Categories
Tourism Malaysia

In Johor, Everything Is Awesome!

2016 is almost over and if there’s ever a time to pack up and leave with your family, it’s now! Holidays were made for us to unplug and reconnect with the people we love, especially our family. It’s also a time where anyone of any age can relax and unwind. Once in a while, we need to take vacations because we can always make a living but we can’t always make memories.  And what better way to make memories than in Johor

To make it easier, let us help you plan the perfect weekend trip to Johor!

Saturday

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Lego® Kingdom

Legoland; the name itself can awaken our inner child. A land where all our imaginations have been put to life. Once you step into the Lego world, you can’t help but to feel young again. The architecture, the rides and even the food will leave you wanting more. It is safe to say that Legoland is the perfect location for a family trip, especially if you have young children.

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KLCC – Miniland

One of the places that you’ll find yourself revisiting would probably be the Miniland. A few minutes wouldn’t be enough because you’ll be mesmerized by all the intricate details of each model. There’s a total of 18 iconic places that you can find in Miniland, such as Cambodia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Johor, Myanmar, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur and many more.

Don’t forget to look out for the newly upgraded Miniland KL Cluster that features iconic architectures of the city such as Petaling Street, National Monument and Bukit Bintang. Over 3 million lego bricks are used to complete the upgraded KL cluster.

Don’t be afraid to zoom in because it’s even more amazing when you’re up-close.

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Lego® Ninjago™ World

End your day with a bang by getting a ride on Asia’s first 4D Indoor Ride! Ninjago is the newest edition to the Legoland rides and it certainly lives to its expectation. Many lined up to get a spot on their interactive ride and boy was it fun! You’ll have the chance to be heroes and defeat the “Great Devourer” (the main villain of the story-led experience) with your bare hands. Thanks to all new sensor technology, you’ll have full control of your actions, giving it a new meaning to indoor rides.

During the ride, you’ll be divided into teams of 4, each competing to see which team scores the highest. The rules of the ride are quite simple actually, you’ll only need to use your hands to guide the controls, aiming at the targets to engage. The ride takes about 3-5 minutes to complete but rest assured that every second you spend inside is going to be filled with fun.

Sunday

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Hello Kitty Town – Wishful Studio

Before leaving Johor, you should pay a visit to one of Legoland’s awesome neighbours.  Just 5 km away lies another attraction that your kids would definitely want to visit. Hello Kitty Town was built to put a smile on children’s faces. For girls especially, it’s practically a dream come true.

There’s a handful of fun activities to do inside, such as a taking a tour inside Hello Kitty’s house, watch performances on the “Purrfect Stage”, spin on their “Tea Cup Rides” and many more. The best of all is probably the “Wishful Studio”; where we get to create our own Hello Kitty themed souvenirs such as the Hello Kitty Handkerchiefs and Hello Kitty Cookies!

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Thomas Town

Hello Kitty town might not sound that appealing to the boys but thankfully there’s another famous town that is just upstairs! Thomas Town is located on the top floor of the building and they have more rides compared to Hello Kitty Town, such as the Knapford Station Thomas Train Ride, Colin Crane Drop ride, Bertie the Bus and many more. You’ll definitely have fun when experiencing the Bumping Buffers Steamies Diesels Ride aka bumper cars!

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Other Characters – Barney Live Show

The fun doesn’t stop there, there’s also other characters such as Angelina Ballerina, Pingu, Bob The Builder and Barney. Throughout the day, there are live performances on every level so your little ones can meet all their favourite characters. Children have the chance to sing, dance and interact with characters that they usually see on TV. What a treat!

Since tickets for Hello Kitty Town and Thomas Town + Other Characters are sold separately, we suggest that if you prefer more rides and other interactive activities, Thomas Town + Other Characters would be a more suitable choice. However, we recommended that you obtain the “All Park Access” so your children won’t miss out on any of their favourite characters.

Here are some friendly tips to make your trip easier:

1.Buy your tickets online to avoid waiting in line.

2. If possible, use your own transport so you’ll be in full control of your activities.

3. Arrive early.

4. Bring water bottles, snacks, hats and hand-fans.

5. Visit the souvenir stores as the last stop to avoid extra baggage.

6. Bring EXTRA clothes in Legoland because there’s going to be some water games.

Book your tickets now and get ready for the time of your life!

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Your Ultimate Malaysian Golf Adventure

Imagine teeing off from the perch of a mountain, across a jungle filled valley to a green nestled adjacent to the sea. Just you, nature and a strip of land so beautifully cultivated that your challenge of putting that tiny white ball in that little hole is no longer a part of golf, but an adventure.

Golf in Malaysia offers an experience like no other. With over 100 courses to choose from — many in places you never thought possible — Malaysia is the perfect place for your next golfing getaway. Here’s a guide to the most breathtaking golf courses across Malaysia.

 

Shan-Shui Golf and Country Club
Where: 15 kilometres from Tawau town, Sabah

Golf in Borneo is a match made in heaven. This 18-hole championship course sprawls majestically amidst the mountainous backdrop of Tawau’s rich land in the state of Sabah. The undulating terrain and lush surroundings also serves as a natural habitat for wildlife such as exotic birds, monkeys, squirrels and a resident crocodile. Opened in 1998, Shan-Shui quickly rose to fame courtesy of its 15th hole — The Creek — named as one of the Best 500 holes and Top 250 par 4s in the world by US Golf Magazine. It was also awarded the “Best course in Asia” by Golf Monthly magazine in 2000.

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Cameron Highlands Golf and Country Club
Where: 10 minutes from Cameron Highlands and 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur
The forest-clad mountains of the Cameron Highlands form a spectacular backdrop to this panoramic golf course, providing what is probably the coolest and most pleasant golfing environment in Malaysia. The fairways are wide and forgiving and coupled with the thinner air – the ball travels faster and further – a round here is quite relaxing. The course is not without its challenges, particularly the 15th hole with a dramatic elevation drop of 100m. The course is open to the public, too.

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Els Club Teluk Datai 
Where: 40 minutes drive from Langkawi International Airport
This Ernie Els piece of mastery was voted World’s Best New Golf Course at the inaugural World Golf Awards in 2014. Prior to Els’ renovations, The Golf Club Datai Bay was already considered the Most Scenic Golf Course in Malaysia by Asian Golf Monthly and is often labelled Asia’s best golf course. Its website says it all, “Welcome to Golfing Paradise”. You’ll be greeted by breathtaking vistas of marbled mountain peaks, virgin rainforest and the emerald-green Andaman Sea. And if that’s not enough, the Els Group is opening two more courses in Malaysia just for your enjoyment; the spectacular Desaru Coast and the sublime Desaru Valley, both in Johor.

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Hornbill Golf Jungle Club
Where: About 70 kilometres from Kuching, Sarawak
Another gem from Borneo, this time in the state of Sarawak. Hornbill offers a true paradise for avid golfers with its brilliantly designed 18-hole layout perched high in the Borneo hinterland. “Golfing in the Clouds” is quite literally the theme, with guests often hitting from above the canopy down into the mist of the valley below. The climate is more friendly too, making it a popular all-year choice for golf vacationers.

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Saujana Golf Country Club
Where: Shah Alam near Subang Airport, Selangor.
The crown jewel of Malaysian golf. Offering two 18-hole championship layouts just 20 minutes from the heart of KL, Saujana is a must for all élite golfers. “Deadly but beautiful” and “Jungle golf at its best” are just some of the adjectives used to describe this beast. The Palm course hosted the Malaysian Open between 2001 and 2005, with champions including Thongchai Jaidee, Vijay Singh and Arjun Atwal. The second hole on the Palm course is among CNN Travel World’s 18 most beautiful golf holes.

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Awana Genting Highlands Golf Country Resort
Where: Genting Highlands, 55 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur
Set at 3,100 feet above sea level, Awana provides a new experience for the golfer. While not on the same par as Saujana, this masterpiece nestled elegantly in the Genting Highlands is a refreshing getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. But don’t expect an easy stroll around the high country; the fairways are narrow with anything slightly off target sure to find thick jungle or the many water hazards.

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Royal Perak Golf Club
Where: Ipoh, Perak
Ipoh Golf Club, as it was originally known, is one of the oldest courses outside of Britain and along with Royal Selangor is an icon of Malaysian golf. Formed in 1879, it started as a humble nine-hole course on the race course in Ipoh. It was destroyed during World War II — used as a tapioca farm — and was only restored its current state in 1947. Although not as breathtaking as some of the other courses on this list, it certainly makes up for it in history and prestige.

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Photo source

 

If you want to know more about the best golf courses in Malaysia, please visit www.playmalaysiagolf.com

 

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

A Journey Through Phantasmagoria Royal – Floria Putrajaya and Magic of the Night 2016

Royal Floria Putrajaya, Malaysia’s leading annual flower and garden festival, and Magic of the Night 2016 saw Putrajaya come to life among a sea of colour and vibrant lights.

Almost 740,000 people — the majority young families enjoying the first week of school holidays — attended the May 27 to June 4 event, with organisers aiming to showcase Putrajaya as the ‘City in a Garden’ or ‘City of Flowers’.

The theme for this year’s event was ‘Chrysanthemum’, with entrants unveiling a series of never-ending floral arrangements featuring carnations, spider lilies, roses and millions of chrysanthemums, which exploded in colour, interspersed with unique, locally created works of art.

Hundreds of creative exhibitions from government sector, corporations, schools, universities and independent artists were vying for 28 awards under four categories covering gardens, flowers, design and water-colour painting, with organisers commending the improvement in design concept, work standard and quality of planted materials from last year.

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For the second year running, DBKL was awarded the FLORIA Putrajaya Garden Cup Trophy for their elegant arrangement and design that again garnered the most attraction. During the awards ceremony, Royal Floria Putrajaya also entered the Malaysia Book of Records for the tallest glutinous rice exhibit. The 7.15m structure was erected jointly by Putrajaya Floria Sdn Bhd and the Putrajaya Community that operates the Heritage Village.

Other notable exhibits included the Chrysanthemum Garden and Candy Courtyard. These featured a mesh of natural arrangements interlaced with mechanical structures that gave a modern twist to your simple floral decoration.

Malaysia’s royal families also did not fail to impress with the Johor royal family presenting a beautiful replica of their palace and royal crown taking home the Gold Award for their display.

There was even a section designed to resemble the ancient Chinese royal court, which housed the Magic of Bonsai and Suiseki exhibit. These were living works of art, which had taken years of cultivation, pruning nurturing and sculpturing.

The Magical Garden, which housed the Mystical Forest and Mermaid’s World, was a unique combination of projected images employing holograms and the latest technology to create spectacular visuals and serene backdrops.

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List of highlights included:

  • Magical Garden featuring Mystical Forest and Mermaid’s World
  • Chrysanthemum Garden and Candy Courtyard
  • Floral Pavilion featuring the Tree of Life
  • The Magic of Bonsai and Suiseki
  • Terrarium: Magic In The Glass
  • Special Gardens
  • Government and Corporate Gardens
  • Gardens of Malaysia
  • Designer Gardens
  • School and University Gardens
  • Cat’s Pavilion
  • Arts and Crafts Bazaar
  • Horticulture Market and Garden Bazaar

The Magic of the Night 2016 was again undoubtedly the star attraction with thematic barges representing each Malaysian state in a beautiful, neon-lit parade wowing the masses.

Sabah entrant

The boats featured colourful lights and handcrafted three-dimensional designs of indigenous flora and fauna. The more creative and elaborate displays included traditional dancers as well. The Sabah float in particular was a standout promoting the region’s native rainforests, hornbills and orang-utans.

The boats were stationed on the Putrajaya Lake under the Putrajaya Bridge which was lit with multi-coloured flood lights and lasers. The evening ended with the nightly fireworks display.

Royal Floria Putrajaya flower and garden show and Magic of the Night 2016 was a spectacular event showcasing the many colours and personas of Malaysia. It is perfect for families, couples or just a peaceful night out. Be sure to check it out in 2017!

Head to http://www.floriaputrajaya.com.my/ for more information.

 

Categories
Travel to Melaka

IMPRESSION CITY BY END 2017

Yong Tai Berhad : bullish on Impression City
     
02/24/2016 | 03:12 am
KUALA LUMPUR: YONG Tai Bhd expects its RM5.4 billion project in Malacca to generate net profit margin of 20 per cent, which would help to sustain the company’s earnings in the long term.

The garment maker-turned-property developer, which has been loss- making for several years, expects to return to the black this year with contribution coming from the real estate sector.

The company, which has pockets of developments in the Klang Valley and Johor, is planning to develop Impression City on a 47.03ha site in Malacca.

The project would be developed in 11 phases and over 10 years, said its executive director Boo Kuang Loon.

Construction for Phase 1 would start in the third quarter of this year and feature retail and commercial units, said Boo at a luncheon hosted by MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd, here, yesterday.

It is expected to have a gross development value of RM1.1 billion,

The catalyst for the commercial-led Impression City is the Impression Melaka performing arts theatre, to be built on the 47.03ha site.

Construction of Impression Melaka, the jewel of the company, will start next month at a cost of RM300 million and includes land acquisition. The opening is slated for end-2017.

Boo said although Impression Melaka required a huge capital investment, the returns would be long term and attractive.

It would take two years to construct and the projected returns would start from 2018 onwards, he added.

With 15 million tourists visiting Malacca annually, Yong Tai hopes to attract at least 1.1 million visitors to Impression Melaka, with 40 per cent coming from China.

The company is also targeting visitors from Southeast Asia (30 per cent), Asia (20 per cent) and the rest from the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

“With two shows a day and tickets priced at RM120 per person, we are poised to achieve a revenue of RM140 million a year, including the sale of souvenirs and merchandise. For this business, we are targeting a profit margin of 50 per cent. This would net us a profit of around RM60 million a year.

“There are many more upsides, such as increasing the ticket prices and having up to four shows a day. This is the potential of Yong Tai in the future,” said Boo.

“For the next two years we are at the investing stage and would generate profits. But the profits would not be much to give dividends,” he said.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

3 days 2 nights exclusive trip to Tunamaya Beach and Spa Resort in Tioman Island

Tioman island is one of the beautiful and nature island which is closer to Johor state at the east side of Pennisular Malaysia. This is one of the island which I won’t get boring despite how many times I visit, beside the crystal clear water, the island also has many jungle trekking and hiking trails.

I was invited for the 3 days 2 nights trip to Tunamaya Beach and Spa Resort (N2.72072 E104.15162) on last month November 2014, it was a all-in exclusive package and total relax trip offered by the resort. We were the privileged few to experience the new package which officially launch on 20th December 2014. The package included the 45 minutes private chartered flight (Cessna 208B Grand Caravan) from Sultan Ismail International Airport Senai to Tekek Airport Tioman Island, that made us excited because it was a inaugural flight from Senai to Tioman. (90 minutes flight from Subang to Tioman island)

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Our itinerary for the 3 days 2 nights trip for Tunamaya Beach and Spa Resort, Tioman Island.
Day 1
*  Depart from Senai Airport to Tekek Airport Tioman by private chartered plane.
*  30 minutes ferry ride from Tekek to Tunamaya Beach and Spa Resort.
*  Check-into Tunamaya resort and breakfast at the restaurant.
*  Free and easy around the resort.
*  Dinner at the restaurant

Day 2
*  Breakfast
*  Jungle trekking activity
*  Lunch
*  Free and easy
*  Tekek town duty free shopping
*  Dinner at resort in conjunction with the first annual dinner and dance of Tunamaya Resort
*  Party time

Day 3
Breakfast
Check out and bye to Tunamaya Beach and Spa Resort
*  Ferry ride to Tekek town, private chartered plane ride from Tioman island back to Senai airport.

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The trip was excellent, all of us enjoyed very much!
The resort was clean with lush of greenery surrounded, employees were really helpful and friendly, all the basic facilities available within the resort and a ‘bearable’ speed of wireless internet service accessible around the reception area. Mr Paul Cheah, the Resort Manager of Tunamaya said, please feel free to enjoy the facilities and relax in the fantasy island, don’t always check or look into the smart phone and Ipad…that’s the reason of the ‘bearable’ speed of internet access in the resort. Well, we AGREE!

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We had a chat with the friendly resort owner – Mr Gan after the dinner. Understand that Tunamaya was built from scratch 2 years ago, the partners of resort chose the piece of land because of the mystical ‘Twin peaks’ as a backdrop of the resort.
As the ‘Tunamaya’ was named by the reason of one of the partner owned another ‘Tunabay’ resort in Perhentian island, and the followed by the word ‘Maya’ means mystical in the national language of Malaysia.

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The Exclusive package is included the private chartered plane from Senai or Subang to Tioman island, all meals and coffee break, activities within the resort and Spa therapy. Please check on their Facebook page (below) for the latest promotion.

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It is a hassle free, relax vacation compare with other rushing tour. Relax yourself and choose each activity within the island as you wish, rather than rushing from places to places with limited time from early morning and exhausted-ly back to hotel in the late evening, some of my friends wisely said…

I will definitely visit Tunamaya again!

*  All the detail itinerary will be update soon! Stay tune!