Malaysia is a great place to go to if you are the kind of person who loves both the environment and the city. Amazingly, Malaysia can offer both for you – from its natural treasures, to its man-made architectural wonders. You will find Malaysia to be a country not only rich in resources but also in culture.

1.) Rafflesia, Pitcher Plant and other rare plant species

The list of plant species you can acquaint yourself with in Malaysia is very extensive. In fact, Malaysia is home to almost 8,000 flowering plant species, some of which are exclusively found only in Thailand. You can find the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, here in Thailand, and you can also find other rare plant species such as the Pitcher Plant.

2.) Malaysia’s wildlife reserves and natural parks

But your trip with nature in Malaysia ought not to stop there. There are also wildlife reserves and natural parks in Malaysia, and only in Malaysia can you witness the gathering of so many animals. Orangutans, lizards, insects, bears, elephants, tapirs, rhinoceroses, and so many other endangered animals are well-protected in Malaysia.

3.) Wayang Kulit

Experience the richness of Malaysia’s culture by watching the shadow-puppet theater that only professes too much how the Malaysians deal with each other. It also shows how remarkably well preserved their culture has been throughout time. There are also other unique forms of theater art in Malaysia.

4.) Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers was once the tallest skyscraper in the earth. Today, the glamour of the towers has not vanished at all, and you have the chance of seeing the towers firsthand by visiting Kuala Lumpur. The astounding command the Petronas Towers has over the sky will surely leave you breathless.

5.) Mount Kinabalu in Borneo

You should pay a visit to Mount Kinabula in Borneo. The mountain has the highest peak in the whole Malay Archipelago. It is also a good place to relax and have some quality time with your family in the comfort of nature.

6.) Convention Center in Putrajaya, Malaysia

The function of the convention center in Malaysia is similar to that of the White House. It is actually a place where important government issues and functions are placed. You may not know this, however, because of the architectural beauty of the place but something you will surely revel upon.

7.) Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque

Religion plays an invariable role in Malaysia. Sultan Ahmad is actually one of the recently built mosques, and yet, it has gained worldwide attention because of the beautiful dimensions of the place, a usual trait in mosques. Sultan Ahmad is one of the examples of classic yet modern Islam architecture.

8.) Longhouses in Sarawak

Longhouses are commonplace in Malaysia, but you might want to take a moment and visit these houses. These are houses built over rivers. You will surely marvel at how ingenious the houses’ designs are, inasmuch as it has stood the test of time.

9.) Terengganu State Museum

A visit to Malaysia can never be complete without a visit to one of Malaysia’ national museums. Before you think that Terengganu State Museum is just like any other museum, think again. It is actually one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia, and it houses diverse forms of art and archeological finds exclusive to the place. The architectural structure and design of the place itself will mesmerize you.

10.) Istana Kenangan in Kuala Kangsar

Istana Kenangan is a sort of transient house built exclusively for the sultan whenever he would visit the place. What is so unique about this place (aside from its being historic) is the fact that no nails were used to construct the building. This is truly an architectural wonder.

Malaysia March 2008 Amazing diversity of fish and invertebrate Part one: Moray eel, Boxfish and Pufferfish. Celebes Explorer

e=”font-size: 13pt;” lang=”EN-SG”>MUFB Asia, a Singapore holding company has been awarded the exclusive rights by Manchester United Football Club (“MUFC”) to own, operate, franchise and develop a chain of Manchester United restaurants & bar concept in Asia Pacific region. Territories include China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India and the Philippines. These restaurant & bar outlets mark MUFC’s first-ever foray into casual dining business on an international scale.

Manchester United Restaurant & Bar is a full service, casual all-day dining restaurants that feature predominantly western cuisine and local specialities to suit the taste buds of diners across the region. In addition, there is also strong emphasis on creative cocktails, live telecast of sports events, “live” entertainment from popular artistes and special themed parties.

The Manchester United Restaurant & Bar is more than a place to get a bite to eat and relax. For a kick-off, there’s a real excitement when you walk in and come face-to-face with memorabilia and pictures from Old Trafford, legendary Red Devils such as Bobby Charlton and George Best to present day stars such as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

There is also the popular Managers Bench, a replica of the area where coach and players meet at the playing field and a lively island bar with video wall s showing live telecasts of all major sports events. Definitely a place to enjoy a great game with friends!

If you’re an early riser, a morning hike up Bukit Panorama in Sungai Lembing (a 90 minute drive from Kuantan city in Pahang) could be an ideal start for a fantastic day in Kuantan. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to reach the peak of Bukit Panorama – but you can rest assured that it’s called that for a reason. At 1,200 metres above sea level, the sunrise is a must-see for nature enthusiasts.

10AM

If you fancy a bit of history, you can make your way to the Sungai Lembing Museum. Sungai Lembing is a tin mining town 42 km northwest of Kuantan. Lembing is Malay for spear, and “sungai” means river. According to the local legend, the ruler saw a vision of a spear in the nearby river and thus named his town after this vision. The museum, highlighting the tin mining industry, was opened in 2003. Housed in an old colonial bungalow once used by the mine manager, you can an interesting collection of mining artefacts here.

11AM

On the way to Sg. Lembing in the small town of Pancing is Gua Charas, a temple cave that is a popular tourist destination. The limestone cave was formed millions of years ago and carved out by the forces of nature, offering an interesting sojourn for everyone.

The Sungai Pandan Waterfalls, located 25 kilometres from the city, are also nearby. Consisting of cascading falls making a large cooling pool underneath and an ideal place for swimmers, it is well maintained and a clean area with recreation facilities, shelters, food stalls, which is good because you might be feeling peckish by now. A suspension bridge spans the river offering a clear view of the entire waterfall from its centre.

2PM

Time to hit the beach! The famous Teluk Chempedak beach is only five kilometres from Kuantan and is an excellent venue for sailing, surfing, jet-skiing and sunbathing. Beyond the main beach, there are excluded bathing spots and ardent sun-lovers can jungle-trek through the TC Forest Reserve into the idyllic Pelindung beach. An alternative route will lead you to the Teruntum Park which has a mini zoo where children and adults alike can have fun. For golf enthusiasts, an afternoon on the greens is possible at the Royal Golf Club.

7PM

Kuantan is undoubtedly famous for its seafood. One place where you can find some good grub is at Pak Su Seafood Restaurant. Located at Beserah beach (near the Swiss Garden Resort) this restaurant is open from lunch till late in the evening for dinner. The stuffed crab and black pepper venison are quite the big hits among locals. Oysters and lobsters are also available. Another option is to have grilled fish in Tanjung Lumpur, located about five kilometres from the city, near the Kuantan River.

NIGHTLIFE

The city’s famous Swing Club and Lounge is a favourite among the locals and tourists for a night of karaoke and just hanging out. Nearby are also mamak stalls and ‘Kopitiam’ cafes for a bite after partying.

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s most friendly and accessible tourist destinations. Most Malaysians speak English well and there are miles of pristine, deserted east coast beaches, delightful colonial cities such as Melaka and Georgetown, cool hill resorts such as the Genting Highlands, and exquisite islands such as Langkawi and Penang. There’s also East Malaysia comprising the lands of Sabah, Sarawak and parts of Borneo. The former preserves of head-hunters, these areas offer fascinating glimpses into the past. Here’s a look at three of Malaysia’s unique and wonderful places Melaka, Sarawak and the vibrant capital Kuala Lumpur

Melaka (formerly Melacca) is a city on the west coast of Malaysia drenched in history. With its ancient monuments, picturesque streets, and Chinese shrines and temples, it’s a wonderful place just to browse and identify the calling cards of the Portuguese, Dutch and British.

For shopping head to famed Jonker Street with its antique and handicraft shops and street cafes and then watch cultural performances at the Portuguese Square. There’s also a zoo with a fine collection of tigers.

While most tourists to Malaysia stick to the peninsular, a trip to East Malaysia can be very rewarding. The region made up of the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo offers an unparalleled experience for nature lovers. The capital of Sarawak is Kuching, a modern city with a delightful waterfront, landscaped esplanade and in the background stands the great mountain of Gunung Matang.

For a quick introduction to Sarawak, visit the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum of the culture, arts and crafts of the region’s ethnic groups. The 7-hectare site of the Cultural Village is just a 5-minute walk from the beach and houses models of traditional longhouses, roundhouses and huts, all built around a lake.

Each of the replica houses is inhabited by members of the relevant ethnic group, attired in traditional costume. They follow a traditional lifestyle keeping alive the traditions, arts and crafts of their tribe. A storyteller explains these traditions to visitors who are invited to join in the activities such as doing an Iban war dance, shooting darts from a blowpipe, drinking the local tipple called tuak, and listening to Orang Ulu legends or a performance on the sape.

No visit to Malaysia would be complete without a visit to the capital Kuala Lumpur. Known as the Garden City of Lights, KL has much to offer the traveller ranging from heritage buildings and monuments, gardens and parks, and scintillating shopping in Chinatown, Little India, and local Malay bazaars, as well as hyper-modern shopping malls.

But the pinnacle of a visit to KL is a sortie up to the Sky Bridge on the 41st floor of the Petronas Twin Towers. It’s no longer the world’s tallest building but it’s still up there with the best of them. The climactic scenes of the movie Entrapment took place here, 175 metres above sea-level.

Malaysia is a welcoming, safe and orderly country. With its myriad attractions, it’s a place for everyone.

Kuala Lumpur, the hub of Malaysia, is one of the most visited tourist destinations around the world. Situated midway down the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is near the meeting place of the Klang and Gombek rivers. It is the largest city in Malaysia with a population of over one and a half million from all of Malaysia’s several ethnic groups.

Kuala Lumpur is boarders by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east and Indonesia’s Sumatra Island in the west. It possesses a year-round equatorial climate which is warm and sunny, along with abundant rainfall, particularly during the southwest monsoon from September to April. Some times a phenomenon known as the ‘haze’ occurs in this place due to the forest fires on nearby Sumatra Island which typically lasts for 1 to 2 weeks.

Kuala Lumpur has a lot to offer for tourists as well as for native people alike. Cheap and reasonable packages are available for short trips to this wonderful city. Some part of the city was renovated recently while the other parts of the city remain unchanged. This scattered modernization made the city more attractive for both the city’s modern attractions and its historical and cultural appeal. You can feel the history and culture of Kuala Lumpur from its open air markets and Chinese and Hindu temples.

Merdeka Square, the field where Malaysian independence was first declared, is one of the major historic attractions in Kuala Lumpur. Visitors can experience an aspect of Islamic life in Jamek Mosque and Chow Kit Market is best for shopping and dining. It is considered as the largest market in the city. You can buy silks, spices, and fresh fish which are sold by friendly local vendors.

Tourists can visit Cosmo’s World – Malaysia’s largest indoor theme park, enjoy the panoramic views from the sky bridge that extends between the Petronas Twin Towers and eavesdrop to the international music at the Backroom – the major dance club that often features globally-known DJs.

At Lake Gardens visitors can watch some of the exotic birds in their natural settings. Adventure-seeking visitors can choose the steep limestone routes at Batu Caves. Aquaria, Kuala Lumpur’s aquarium, is the best place for animal enthusiasts. It has around 5000 varieties of tropical fishes.

Merdeka Square with the world’s tallest flag pole, the Sultan Abdul Samad building, Old City Hall, The Royal Selangor Club, and St. Mary’s Cathedral are also worth visiting. Tugu Negara, the national monument for war dead, will be a major attraction for history buffs and art enthusiasts. Istana Negara, the national palace, is home to Malaysia’s constitutional monarch and this sight is also worth seeing. Seen of changing of guards ceremony from the main gate of the palace will be an enchanting experience for the visitors and natives alike.

Visitors can enjoy a fantastic nightlife in Kuala Lumpur. The Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, the home of well-known Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, is an enchanting evening spot. Istana Budaya is best for watching play and for dinning you can go to China Town, Little Indian, and Golden Triangle areas. You can taste either of traditional Chinese, North Indian, and Tamil cuisine. Bukit Bintang is considered as the largest shopping district in Kuala Lumpur. You can also spend time in Central Market and Chinatown for shopping purpose.

Superb accommodation facilities are available in Kuala Lumpur, the versatile capital of Malaysia. Availability of good accommodation in the city made it a favorite destination among the travelers. Visitors can enjoy excellent sightseeing, entertainment, nightlife and accommodation with high facilities. Charming scenery, eye-catching skyscrapers, striking tropical gardens and numerous traditional buildings are what lure each tourist often comes across in this city.

In addition to it, the friendly nature of the native people makes the tourists happy and makes their trip even more comfortable and enjoyable. You can barely defy your appeal to go for endless shopping avenues, varied culture, tasty local foods and fascinating theme parks. The most important thing that each and every visitors search for is the facility for accommodation. In Kuala Lumpur you never face any problem in getting a good accommodation facility because it is filled with quite comfortable hotels and they include diversity of accommodations at rates which suits to your budget.

The Five Oddest Places to Find Cannabis Seeds

There are some places in the world where you would expect to find cannabis seeds, joints and hash cakes; finding a spliff in Amsterdam, late night comedy writer’s rooms and the green room for Bob Marley and the Wailers wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Like a duck to water, cannabis just goes naturally together with some places and images. It just seems natural. But what about the places you wouldn’t expect? There are some instances of marijuana turning up that you wouldn’t have imagined in your entire life. We have a look at the oddest places you could think to find cannabis and cannabis seeds…

5. Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the People’s Republic of China

Whole countries rather than specific places, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the People’s Republic of China are the last places you would look for weed. Or, to be more accurate, they are the last places you would want to find weed. These countries (and some others) have particularly harsh responses to most kinds of drug use, marijuana being one of the drugs that you can be executed for having! While many people still import and export cannabis from these countries, most people wouldn’t even think about running the risk, thinking it odd to have the drug there when in other countries it’s almost completely legal.

4.In an Open Field – in America

America has one of the least open or forward thinking policies on cannabis and cannabis seeds (though that may change soon). You would therefore think that it would be one of the last places to have vast open fields sown with cannabis seeds, but you’d be wrong. In one part of the country, orders for marijuana seeds are through the roof. The Emerald Triangle in northern California is the nation’s largest grower of marijuana plants, and though the authorities routinely route out and burn down the crop, people are planting and growing cannabis at a rate that’s faster than they can destroy it.

3. In Granny’s Bag

You may think “Sweet old Gran” would never have anything even slightly illegal or interesting, but you may be wrong. Marijuana is often championed for its pain relieving qualities, and was (and in some places still is) prescribed as a form of pain relief for many illnesses. The increase of silver surfers on the internet and the availability of cannabis seeds over the web has meant an increase of marijuana use among the elderly. So if you were to root around, you may well find that Granny has more than just Werther’s originals at the bottom of her bag…

2. In your drink

Putting cannabis seeds or straight weed in your drink may seem very odd, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Many guides and cookbooks that have sections of culinary uses for the drug suggest uses in your libation, creating a “Green Dragon”. It would be odd (and more than a little worrying) to find it in your drink if you hadn’t wanted it there or known that it was, but as a personal choice the ‘experts’ say it’s “Odd, but good”.

1. On the president’s desk

Ok, so it’s unlikely that any president (other than that of a banana republic) is going to plant marijuana seeds in a pot and let them grow on his or her desk as an indoor plant. But presidents and officials are more and more likely to have – or admit to having – planted, grown, harvested or smoked (or at least inhaled) weed. Unlike Bill Clinton’s famous “I smoked but I did not inhale” line, current incumbent Barack Obama has stated that he “did inhale. That was the point!” So finding weed in the White House, though odd, may not be out of the question at some point down the line…

Visit www.lemeridien.com/kualalumpur…Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur enjoys the finest location in the Kuala Lumpur Sentral precinct. The capital and largest city in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a hub for cultural activities and art appreciation, featuring a celebrated National Museum, spacious Philharmonic Hall, and sophisticated National Theater. Discover the contemporary marvels and historic charm of the city at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur.

Nyonya food (or Nonya as it is sometimes known) is probably one of the earliest fusion cuisine uniquely found in Malaysia and Singapore. What’s more interesting is that Nyonya cuisine has had an interesting history. Intermarriage between early Chinese settlers in Malaysia during the Ming Dynasty and the local Malays, gave rise to the Baba Nyonya generation.

While maintaining Chinese customs, the Baba Nyonya adopted Malay culture. This was when Nyonya cuisine was birthed – a unique blend of Chinese dishes with a Malay cooking style. Both Malay spices and Chinese ingredients are deftly combined in the creation of a Nyonya dish. This clever fusion of tastes is a result of the superior cooking talents of the Nyonya cooks.

Today, Nyonya Restaurant serves diners with authentic Nyonya cuisine from the heart of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Cooked with diligence that is reminiscent of the traditional Baba and Nyonya, this restaurant’s signature dishes have been popular for 3 generations. First opening its doors in 1974, Nyonya Restaurant’s popularity has stood the test of time for over 30 years.

Over the years, much of Nyonya Restaurant’s line-up has retained its authenticity. Nevertheless, the restaurant has also introduced a host of new Nyonya dishes to its offerings, to keep up with the times and also to increase variety. With this, many customers have been patrons throughout the lifetime of this restaurant, testimony of consistent quality and taste.

Popular favourites include Sayur Paku, a local fern cooked either in coconut milk or belachan, Sambal Udang, delicious prawns in a spicy sauce, and also Ince Kabin, Nyonya-style fried chicken. Other favourites are the Ikan Gulai Tumis, fish in a spicy broth, Beef Rendang and Otak-otak, steamed fish marinated in spices and wrapped in banana leaf.

Desserts are also a delight here. Popular selections include Sago Gula Melaka, Ice Kacang and Bubur Cha Cha, all of which are different combinations of sugar, ice and flour-based ingredients. A myriad of kuih, (a sweet cake-like dessert), with local names such as Onde-onde, Ang ku and Kuih Koci are also part of the menu. Completing a meal with these indulgences is a must for the ultimate dining experience at Nyonya Restaurant!

This video was taken in Sipadan, Malaysia. We stayed at a converted oil rig (http://www.divetheworldmalaysia.com/dive-resorts-malaysia-seaventures-main.htm). The place is a nice choice for hardcore divers. There is nothing else to see or do except for amazing dive spots. The accommodation itself is pretty low key. The rooms look like you would expect it for a submarine from the 70ies But the food and service on the rig is outstanding!