Tag: Penang Hill

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

TOP 5 WEDDING PROPOSAL SPOTS

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

Golfing in Malaysia

Malaysia, two-time winner of World Golf Awards for Asia’s Best Golf Destination, has become a favourite getaway among golfers lately. With the appealing combination of great weather, delicious food, exotic culture, natural attractions, value-for-money shopping and modern fairways, it’s easy to see why more golfers are not just lugging their golf bags onto airplanes, but their families as well, for the trip.

But with almost 160 top golf courses in the country to choose from for international play – many of which are award-winning – how does one choose?

Here’s our top five picks of great golfing holidays for everyone in the family.

 

LANGKAWI

A holiday in Langkawi Island conjures images of a tropical sun, white, sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees and the beautiful blue Andaman sea stretched out as far as the eye can see. If beach-side lazing is not your thing, then glide down the island’s mangrove rivers to see the gorgeous limestone landscapes of this UNESCO geopark or trek deep into its mountainous jungles to experience nature at its best. (naturallylangkawi.my)

Best golfing: The award-winning Els Club Teluk Datai, nestled between the Andaman sea and the lush mountains of Langkawi island, features an amazing 18-hole challenge designed by South African legend Ernie Els.

 

GEORGE TOWN, PENANG

This UNESCO Heritage City is brimming with so much life and activity, no visitor will have time to get bored. From a walking tour of its street art to admiring the architectural beauty of its colonial past to sampling local food along with the locals, there’s simply so much to do. Families will especially love its variety of historic and contemporary museums, the ride up to the top of Penang Hill, a city ride on the three-wheeled trishaw and a leisurely stroll in its many gardens. (mypenang.gov.my)

Best golfing: Stay on the island for a round of golf at Penang Golf Club where you will tee off from as high as a hundred metres above the greens and fairways, or cross the iconic Penang Bridge to the mainland’s Bukit Jawi Golf Resort to experience a thrilling game by the lake.

 

KUALA LUMPUR

Voted as one of the world’s best shopping destinations and magnificent cities to visit, Kuala Lumpur is a must-stop on any itinerary to Malaysia. It’s a shopping paradise alright with designer goods going for less due to the currency exchange rate. The best IT gadgets, shoes, fashion and knick knacks are also here to bargain over at the many shopping malls, pop-up bazaars and night markets. (visitkl.gov.my)

Tip: Purchase a Hop On Hop Off pass for the entire family to explore over 50 major sights and attractions in the city so you don’t miss iconic stops such as the Petronas Twin Towers, the Lake Gardens, Independence Square and Bintang Walk. (myhoponhopoff.com)

Best golfing: Tournament Players Club (formerly known as KL Golf Country Club), designed by Australian architect Ted Parslow, is the site of numerous high-profile tournaments, serving up a challenge to golfers with its length, water hazards and sculptured bunkering.

 

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH

Adventure awaits in this Borneo paradise and visitors can take their pick from gentle explorations of the sea world – snorkeling and guided scuba walks at the easily accessible island marine park – to an exhilarating climb up Mount Kinabalu either by trekking through its jungle to the peak or clinging on to its granite surface on the via ferrata walk. (sabahtourism.com).

Best golfing: Play at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Borneo Golf Resort and you’ll have to battle with the ocean winds and the beauty of this seaside location to focus on your game. Alternatively, take your game to the wetlands and tee off at Dalit Bay Golf Country Club, bordered by the Tambalang and Mengkabong rivers.

 

KUCHING, SARAWAK

The word “Kuching” is Malaysian for cat, but it is the orangutan that has attracted many to this Borneo state, specifically to the rehabilitation centres of this beloved great ape. Other natural attractions easily accessible from Kuching city – Bako National Park, the wetlands of Sibu Laut and Salak rivers and the Bau limestone caves – will keep the family firmly occupied. (sarawaktourism.com)

Best golfing: Enjoy a round of golf in the shadows of the Santubong Mountain where Arnold Palmer has designed a fantastic course around rocky outcrops, ponds, mangrove forests and the South China Sea.

 

For more information on Malaysia’s golf courses, visit playmalaysiagolf.com or malaysia.travel.

 

Categories
Malaysia Travel Guide

Penang


Plan at least three days in Penang, There’s so much to see and do in Penang, good food everywhere, beautiful beaches to relax your mind, excellent well maintained hotels, and fascinating shopping malls and pasar malam (night market). Here are some Penang itineraries …
penang map

Here are maps of Penang, and here’s information on Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport and how to get to Georgetown from there. If you are taking an express bus, you will probably arrive at the new bus terminal Sungai Nibong and the Railway Station is on the mainland, located at Butterworth, Seberang Prai, if you took the KTM train. Ferry services are also available from Langkawi daily.

Most of Penang’s fancier accommodation is in the form of beach resorts on the main tourist beach of Batu Ferringhi. More backpacker-friendly options, as well as a few classical luxury hotels, can be found in Georgetown, Other areas to stay in Penang Island include: Tanjung Bungah, Gurney Drive, and Bayan Lepas. Seberang Perai (Mainland) offers several other accommodation alternatives.

Many of Penang’s top sights such as Georgetown, Penang Hill, Weld Quay Clan Jetties, Kek Lok Si Temple, and the Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, are in Penang Island. For beach lovers, Penang’s best beaches are on the northern side, particularly Batu Ferringhi, but do be prepared for the heavy tourist crowd especially during peak seasons.

Eating is almost considered a national past time here, so dine on authentic Malaysian cuisine in an excellent restaurant, or simply grab a chair by the countless food stalls. Consume a Char Kway Teow along Penang street, and you’ll realize why it’s my favourite dish in Malaysia.

You can see Penang’s top sights in a rush on an overnight stay, but you’ll need at least two days to do them justice, and three or four days to really get a sense of the island. In a week, you can get a good look at most of what Penang has to offer.

Welcome to Penang, The Pearl of the Orient.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

13 Day 12 Night Grand Peninsular Self Drive Tour

Day 1 ARRIVE KUALA LUMPUR

Distance: 70 Kms (1 hour by car)

Meals: None

Drive Guide:

No driving for the day

Remarks:

Arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport – Flight TBA

Meet greet by our driver and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 KUALA LUMPUR

Distance: 0 Kms (0 hour by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

No driving for the day

Remarks: 24 hours Hop on Hop off pass included

Breakfast at hotel

Stroll through the capital city of Malaysia for a sightseeing tour. The mix of modern and old architecture creates an eclectic atmosphere that can be hardly found anywhere else in the world.

Day 3 KUALA LUMPUR – CAMERON HIGHLAND

Distance: 205 kms (3-4 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

After getting acquainted with the rented car, drive out of Kuala Lumpur through the North South highway to Cameron Highlands.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

The rented car will be delivered to your hotel by AVIS in the morning.

Enjoy a number of stops along the way to Cameron Highlands. Suggested stops include the Royal Selangor Pewter factory, Batu Caves, Tapah, and Lata Iskandar waterfalls. In the evening after your arrival at Cameron Highlands, visit the Night Market if the weather permits.

Day 4 CAMERON HIGHLAND

Distance: 0 kms (0 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

Drive around Cameron Highlands for your own exploration.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Take your time in your exploration of Cameron Highlands. Remember to stroll through the farms and markets.

Day 5 CAMERON HIGHLANDS – KUALA KANGSAR – PERAK – PENANG

Distance: 259 kms (4 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

Head down from Cameron Highlands towards Penang. The drive will take you through the state of Perak. Enjoy the view of the Straits of Malacca as you opt for either the Penang Bridge or the Penang Ferry Service to get to the island.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Along your drive, you are advised to stop at Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak. Other attractions that might take your fancy along the drive include Kellie’s Castle, Orang Utan Island at Bukit Merah, and the Cave temples around Ipoh. During the night after arriving at Penang Island, you might also want to take a drive to Batu Feringghi to check out the night market.

Day 6 PENANG

Distance: 0 kms (0 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

Time to drive around Penang Island and enjoy the sights.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Design your very own drive around tour of Penang Island. Pick from the many amazing sights that the island has to offer, including Cheong Fat Tze Mansion, Penang Hill, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Khoo Kongsi, Kek Lok Si Temple and many more.

Day 7 PENANG – BANDIND ISLAND – KOTA BHARU

Distance: 337 kms (4-5 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

Bid Penang Island goodbye and begin your drive eastwards along the East-West highway to Kota Bharu. The route includes some stunning scenery, especially Banding Island, which is at the centre of a huge man-made lake.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Stop for lunch at Banding Island and admire the breath taking view there. At Kota Bharu, remember to visit some of the city’s attractions, like the State Mosque and State Museum. Most of the sights will be closed for Friday, Saturday and Fasting month between 20 July – 18 August 2012.

Day 8 KOTA BHARU – KUALA BESUT – PERHENTIAN ISLAND

Distance: 55 kms (1.5 hour by car, 1 hour by boat)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

Drive around Kota Bharu before heading to Kuala Besut for a boat ride to Perhentian Island. Park the vehicle at a safe parking area near Kuala Besut jetty (parking fees approx. MYR 5-10 per day).

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Before leaving Kota Bharu, pay a visit to the famous Siti Khadijah Market located in the heart of the city, where you can find all kind of local products in market. When you reach Perhentian Island you can relax in the sun, go windsurfing, snorkelling or just swimming.

Day 9 PERHENTIAN ISLAND

Distance: 0 kms (0 hours)

Meals: Breakfast

Driving Guide:

No driving for the day

Remarks:

Breakfast at resort

Spend your day enjoying the natural beauty of Perhentian Island. Set up a snorkelling trip or just spend an entire day under the sun in the sand.

Day 10 PERHENTIAN ISLAND – KUALA BESUT – KUALA TERENGGANU

Distance: 114 kms (1 hour by boat, 2.5 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Driving Guide:

Depart Perhentian Island by boat and hop back into the car for a trip to Kuala Terengganu.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

While you make your way to Kuala Terengganu, it is advisable to make a stop at a typical fishing village near Marang to see how fishermen traditionally process a variety of dried food products. During your exploration of Kuala Terengganu, remember to check out the State Museum, Bukit Puteri, Istana Maziab and also Duyung Island. Note: Most of the sights will be closed for Friday, Saturday and Fasting month between 20 July – 18 Aug 2012 in Kelantan and Kuala Terengganu.

Day 11 KUALA TERENGGANU – KUANTAN

Distance: 178 kms (3-4 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Driving Guide:

Depart Kuala Terengganu and head to Kuantan, the capital of Pahang. In the afternoon, you might want to drive to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Kemaman.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

During your drive to Kuantan, you might want to stop at Cherating Beach at one of the villages to observe their traditional way of life. Later in the afternoon, if you choose to drive to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, and if it is between July to mid-September, you get the chance of observing the Leatherback Turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs at the nearby beach at night.

Day 12 KUANTAN – MALACCA

Distance: 349 kms (5 hours by car)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive Guide:

As you leave Kuantan, you can visit Lake Chini, a famous lake in Malaysia that has several legends associated to it. Besides this, you can also visit an Orang Asli settlement to get to know how they lived off the land. Then drive through the South Highway to Malacca.

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Highlights of the day include the visit to Lake Chini and the visit to the Orang Asli settlement. In Malacca, you can drive around to check out the heritage buildings like the Porta De Santiago, the Dutch Square and pay a visit to Jonker Street in the evening.

Day 13 MALACCA – KUALA LUMPUR / KL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Distance: 144 kms (2 hours by car)

Drive Guide:

Depart from Malacca and head to Kuala Lumpur. You can drop the car off at either downtown Kuala Lumpur at the main lobby of Crown Plaza Mutiara Hotel, or at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where you proceed to ground floor block D at the AVIS assigned parking bay and drop the car keys off at the car rental office.

Meals: Breakfast

Remarks:

Breakfast at hotel

Enjoy your drive back from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur.