Tourists visiting Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, also known as Jalan TAR would see it as just another tourist spot. But for those of us who are born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, the place does have lots of significance.
Decades ago, there was not many shopping complexes and places for people to hang out. So those from surrounding localities would take the mini buses or the Len Seng buses to areas around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to do their shopping. The area are mostly filled with locals then.
When my parents were courting, they watched the blockbusters then at theaters like Odeon (above) and Coliseum (below):
Folks then (and even when I was young) would have our meals at the coffee shops located along TAR:
Sogo was just opened when I was young and sometimes, we do go there for shopping- but during the initial years, Sogo, like The Mall Yaohan sold mostly high end items- so there was nothing much we could buy as the items were expensive:
The Ship restaurant, located opposite Sogo were a popular high end dining place-before many high end restaurants come up today:
Before Popular and Big Bookstores became large chains, most of our textbooks were bought from Minerva bookstore. Usually when our book list comes out, parents would head on to Minerva to buy the books. So being one of the only bookstores with complete list, there is not much discounts on the textbooks. Today, the store is quiet as bookstore chains like Popular had taken over the textbook/revision books market.
Today, Jalan TAR had changed- it gradually evolved to a place frequented by many foreigners especially during their weekend offs. Items sold are more budget in nature and there are lots of headscarfs (tudung), cloth and school uniforms can be found here:
Some stores like Globe Silk Store had been closed. And some like Gulatis, thrives- into a multi story building:
As you walk along, you may be greeted by the fragrant aroma of satay and you may be tempted to stop by to have a few sticks, together with the local mamak food:
Else, you can also walk into any of the backlanes (by going along with the traffic direction, the backlanes are located on your left) that would bring you to Masjid India where you can have nice Indian food.
