MALAYSIA

KELANTAN GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (dayah) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 14:35:00 +0000

Everything you Need to Know about Kelantan

The state of Kelantan is known as the ‘cradle of Malay culture’ for having an overwhelming population of Malays (93 percent) and the rest made up of Chinese, Indians and Thai. The Kelantanese have preserved their customs, traditions and cultures well over the years. Some of their most memorable activities are flying giant ‘Wau’ kites and playing ‘Gasing’, a game of spinning tops.
History dates the origin of Kelantan from the ascension of a Thai prince Long Yunus to the throne. The state then went through Thai and British influences before becoming part of Malaysia in 1957. The name ‘Kelantan’ means ‘Land of Lightning’ evident by the many thunderstorms that rock the state each year.
While the economy of Kelantan is based on agriculture such as rice, rubber and tobacco, the state is much more famous for their Malay handicrafts which include ‘Batik’, a silky garment woven with intricate patterns, ‘kain songket’, a cloth made from gold and silver thread, mats, silverware, paintings and wood carvings.
Tourism is a growing industry as more and more people flock to see the rich Malay culture that is inherent in the lifestyles of Kelantan’s people. A trip here will surely absorb you into the knowledge of Malay culture and traditions in Malaysia.

Kelantan Attractions

The Craft Museum houses many fine examples of Kelantanese craftsmanship in the form of wooden and silver articles. The Handicraft Village, on the other hand, demonstrates how items such as Batik, ‘Songket’ (prayer hat) and other embroidery are made. These products also go on sale here. Read more...

Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu, the small city bustles with life during the mornings and becomes quiet as the sun sets. The people live a peaceful life engaging in market activities and producing handicrafts for visitors...

Town & Districts

Kelantan's capital is Kota Bharu, performing all the administrative duties over the state. Kelantan is divided into 10 main districts, which are called Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Kuala Krai, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli and Gua Musang.

Geography & Climate

Covering a total of 14,922 sq. km, Kelantan is rich with lush green forests. Its climate is tropical monsoon, with a stable temperature within the range of 21°C to 32°C.
From January through April, expect dry and warm weather with consistently high humidity on the lowlands ranging from 82-86 percent. Kelantan's average yearly rainfall falls between 2,032 mm to 2,540 mm, with the wettest months being from November through January.

Economy

The state's economy is predominantly agrarian with paddy, rubber and tobacco as cash crops. Fishing along its coastline and livestock-rearing are also two important contributors to the economy. Other economic activities are cottage industries, like batik painting, woodcarving and songket-weaving. As mentioned earlier, tourism is fast emerging as a major money-spinner.

Food

Kelantan's unique cuisine has produced delicious dishes such as Ayam Percik, Nasi Kerabu and Nasi Dagang. Ayam Percik is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. This barbecued chicken marinated with spicy coconut gravy is truly mouth-watering.
Nasi Kerabu is a tasty rice-based dish, served with coconut milk, flaked fish, desiccated coconut and a variety of herbs and sauces, while everyone's favourite Nasi Dagang is actually a type of rice with a brownish tinge steamed to perfection with coconut milk and served with rich fish gravy.
Kota Bahru abounds with restaurants and food stalls, and hawkers with their tasty snacks can be found almost anywhere. Visitors looking for an outdoor Malaysian dining experience in the evening should not miss the food stalls open from 6pm to midnight at Padang Bas, in the town centre.

Night In The World's Oldest Rain Forest

noreply@blogger.com (dayah) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:52:00 +0000

If you have , you can listen to a streaming recording of Malaysia's jungle by clicking here.

THE SOUND IS OVERWHELMING. From every direction comes the hallucinatory, electric simmer of insect life, a noise so pervasive that it seems to have a tangible, physical shape. After a few moments, you realize that it is also multidimensional. First, there is the big sound, the sound of the forest as one, but that is really an orchestral illusion: it is actually composed of a million "little sounds." Close your eyes, and you hear the tiny local sounds, the immediate group of chirps, squeaks, and flutters. Then, as your ears adjust, more subtle strains emerge. There are rubbings, warbles, clicks, knocks, rattles, castanets, peepings, pop-pop sounds, chirroop- sounds, sounds that go everything in the night. The more you listen, the more you become convinced that the variety of creatures singing in the night is endless.

If you had to give all those sounds one name, it would be Taman Negara. Malaysians simply call it the "Green Heart," and it is Malaysia's oldest national park. It sprawls across the mountains and limestone hills of the peninsular state of Pahang, and within its boundaries is the world's oldest rain forest, a great Eden-like garden that seethes with life. It is home to more than 10,000 kinds of plants, 350 species of birds, and countless other insects and amimals - including elephant, tapir, mouse deer, and snakes. On a lucky day, you can spot a shy jaguar or a tiger. Most people who come to the park spend their days hiking the jungle trails, river-rafting, fishing or visiting the impressive canopy walkway. What many don't realize, however, is that Taman Negara truly comes alive at night.

Walking through the jungle at night has often been compared to scuba diving at night. The air is dense and soupy, the sky invisible, and the world of sight is limited to the clumsy cut of your flashlight. Despite the cacophony, finding the insects and animals takes time. With 130 million years of evolution behind them, Taman Negara's bugs (as well as its plants and animals) have developed highly specialized adaptations in order to survive. Many of them have become masters of camouflage, especially the leaf and stick insects, who are far more numerous than they appear. They are virtually indistinguishable from the plant parts their names are derived from, but by patiently probing the trees with a flashlight you can usually spot them. Far easier to see are the fireflies that flare constantly across the jungle trails. Sometimes thousands of them congregate en masse upon a single tree, lighting it up like a fairy city. And fireflies are not the only life-forms in Taman Negara that produce light. The park is also well-known for its luminous mushrooms and lichens. After a rain, they glow near the trails, illuminating the night like ghostly green clouds.

No night walk in Taman Negara is complete without a visit to one of the park's three hides. These elevated huts are situated five-minutes away from the park headquarters, and they are perfect for viewing the park's more dramatic creatures as they prowl out of the woods to enjoy salt licks. The most frequent visitor to the licks are deer and tapir, but elephants and tigers have also been know to surprise the die-hards who stay up all night (don't worry, the hides are far above the ground).

Even if you see none of these wonders, the sound of the Green Heart beating at night is more than enough reason to bring along a good flashlight.

Niah National Park

noreply@blogger.com (dayah) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:11:00 +0000

when:	Daily
where:	Niah National Park

With remains dating back 40,000 years, Sarawak's Niah National Park can claim to have the oldest relics of human habitation in South-East Asia. The Great Caves within the park also contain wall paintings estimated to be 1000 years old.

The Niah Caves are home to millions of bats and swifts, and man's reliance on nature is amply illustrated by two types of collections that are still made from the site as they must have been for millennia: the collection of both guano (bird and bat faeces, ideal as natural fertiliser) and bird's nest, edible because they are made out of the glutinous saliva of millions of swifts. Collectors risk their lives in climbing to the caves' ceilings, upwards of 50 metres high.

But the park offers much more than just the Great Caves. Encompassing 3140 hectares, it boasts tropical rainforest trails, a 400-metre high limestone ridge and, on a more human level, a traditional Iban longhouse, near the park's boundary. Visit the Niah Archaeological Museum to see prehistoric artefacts and exhibits about the way the early hominids would have lived thousands of years ago.

Contact Details
Name:	Forest Department Sarawak
Fax:	+60 (0) 6 082 441377
Phone:	+60 (0) 6 082 319102
Phone:	+60 (0) 6 082 319103
Address:	Wisma Sumber Alam, Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya, 93660, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Venue Information:	Niah National Park
Full Name:	Niah National Park, Batu Niah, Malaysia
Directions:	On the Sungai River, about 3km from the small town of Batu Niah, 300km (190 miles) northeast of state capital Kuching, through Bintulu, and 110km (70 miles) southwest of Miri, itself close to the Brunei border. Accessible by road, about 2 hours from Miri or 3 hours from Bintulu. The Great Caves are about a 45-minute walk along the 3km planked footpath, saving one's feet being soaked by the dense tropical undergrowth.
Other Information:	Niah National Park
Website:	Sarawak Museums Website (for Niah Archaeological Museum)
Website:	Forest Department Sarawak Website (for Niah National Park)

Event details can change. Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.

Wonderful Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (dayah) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:57:00 +0000

Overview
About Malaysia
Multiculturalism has not only made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise, it has also made Malaysia home to hundreds of colourful festivals. It's no wonder that we love celebrating and socialising. As a people, Malaysians are very laid back, warm and friendly.

Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. There are two parts to the country, 11 states in the peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the northern part of Borneo. Cool hideaways are found in the highlands that roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves.

One of Malaysia's key attractions is its extreme contrasts. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts, and five-star hotels sit several metres away from ancient reefs.

For the perfect holiday full of surprises, eclectic cultures and natural wonders, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.

Country
The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsula Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Geographical Location
Located between 2º and 7º north of the Equator, Peninsula Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsula Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are north of Indonesia in Borneo while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.
Area
329,758 square km
Population
27.17 million
Capital
Kuala Lumpur

People
Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.

Language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the official language, but English is widely spoken. Ethnic groups also have their own languages and dialects.

Religion
Islam is the country's official religion, but other religions are widely practised.

Government
Malaysia is governed by a Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, a position that is awarded to a different State Monarch every five years and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.

Weather
Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures in the lowlands range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). The highlands are cooler, where temperatures range between 15°C (59° F) to 25°C (77°F). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.

Main Holidays
New Year*, Hari Raya Aidiladha*, Federal Territory Day**, Chinese New Year*, Awal Muharam*, Maulidur Rasul*, Labour Day*, Wesak Day*, DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agong's Birthday*, National Day* Deepavali# Hari Raya Aidilfitri* Christmas*
Note: (*) - National Holiday (**) - Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur & Labuan only (#) - Except Labuan & Sarawak

More Articles...

* Economic Profile
* Distant to Malaysia
* Currency
* Banking Hours
* Post Office
* Time
* Electricity
* Weight and Measurement

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Activities

noreply@blogger.com (dayah) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Batu Ferringhi, situated along the coastal road north-west of Georgetown and lined with a string of international-standard resorts, is the most popular beach in Penang.Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach while you enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from wind-surfing to canoeing. For a spine-tingling…

Desaru is located 100 kilometres from Johor Bahru, and is a very popular destination for its clean beaches, excellent golf courses and unique attractions.Although it is better known as a beach and resort area, its other name is the 'Land of Casuarinas'. This is because one can see casuarina trees al…

Lankayan Island is a virtually uninhabited island located in the Sulu Sea. This tiny island is covered by thick tropical jungle that is surrounded by smooth, white sand - the perfect getaway.It has the only dive resort in Malaysia's Sulu Sea called the Lankayan Island Dive Resort and is one of the b…