VISIT MALAYSIA TODAY

Malaysia’s 10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:36:00 +0000

Perhentian Islands © Phalinn Ooi

Perhentian Islands

Sea lovers planning to visit Malaysia should put the Perhentian Islands on the top of their list of places to see. This is a small archipelago with two main islands – Besar, the bigger, and Kecil, the smaller – both boasting splendid beaches, white sand, an amazingly blue, shallow sea and the shadow of tall palm trees. Apart from tourists, the islands are mostly uninhabited, making them a perfect place to disconnect and take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The Perhentian Islands are especially recommended to those who enjoy the sea not just for a swim, but also for water activities such as canoeing (both islands can be circumnavigated in a day), scuba diving and snorkeling. The islands are fringed by a coral reef, and the underwater life is rich with sea turtles and many species of tropical fish.

source: http://theculturetrip.com/

GOLF COURSE

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:12:00 +0000

Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort

In Brief

Clearwater Sanctuary is one of the most beautiful golf courses in South East Asia. Stretches of greens lined with verdant raintrees undulate around several huge bodies of breathtaking lakes.

Experience an exclusive sanctuary of preserved flora and fauna sprawled over 700 acres of tropical vegetation and sparkling lakes. The bountiful raintrees and glistening lakes introduces an invigorating differences to contemporary golfing pleasure. Clearwater Sanctuary is where golf takes a natural course.

This 27th hole golf resort certainly introduces an invigorating difference to the contemporary golfing pleasure. The Raintree Nine features an abundance of majestic raintrees that provide a form of hazard for golfers while water hazards are in store at Lakes Nine. The Wetlands Nine is a unique Boutique Par 3 course a suitable venue for those who seek a short and satisfying game.

Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort is an ideal perfectly balance getaway. Set amongst the natural habitats of birds, fish and exquisite wildlife, coupled with a scenic lush green environment, which Mother Nature has endowed us, contrasting with urban pleasures, it is indeed a golf resort par excellence. Whether it is for an avid golfing trip, a corporate convention, a romantic rendezvous or a fun filled family getaway, Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort has it all… one of a kind with life’s pleasures and natural beauty.

Location
The resort is approximately 200 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur and just 22 kilometers from the city of Ipoh. Easily accessible via the North South Highway, exit and turn right after the Simpang Pulai Interchange. Drive along Jalan Gopeng until you reach a traffic light and turn left onto an estate road. The Simpang Pulai Police station is visible on the right as you take this turning. Keep on the road until you reach a junction. Make a left turn here and continue driving straight. As you approach the resort, you will see the Batamas Factory on your left.

Award:
1.Voted 4^th in the Golf Malaysia - Golf Course Poll (1997/1998)
2.Voted 2nd in the Golf Malaysia - Golf Course Poll (1999/2000)

Golf Course Directory

1.	Bukit Jana Golf Club	2.	Teluk Intan Golf Course aka Diamond Bay
3.	Kinta Golf Club	4.	Kuala Kangsar Golf Club
5.	Damai Laut Golf & Country Club	6.	Royal Perak Golf Club
7.	Meru Valley Golf & Country Club	8.	Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort
9.	Pan Pacific Golf Resort	10.	North Briged Golf Club
11.	Batang Padang Golf Club	12.	Taiping Golf & Country Club

Malacca Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Malacca Vacation in Malaysia

Visiting Malaysia is not complete without going to the historical state of Malacca. Malacca was founded by Parameswara, a Hindu Prince from the Kingdom of Srivijaya in Sumatra in the year 1403. After he embraced Islam and became the Sultan of Malacca, Malacca became a trading centre with goods from China, India, Middle East, Thailand and neighbouring countries passing through the port of Malacca.

As a result of Melaka's strategic location, the Portuguese conquered it in 1511 followed by the Dutch in 1641 and finallyby the British in 1824. The Japanese was ruling it for a while during World War Two from 1942 to 1945. Malacca gained independence as one of the states of Malaysia on August 31, 1957 Melaka together with Georgetown in Penang have been inscripted as historical cities under Unesco's World Heritage Sites (WHS) in July 2008. The first area is the St. Paul's Hill Civic Zone which consists of the government buildings, the original fortress town built during the time of Portuguese and Dutch occupation, Bukit Cina, museums and churches.

The second area is the Historic Residential and Commercial Zone which consists of more than 600 shophouses, religious buildings, commercial and residential buildings as well as tombs on the four main streets. Explore them..

Places of Attractions

Try taking the trishaw at The Stadthuys

Malacca vacation is not complete without visiting the following attractions. See the historical heritage of Malacca wheremany of the old buildings dated back to the 16th century still stand strong today. See A Famosa,St. Paul's Church, St.Peter's Church, The Stadthuys and Christ Church all of which are within walking distance of one another. Try taking thetrishaw and make sure you take a good picture as you ride as a memento for you to bring home. Not to be missed is the45 minutes cruise along Malacca River and the Maritime Museum.

Finally, try Nyonya Food which is a combinaton of Chinese and Malay ingredients. Not to be forgotten is Portuguese cuisine at Restoran San Pedro and Restoran De Lisbon.

Malacca vacation - A'Famosa

This landmark as shown in the picture above is a must for all visitors to Malacca. Known also as Porta de Santiago, thisfortress was built by Portuguese Admiral Alfonso d'Albuquerque in the year 1511. A big part of it was destroyed during the Dutch invasion and what remains today is just a small section of the fortress left behind by the Portuguese. Malacca vacation is not complete without visiting this ruin.

The admission to this attraction is FREE.

Click here for a more detailed description of this fort.

The Stadthuys

The Stadthuys was built in 1650 as residence of Dutch governors and their officers

The Stadthuys is another major landmark left behind by the Dutch. Used to be white in colour, this building was refurbishedand painted Salmon red colour to match the colour of the surrounding buildings. When completed in 1650, it was used as official residence for Dutch governors and their officers.

Today, this building is used to house the Museum of History and Ethnography.

Opening hours

9am - 5pm (Monday to Friday)
9am - 9pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Admission Fee

RM5 for adult and RM2 for children.

Further information can be obtained by calling +6 06 284 1934.

Christ Church

The distinctive salmon red colour Christ Church, a Dutch architecture heritage

The Christ Church building is located just beside The Stadthuys. Built by the Dutch as a place of worship for the people at that time, you will be able to see interesting design such as the ceiling beams that were constructed withoutany joints, the tombstone with Armenian inscriptions, the handmade pews and brass Bible. Notice also the "Last Supper" of Jesus and His Twelve Disciples shown in glazed tiles.

When the British took over Malacca, the building was converted to become an Anglican church where a bell tower and weathercock were added and remains until today. You can visit this place by getting the permission from the church officials. This building is a must when you plan your Malacca vacation itinerary.

Further information can be obtained by calling +6 06 284 8804.

Malacca vacation - St. Francis Xavier's Church

The huge cathedral of St. Francis Xavier's Church

Built by a Catholic French priest, Rev. Farve in 1849, this Gothic styled church was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier whowas a missionary to South East Asia in the 16th century. St. Francis Xavier had been to Penang Island as well and was known as "The Apostle of the East" for his missionary endeavours in this region.

You can visit the place by getting the permission from the church officials.

Further information can be obtained by calling +6 06 282 4770.

Malacca vacation - Melaka River Cruise

Your Malacca vacation is not complete without taking a cruise down Malacca River. Costing only RM10 for adult and RM5 forchildren, this 45 minutes tour will take you pass many Dutch style buildings. Remember to take along your camera and takeinteresting pictures of the old shop houses, bridges and Kampung Morten Malay village.

The cruise can be taken at the quay behind the tourist information centre.

Further information can be obtained by calling +6 06 286 5468.

The Malacca River and the surrounding area

Malacca vacation - Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum near the city centre is located along Jalan Quayside. It housed a replica of the Flor de la Mar, aPortuguese ship that sank off the coast of Malacca. The exhibit at this museum showed the history of Malacca from thetime of the Malacca Sultanate to the pre-independence time of Malaysia. You will be able to see models of iron chests,old charts, ships and maps.

The beautiful replica of Flor de la Mar Maritime Museum located along Jalan Quayside

See more pictures and information about this museum here.

Melaka Hotels

There are many international standards hotels in Malacca. Some of the popular Malacca Hotels include The Bayview Hotel Melaka, Equatorial Hotel, Everly Resort, Grand Continental Hotel, Legacy Hotel, Mahkota Hotel Melaka, Renaissance Melaka Hotel and Seri Costa Hotel.

See a more detailed writeup about hotels in Melaka here.

Getting Here

Visitors usually fly to Kuala Lumpur or Penang before going to Melaka. If you are coming from Australia, Cheap flights to Malaysia are offered during promotional period and online bookings in advance. Compare also theCheap Flights available from Australia travel website.

If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, Melaka is approximately 145 km away and it will take you 2 hours drive to reach here. Regular bus and taxi service are available at Melaka Sentral, a new bus and taxi terminal 6 km away from the city centre.

Further information can be obtained by calling Melaka Sentral terminal at +6 06 288 1321.

Melaka Sentral, the bus and taxi transportation hub of Melaka

Related Links

Melaka Restaurants

See the restaurants that you can go to while in Melaka to savour Portuguese, Nyonya or Chinese Chicken Ball Rice cuisine.

St. Paul's Church

See the ruin of St Paul Church that was built by the Portuguese.

Nightlife In Melaka

Experience the nightlife of Melaka by joining the locals at the night market, visiting Melaka Zoo, A Famosa Cowboy Town..

A Famosa Resort

A Famosa Resort in Melaka is one of the theme park attractions that you should consider going with your entire family. This 520 hectare integrated resort has attractions that will enable you to spend your day from morning till the evening.

Melaka Sentral

This is the main transportation hub in Melaka. You can find taxis and buses to various destination here.

Baba Nyonya

Find out more about Baba Nyonya of Melaka in Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum.

Jonker Street

Visit this popular street, buy some souvenir and taste some of the local delicacies here.

Christ Church

This distinctive landmark was built by the Dutch and is still in use today.

Melaka Town

There are plenty of activities that you can do while visiting Melaka Town. Shopping, food..

SOURCE: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/

Poring Hot Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Poring Hot Springs is a must for every visitor who goes to Kinabalu Park. It is about half an hour's drive from Kinabalu Park. You will pass by the town of Kundasang and Ranau on your way here. The local Kadazan people call bamboo "Poring".

Entrance to the
Hot Spring

This place does have lots of bamboo trees. Upon your arrival, you will see a parking area, a reception area and a visitor centre. You can see the bamboo tree as you enter the park as shown in the picture above.

Hot Spring Pool

This hot spring was first developed by the Japanese during World War Two. One is able to see and use the many open air and indoor Japanese style baths facilities. The hot water is channeled from the source where the temperature is hot enough to boil eggs. The temperature of the water can be regulated by mixing it with the cold water which is channeled from the nearby river.

Hot Spring Stream

The hot spring is reputed to be good for health as it contains sulphur which is known for its curative properties for those with skin problems.

The open air type is more crowded and free of charge but the indoor type is for those who want to have time off by themselves. There is a fee charge for the rental of the indoor type based on the number of hours used.

Canopy Walk

Besides the hot spring, one can also explore the popular Canopy Walk. The total distance to complete the circuit is 2 km andthe Canopy Walk makes up about 200 metres of the circuit. Built some 50 m above the ground, one has to be bold and stout hearted to do this walk as the canopy can be shaky and looks flimsy at times. Take heart, these hanging bridges are testedeveryday before they are opened to the public.

Canopy Walk

For those who stay overnight in Poring Hot Spring, you can do a bit of jungle trekking along the banks of a winding river. After an hour or so walk (shorter path route), you will be able to see a 10m waterfall. The longer path route takes 3 hoursto complete and ends with the view of a 100 m high waterfall.

Accommodation

If you choose to stay overnight at Poring Hot Spring, the facilities include Poring Chalet where a unit can accommodate 6persons. The New Cabin has 2 bedrooms which can accommodate up to 4 persons. For those who come in big groups, there is the Youth Hostel which can house a total of 64 persons.

Reservations can be made at Kinabalu Gold Resort Sdn Bhd.

Tel: +6 088 243629/ +6 088 245472

Fax: +6 088 242861

Jungle Restaurant is the place where you unwind in the evening. As you dine, you will be able to hear the sound of insectsand the sound of the rushing water in the nearby river. You may be able to see the natural "Christmas Light" when thefire flies come out to feed on the nectar of the tree leaves as night falls.

source: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com

BAKO NATIONAL PARK

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Sarawak's oldest national park was established in 1957, covers a modest 27 sq. km., and is about 37km from Kuching. It's known for its extraordinary natural scenery, habitats, plants and wild life.

Its most significant features are secluded coves and rugged rocky headlands with magnificent steep cliffs that overlook the South China Sea.

The sea spray, wave action and the wind have also carved out magnificent sea arches and sea stacks at the base of the cliffs, some rearing above the waves like a mighty serpent's head.

The attractive sandstone formations appear pink with iron patterns on the cliff. Further inland, waterfalls tumble down into freshwater pools in a tranquil and idyllic jungle setting.

Bako contains an incredible variety of plant species and vegetation types, and this is one of the parks great attractions. At Bako it is possible to see almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo.

Bako is also home to approximately 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. The best times for seeing wildlife at Bako are just after dawn and just before dusk, when the animals are at their most active. Bako is a fascinating place for bird watching, as over 150 species have been recorded here.

Bakos extensive trail system is .....READ MORE

Source: http://www.tourism.gov.my

Malaysia Hostels

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:39:00 +0000

Budget Accommodation for Backpackers

There are many Malaysia Hostels with price that is affordable that you can book online from HostelBookers.

Comprised of two regions – Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo – Malaysia offers adventure, tropical climates, a vibrant capital city and unique culture to travelers on a budget.

Low cost accommodation can be found throughout the country and backpackers can take advantage of top quality Malaysia hostels not only in the cities but also throughout the sought-after beaches and rainforest destinations.

Equator Hostel, Kuala Lumpur

Strategically located next to the Berjaya Times Square, Chinatown and Jalan Bukit Bintang, this hostel in Kuala Lumpur makes a great base and starting point for those arriving in Malaysia and the capital city for the first time. Spacious and laid back, the atmosphere offers a great place to meet other travelers, recover from a long flight, surf the net and plan an itinerary or get out and explore the buzzing energy of this modern city.

Matahari Lodge, Kuala Lumpur

Brand new and located in the hub of activities, this is another Malaysia hostels that is within walking distance of all the attractions, restaurants, shopping and public transport. The staff are excellent and can help plan any stay, whether it be 24 hours in the city or a month in other Malaysian destinations. A good night’s sleep is a must after a long journey, and the rooms here are private, clean, and comfortable.

Hutton Lodge, Penang

Walk the Heritage Trail of Penang, which contributes much to George Town’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and take in this unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in Southeast Asia. At the end of the day, head back to your Hostels in Penang , a unique colonial-style guesthouse in the city center. The garden terrace is a great place to relax and all rooms are bright, spacious and clean.

Akinabalu Youth Hostel, Kota Kinabalu

Facing the South China Sea with Mount Kinabalu looming in the background, Kota Kinabalu is an ideal costal location. With no trip to Malaysia complete without traveling to Borneo, a stay at the Akinabalu Youth Hostel also offers easy access to the beaches and rainforests; a tour and travel desk is handily on site. And if you’re not a fan of the heat (although the hostel helpfully provides both fans and air-con), try snorkeling and a variety of affordable water sports at the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Heading On

One of the great features of backpacking around Malaysia is the ever-present possibility of extending your trip into other countries within Southeast Asia!

Few cities offer such an action-packed travel experience as Bangkok. With the Khao San Road to the fore (and plenty of Bangkok hostels , it’s a backpackers’ paradise! Over in Vietnam, the largest city is an intriguing mixture of impressive modern buildings sitting alongside scruffy street markets and Ho Chi Minh City hostels in one bustling, vibrant urban spectacle. Alternatively, for a budget stay in Singapore, Singapore hosteloffers an excellent selection of great value accommodation so you can save your money for a shopping sprees.

Berjaya Times Square

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:18:00 +0000

Shopping At Berjaya Times Square

Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is located at Jalan Imbi, one of the most busy shopping area in the city. You will not miss this place as its brown colour building stands up from among the rest of the buildings in the vicinity. It is Malaysia's biggest shopping mall with over 3.45 million square feet that houses more than 1,000 retail lots. There are 700 specialty retail shops, 1,200 luxury service suites and 45 food outlets that give you plenty of choice to choose from. An estimated 3 million visitors visited this mall every month.

Being one of the biggest mall means that you will be able to find top brands such as Swatch, Hush Puppies, The Body Shop, Tag Heuer, Dior, DeGems, Bossini and the list goes on. It has the biggest Borders bookstore in town where many latest books and titles can be found here. Metrojaya Departmental Store and Cold Storage Supermarket are also located here. The bowling centre called Superbowl is equipped with the latest facilities for bowlers to spend their day here.

The spacious shopping area in Berjaya Times Square

Cosmo's World Theme Park

If you and your children need some time off for entertainment, try the Cosmo's World Theme Park. It is the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia. There is one area for the adult and one area for children. If you are still young at heart, try the roller coaster ride or the 30 meter "Spinning Orbit". The children will enjoy the children's rides as well as the indoor playground that is available inside the theme park.

The entrance to the theme park

The rides in the theme park

IMAX 2D & 3D Theatres

If you need to unwind after a long day's shopping, try the IMAX 2D & 3D Theatre. It is Malaysia's first and you will experience the big screen images with clarity. The giant rectangular screens are up to 7 stories high.

There is also Golden Screen Cinemas which has 9 screen cineplex that screens the latest blockbuster movies for your leisure.

The IMAX 2D & 3D Theatres

Getting Here

Take the Kuala Lumpur Monorail to Imbi Station. Imbi Station is located in front of the building. If you are using the LRT, take the STAR LRT to Hang Tuah station and you will reach the mall after a 5 minutes walk.

Kuala Lumpur Tower

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

History of Kuala Lumpur Tower

Kuala Lumpur tower or Menara Kuala Lumpur's construction began in 1991 and was completed in 1995. It was officially opened by former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir on 1 October 1996. It is used for telecommunication purposes and features an antenna that reaches a total height of 421 metres (1,381 ft). It now stands as the fifth tallest tower in the world.

The tallest tower in the world is the 553 m CN Tower in Canada followed by the 537 m Ostankino Tower in Russia. Third is the 468 m Oriental Pearl Tower in China and fourth is the just completed 435 m Borj-e Milad tower in Iran.

Once up the tower, you will be able to see the beautiful scenery of Kuala Lumpur. There are paid binoculars that are located on each section of the tower. However, it is always better to bring your own binocular as the paid binoculars can be quite crowded at certain time of the day. If you do not have your own binocular, ensure that you bring enough coins to be used for using the binoculars.

The tower is opened daily from 9:00am to 10:00pm. Last admission to the tower is at 9:30pm.

The 421 metres Kuala Lumpur Tower

Revolving Restaurant

There is a restaurant called Seri Angkasa Revolving Restaurant where you can dine and enjoy the beautiful scenery and glittering lights of the city of Kuala Lumpur. Make sure you call up to make reservation as this restaurant is packed most of the time.

Watch the colourful cultural performances from Thursdays to Sundays at 11:30am and 4:00pm.

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

While you are here, remember to take a walk at the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and enjoy the oldest forest reserve in the city. There are jogging tracks, open-air gymnasium, birds and a fantastic view of the city from this park. Guided tour at regular interval is provided but remember to bring along your towel as it can be quite humid and hot in the afternoon.

Getting To KL Tower

The tower is located at Jalan Puncak. You can take the KL Monorail to Bukit Nanas station where you can take a 10 minutes walk to the main gate at Jalan Puncak. From here, the free shuttle service at an interval of 15 minutes is available from 9:00am to 6:00pm for you to reach the tower. After 6:00pm, it is better to take a taxi to the tower.

The entrance fees are:

Malaysians

Adult RM8
Children(4-12 years old) RM3
Senior citizens(55 years and above) RM6

Non-Malaysians

Adult RM20
Children(4-12 years old) RM10
Senior citizens(55 years and above) RM17

Further enquiry can be obtained by calling the tower hotline at:

Tel: +603 2020 5444

Malaysia Souvenir

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:58:00 +0000

Malaysia Souvenir

If you are looking for a Malaysia souvenir to purchase, you will soon find that there are many of these items that are on sale at various shopping complexes and crafts centre. A brief description of some of the items made by the local craftsmen of Malaysia is provided below.

Batik and Songket

Batik is the local language which means "to draw in wax" and its origin can be traced back to Indonesia. There are 2 types of batik production namely "Tulis or Conteng" and "Cap". The first method uses a metal pen tool filled with hot wax in outlining the design of the batik. After the outline has been drawn, colours are painted on the cloth. "Tulis" means write and "conteng" means scribble in the local language.

The "Cap" method uses the application of wax directly onto the cloth using soldered tin or copper strips block impressed with the fashioned design. The newer process using silkscreen is commonly used now where different screens are used according to the colours and patterns desired.

Traditional batik uses silk or cotton cloth as its material. The advancement of technology has enabled fabrics such as voile, chiffon, cheesecloth, georgette and velvet to be used in the design of batik.

The typical batik and songket available in most souvenir shops in Malaysia

The songket is an elaborate and richly hued handwoven embroidery used by the Malays Royalty and nobility. Infused with traditional handwoven silk or cotton yarn, it is a colourful cloth which is still used today during the coronation of a King or Sultan, weddings or awards ceremony. Bow ties, vests and jackets can also be made from this material.

Pewter as a Malaysia Souvenir

Pewter was made popular in Malaysia as Malaysia was a leading tin mining nation in the late 19th century to early 20th century. Pewter is made from an alloy composed of tin and other metals of which the molten metal is poured into pre heated steel mould, filed and polished. More complicated item consists of different parts which are soldered together. Some of the souvenir items made from pewter are mug, name card holder, twin tower, kl tower, photo frame, cigarette lighter, letter opener and clock.

Visit Royal Selangor Visitor Centre in Setapak and you will learn the art of making pewter as well as making your own souvenir.

A vase made from pewter

Silverware as a Malaysia Souvenir

In the past, silverware was linked to the social status of a person. It signifies wealth and power during the time of the Malay aristocracy in the Malacca Sutanate. It is made by hammering the silver and decorated with patterns of flora and fauna motifs. Two categories of silver crafting are used in Malaysia. The first method is filigree work where the silver is drawn into fine threads and twisted into delicate ornamental tracery. The second method is repousse where sheet silver is hammered into relief from the reverse to produce various designs for the items being made.

The items that are produced are silver rose bowls, jewellery boxes, bolster ends, the caping, belts, buckles, snuff boxes, and betelnut set.

Betelnut set is also called "Tepak Sireh" in Malay language usually used by the Malays. It is the custom of the Malay suitor to announce his intentions to his prospective bride's parents by sending them a complete set of betelnut through a trusted intermediary. The acceptance of the gift signifies agreement to the betrothal.

The silverware

Forest Based Fibre

The forest based fibres such as rattan bamboo, ribu-ribu, bemban, mengkuang and pandanus are coiled, plaited, twined and woven to produce comely bags, baskets, mats and hats.

Rattan or cane are usually used for furniture while the smaller varieties are woven into baskets ranging from waste paper basket to picnic hampers. The ribu-ribu of Sabah or Lygodium are woven from the twines of the creeper fern by the ethnic Rungus people in Kudat and is a Sabah specialty. So, remember to get one if you happen to be in Sabah.

Ceramic and Glass

Ceramic and glass craft are also widely produced in Malaysia as souvenir items.

Wood Carvings

The abundance of good and durable tropical wood from the rainforests of Malaysia has enabled the woodcarvings industry to thrive. Head for WARISENI Woodcarvings at the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and see the many products on display here. You may even want to purchase an item or two as a Malaysia souvenir.

Where to Get Malaysia Souvenir

If you are in the capital of Malaysia, head for Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex to see the souvenir items that are readily available for you to choose from.

You can also go to Central Market, one of the most popular tourist destination in getting souvenirs from Malaysia.

Get a listing of Kuala Lumpur Souvenir Outlets to help you get good and value for money souvenirs.

Pucuk Rebung Museum Gallery in Suria KLCC is another place you can go for some unique souvenir and collectibles.

source: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com

TERRACCOTA WARRIORS AT LYE HUAT GARDEN,KEDAH

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:12:00 +0000

Terracotta warriors, Lye Huat Garden

Lye Huat Garden is a recreational park in Kubang Pasu District,Kedah. It comprises a man-made lake, a miniature landscaped garden, and a terra cotta garden. Visitors also get to enjoy the koi carps in the lake, and view its collection of ceramic figurines.

Lye Huat Garden was founded by Dato Lim Lye Huat in 2002. It was originally called Lye Huat Stone Art Gallery when it was first built in 1994. Dato Lim built it for his personal enjoyment. However, through the suggestion of friends, he decided ton open it to the public. In addition to being a tourist attraction in northern Kedah, Lye Huat Garden was also a venue for several national competitions including the National Flower, Hornfish, Bonsai and Suiseki Competition launched by the then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, in 2002. In 2004, the International Bonsai and Suiseki Competition was held here, and officiated by the Sultan of Kedah.

Lye Huat Garden Location Map

View Lye Huat Garden in a larger map

Lye Huat Garden signboard (20 October 2009)

Lye Huat Garden entrance (20 October 2009)

Getting there

Lye Huat Garden is located on the east side of the North South Expressway after Jitra. Look out for signage by the roadside.

source: http://www.exploring-malaysia.com/

Crocker Range Park

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Crocker Range Park visitor's centre is about 12km away from the town of Keningau. This range was gazetted as a park in 1984 due to its importance as water catchment area for the surrounding towns. This range covers an area of about 1,392 square km and is located to the south of Mount Kinabalu. It is also called "Taman Banjaran Crocker" in Malay language. The Kadazandusun and Murut communities live in various settlements surrounding the range.

The headquarter of the park is located about 145km from Kota Kinabalu where the visitor centre is. Basic facility was constructed and opened in 2004 where you can camp and do jungle trekking here. Bird watching is one of the natural attraction here. For those who are into greater challenge, you can do white water rafting at Padas River. Prior arrangement with tour agent is neccessary to if you intend to jungle trek or white water rafting.

Flora and Fauna

Find out more about Rafflesia, the world's largest flower at The Rafflesia Information Centre on your way here. It is located near Tambunan. There are trails from this centre where the Rafflesia can be found. It opens daily from 8am to 3pm. Call the centre at Tel : +6 088 898 500 or +6 088 898 501 for more information.

This flower is a parasite which has no root, leaf or stem and its host is a vine called Tetrastigma.

It flowers usually at midnight after a rainy day and lasted only for a few days. You will be fortunate to see a real one flowering. After that, they will begin to rot emitting a rotten meat smell. Flies will come and as a result the plant is pollinated. The most common species found in Sabah are:

Rafflesia Pricei
Rafflesia Arnoldii
Rafflesia Keithii
Rafflesia Tengku-Adlinii

Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world.

Oaks
Chestnuts
Conifers
Orchids
Rhodedendrons
Pitcher plants

Civet Cats
Long-Tailed Macaques
Pig-Tailed Macaques are intelligent and can be trained to pluck cocunuts which are high above the ground.
Wild Pigs
Orang Utans
Gibbons
Furry Tarsier or "Kera Hantu" in Malay language
Hornbills
Pheasants
Partridges
Golden-naped Barbet

Camping

+6 019 862 0404

Niah National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:43:00 +0000

The 3,138 hectares Niah National Park was gazetted as a national park on 23 November 1974. It is located about 130km away from Bintulu and 110km away from Miri. It is about 3km away from the nearest town known as Batu Niah. Its importance was recognized when archaeologists found the oldest remains of humans in Southeast Asia in the Great Cave, believed to be 40,000 years old. The west mouth of the Great Cave is one of the biggest cave entrances in the world with a dimensions of 250m wide and 60m high.

The cave was believed to be a refuge for the early human civilization. You will encounter swiftlet birds and bats in the caves here. The locals collect the nests of the swiftlet birds to be processed and sold as birds nest cuisine, believe to be good for health by the Chinese. The guano which is the droppings of bats and birds is collected and used as fertilizer for vegetables and plants.

Painted Cave

The Painted Cave is named so probably due to the small human-like figures drawn in red haematite.

Jungle Trekking

There are two jungle trails that you can use to discover the flora and fauna here. They are Jalan Bukit Kasut Trail and Jalan Madu Trail. Look out for orchids, giant pandanus plants, fungi, balsam and begonia. Birds such as bulbuls, partridges, hornbills can be spotted as well. Look out also for the long-tailed macaques and squirrels.

Jalan Bukit Kasut Trail
This trail will lead you to the peak of Bukit Kasut or Kasut Hill. This trail will take you less about 50 minutes and is marked in green and white. See the vegetation and Kerangas forest at the foot of the hill. See the panoramic view of the tropical rainforest from this hill.

Jalan Madu Trail

This trail will take you along the banks of Sungai Subis, one of the tributary of Niah River. It is marked in red and white and will take you less than an hour to complete. You will pass thourgh peat swamp forest.

Fees and Opening Hours

Admission Fees

Entrance fee is RM10 for adult and RM5 for child. Remember to get a trail map of the park at the counter.

Opening Hours of the Park Headquarters

8.00am to 5.00pm daily

Accommodation

Basic accommodation is available at the park with chalets and hostels managed by the Sarawak Foresty Corporation. There are also inns such as Niah Cave Inn and Niah Cave Hotel for ccommodation at Batu Niah town.

Source: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/

Pictures : From Google

Sipadan Island

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:59:00 +0000

The famous island of Sipadan. Its main attraction, however, is underwater.

Located off the east coast of Sabah, Sipadan Island is a small 12 hectare land mass that rises just 600 metres from the seabed. Part of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Sipadan Island is known throughout the global diving community as one of the top dive destinations in the world. It also is one of the most exclusive as only 140 people are allowed to visit the island daily, with every visitor checking in at the national park jetty on arrival at Sipadan Island.

Only a tiny fraction of Sipadan Island is open to visitors and there are only basic amenities available, including a small resthouse and toilets. Sipadan Island is home to an extensive range of birds and it is common for visitors to spot at least a bird or two while on the island. The island used to offer accommodation, but conservation efforts in later years led to a decision to shut down and remove all accomodation on the island in 2004 to preserve the island's ecosystem. Accommodation is available at the nearby Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort just offshore Kapalai Island, on Mabul Island or at Semporna on the coast of Sabah.

Formed by a coral reef atop an extinct volcano cone, the island and the waters that surround it offer divers an amazingly rich experience, from snorkelling among the outlying reefs, to wall diving along the cone of the undersea volcano. The myriad of marine life seemingly on display in Sipadan's waters are simply astounding. Turtles, sharks and barracudas are just some of the inhabitants of this undersea paradise. There are as many as twelve well known dive sites around the island, including Barracuda Point, and Turtle Cave, each offering a unique look at the mysteries of the sea.

PHOTOS

SOURCE:http://www.malaysia.com/sipadan-island-beach

Malaysia National Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:48:00 +0000

The National Museum is located within walking distance from KL Sentral. If you are in Lake Garden, you will be able to see the museum as it has a distinctive Minangkabau-styled roof. Walking from Lake Garden will take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the museum. The museum contains vast artifacts and exhibits that trace the history of the nation of Malaysia.

This building was officially opened in August 31, 1963 by His Majesty the Third Yang diPertuan Agong of Malaysia. It has a Minangkabau-styled roof and two front murals. The murals of Italian glass mosaic highlights the significant events and crafts of Malaysia. There are 4 main galleries namely Culture, Faces of Malaysia, Natural History and Weaponry, Traditional Musical Instruments and Ceramics.

The Minangkabau-styled architecture of the museum

Outdoor Display

The outdoor of the museum has big displays that you can visit without having to purchase any ticket. You will be able to see old cars, a replica of an old Malay palace, steam locomotive and bull carts. The Malaysian Maritime Archaeology Exhibition is located in the vicinity of the museum where artifacts from 11 historical shipwreck salvaged is currently on display.

The replica of an old Malay palace at the compound of the National Museum

Bull carts exhibit on display

Guided Tours

You can request for a guided tour of the National Museum and the surrounding galleries as there are volunteers who have signed up and have been trained to be guides for visitors. For a start, 25 volunteers comprising of foreign and local women from the Musuem Volunteers Malaysia (MVM) will be able to provide a guided tour in French or English. They have been trained in the history of Malaysia, Malacca Malay sultanate, Malaysian handicraft, ceramics and jewellery.

The one-hour scheduled guided tours in English and French will be available at 9am on Tuesdays and 11am on Thursdays.If you are keen to have guided tour of the museum, make a reservation by calling +6 03 2282 6255 extension 206/287 or email mvmqueries@yahoo.com

The museum is also looking for more volunteers to help out as guides. You will be trained every Thursday morning for 3 months before being confirmed as a guide. Email or call using the contacts provided above to make an appointment.

Getting Here

Take the PUTRA LRT, KL Monorail or KTM Komuter train and stop at KL Sentral Station. If you don't mind walking, the museum can be reached in 15 minutes.

Another alternative is to take Intrakota Bus No. 33 or No. 35 at Jalan Lee or Bus No. 30 at Jalan Raja Laut.

If you drive, there is a big parking bay for you to park your car at a fee of RM2 per entry.

Entrance Fee

The opening hour to visit the National Museum is from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily.

The entrance fee is RM2 for adult and RM1 for children. Children below 12 years old do not have to pay.

Further information can be obtained by calling +603 2282 6255. or visitNational Museum website.

Source: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/

Aquarium KLCC

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Aquarium KLCC

Known as AQUARIA, this centre is a good place to go for a time of entertainment as well as for education on the wonders of the marine world after your shopping in Suria KLCC. Located within 5 minutes walking distance from Suria KLCC, this aquarium features over 5,000 animals of 150 species of aquatic and land animals from Malaysia and around the world.

The exhibit is divided into 6 sections:

1. The Highland
2. Jewels Of The Jungle
3. Flooded Forest
4. The Coast
5. The Living Reef
6. The Living Ocean

As you enter aquarium KLCC, you will see the forests with streams of rivers flowing down the mountains. The tropical rainforest of Malaysia is featured here where you will be able to see the jungle animals and the typical sound that you will hear if you go to the jungle of Malaysia. The Flooded Forest shows the ecosystems where trees, plants and sea creatures co-exists in harmony with nature. The coast has the typical mangrove plants where crabs, prawns, mud-skippers and monkeys abound. There is a touch pool for those who are curious to feel how the sea creatures actually feel like.

The big signage welcoming you to the Aquarium

The multimedia presentation of the exhibits in

Aquarium KLCC before you enter

Underwater Tunnel

A 90m underwater walkway tunnel awaits you towards the end of the exhibition. The rich marine life is seen through the acrylic class as you walk underneath it. You will see the powerful Sand Tiger Sharks as they are being fed by the trainers in the water. Colourful fishes with beautiful coral reefs add to the beauty of the ocean life. Remember to take along your video camera to record your experience here.

If you are keen to learn in greater detail about the exhibits, there are interactive Information Kiosks that you can use. Those who are adventures may want to try to "Dive With Sharks" for a fee of RM400 for certified divers and RM450 for non-certified divers.

The magnificent turtle at the exhibit

Getting to the Aquarium KLCC

This AQUARIA is opened from 11am to 8pm everyday with the last admission at 7pm. The best means of transport to come here is using the Putra LRT. Board the Putra LRT and stop at KLCC station. Follow the signage to AQUARIA KLCC and you will be here in about 10 minutes time.

AQUARIA KLCC
Concourse Level
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 2333 1888

Admission Fee

The fee to enter the centre

As shown in the picture above, the entrance fees are:

Malaysians

RM28 per adult with MyKad.
RM22 per child from 3-12 years old with MyKid.

Non-Malaysians

RM38 per adult.
RM26 per child from 3-12 years old.

Senior Citizens

RM18 for those 60 years and above.

For more information, visit Aquarium KLCC website.

TASIK KENYIR, TRENGGANU

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Tasik Kenyir

Kenyir Lake is located in the district of Hulu Terengganu and is the biggest man-made lake in South East Asia, spanning an area of 209,199 hectares. This lake shares a common border with Kelantan in the west and Pahang in the south. There are over 340 islands on this lake and more than 14 waterfalls. Rivers and rapids are a common sight on this exotic getaway holiday destination.

Freshwater fishes can be found in abundance here as the lake with a catchment area of 38,000 hectares makes it a perfect habitat for fishes to thrive. Here are some of the activities that you can do while enjoying the tranquility of the beauty of Kenyir Lake.

Fishing

Whether you are new to fishing or an experienced angler, this lake is the perfect spot to get some freshwater fish. Thereare over 300 species of fishes that make their home here. The protruding dead trees as a result of the man-made lake isan ideal breeding ground for these fishes. Some of the species of fish that you can find here include:

Kelah, also known as Malaysian Mahseer
Lampam Sungai or barboides
Toman or Snakehead
Kawan or Friendly barb
Kalui or Gaint Gouramy
Kelisa or Green Arowana

Some fishing spots that you may want to explore include Leban, Petuang, Cacing and Saok.

Videos of freshwater fishing in Kenyir Lake. This 2kg Sebarau is a common fish that you can get while visiting this lake.

Waterfalls
Have a picnic at some of the many Waterfalls here. The more popular waterfalls have facilities such as washrooms and restareas that have been cleared. Lasir Waterfalls is located 16km or 30 minutes boat ride away from Pengkalan Gawi, the main gateway to the lake. This waterfall is about 500 feet high and is surrounded by lush greeneries and rocks, typical scene of a tropical rainforest.
Saok Waterfalls is another waterfall that is about 15 minutes boat ride away from Pengkalan Gawi. This waterfall has cascading waters over its rocky terraces. There is a flat sandy area at the foot of the waterfall that makes it an ideal place for a time of picnic with your family or friends.
Tembat Waterfalls consists of 5 rapids of fast flowing cascades. This waterfall is about an hour boat ride from PengkalanGawi. It has a large area for camping and is one of the most popular camping site. There is a trail that leads to the top of the fall.

Herbs Park
Taman Herba Tasik Kenyir is a park with over 200 species of traditional herbal species. Species that are planted at the15.8 hectares land include Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, Misai Kucing, Mas Cotak and Haji Samad. Located about 7km or 10 minutes boat ride from Pengkalan Gawi. Most of these herbs have medicinal values and you can savour some of the herbalbeverages here.

Caves
A good view of Tasik Kenyir can be seen at the Bewah and Taat limestone hills. Taat has 3 caves with the lower cave knownas Tok Bidan Cave submerged under water. Archaeologists have found some artefacts dating back to the Neolithic era. You will be able to see the spectacular formation of stalagmites and stalactites inside these caves. The caves are aboutan hour and a half by boat from Pengkalan Gawi.

Resorts
There are many accommodation here that you can stay ranging from rooms, chalets, dorms to bungalows.

Kenyir Lake View Resort with 136 rooms
Petang Island Resort with 27 chalets
Kenyir Sanctuary Resort with 43 chalets
Lake Land Resort with 22 chalets
Uncle John Resort with 22 rooms
Musang Kenyir Resort with 15 chalets
Tanjong Mentong Resort with 8 chalets and 1 dorm
Federal Government Resthouse with 10 bungalows
Kenyir Lake Resort with 42 bungalows

Water Sports
Water sports activities such as canoeing, boating, kayaking, rafting and rapid shootings are some of the outdoor activitiesthat you can do here. The annual Kengir Regatta and Telematch is held here.

Getting To Tasik Kenyir
If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, use the Karak Highway to Jerangau-Jabor Highway where you will reach Ajil. From Ajil,drive towards Kuala Berang and you will reach Pengkalan Jawi which is about 55km away from Ajil.

Public bus can also be taken from Hentian Putra, Kuala Lumpur direct to Tasik Kenyir for a fare of about RM35.

Call Tel +6 03 4044 4276 for enquiry.

Putrajaya Sentral

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Putrajaya Sentral is the main public tranportation hub of Putrajaya. It is a smaller version of Puduraya Station in Kuala Lumpur. Located at the west side of Putrajaya, this is the place where public transportation from other parts of Selangor stop. The Express Rail Link that links KLIA to KL Sentral has a station here.

If you prefer to take buses which are very much cheaper compared to the ERL, the two major bus companies that are operating here are Rapid KL and Nadi Putra. Rapid KL take passengers from outside of Putrajaya from places such as Bandar Utama, Serdang and Cyberjaya whereas Nadi Putra routes are confined to within Putrajaya. The Monorail project that was supposed to link the various parts of this new township has been put on hold due to the slowdown of the economy.

This is the place where you will stop for your next

transit to various parts of Putrajaya

Rapid KL Bus Routes
RapidKL is one of the main bus companies that operates in this terminal. The main routes and the bus no are:

U42 : Putrajaya - Serdang KTM Komuter
This route takes you to Dataran Putrajaya, Presint 8, Tasik Putra Club, Sri Perdana Bridge, Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Botanical Garden, Persiaran Utara, SKVE (South Klang Valley Expressway), BESRAYA highway before stopping at Serdang KTM Komuter train station.

Rapid KL buses

U43 : Putrajaya - Bandar Utama
This route uses LDP highway and pass by TESCO Puchong, IOI Mall Puchong, Kelana Jaya Giant Hypermarket, Kelana Jaya LRT, Kolej Damansara Utama (KDU), Uptown Damansara Utama, Sri Pentas TV3 and 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

T429 : Putrajaya - Cyberjaya Transport Terminal (CTT)
This is the bus to take if you intend to go to Cyberjaya, the Intelligent City of Malaysia. It will pass Century Square, Multimedia Development Corporation headquarter, Cyberjaya Transport Terminal, Multimedia University, Cyberia Crescent Condominium and Cyberia Smarthomes.

E1 : Putrajaya - Terminal Jalan Sultan Mohamad via Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Seremban
This express bus route go to terminal Jalan Sultan Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur using the KL-Seremban Highway.

NadiPutra Bus Routes
NadiPutra buses take you to places within the city of Putrajaya. There are about 9 bus routes that you can take depending on the precint that you would like to go.

NadiPutra 100
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Police Station, Putrajaya Hospital, Jalan P9, Jalan P9G, Jalan P8, Kompleks EDCBA, Alamanda and Jalan P16.

NadiPutra 200
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Police Station, Putrajaya Hospital, Jalan P9B, Jalan P9G, Jalan P8, Persiaran Perdana P2, P3, P4, Wisma Putra, Jalan P16, Alamanda and Kompleks EDCBA.

NadiPutra 300
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Jalan P9, Jalan P9G, Kompleks EDCBA, Alamanda and Jalan P16.

NadiPutra buses take you to places within the city of Putrajaya.

NadiPutra 301
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Jalan P9B, Jalan P9, Persiaran Perdana P2, P3, P4 and Wisma Putra.

NadiPutra 400
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Jalan P9, Jalan P9G, Jalan P11, Jalan P11B, Jalan P11A, Jalan P10, Kompleks EDCBA, Alamanda and Jalan P16.

NadiPutra 401
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Jalan P9, Jalan P9G, Jalan P11, Putra Damai, Jalan P11B, Jalan P11A, Jalan P10, Jalan P8, Persiaran Perdana P2, P3, P4 and Wisma Putra.

NadiPutra 500
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Police Station, Putrajaya Hospital, Jalan P9B, Jalan P9, Jalan P8, Kompleks EDCBA, Jalan P14 Jalan P15.

NadiPutra 501
Route covers include Putrajaya Sentral, Police Station, Putrajaya Hospital, Persiaran Perdana, P2, P3, P4, Wisma Putra, Jalan P16, Alamanda, Jalan P14 and Jalan P15.

NadiPutra 900
Route covers include Park & Ride, Presint 1, Kompleks EDCBA and Taman Botani(Botanical Garden).

KLIA Transit Train
The KLIA-KL Sentral Transit Train stops at 3 other locations. They are KLIA-Salak Tinggi-Putrajaya/Cyberjaya-Bandar Tasik Selatan-KL Sentral.
The Putrajaya/Cyberjaya station is located at Putrajaya Sentral.

KLIA transit train Putrajaya/Cyberjaya train station.

For KLIA-KL Sentral route, trains start operation from KLIA at 5.52am. The last train leaves KLIA at 1:03am. It takes about 13 minutes to reach Putrajaya from KLIA with a train frequency of 30 minutes. The fare from KLIA to Putrajaya/Cyberjaya station is RM6.20/adult and RM3/child.
For KL Sentral-KLIA route, trains start operation from KL Sentral at 5.33am. The last train leaves KL Sentral at 12:03am. It takes about 17 minutes to reach Putrajaya/Cyberjaya from KL Sentral with a train frequency of 30 minutes. The fare from KLIA to Putrajaya/Cyberjaya station is RM9.50/adult and RM4.50/child.

If you travel to Putrajaya/Cyberjaya frequently, there are monthly travel packages that you can purchase from the station.

Taxis
There is a taxi station that is located here. However, the rate for taxi is definitely much higher than if you take bus. You can request for the rate from the counter located here before taking the taxi. The meter starts at RM4 the moment you step into the taxi. It will probably cost you about RM8-RM15 from the station to the surrounding areas in Putrajaya.

If you are in a hurry, taxis are one of the most convenient mode of transport here. However, the price is higher compared to using buses to reach your destination.

Parking Bays
There are plenty of parking bays for you to park your vehicles. At the moment, parking is Free of Charge although the facility to collect parking fee is already in place.

There are many free parking bays for you to park your vehicle.

Getting Here
This main transportation terminal is located at the western side of Putrajaya. If you are coming from Puchong or Damansara Utama using the LDP Highway, go towards the direction of Putrajaya/Cyberjaya. After the last toll, go straight until you see the Putrajaya Sentral signage on your left. Turn left and you will reach this terminal in no time.

Putrajaya Lake Club

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Putrajaya Lake Club

Putrajaya Lake Club or Kelab Tasik Putrajaya is a good place to spend half a day or so during your weekends with your family. This club is located at Precint 8 in a slide valley with small hills flanking it. This ideal location is a good place to enjoy your meal at the restaurant or cafe within the club. You will be able to see the tranquil and clean Putrajaya Lake as you dine here. The bridge, the Prime Minister Office and Putrajaya Mosque are some of the landmarks that you can observe from here.

The main entrance of Kelab Tasik Putrajaya.

Some of the facilities provided here are..

Watersports Facilities

If you are into watersports, you will be able to rent the clubhouse facilities such as the canoes, the kayaks and a wide range of boats. Changing rooms and safety jackets are also available here. There is also a rowing simulator for you to practice before going out to the lake. This simulator is placed 2 feet beneath the water where you can do your rowing to gain confidence before renting the "real" boats. The renting of the single leisure kayak is RM10 per hour, RM20/hour for a Canadian Canoe, RM10/hour for a polo kayak, RM10/hour for a Walker Bay Fun Dinghy and RM5/hour for an Indoor Rower. Members of the club are offered 50% discount for the renting of all the equipments.

Watersports facilities for rent.

The Canadian Canoe. You can rent it at RM20 per hour.

Samudera Restaurant & Putra Klasik Cafe

This air-conditioned restaurant is located on the Ground Floor of the Club. It serves authentic western, chinese, Malay and Indian cuisines. Some of the signature dishes are the baked cheese-topping fish and lamb steaks. During lunch hours, ministers and VIPs can be seen here having their favourite dishes. The Putrajaya Lake Club is a good venue to bring your guests to savour the best dishes of Malaysian cuisines.

The Putra Klasik Cafe is located just outside the Samudera Restaurant. It is an open air cafe with large receptions that can cater for up to 60 guests.

Typical lattes, Italian beverages and smoothies are served here. As the weather can be quite hot and humid during the day time, having your meal at the cafe in the evening will be a better choice.

The Putra Klasik Cafe and Samudera Restaurant.

The view of Putrajaya Lake and one of the Signature Bridge.

WiFi Connection

Those who need to have business discussion and accessing the internet will be glad to know that the club has WIFI facilities for you to check your emails. All you need to do is bring your notebook with built-in WIFI and you will be connected to the web in no time.

Swimming Pool & Reading Room

The 50 m swimming pool is opened from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily. There is a Children's pool as well.

A reading room is also provided at the Club for your reading pleasure.

The 50m swimming pool is opened from 9am to 9pm daily.

Operation Hours

The clubhouse opens from 10:00am to 10:00pm everyday including publicholidays.

Address

Kelab Tasik Putrajaya
No 2, Jalan P8
Precinct 8, 62250 Putrajaya
Federal Territory, Malaysia

Tel: 603 8889 5008

Getting here

If you are using the LDP, go to Putrajaya and follow the Precint 1 direction towards the Government offices. You will pass by the biggest roundabout inPutrajaya. Follow the signage to Kelab Tasik Putrajaya.

You can also take the NadiPutra 100 or NadiPutra 200 buses to go to Putrajaya Lake Club.

Putrajaya Millenium Monument

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Millenium Monument

If you in Putrajaya, do take some time off to visit the Millenium Monument which is located on a 25 hectare park in Precinct2. The park is located directly opposite the National Registration Department or Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara building. The first monument to be built in this new federal administrative city of Putrajaya, its distinctive hibiscus shaped metalstructures was designed by world famous architect, Dr. Ken Yeang to usher in the new millenium. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, it was only opened to the public on August 27, 2005. A few time capsules were placed into the tower siteto be opened in the near future.

The main pillar has a height of 68m. Its main pillar has diameters measuring from 3 m at the base, 4 m in the middle and hasa pointed tip. The monument was constructed of solid metal and strengthened with metal structures.

The 68 m high Millenium Monument was opened to the public on August 27, 2005

The Monument building is situated near the Putrajaya Lake. You will be able to see the signature bridges and other landmarks of the city from this Monument

As you walk up along the huge walkway of the Monument, you will be able to see the information that is engraved on the plates of the building. They provide a macro overview of the country's history starting from the Malacca Sultanate, the stories of local leaders who rised up to fight for the independence of the country, the technological advancement of the country in making cars, the transportation system of the country and other mega projects undertaken by the Government of Malaysia. The success stories of Malaysia embedded here are a reminder to the younger generation of the sacrifices that the leaders of the country have made.

Notice the huge transparent signages that contained the information of the history of Malaysia

Getting Here

There is a big parking bay for you to park your car if you drive here. The parking bays are located beside the lake oppositeNational Registration Department building in Precinct 2.

If you do not have your own transport to come here, you can take the Putrajaya Passenger Cruise Boat which will stop bythis place as it makes its tour around Putrajaya Lake. The departure venue is at Putra Jetty near Dataran Putra.

Another view of the main building

Warisan Pertanian Putrajaya

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Taman Warisan Pertanian

Taman Warisan Pertanian is an agriculture park that shows the agricultural development of Malaysia. While here, you will experience and learn the traditional crops that were planted in vast areas throughout Malaysia before the country changed the emphasis of being an agricultural-based country to a manufacturing-based country. Today, the manufacturing and petroleum industry contribute more than half of Malaysia export revenue.

A variety of crops that are planted here for you to see and touched are the rubber trees, the cocoa, palm oil, fruits, herbs and spices. There are over 180 crops in the park and during the fruit season, you can even sample the different type of fruits fresh from the trees. There are also many exciting events that are organized throughout the year.

The spacious visitor's complex at Warisan Pertanian is opened from 9am to 11pm daily.

The notable ones are the "Jom makan Buah" event where you can eat as much local fruits as you want for a nominal fee of less than RM10 per person. It is usually held in the month of July every year. The agriculture-related activities such as the latex collection from rubber trees and coagulation before being rolled into rubber sheets are shown here. The maintenance of crops and fruit preservation methods are also demonstrated here.

Here are some of the facilities at Warisan Pertanian that you will not miss.

Visitor's Complex

The architecture of this complex is designed using wood to show the traditional Malay design. Some of the attractions here include:

Warisan Sate

This is a cafe serves Kajang Haji Samuri sate, one of the most famous traditional charcoal grilled chicken, beef, fish and a variety of other meat served with the popular peanut sauce. Hence, instead of going to Kajang to savour this popular food, you can have it all here while visiting Putrajaya.

This cafe operates from 11am to 11pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

The famous Kajang Haji Samuri Sate has an outlet here.

Food and Souvenir Stalls

There are other stalls that sell drinks, juice, coffee, tea, fried chicken, local Malay dishes and rice. There are stalls that sell flowers and decorations made from dried rubber leaves, cocoa products and other products. Special souvenirs can also be arranged for local and overseas tourists.

The sweet and delicious "ciku" fruit.

Orchard

The orchard is planted with a variety of seasonal fruits of Malaysia. This include "durian", the King of Fruits of Malaysia. If you happen to be here during the durian season, you may want to try this unique fruit which has a strong smell. Most westerners will not like it when tasted for the first time. Other seasonal fruits being planted include the mangoesteen, "cempedak", rambutan, "pulasan" which is quite similar to the rambutan and dokong.

The non-seasonal fruits that you can see include the pomelo, longan, mango, guava, "jambu batu", star fruit and "ciku".

The "jambu air" fruits are wrapped with bags to prevent insects from eating them.

Banana plants growing near the information centre.

Herbs and Spices
The herbs and spices are also planted here for your learning experience. Among them are lemon grass or serai, "kunyit", "sireh", curry leaves, "kadok", pudina, "selasih", "cekur" and "jari lima". It is believed that the "jari lima" is able to repel the mosquitoes.

Agro Industry Plants

The plants that are widely planted for export is the oil palm and rubber trees. You will see a rubber gallery at the Rubber Clone Plot which has over 1500 rubber trees from 71 clone such as the RRIM 600, GT I and PB 260. Visitors will be able to see the demonstation how to tap a rubber tree, latex collection from the trees and coagulation before being rolled into rubber sheets.

Other industry-based plant include the pepper, coffee, coconut, tea and pineapple.

Operation Hours

The visiting hours to the Orchard and Visitor's Complex is from 9am to 7pm daily including weekends.

The Warisan Sate is opened from 11am to 11pm daily including weekends.
The entrance to the Visitor's Complex is Free of charge. Entrance to the Orchard will be charge a fee of RM2/person.

Address
Taman Warisan Pertanian
No 7, Jalan P16
62150 Putrajaya
Tel: +6 03 8888 0099

Getting here
This park is located at Precint 16. See the map below for direction of getting here.

Taman Putra Perdana Putrajaya

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Taman Putra Perdana

The Taman Putra Perdana or Putra Perdana Park is located in Precinct 1, within walking distance from Putrajaya Shangri-La Hotel. This is a public park and is opened to all without any admission fee. If you are a guest of the Shangri-La Hotel, ask the reception about this park as it is within walking distance from the hotel. With a large area of about 158 acres, you will find this park a good place to unwind. This park is an ideal location to enjoy a panoramic view of Putrajaya. Here are some of the landmarks and facilities that you expect while visiting this park.

A view of Wawasan Bridge and Government complexes from Taman Putra Perdana.

Mercu Tanda Plaza and Fountains

This 78 metres structure is designed in the shape of pyramid and is a proud symbol of Putrajaya. There is a time capsule in front of this monument that contained a number of official documents on the history and development of Purtrajaya. You wil also see a plaque that commemorates the launch of Putrajaya by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia on 29 August 1995. Within the vicinity of this plaza are some binoculars that you can use to take a closer view of the Wawasan Bridge, the government complexes, the Putrajaya Lake and Botanical Garden.

Notice the 78m Mercu Tanda Plaza at the background.

There are 11 fountains which are lighted up at night, giving visitors a good contrast of the night and the day. The fountains in a way help to create a cooler ambient as the daytime temperature can be as high as 32°C to 33°C. There are ample rest areas that you can sit while you are here. Traditional Shelters known as Wakaf are built throughout the park for visitors to rest.

Notice the fountains and traditional shelters in the background.

Flora and Jogging Tracks

There are about 54 species of shade trees planted in this park. On top of that, there are also 17 palm species, 63 kinds of shrubs, 19 species of groundcover and ferns, and 5 species of climbers. Other colourful plants include the yiang yiang, frangipani and Kedah gardenia.

Take the opportunity to stop by Fragrance Garden where you can smell the nice aromas of plants such as the Gardenia jasminoides, also known as Bunga Cina. Others include the Melati or Wrightia Religiosa, Cempaka Telor or Magnolia coco. These flowers are usually used during big celebrations and weddings to add natural fragrance to the place.

Joggers will be glad that there are over 2km of jogging tracks and pathways that are built around this park. Enjoy your jog in this clean park but remember to bring drinking water and cap if you are jogging the the afternoon. Late evening is the best time to jog as the environment will be cooler.

A close-up view of Mercu Tanda Plaza.

Restrooms

Basic restrooms facility is provided here for your convenience. They are located just by the main car park.

Basic Restrooms facility is provided here.

Getting Here & Operation Hours

Go towards the biggest roundabout of Putrajaya where you will be able to see the Government complexes. Look for Shangri-La signage and follow the direction to this hotel. The park is located within the vicinity of the hotel.

Operation Hours

Monday-Friday: 7am to 8pm

Weekends, School and Public Holidays: 7am to 10pm

Admission is FREE

Tropical Botanical Garden in Putrajaya

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tropical Botanical Garden

The tropics near the equator that stretches from Asia Pacific to Africa and South America received plenty of sunshine and rain throughout the year. As such, the diversity of the flora and fauna in these region still remains to be explored. Malaysia is located at 2 ° to 7 ° north of the equator has one of the oldest tropical forest in the world. The man made tropical botanical garden of Taman Botani was established in Putrajaya of which the landscape of the city was to be designed as the "City in the Garden". Taman Botani is one of the many gardens that has been gazetted for development as a tropical garden.

Covering an area of 230 acres or 93 hectares, the development of this park is divided into 3 phases. The first phase covering an area of 63 acres has been completed and is now open to the public. The more than 700 species of plants in this garden come from over 90 countries of the world.

The lush greeneries in the tropical botanical garden of Putrajaya

Taman Botani Overview

The garden is divided into 5 different themes. They are the Explorer's Trail, Palm Hill, Floral Gardens, Sun Garden and the Lakeside.

Explorer's Trail is located at the Visitor Centre to the garden where you can visit the Visitors' Interpretive Centre for an educational knowledge of the plant world before proceeding to go into the garden. This centre is opened daily but closed on Mondays. The opening hours is 10am to 6pm during weekdays and 10am to 7pm during weekends. The admission fee is RM3.

As you depart the building to go out, you will walk along the Canopy Bridge where you will be able to see the "tree top". Come back in a few years time and the trees would have grown into huge tall trees. As you descend from the bridge, you will see Heliconias plants such as bananas, Marnthas, Calatheas and the Traveller's Palm. Proceed on and you will see Vine Garden where a variety of vines such as Tecomarias can be found here. Take note and read the information about each type of tree on the informative material.

The Canopy Bridge at tropical botanical garden in Putrajaya

Palm Hill is the next theme that you will encounter. There are more than 50 species of palm trees. Notice the Rotan, the Chinese Fan Palm and the Umbrella Leaf Palm as you walk up the slope.

The Palm Hill

Sun Gardens as its name implies is a collection of plants that grow well in the bright sun. The flowers in this area react differently according to the time of the day. Notice the Brunfelsia flower which changes its colour daily from purple to pink to white. It is also known as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Floral Gardens have a collection of plants from Africa, America and the Asia Pacific region. The Flame Of The Forest and Plumbago are some of the species that originate form the African region. The Peacock Flower and Frangipani come from the American region. The Ficus tree from the region of Asia Pacific is a major source of food for the wildlife in Asia.

Lakeside has a collection of Ixora and Hibiscus. The Pandanus plants which have long, narrow, piny leaves and stilt roots can be seen here. There are also the Cannas with colourful and big flowers. As the trail comes near the end, you will be able to see the ferns that have been said to be in existence for more than 200 million year.

Facilities at the tropical botanical garden

The admission to the garden if FREE. The big parking area is available to the public for a fee of RM1. Tram services are available for a fee of RM4 for adult and RM3 for children. If you want to sweat if out, bicycle and paddle boat can be rented from Tuesdays to Sundays. If you are hungry, the Putrajaya Seafood Restaurant is just by the garden. It is open daily from 11am to 11pm.

Further information on the tropical botanical garden can be obtained by calling Tel: +6 03 8888 9090

Bicycle for Rent

Getting here

If you intend to come by bus, take the Cityliner bus 868 from Sinar Kota, Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. The fare is aroundRm2.60 and it operates from 6:30am to 10pm at night. From the bus terminal in Putrajaya, take a Nadi Putra bus here.

If you come by train, use the ERL KLIA transit train that departs from KL Sentral or KLIA. The train operates from 5:30amto 1am daily with an interval of 30 minutes. At the Western Transportation Terminal in Putrajaya, take the Nadi Putra bus and you will arrive here.

Putrajaya Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Putrajaya Cruise In Brief

If you have exhausted your energy walking and traveling around Putrajaya, the new capital administration of Malaysia, why not take a cruise on the man-made lake and see the city various landmarks in the comfort of the big air conditioned passenger boat. For those who want to try the open air gondola type vessel, go in the evening at about 5pm or in the morning at about 10am as the weather can be quite hot in the noon time.

Entrance to Putrajaya Cruise

As you cruise along the beautiful lake, you will be able to see the landmarks of the city which include Putrajaya International Convention Centre, Putra Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge, Seri Gemilang Bridge, Prime Minister's office (Perdana Putra), Palace of Justice, Millennium Monument, Putra Mosque and the Ministry of Finance.

Type of Boats

There are 2 types of boats that you can choose from to cruise the lake. The bigger type cruise boat called Belimbing Passenger Cruise boat is an air conditioned boat that will take you round Putrajaya Lake for 45 minutes. The regular price of the cruise is:

Adult: RM30.00 per person

Child: RM20.00 per person

Family: RM4.00 per child for the second child onwards

The operating hours is from 1:00pm to 6:00pm during the weekdays and the time is extended to 7:00pm during the weekends.

Putrajaya Air conditioned Belimbing Passenger Cruise Boat

The other cruise is using gondola-like vessel which is called Dondang Sayang Perahu boat. It is a replica of the traditionalfishing boats used in the East Coast of malaysia. The vessel is made locally using Chengal Mas, a local hardwood found in theforest of Malaysia. The route covered is from Putra Jetty to Seri Perdana Complex, taking a time of approximately 25 minutes.The regular price of the cruise is:

Adult: RM20.00 per person

Child: RM12.00 per person

Family: RM2.00 per child for the second child onwards

The operating hours is from 10:00am to 6:30pm.

Dondang Sayang Perahu Gondola style Cruise Vessel

If you come as a family of four, there is a discount which is given throughout the year. For instance, if you come as a family of 2 adults and 2 children, the cost of the gondola-like vessel is only RM54 instead of RM64.

Getting to Putrajaya Cruise Jetty

You should be able to find this place easily as it is located near Dataran Putra, the biggest square near Putra Mosque. Walk down the steps from Dataran Putra and follow Cruise Tasik signage and you will reach the jetty in less than 5 minutes. The ticketing counter is located at Putra Jetty, underneath Putra Bridge.

If you come in a big group, you can also arrange for lunch, dinner, tea, seminars, wedding cruise, team building or party cruise on the passenger boat. The contact number for reservation is +603 8888 5539.

Putrajaya Lake in the midst of the city's modern landscape

Alamanda Putrajaya

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Alamanda Putrajaya

Alamanda Putrajaya shopping mall is currently the only shopping mall that serves the residents of Putrajaya and surrounding towns. It was opened to the public in August 2004 and has over 180 retail outlets. Being the only mall here, it is usually packed during the weekends where many residents around here will bring their family for a time of relaxation and shopping. Located at Precint 1, this mall has about 3,000 car park bays. The parking fee is RM1 per entry.

The spacious and modern shopping mall.

Some of the outlets that you can see while here are:

Shopping

Carrefour, Parkson, Cold Storage are the anchor tenants of this mall. You will be able to purchase household items and groceries from these three major shopping outlets.

Carrefour Putrajaya. Get your household items here.

Cold Storage at Alamanda Putrajaya. Get your groceries here.

Entertainment

GSC cinema at this mall is the only cinema in Putrajaya. People from surrounding areas such as Cyberjaya will come by here to see the latest movies especially during the weekends.

If you are into bowling, the ARL Bowling centre is opened everyday including public holidays. This bowling alley has 26-lanes and WIFI Hotspot broadband services. The operation hours is from 9am to 1am with price ranging from RM4 to RM6 per game depending on the time of your game. It is usually more costly during the weekends and in the evening.

Those of you who are into karaoke will be glad that there are rooms available for groups with standard room of RM25/hour. Family room is charged RM35/hour. The Karaoke centre is known as SUPERSTAR Karaoke.

Pos Malaysia has a branch here to cater for your postal and other services need.

MPH Bookstore is located at the Ground Floor

Food

The food court is illuminated by natural lighting with many retail outlets which offered a variety of food for you to choose from. Other food outletsinclude:

Johnny Steamboat offers DIY cooking where an electric pot is used to boil the ingredients such as fish ball, chicken ball, vegetables, mee hoon, eggs according to your pace. An ideal place if you have the time to spare.

Penang Village has another outlet here which offers Malaysian food. Both spicy and non-spicy dishes are available here.

Sri Ayuthaya offers original Thai food. If you are into spicy and Thai culinary, this is the place to dine.

Sushi King offers Japanese food.

Secret Recipe, Rotiboy, Manhattan Fish Market and The Coast are also located here. Other fast food outlets are A&W, McDonald, Pizza Hut and KFC.

Operation Hours

As with any major shopping mall, the operation hours is from 10am to 10pm Mondays to Sundays including public holidays.

Address

Alamanda Shopping Centre
Jalan Alamanda, Precint 1
62000 Putrajaya
Wilayah Persekutuan

Tel: +6 03 8888 8882

Getting here

You can also take the NadiPutra at various bus stops in Putrajaya to go to Alamanda Shopping Centre. If you are not sure, you can always ask the bus driverwho will be more than willing to help you.

Putrajaya, Malaysia. Federal Government Administrative Centre.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:39:00 +0000

If you are in Malaysia, you will definitely heard of Putrajaya, the new Federal Government Administrative Centre that is modern and is a model township that has been constructed with the preservation of the environment in mind. Its theme is "Garden City, Intelligent City" and rightly so as you will be able to see the beautifully landscaped roads, parks, lakes and modern buildings co-exist together.

Putra Bridge

This city is named in honour of Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Alhaj and was formerly a 4,932 hectare forest in the state of Selangor. Statistics given by Putrajaya Corporation shows that 38% of the city total land is being developed into parks, wetlands and lakes. The 650 hectare man-made Putrajaya Lake is a beautiful and clean lake that serves as a climate moderator of the town. It is also used for activities such as canoeing, boating, kayaking and aqua biking. Power boating international water sports event is also held here.

This city is about 20-30 minutes drive away from Kuala Lumpur International Airport(KLIA) or the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). If you are flying in from major cities of Australia, there are many Cheap Flights to Kuala Lumpur that you can choose ranging from Malaysia Airlines, SIA, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thai Airways or Cathay Pacific Airlines.

Attractions

Go to Dataran Putra and you will see a 300m circular area adorned with water and light features. The stars represent the states of Malaysia.

In the vicinity, you will be able to see Perdana Putra which is the main administrative offices of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, Chief Secretary to the Government as well as the Special Units. You will see onion-shaped glazed mosaic green main dome surrounded by four smaller domes. This building is designed that incorporates the Islamic and Mogul architecture and overlook the lake.

Dataran Putra and Perdana Putra at the background

Within walking distance from Dataran Putra, you will be able to see Putra Mosque with a unique pink dome which is built from rose-tinted granite. The mosque can accommodates 15,000 worshippers and has a 116m, five-tiered minaret which is the tallest in this region.

If you need to do some shopping or getting some souvenirs, you can walk to the Souq, Anjung and Lanai shopping centres. Souq is a Persian word that means a street of small stalls and you will see the middle east style bazaars here. For food, you can drop by Selera Putra where there are many stalls that sell tasty local and western cuisines.

Sou
venir for sale at The Souq

As you drive along the city, you will be able to see many beautiful bridges. There are altogether 8 unique and distinctive bridges that have been planned for the city. 7 of them have been completed and they are the Putra Bridge, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Seri Gemilang Bridge, Seri Bakti Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge, Seri Setia Bridge and Seri Bestari Bridge.

One of the unique Bridge

The Millenium Monument provides a panorama view of the history of Malaysia. It has a prominent tower above the monument that takes the shape of a hibiscus. The information are shown by the side of the monument as you walk up the structure.

For those nature lover, there are the Botanical Garden with over 92 hectare of plants and flowers from over 90 countries of the world. Wetland Park in the surrounding houses a Nature Interpretation Centre, flamingo pond, nature trails, picnic areas and wetland plant nursery. Take time out with your family and you will enjoy the greeneries of this park.

Hotels

Being a new area, there are four major hotels here. They are Pullman Lakeside Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Marriot and Palm Garden Hotel IOI.

Check and compare the prices of hotels in Putrajaya here.

Botanical Garden

Map
Putrajaya map for your information.