Travel destinations: Malaysia

Malaysia is a country that is not only diverse in culture, it also offers a diversity of holiday genre. I first visited Malaysia as a child and have since been a frequent visitor to the country for work and holidays.

Malaysia is a country consisting of 13 states and 3 federal territories. The country is separated into two regions, West Malaysia which is the main Malaysia Pennisula and East Malaysia which is connected to Brunei and Indonesia. Malaysia is governed by an elected government and the head of state is represented by a Yang di Pertuan Agong or the King of Malaysia. The head of state is elected to a five year term from amongst the nine kings (Sultan) of the Malay states.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and it is also home to another twin tower called the Petronas Twin Tower. Most of us will remember the twin tower as a location shoot for the film “Entrapment”, where Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones manoeuvre dangerously across the bridge. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant and modern city which offers exciting night life and fantastic foods.

Malaysia has lots to offer as a holiday destination. There are places that will satisfy different travel delights. They are:

Beach

The east and west coast of Malaysia is lined with miles of white soft sand. The clear and blue water is also a great spot for snorkeling and surfing. The islands near the mainland are perfect destinations for a relaxing holiday. The sea also offers an excellent dive for diving enthusiast as the coral reefs are unspoilt and beautiful. You can also observe at a distance turtles coming ashore to lay eggs on the beach at the east coast of Malaysia.

National Parks

For the nature lovers and people who want to rough it out, there are many National Parks that will offer such experience. Activities in these Parks ranges from walking through tropical jungle, staying in canopy tree house, visiting fruit tree plantations and mountain climbing. One popular climb is Mt Kinabalu located in Kinabalu National Park in the East Malaysia state of Sabah. It is also known to be the most accessible mountain in the world as not specialized mountain climbing skills is needed though a reasonably good fitness level is required.

Fish farm (Kelong)

Kelong are wooden fish farm built on stilts in the middle of the sea. This Kelong are built by fisherman primarily for fishing purposes. Some of these Kelong now offer fishing holiday. Kelong holiday usually offer all inclusive stay and fishing expedition. Kelong stays are more popular with the locals but it will be an interesting holiday choice for people who want to rough it out as the facilities in these farms are very basic.

The climate in Malaysia is tropical hence the temperature is warm and humid throughout the year. However, it is still possible to escape into cool surrounding (not air condition). The hills in Malaysia such as Cameron Highland, Fraser Hill and Genting Highland provide an escape from the warm and humid climate. There are many established hotels in these hills, some of which still retains strong colonial influence such as Tudor framed house and afternoon English tea.

It is easy to get around in Malaysia. The main motorway links from Singapore to Thailand. Visitors in Malaysia can either hire a car or travel interstate by coach or by air. The interstate coach is a comfortable and inexpensive way of travelling and it also provide an almost similar service of an airline, that is, food, drink and a film is included in the fare.

Thailand Is Their Land: Travel To Thailand

The true magic you’ll find when you travel to Thailand is its alluring authenticity. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers; consequently, the still-standing and functioning monuments of the past attract visitors who admire thousands of years of history integrated into present day society. Even more appealing, Thailand offers the diversity of a society running in parallel: booming city life and leisurely beach escapes, thickly canopied jungles and white sand islands, indulgent cuisine, clubs and cocktails and the sanctuary of Buddhist lifestyle. Thailand has come of age as a traveler’s dream destination, an affordable gateway to paradise with all the modern conveniences at your fingertips.

What’s In a Name?

The Kingdom of Thailand was known as Siam until 1939, when a bloodless revolution instated a constitutional monarchy and the name was changed to literally mean “free” land. The original kingdom was founded in 1238, but largely influenced throughout history by China and India. Geographically, Thailand is surrounded by countries whose turbulent 20th century histories have defaulted tourism into its exotic but more accessible borders. For this reason, Thailand is also a wonderful home base from which to explore Cambodia and Laos to the east, Myanmar (Burma) to the west, and Malaysia to the south.

Wat You Waiting For?

Thailand is littered with just as many exciting cities as beautiful beaches. Where you might notice the imbalance is in the inconceivable number of temples, or wat. As the main center of the very north, Chiang Mai is a large, beautiful and historic city. A visit to the famous Night Bazaar or the nearby Wiang Kum Kam archeological ruins is certainly not enough to distract even the most oblivious from the more than 300 Buddhist temples that sprinkle the skyline with shiny gold, red and green hues. Make sure to visit Wat Chiang Mun, the city’s (and possibly Thailand’s) oldest temple, located within the old city walls and dating back to 1296. Heading south, do not miss Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Thailand’s two former capitals (the latter being the founding city) classified as World Heritage Sites filled with hundreds of beautifully maintained temples, statues and bustling human activity, all embedded within the lush green environs.

Bangkok is perched on the Gulf of Thailand, but this humming, vibrant and congested 24-hour capital city is a far cry from the resort cities and towns found east and south along Thailand’s sub-tropical coastline. Thailand extends south into the Kra Isthmus, providing for extensive coastline and some of the most filmed beaches in the world. Phuket is the most famous resort island, but more rewarding is a trip to one of the smaller and less commercialized areas. Ko Tao is of particular interest for scuba divers, while Ko Pha Ngan has become famous among younger travelers for its regular full moon festivals held all night on the sparkling shores. Ko Phi Phi is far more breathtaking in person than even the camera angles of the film “The Beach” could do it justice.

Some rudimentary social customs aside, Thailand is an extremely easy going and welcoming travel experience. Everything from simple to luxurious is at your disposal, and all with a very fair price tag, not to mention an unbeatable combination of picturesque beaches, rainforested mountains, and an intense metropolitan culture. So really, what are you waiting for? Start planning to travel to Thailand today.

Travel destinations: South East Asia

Travelling Asia is cheap! My girl friend and I did it for 12 weeks on less than US$5000, on a shoestring if you will, and all with the help of the good old Lonely Planet. In 12 weeks we travelled Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, then back into Thailand, down the east coast of Malaysia and finished up in Singapore again.

All our travel was either bus or train. A great deal of it was very unpleasant, yet absolutely priceless in some of the adventures we had.

We scuba dived, trekked, tukk tukked, rode elephants, fed monkeys, toured temples and museums, bought tailored suits, ate fantastic food, drank beer and met countless numbers of amazing people.

At the start of our journey we never thought our budget would allow us to travel so much of South East Asia for so long and do so much.

South East Asia is cheap and great fun. Don’t take a flight, take the bus or train and you’ll see and do more.

Orangutan Sanctuarys in Borneo, Sarawak, Kuching – A trip to the mysterious tropical rainforest

Welcome to the Orangutan Sanctuarys at Semengok located in Sarawak, Borneo. One of the best Orangutan sanctuarys in the world. Semengok Wild life center is the best place in Borneo to view semi-wild orang utans, who have been rescued from captivity and trained to survive in the surrounding forest reserve. The rehabilated animals roam freely in the rain forest, and often return to the centre at feeding time. Thanks to the successful breeding programme at Semengok, there is a good possibility of experiencing one of the most heart-warming sights in Borneo – an orang utan mother with a young baby.

The centre is 30 minutes drive from Kuching and another 20 minutes on foot. Along the way visitors pass by the ethno-botanical gardens, with their unique collection of rain-forest plants. Semengok also has a number of short jungle trails and optional forest walks can be incorporated into the tour.

How to get to the Orangutan Sanctuarys at Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo?
You can either choose to fly into Malaysia’s capital city – Kuala Lumpur, and from there you can use either Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia to Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. You can contact us or book a tour with us and we will personally take you to the Orangutan Sanctuarys, where you get to see these amazing animals. More info can be located at the bottom of the resource box.

What else can we do in Sarawak?
Sarawak, Borneo – A land full of mysteries, covered under the tropical rainforest. We would usually advise our visitors to stay here for 2 weeks, and to experience living in rainforest, exploring the world largest cave systems – Mulu caves, do kayak in the rainforest, visit the local long house owned by the head hunters, visit Orangutan Sanctuarys, stay in the tree house on top of the tree, enjoy the nice and beautiful beach and take a trip down to Satang island for turtle conservation and hatchery area. Enjoy the local food and meet the local peoples.

How is the weather in Sarawak?
On the whole, Sarawak has an equatorial climate. The temperature is relatively uniform within the range of 23°C to 32°C throughout the year. During the months of March to September, the weather is generally dry and warm.
Humidity is consistently high on the lowlands ranging from 85 per cent to 95 per cent per annum. The average rainfall per year is between 3,300 mm and 4,600 mm, depending on locality, and the wettest months are from November to February.

Getting around?
We usually would advise our visitors to plan their trip before they come to Sarawak, or we plan it for them. Please contact us in the resource box.

Is Sarawak, Malaysia Safe?
Among South-East Asia, I can say Sarawak, Malaysia is one of the best and safest places for visitors to travel. The people here are friendly and helpful, the majority of them are a mixture of Dayak, Chinese, Malay and some Hindu.

Is there any Money Changer in Sarawak?
Yes, there are plenty of Money changer and banks in Sarawak and yes, they are safe and legal.

For visas questions or any other tour, car rental or hotel accomodation information, visit our link below, thanks.

Christmas 2007: Hottest new Asian cuisine cookbooks

Dharma is food and food is love so what better way to show it than a good Asian cookbook. Where to start India, Thailand, there is just too much ground to cover and too many recipes to try. Hard to find ingredients? Not anymore with a wealth of resource on line right at your fingertips. The choice for hot new books was not easy but here a few of my favorites for holiday gift giving.

“Memories of a Philippine Kitchen” by Amy Besa and Romy Doroton with lush, mouth watering photography from Neal Oshina.

Within the first pages you are pulled into the family gathering spot, the kitchen. A cultural journey through food into the heart of the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is by nature a fusion of Native, Chinese, American and Spanish flavors sometimes all in one dish. Amy and Romy take you by the hand and guide you through the history and changes over time of the most traditional dishes. Some of the more than 100 dishes are easily prepared in minutes, other require the whole day such as pig roasting. A beautiful book to look at and a delicious one to experience.

“Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook” by Fuchsia Dunlop

Hunan cooking from the land of Mao. Beautifully written tales and legends surrounding the spirited cooking of the Hunan region. Specialty holiday and banquet foods are explained along with plenty of everyday pleasant peasant fare. Good explanations for new techniques and unique ingredients make this a very kitchen friendly volume. A solid start for a step up to one of the worlds oldest hearths.

“Tibetan Cooking: Recipes for Daily Living” by Elizabeth Esther Kelley

A big ole chunk of love from one of America’s long running monastery cooks. She pulls us to her and weaves a spiritual tale of love through food. These dishes are simple, easy to prepare and most of the ingredients are readily available. Breath in the richness from the bubbling pot and the mysterious mountains of Tibet are only a blink away. This is a great book for whole family cooking. Kids and Grandmothers alike can work side by side with these exotically simple family recipes.

“Into the Vietnamese Kitchen” by Andrea Nguyen

Beautiful explanations of technique and timing. Thorough guides to what may be unfamiliar foods and spices with suggestions for substitutions for what maybe hard to find ingredients. Ms Nguyen gives down to earth descriptions of how to make and use basics like fish sauce. The recipes are well laid out and easy to follow from the easy street snack to the all day one pots. Totally accessible for amateurs and rife with depth for the more astute among us.

“Cradle of Flavor” by James Oseland and Christopher Hirscheimer

This cookbook takes you on a cultural journey through Malaysia, the markets of Singapore to the tips of Sumatra and Java. It brings the home cooking from these vastly diverse yet very close peoples together for a series of culinary treats you won’t soon forget. Based on traditional home cooking the recipes are broken down in a way that makes them accessible to anyone. There is an incredible resource guide for obtaining hard to find items. Intriguing stories and compelling history bring the festival extravaganzas and the quick lunch into reach of us all. There is no other book on the market quite like this one. Though it breaks new ground I feel that this will soon be a coveted classic.

Beer reviews: Tiger Beer

Asia’s number one beer, Tiger Beer is brewed by Asia Pacific Breweries in Singapore, which comes under the umbrella of Heineken. APB has breweries not only in its home country of Singapore but also in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Tiger, which has been produced since 1932, is the company’s flagship brand. It has won over 30 international awards for its quality and is available in certain outlets including most supermarkets and off licences in the UK at around 1.10 for a 330ml bottle. It is also popular in many ethnic restaurants, particularly those specialising in Malaysian/Singaporean and Indonesian cuisine.

SO… did I journey to the exotic Far East to sample this beer authentically? Perhaps I treated myself to an evening of sampling the culinary delights of the Orient, before washing it all down with copious amounts of felinious, malt-based beverage? OR….did I wait until the mercury crept above ground level and open up a bottle purchased from my local supermarket, sit in the garden and bolt that sucker down my neck?

Have a wild guess.

The colour is a very pale golden. Less carbonation than a pilsener, it has tiny bubbles rising to a reasonable, but not big, head. A hint of malt, and like most pilseners it has a bit of a metallic smell, although this is not present in the finish. There’s an earthy, slightly citrus aroma to the beer but overall the aroma is fairly mild.

This is a delightfully smooth lager that is almost perfect on the palate for this style. There’s a sharp, citrus (lemon?) tang initially, and a little sweetness before the malt flavour kicks in. It has a thoroughly smooth mouth feel, and not being too gassy, this is a nice little beer. Not only is it delicious, with a refreshingly malty taste, it’s very sharp and clean and very drinkable.

With an ABV of 5% this is an average strength lager and I have to say is probably just an average beer. Having said that, as an ‘imported’ lager it is pretty much above average. When comparing this to others in the same style I found this to be far more pleasant and drinkable. I only had the one bottle but could easily have drank a few more.

A great thirst quencher and ideal when served ice-cold in the hot and humid weather to be found in South East Asia. Or even occasionally in South East Scotland.

Would I drink it again? – If I wait until the next heatwave in Scotland….probably not for a long, long time!

Travel experiences: Climbing Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

The reality of actually going for a 4 day long trip in attempt to conquest Mount Kinabalu, Sabah only sank in as I was walking towards Air Asia’s Airbus 320. After all, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Malaysia and despite the commercializing of the location; I predict the climb to be somewhat difficult.

Unlike KLIA, in LCCT we are required to walk right up to the aircraft to board it. Despite the lack of an air-conditioned pathway, I enjoyed the short walk amidst aircrafts, had an unexplainable sense of adventure to it.

(Flight was spent sleeping, and very eventful. Unless turbulence is considered eventful)

Bus took us to the Kinabalu Park HQ, where the Park Ranger office is located. We were to put up the night in Grace Hostel; about 5 minutes walk form the Park Rangers office, and start the climb early next morning.

I stepped down from the bus with caution, since I have heard some rather convincing horror stories about the weather. I was told that the chillness would sting right up to my bones, but what a load of exaggeration that turned out to be. There was a slightly drizzle, with temperature that I can only describe as a feeling of being perpetually in an air-conditioned room. By now, we could very well see the huge mount right before us and words would do no justice to describe the view.

There was such calmness in the surrounding air. With every intake of breath, all those burden of uncompleted projects, stressful meetings with superiors, CCARS, other difficulties that we encountered back in Spansion seemed to be lifted off my shoulders. I dare say, I sensed something almost spiritual about the place.

The rest of the day was spent hovering together, basking ourselves in the splendid surrounding, taking each and every opportunity to snap a picture or two. The Park HQ itself was large, and despite the slight rain, I could not help but just wander around lost in the serenity that the place exerts.

But light seem to rule for a shorter time here and soon it was dinner time. Since dinner was a free for all activity, some of us walked to a restaurant nearby to have our dinner. First thing I notice was the exorbitant amount on display for food, but as disturbing as that was, it made sense. Soon after dinner, we made way to attend the briefing by the park rangers. They gave all present a short historical background on the mountain, and the trekking trail available to the peak. One was Merlimau, and to other Timpohon. Valuable information

Buying Holiday Properties Off Season For Bigger Discounts

During the monsoon season in Southeast Asia, it rains almost every day. The hotels are empty, the beaches are bare and only a few people can be found in the restaurants around town. During off season is a great time to buy island properties because developers will offer bigger discounts.

Now, while in low season here in Phuket, Thailand is no different. Locals like the quiet season as a time to relax and recharge before the next high season. The real estate market is quiet like every other business. Developers are hungry to make a sale if they are overextended on their loans and are willing to take a discount to move a property or properties are aren’t selling well.

During high season, you’re hard pressed to find a hotel or a guesthouse that isn’t full in Phuket. Tourists are in the streets, many bars, shops and cafes around the island. The roads are congested with cars, busses and tuk-tuks taking people here and there. Developers have plenty of customers knocking at their doors looking to buy properties.

Depending on what time of year, most local Thai and foreign property owners will take an increase in property prices at the end of the year. There is a nice shoulder season starting in October thru November where the chance of rain is a lot less and the weather is still very nice. It’s a great time of the year to Visit the Island because the big crowds haven’t starting coming yet and room rates are still generally low.

This shoulder season is a great time to visit the island and look at properties to purchase. You’re a new arrival for high season but on last year’s prices. This is a great time to buy a property before new price increases are out.

Most other businesses like cement, concrete, steel, labor and other industries also increase after New Years so it’s very natural to raise the prices on finished houses, lots or apartments in Phuket after the New Year. Property values usually get a new assessment at the New Year also.

Phuket, Thailand property market isn’t the one area that does price increasing at New Years. I am told this has been a Chinese tradition that gone on for centuries. With the passing of every New Year, Chinese like to increase what they have by taking a small increase in prices. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore Hong Kong and even the Philippines like to take New Years increases.

Buying before contractors and developers are looking at new increases is a good way to purchase. If a property holder is selling a real estate property they will be less likely to take a discount when they are faced with higher costs on all other fronts. Buying just coming out of the low season is smart investing for the property investor big or small. Visiting Phuket during Shoulder season is a great time to visit and a wonderful time to invest in your dream property.

Phuket, Post Tsunami

With the negative media coverage that wrongly portrayed the post tsunami situation on the island of Phuket, people assumed that the property industry would crash, prices would fall and demand dwindle. Quite the contrary has happened.

The reality is just 5% of the coastline was damaged and educated investors realized it was a freak of nature and an unprecedented natural occurrence. In 2005 prices remained stable and in 2006 they continued to grow again on the same level as pre-tsunami – 100% every three years (according to local property industry sources). The statistics are almost identical to that of Bali after the bombing. In the longer term there is a lot more potential in Phuket than Bali to, as there are more facilities and choices of accommodation. Phuket is more advanced in terms of getting there than Bali too.

The market in Phuket is very buoyant and demand for luxury holidays on the island is growing significantly. Lured by the attraction of a strong economy, Phuket being the wealthiest province in Thailand, an International airport that has direct flights to Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia and Europe and an abundance of beautiful natural features, people from all over the world are renting out lavish dream properties, which cater for their every need.

Marinas, world class golfing and excellent shopping all adds to appeal of this island. Hong Kong and European markets continue to drive demand; however there is a strong increase in American visitors. Positive images of the booming property market are filtering through the worlds media, combined with the coverage of Phuket just after the tsunami means that Phuket is firmly on the world map.

Currently demand for luxury villas is equally mixed between families, honeymooning couples, and retirees, however the older age group is set to become the most significant market in the industry and this is being shown with new developments centered around golf courses and marinas, with the East coast in particular seeing a lot of development as this is the site of the Royal Phuket Marina. The developments in this area are set to rival that of popular resorts in Spain, popular with the older age group, not just in terms of excellent amenities and accommodation but the relative costs too. Why rent out a hotel room in Spain when you can rent out a luxury secluded villa in Phuket?!

Property style various tremendously, Europeans in particular are fond of the traditional look with quality local natural finishes, traditional Thai roof designs, but like incorporating this with every modern amenity one could desire. Other properties offer sleek aluminum and glass finishes giving an ultra modern feel. From Phuket’s north-west coast to the length of the east coast, private villa estates are increasing in popularity, with international variations of villa design attracting a discerning guest. There is a desire to have a holiday of a lifetime in a unique property, totally distinguishable from everything else and Phuket has this in abundance.

Each beach resort in Phuket has it’s own distinctive atmosphere which is reflected in the property design. As 2006 comes to an end, property developments of note drawing to a close are around Cape Yamu on the east coast and another upcoming area, Chalong Bay at the North East point again demonstrating the incredible choice for visitors to have an incredible Phuket vacation.

Living & Enjoy Your Life In Phuket

There is a lot of differences between living in the East and West. Numerous issues have to be considered, like cost of living, weather, people, culture, and so on. Big distinction in either side makes alterations in people’s “lifestyle”. It is widely accepted that most foreigners visiting Thailand choose Thai way of living.

Every year, there are a huge number of foreigners traveling to Thailand but in the end they decide to settle down here. Thailand has an enormous impact on the big crowd. Anyone visiting Thailand will be left amazed by the diversities they witness in food, shopping and sceneries.

But most of the travelers are attracted towards Phuket than Bangkok. For people who love to lead a simple life there may not be too many better choices than this island in South East Asia. It boasts lush, tropical environment, azure clear water and attractive scenic ocean and beaches. There are recreation options galore in Phuket like sailing, boating, diving, fishing, windsurfing, biking, swimming, diving, golfing and many more.

Life in Phuket has been easy and peaceful. Although it is a small island unlike Bangkok, the people living here take things easy and enjoy life here. There are no pains like traffic jam and large crowds and you can soak up in fresh air. Locals are friendly and sincere, and their lifestyle suits you when most make their lives on a small industry around the ocean like fishing.

Now, the city provides you the most modern facilities including excellent roads, modern hospitals, superb marinas and first grade international schools. Its international airport can be accessed from over a dozen international locations as well as most domestic locations. With a short journey of less than one and a half hours, visitors can connect through Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok to the rest of the world. Some airlines have scheduled international flights that arrive here directly without touching Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok.

Plenty of people come here for enjoying their vacations. Usually the travelers, go around to see the beautiful beaches and the tropical climate. Once they get a feel of the lifestyle they will definitely say this place is a heaven. It is the wealthiest province in Thailand. Its wealth allowed the place to provide world class arrangements for you. But looking on the other side of the coin, it has the highest cost of living when compared to any other Thai province. However, it is still very affordable considering western standards and even a modest income from home can allow you to live leisurely here.

Phuket’s location in the calm Andaman Sea has attracted foreigners since the olden days. Legal services, business opportunities and plenty of houses, all designed to the specific needs of the ex-pat. If you’re thinking about moving to this place, be prepared to face all manner of little discomforts that are bound to happen when East meets West. Houses here are very affordable and provide you good value depending on how close to the beach you want to be.

A totally furnished two bedroom house with air conditioner can be hired for about 8,000 to 14,000 baht a month in the Phuket Town area. It also offers wide variety of different types of cuisine and how much you spend will be based on where you go and the type of food you want to eat. It is an island having decent size and walking from place to place can be taxing. The ideal means of transport is a 125cc motorbike. Motorbike rentals are easily available and cost about 3,000 baht per month, which comprises insurance.

Apartments here are generally priced around 1 million baht for a small studio, while a two bedroom condominium is available from 4 million baht. Drinking is a favorite pastime in Phuket and it will not be a serious issue in your cost of living. A small bottle of local beer at a pub usually costs about 50 baht, while a large bottle is priced at about 80 to 100 baht.

Taking into account all those lifestyle and development, Phuket gives you a perfect dream location for those searching for a relaxed lifestyle in an affordable, peaceful, and tropical paradise.

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