Malaysia Tourism

Malaysia Travel

2007-06-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Malaysia Travel Guide:
The best part about travel is the people you meet. Over a week or even a few days, you can come to know someone incredibly well if you spend every waking hour of the day together. Think of it – in a week, you can easily spend over 100 hours in the company of another traveler, chatting about journeys and histories and life and nonsense. Back at home, it’s hard to log that much time with close friends in half a year or even a year.

The worst part about travel is sometimes moving on, saying goodbye to newly-made friends, parting ways and knowing that you may never see each other again. The intensity of the bond dies without a mutual history – the years of acquaintance and witness to personal growth that makes people proper mates. Geography compounds the problem.

But still you do it. You meet people, and gravitate toward those that share similar interests, humor or just destination. You stay longer with those you like, maybe even changing itineraries to buy more time. But, inevitably, you part, go your separate ways, and in time (maybe just hours) do it again.

I grow more skeptical about those I meet, less confident in the potential longevity of the friendship, but once overcome, am no less saddened to see them go. It doesn’t get easier. The life experience is supposed to harden you to loss, but I suppose it really just depends on the emotional investment made. I’d hate to think that I may become more risk-averse and stop investing in these high-risk friendships.

Malaysia Trip Report

2007-06-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

Peninsular Malaysia

I traveled by train from Singapore to Jerantut in Malaysia, which is cheap and simple to do. Once in Jerantut I stayed at the 'Hotel Sri Emas' howann@tm.net.my from where you can book a ticket for the boat to Taman Negara. The ticket included the bus for the short drive to Kuala Tahan from where the boat departs.

Taman Negara needs no introduction and provides some of the best birding to be had in Malaysia in an ancient forest setting. I stayed in the cheap hostel called the Liana on the opposite side of the river where all the floating restaurants are. I paid about £2 per night for a dorm with eight people in it and met some great people this way. One night we all sat on the step drinking whisky during a fantastic, spectacular electrical storm. I found the birding difficult, tall 40-50m trees give you a bad neck after a while and it was the most humid place I have ever been to, my watch, supposedly waterproof to 30 m, steamed up! Best bird goes to a Great Argus, which holds territory half way down the Jenet Muda trail and showed in exactly the same place three days running, he allowed me to within 10 m before casually walking off in to the forest. I did get a rather poor view of Malaysian Rail-babbler at the bottom of the Jenet Muda which, flushed from the track and walked off under a log with its head moving backwards and forwards Pigeon style. It didn't reappear sadly. Potentially fantastic and others do much better than I did. I could only stay four nights due to the place being booked solid for the King's birthday and even the campground had several hundred people pitching tents the day I left. This meant that I had to waste two days in Kuala Lumpur, as my next destination was also fully booked for the same reason.

Fraser's hill was arguably my favourite place on the whole trip. This former hill station has great birding with easy access and a variety of places to stay and eat. The birding even from the road can be fantastic. I was fortunate that my visit coincided with the annual bird race and through this I met some great people and had a wonderful time. Best birds here were Cutia, White-hooded Babbler and Bamboo Woodpecker and the supporting cast was superb. I didn't see any of the big three here i.e. Marbled Wren Babbler, Malaysian Whistling Thrush or Rusty-naped Pitta although the latter was heard, but the overall birding was enough to compensate for that. The winners of the bird race, the team lead by Morten Strange, amassed nearly 90 species, we only managed 50, but we did not have a car and they did! I don't think it would have made any difference though.

The gap is 8 km down the road from Fraser's hill and you need a couple of days here to see some of the lower altitude stuff, although only a few hundred metres lower, there are several species which will not be seen higher. Best birds here were fly-over Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (4,not great views admittedly), Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Orange-breasted Trogon and Black-thighed Falconet. The Nightjars were seen whilst sat drinking tea on the verandah of the guesthouse.

Cameron highlands was not on my itinerary but I had time to kill before leaving for Indonesia due to the short time spent at Taman Negara. I had met Chris and Lucy Bennetts who are rather passionate about the environment and they persuaded me to help with the clean up of Parit falls, a local beauty spot in Tanah Rata. The falls are also the site of a possible Malaysian Whistling Thrush but this remains to be confirmed. The only place I got good views of Lesser Shortwing, and the only place I saw Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-tailed Robin and Rufous-winged Fulvetta. I stayed at 'Father’s hostel’ where there are cheap dorms or slightly more expensive single rooms. All the hostels send a bus to the station to meet incoming travelers so just ask for their bus. The place is great with a real sense of kinship between the travelers there. There are three films shown daily for the days when you either can't be bothered to move or the weather won't allow you to and there is an e-mail facility. The meals are good and you can buy wine and beer at the hostel but it is only a short walk in to Tanah Rata where there are numerous restaurants and 'The Ranch' pub where I enjoyed a few rowdy nights. Made is a local guy with intimate knowledge of the trails in the area and will usually accompany people who want a bit of a hike. Be warned that it is easy to get lost on the trails as they are not marked and there was a Polish guy who went missing for three days while I was there. He wandered out eventually in to a tea plantation and was able to report that 'the lonely planet will not burn'! He tried to set fire to his for warmth.

I got the bus from Tanah Rata to Penang where I stayed overnight at the '75' guesthouse on Love lane and was able to book a boat ticket at the hostel for a next day departure to Medan in Sumatra. The old guy on reception here was particularly friendly and helpful.

This boat trip set the theme for the rest of the trip with locals regularly, throwing up, even on buses.

Shopping in Malaysia

2007-05-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

GET SET. Strap on your jet packs. Go. No, this is not a space jaunt at the speed of light but an exhilarating – and potentially exhausting – shopping marathon at whatever speed your wallet can muster. From haute couture and high-gloss brands to flea markets and home grown fashion, Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, has it all.

If you’re truly serious, invest in a large suitcase, don’t overstuff it, ensure your credit is humming and mark your calendar from 16 June till 2 September. This is the official Mega Sale Carnival period when shoppers get high on lower than low prices – almost 70 percent off in some cases. More information at the Tourism Malaysia official site. With 2007 designated Visit Malaysia Year there are extra carnivals and sales slotted in to keep shoppers busy. The Malaysia GP Sale coinciding with the Kuala Lumpur F1 Grand Prix race is from 24 March to 22 April 2007. Also watch for the Malaysia Year End Sale Carnival from 1 December 2007 till 1 January 2008.

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One of the first things you might do is to pop into Central Market, on Jalan Hang Kasturi (tel: [603] 2274-6542), to pick up a host of local handicraft and other quirky souvenirs. It’s little wonder that this art deco market is top on every traveller’s list. It offers a genuinely local feel and, most importantly, friendly prices. Once inside, you’ll excuse the shades of pink and blue that coat the exterior. Amble past painters, sculptors, fortune-tellers and traders who have made their home in this former wet market. Central Market has just undergone a facelift and sports a spanking new interior. My pick is Collectables Centre (G43, tel: 2273-3182) cluttered with every imaginable collectible from old Craven cigarette tin boxes, charcoal irons and oil lamps to century-old Nyonya tea sets and hairpins. If you’re persuasive enough, the owner might just part with original prints of Sun Yat Sen and old family portraits for the right price, of course. Next stop, Songket & Sutera Asli (M53, tel: 2274-2645), for beautiful songket (richly woven silk) fabric from the East Coast.
Kuala Lumpur luxury shopping Starhill Mall
Starhill pulls in the posh crowd

Prices begin at RM75 (US$22) and then climb indefinitely depending on workmanship. The exchange rate is roughly US$1 = 3.62 Malaysian ringgit (RM).

Be sure to also visit the House of Silver (G15, tel: 2274-4457) to take home, a Kelantanese tea set, antique silver dining wear, jewellery or the Malay keris. For kites of every shape and size, (the wau bulan being most popular), stop by Wau Tradisi (M51, tel: 22741906). Prices here range from RM198 (US$55) to RM500 (US$138). Batik is wall-to-wall throughout the market. Before heading off, rummage through the pottery, pewter, wayang kulit (shadow puppets), traditional costumes and local snacks or have your portrait painted. Master Chin (1/F, 3rd bridge), the resident fortuneteller might offer some tips on paying for all that stuff clattering about in your suitcase-on-wheels. Stop to refuel at the newly opened Precious Old China (M2, tel: 2273-7372), an antique and art gallery doubling as a restaurant and bar serving authentic Nyonya cuisine.

A short walk from Central Market is the newly upgraded Chinatown with its signature lantern-lined streets and pre-war shop houses, now oddly complemented by palm trees and modern roofing, aimed at sheltering shoppers from Kuala Lumpur’s heavy rains. Nevertheless, Chinatown retains its old world charm when it transforms, come rain or shine, into a bustling night market. Thread your way through the maze of street-vendors on Petaling Street and haggle vigorously. Not for the faint hearted.

Petaling Street is a vibrant mix of Chinese, Nepalese and Burmese traders who all vie for attention selling jewellery, herbal medicines, dried food, designer T-shirts, handbags and wallets. Knock-offs and fakes abound. Striking a bargain is not always easy. The trick is to throw in a few local terms like “Murah sikit?” (A little cheaper?) or “Mahal sangat!” (Too expensive!) and pretend to leave in a huff. Sure enough, a voice will call out behind you. “Okay lah, Okay lah! Ow-mach-you-wan?” By the way, Chinatown’s Hokkien-style thick noodles are purported to be the best in KL.
Kuala Lumpur shopping Lot 10
Lot 10 for those brand bargains

Then on to the heart of Little India at Jalan Masjid India. A similar makeover is taking shape here as part of the country’s beautification and upgrading project. Don’t fret; all is not lost despite the covered walkways and paved paths. Little India’s vibrant character is very much alive. Vendors lug bales of sarees through the traffic and past shops heaped with gold, traditional medicines and gaudy glass bangles. Brightly hued sarees and Bollywood-inspired Indian dresses (salwar kameez and lengas) are some of the greatest temptations here. Salwars are loose fitting tunics with a long knee-length shirt/blouse while lengas are long skirts. My favourite is the one-stop complex, The Madras Store (100, Jalan Masjid India, tel: 2693-0072) for fabulous sarees, brassware, oil lamps and home accessories. Another that comes highly recommended is Saree Centre (98, Jalan Masjid India, tel: 2691-0276). For fancy jewellery, Little India (50, Jalan Masjid India, tel: 2693-3443) is sought after, mainly by young brides-to-be. Be sure to whip out your reliable Casio calculator (don’t leave home without it). Prices correspond to the weight of the jewellery. Remember, the price of gold is fixed. What you’re negotiating down then is the premium on the workmanship.

At the other end of this street, there’s a different sort of street theatre with huge crowds congregated around peddlers vociferously declaring the merits of their cure-alls – for impotency, feminine facial hair – through loudspeakers. If all this is too much, have your feet massaged the traditional Malay way, for just RM30. On Lebuh Ampang street (a short walk from Masjid India), shuffle between spice and sundry shops, Indian restaurants and saree shops. Pop into Nalli’s (49A, Lebuh Ampang, tel: 2070-5809), a hot favourite among locals for the latest saree trends, be it in chiffon, Mysore silk, Kanchipuram or cotton. Stop to savour every type of Indian sweet imaginable along the way. Try phatisa, moti choor ladoo, kalakand or barfee.
Kuala Lumpur malls, department stores
New Dior at Starhill

Parallel to Jalan Masjid India is Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman lined with shops, noted for their wonderful fabric, antiques and jewellery. Old and new mingle on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman; modern complexes rise above retro buildings. Gulatis Silk House (162/164, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, tel: 2698-3901) and Euro Moda (No. 126 & 128, tel: 2694-0805), both more recent additions, deserve mention for their exquisite fabric, studded with sequins and beads. This long stretch is also a good spot to hunt for oriental antiques and art.

Udani Carpets (No. 393A, tel: 2698-1962) and Shalini Carpets (No. 40, tel: 2692-7008) offer quite an extensive range. Stock up on winter essentials like boots, cardigans, scarves and thermal undergarments at P Lal Store (No. 135 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, tel: 2694-2694), the city’s oldest department store. Also check out the pewter at Selangor Pewter Showroom (No. 223, tel: 2698-6244). If you need to recharge again, check out the 1920s Coliseum Café for a cold beer and heavenly, but spicy, prawn sambal, accompanied by their home-baked Chinese toast with REAL butter. Despite the dismaying crush of tourist coaches, The Craft Cultural Complex (Jalan Conlay, tel: 2162-7533) is still a great venue for batik, rattan baskets and other traditional handicraft sourced from around the country. In fact, the complex’s main attraction is its community of artists and their workshops. Get to know these artists while observing them at work, and you may just go home with some unique finds.

Moving upscale, Kuala Lumpur’s monster malls are crammed with designer brands and more. Just name it and KL has it, from Versace, Gucci and Prada to Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. The Suria Shopping Complex (Jalan Ampang), situated at the foot of the world’s tallest twin towers, is a gem, with its swank shops, cafes and beautiful people. Stealing the thunder is the upscale Aseana (G/F, tel: 2382-9988), a treasure trove of handmade clothing from all around the region. Perk up your wardrobe with shawls and sarongs by designers Marilyn Tan and Bobby Ch'ng and your home with silk, teapots and sculptures.
Lot 10 Kuala Lumpur
LOT 10 upscale fashions

If you love all things beautiful, step into Salabianca (17, First Floor, tel: 23820428), adored for its stunning fashion. Expect everything from top to toe - accessories to chiffon and silk tops and skirts adorned with delicate beading, painstakingly hand sewn. For exclusively designed pieces, ARCH World Miniature (307, Level 3, tel: 3820-489) has small-scale reproductions of just about anything. It’s one way to take a small piece of KL home in your pocket. Head up to KLCC’s sprawling Kinokuniya bookstore (Level 4, tel: 2164-8133), which offers a wide selection of coffee table books, novels and specialty material.

Be sure to visit The Specialist Bookshop (Level 3, tel: 2166 3433) to browse titles on Islamic, Judaism and Christian theology, neatly tucked into green wooden shelves. Pay close attention to the quotations inscribed along the shelves.

Go across to Avenue K (opposite Suria KLCC), through an underground connection, only if you want to marvel at the exquisitely designed structure by French designer Christian Liagre. Avenue K is otherwise a tepid experience devoid of any real bustle, its long, wide corridors flanked mostly by vacant retail space. This highly anticipated temple of high fashion has failed to kick off as yet as one of Kuala Lumpur 's fashion hotspots.

Instead, flag a cab and head to discount warehouse Melium Outlet (MO) , a mere 10 minutes' drive from Suria KLCC. A taxi ride from Suria KLCC should cost about RM6. Be sure to avoid the lunch-hour traffic because the taxi meter is bound to tick furiously while you ponder traffic jams and sweat it out in the midday heat. At MO (62, Jalan 8/91, Taman Shamelin Perkasa, tel: 9207-3288), f ashion devotees get their designer fix for a song. You'll be surprised to find that you don't have to rummage through knee-deep piles of clothes unlike in most warehouses . Everything's elegantly displayed and neatly stacked on racks and shelves. Expect luxurious surroundings and impeccable service minus the exorbitant price tags. Prices of u nsold end-of-season stocks go for a fraction of the original. Imagine Furla shoes at just RM400 (US$110) compared with RM1,000 (US$276); Furla handbags from RM700 (US$193); Stuart Weitzman shoes at RM250 (US$69); Ermenegildo Zegna suits at RM2,000 (US$553) and Zegna shirts from RM400.
KL bargains at Sungei Wang mall
Bustling Sungei Wang plaza

Continue to splurge if you must, this time at trendy Bintang Walk. There’s Lot 10, StarHill, KL Plaza, and of course, Sungei Wang Plaza and Bukit Bintang Plaza, staples long before the strip became hip. No shopper will be disappointed with Sungei Wang Plaza’s funky fashion styles, found nowhere else. This is fun shopping, low-brow, elbow-jostling. Browse Giordano, Baleno, mobile phones, cameras, computers, costume jewellery, SASA for cosmetics, and Levi's (a 501 original jean for RM265). At Lot 10, take your pick of British India's casual and bright linens, Timberland, Guess, Espirit, Swatch, and trawl the myriad shoe and handbag sales that clutter the lobby area. The ultra-upmarket Starhill has developed rapidly and is a popular shopping stop and watering hole. Most major designer brands and fashion labels are represented and there's a whole floor devoted to art where you'll find places like the Loft Gallery run by Valentine Willie Fine Art (tel: [60-3] 2284-2348). The Loft features local artists and runs different shows from time to time. Elsewhere in Starhill, pop into Dior, Ferragamo, Timberland, Fendi, Kenzo, Aigner, Valentino, Celine, Porsche Design, Versace, Dunhill, or Louis Vuitton, or drop by the funky basement cafes and the even funkier toilet. The male toilet is a dark Arab street recreation with shale tiles, claustrophobic corridors and water piped through bamboo shafts. The newlook Dior and Louis Vuitton shops are adjoining the JW Marriott lobby for ease of spend. The designer brand floor is appropriately called the "Indulge" level in the elevator. Look for this when you press the button. Plenty of food rest stops are around at places like the Arabic Tarbush or the mod multi-cuisine Shook.

Just opposite the road from here on the other side of Jalan Bukit Bintang near The Regent hotel is longtime music store Bentley Music where you can strum guitars and plonk on assorted keyboards.
Kuala Lumpur luxury brands Valentino
Starhill is tops for luxury brands

Turn up the heat and drool over sequins and ruffles conjured up by top local designers, Rizalman Ibrahim (Rizalman Ibrahim Couture, 110-G-M, Jalan Imbi, tel: 2141-6149) and Bernard Chandran (S-32-35, 2/F, KL Plaza, tel: 2145-0534). If you are prepared to fork out a pretty penny you’ll make heads turn for sure. Jalan Bukit Bintang is known for its diversity. Further down the road, Low Yat Plaza showcases the latest in computer software and hardware, all at rock-bottom prices. Digital camera and video shops are abundant in Sungai Wang Plaza and Low Yat Plaza in the Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur. Check out Foto Edar (LG012, Bukit Bintang Plaza, tel: 2141-6683), Foto Nicki (95, Jalan Bukit Bintang, tel: 2142 3368), Fotokem (LG149, Sungai Wang Plaza, tel: 2145-5011) and Jaya Kamera (LG035A, Bukit Bintang Plaza, tel: 2145-0122). The shops stock an extensive range of renowned brands such as Nikon, Olympus, Fuji, Canon, Hasselblad and Pentax. You can count on the staff being courteous and knowledgeable.

There are also numerous electronics and digital camera shops in just about every mall. Or pop into a shop like Foto Miami (tel: [603] 2143-3493) ground floor of KL Plaza next to the JW Marriott hotel. They stock digital cameras, videos and assorted electronic items. Prices will perhaps be most negotiable in Low Yat Plaza. Bear in mind that electronic goods prices in Kuala Lumpur are higher than in Singapore and Hong Kong and the models appear around three or four months after they have arrived in Singapore and Hongkong. KL Plaza also houses one of Kuala Lumpur's best shopping bargains, the large and well-stocked Factory Outlet Store (F.O.S) where you can pick up jeans for RM79 (US$22) or less, and t-shirts and sleeveless linen shirts for RM29-RM39. The store is at the back of the ground floor. The same shirts at Lanvin (where the stitching is done in France) or Givenchy at Starhill will set you back over RM1,300 (US$359) or more. (Another Kuala Lumpur factory outlet option is the GME Factory Outlet at KL Sentral Station where an Obermain shoe starts at RM135, and a Nautica T-shirt at RM29.)

Since you’re into the serious business of shopping, check out Berjaya Times Square (Jalan Imbi), with over 1,000 shops. Britain’s Debenhams has since closed, making way for KL’s favourite one-stop fashion store, Metrojaya. Can’t get over how much you’ve spent? Mull over it while Berjaya Times Square takes you for a ride at its largest indoor theme park, the complex’s top attraction. If you’re an art lover, seek out Artrageously Ramsay Ong The Art Gallery (43 & 45, Changkat Bukit Bintang, tel: 2141-2566), to view Sarawak artworks and handicraft. If Ramsay is around, he’ll be happy to chat with you and you’ll have a free lesson on Sarawak culture, traditions and art.
Kuala Lumpur luxury shopping Louis Vuitton
Designer brands at Jalan Bukit Bintang

Squeeze the time to pop by the recently opened Maju Junction Mall (Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman), Great Eastern Shopping Mall (Jalan Ampang) and Mid Valley Megamall (Lingkaran Syed Putra, tel: 9368 3333), and check out long time favourites Sogo Pernas Department Store (190, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, tel: 2698-2111), Ampang Park Shopping Complex (Jalan Ampang, tel: 2161-7006), City Square (Jalan Tun Razak, tel: 2162-1566) and The Mall (Jalan Putra).

Bangsar deserves mention. This suburb is stealing the thunder with its rising tide of fashion hotspots. To get to Bangsar, hop onto the light rail transit (LRT) system, then catch a taxi to the Jalan Telawi enclave. Once better known for its countless nightclubs and pubs, Bangsar is fast becoming a chic stop for fashionistas. The boutiques mushrooming in the area display a unique bent on what’s hip. The popularity of boutiques like Cats Whiskers (7-1, First Floor, Jalan Telawi 2, tel: 2282-7317) and Gossips (8A, First Floor, Jalan Telawi 2) rely mainly on word of mouth (no pun intended). These boutiques are a cross between someone’s living room and a museum; very Bohemian in appeal. They’re quick to pick up on catwalk trends. So expect to slip into the latest designs like a kimono and wrap style dresses or pile on the trendiest accessories. Swing by Baci Boutique (12A, First Floor, Jalan Telawi 3) for some vintage dresses, Peoples...Egg (32, Jalan Telawi 5, tel: 2283-1084) for oversized bags and Shoes Shoes Shoes (31A, Jalan Telawi 3) to stay in step with the well-heeled fashion pack. Contemplate on your fashion finds over some sangria at the ever-popular La Bodega Tapas Bar (16, Jalan Telawi 2).
Kuala Lumpur bargain shopping, Bangsar weekend market
Girl at Bangsar Weekend Market

When in Bangsar, track down spunky local designer, Melinda Looi’s Showroom (279, Jalan Maarof, tel: 2093 2279). Her haute couture designs are distinct; dresses in muted tones, embellished with intricate beading and crystals. Purportedly gracing the wardrobe of celebrities like Elizabeth Hurley and Cameron Diaz, Melinda Looi’s designs are a must if you want to sashay home in style.

Not too far from Bangsar is Brickfields, buzzing with a genuinely local Indian feel. If you’re coming in from the city on the monorail or LRT, get off at KL Sentral and a short walk will take you directly into the heart of Brickfields. Walk past old women threading garlands of jasmine flowers, smouldering joss sticks and camphor plus sacks of aromatic local spices, the scent of which hits you harder than a slug of sangria. Sales staff at boutiques such as Mumbai (184, Jalan Tun Sambanthan) and Preet’s (206, Jalan Tun Sambanthan) rave about transforming you into the next party-circuit dazzler. Their intricately beaded and sequined numbers will undoubtedly do the trick.

If the heat becomes oppressive, opt for a relaxing interlude at one of the many massage centres that employ blind therapists. Try the Blind Master Massage Center (Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4, opposite YMCA). Combine shopping with some culture – use this time to browse the rest of the area. Brickfields is tagged the ‘Divine Location’. Famous Buddhist, Chinese and Hindu temples and churches, some almost 100 years old, are located in the area, on Jalan Berhala. Pop into Lavanya Arts (134, Jalan Berhala, tel: 2274 -2722) for Indian arts and crafts.

A few more diversions for the travelling shopper are the night markets or pasar malam and flea markets. If you’re watching your cash, the pasar malam is a good place to shop without paying tourist prices. For a fix of local foods, fresh produce, craft and a real atmosphere, go to Bangsar’s Jalan Telawi Sunday Market. Juicy vegetables, fresh fish, accessories and hand phones add character to this already colourful scene. The night market in Bangsar is a big draw, bringing together both expatriates and locals. While you’re there, be sure to swing by Silverfish Bookstore (67-1, Jalan Telawi 3, tel: 2284-4837), and do look out for the Silverfish New Writings 2, a collection of short stories by regional authors.
Kuala Lumpur designer brands, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton shop at JW Marriott

Bargain hunters should not pass up the flea markets. They’re the latest craze. It’s the hip way to spend your weekend, over a cuppa, browsing through stacks of old magazines, stylish home décor from Burma, Thailand and India, trying on exotic jewellery or some silk blouses. Manned by locals as well as expatriates, Sunday flea markets are mushrooming in and around the city. Sogo’s Sunday bazaar flea market (Sogo Pernas Department Store), and BSC Saturday flea market (Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, tel:2094-7700) are a must. As for Bukit Bintang’s Carnival flea market, you’ll get more than you bargained for. Operating every Sunday, the Bintang strip is packed with tiny booths. You’ll even spot a clown or two.

Keeping to the bazaar theme is the Souq Putrajaya (Dataran Putra, Putrajaya). Styled after Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the fledgling souk has a way to go yet. However, the factory outlets are a must-see. Renowned brands, typically costing hundreds of ringgit, sell at bargain prices. End-of-season clothes and accessories by brands like Guess, Fame, MUFC, U2, G2000, Hush Puppies & Renoma will fill up your shopping bags, without burning a hole in your pocket. Prices are slashed 50 to 70 percent, coming down as low as RM9.

Next, pop into Alamanda Putrajaya Shopping Complex (Jalan Alamanda, Precinct 1, tel: 8888-8882) and head straight for Archipelago (Ground Floor, tel: 8888-5389), offering an exciting array of fashion from the Malay Archipelago. Watch out for the boutique, Chantek Chantek, for its collection of figure-hugging Nyonya kebayas (blouses) that are aggressively making a comeback into the local fashion scene. Make a statement and cause jaws to drop back home when you pair this sexy, lacy top with your favourite pair of jeans.
Kuala Lumpur bargain Duty Free
KLIA duty-free selection is reasonable

If you’ve still got some ringgit spare, do some last- minute shopping at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). A Ferragamo silk tie will set you back RM415 (US$115), an Hermes tie RM520, and a Christian Dior "Jadore" eu de parfum 50ml with vaporiser is RM220. Other airport outlets include Versace, Coach, Guerlain, Dunhill, Burberry, Guy Larouche, Aigner, The Body Shop and Tie Rack. With Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) becoming a useful and convenient hub for passengers flying from Europe to Asia and Australia, there is increasing interest in digital video camera shopping here. However there is only one electronics shop for video and camera buffs - Electric & Electronic Shop, SATP G04, Satellite Building, KLIA. Tel:[60-3] 87-762252.

That’s it. You’re on your own now.

Malaysia Shopping

2007-05-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

Shopping

Kuala Lumpur is a truly great place to shop. In recent years, mall after mall has risen from city lots, filled with hundreds of retail outlets selling everything from haute couture to cheap chic clothing, electronic goods, jewelry, and arts and crafts. The major shopping malls are located in the area around Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail. There are also a few malls along Jalan Ampang. Suria KLCC, just beneath the Petronas Twin Towers, has to be KL's most upmarket mall, while Berjaya Times Square wins the prize for excess with 900 shops, food and entertainment outlets, plus the world's largest indoor amusement park.

Still the best place for Malaysian handicrafts, the huge Central Market on Jalan Benteng (tel. 03/2274-6542) keeps any shopper saturated for hours. There you'll find a jumble of local artists and craftspeople selling their wares in the heart of town. It's also a good place to find Malaysian handicrafts from other regions of the country. One specific shop I like to recommend for Malaysian handicrafts is KL Craft Complex, Section 3 Jalan Conlay (tel. 03/2162-7533), with a warehouse selection of assorted goods from around the country, all of it fine quality. Don't forget to walk through the gardens to see the artists' village. In the bungalows towards the side of the building you'll find some of Malaysia's finest contemporary artists displaying their works for sale. And wear comfy shoes, you may need to walk back to the main road to get a cab.

Another favorite shopping haunt in KL is Chinatown, along Petaling Street. Day and night, it's a great place to wander and bargain for knockoff designer clothing and accessories, sunglasses, T-shirts, souvenirs, fake watches, and pirated videos.

Pasar malam (night markets) are very popular evening activities in KL. Whole blocks are taken up with these brightly lit and bustling markets packed with stalls selling everything you can dream of. They are likely to pop up anywhere in the city. Two good bets for catching one: Go to Jalan Haji Taib after dark until 10pm. On Saturday nights, head for Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide - Attractions

2007-05-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

Attractions

Most of Kuala Lumpur's historic sights are located in the area around Merdeka Square/Jalan Hishamuddin area, while many of the gardens, parks, and museums are out at Lake Gardens. Taxi fare between the two areas should run you about RM5 ($1.30). If you plan to sightsee on a Monday, check the listings to make sure the attractions you plan to visit aren't closed.

City tours can be booked through Tour Fifty-one, located at the MTC (Malaysia Tourism Centre) on Jalan Ampang (tel. 03/2161-8830). They coordinate a half-day coach tour for RM25 ($6.60) adults and RM15 ($3.95) children. It swings by most of the places listed here but is rushed.

* Central Market
* Cosmo's World Theme Park
* Islamic Arts Museum
* Jame Mosque (Masjid Jame)
* Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana)
* Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
* Malaysia Tourist Centre (MTC)
* Menara Kuala Lumpur
* Merdeka Square
* National Art Gallery
* National Mosque (Masjid Negara)
* National Museum (Muzim Negara)
* National Planetarium
* Petaling Street
* Petronas Twin Towers
* Sri Mahamariaman Temple
* Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

2007-05-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur , or simply KL, is the capital of Malaysia. Literally meaning "muddy estuary" in Malay, KL has grown from a small sleepy village to a bustling metropolis (population 4.2 million) in just 50 years. With the world's cheapest five-star hotels, great shopping and even better food, increasing numbers of travellers are discovering this little gem of a city.

Place of Interests

You may find that most attractions are only crowded on weekends/holidays and deserted on weekdays
# Petronas Twin Towers, located at Jalan Ampang. Until recently the tallest structures in the world, they are now second only to the newly built Taipei 101 building in Taipei (the capital of Taiwan), but are still among the most spectacular. Visitors may pick up passes to marvel at the view from the Skybridge (level 41-42), one of the highest suspended bridges in the world. Entry is free but limited to the first 1200 who show up, so get there early (best ist 7:45 to 8:00 AM)because available tickets are usually snapped up by 11:30 AM. Open 8:30 AM to 5 PM daily except Monday. In general you have about 10 minutes at the Skybridge.

# KL Tower (Menara KL), located at Jalan Punchak. The observation deck on the top floor provides great city views, and you'll be a few meters higher than the Twin Towers since the tower is built on a hill. Entry to the observation deck costs RM15 and is open from 9 AM to 10 PM daily; for a free bonus, check out the wonderfully bombastic free film on the tower's construction, screened in a little cinema on the tower ground floor.

# Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) Merdeka Square has a special place in the hearts of all Malaysian as it was here that the Union Jack was lowered for last time in 1957 and Malaysia gained her independence. Standing tall here is also the tallest flag pole in the world which measures in at 100m. Surrounding the area are host of historical structures like Sultan Abdul Samad building and Old City Hall. The Royal Selangor Club and St. Mary's Cathedral are two famous landmarks nearby.

# National Museum (Muzium Negara) located at Jalan Damansara,. Contains exhibits on traditional life among the various ethnic communities of Malaysia, numerous well-explained artifacts including fine clothing and shadow puppets, and a sizeable natural history section showing the range of flora and fauna native to the country. A visit to this museum can help you to understand more about Malaysian history, culture, and nature.

# Batu Caves, 13 km north of the city. Hindu priests have used these caves as temples since their discovery in 1878 by William Hornaday. Crowds of Hindus visit the caves in January/February for the spectacular Thaipusam festival, when devout Hindus skewer portable shrines to their bodies and carry them all the way from central KL. They contain a large number of beautiful and fascinating statues of the Hindu Gods. Beware of the smelly monkeys and bird/bat droppings in the cave, though. And discarded banana peels on the steps. The stairs that take you up to the cave is about 273 steps.

# Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association, located at Jalan Petaling. The clan house (kongsi) of the Yuen family, this is the largest and oldest in KL, with the present version completed in 1906. Free admission (but donations welcome), open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

2007-05-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Referring to Kuala Lumpur's penchant for outsized construction projects, management guru Peter Drucker once asserted that Malaysia was "committed to building the world's most disagreeable city. They're building megalomaniac skyscrapers, the biggest mosque, and the biggest traffic jams." Recession has put the brakes on KL's more ambitious projects, such as a riverine shopping/office complex that would have been the world's longest structure. But the home of the 88-story Petronas Towers - the world's tallest building - still manages to feed its edifice complex. In July, a sparkling new international airport opened south of the city. A 20-hectare park that includes $1 million worth of elaborate playground equipment also debuted next to the Towers. Such amenities can ameliorate but not eliminate complaints that air pollution and traffic congestion have eroded the quality of life in recent years. Adding to tension in 1998 is ongoing unrest over the economy and the arrest of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. A Saturday shopping trip downtown in the past few months has sometimes meant running a gauntlet of demonstrators and police barricades.

After the protests end, residents will still have to cope with service shortcomings that belie the city's metropolitan veneer. Rapid growth and industrialization have produced sporadic water shortages. New treatment plants are on fast-track construction schedules, but a larger problem is neglected infrastructure - in Malaysia, some 40% of treated water is lost before reaching homes because of leaky pipes, broken mains and illegal diversion. The fouling of rivers that form the backbone of KL's supply is the primary culprit. "Until the public changes its perception of the river as a backyard rubbish dump, the problem . . . will always be there," says Rozali Ismail, chairman of the company in charge of the city's water supply. It could be a hard habit to break. After all, Kuala Lumpur means "muddy confluence." One proposal might do the trick. Ibrahim Saad, the minister for Kuala Lumpur, has called for polluting companies to be closed down.

Malaysia Nature

2007-05-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

Malaysia Vacation is your one stop source of trusted updated information to Visit Malaysia.
The symphony-like sounds produced by Mother Nature's grand orchestra comprising members from the beetles, cicadas, wasps, bees, frogs, birds and other creatures of the forests provided an excellent opening the herald the arrival of a troop of semi-wild Orang Utans (Pongi pygmaeus). Sharp on the dot at 8.30 am on one crispy morning in Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre these shy and docile Asian apes clamber down stealthily from the crowns of trees surrounding the food platform, apparently in unison, to the strains of the beat and sounds of the forest.

The food consisting of bananas, sugar cane, nuts and milk have been neatly laid out by the wardens at 8.30am. Right on cue the Orang Utans make a quick grab for their favorite food. Some of them driven by greed resorted to all four limbs and their mouth as well to arrogate the goodies. A few of the younger ones were busy slurping milk from the bottles. After their meal they are up to their "monkey" tricks. In fact they are better at this game than their primate cousins the macaques. They have a wide repertoire of horse-play antics and in this regard they are even more ingenious and innovative than humans! Despite whatever they are doing they would respond delightfully to their names whenever the wardens call out, among others, Seduku, Delima, Ritchie, Anwar and George.

All of us standing on the raised boardwalk craned our necks towards the direction of the food platform as far as we can go against the rope-off area. They provide us with an unforgettable memory.

The Place

Semenggoh is similar in purpose and character to the world-renown Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan, Sabah. However there is a difference in that Semenggoh is also a rehabilitation sanctuary for other wildlife species such as the gibbons, monkeys, sun bears, hornbills and other wildlife which have been injured, orphaned or confiscated from illegal owners holding such creatures captive. It is very easy to get to Semenggoh as it is located in the outskirts of Kuching, the City of Cats. The Center lies 32 kilometers (22 miles) south of Kuching along the main trunk road to Serian; small town 64 kilometers (38 miles) from Kuching and Serian is well-known for the Ranchan Pools comprising a set of cascading waterfalls nearby.

Most good class hotels provide mini-vans at a small charge to Semenggoh. Taxi cabs easily available from Kuching city could also be hired at a return fare of Ringgit 60 (US$16) in addition to a levy for waiting time at the rate of Ringgit 10 (US$2.70) per hour or part thereof. For those on a tight budget or who would like to a more leisurely journey but with stops in between or who like to mingle with the locals may travel by public bus (Sarawak Transport Company Bus Numbers 6, 6A, 6B or 6C). For foreign visitors traveling in public buses they may be able to experience a veritable Tower of Babel situation as inside the bus they should be able to hear a multitude of languages and dialects ranging from Malay, English and Chinese dialects -- Mandarin, Hokkien and Foochow -- to Iban and Bidayuh spoken by the Sarawak natives.

These buses can be boarded from the STC terminus situated in the city center a short distance from the central wet market. The fare for the half hour journey is Ringgit 1.90 (50 US cents). Just tell the bus driver that you wish to visit Semenggoh and he would drop you right in front of the main outside entrance at the Forestry Department Nursery. From the main entrance visitors will need to walk an uphill for some 20 minutes along a sealed road carved out from the forest to reach the Rehabilitation Center entrance. Cars, taxi cabs and mini-buses can however drive straight to the Center entrance.

History of the Rehabilitation Center

The Center was set up in 1975 within a 740-hectare (1828-acre) forest reserve authorized in 1920 by the third White Rajah, Charles Vyner Brooke, who ruled Sarawak until 1946 when he ceded it to the British Government which turned it into a Crown Colony.

Charles Brooke in turn took over the reins of government of Sarawak when his uncle the legendary adventurer James Brooke returned in 1865 to retire before he passed away two years later. James Brooke invalidated from the British East India Company based in India arrived in Sarawak in 1839 in his well-armed schooner the Royalist. Using the sheer brute fire power of the Royalist he helped Sarawak's Viceroy (for the Sultanate of Brunei), Rajah Muda (Prince) Mahkota to bust the marauding pirates lurking in the rivers and coast-line of Sarawak as well as put down a rebellion by the local Malays and the Bidayuhs. As a reward the Sultan of Brunei installed James Brooke as the Rajah of Sarawak in September 1842.

In the early 1970s, the Government of Sarawak realized that with the destruction of vast swathes of forests due to exploitation of commercial tropical timber many wild animals had been displaced from their natural habitat and some of them had been hunted, injured or captured and retained as pets and their young ones left as defenseless orphans. This rapid despoliation of the forests started from the second half of the 1960s when the efficient killer contraption, the motorized chain saws and the mighty man-of-war of the forest, the tractors and bulldozers were deployed in commercial timber harvesting, making of jungle tracks for use by logging trucks and haulage of logs to feed the hungry saw mills in Sabah and abroad.

Until the British left Sarawak in September 1963 cutting of hardwoods was very much a localized operation as loggers had to use manual labor to cut the tree trunks, haul the logs using raw human strength to the rivers and to raft them before floating the logs down the river to the log ponds by the sea. The Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was therefore established with the objective of training injured, orphaned or confiscated wild animals and birds so that they could be equipped with the skills and the experience to be able to survive on their own in the wilds of Sarawak.

The Wildlife Found in the Rehabilitation Center

The star attraction is of course the Orang Utan, the great Asian ape. The intelligence of the huge and gentle being and its remarkably human expression make it a source of endless fascination. Apes due to their ability to walk with a human-like gait and their human size body structure as well as their human-looking face (albeit with a protruding jaw) are much loved by many humans. In fact their name is literally translated as the Man of the Forest from Malay/Indonesian. The adult male Orang Utan is 1.4 meters (4.5 feet) in height and weighs 100 kilograms (220 pounds). The adult female however is shorter and lighter. Unlike Man and the other animals the Orang Utan builds its "nests" every day to stay sheltered for the night. Their "nest" is a rough platform of twigs, leaves and branches pulled over the crotch of strong branches high up in the crown of trees.

In the Rehabilitation Center the new arrivals after medical attention and quarantine are brought daily by wardens to the forest and encouraged to climb trees, swing from branch to branch, and forage for food such as fruits, termites and other invertebrates and young shoots of rattans and palms. They are also taught to identify those poisonous fruits which are inedible to Orang Utans. Most Orang Utans are able after two to three years to be gain back their instinct to enable them to survive on their own in the forests.

The best times for visitors to visit the Center is their feeding time which is 8.30am to 9.00am and 2.30pm to 3.00pm. The morning session is recommended as the temperature should be around 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit) as opposed to 32 degrees Celsius (89 degrees Fahrenheit) in the mid-afternoons. Not all the Orang Utans come to the feeding platform as those who are capable of foraging for food on their own would give the free meals a miss. This would demonstrate the success of Semenggoh as a Rehabilitation Center if more and more Orang Utans do not show up at feeding times. When the fruits are not in season then more of these animals would turn up. Therefore it depends on luck and the seasonality of fruiting to be able to see the Orang Utans as they are not kept in cages and shown as exhibits as in a zoo.

Feeding times offer visitors a chance of viewing the Orang Utans at close range for a long period of time. It also offers a unique wildlife experience and excellent photo taking opportunities. After half an hour when they are well-fed and tired after messing around with one another or with the wardens or even with tourists who happen to be in their way they would in the same way they made their appearance quietly and unobtrusively leave from the scene. And that's the end of the show for the time being!

Another animal which is often sent to the Center for rehabilitation is the Mueller's Gibbon or Bornean Gibbon (Hylobates muelleri). The gibbons are hunted for food by the natives who are the Ibans, Bidayuhs, and the Orang Sungei or "Interior Peoples" who comprise smaller native communities such as the Penans, Punans, Kajangs, Kayans and Kenyahs. The coastal Malays because of their Islamic faith which discourages eating animals with either sharp teeth or claws shun such meat. However many of the natives like to keep gibbons as pets as they often make endearing pets although keeping them is an illegal practice. Gibbons are highly territorial by instinct. A troop consists of a nuclear family and it is common to find maturing adolescents (seven to eight year-olds) being chased off from the family. These young adolescent gibbons must therefore carve out a territory of their own often on the fringes of established families.

Consequently displaced gibbons especially inexperienced young males find it difficult to establish themselves. Field studies have found that the mortality rate of gibbons undergoing rehabilitation is quite high as they often die from loneliness, disease, starvation or are killed by hunters.

Like the Orang Utans, gibbons are apes as they too are tail-less but they are half the size of the larger apes. The Bornean Gibbons are silvery grey furry animals with black limbs and black faces but with a streak of white above the eyes. Unlike the Orang Utans the gibbons are very adept at swinging from branch to branch effortlessly using their long and slender arms in a pendulum-like fashion which is referred to as brachiating. Similar movements of the Orang Utans are slower and jerky. The other protected wildlife which are currently being rehabilitated in the Center are the different types of monkeys, sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and some of the eight species of hornbills found in Borneo including the rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) which is the state emblem of Sarawak.

However the Center is not only a haven for the displaced wildlife. There is a fruit garden with many of the wild fruit trees found in the jungles of Borneo. It also houses an ethnic botanic garden containing herbs (many of traditional medicinal value) and spices such as turmeric and lemongrass planted by Sarawak Malays and wild ginger by the Bidayuhs. The Sarawak Biodiversity Center, a botanical research center, a seedling center as well as a seed bank are also located in the Center.

Why Visit Semenggoh Wildlife Center?

The Center not only offers visitors an opportunity to be up close with Orang Utans and other wildlife in their natural environment but also a place to savor the peace, tranquility and quietude afforded by primal, pristine forest reserve. More importantly it educates the public to be more aware of the effects of wanton destruction of the habitat of wildlife arising from commercial exploitation of natural resources. It is of vital importance that governments and the people are constantly reminded that Man must learned from the extinction of the Bali Tiger (Panthera tigris balica) -- the last one was killed in 1937 -- and the Java Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaicus) -- last seen in the wilds in 1972. Already the one-horned Java Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) which has suffered from extensive clearance of forest and relentless hunting is in danger of extinction soon. Similarly the two-horned Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerohinus sumantrensis) is also highly endangered as it is seriously threatened by excessively high demand for its horn and other organs as an aphrodisiac.

Therefore the invaluable work of the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center towards Mankind and our children must be appreciated and supported by all right thinking man and woman. We do not relish showing to our children or grandchildren only the Orang Utan specimens exhibited in some musty museum nor rifle deep below our drawers to retrieve old photo albums to show them badly faded photographs of such wild animals. We wish the Center every success in its endeavors.

Malaysia Adventure

2007-05-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

It has been frequently noted that Mulu "defies description". What follows is not an attempt to describe Mulu but rather an attempt to entice and prepare you, the potential visitor, for the adventure that awaits within Sarawak's largest National Park.

The famous pinnacles rise above the tree tops (over 45m) with their razor-sharp tips at Gg. Api and Benarat. In the limestone beneath the jungle canopy lie some of the world's most impressive caves. It includes the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave), the world's largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), and at 110km, the longest cave in South East Asia (Clearwater Cave). Just for the record, Sarawak Chamber can accommodate 40 Boeing 747 aircraft with room to spare and Deer Cave can hold England's St. Paul's Cathedral five times over. To date, about 195km of cave passage has been surveyed and more is expected to be revealed.

The four show caves can be visited as day trips from Park HQ, the Clearwater Cave, Deer Cave, Lang Cave & Wind Cave. A more adventurous visitor is encouraged to do the Mulu Summit, the Head Hunter's Trail, the Pinnacles or Adventure Caving.

Contained in the boundaries of Gg. Mulu National Park, all the major inland vegetation types of Borneo, Sarawak's second highest peak and the most extensive and spectacular cave system on earth. All these and so much more within an area of about 544 sq. km (52,866 ha.).

Malaysia Travel Tales

2007-05-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur is an intriguing place and although it is very easy just to see the superficial side of the city such as the modern transport system, Petronas Towers and the huge shopping malls, after wandering around some of the older areas such as Kampang Baru and Chow Kit you will see a different, more charming, side to the city.

There are numerous tourist attractions worth seeing in and around the city and any good guide book will give you the low down on them. Some of the good places are Batu Caves, KL Menara tower, Petronas Towers and KLCC gardens, the Colonial area around Merdeka Square, the Lake Gardens and the National Monument, Little India, Central Market and Chinatown.

Try to find out dates of the major festivals and seek the celebrations out – I was there for Wesak Day (a very important Buddhist celebration) and enjoyed spending time at the Buddhist Temple in Brickfields, only a short walk from KL Sentral station. Dates and locations of other festivals can be found out from the helpful Tourist Centres at KL Sentral station and on Jalan Ampang. At these centres you can get a decent map of the city (CityMaps of Kuala Lumpur). At first I struggled to find a good map that had all the street names in detail and the monorail/LRT stations marked on it and resorted to carrying three different maps!

There is a huge mix of cultures in KL which is very apparent from the places of worship, with mosques and Chinese and Hindu temples in abundance. The Thean Hou Temple is one of the most interesting with fantastic views across the city from the open courtyard on the upper floors. It is a Chinese Buddhist temple and is best reached by taxi as it is far from any of the monorail or LRT stations. Friday is an interesting time to be around the mosques in KL and although non-worshippers will not be allowed to enter them during the prayer times it is interesting just watching the comings and goings outside Masjid Jamek and also the Indian mosque on Jalan Masjid India.

As from March 2006 KL airport has two main terminals: KLIA where all the national and long haul carriers fly to and the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Terminal which is quite a trek from KLIA, especially if you don’t have much time between connecting flights! There is a bus service from KLIA to LCC and vice versa, which only costs RM1.50, but this takes around half an hour and if you add waiting time (the bus service runs every 30 minutes but stops for breaks at certain points during the day) then it can be quite a journey. The buses go from platform 8 of the bus station at lower ground floor at KLIA (but you need to take the footbridge over the road first). If you are in a hurry just take a taxi.

If you are flying from LCC and want to get to the airport from KL then it is better (and cheaper) to take the bus from KL Sentral rather than taking the KLIA Express and changing. Details of this can be found here: http://www.skybus.com.my/. It costs RM9 (the KLIA Express costs RM35)

Taxis in KL are cheap and plentiful, but like in many major cities you need to watch that the driver won’t take advantage of your lack of knowledge of the city. Taxis in KL are legally supposed to use their meters, so make sure that they do and that they reset it when you get in. As KL is so hot and humid taking a ride in an air conditioned taxi is a less tiring way to get around – but make sure that the taxi you use is not sitting at a taxi rank as it will be like an oven inside so try and flag one down instead. Also, outside many hotels there will be a taxi jockey who will offer to arrange a taxi for you but he is likely to want to agree the price with you first and then the taxi won’t use the meter (and yes this will be a significantly higher charge then had you been using the meter). One other trick that I came across when using a taxi for a whole morning is that the driver will try to add waiting time on top of the meter charge – be aware that the meter adds this automatically so you should not have to pay anything over and above the meter charge. For most journeys the excellent LRT/Monorail system is the best way to get around, even if the various lines do not integrate with one another very well.

I spent quite a few days in KL and so decided to have a few excursions whilst I was there:

Sepang F1 Circuit, home of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Details of racing can be found here: http://www.malaysiangp.com.my/ To get to the circuit you can take a Komuter train to Nilai station which costs only RM4.70. However a taxi from there to the circuit will set you back 40RM. There is a bus from Nilai to Sepang (the Sepang Omnibus or Airport Liner) which cost only RM2.50, but I don’t know if these only visit the circuit on large event days. Getting from the circuit back to the station can be a challenge – so make sure that you get the cell phone number of you taxi driver; there is no taxi rank at the circuit.

Sunway Lagoon is an interesting diversion from KL – a full on theme park with a ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ section with rides, water slides, wave pools etc. See how the Malaysians let their hair down! I went when they had the Asia X Extreme Games on. To get there take the Komuter train to Subang Jaya for RM3.20. Then hop on the free shuttle bus from the station to the Sunway complex (which also features an enormous shopping mall with an ice rink, pyramid and sphinx!)

Pulau Ketam or ‘ Crab Island ’ is an interesting day trip out of KL, but one I would only recommend if you are in KL for an extended stay as, despite what some guide books say, this really is a full day’s trip. The island consists of a mangrove upon which Chinese fishermen have built a stilted town. Getting there is very straightforward: catch the Komuter train to Port Klang and then it is a short walk to the ferry terminal (which also serves boats going to Indonesia ). Walk down the ramp to the jetty and find the right boat and buy your ticket onboard (RM6 each way). The ferries are regular and there is a timetable here: http://www.pulauketam.com/. I arrived at the island in the middle of the day, which was great for trying out the local seafood for lunch (Restoran Li Hua Seafood was very good), but it seemed very sleepy and maybe gets a bit more lively later in the day. It would be interesting to stay a night (the Sea Lion hotel is located right by the ferry terminal). That said, it is a small island with fishing as its primary source of income so tourists are a bit of an after thought. This is evidenced by the large amount of rubbish that you see in the mangroves at low tide.

A couple of minor safety considerations to be aware of in KL– there is an old con trick where a couple of people will try to befriend you, usually at a Monorail or bus station, and will tell you that they have an aunt/cousin/sister who will be going to your home country to work and could they meet you later to find out some information about your country. When you later meet them, they get you involved in an (illegal) card game and you lose lots of money. These people rely on the fact that you may want to find out a bit about Malaysian culture and your defences are down because the Malaysians are generally so friendly and welcoming. I had two such approaches in the space of a few days.

The other thing to watch out for is snatch robbery, something I thought was probably blown out of all proportions, as KL is a very safe city to wander around. But I did see a snatch robbery take place and the robber dragged the female victim along the ground behind his motorbike in the hope that she would let go of her bag. So these robberies do happen – it is recommended that you do not carry a bag over your shoulder but across your body, don’t walk close to the road but near to the buildings and if possible walk facing oncoming traffic rather than having your back to it. I am sure that the risk of robbery is far less than many other major cities in the world, but it pays to take sensible precautions

Some of the shopping malls are incredible – just take a walk round Starhill Gallery and wonder who exactly buys all that high priced merchandise! Also worth a look are the Suria shopping centre beneath the Petronas Towers and Berjaya Times Square located right by Pudu prison (scene of many drugs related executions). Times Square has a theme park, Imax Cinema and apparently houses the world’s biggest Borders bookshop.

My thoughts on KL would not be complete without mentioning the food. As in much of Malaysia and South East Asia , food is taken very seriously, and with a huge range of influences virtually any form of cuisine can be found. For me the best places to eat were the hawker stalls/restaurants along Jalan Alor for Chinese food and the restaurants along Jalan Raja Muda Musa for Malay food, including the best Nasi Lemak I tasted in all of Malaysia ! There are lots of Indian food outlets too, and as well as being located in Little India there are a number on Lorong Ampang not far from Masjid Jamek. You will also find Indian restaurants dotted all over the city, although to be honest I found the Indian food in KL disappointing after the excellent meals I had eaten in Penang .

The weather in KL is pretty much the same all year round – hot and humid with occasional rain showers – so the best time to go is any time!

malaysia Travel information

2007-05-26T03:45:00.001-07:00

Malaysia FACT SHEET
WHEN TO GO

The east coast can be very hot and wet from November to February. Avoid the change-over months of March, April and October. July is a good time to go.

Current conditions:
86° F, P/SUNNY
Click for Forecast
HOW TO GET THERE

Malaysia's new international airport, at Sepang, 31 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, opened in June 1998. There are four other international airports: Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching.
TRAVEL TIPS

Before traveling to Malaysia you should make sure you are up to date with polio, typhoid, tetanus, and hepatitis A inoculations. If you are planning to travel in rural areas you must also be inoculated against hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and rabies. Wear plenty of insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes—they're known to carry dengue fever, which is a problem in Malaysia.

Drinking tap water in Malaysia is not recommended. Drink (and wash fruit with) the inexpensive bottled water.
TOURIST INFO

For more useful information on Malaysia visit the Malaysian Tourist Board's website at www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my. It also lists a number of tourist information centers in Malaysia.

The Kuala Lumpur office

109 Jalan Ampang

Tel: 03 2164 3929 or 03 2163 3667

Fax: 03 2162 1149

ticmtc@tourism.gov.my
OTHER INFO

GETTING AROUND

Malaysia Airlines (603/7846-3000 , www.malaysiaairlines.com) and AirAsia (603/7884-9000, http://www.airasia.com) link to many domestic airports, meaning that you can easily hop from one city to another by plane. Malaysia has good public transportation too: its intercity coach system is extensive, reliable, and cheap; the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) provides train service throughout peninsular Malaysia.

You can also take special hired cars or "outstation taxis" between cities. Passengers set the rate with the driver at the beginning of the trip. In Kuala Lumpur, contact the Kuala Lumpur Outstation Taxi Service Station (123 Jalan Sultan, 603/2078-0213). You can also hire taxis within cities—feel free to negotiate the price, as they are un-metered.

If you want more flexibility, hire a car: The major car-rental services have desks at the international airports in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. For other outlets, contact Avis (800/ 230-4898) or Hertz (800/654-3131).

Malaysia Travel Guide — Tourism Information and Resources for Tourists

2007-05-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

Malaysia is like the pirate, Muslim, doppleganger version of Thailand. Good people & good neighbors, one and all. The two nations share so much in common: gorgeous food, people, beaches, weather. Shoot, they even share the same peninsula. Well, that is, until Malaysia pulled a surprise, real estate- flanking maneuver and occupied a bunch of bonus land over in Indonesia. So Thailand has a big, flagship, modern city, Malaysia's got it too. Bangkok's got tall dizzying skyscrapers. Kualu Lumpur does too, only taller. The Petronas towers, briefly the world's tallest buildings, rise proudly from Malaysia's thriving capital, two glowing corn cobs racing towards the ionosphere, earthly shackles long ago husked for olympic vistas unmatched anywhere in the neighborhood, especially up there in 'stinking' Thailand. Thailand has world-class beaches, breathtaking jungle vistas. Malaysia? Check and check. If you like Thailand, you will like Malaysia. If you like Thai food, you will like Malaysian food. If you are sick and tired of Buddha lounging around everywhere like he owns the place, if you just can't stand to read the Life of Pi one more time, (it's officially outlawed in Malaysia*) leave the 'Land' and go for the 'Lay.' Think of it as a vacation from your vacation, a holiday for your liver. Come to a country that isn't scared to occasionally tell your free-spending backpacking self that "no, we don't serve alcohol here for religious reasons." Temperance, remember that? Sometimes, especially on a hot day, it's... refreshing.

Malaysia Travel

2007-05-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: American citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least six months to enter Malaysia, but Americans do not need to obtain a visa in advance for a pleasure or business trip if their stay in Malaysia is 90 days or less. Upon or prior to entry into Malaysia, visitors will be given a Malaysian Disembarkation Card to complete and present to Malaysian immigration upon arrival. Immigration officials will then issue a social visit pass (visa) in their passport. While in Malaysia, Americans should carry their passports with them at all times.

Travelers are required to carry their passports for travel from peninsular Malaysia to eastern Malaysia (on the island of Borneo) and between the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak, both of which are on Borneo. Social visit passes (visas) issued at immigration points such as KLIA airport, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) for entry into peninsular Malaysia are not valid for entry into the state of Sarawak and usually have 3 months’ validity. New social visit passes must be obtained upon arrival at Kuching or Miri airports in Sarawak. In most cases, social visit passes issued by Sarawak immigration officials are valid for any part of Malaysia and usually have 1 month’s validity.

For more information on the latest entry procedures and requirements, contact the Embassy of Malaysia, 3516 International Court, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone: (202) 572-9700, the Malaysian consulates located in New York, telephone: (212) 490-2722, or Los Angeles, telephone: (213) 892-1238, or visit the Malaysian government’s web site, which has information on Malaysian embassies and consulates abroad at www.kln.gov.my. Overseas inquiries should be made at your nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Malaysia and other countries.

VISA OVERSTAYS: Malaysian immigration authorities routinely have detained foreigners who overstay their social visit passes (visas). In light of the arrests of several American citizens in connection with immigration sweeps conducted by Malaysian police and immigration authorities, American citizens should carry their passports (containing the Malaysian social visit pass) with them at all times. Depending upon the nature of the violation, detentions may last from a few hours to several weeks, pending a formal hearing. American citizens are urged to check their visa status periodically while in Malaysia and strictly follow immigration laws and regulations.

malaysia tourism

2007-05-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

I would like to point out (I am not the first and many other has pointed before me in other media) that Malaysia for all its standing as the FIRST Country to implement ITC in Asia has lagged behind Singapore, China, India and Thailand. And comming soon Philippines.

Second, for a contray that promoted ITC extensively, it has no Platform from which it can promote all Tourist Interested Activities in Malaysia. Or rather the authorities have only promoted activities they see fit to promote only for promotion and do not care about other functions.

This is the most disheartening for Malaysian who want to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Malaysia Tourism Guide

2007-05-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Our Mission Statement

"Marketing Malaysia as a destination of excellence and to make the tourism industry a major contributor to the socio-economic development of the nation."

Tourism Malaysia's objective is to promote Malaysia as an outstanding tourist destination. We strive to increase awareness of Malaysia's unique wonders, attractions and cultures. Ultimately, our aim is to increase the number of foreign tourists to Malaysia, extend the average length of their stay and, in doing so, increase Malaysia's tourism revenue. Also, we also aspire to develop domestic tourism and enhance Malaysia's share of the market for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).

Tourism Malaysia's activities are designed to stimulate Malaysian tourism and tourism-related industries. This helps promote new investments in the country while providing increased employment opportunities. The growth of Malaysian tourism will contribute positively to the country's economic development and quality of life.

Tourism Malaysia 30 Years

The Tourist Development Corporation of Malaysia (TDC), was established on 10 August 1972 as an agency under the former Ministry of Trade and Industry by an Act of Parliament. It was a year that saw full-fledged efforts and determination to promote tourism.

On 20 May 1987, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism was incepted. TDC was then moved from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to this new ministry. In May 1992, the Tourist Development Corporation of Malaysia Act 1972 was repealed and replaced by the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Act 1992.

With this change, the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), more popularly known as "Tourism Malaysia", was formally established. It was relieved of its former development and enforcement functions to enable it to focus specifically on promoting Malaysia at a domestic and international level.