Come with me as i take you on a tour through my country of birth. Of course, we recommend that you fly Malaysia Airlines (MAS) where you will be immediately swept away by our kebaya-clad warm and friendly flight attendants the moment you board any MAS flight , hours before you reach your destination- Kuala Lumpur- the most popular arrival point. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport , one of the most beautifully designed and efficient airports in the world, situated in Sepang, is an hour's drive from the city. Situated near the airport is the rather new Formula1 race circuit.
Kuala Lumpur, the capital, or KL as it is commonly called, is in the mid west of Peninsula Malaysia, which is an ideal place to start your holiday. You may choose to travel from here to the north - Perak, Penang(the Pearl of the Orient), Kedah, Kelantan; south - Negeri Sembilan, Malacca (Melaka) , Johor; or east - Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan; whether by bus, domestic flight, or train and then take a boat ride to one of many island resorts surrounding the Peninsula. There are many hill resorts to visit too, where the air is cool.
First let me take you thru KL for a while. There are a great many sights to take in without going far. The National Mosque (Masjid Negara), Butterfly Park, Bird Park, Orchid Gardens and the National Monument (Tugu Kebangsaan) are closely located in one part of KL. Be prepared to walk a lot there and carry lots of drinking water. Don't forget to bring an umbrella if you can't take the heat or if it rains. They are all accessible by taxi a few mins out of the city madness. Taxi fares? CHEAP!! Then there is the famous KLCC/ Petronas Twin Towers -(tallest building in the world), the tallest flag pole, KL Tower, and Putra World Trade Ctr(PWTC) are all smack in the city. There is a pewter factory and Batu Caves a little outside of the city, but easily accessible by taxi too, not costing much. Be sure to check if the meter is on. Batu Caves houses a rather impressive looking indian temple and during Thaipusam, most indians thruout Malaysia come here to worship, make vows of sacrifice and pray for thanks. During this one day festival, you will see the men carrying kavadis and piercing themselves with hooks and arrows while in a trance. The rest of the year sees this place as a very nice tourist site.
If you are looking for a place to stay that is in the middle of everything, then i suggest you stay in the area of Jalan Bukit Bintang or its surroundings. <jalan=road, Bukit=hill, Bintang=star> You will find many shopping ctrs, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and hotels all within walking distance. There are many hotels to choose from in KL depending on your budget ,of course. All around KL there are restaurants, stalls,coffee shops, serving Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Nonya, and western food. There is no such thing as going on a diet while in Malaysia. How can anyone possibly resist the mouth-watering delights that are available all around you, all day and all night?? No kidding!! All day and all night!! You can find all sorts of food 24hrs a day here. If you are not fussy or picky, sample all the malay, chinese, indian and nonya food you see. Guaranteed to tickle your taste buds or burn your palate even. :) Don't know what to order? Visit my 'food' page for some info.
Since Malaysia is divided into 2lands, there is also the East Malaysia which is across the South China Sea from the peninsula on the island of Borneo. No less popular in terms of resort islands, rugged nature adventures and diving spots, this is home to the hornbill, the orang-utan and rafflesia(the world's largest flower). There are orangutan sanctuaries, caves, islands, hot springs, and longhouses to visit. You like whitewater-rafting? It's here too.
If you are domestic flight from KL or flying directly from Taipei, Japan, Philippines, Korea or Los Angeles, your destination here would be Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah. This is where you will find Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu). Don't be surprised to find a bit of snow/frost at the peak of this mountain. There are guided tours to the peak and arrangements should be made a little in advance. Now, wouldn't you like to take home a certificate proving you've scaled the highest peak in South-east Asia? :) The Kinabalu Park is a 2hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. There are chalets for you to stay in so that you may stay longer and take in the beauty of fauna and flora all around.
Go a little way south, and you'll be in Sarawak , at the western edge of Borneo, home of many aboriginal tribes. You can arrange for a visit with these tribes and take part in a traditional ceremony. Some have handmade crafts/items that you may purchase as a souvenir. Take a walk thru the rainforests/ junles and look out for squirrels, lizards and foxes. What's the big deal about those you say?? They are of the flying kind! "Watch your head!!" Be sure to arrange with the authorities if you want to see the rafflesia in full bloom. Take a whiff too.. Peeewwww!!
Now that i am the end of this page, i can only say that there are truly too many things in Malaysia for me to describe to you. Come visit this magnificent country and i promise you, you will know what i mean. The links provided will give you extensive up-to-date details. Visit the Tourism Board of Malaysia for info on current happenings such as cultural extravaganzas, promotions, public holidays, religious ceremonies, hotel listings, maps, and much much more.
For the moment the exchange rate is fixed at US$1 = RM3.80.
(*Click on the underlined highlighted words for more info.) (Restaurant listing newly added)
