!
The School of Hard Knocks
It was time for the main event – creating a pewter dish in the workshop. This 30 minute class is called ‘The School of Hard Knocks’. It is suitable for children and costs RM65. The session started with hammering your name into a flat metal disc. A bit of parental help may be required if you have young children, but my six-year-old could manage it well enough with me guiding him. Then the real bashing began, as the kids used a mould to hammer out the shape of the dish.
Both our kids thoroughly enjoyed this part and it was really satisfying to see the bowl taking shape. It’s a great keepsake and you also get an apron and certificate to take home.
The Foundry
If you have older kids (over 15 years of age) or just fancy creating something yourself, you can also take part in a longer 60 minute workshop. It’s called ‘The Foundry’ and costs RM180. You can make a whole range of items here.
Obviously, the gift shop of the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is a big part of this experience and worth a quick look on your way out – if only to appreciate all the beautiful creations. We definitely left with a newfound respect for these pieces, after seeing the work that goes into each one.
When you can visit places like the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre again after the MCO, it’s worth planning your visit. You can best use the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre website for this, so that you can organise your workshop times. You can even book a free shuttle bus to Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, which departs from several stops in KLCC. There is plenty of parking onsite though. You can access their website here.
Fancy more future trips to indulge in Malaysian culture? Have a look here at an article from Tourism Selangor with their top 5 museums!
