Traveling to Kuala Lumpur - An Introduction to the Vibrant Capital of Malaysia

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tuks_K_Engineer]Tuks K Engineer

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia, and indeed South East Asia at it's best - in many ways the city combines the best parts of the West with the values and morals of the East, producing one of the most unique and rewarding experiences for every traveler.

The city, on the west coast of the Peninsula of Malaysia has an area of 243 sq miles and is about 40km from the coast of Malaysia - the city itself is nestled within some gloriously sharp hills which makes some great viewing from the air (look out for it as you make your descent, and make sure you request a window seat from wherever you may be flying).

Perhaps the first thing that strikes you as you wander about the Golden Triangle is the bristling cleanliness of the city - even in the most densely populated areas, there is rarely any litter to be found. This is largely due to the combined "Keep Malaysia Clean" mindset of the locals coupled with the investment towards keeping streets clean as provided by the government. Take note, New York and London.

History Of Kuala Lumpur
Not much longer than a hundred or so years ago, Malaysia's now vibrant capital was little more than a dense jungle - even today, as you make your descent from the air, you can see miles of endless jungle in every which direction.

Kuala Lumpur was initially discovered by Chinese prospectors who came in search of tin and set-up a base along the Klang & Gombak river. The name Kuala Lumpur means "muddy river" - and so the city was born, initially as a magnet for tin and metal miners. This was in 1857. In the next century, Malaysia was largely under British rule and the country finally gained independence in 1957 (it is now celebrated as a national holiday).

Today, Malaysia is a mix of many tolerant cultures and races - Chinese, Malay and Indian tend to be the most prominent cultures though the government has long been trying to get it's people to think of themselves as one common Malaysian culture.

The Weather In Kuala Lumpur
If you arrive in Kuala Lumpur with a cold, you'll leave with a clear nose and most probably a very nice tan. The temperature can only dip as low as the early twenties and can rise to the mid thirties in terms of degree 'c.

Kuala Lumpur - Traveling Around Inside The City
Many of the main attractions within Kuala Lumpur are located quite near to one another. It's easy then to think that you can navigate the city by foot but the lack of decent infrastructure (footpaths) for pedestrians coupled with the usually HOT weather can make it a better idea to just take a taxi or the highly impressive monorail to travel about.

Generally taxi drivers are very helpful, chatty and friendly - you get the impression they're genuinely proud of their city and they're only too happy to tell you what you may want to know. It's not exactly cheap to hire a taxi, but it's certainly cheaper than in many other developed cities such as London or New York.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Traveling-to-Kuala-Lumpur---An-Introduction-to-the-Vibrant-Capital-of-Malaysia&id=1435862] Traveling to Kuala Lumpur - An Introduction to the Vibrant Capital of Malaysia

5 Safe Travel Tips For Malaysia

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Josh_I_Harrison]Josh I Harrison

Malaysia is one of the safest and easiest countries in the world to visit. That is not to say that you should travel unprepared, but knowing that you will be to ensure your journey without too many concerns will certainly make your planning a lot easier. In any case it is always important to purchase the best travel insurance policy you can afford so that any uncertainty can be taken care of easily.

Let's look at at least five things you can do to make your trip to Malaysia safer and more enjoyable.


Don't Drink the Water. As with many countries in Southeast Asia, hygiene standards are sometimes not as high as they are in the West. Most times it is just a matter of common sense in making a decision whether to eat or drink at a particular street stall or restaurant. The important thing to remember is that most food in Malaysia is prepared fresh but that the water may be slightly contaminated. For this reason it is better to drink only bottled water.
 Getting around. One of the most peculiar things that may happen when you visit Kuala Lumpur is to receive a phone call offering you a free tour of the city. This is more than likely a scam operated by a group of store sellers who will take you to their shops in a bid to have your buyers much from them as possible. Avoid these offers at all costs and only deal with reputable tour companies which are recommended by friends or the hotel where you are staying.
 Terrorist activity. Make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest government warnings about possible terrorist threats. Although the likelihood of this occurring is quite low, there have been incidents of concern in some areas of Eastern Sabah, particularly at diving resorts and some coastal areas of this particular region. If you want to play completely safe just eliminate this area of Malaysia from your itinerary. Street crime. As is the case in many capital cities around the world there is an increasing incidence of pick pocketing and bag snatching. To prevent the likelihood of an attack make sure you do not wear jewellery or any sign of wealth when you are walking in the streets. All cash should be carefully concealed in a money belt and kept underneath your clothing at all times. Leave all valuable documents especially passports and other identification in a safe deposit box or the safe at your hotel.
 Travel Insurance. It is always a wise move to take out proper holiday insurance before you start any overseas holiday. In fact, the Australian government website also particularly recommends that you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you start your trip. This is certainly one tip you should not ignore.


Whilst Malaysia is one of the friendliest and safest countries to visit in Southeast Asia, following these few free tips will go a long way to ensuring that your holiday is a safe and memorable one.

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Discover Penang Malaysia - Hotels and Travel Tips

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wong]Steve Wong

Penang Island should be in your itinerary when you visit South East Asia. You will discover Penang a truly fascinating destination for local delicacies, shopping, recreation, nightlife, and sightseeing. For whatever purpose of your visit, the island will never disappoint you or run short of activities to entertain you and your whole family for the days and the nights. Georgetown, the state capital of Penang, has the oldest municipal history in Malaysia, and it is included in the listing of the World Heritage site by Unesco.

The Island has some of the world's most beautiful white sandy beaches. It is the country's most visited island beach resort. It has a long stretch of beaches at the northern island shoreline, extending from Gurney Drive to Tanjung Bungah, to Batu Ferringhi and to Teluk Bahang. This is the ground for many luxury beach resorts, restaurants, water sport activities and shopping centers.

Malaysia is a multi racial country, and it was a British colony before year 1957. Therefore Penang is very rich in western and local cultures. You can taste a great variety of western and local cuisines prepared by the different ethnic groups. Penang is well known as a food paradise. It was rated by Time Magazine for having the best side stall food in Asia. The locals speak English fluently, and there is no barrier to communicate in the streets.

There is a wide range of hotels in Penang Malaysia. The hotels are scattered around the island, and the most popular locations are at the Gurney Drive, the Batu Ferringhi beach and in the heart of the downtown. The room price usually varies according to different time of year and the hotel's location. The best way to get a special deal in Penang Malaysia is to compare hotels' pricing at different travel sites. If you are staying at Batu Ferringhi beach, be sure to stay at a hotel that offers free shutter service to the city landmarks and to the famous shopping malls. It will take anyway between 35 to 60 minutes to travel from hotels in Batu Ferringhi to the popular shopping malls. Among the famous malls are The Queensbay Mall, The Gurney Plaza and The Komtar shopping complex. [http://hotels.all-traveldeals.com/City/Penang.htm]Click here for more information on Penang, Malaysia: Hotels, attractions, reviews, location map and photos.

Steve Wong often holds a Cup of Cappuccino with a clear mind and start to do his pondering. He has a big dream to travel and meet the great people around the world. http://www.all-traveldeals.com

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Travel Malaysia - With Some Tips

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Niraj_Singh]Niraj Singh

Traveling requires a lot of planning and the most important factor is the money. Handling money at a foreign destination needs to have some important tips. Those tips might be regarding the currency, the way of shopping or on expenses of traveling the different parts of the country. No one can afford to ignore such an important aspect of traveling a foreign land where he finds himself or herself completely unaware of the value of that countries currency. So you need to be equipped with some essential tips before you start for any foreign country.


Talking of Malaysia, the local currency is Ringgit Malaysia. One RM equals to 100 sen, the smaller unit of Malaysian currency. Like in other countries, notes and coins are principal forms. Banknotes are issued in form of RM1, Rm2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and coins are in sen like one sen, five sen, 50 sen and 1 RM denomination. You can get your currency converted into Ringgit at banks or authorized moneychangers throughout the country. Resident travelers can carry upto RM 1000 per person both in and out of the country. However, those who want to carry more than permissible limit need to obtain permission from the Controller of Foreign Exchange and declare in the Traveler's Declaration Form the exact amount of Ringgit carried.


Non Resident travelers are allowed to carry any amount of foreign currency. Nevertheless, if the amount exceeds 2,500 UD dollar, the declaration in the Disembarkation Card issued by the Immigration Department need to be done. So travel Malaysia with these valuable tips in your hand!

Author is an associate editor of Stayresmalaysia. The website offers exclusive information of [http://www.stayresmalaysia.com/malaysia-travel-tips.htm]Malaysia Travels tips and [http://www.stayresmalaysia.com/hotel-kuala-lumpur.htm]Kuala LumPur Hotels.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Travel-Malaysia---With-Some-Tips&id=332597] Travel Malaysia - With Some Tips

Top 10 Kuching Travel Destinations You Must Not Miss

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lester_Sim]Lester Sim

Travel to Kuching on your own is not as difficult as you may think. Here I'm going to list down the top 10 places or attractions that you should not miss when traveling in Kuching.

1. Kuching Weekend Market

The locals simply call it "Sunday Market". It really more than a Sunday's market, because the market start operating from Saturday's afternoon around 2pm. The crowd is forming from 3pm onwards, 99% are local shoppers & traders, and you will be that remaining 1%. At this weekend market, you get to see all kind of stuffs people are selling & buying there. Goods been traded ranging from cloths, home accessories & supplies, local produces, meat & fresh vegetables, foods, so on and so forth. Basically everything you can think of that can be found at Kuching, but definitely not the branded merchandise of course. This is the most traditional market that you will ever find in Kuching, which remain never change since some 20 years ago, or longer. You can easily hire a taxi from your hotel and will never cost you more than a RM15, unless you are staying somewhere off the Kuching city.

2. Sarawak Museum

Your Kuching travel will never be completed if you miss the Sarawak Museum. It's free entrance anyway, & it has so much to tell you about Kuching and also the story of entire Sarawak. Some says that by just visiting Sarawak Museum alone and spend an hour walk through the entire museum is as good as travel ling to the whole of Sarawak for a week. It's located next to Merdeka Palace Hotel in Kuching.

3. Malay Village across the Sarawak River

Another highly recommended place to visit and the best part is, it won't cost you much to get there too, perhaps around RM2 per person only for the boat transfer. The small boat (called Tambang) transfer you from Kuching Waterfront across the Sarawak river already half of the fun. In the village itself, you won't get to see a lot of tourist there, and I also must say this is not a place for tourist, but an authentic local Malay village. Take short walk around the village, you will find that it's so much different from the Kuching city centre right just across the river. Try their local "Kampung" (mean village in Malay) Malay's food, cheap and delicious, but be caution, almost all of them are spicy, just in case you have problem a taking spicy food. Just my 2 cents, do not leave Kuching if you haven't visit this village yet.

4. Main Bazaar

This is where most tourists like shop for local souvenirs. At Main Bazaar, not only souvenir shops you can find there, but also lots of other shops selling other stuffs, just like a carpenter shop selling traditional handmade goods. Just stroll along the conservation old shop lots you will discover lots of interesting things, so I will leave it to you to explore them. Trust me, there are lots of interesting stuffs can be found there, such as tribal handicrafts, antiques & etc. Please bargain the price right, or shop around first before making your purchases.

5. Annah Rais Longhouse

If you really don't have time and budget to travel inland to places like Rejang river's Iban longhouse, then Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse is your best choice. This is a very real authentic Bidayuh longhouse located at some 90km away from Kuching city. It is patronised by the tourists daily and many say that it has become a tourist place. Nevertheless, the local people still carried on with their traditional life there, despite lots of tourist visiting the longhouse everyday. Rest assured that you will not see the local people are trying to sell you the tourist piece stuffs. Although the longhouse itself has already equipped with satellite or antenna, the main longhouse structure still remain pretty much original. They are working very hard to preserve the way it should be. If you prefer to stay back and to experience yourself the local way of living there, you can opt to stay with one of the local villager there who run a homestay program called Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure.

6. Semenggoh Orangutan Wildlife Centre

This is one of the most important "Must Go" place among all places in your Kuching travel destinations plan. You get to see the Orangutan in the wild and not caged. They roam freely in the surrounding jungle & will appear at the Park headquarter during the feeding time. Interestingly, they know the timing better then you do. So remember the feeding time, 9am & 3pm daily, if you miss it, you got to find them in the jungle then. The entrance fee cost you RM3 per person, a fraction of cost compare to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sabah that cost you RM30 per person, and you get to see pretty much the same thing, but only with the better facility.

7. Sarawak Cultural Village

This is a very well-built and well-maintained Sarawak various ethnic house's model. They were built in a real human's size (not a mini size model), and the best thing is they even employ the real people to live there in a traditional way of living. This is a very good concept of living museum, which you will get to see how various ethnic in Sarawak live the traditional way. They have lots to offer to visitors, even a very interesting cultural dances show.

8. Bako National Park

I can't stretch enough that this is the only place that will get you excited every moment when you are in the park. The journey on the boat transfer alone already part of the adventurous trip, because you will get a chance to see the wild crocodiles when you are on the boat, however, this is not a guaranteed sighting though. When arrive at the park, you will most likely be greeted by the long-tailed macaque or the wild bearded pig. The wildlife is almost everywhere. This is also a good place for jungle trekking too. You will find a lot of trails, some offering you a good chance to see the endangered species of flora & fauna, such as proboscis monkey. Opt for the night jungle trekking too, the ranger can arrange for you and you will get to see the different creatures at night. Remember to bring mosquito repellent, lots of mosquito in the park though and they are simply, wild too!

9. Jong's Crocodile Farm

Lots of people like the idea that the crocodiles are kept in the huge piece of land that form pretty much like a swampland, the crocodile natural habitat. The crocodiles are not caged, but you do! What a good idea right. This crocodile farm is well worth your visit, as you get to see thousands of crocodiles that are kept pretty much like they are in the wild. Moreover the entrance is barely RM8 per person, highly recommended!

10. Jalan Song Eatery Place (Must Go)

Again I need to mention, this is another non-tourist place, but it is very important for you to know that this is the most popular eatery place in Kuching for the local Kuching people. If you are a good food lover, this is the place for you to sample all kind of Kuching's local dishes, such as Kolo Mee, Sarawak Laksa, and etc. Only visit this place for your dinner, because during the day, it's just like a ghost town, but it gets very happening when the day turns dark. Since you are travel ling in Kuching and you got to try the local dishes, this place have put everything together for you. I would say it's a "Must Visit" place in your Kuching travel destinations plan.

Visit Lester Sim's [http://www.kuchingtravelguide.com]Kuching Travel Guide for more insights information about traveling in Kuching. Also visit his friend's homestay website - [http://www.longhouseadventure.com]Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure, if you wish to experience the local Bidayuh tribe's traditional way of living.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-10-Kuching-Travel-Destinations-You-Must-Not-Miss&id=3968710] Top 10 Kuching Travel Destinations You Must Not Miss

Mount Kinabalu Climbing: A Window to the Beautiful Malaysia

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hawes]Gregg Hawes

The name Malaysia was derived from a Sanskrit word that means "land of mountains". True to its name, Malaysia has over fifty mountains, of which, the tallest is Mt Kinabalu. Towering at 13,500 feet, Mt Kinabalu is not only the tallest mountain in the country and also the fourth highest in Southeast Asia, it is also home to a tremendous botanical and biological species that are rare to find anywhere else in the world.  All these make Mount Kinabalu climbing one of the most rewarding activities that both locals and tourists should not miss in Sabah.

Mt. Kinabalu, which is Located at the high point of the Croker Range, is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. Thanks to a wide climactic range, the mountain has very rich and diversified flora and fauna. The mountain is home to over half of the flowering plants in the world, over 500 species of ferns, 700 species of orchids, and some endemic animals like Thomas' pygmy squirrels and Kinabalu shrews. It is also home to the Nepenthes Rajah, the world's largest plant; and home to more than 24 species of a flower called Rhododendrons. Also found in the mountain are 17 of the 29 species of birds endemic to Borneo, including the crimson-headed wood and red-breasted tree partridge. 

With all these botanical and biological species found in Mount Kinabalu, it is no wonder why it has become a favourite destination for recognized climbers and why the mountain was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Signing Up With Borneo Tours

Climbing Mount Kinabalu only takes 2-3 days and climbers do not need to have any experience at mountain climbing.  However, anyone planning to climb Mt. Kinabalu should watch out for weather conditions in the area as Sabah often experiences rains from the tail-end of typhoons.

For individuals who want to climb Mt Kinabalu, the best option for them is to sign up with Borneo Tours or Mt Kinabalu climbing packages to get started with their Mt Kinabalu trip.  Climbing Mount Kinabalu with a group or with experienced climbers guarantees an enjoyable, well-planned, and trouble-free climb.  Mount Kinabalu climbing packages already include accommodation, meals and transportation, park entrance, transfer, climbing permit, and mountain guide fees. Packages are not so expensive; in fact, it would only cost you about RM850.00, which is roughly US$280.

In most Mount Kinabalu tour itineraries, guests/climbers usually start at the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu for registration, and then visit the Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site where they can stay for the night. On day 2, they begin the first phase of their trek at the Timpohon Gate. On the third day, they start climbing the summit at 3'oclock in the morning so they get to reach the summit during sunrise, when the sights from the peak are its best.

Cloaked in swirling mists and rich flora and fauna, the marvellous scenery that await climbers and thrill-seekers in Mount Kinabalu indeed make Mount Kinabalu climbing an activity that both locals and tourists should never miss in Malaysia.

For more information on [http://www.diverse-borneo.com/borneo-tours/kota-kinabalu/mount-kinabalu-climbing]Mount Kinabalu Climbing please visit diverse-borneo.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Mount-Kinabalu-Climbing:-A-Window-to-the-Beautiful-Malaysia&id=5955005] Mount Kinabalu Climbing: A Window to the Beautiful Malaysia