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Tourism Malaysia

What to do, see and eat at the “Gem of the East Coast”?

Looking for an unhurried pace and avoid the busy city life? It’s time for you to plan your trip to peninsula’s east coast in Terengganu, a place beckon with more rural landscape and an old-world charm, apart from its panoramic beaches.

In conjunction with the “Ekspresi Media-Kenyir (EM-K) 2019” organised by Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Central Terengganu Development Authority (KETENGAH), writer Hendy Tan from Tourism Malaysia got the chance to have an in-depth tour to this amazing city. He accompanied 23 media representatives as well as travel bloggers to update you on all the latest tourism products available in the charming capital, Kuala Terengganu as well as Lake Kenyir, a must visit destination in the state.

To sum up his visit, he described, “Terengganu is a melting pot of old and new, it has many heritage buildings of all races and some people nowadays are still practising the old way of life inheritance from their ancestors, which is especially reflected in their dialects and culinary styles.”

SEE

This photo is credited to Canon Malaysia.

Walkthrough the city

The capital of the state, Kuala Terengganu, has several interesting spots that are situated near to one another. To make your trip more memorable, you should use trishaw (a mode of transportation which is widely known as beca in other states) or taxi to visit to several heritage sites, namely China Town, Zainal Abidin Mosque and Central Market.

At China Town, you will be surprised to see several special laneways have been transformed into art spaces with specific theme. There is a narrow lane dedicated to Terengganu’s beloved mascot, turtle. This turtle alley is a reminder about the importance to protect these sensitive creatures. Visitors can take the opportunity to pick up some highly affordable souvenirs at Pasar Payang or Central Market, which is just right next to China Town. You should not miss out to check out the Zainal Abidin Mosque, an easily recongnised building in the street.

Explore Islamic Civilisation Park

Have you imagined before that you can have the opportunity to see almost all Muslim buildings around the world? Well, at Islamic Civilisation Park or Taman Tamadun Islam, it is the place that has miniature models of 22 famous Muslim buildings from around the world which will be fascinating for anyone interested in Islamic architecture and history. Opened in 2008, it is one of the must visit attractions in Kuala Terengganu, which is located close to the Terengganu state museum in town. Bike and buggy are available to facilitate your visit here.

More interestingly, visitors can experience the river cruise services available here that serves buffet-style meals, whereby you can witness the real life of the local folks while enjoying their food. Yes, it is a cool experience especially at evening time, our media group is so lucky as they can try it out!

Discover Masjid Terapung

 

Masjid Terapung means ‘Floating Mosque’ in Malay and it is located around 10 kilometres away from the centre of Kuala Terengganu. I can say it is a must visit destination for your trip to Terengganu. It stands above a magnificent manmade lake and it looks so beautiful during sunrise and sunset. The media group is amazed by its scenic view at dawn as they arrived there at the right time. Most of the media expressed their happiness as they captured a nice photo of their first visit. For non-Muslims, you still can jog or walk at the nearby area of this mosque as proper walkways are there for visitors to spend their time freely.

DO

Participate at nature-based activities at Lake Kenyir, Terengganu

Terengganu has always been famed for its white sandy beaches, a haven for those seeking a good time in the sun, sand and sea. However, the state has a lot more to offer for nature lovers and adventure seekers, especially visitors who like jungle trekking, wildlife observation, fishing, birdwatching and etc. Lake Kenyir, for example, is home to bountiful treasures of nature, a large variety of flora and fauna, many species of freshwater fish and an exotic wildlife. The following are the list of activities for visitors.

– Have fun with the King of River Fish

This photo is credited to Amazing Terengganu.

Located in Sungai Petang, Kelah Sanctuary is where visitors can play together with a fish species called “Kelah”. It takes approximately 45 minutes boat ride from Pengkalan Gawi. Visitors will definitely be amazed by the amount of fish in the site, where schools of fish can just swim between your legs in the crystal-clear waters and not shy away from humans. Visitors can play with them in close distance, catch them by hand, feed them with pellets, as well swim together with them. However, please ensure you have a fit body to go through several “obstacles” on your journey here as you need to hike through the jungle for 1.7km before arriving at the sanctuary.

– Bathe the Elephants

This photo is credited to Amazing Terengganu.



Have you bathed elephants before? Well, you won’t know until you try it at Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village.

Located at the Sungai Telemong area, this 256-hectare elephant camp is the foremost authority on elephant translocation to ensure a healthy elephant population and reduce human-elephant conflict.

A canopy walk has been built for visitors to get a different viewing angle for the habitat of elephant and discover the scenic view of the natural forest.

Lovers of wildlife can have the opportunity to ride, play and feed the rainforest’s largest and magnificent creature. There is also a show happening on site twice a day, they carry logs, climb over obstacles and acting.

– Explore the Geological Wonders

One of the other attractions of Lake Kenyir which is explored by the EM-K 2019 participants is the Bewah Cave. Bewah Cave is located about 60 kilometers from Pengkalan Gawi, where the bones of an ancient young human known as Bewah Man was found. Neolithic-age items such as axes, tools and utensils have been discovered here as well. Stairs lead to the entrance some 40m above the level of the lake.

Gua Bewah is developed with wooden stairs and elevated trails. The trails make the exploration so much easy.There is even some light, which is solar powered.

“This cave keeps a mystery that has not been fully explored. It also has stalactites and stalagmites for hundred years that produce a very stunning pattern on cave walls,” our guide Mohd. Khairul explained.

The cave is really notable for its rich and diverse cave life, where you can find crabs, spiders, insects and of course bats inside.

– Take a Splash in the Waterfalls

This photo is credited to Canon Malaysia.

There are also waterfalls and streams in the jungle. It is always up to you to decide whether to have a few days trekking and camping or just to have a picnic besides the waterfall.

There are 14 waterfalls within the Lake Kenyir, with the most popular ones being Lasir, Tembat and Saok. Participants for this media challenge trip got the opportunity to visit two of them, which is Lasir and Saok.

Located 16 km from Pengkalan Gawi, or via a 30-minute boat ride from Pengkalan Gawi, Lasir waterfall is one of the most popular picnic spots in Tasik Kenyir. Visitors are welcomed by the majestic 500-foot waterfall and it is well shaded by the leafy green canopy of the surrounding tropical rainforest. Tracks and walkways have been built and climbing up to the top offers spectacular breathtaking views.
In Saok Waterfall, participants get the opportunity to try water abseiling as well as fly drop abseiling.

– Trekking to find giant Melunak tree

Jungle trekking is not simply walking in the jungle, but more important, you can breathe in the fresh air as well as learning the variety of flora and fauna species. But, what so special in Kenyir?

If the world’s largest flower Rafflesia hidden in the Sarawak jungle has become a popular attraction for international tourists, perhaps in the future,
tourists might flock into Lake Kenyir to see the giant Melunak tree.

The 340-year-old tree has a height of more than 100 meters. It requires 22 adults holding each other’s hands to encircle the perimeter of the tree!

It takes about 45 minutes journey to reach the actual site of this giant Melunak tree. The trail is not as challenging as what you may think and it is suitable for all age groups.

The gigantic Melunak tree in Terengganu National Park was discovered by senior nature guide Mohd Khairul and his team from the Terengganu Nature Guide Association in 2013. It is believed to be the biggest of that species in Peninsula Malaysia.

Paragliding at Bukit Maras Recretional Park, Kuala Nerus

This photo is credited to Canon Malaysia.

One of the interesting places that caught the attention of all participants during this trip is Bukit Maras, the tallest peak in Terengganu, which is 1,100 ft (about 333m) above sea level. It takes about 30 minutes’ drive or a distance of about 20 kilometers from Kuala Terengganu to reach this mountain located at Kuala Nerus district.

This mountain is popular for its durian and petai previously and it has slowly transformed into a destination for hiking and camping. And now, it is even more exciting with the paragliding activity. To reach the top of the hill, visitors can choose to hike on a challenging trail for 1.6km, of which it takes about 30 minutes to one hour with the consideration of the stamina level of each individual. We are lucky enough as four-wheel drive vehicles were available to take us to the top of the mountain. Visitors can also take the opportunity to trek into Batu Biruk jungle to see some unique flora.

For those who arrive at the top of the mountain during the early morning or late afternoon can get the chance to take a breathtaking glimpse of the sunset and sunrise over the South China Sea.

EAT

Warung Norazila/Nasi Dagang Atas Tol, Kuala Ibai

The restaurant is located by the roadside, which is less than 10-minutes’ drive from Masjid Terapung. It opens as early as 7am in the morning. We have tried the Nasi Dagang after morning prayers. The rice is fragrant and the tuna fish curry, a little on the sweet side, that goes with the Nasi Dagang is pretty good. Apart from Nasi Dagang, you can also try other available food such as Nasi Lemak. It is one of the best Nasi Dagang stalls in Terengganu.

Address: 20, Jalan Batu Buruk, Taman Midah, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

Restoran Singgang Budu, Jalan Air Jernih, Kuala Terengganu

One of the must try restaurants in Terengganu is “Restaurant Singgang Budu”. This restaurant is famous for its “Ikan Singgang”, which is fish cooked in a light broth with local herbs.

with the fish is in yellow watery soup. You should eat this dish with “Budu”, which is Chili, a perfect combination to satisfy your taste buds. Anyway, this restaurant serves many other delicious types of Malay traditional food, such as grilled cuttlefish and served with ulam – a traditional salad of raw vegetables.

Address: Jalan Engku Sar, 20300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

Keropok Lekor Gaung

Our road trip to the state of Terengganu would not be complete without a pit stop at the kedai keropok lekor as this popular traditional snack is always said to be a specialty here, which is always famous for its crunchy and fishy taste.

Our guide with vast experience brought us to a shop called Keropok Lekor Gaung before leaving Terengganu. Gaung is the name of a Malay village located in Kuala Berang. Upon arriving, we can see the shops are crowded with customers, different kinds of keropok lekor are available for locals or tourists to choose from and there are several friendly staff readily available to serve the customers.

You can eat them freshly fried from the wok with some special chilli sauce dipping or take home those packed in air-tight containers that can last for few weeks if stored in a freezer.

Address: Kampung Telaga, 21700 Kuala Berang, Terengganu.

STAY

Paya Bunga Hotel

Situated on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Paya Bunga Hotel Terengganu is located in the heart of Kuala Terengganu. Positioning itself as a 3-star city hotel, Paya Bunga Hotel Terengganu houses 208 well-appointed rooms and suites.
The hotel’s central location within the Central Business District of Kuala Terengganu provides guests easy access to the surrounding attractions such as Paya Bunga Square, Paya Bunga Sentral and Paya Bunga Plaza.
The stylish business hotel is part of an integrated building with Paya Bunga Square and conveniently connected via a fully air-conditioned link bridge to Paya Bunga Plaza and Paya Bunga Sentral.

Houseboats

There are a number of houseboats which provide sleep-on-board accommodation while touring Lake Kenyir. Staying on a houseboat allows you to be close to nature. If you plan for a group tour, houseboats can be your perfect accommodation but if you are only a couple or small family you would have to pay a lot to book the whole houseboat.

The two-tiered houseboats are normally equipped with several rooms on the upper level, with spacious boardwalk and a verandah above the ship’s bow. It offers comfortable beds, delicious meals and plenty of activities to keep you entertained, including banana boat rides, fishing and swimming in the warm waters. The nights are peaceful here; if you’re here during clear weather, you may also witness the beautiful starry sky at night.

Having your breakfast on a large but slow moving houseboats while enjoying the scenic view surrounding the lake is the most precious moment if you are with your loved one. The feel is more akin to a floating longhouse rather than a watercraft.

Petang Island Resort

Petang Island Resort is about 25 minutes away from Gawi Jetty and is your ideal choice when staying at Lake Kenyir. It has more than 30 homely chalets and one dorm. The resort is set amidst lush greenery and the peace and quiet envelops it. A perfect getaway for any occasion. Several holiday packages are available for you to choose so that you can get your accommodation with other tour packages.

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Tourism Malaysia

5 REASONS TO VISIT KUALA LUMPUR CRAFT COMPLEX

Dubbed the one-stop craft centre, Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex has become a tourist destination offering visitors with a wide range of artisan craft products made in Malaysia. Located at Jalan Conlay, it is within walking distance to the famous and busy Pavilion shopping mall and Bukit Bintang shopping district.

Featuring beautiful Malay architecture, the complex houses several different sections comprising gifts and souvenirs gallery, a craft museum, artists’ colony and craft village. It is worth exploring for visitors as you will be amazed by the wide variety of local made craft products.

Let’s see what key activities visitors can get up to on a visit here:

Shop for Malaysian crafts

The Karyaneka shop offers a variety of local craft products on sale for visitors at an attractive price. Products range from gifts and souvenirs, clothing and accessories, home furnishings and decorations from various craft categories. Some of the local handicrafts on sale are batik, rattan baskets, pottery and other crafty knick-knacks. We love their hand-painted batik fabrics and the pretty baskets woven from pandanus and rattan leaves. Be prepared to bring back a heavy shopping after this visit!

Make your own Malaysian handicraft

At the Craft Village section, there are live demonstrations of local craft-making by talented artisans. Visitors can also try their hand at ceramic making or batik painting. Besides that, visitors can even learn the basic techniques of handling the knife for carving at the wood-carving village. Opportunities are given for visitors to explore their creative talents with the guidance of local crafters at the site. At a time when consumers are used to buying ready-made products, this hands-on craft-making activity is an eye-opening and refreshing experience.

Own a piece of artwork by local artists

There is also an Artist’s Colony, where art lovers can purchase works of art directly from local artists.  Art lovers can get to know local artists and watch how they go about producing the art work. The artists work with acrylic paints, oil paints, charcoal and even pencil. Their subject matter ranges from local landscapes to abstract images to portraits. We love spending time chit-chatting with these artists who are not only highly-skilled but offer unique perspectives of Malaysia through their artworks.

Visit the Craft Museum 

The gallery is an informative museum on the history of Malaysian handicrafts, covering each state’s traditional craft heritage. The collection of museum pieces are authentic and truly an amazing documentation of Malaysia’s craft heritage.  Visitors can learn more about Malaysian handicraft through the dioramas and video presentation.

Splurge on National Craft Day

Every year, the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex organises the National Craft Day or Hari Kraf Kebangsaan (HKK). It is a huge event that gathers hundreds of crafters from Malaysia and international countries under one roof to display, promote and sell their creations. If you are looking for authentic and high quality Malaysian crafts, as well as handmade items from small and medium enterprises, then this is the place to be. The diversity of crafts here covers textiles, woodwork, metalwork, woven items, forest products, and more. International artisan groups also exhibit their traditional handicrafts besides performing their cultural dances and music.

One of the most enjoyable ways to get to Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex is by riding the KL Hop-On Hop-Off (HoHo) open top buses. The complex is one of the 23 stops covered by the bus service. A ticket allows passengers to ride the bus and see other famous landmarks of Kuala Lumpur city centre and visit destinations such as Chinatown, Central Market, KLCC and more.

Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex
Address: Seksyen 63, Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2161 1470/1480
Operation Hours: 9.00 am-6.00 pm
Email: komplekskrafkl@kraftangan.gov.my

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Wonderful Malaysia

Top 10 daytrips around Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is vast – there is just so much to see, do and explore. Take a day trip around the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur to see a unique mesh of historical heritage sites and modern architectural structures and to discover the various enchanting cultures in Malaysia.

Petronas Twin Towers

petronas twin towers by night

Standing at 452 m tall, the Petronas Twin Towers are among the tallest buildings in the world. The twin towers can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. The most prestigious shopping centre in the country, Suria KLCC, is located at the foot of the towers. More about the Petronas Twin Towers

Menara KL Tower

view from lot10 roof top

The KL Tower also holds a record of its own, ranking as the 4th tallest telecommunications towers in the world at 421 m tall. Dine in the clouds while enjoying a magnificent view of the entire city at the revolving restaurant located at Level Two of the Tower Head.

Lake Gardens FRIM

fun at frim canopy walk

The jungle is not all concrete in Kuala Lumpur; there is a peaceful haven of 91.6 hectares of parks and gardens for a relaxing day among nature. The KL Lake Gardens incorporate the National Monument, Carcosa Seri Negara, a deer park, a butterfly park, a bird park, an orchid garden, a hibiscus garden and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) which is a forest reserve and research institute (has an amazing canopy walkway). More about the Lake Gardens and FRIM

Batu Caves

thaipusam crowds at the batu caves

13 km north of Kuala Lumpur stands Batu Caves, a massive limestone outcrop home to Hindu deities. Consisting of three main caves and a number of smaller ones, the magnificent sacred place for Hindus in Malaysia is situated atop 272 steps of stairs along which visitors can see and feed a lot of long-tailed macaque monkeys. More about the Batu Caves

Putrajaya

putrajaya square

A visit to Putrajaya must not be missed. It is the new capital city and administrative centre of the Malaysian government, located 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur. The model garden city features a beautiful blend of modern and cultural architectural structures of buildings and bridges, lush greenery and carefully cultivated botanical gardens.

Istana Negara

istana negara kings palace kuala lumpur

The majestic King’s Palace or Istana Negara is the residence for the Yang diPertuan Agong, the King of Malaysia. The area is fenced up with two guard posts at the front of the gate where members of the Royal Calvary stand guard. Witness the changing of guard ceremony, similar to that of Buckingham Palace in London. Although the palace is not opened to the public, visitors can capture memorable photographs of their visit to the Istana at the front entrance.

Dataran Merdeka

merdeka square kuala lumpur

Situated at the heart of the city is the Independence Square or Dataran Merdeka where the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time in the country’s history on August 31, 1957, signifying the independence of the country from British rule. As a remembrance of this event, a 100 m high flagpole, which is the world’s tallest, was erected at the very same spot. Every year on the anniversary of the Independence Day, a parade is held here where march pasts of various uniformed bodies take place in their full regalia.

National Mosque

national mosque kuala lumpur 2

The National Mosque, which is reputed to be one of the most beautiful mosques in Southeast Asia, stands opposite the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. This uniquely designed mosque embodies a contemporary expression of traditional Islamic art, calligraphy and ornamentation. Its most striking features are the umbrella-shaped dome, with 18 points representing the 13 states of Malaysia and the five pillars of Islam, and a sleek minaret which stands 73 m tall.

Central Market

central market kuala lumpur

Central Market, also known as Pasar Seni, is a well-renowned heritage site which serves as the Centre for Malaysian Culture, Arts and Handicrafts. It houses numerous stalls that retail traditional goods and an Annex Gallery where local contemporary arts are exhibited. Colorful Malaysian traditional cultural and arts events as well as cultural performances also take place at the Central Market’s outdoor stage on weekends. More about the Central Market

Petaling Street

petaling street market chinatown kuala lumpur

Last but not least is another popular tourist attraction, Petaling Street, which is located just a few minutes away from Central Market. Petaling Street is Kuala Lumpur’s very own Chinatown. With its distinctly oriental atmosphere, Chinatown is the central place for great bargains, scrumptious food and the soaking up of all things Oriental in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Suggestions?

Got any good tips to share with us? Did we miss any great daytrip tips in Kuala Lumpur? Let us know by leaving a reply below!

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Tourism Malaysia

1Malaysia Tanglung Tourism Festival 2011

September 9, 2011 at 2:00 pm

The Mid Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th night of the 8th Chinese lunar month, is a festival that has gained popularity in recent years. The festival is associated to the moon, and in olden times, there would be prayers to Chang’e, the Chinese Goddess of the Moon. The celebration is traditionally marked with mooncakes, a sweet confectionery made specially for the festival, and lantern processions. The mooncake is a pastry with a very thick filling, usually made of red bean or lotus paste, with a salted duck yolk embedded in it encased by a thin biscuit crust.

The festival is very community oriented, and the lanterns and mooncakes appeal to children particularly. This year’s biggest celebrations for the Mid Autumn festival in Malaysia will be the 1Malaysia Tanglung Tourism Festival 2011, which will take place at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur on 10th September 2011. The event officially begins at 4 pm and will end at 10 pm, after the highlight of the night, which will be a lantern procession that begins at 8 pm. The procession will be led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. The procession will start from Central Market and wind through Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Petaling.

1Malaysia Tanglung Tourism Festival 2011

Come and be a part of the 1Malaysia Tanglung Tourism Festival 2011 on 10th September at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur.

There will also be various cultural performances and a games stall carnival at the festival. Early birds will also have a chance to receive a limited edition LED rabbit lantern, which will be available for free to the public on a first-come-first-served basis at the festival. The night will end with a fireworks display. Those who wish to attend this event are advised not to drive to the event as the parade route will be closed to traffic and the organisers are urging attendees to use the LRT and disembark at the Pasar Seni LRT station.

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