::Travel and Cultural Guide::

Mount Kinabalu

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain between New Guinea and the Himalayas and reigns over an astonishing variety of scenery. While the lower reaches of the mountain serve as a botany fanatic’s dream, it is the upper reaches that captured the hearts and imaginations of climbers. Mount Kinabalu is known to be one of the most accessible peak and no specialized mountain climbing skills are required to ascend it. Thousands of tourists visit Kinabalu National Park every year with the intention of reaching the summit (number of visitors at park headquarters now hovers around 200,000 per year).

the upper reaches that captured the hearts and imaginations of climbers

Most people take 3 days 2 nights to ascend and descend Mount Kinabalu, although it is doable in 2 days 1 night. The 8 kilometers ascend starts from the Timpohon Gate near park headquarters (1800m) at least before 11am, then another estimated 6 hours to reach the rest point Laban Rata (3273m). An overnight stay at one of the guest houses at Laban Rata is required if you intend to see the sun rise at Mount Kinabalu summit – you depart next morning at around 2am and it will take another 3 to 4 hours to reach the summit. Climbers then descend back to Laban Rata for breakfast before making their way down to the park headquarters by mid afternoon.

The distribution of flora on the mountain is a classic example of altitude and temperature-related zonation. From the warm lowland rainforests to the near-freezing alpine conditions at the summit, each zone is characterised by a quite different assemblage of plant species.

The best time to come to Mount Kinabalu is during the dry season from February to April, when walking and climbing is much more enjoyable. The temperature ranges from a comfortable 20-25 degrees Celsius at the main park to something approaching freezing near the top (depending on the weather).

What to Bring

1. Good Boots: Bring boots with good ankle support. Make sure they fit properly and are broken-in enough to ensure they are comfortable, because well-fitting boots can make the difference between an entertaining and a painful trip. Waterproof is a plus. Make sure it has good grip! Do not wear sneakers since they don’t support your ankles like boots do. The number one injury hikers face is twisted or broken ankles especially on during descend.

If packing space permits, pack in an open-toed sandals for your descending trip. It will be easier for the descend trip without pressing your toes against your boots all the time! Use it after Laban Rita and only if the ground is NOT slippery.

2. Water bottle: You can refill it on each shelter along the trail (rain water). I suggest reusing the plastic bottled water bottles; they’re a good size and very lightweight when empty.

3. Torchlight: Head-mounted is ideal for the night climb to the summit, as most of the time you have to hold the rope in the dark.

4. Personal First Aid

Panadol / Paracetomol
First aid kit with moleskin and bandages designed to cover blisters
Sunscreen lotion
Energy snacks: Trail mix or dried fruits are recommended but anything with high carbohydrate and low sugar will do. Also avoid snacks with a lot of salt as salt makes you thirsty.
Bug Repellent

5. Plastic Bags: To hold your rubbish / keep clothes dry

6. Spare batteries: For torch light and camera

7. Smaller Bag / Waist Pouch: For the night climb

8. Waterproof jacket / Raincoat

The technical difficulty of the final summit stretch and the temperature at the top came as a surprise to most of the climbers on our trip, and few were prepared. The climb is not considered difficult in good conditions, but can rapidly become treacherous if the weather deteriorates. Mountain weather is notoriously volatile, as is tropical weather, and the two together pose a real threat to the safety of climbers and should never be underestimated. Make sure you have proper clothing prepared for the morning climb.

2 different sets of clothes for the Day climb, and Night climb.

Warm, lightweight jumper
Warm, lightweight pants
Woolen socks
Beanie/woolen hat
Gloves: To protect from cold and rope burn

Day Climb: It will usually be warm and sunny during the day climb, so lightweight clothing (t-shirts and Bermudas) is sufficient.

From the store at Laban Rata you can rent the following items:
â€¢ Sleeping Bag @ RM10 each;
â€¢ Jackets @ RM10 each (limited numbers of these);
â€¢ Blanket @ RM10 each;
â€¢ Towels @ RM5 each;
â€¢ Torch lights @ RM15 each (with battery) or RM5 without battery;

The Cost

Entrance Fees:

Compulsory Guide:

Climbing permit: This will be checked at both Laban Rata and the Sayat-Sayat hut.

Insurance: RM7

via travelmalaysiaguide

Travel and Cultural Guide: Package of Plane Ticket to Asia

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:03:00 +0000

by Shawn Michaels

The continent Asia has many beautiful countries and cities. The magic of the land and the scenic beauties are worth watching. Travelers from across the globe book plane tickets to Asia for enjoying its beauty and also to develop their business in the Asian region. Cheap plane tickets to Asia have become popular with the increase of international business in the cities of Asia. Many airlines offer plane tickets to the important cities of Asia.

Some countries in Asia where travelers visit often are India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Another destination in Asia that all travelers to Asia love to visit is the United Arab Emirates, with its capital in Dubai. The popularity of these places is such that you can get very cheap and discount plane tickets from many airlines. You can get ample scope to choose a plane ticket out of many discount plane tickets offered by many airlines.

If you want to book a plane ticket online, you have to seek assistance from the plane tickets services company and book your plane ticket to any of your favorite destinations in Asia. Other places like Korea's capital Seoul, Thailand's capital Bangkok and Japan's capital Tokyo are some of the important places in Asia where a large number of travelers visit through out the year. Also Shanghai in China, Hanoi in Vietnam, Bali in Indonesia and Goa in India are some of the excellent places that attract lots of tourists each year. Fascinating Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan are other countries to visit. You can easily reach to any of these places as there are many flights offering cheap plane tickets.

The increasing popularity to visit these places has led many travel companies to offer cheap plane tickets to the places in Asia. India is another popular country in Asia and a hot favorite to almost all travelers. The enchanting beauty, its rich and varied culture and ancient monuments attract visitors to spend a vacation in this country. India is a land of extremities and you can witness beautiful beaches and hot deserts. You can find snow peaks to enchanting beaches and ancient palaces and forts. Cities like Goa, Mumbai, and Jaipur etc. to experience the wonders of this country. You can find people of different religions, castes, creed etc. A traveler's tour to Asia is incomplete without visiting this serene land. It is easy to visit India as you can easily book a plane ticket from your favorite airlines that offer discount plane tickets and fly to this place.

If you are one of those who are fascinated to visit Asia and its beautiful places but do not know how and when to start. You can get all the information of the places, hotels and visiting places in Asia in an online travel services company and book a cheap plane ticket to any place in Asia. You can browse the internet and find out many companies that offer plane tickets to Asia. You can easily contact them online and book a plane ticket to Asia and enjoy the mesmerizing places of this continent.

Malaysia best holiday destination

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:16:00 +0000

by Jamie Hanson

charming beaches, pristine waters, a pleasant climate, lush green surroundings, a rich culture and history and an abundance of entertainment and things to do! Malaysia offers you all this and more! Malaysiaâ€™s one of the top holiday destinations in South East Asia because of its location, topography, amiable people and its hospitality. Letâ€™s see what makes Malaysia such an entertaining place to visit â€" - Location Malaysiaâ€™s in the center of South East Asia, surrounded by Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia. This location makes it easy to access Malaysia from any of these five countries. Other than this, Malaysiaâ€™s connected by air to all other parts of the world.

The national carrier Malaysian Airlines and the low cost carrier Air Asia have their base in Malaysia. So the capital city Kuala Lumpur is connected to a vast network of cities in all countries. Get great deals on Kuala Lumpur flights from London, Australia and all countries in Asia on the low cost carrier Air Asia. Travel to Malaysia on board the friendly Malaysian Airlines from USA, London, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand or any country in Asia.

- Accommodation Accommodation in Malaysia is very inexpensive when compared to other similar countries. You can book a good five star stay at less than $60 per night. And if you are a budget traveler, there are lots of reasonale low frills hotels available at very low rates. Most of the hotels offer free breakfast. The staffs are friendly and service is invariably good wherever you go in Malaysia.

- Travel A holiday to Malaysia would be absolute if you visit all the important destinations - Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Johor, Malacca, Sabah and Terengganu. Your holiday to Malaysia should ideally start from the capital city Kuala Lumpur. To travel to other destinations in Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, itâ€™s ideal to use the public transport system which is very dependable. Take a ferry or flight to go to Langkawi. Taxis are very reliable in Malaysia. So itâ€™s better to take a taxi to travel to your destination than driving on your own which can be tedious.

- Places to see 4. Kuala Lumpur â€"The capital city of Malaysia has a lot of attractions to offer. Take a day trip and see the city sights â€"walk through Chinatown, see the Petronas tower, visit National Museum, take the life to the top of the KL city tower for a superb view of the city and visit Batu caves. Spend a full day in Genting Highlands; get to experience the worldâ€™s fastest cable car and experience the theme parks in the â€œcity of entertainmentâ€�. 5. Langkawi This is a delightful archipelago of islands that can be accessed by ferry or flight from the mainland. Make sure to book a resort for your accommodation here and enjoy the sun and the beach. 6. Penang Penang is a dream destination for a holiday with rich emerald mountains and lovely beaches. There are lots of activities in Penang for the adventure minded like snorkeling, surfing, hiking, sailing and cycling. Visit Georgetown, Penang National Park, botanical gardens ad Penang Beach. Penangâ€™s a great place for cheap shopping.

apart from this, visit Terengganu for its terrific beaches, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum in Johor, Mount Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu bird sanctuary in Sabah and ort Margherita and Sarawak Museum in Sarawak.

Malaysia travel agents can get you a cheap holiday package that covers accommodation, travel and sightseeing. So, if you want a cheap tour to Malaysia, contact a travel agent and get holiday package information from him. Malaysian Airlines also sometimes offers some tour packages that offer a three night accommodation package for travelers to Malaysia. Make use of such offers for a great holiday at low cost .

The internet is also a good source to get superb Malaysia holiday deals. You can get details of Malaysian travel agents on the net whom you can contact for the best travel deals. These agents should be able to provide with details of dependable Malaysian travel guides to direct you around all places of interest.

So have a happy holiday in Malaysia, Truly Asia! ;D

History of Malaysia: Linking East and West

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:43:00 +0000

The origins of Malaysia's aboriginal peoples, the years of Western domination in the country, and the forceful political stance of its current leader are all outlined in this lively and informative account of Malaysia's history and politics. A concise and accessible look at this constantly changing country, this book is perfect for travelers, students, teachers, and business people.

Discussed are the major trends in its contemporary political life and the challenges the country faces in the 21st century as Malaysia serves as a model for rapid modernization. The lives of individuals from various time periods are examined to create a complete picture of Malaysia.

345 pages | Pdf | 3.6 MB

For countries, US, DE, ES, GB, FR, IT, CA, PT, NL, BE, RU,
download here

For other countries,
download here

*Culture of Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society. The population as of February 2007 is 26.6 million consisting of 62% Malays, 24% Chinese, 8% Indians, with other minorities and indigenous peoples (Dept of Stats. Malaysia). Ethnic tensions have been rising in recent months.

The Malays, who form the largest community, are defined as Muslims in the Constitution of Malaysia. The Malays play a dominant role politically and are included in a grouping identified as bumiputra. Their native language is Malay (Bahasa Melayu). Malay is the national language of the country.

In the past, Malays wrote in Sanskrit or using Sanskrit-based alphabets. After the 15th century, Jawi (a script based on Arabic) became popular. Over time, romanized script overtook Sanskrit and Jawi as the dominant script. This was largely due to the influence of the colonial education system, which taught children in romanised writing rather than in Arabic script.

The largest non-Malay indigenous tribe is the Iban of Sarawak, who number over 600,000. Some Iban still live in traditional jungle villages in long houses along the Rajang and Lupar rivers and their tributaries, although many have moved to the cities. The Bidayuhs, numbering around 170,000, are concentrated in the southwestern part of Sarawak. The largest indigenous tribe in Sabah is the Kadazan. They are largely Christian subsistence farmers. The 140,000 Orang Asli , or aboriginal peoples, comprise a number of different ethnic communities living in Peninsular Malaysia. Traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists, many have been sedentarised and partially absorbed into modern Malaysia.

The Chinese population in Malaysia is mostly Buddhist (of Mahayana sect) or Taoist. Chinese in Malaysia speak a variety of Chinese dialects including Mandarin Chinese,Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Teochew. A large majority of Chinese in Malaysia, especially those from larger cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Penang speak English as well. There has also been an increasing number of the present generation Chinese who consider English as their first language. Chinese have historically been dominant in the Malaysian business community.

The Indians in Malaysia are mainly Hindu Tamils from southern India who native language is Tamil, there are also other Indian communities which is Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi-speaking, living mainly in the larger towns on the west coast of the peninsula. Many middle to upper-middle class Indians in Malaysia also speak English as a first language. A vigorous 200,000-strong community also thrives as an independent subcultural group.there are also prevalent Tamil christian communities in major cities and towns. There is also a sizable Sikh community in Malaysia of over 83,000. Most Indians originally migrated from India as traders, teachers or other skilled workers. A larger number were also part of the forced migrations from India by the British during colonial times to work in the plantation industry.

Eurasians, Cambodians, Vietnamese, and indigenous tribes make up the remaining population. A small number of Eurasians, of mixed Portuguese and Malay descent, speak a Portuegese-based creole, called Papia Kristang. There are also Eurasians of mixed Filipino and Spanish descent, mostly in Sabah. Descended from immigrants from the Philipines, some speak Chavacano, the only Spanish-based creole language in Asia. Cambodians and Vietnamese are mostly Buddhists (Cambodians of Theravada sect and Vietnamese, Mahayana sect).

Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms. The music is based largely around the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments (some made of shells); the rebab, a bowed string instrument; the serunai, a double-reed oboe-like instrument; flutes, and trumpets. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), silat (a stylised martial art) and crafts such as batik, weaving, including the ceremonial cloth pua kumbu, and silver and brasswork.

*Destinations

noreply@blogger.com (Am) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:08:00 +0000

Kuala Lumpur Guide Kuala Lumpur (including places of interest, hotels, museums, embassies, entertainment and shopping, and transportation).

Here’s information on KLIA( Kuala lumpur International Airport) and LCCT KLIA (Low Cost Carrier Terminal), and how to use the Express Rail Link, taxis, airport buses to get into the Kuala Lumpur. If you are taking a express bus from Singapore, you will most probably find yourself in Puduraya Bus Station.

There’s so much to see and do in KL, lots of good hotels and good food, fascinating bazaars and shops.

Once you’ve settled into your hotel (It is ,however, important that the hotel is situated in the Golden Triangle of the city. Then you’re close to the shopping centres of Sungei Wang, Bukit Bintang, Lot10 and Low Yt Plaza. And you’re within walking distance of the famous Petronas Towers with its shopping centre Suria.

KL nightlife is unbelivable diversify, so join the locals to party and drink, especially on weekends.

You can see Kuala Lumpur's top sights in a rush on an overnight stay, but you’ll need at least two days to do them justice, and three or four days to really get a sense of the city. In a week, you can get a good look at most of what Kuala Lumpur has to offer, do some shopping and enjoy an excursion to Selangor as well - the Batu Caves is not to be missed. This is the most favourate places in Malaysia.

LANGKAWI:Lying off the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, legendary Langkawi is the foremost of a cluster of 99 islands. Miles of sandy white beaches, serene village scenes and acres of rice paddy fields make Langkawi a top incentive destination. Island hopping, duty-free shopping, posh resorts, exciting attractions, historical landmarks and water sports are all waiting for you.

MELAKA:Declared as the Historical City of Malaysia, Melaka offers the incentive traveller a taste of what life was like centuries ago. Today, some parts of the city still retain an old-world charm left by Melakaâ€™s past rulers especially the Malay Sultanate and later the Portuguese, Dutch and the British.

SABAH: Have an incentive holiday in a land where nature comes alive in all its glory. Blessed with natureâ€™s most admirable creations, youâ€™ll be bowled over by the sheer variety of attractions available in Sabah. Climb the majestic Mount Kinabalu, one of Southeast Asiaâ€™s highest peaks, jungle trek though Danum Valley or travel to Sukau to see wild Orang Utans and Proboscis Monkeys. In Sabah, you can also experience beautiful islands and the thriving capital city Kota Kinabalu.

SARAWAK:Sarawak offers you the perfect eco-adventure destination for an incentive holiday to remember. Known as the â€˜Land of Hornbillsâ€™, Malaysiaâ€™s largest state is sprawled along the north-western edge of exotic Borneo island. Here, youâ€™ll find many things to explore - wonders of the natural world, a rich and fascinating history and a kaleidoscope of cultures with almost 30 different and distinct ethnic groups.

-Malaysian Tourism-