Categories
Tourism Malaysia

TOP 5 SPOTS TO SAY “I DO”

Malaysia has long been a preferred destination for weddings and honeymoons. A combination of multicultural people and beautiful landscapes makes Malaysia a unique place to hold a wedding and also honeymoon. But before the wedding and honeymoon, one must go through a wedding proposal first, right? Well, why don’t you do all three in Malaysia?

First, let me throw out some ideas for a unique and memorable wedding proposal in Malaysia, just in time for the coming February, the month of love.

1. Underwater

What better place is there to pop the question for scuba diving enthusiasts than under the sea? Surrounded by sea fans, whips, a school of fishes and colourful corals, it was a perfect place to surprise your love one with a marriage proposal. It will be your own Atlantis for sure. Of course when you are underwater, you can’t use our voice to propose to her but you can hold the sign asking her to marry you or lay out a banner on the side of a shipwreck with most romantic words that will impress her hook, line, and sinker. You do need a team though to make sure you’ll have a perfect and memorable marriage proposal.

Scuba diving sites in Malaysia that can be the location for your marriage proposal include Redang, Lang Tengah, and Perhentian Islands (Terengganu), Sipadan, Sapi, Mabul, Layang-Layang, and Mataking Islands (Sabah), as well as Satang Besar, Satang Kecil and Sempadi Islands and Miri waters (Sarawak).

2. Top of the Mountain

There’s no finer backdrop to propose to your wife-to-be than the top of the Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. Standing at a majestic 4,095 meters or 13, 435 feet above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia. You may have to wake up at 3 am to climb to the top in order to watch the sunrise but the sheer beauty of the scenery will take your breath away and help romanticised the venue of your marriage proposal. It will definitely help your love one forget about the grueling four-hour climb, the altitude change and cold temperature.

Mt. Kinabalu is a popular destination, visitors who wish to climb Mount Kinabalu are advised to make reservations 6 months in advance to avoid disappointment. The number of climbers is limited to 135 pax daily.

Website: http://www.sabahtourism.com/activity/climb-mt-kinabalu

3. Zipline

Take your love one all the way to Langkawi Island and get her to spend two and a half hours soaring along 12 different ziplines over the waterfalls and within the top and middle layer of the island’s rainforest. And with her adrenaline still high from gliding through an oxygen-rich forest,

can you imagine how incredible it is for her when she got off the line and the first thing she will see is you on bended knee with a ring in one hand? It’s worth a try, don’t you think so?

Umgawa is the island’s first world-class zipline eco-adventure tour, which offers spectacular views of Matchincang Peak, Seven Wells Waterfall and the Andaman Sea. Umgawa’s course features 12 ziplines, one double zipline, three sky-bridges suspended in the trees, and a spectacular descent from towering trees.

Website: www.umgawa.com

4. The Rainbow Skywalk

The Rainbow Skywalk is the talk of the town in Penang Island because it offers stunning seamless views of George Town and beyond. Located at George Town’s highest point, the open-air Rainbow Skywalk, a semi-circular glass-bottomed platform extending out from the edge of the Komtar tower is at Level 68, offering visitors the thrilling experience of walking on air 249m above ground.

Make the best of this venue and wait for the sun to set over the Penang Hill and beyond, or wait for the city of George Town to light up before you propose to your love one. I’ll bet it is going to be one of the most beautiful and romantic marriage proposals ever. But before you do that, please make sure your love one doesn’t have a fear of height. Then, you are good to go!

Website: https://thetop.com.my/rainbow-skywalk

5. Plane In The City

Located in the heart of the city at Jalan Bukit Bintang, Plane In The City, which is an an actual Boeing 737 aircraft, is listed in the Malaysia Book of Records as the 1st Aeroplane Restaurant in Malaysia.

The Plane In The City is the perfect venue to propose to your wife-to-be because just admit it, it won’t be as romantic as in the actual plane flying at 35,000 feet, right? With this real-life flight simulation, you don’t have to deal with small aisle or an unpredictable turbulence or crying babies, or being rejected in front of strangers of various nationalities. To make it more interesting, you can propose on the wing of the airplane, and that experience my friend, will be unforgettable.

Website: http://www.planeinthecity.com

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

7 PLACES TO EXPLORE DURING VISIT SARAWAK YEAR 2019

Established as the Malaysia’s largest state, Sarawak is a haven of natural landscapes with various national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and dozens of attractions that never cease to amaze travellers. Blessed with vibrant cultures from 27 different ethnic groups, this state that is located on the island of Borneo promises exciting escape from the mundane day-to-day life.

Be it the sky, land or sea, Sarawak offers endless excitement, adventure and charm that accommodate both slow-paced leisure and extreme-adventure travellers through its plethora of culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals. The following are seven places that travellers can visit in 2019 and 2020.

BARIO

Fondly dubbed as ‘the land of a hundred handshakes’, this friendly town is the home of the smallest ethnic group in Sarawak called Kelabit. Known for its traditional crafts and arts, the destination is also home to other tribes like Penan and Lun Bawang. Lying on an altitude of roughly 1,000 metres or 3,500 feet above sea level, this quaint location nestles in the north eastern corner of Sarawak, surrounded by lush, pristine and unpolluted environment, perfect for trekking and sightseeing.

For those who seek more thrilling adventure can opt for kayaking and an arduous five-day and four-night trek through the Bario-Ba’kelalan trail. Those who prefer a more leisurely experience can visit the town during events like Bario Food Festival called Nukenen at the end of July every year and savour exotic delicacies like local pineapples and Bario Rice.

Kampung Mongkos

ust an hour and a half drive from Kuching, this village is situated near Mongkos River and offers homestay accommodations. For those wanting to experience living in the longhouse (a communal wooden house, perched on stilts with separate rooms designated for different families), there are 12 families who open up their homes for travellers to stay with them. The tribe called Bidayuh inhabit these longhouses. Staying at these longhouses directly exposes travellers to the Bidayuh culture, rituals, traditions, and activities.

You can participate in Bidayuh traditional dance called Langgi Aruh, which involves crossing over handheld bamboos that imitate traps as they are enclosed and opened together according to the beat – the idea is not to get trapped as the bamboos enclose and pick up speed. Travellers can also witness other traditional dances like Langgi Sidandut, Langgi Perang and Langi Empujon, each inspired by age-old folklore. Ritualistic ceremonies and exotic food are arranged for travellers to give them educational experience and understanding of the Bidayuh culture.

Enquiries

Koperasi Kampung Mongkos Serian Berhad
Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia, Daerah Serian
94700 Serian, Sarawak
Tel: +6 013 576 4003
GPS: 1°11’23.5″N 110°33’53.6″E

Semenggoh Nature Reserve

Located barely fifteen minutes from Kuching, this nature reserve is a sanctuary to one of the most intelligent primates in the world: the orangutans, which are known for their ability to adopt sign language and utilise rudimentary tools in their daily lives. Predominantly indigenous to Sarawak, orangutans are now critically endangered due to deforestation.

You can meet these wonderful creatures up close at Semenggoh Nature Reserve, where travellers can learn about the orangutans’ habitat and the importance of conservation in protecting this species from extinction. Aimed at reintroducing these apes to the natural environment, Semenggoh Nature Reserve is one of the only sanctuaries in the world for these intelligent creatures to roam free without restriction. This nature reserve also trains these apes in basic survival skills as most of them are rescued at a young age from dangerous conditions. This effort has led to an increase in the species’ population in the wild.

Entrance fees:
Adult Senior Citizen: MYR10
OKU/Disabled: MYR5
Below 18 Years Old: MYR5
Children Below 6 Years old: MYR5
GPS: 1°24’06.1″N 110°18’52.0″E

Mulu National Park

This UNESCO World Heritage site is Sarawak’s largest national park and has been listed since the year 2000. It was the first of its kind to be listed as a World Heritage site in Malaysia. Famed for its limestone, this whopping park covers 544 kilometres squared of lush primary rainforest with varied landscapes criss-crossed by fast flowing rivers and limpid streams.

Dominated by three mountains, this park boasts a number of breathtaking caves like the world’s largest cave passage known as Deer Cave; the formation of the oldest cave in Mulu National Park is said to date back almost five million years ago! Another highlight of this park is the Pinnacles, situated mid-way up the slopes of Gunung Api. This is one of the trekkers’ favourite spots because the view overlooks a series of 45-meter-high limestone towers soaring above surrounding verdure.

Travellers should also head to the world’s longest canopy walk to truly delve into the bustling ecosystem that is more active high up in the trees than the ground. The entrance fee for the Canopy Walk is MYR42, including guide.  Find out more about the canopy walk on http://mulupark.com/tours-activities/uncategorized/canopy/.

Shipwreck Diving at Kuching

For those who love underwater explorations, Kuching is indeed the destination where divers can explore multiple carcasses of wrecked ships that lie at the bottom of the ocean’s floor. After the Pearl Harbour attack during World War II, the Japanese exerted their forces towards South East Asia with Borneo as one of the targets.

This effort, however, was cut short by the Americans and its ally, the Dutch, who attacked the Japanese warships using their submarines in 1941. Despite the brutality of its past, the area now is regarded as one of the most beautiful scuba diving spots, thriving with marine life and corals. There are approximately 19 wrecks located off Kuching’s coast. The nearest wreck is the Katori Maru Wreck that sits at a depth of 22 metres, taking about 50 to 75 minutes by speedboat from Santubong. The best time to dive is between April to September. The most recent wrecks could also be found there, such as the TK Wreck, Thai Seven and Barge Wreck.

Find out more about the diving packages on http://www.wetwolfdive.com/dive%20kuching%20wreck.html

Tanjung Datu

Imagine gazing at the star-studded night sky accompanied by turtles as they lay eggs in the soft white sands of Tanjung Datu’s coastline. Although this is the smallest national park in Sarawak, it is renowned for its purity, untouched beauty, exclusivity and remoteness; from crystal clear water and thriving corals to verdant vegetation that is filled with exotic flora and fauna.

The park is situated on the Datu Peninsula at the south-western tip of Sarawak and is only about 14 square kilometres in size. It takes about half an hour to reach the park from Sematan Town by boat. Since the site bans commercialisation and large scale accommodation, it is safe to say that Tanjung Datu is free from human-induced pollution, making it nature’s wonderland. However, there are four shelters capable of accommodating up to 12 people at one time available at this national park.

For campers, they can set up tents on a site that can hold up to 100 people at a time. A sanctuary for the turtles and many other exotic animals like primates, migratory birds, and wild animals, be sure to properly follow instructions because reckless behaviour might result in considerable risks.

Reservations Enquiries:
National Parks Booking Office
Tel: +6 082 248 088
Online booking: http://ebooking.com.my
GPS: 2°03’19.5″N 109°38’31.9″E

Base Jumping in Sibu

One of the most anticipated events in Sarawak is the Sibu International BASE Jump, where jumpers from all corners of the world rally and jump off the tallest building in Sarawak, Wisman Sanyan. This activity gets spectators’ hearts thumping as they see these jumpers launch themselves off from the top of Wisma Sanyan that is 126 metres high from the ground. Located in Sibu,  dozens of thrill seekers travel to this city to perform BASE (Building, Antennae, Span, and Earth) jumping while enthusiastic spectators gather to watch these daredevils jump off. Compared to skydiving, base-jumping is much cheaper due to the absence of planes and aircraft that would usually cost thousands of ringgits per ride. Organised for the first time in 2009 by Sibu Tourism Task Force Group and BASE jumpers from Australia and Malaysia, this event has now become a highly anticipated annual event.

Enquiries
Tel: +6 084 321 963 / +6 084 330 500
Email: garyc71@gmail.com
GPS: 2.2904,111.8255
Visit Sibu BASE Jump Facebook page for latest updates and information

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

TOP 5 TRADITIONAL MALAYSIAN VILLAGES TO VISIT NEAR KUALA LUMPUR

Want to get to know the real Malaysia? Why not take a trip outside of Kuala Lumpur’s city limits. Within less than two hours, you will find yourself in some pretty amazing countryside or “kampung” located in the Central Region (Selangor and Negeri Sembilan). Here, you can play like a kid again, enjoy nature, breathe fresh air and really be present in the moment.

Malaysian kampungs are usually small settlements of wooden dwellings in the rural parts of Malaysia. Despite their humble beginnings, modern facilities for clean water, electricity and telecommunications are available.

You’ll immediately notice that kampung life is a far cry from urban routines. Village folk are more in touch with nature and live by the seasons and surrounding environment. They engage in activities such farming, cooking using naturally organic products without relying on highly processed ingredients, fishing, carpentry, traditional folk games, making handicrafts and more.

If you are wondering how you can experience the peace and serenity of a simple kampung life in Malaysia, read on.

Under the Malaysian Government’s Homestay Experience programme, tourists can easily get a dose of life in the village. The programme registers a few hundred villages that have expressed interest in hosting tourists in their private homes to provide them a glimpse of life in Malaysia’s beautiful countryside.

Step into these homes and you will be quickly adopted as their “foster child,” taking care of your needs during your entire stay with them. Essentially, you get to live with a local Malaysian family and really understand the heart of a Malaysian.

The villages in the central region are easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur. Most are within a two-hour drive of the city. Check out some top villages here:

1. Kampung Sungai Sireh, Selangor

This peaceful hamlet of about 1,000 acres is surrounded by nature. Your eyes will be soothed by the green wetlands forest reserve and the carpet of ripening paddy crops ready to be harvested in May and September. The nearby rivers, irrigation canals and sea further add to the charm of this small village.

Local activities are closely attached to the surrounding landscapes. As a guest under the Malaysia Homestay programme, your host family will likely take you out for a trek into the wetlands area. Be prepared to get wet, but you will love the opportunity to observe the unique flora and fauna in the area. Alternatively, explore the rivers in a kayak and let yourself be drifted slowly by the currents as you try to spot the wildlife here.

The village-folk are especially proud of the irrigation system used for the paddy crops – they’ll be more than happy to show you the Korean technology involved. What’s more, the smaller canals are the best places to have a quick splash after a hot day under the sun!

Homestay Sg. Sireh
Kampong PT 1,
Sg. Sireh,
45500 Tanjung Karang,
Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Contact person: En. Abu Bakar bin Moin, Tel: 019 346 7372
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homestaysgsireh/

2. Kampung Banghuris, Selangor

ASEAN Tourism Award-winning Banghuris Homestay is a name representing three villages namely Kampung Bukit Bangkong, Kampung Hulu Chuchoh and Kampung Hulu Teris.

This charming little village located not far from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport has a strong foundation in agriculture. Don’t be surprised to see coffee, rubber, and oil palm plantations alongside fresh-water fish farms and fruit orchards. The small cottage industry also thrives here churning out home-made cookies, tapioca chips and other local snacks. Indeed, the landscape of this village can only be described as abundant!

And so is the culture and heritage here. Visit the village during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and you will witness the cheer and festivities of the village-folk. Often times, the celebrations are an excuse to “merewang,” an activity where everyone would gather at a common place to prepare and cook food together for the festival. Everyone has a designated duty, i.e. as the cook, as part of an army that peels potatoes or slices shallots, or as the clean-up crew.

It is during these festivities that one can truly experience the community spirit of the village folk as they embody all the modern corporate attributes of teamwork, leadership, time management, delegation and more!

Homestay Banghuris
Lot 1829, Jln. Tailong,
Kg. Ulu Chuchuh,
43950, Sg. Pelek,
Sepang, Selangor.
Contact person: Mr. Basir bin Wagiman, Tel: 013 300 3942
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YokMampirBanghuris/

3. Kampung Pachitan, Negeri Sembilan

This village of about 1,000 population in Negeri Sembilan is said to have been pioneered by the Javanese from East Java, Indonesia, who came to settle here in the 1920s as paddy farmers. Later, palm and rubber plantations were opened when water sources for paddy ran dry. These plantations now become a tourist attraction as visitors learn more about crop-growing through hands-on experience.

The scenery in the area is dominated by large tracts of these crop plantations but the nearby beach holds many attractions as well. It’s a favourite spot to go fishing on the jetty or just sit by the beach to collect shellfish for a later meal. One can also opt to canoe along the mangrove area and do a spot of birdwatching.

What’s unique here is the Javanese culture and traditions that still remain strong and is manifested in the language spoken, the food, music and games. For example, visitors to Kampung Pachitan will certainly get a taste of Nasi Ambeng (a meal consisting of steamed white rice served with chicken in soy sauce and beef stewed for hours in thick gravy and other condiments), pecal (a local salad served with peanut sauce), and tempe goreng (fried fermented soy beans) and such.

It recently received an ASEAN Tourism Award in the Homestay category.

Homestay Kampung Pachitan
No.37, Taman Nuri Fasa 1,
Jalan Besar Chuah,
71960 Chuah, Port Dickson,
Negeri Sembilan.
Contact person: Mr. Ahmad Nadzri, Tel : 019 385 9793
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PachitanMalaysia/

4. Homestay Lonek, Negeri Sembilan

This village is simply picture perfect with timber dwellings sitting on wide and well-trimmed lawns and the scenery of paddy fields stretching out as far as the eye can see.

The folks who live here take great pride in their culture and heritage. They speak with a strong Negeri Sembilan accent, and will introduce you to typical Negeri Sembilan cuisine, the famous one being daging salai masak lemak cili api, which is smoked beef cooked in a gravy of coconut milk, turmeric and chilies. Traditional folk games are very much alive here and visitors will learn the Malaysian version of hoop rolling using bicycle wheel rims, bowling with coconuts and tobogganing on palm fronds.

If you don’t mind getting mud on your feet (and hands, face and hair), you can try out the local pastime of “mengocak ikan” or grasping for fish in the paddy fields.

Homestay Kampung Lonek
No. 10, Kampung Lonek,
72200 Batu Kikir,
Negeri Sembilan.
Contact person: Ms. Hajah Nor Asiah bt Haron, Tel : 06-498 1078 / 012 691 5482
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homestaylonek/

5. Homestay Rawa, Negeri Sembilan

Fresh from winning the ASEAN Tourism Award 2019 in the Homestay category, Homestay Rawa has something unique to offer to visitors…horses! Horseriding is a great way to appreciate the beauty of this village. Saddle up and ride through bountiful fruit orchards, acres of rubber plantations and hillsides where you can appreciate a breathtaking view.

During fruiting season, there are plentiful fruits to keep you sated. From mangosteens and durians to rambutans and langsat. These tropical fruits grow abundantly in this village and are a joy to the palate.

For those who love cooking, the ladies of the village would be all too happy to share their secret recipes for their typical sweetcakes such as godok golumang which are fist-sized banana fritters coated in caramelized brown sugar and kuih bahulu (a light and fluffy sponge cake with a crispy outer layer, similar to the French madeleines) traditionally cooked over charcoal fire in brass moulds.

Homestay Rawa
Lot 23, Lorong KRU 10,
Kampung Rawa Hilir
71750 Lenggeng
Negeri Sembilan
Contact person: Ms. Saadiah Othman, Tel: 019 354 4472
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asequine1/

Note: We are excited that on 18 January 2019, the following 5 Malaysian Homestay Villages had won the coveted ASEAN Tourism Award for ASEAN’s Best Sustainable Tourism Products Recognition for both rural and urban areas. The Malaysian winners in the Homestay category are as follows:

3rd ASEAN Homestay Standard (2019-2021)

1.Pachitan Homestay, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
2.Ba’Kelalan HomestaySarawak
3.Misompuru Homestay, Kudat Sabah
4.Banghuris Homestay, Sepang Selangor
5.Rawa Homestay, Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan

 

Categories
Travel to Melaka

MITC FLYOVER NEARING COMPLETION

The MITC flyover is nearly finished. The contractor needs to draw lines and clear some construction debris.

If the works can be speeded up, hopefully, it can be opened for public use before the Chinese New year.




Categories
Travel to Melaka

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE PIG

On 5th. February 2019, Chinese around the world will usher in The Year of the Pig.

We want to wish all Chinese Qong Xi Fa Cai in the Year of the Pig.

Good health, Prosperity and Wealth in the year ahead.