The SMERFs, a hardy and growing bunch, are travelling Asia for Social, Military, Education, Religious, and Fraternity reasons, offering vast untapped potential for this regions developing and recovering travel markets says Abacus International.

Their reasons for travelling are as diverse as war and peace, study and learning, seeking their god or just to catch up with like-minded people, but what they have in common is a will to travel even if times get tough. They do not mind even gathering in non peak times if it will help keep the costs down.

They are the SMERFS. No relation to their cuddly namesakes of television fame, they are the resilient groups travelling to and around Asia in their millions for social, military, education or religious reasons, or as part of fraternity groups such as alumni, workplace re unions or special interest groups.

Abacus International President and CEO, Mr Don Birch says that despite being budget conscious, the SMERFs collectively form a huge market and have vast untapped potential for developing or recovering Asian travel markets.

Abacus International estimates that the SMERF market across Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore alone is worth US$1.7 billion a year, based on an accepted US formula that the SMERF market is equivalent to about one third of the total meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.

Whereas their better known cousins the MICE are serviced by specialist divisions within major hotel groups, travel agencies and dedicated Government programmes, the SMERFS are often below the radar and therefore harder to measure.

They are hardy and budget-conscious travellers which make them ideal for developing or recovering markets or as a complementary segment in peak markets, Mr Birch continued.

The SMERFs helped sustain the US hotel and airline industry in the period following the 9/11 terrorist events, and have shown themselves to be very resilient in the face of international in the face of international events, Don Birch said.

Who are the SMERFS?

The SMERFs are part of a wider trend in the travel market towards more outcome based travel travel for a purpose other than just to see things, and they’re more prepared than ever to travel abroad to achieve their aims according to Mr Birch.

This seemingly diverse group is united by a willingness to travel despite the economic cycle, to go off-peak and even off the beaten track if that is what it takes to track down budget transport and accommodation, Don Birch said.

Social travel traverses the fields of sports, special interest, ethnic, talent and dance organisations, with more and more diverse ethnic and professional associations adding to the growth. Examples include womens groups, volunteer workers and social sports teams travelling domestically or inter country for tournaments.

The growing number of car owners joining clubs in Singapore such as BMW.sg, TeamChevy Singapore and the Toyota Club Singapore, are a case in point. Aside from their regular monthly meetings where enthusiasts exchange tips on the technical aspects their cars, these clubs also serve as a rallying point for trips overseas, either to Sepang in Malaysia for a day of track racing or to other regional destinations for leisure trips. Further afield, fans of the Lord of the Rings have travelled to New Zealand in their thousands to experience in person some of the magic of the film. A guide book to the filming locations has now sold over 300,000 copies becoming the fifth largest ever selling non-fiction book in New Zealand in the process.

The Lord of the Rings has created the largest film tourism event the world has ever seen. Thousands of people have flocked to Middle earth New Zealand to follow in the footsteps of the hobbits and to bring back some of the emotions they felt when watching the film or reading the book, says Ian Brody author of the Location guide, which is selling just as well a full three years after the last movie in the trilogy.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Director of the Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), Mr John Koldowski says there is also a well beaten path from India to the exotic film locations of Switzerland and Austria, as fans of Bollywood seek out the sets of their favourite movies.

The social category is a good market for hotel sales staff who want to fill room blocks in off-season and weekend periods, but attracting these bookings is reliant on repeat business, word of mouth from existing customers, and direct marketing to social organisers and providing the right kind of accommodation offers, Mr Birch said.

We used to think about SMERF groups as a market niche for budget hotels and hostel style accommodation, now they use convention and conference centres, university facilities, suburban hotels, downtown hotels, resorts and even unsold apartment complexes.

Military travel

Asias estimated 32 million soldiers are often on the move usually by military transport, but often by civilian travel networks in countries such as Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore. Not surprisingly, the Philippines is one of the largest military travel markets in the region. With its more than 400,000 strong army and vast territory of 7,000 islands, even the coming and going of soldiers on leave is a highly significant market.

While exact figures are difficult to procure due to the sensitivity of military travel, the growing number of websites specialising in military travel in this region, attest to the scale of interest in this market and present a highly focused audience for travel suppliers seeking to reach this market, Mr Birch said.

Education travel

The Singapore experience demonstrates the potential of the education travel market. Prospects for inbound educational travel are promising with the number of international students in Singapore for long-term studies (one month +) growing from 60,000 in 2003 to well over 70,000 in 2005 according to the Singapore Tourism Board. The Singapore Government is targeting to achieve 150,000 international students by 2015, particularly from China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.

From summer camps to immersion programmes, travel operators in Asia are beginning to discover the value of outbound educational tourism in the region.

One of Singapores most established travel operators, Chan Brothers Travel, set up its own Educational Travel Centre (ETC) in 2003 to cater to the emerging educational travel market in Singapore, conducting tours for student groups to destinations such as China, England, Germany, Australia and Turkey during the student vacation months of June and December.

Another relative newcomer on the educational tour scene, Wing On Travel in Hong Kong offers English language and activity tours to Britain, Australia, Singapore, Canada and mainland China. Reflecting their commitment to cater to this emerging travel market, the agency decided to create a dedicated educational tour division. The company launched its first study tours in 2004 and this year plans to take 14 groups to Britain alone.

Mr Birch says, This travel segment has a high growth potential but travel operators need to be aware of the challenges inherent in conducting educational tours for school groups. Parents expectations, differences in cultural understanding and catering for homesick young students are just some of the many issues that tour operators will have to address through equipping their staff with the necessary skill sets and expertise.

While students from Hong Kong and Singapore are venturing to foreign shores for a comprehensive educational experience, Indian students are discovering Indias own cultural identity and heritage. Mr P Saravanan, from Viking Tours and Travels in Chennai, South India said that school groups are mainly travelling to experience the history, culture and monuments of other Indian states generally in groups of 25-40 people.

The school groups are very budget in their accommodation needs. That is 1 or 2 star, with as many as 3 or 4 children sharing each room, but they’re definitely a valuable market, because schools come back a number of times, as do families of the children as they grow up, so it is a valuable part of marketing, Mr Saravanan said.

A pioneer in the educational travel segment, Thai tour operator Track of the Tiger has been running educational tours for students from Australia and the UK for more than ten years. Mr Shane Beary, Director, said that the demand for educational programmes at its Maekok River Village Resort & Outdoor Education Centre has been growing at an average rate of 25 to30% over the past five years and recorded 7,500 room nights in 2005. With a market base that has grown to include students from Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Thailand, Track of the Tiger now offers programmes at Pang Soong lodge, its new Outdoor Education & Research Centre in Mae On, Chiang Mai, covering a range of environmental, and outdoor programmes for student groups, as well as team building and ‘voluntourism options for the corporate sector.

Mr Beary commented, Our experience has shown that there are many overlaps between educational, volunteer and eco tourism, which we have tried to build on in developing our programmes.

Religious travel

As one of the worlds most populous and largest regions, Asia is also recognised as the birthplace of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the Philippines have a cultural heritage steeped in some of the worlds major religions, and government policies to develop joint tourist attractions such as the Buddhist circuit in Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka and India have definitely grown the pie for their respective religious tourism markets,said Mr Birch.

Agreeing, PATAs John Koldowski said, Religious traffic tends to be fuelled by domestic bookings but increasingly, there are more pilgrimages being organised for inbound tourists which usually cover more than one destination. For example, there is a distinct Buddhist circuit such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka and a trail covering revered Buddhist sites in India.

With a myriad of religious sites throughout the country, India has an established group of religious tour operators to cater to the many domestic and foreign pilgrims that throng India during the peak travel periods of April, May and November.

Mr Ashok Negi, from Rajarani Travels in Mumbai reports that the tours run by his agency and its network of six branch offices throughout India has facilitated pilgrimages for more than 50,000 tourists to various religious sites in the country. According to Mr Negi, visits to popular religious sites such as Vaishnodevi and the temple at Tirupati constitute as much as 25% of Indias domestic tourism.

Christianity is the other religion fuelling growth in another Asian destination, the Philippines. Having provided its services for more than four decades in Southeast Asias most populous Catholic country, Catholic Travel, Inc. has positioned itself as the Pilgrimage Specialist.

According to Ms. Carmina Orbe, General Manager, most pilgrims are from the Philippines, and they also have pilgrims from Hong Kong, Rome, Canada and Los Angeles not only joining a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel) but having a pilgrimage in the Philippines. Priests that have joined our pilgrimages to the Holy Land have found a renewed inspiration in their vocational work for the community. I guess the visits have brought new meaning to the places and events in the Bible that they had only studied in the seminary previously.

Across Asia, missionary teams are also frequent travellers, with agencies such as World Vision and Youth With a Mission (YWAM), mobilising large numbers of people annually. For example, YWAM Singapore takes approximately 150 volunteers to developing countries in the region such as Myanmar, Indonesia and India, over five to ten such trips every year.

Fraternal travel

Although not as significant a market as educational or religious travel, a growing number of civil associations and groups such as Rotary International and Lions Club International have begun to look towards Asia as a possible destination for their international gatherings.

The Rotary Club held its international convention in Singapore, its first Southeast Asian venue in 1999, and again in Osaka, Japan in May 2004 for more than 45,000 Rotary club members from 96 countries. Lions Club International held its 88th International Convention in Hong Kong from 27 June to 1 July 2005, catering to approximately 20,000 Lions Club members and their accompanying family members and friends. This generated almost US$19 million of direct tourism spending and spin-off business for the retail, catering and tourism-related sectors.

Traditional MICE destinations such as Singapore and Hong Kong have paved the way for Asias rise as a conventions venue on the world stage. This has allowed emerging economies in Thailand, India and Vietnam to offer companies and fraternal associations more variety in their choice of meeting venues Mr Birch said.

Targeting the SMERFs

There are some commonly accepted issues in targeting the SMERF market says Abacus Mr Don Birch. For example recent cost increases in the Asia hotel sector which saw average room rates rise in major cities (for example 17% last year in Singapore) are not good news for SMERFs.

More meetings and higher hotel prices can limit options for SMERFS, but SMERF planners can still find open arms in markets such as second and third tier cities eager to lure back budget groups,said Mr Birch.

For sales and marketing managers within the industry, finding SMERF planners is harder than just finding Association planners.

Seeking local contacts that are affiliated with these types of groups is critical. Local networking is also needed to identify SMERF groups and their planners. Resources such as the research directories of organisations, affordable meetings conferences, and even the personal networks of a propertys employees all have their place in pinning down the SMERFs, Mr Birch said.

The internet also plays a key role as both a research and communication channel for both SMERF planners and sales and marketing teams.

The internet clearly improves the chances of buyers and sellers in the SMERF universe finding a good match on location, venue and the experiences to be offered during the period of travel, Mr Birch added.

Many tourists visit Malaysia each year on their holidays. They are attracted by the beautiful diverse landscape and the cultural diversity that this popular country has to offer. Some holiday makers stay in self catering holiday accommodation in Malaysia and they use these holiday homes as a base to explore Malaysia.

There are some stunning holiday villas with swimming pools in the coastal regions of Malaysia. It is also possible to rent self catering holiday apartments in some of the bigger cities.

The name Malaysia itself suggests that the country is a minuscule of the large Asia. Truly Asia is not wrong in any aspect when we refer to Malaysia. The diversity of culture and the various tourist destinations make Malaysia a unique travel experience. This is a country full of tropical islands, hill stations in Gentry and Cameron Highlands, tropical rain forests, pristine pure beaches and not to forget the city of Kuala Lumpur.

Kelantan has a very long history, records of Kelantan dates back to 8000 to 3000 B.C. This state was ruled by many different countries and till 1941 was under the Japanese rule. In 1963 Kelantan became a part of Malaysia. Kelantan is well linked by road and rail. There are flights, which link Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Tourist attractions in Kelantan are Kota Bahru, which is its capital city. It is a bustling town famous for its culture and crafts. Jahan Mahmud has a cultural centre, which is the living heritage of Kelantan. The Royal Museum is called Istana Batu and was built during the reign of Sultan Ismail. It has a wide range of silverware, furniture and bedroom items on the display. The war museum in Kelantan dates back to 1912 and has many Japanese memorabilia and documents on display. The best time to visit Kelantan is February to May. The July Festival also attracts many tourists.

Malacca the seaside city is 147 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur. The culture here is a mix of Portuguese and Chinese. History says that Malacca was a strategic midway point that provided the link between China and India. It has therefore developed into an international commerce hub. The best time to visit Malaysia is from January to February. Malacca is well connected by road and rail. The airport is situated 9.5 kilometres north at Batu Berendam.

Penang is a small beautiful island state of Malaysia. It is a very popular holiday destination with tourists attracted to its golden beaches, delicious cuisine and warm seas. There are many places to visit in Penang namely Georgetown City, Clock Tower, First Cornwallis, Kromtan Tower, Wat Chayamangakaram Temple, Kek Lok Si, Snake Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Penang Hill, Khoo Kongri, and Penang Bridge. There are some luxurious holiday villas in Penang right next to the sea.

Sarawak the largest state in Malaysia is the land of the fabled white elephants. It is also the home of hornbills and orangutan and hornbill. Sarawak has a diverse ecosystem found nowhere else in the world and it attracts many tourists to see this ecosystem. There are many national parks which are very popular with tourists. Many tourists visit Musuem, Sunday Open Market, Kuching, Skrang River Safaru, Pepper Plantations, Cultural Village, Santuborg Fishing Village and the famous caves.

Malaysia is a beautiful country to visit on your holidays and you are guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome from its people. It has some fabulous holiday home accommodation available to rent from their owners. It is said that some of the best holiday villas in the world are in Malasia.

Malaysia has an array of fantastic diving destinations which beckon the divers all over the world. Sipidan Island and Layang Layang are the two most sought after places. Memories of scuba diving in Malaysia keep on delighting the visitors even after months have passed. Every diving spot in the country has something of its own, and together, they make the experience unparalleled.

 

Diving Spots

Most diving spots in Malaysia are located in Sabah. Apart from it, some popular scuba diving destinations are Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, Pulau Kapas, Mabul, Kapalai, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Tenggol. Scuba diving here gives one the opportunity to enjoy fantastic coral and marine life. Varying depth of ocean around Sabah makes marine life here different from the waters of Peninsular Malaysia. Expert divers prefer to head for Pulau Sipadan or Layang Layang.

 

Variety of Diving Experiences

Malaysia arranges a variety of experiences for the visitors. One can enjoy muck diving in Pulau Lankayan, Pulau Mabul and Pulau Kapalai. Muck divers dive in coral rubble areas seeking out coral creatures. Recommended places for reef diving are Pulau Talang Talang and Turtle Rock off Sarawak coast. Malaysia has several places for wreck diving too. Several vessels capsized in Malaysian waters during the Second World War and have now become the places of effusive coral growth.

 

Sipadan Island

Any mention of scuba diving in Malaysia is incomplete without Sipadan Island. As one of the top scuba centres in the world, Sipadan is a must visit for any scuba diving lover. Sipadan is a well-known name in diving circles. Its name is synonymous with hammerhead sharks, colorful reef fish and sea turtles. The huge drop off in Siapadan is the destination of many a diver all over the world. Water conditions and facilities are fine.

 

Layang Layang

The island, located off Borneo, presents wonderful diving opportunities. Thanks to the coral atoll situated by deep waters, one can enjoy outstanding wall diving. Any time, one could meet species like hammerhead sharks. There is astounding variety of corals, both hard and soft. Creatures like turtles, triggerfish and manta rays are found in the reefs. Diving season in Layang Layang is between March and August.

 

Mabul

Mabul, located just 25 minutes off Sipadan, is another preferred place for scuba diving. The island\’s reputation rests as one of the world\’s best muck diving sites. The term is used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites. Muck diving offers one the opportunity to watch some unusual marine life. Macro photographers love to visit Mabul.

 

There’s just something about visiting a mostly deserted tropical island that always piques my interest. Perhaps it’s an element of the unknown – I may be safe on the beach, but how far away are the vicious monkeys or enormous lizards?

Arguably the best of the best Malaysian beach retreats are the Perhentian Islands that lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu. They are the perfect place to take a break – even down to the name; ‘perhentian’ actually means ‘stopping point’.

As they lie only 64km or so south of the Thai border they are every bit as beautiful as their Siamese counterparts but, importantly, significantly less developed.

The two main islands are Perhentian Besar (translated as Big Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil (which means Small Perhentian). The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara, Seringgi and Rawa lie off Kecil and are the perfect place to spend an afternoon living out any fantasies of being shipwrecked on a paradise island.

What makes them special? Well, the Perhentians belong to Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly prohibited. It also means that steps have been taken to protect the natural beauty of the islands. You’ll find no luxurious, sprawling hotel complexes here. Instead, your accommodation is likely to be a simple shack on the beach.

Of these shacks, one of the most popular is Tuna Bay Resort on Pulau Perhentian Besar near Pasir Jong. The word resort might be a slight exaggeration of what they offer (no spas, pools or room service here) but what isn’t lacking is the atmosphere – it’s terrific.

Popular with families, this is a place to relax and have fun – as oppose to being the perfect escape for honeymooners wanting a quiet getaway. There’s a holiday feeling permeating through the bay that makes you feel as if you could walk up to anyone and say hello.

If you want a second simple recommendation, ask for “Pasir Panjang” (Long Beach) on Perhentian Kecil. You’re unlikely to have it to yourself, but it is a very beautiful beach with postcard-perfect white sand and crystal clear water. Take some snacks and you’ll be set for a picnic that will last long in the memory.

Another activity that makes for unforgettable memories is diving. Both islands are fringed by stunning reefs and crystalline water which are host to a wide variety of coral, sea-turtles, jellyfish, small sharks and reef-fish.

It’s easy enough to get PADI qualified and go quite deep (the diving school at D’Anyana House is recommended) but, to be honest, simply strapping on a snorkel and splashing about will still bring you in contact with an incredible array of sea life.

For me though, it’s all about being on land. The sea may fascinate some, but I live for beaches.

Kapalai Island Resort or more correctly Sipadan-Kaplai Dive resort in Sabah Malaysia although it is part of Borneo is only a short distance by boat from the islands of Sipadam and Mabul. Having said all that it is another world altogether.

Kapalai Island Resort actually sits on stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. It is not attached to any land whatsoever although over a mile of powdery white sand appears at low tide for sunbathing.

The architects who designed the complex must have been extremely innovative, because the Sipadan-Kapalai resort consists of a chain of chalets that are all linked by almost two miles of walkways, so you will never be short of exercise here, especially if you like jogging. The incredible thing is the plethora of fish just a few inches between your feet as you travel along the boardwalk.

Kapalai is totally peaceful and quiet, just a turquoise sea stretching off into the distance, and yet right underneath is the water which is literally teeming with life, so you can snorkel straight off the resort.

Kapalai accesses the best diving spots in Sabah Borneo, which makes it the best hotel in Sabah if you want to dive. From here you can dive in Sipadan where you will find big fish and turtles. You can go muck diving at Mabul, or stay close to Kapalai itself.

The Sipadan-Kapalai Island Resort, whilst geared towards divers is also a wonderful escape from the pressures of the 21st century. The rooms are a bit like the Maldives were a few years ago, and as an added bonus they are a fraction of the price, and at no time to you feel crowded on this very special hotel in Sabah.

The food is good, very varied, and served buffet style, plus there is a lot of it, and is served almost 24 hours every day.

You can dive five times a day and never go to the same place twice, but of course Kapalai Island resort is one of the world’s top diving destinations. Everyone at Sipadan is very helpful, and you will get exceptional service from all of the staff from the divemasters to the hotel staff.

If you are visiting the region of Sipadan then without doubt the airy sunny resort of Kapalai, totally built on stilts is the place to stay. This is an absolutely tremendous resort !

If you are interested in othr far East Hotels and destinations then go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Far-East-Hotels/

Redang Island, called Pulau Redang in the local language, is located at 45 km offshore of Terengganu, a state at north east of Peninsula Malaysia. At the size of about 7km long and 6km wide, it’s a small island. Together with some other islands, Pulau Pinang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Susu Dara, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Kapas, these group of islands forms the Pulau Redang Marine Park which is abound with marvelous marine fishes, turtles and coral reefs, provides a great snorkelling and scuba-diving experience. There are more than 500 species of live corals, 1000 species of invertebrates and almost 3000 species of fishes which includes manta rays, stingrays, sharks and whale sharks, all living in harmony in the reefs fringing the islands.

Redang Island is famous for it’s white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue sea, brilliant underwater world and has among the best coral reef in the world. With more than 20 different diving spots, it is a heaven for diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers. Some of them are black coral garden, shipwrecks near Pinang Island, a mysterious submerged chamber and Mini Mount.

The dive season at Redang starts around March and lasts until early October. The daily temperature ranges from 22oC in the early morning to 34oC at noon. The visibiity averages 15 metres. On good days, it can improve to 30 metres. Some of the favourite dive locations are:

Big Mount

Located about 50 to 100 meters off the northern tip of Pulau Lima, Big mount is a completely submerged oval seamount. This is arguably the best of all the dive sites around this island with a large coral pillar and highly rated by local divers.. The shallowest portion of this reef at 20 meters and the boulder terrain drops to 30 meters and is filled with many varieties of hard and soft corals, gorgonian fans, sea anemones and whip coral gardens. Divers can expect to encounter huge clownfish, sea cucumbers, starfishes, stonefish, groupers and parrotfish.

Mini Mount.

100 meters east off of Pulau Kerengga Besar, with the deepest portion at about 20 meters. The surface of the boulders are carpeted with a variety of soft corals, tubastrea corals, sea squirts, sponges and stinging hydroids. Also, here divers can see a unique blend of sponges, shrimps, moluscs, echinoderms and soft corals. This is a popular choice for night dive where divers are rewarded with an abundance of night creatures foraging for food around the reef.

Terumbu Kili

Lies at the southern tip of Pulau Pinang, this is one of the top dive sites at Redang. The rocky seascape is encrusted with both hard and soft corals at about 15 meters, and slopes down to 20 meters at the sandy bottom. Fish life includes cardinal fish, damselfish, chromis, snappers, parrotfish and soldierfish. While in the open water you are likely to encounter jacks, fusiliers, yellowtail, batfish and black tip sharks. Due to the strong currents, this site is best left to advanced and more experienced divers as you can get swept out to sea if you’re not careful.

The waters around Pulau Redang also contain two historic shipwrecks: The HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, sunk here at the start of World War II.

Other dive sites includes Tanjung Lang, Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Gua Kawah, Pasir Panjang, Batu Mak Chantek, Pulau Paku Besar, Pulau Paku Kecil, Pulau Ling, Batu Chipor, Terumbu Putih, Black Coral Garden, “Mysterious Submerged Chamber”, The Southeastern Side, The Northeastern Side, Pulau Kerangga Kecil and Pulau Ekor Tebu.

Divers, packed your bags and heading to Redang Island already?

March 2008 Sipadan Mabul Kapalai Sharks, turtle, macro life, cuttlefish, nudibranchs Celebes explorer

Malaysia is blessed with marvelous islands and picturesque golden beaches that attract tourists from all over the globe. These exotic beaches offer you the thrill and excitement that lasts forever in your mind and you will be longing to get back there once again to share those memorable moments that you have enliven once.

The beaches and islands of Malaysia literally sparkle during day and night which makes it a paradise for the visitors and the visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of leisure activities such as site-seeing, dancing and singing. You can also enjoy the excellent feeling of Idyllic Islands and Golden Beaches of Malaysia with a beer.

Starting from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, to the vibrant and idyllic golden beaches Malaysia is a land of fascinating diversity. Not only that with its unique culture and tradition but also the splendid cuisines and the hospitality of the people all adds to a joyful experience for you that you can cherish in your memory.

Malaysia is perfect for its awesome quixotic getaway, spotted with pristine beaches and idyllic islands that bound all the way along the coast.

The most popular choice for tourists among these islands is the Langkawi and the Penang. The Langkawi is located south east of the Kuah which act as the entrance to the sandy beaches and gorgeous islands. These islands are a part of Malaysian mainland state Kedah. The Langkawi islands are clean, green, eco friendly and are a true holiday destination for those who wish to have a lifetime memorable trip. The weather remains ideal all the year round which makes this a four season tourist destination.

This feature makes it an ideal vacation destination for people around the world. You can have a nice time trekking, fishing, rock climbing, cycling, and snorkeling in crystal clear waters and relaxing on the sandy beaches of the coast of Malaysia.

Beach volleyball is commonly played by visitors in Malaysia. It offers enthusiasm as well as it makes your body warm and energetic.

You can hire boats and have a ride in the crystal clear water. It will be a thrilling experience for adventure loving tourists. The pleasant and warm climate makes it a perfect spot for sunbathing and you can relax sitting back and reading a novel.

The sight of sparkling red sun sinking slowly into the faint blue waters is a rare moment and it really brings enthusiasm and passionate feelings in your mind. The fascinating glass bottom boat allows the visitors to enjoy the marine life from the very near quarters.

You can see lot of hotels and resorts in Malaysia, so it is not a difficult task to find a suitable accommodation facility. You can find accommodation in resorts or hotels which are equipped with multiple facilities like swimming pool, library and internet.

Above all a remarkable thing yet to notice is tasty traditional Malay cuisines that are extremely delicious. Mouth-watering Malay cuisines are very famous all over the world.

Beach side resorts are also available so that you can sit in front of it and enjoy the activities there, but it may be little expensive. Rooms that are fully air-conditioned are also there for those people who prefer it.

You can reach there by train or by flight from major locations around the world like Europe, America etc. If you are choosing train then express trains from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are also available.

With the world class resorts with ultramodern facilities, scenic islands, serene landscapes, Malaysia has now become a favorite tourist destination for local as well as international visitors.

If you are planning to visit a popular tourist destination the next time then you surely have to go for the idyllic islands of Malaysia since it not only offers a pleasing experience but also gives an opportunity to mingle with the society that is truly exceptional in their hospitality and in every manner.

When my wife and I were deciding where to go on our honeymoon, we knew one thing, we wanted to go to Penang in Malaysia, to celebrate with relatives out there, but we knew we wanted to then move on to somewhere else after that, the only thing was where?

The Caribbean or Africa was a no go as the price to fly half way around the world and then back round again would have been monumental. Also the weather was a bit of a problem too. We tied the knot in early September, which ruled out the Maldives, Tahiti and Bali due to monsoon and rainy seasons.

We had been to Thailand the year before so decided we wanted to try somewhere else. We eventually chose to stay in Malaysia, but more precisely, Sabah in Borneo.

Well known for beautiful beaches and tiny islands great for diving, Sabah is also well known for orangutans, and has a world famous orangutan rehabilitation reserve at Sepilok, a short flight from our hotel at Kota Kinabalu.

However, we discovered that the hotel we chose had a nature reserve within the hotel grounds that was affiliated with Sepilok, and took in baby orphaned Orangutans, preparing them for their next stage at Sepilok before eventually being released back into the wild.

The Shangri-La Rasa Ria resort is situated on Pantai Dalit Beach, a beautiful stretch of beach that is sheltered and exclusive to the resort. The hotel was fantastic, and deciding to treat ourselves to a stay in the Ocean Wing, the exclusive wing with its own private pool, breakfast and luxury rooms with sea views and giant soak tub on the balcony, was well worth the extra money.

The hotel had a great choice of restaurants, and deciding to go half-board was a good option. Half-board entitles you to breakfast and dinner at the Coffee Terrace restaurant, or 100RM (about 17 quid) per person towards a meal in one of the other restaurants. This allowance pretty much covered the full cost of a meal in the other restaurants, except for the gourmet Coast restaurant which really is fijne dining at its best.

The culinary highlights for us were dinner at Naan and Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’.

Naan was, funnily enough, and Indian restaurant and this award winning restaurant served some of the best Indian food I have ever had, food which went perfectly with the Malaysian local brew, Tiger Beer!

Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’ was a typical Malaysian style food court, offering all the tastes that make Malaysian cuisine so special, with dishes from China, India,  Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Each station offered something different, and the vegetable station featured baskets of uncooked Chinese vegetables and sauces where people could put what they wanted on a plate with the sauces of their choice. The chef would then quickly stir fry these while you wait.

Our favourite was the kangkong belacan, what is basically ung choi fried in garlic and sambal (a fiery hot shrimp paste) with some red chillies – very hot but very tasty.

The real highlight for us was the orangutans. Each day, guests can make a donation to the reserve and trek a short way into the jungle to a pair of viewing platforms to watch the baby orangutans feed. The experience is quite simply amazing.

They are extremely cute and very agile. Some shy, others mischievous it is fantastic to watch their playful antics. We went twice to see them, the first time I filled my camera’s memory card of around 500 photos well before the hour came to an end and was frantically having to delete bad shots in order to take more.

Penang, Malaysia – Treat yourself with your family and loved ones at Century Bay Suites, strategically located in Georgetown, the capital of Penang, Malaysia. For only RM 200.00++ per night, enjoy the luxury of a Superior 2-Bedroom Suite and a Study Room Suite good for a maximum of 4 guests. All rates are already inclusive of two breakfast meals. This Malaysian hotel has 84 deluxe suites that all feature a private toilet, a bath with shower, a tub, a kitchenette, a dining nook, a living room, a washing area and a balcony.

Century Bay Service Suites stands opposite the Penang Exhibition Centre and is five minutes away from Heritage Georgetown. It is also near the Penang International Airport, Free Trade Zone, the Penang Bridge, golf courses, popular tourist attractions, and shopping outlets.

Penang, a state on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the more popular tourist destinations in the country. The place is known for its intricate colonial architecture and is dotted with rows of hundred-year old buildings that evoke a charming, old-world atmosphere.

Aside from its accessible location, Century Bay Suites boasts of facilities that can rival that of a four-star hotel’s, including an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness room/gym, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a business center, a conference room and its own restaurant and bar. Enjoy all these and more without splurging. the service hotel’s The special promo is valid until the 30th of April 2009. Reservations may be secured at http://www.centurybaysuites.com.

Through a booking system powered by DirectWithHotels, guests benefit from instantly confirmed, deposit-guaranteed reservations at the best rates online. For more information, log on to www.directwithhotels.com.

Century Bay Service Suites

5, Lintang Pantai Jerjak, Sungai Nibong

11700 Georgetown

Pulau Pinang, Malaysia