Finding the Very Best Deals on Cheap Hotel Rooms!

Finding the very best deals on cheap hotel rooms is often thwarted by the really big internet travel and hotel sites that inhabit the top search results; however with a few little tricks you can get to where the best deals are faster. These are the tricks that I use when getting ready to go to a new town that I haven’t been to before.

Many hotels now are giving internet deals if you can find their site; this is good as many times you can get the price lower than the big internet hotel sites. Another benefit of dealing direct with the hotel is that you can ask questions like does the room have a window and can you see more than just an elevator shaft through it! You can also make sure that you get a no smoking room. You could also ask them if they have better rates if you book 3 or more nights. You can also confirm that they will hold the reservation if you are going to arrive after 6PM or maybe you have some other request that normally will not be answered by the big sites.

Search the travel forums and blogs most of the big ones like the Thorn Tree have a lot of information so you have to read a lot to get to the meat but there is still some good info to be gleaned here as they are a good way to figure out what section of town that you want to stay, for instance in Bangkok the 3 biggest areas are Koh Sahn Rd Suhkumvitt which includes Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy and Patpong all 3 have lots of touristy things to do like night markets and for Suhkumvitt and Patpong a decidedly mature audiences only feel where as Khao Sahn is geared to palace river and the hard core backpackers Once you have that start typing in cheap hotels City name and then the neighborhood either Suhkumvitt or Khao Sahn Rd Patpong you will see that the results will change a lot and some of the smaller sites will start to appear.

Go to the big travel and hotel sites and look for hotels in the area that you want to be many will separate by neighbor hood in the big cities like Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. You can also specify on many sites number of stars if you are looking for cheap hotels you would specify 1 and 2 star maybe 3 stars for China Write down 2 or 3 hotels that look promising and then search there names directly using a search string of city name, neighborhood name, name of hotel this usually will pop the hotels website onto the top page. Once you have the hotel site check the rates and then make your decision. Have fun!

Malaysia Casinos

When you think of Malaysia the first thing that comes to mind is vibrant colors, spices and the tropical weather of a never-ending summer. Malaysia is a very popular destination for tourists around the world and for a good reason, it offers just about everything you can wish and hope to do on a vacation in order to have fun, relaxation, excitement as well as trying your hand at becoming rich over night in the famous Malaysia casinos at the Genting Group.

The Genting Group is situated about an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia on the top of one of the mountain peaks of the Titiwangsa Mountains at 2000 meters above sea level. Genting Group is one of the most famous resorts in Malaysia; it has the largest hotel in the world boasting 6,118 rooms, which beats the MGM Grand of Las Vegas, which has 5,690 rooms and is the second largest hotel in the world.

Genting Group also shelters the only legal Malaysia casinos and where you will be delighted to find every game you can think of and more. There are 426 game tables and 3,140 slot machines open 24 hours a day for the entertainment of the guests.

The best way to enjoy all the luxurious facilities the Genting Group resort has to offer is to stay in their hotel for the duration of your vacation; you can have access to the casino 24 hours a day and when you decide to explore Malaysia you can jump in a car and head to Kuala Lumpur as it is a short drive away.

Besides the beautiful casino, the Genting Group resort offers everything a five star hotel promises, swimming pools, shopping arcade, a variety of restaurants and even a theme park that is similar to the Disney World, which your children will simply adore irrelevant of the age group.

In Malaysia casinos you have to be 18 years of age to gamble or enjoy any alcoholic beverage. Do not venture in other casinos besides the one available in the Genting Group, as they are not government approved and therefore not legal. However, once you visit the Genting Group resort and its casino it is unlikely that you will wish to spend your time and changes of winning anywhere else in the country. Malaysia’s only casino is build to provide all the entertainment you can hope for and who knows this may be the right place where lady luck may smile down on you too.

A look at the tallest buildings in the world

New York City is where the sky scraper found its place to shine. It was custom made for the task; Manhattan Island is many rocks placed down in the Upper New York Bay, at the mouth of the Hudson River by melting glaciers. These are ideal counterweights for anchoring down tall structures.

350 Fifth Ave, New York, New York., that’s the street address for the most famous tall building in the world. It was choice Manhattan real estate owned by the Astor’s, and later the site of the original Waldorf- Astoria hotel, “operator, can you ring MUrrayhill5-1212 please?” ” I’m sorry” the operator says “that number is no longer in service”. It was sold to a corporation, backed by GM and DuPont in 1929. The Empire State Building standing as the tallest building in the world for 39 years from 1931 to 1970 is 1,252 feet above midtown with 102 stories. It sits where some massive rocks settled down, delivered by the glaciers. The developing corporation for The Empire State Building was headed by Alfred E. Smith former New York Governor, and was in direct competition with the builders of the Chrysler building on Lexington Ave, briefly the world’s tallest building in 1930, at 77 stories, 1048 feet. These two building capped an era of competition reaching for the sky starting with the Singer Building 1909 at 41 stories, at 612 ft.

Other notable building of the era were The Park Row Building downtown Manhattan, in the maze of streets surrounding the financial district and city hall in NYC reigned as the tallest build in the world, 30 floors at 391 ft from 1899-1908. The Singer Buildings’ hold on the title was short lived, when the Metropolitan Life Building rose to 700 ft in 1909. In 1913 another corporate giant, Woolworth, entered the game and with its corporate headquarters at 233 Broadway. It rose792 ft with 55 stories and held the title until 1930 when the Bank of Manhattan (known today as the Trump Building) raised the bar to 927 ft and 72 stories. It was the dominate structure downtown until the completion of the Twin Towers, 1353 ft 110 stories in 1970, the next era in sky scraping.

In 1973 the Sears Tower of Chicago Illinois soaring 1450 ft, grabbed the title from the big apple and ran with it for the next for 25 years when the title left the United States, and headed for Malaysia. The Petronas Tower’s I & II in Kuala Lumpur captured the honors in 1998 engaging in the world wide stretch toward the sky.

Shanghai, China has two buildings over 1000 ft, the Jin Mao Building and the Shimao International Plaza. Hong Kong has four skyscrapers over the 1000ft mark, The Centre, Bank of China, Central Plaza, and #2 International Financial Centre, making China a formidable competitor in the race to the sky.

And the tallest building in the world, as of 2004 is; the Taipei Financial Center, Taipei, Taiwan, at 1671 ft. and 101 stories, but for how much longer?

It’s only a matter of time before the next taller project pierces the sky. On the drawing board/and nearing completion are, a number of projects in China, a 2200+ft 160 story sky scraper in Dubai, UAE, and of course the Freedom Tower proposed to reach 1776 ft at the former site of The World Trade Center New York, USA.

Nothing could ever replace the lives and the beloved landmark that met a premature and senseless end on September 11, 2001, but it’s human nature to carry on. And carry on we will! Record or no record let the Freedom Tower soar, and bring honor to the victims of the tragedy, and to the United States, and to New York were the desire to reach to the heavens, met modern technology, a little over a century ago.

Gold Rush on Gold Coast, Queensland

Queensland’s Gold Coast, Australia looks set to continue its recent growth: the announcement of a $100 million airport facelift will be coping with the ever-increasing demand for tourism, business and investment into the area.  Experts predict the population will grow by over 50% in the next 15 years and, along with a shortage of quality real estate in the area, prices can only be going one way…

Propertyshowrooms.com Business and Media Manager, Peter Mindenhall, said, “After analysis of the company’s traffic figures for the beginning of the year, the interest in our property in Australia has increased dramatically:  enquiries for January were up by over 125% on the monthly average for last year, with most of the enquiries coming in for Queensland´s Gold Coast and Sydney.”

“The main focus however appears to be on The Gold Coast which is currently enjoying a $42 Billion wave of new development – up from $23 Billion in 2002! The Gold Coast experiences 277 days of sunshine with an average of 27°C. As more people discover this great lifestyle and the massive new development currently underway, valuable investment opportunities are presenting themselves in such an environment of continued growth and real stability.”

Real Estate

The future of the Gold Coast does indeed look bright: the growth of the area in the last five years has been nothing short of astonishing and this is reflected in the local housing market. Quality beachfront property on the Gold Coast is becoming less affordable and more difficult to obtain due to unwavering and ever increasing demand and a rapidly decreasing supply, where properties are being sold out practically on release.

Luxury agent Pacific Lifestyle Property said recently “The Gold Coast beachfront apartment market is very strong and a lack of supply is driving prices skywards. Demand for such luxury property is compounding beachfront growth rates much faster than their surrounding areas”. 

Surfing meccas such as Greenmount Beach and Kirra have been targeted by ambitious developers, eager to stamp their mark on these emerging areas. One project recently released, Nivana by the sea at Kirra Beach sold out its initial release properties in record time, reiterating the desire for beachfront property and the fact that developments are, in some areas, being purchased quicker than they can be built.

Luxury hotel living is also luring buyers in their droves to the Hilton surfers paradise project, with an average of $1.7 million a day being laid on the table for a piece of the Gold Coast high life.  The high-rise developer has locked in sales worth $120 million for the first stage after just 10 weeks of marketing!

Marina berths

Property isn’t the only thing in short supply either: the surging demand for marina berths are pushing leasing rates sky high as marina owners cash in on an undersupply situation.  Research by Colliers International reported in the Gold Coast Business News shows the imbalance between supply and demand is approaching crisis point, beyond which even wealthy boat owners are finding themselves unable to secure a berth due to the severe shortage of stock.  “The Gold Coast remains one of Australia’s favourite boating destinations, however owning a boat and having it moored in a marina over the next decade could prove a lifestyle for a fortunate few,” says Tim Holmes of Colliers International’s Gold Coast office.

“Price may not be a problem for some people, but availability certainly is.  Already we have seen how the lack of supply is driving prices up, particularly in major cities like Sydney and Brisbane, where waterfront house and land is diminishing and people are being placed on long waiting lists for public marina berths. 

“With current legislation banning further canal developments in Queensland, we can only expect this trend to continue,” say Colliers.  In fact, Queensland Transport figures suggest boat ownership in Queensland is growing at a rate of 6% per annum — faster than the State’s population growth. Boat registrations topped 200,000 in January 2006, and a further 100,000 Queensland boat registrations is expected in the next eight years, in line with a trend towards larger and more luxurious watercraft.

Holmes says Gold Coast marina berths are already “far from the cheapest’, with 8m berths ranging from $520 to $800 a month, depending on the facilities and location. Along with real estate and shares, marina berths are a sought-after investment, with many people now looking toward the northern Gold Coast where canal developments are common. Riverfront developments which offer private berth facilities to residents at high quality, secure on-site berths are increasingly popular.”

Airport Expansion

The new look airport will almost double in size, with the capacity to handle twice as many passengers travelling to Australia as current levels.  It will feature 36 check-in terminals and a massive shopping and entertainments precinct. The expansion will of course help increase interest in the Gold Coast, providing greater accessibility for tourism and property investment alike.

But with passenger numbers growing at 8%per year, some experts are already warning it could be back to the drawing board soon, as the airport owners map out the next phase for the facility which could include air bridges.  The Gold Coast Tourism chairman has announced that the current terminal will be expanded from 14,000sqm to 26,000sqm, with the project due for completion by September 2009.

Gold Coast Airport boss, Paul Donovan, lifted the lid on upgrade plans with the preliminary work set to begin next month:

Paul Donovan said the new airport, which received federal government funding last year to serve the Gold Coast for the next 10 years, “We certainly believe we have the right model for the Gold Coast.”  He continued, “Our city is leading the way for Australian destinations and the continued involvement and investment by companies such as Tiger Airways demonstrates a real confidence in the future of our city,”

It´s no surprise to see the airport expanding as last year saw Tiger Air and AirAsia X start flying in and out of the airport, joining Qantas, Jetstar, Jetstar International, Air New Zealand, Virgin Blue and Pacific Blue. In December, a record 374 passengers used the airport, while last year some 3.9 million passed through the terminal.  Meanwhile, it was reported recently in the Gold Coast Business News that the AirAsia X service to the Gold Coast from Malaysia will inject around $50 million into the local economy.  Based on a proposed three flights per week from Kuala Lumpur, the airline is set to have a significant impact on the region’s business, conference and accommodation sectors.  Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, says, “I’m confident the Gold Coast will be a winner. The Gold Coast is well suited as an initial Australian destination, being a natural fit with AirAsia X’s focus on leisure travellers,”

In fact, in just five years, Gold Coast Airport has jumped two spots in the rankings and is now the sixth busiest airport in Australia in terms of passenger numbers. 

AirAsia X is a new, long-haul budget airline set to launch flights in the coming months to cities in China, India, the UK and Europe. Its arrival in Australia coincides with low-cost carrier Tiger Airways, which has timed its inaugural flight into the Coast with the peak summer holiday season in November.
Tiger Air will fly 29 weekly direct services from Melbourne into Rockhampton, Mackay and the Gold Coast, competing with Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar for a slice of the budget carrier market.
Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Paul Donovan says the inclusion of the Asian airline reinforces the increasing appeal of the Gold Coast in the market place and demonstrates the potential organisations such as Tiger Airways see in the growth of the destination.
All in all, the Gold Coast appears to moving in the right direction on all fronts:  the expansion of the airport, growing tourism, a stable economy and a supply of property that is unable to meet with current demand make it a fantastic place to invest as well as live in.  Historically, to make the most of any gold rush, you have to be in the right place at the right time.  In Gold Coast property terms, that time appears to be now.

Memoirs: Traveling

My four days three nights vacation to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia last February was indeed a memorable one. I had been contemplating on having my advanced anniversary vacation in Kuching, Sarawak but somehow changed my mind at the very last minute. Luckily my husband was sporting enough to go along with my plan. The tickets were bought three months in advanced, in Nov 2007 and I had to remind my husband monthly about the planned vacation. This is to ensure he is able to take leave on the vacation dates. We were glad it went smoothly though we had some teething problem due to transportation from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur as we were taking Air Asia flight to Kota Kinabalu. It was my first time to board Air Asia from Low Cost Carrier Terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Kota Kinabalu to me is an interesting town. Before the day, I had been surfing the net to get some information of the town and surroundings. I already had some ideas of shopping and place to visit when we touched down at Kota Kinabalu airport. The cab driver who took us from the airport to hotel was a friendly guy. We stayed at a budget hotel in the heart of Kota Kinabalu. Finding a place to shop or eat is not a problem. The hotel personnel and the local people are friendly and we can get information easily from them. If you are in town, just ask the local people. The town was so peaceful and we can just walk from one place to another without any obstacles. Of course we still have to be careful of our belongings. The traffic is also bearable even during working days.

My husband and I walked to town almost everyday from our hotel for the three days we were there. We went to the famous market place known locally as Filipino market where we found a lot of interesting souvenirs such as pearl accessories and Sabah handcrafts. Before coming to Kota Kinabalu, I already had in mind of getting myself a pearl bracelet. I was stuck at one store selling pearls and finally bought three strands of pearl bracelets – a deep water pearls from the Philippines, two Sabah pearls (black & white) and brooches along with other stuff that cost up to RM 200. It was a good bargain and I was very satisfied. My husband was so patient with me at the store and he just let me have my own time bargaining. I ended up with two strands of pearl bracelets. One Sabah black pearls bracelet was given to my sister in law since my husband said it does not look good on me.

Getting lunch or dinner was not

Eclectic Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur

The packed Kuala Lumpur city centre and the plethora of nightclubs surrounding it make up the night scene in this city that is usually frequented by university students, tourists, expatriates and yuppies. The night activity usually gets in to full flow around 10 pm though a majority of establishments open before that. Kuala Lumpur night life for the purpose of classification can be boxed into four major avenues, nightclubs, restaurants and bars, karaoke lounges and the traditional Mamaks.

Most pubs and night clubs in Kuala Lumpur have a good variety and quantity of liquor on offer. A number of the well known establishments can be found located around the Golden Triangle area or the popular shopping districts of Bukit Bintang, Jalan Ampang and Sultan Isamail. Many of the large hotels operating in Kuala Lumpur also have their own nightclubs or lounges and are more or less on par with the other mainstream clubs though their clientele is mostly comprised of tourists and expatriates.

Kula Lumpur’s Bars and Pubs are small yet trendy and usually have interesting clientele, it’s the best place to mix in with locals and have a friendly chat with a fellow tourist or even just to hang out and have a drink with a bunch of friends. The popular bars and pub can be located in the more urban areas of KL in the Bangsar and Hartamas, many of these areas are lined with elegant street lamps and the loud cheering of patrons is pierced by loud music, making you feel as it you were walking down the infamous Pub Crawl in Dublin.

The variety of restaurants that can be found in Kuala Lumpur is unmatched anywhere else in the world, food from anywhere in the world can be enjoyed in a chic setting. Sometimes these establishments may have a solo artiste or a guest band performing, a great place to check out would be the hard rock café which combines the café, bar and club experience in one place. Many Karaoke lunges can be found in the Klang valley area and they are usually packed with families or groups of friends trying to emulate their favorite singer or songstress.

However most students and young workers prefer to frequent the Mamaks in the city which are road side Indian eating and drinking establishments. Though Indian cuisine is the norm in Mamaks many owners diversify their menu to include Chinese, Malay and Arab cuisine as well. Basically it’s just a collection of plastic tables and chairs where the vendor whips up food and drinks right in front of the consumer adding a new aspect to your dining out experience.

Located close to most of the happening night spots in the city is a discount hotel in Kuala Lumpur that is known as the Citrus hotel Kuala Lumpur that offers comfortable accommodation at very affordable rates to its guests.

Malaysia – Land Of Festivals!

Anyone visiting Malaysia for the first time would not cease to be amazed by the number of festivals and events that are happening the whole year around. Malaysia, with its mix of ethnic races which include Malays, descendants of the Bugis and Javanese, Chinese, Indian and others, features a colourful potpourri of cultural traditions. Many of these traditions are expressed through the festivals that take place the whole year round!

Major festivals of Malaysia include

* Hari Raya Aidilfitri

After a month of fasting during the month of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the first day of Syawal which is the tenth month of the Muslim calendar with joyous enthusiasm. This is a major festival for Muslims and they usher in the day with prayers in mosques and remembering their departed loved ones. It is also the time for family reunion when members of the family from different parts of the country get together. The festival mood is with joyous enthusiasm. Special festival dishes are served for festivals and friends during “open house”. The festival mood is reflected is brightly decorated homes, government and commercial buildings. Homes are also lit with all lamps at the entrance in keeping with a long established tradition.

* Chinese New Year

This is the most important festival of the Chinese community and it lasts for a full two weeks! It begins with a reunion dinner which is traditional for every member of the family to attend. Chinese New Year is the time when spirits are appeared and offerings are made to Gods. It is a boisterous festival with the clang of cymbals accompanying lion dances and the thunder of fire crackles filling the air. Guests are entertained to a variety of sumptuous food and drinks and the unmarried youngsters are given Ang Pows – gifts of money enclosed in little red packets. Major hotels and shopping complexes celebrate the occasion by holding lion dances and special Chinese programmers to entertain their clients.

* Deepavali

This is a Hindu festival of light. Homes of Hindus are lit with little lights to signify the victory over darkness for the Hindus believe that this is the day when the forces of good overcame the forces of evil. Deepavali is a major festival of the Hindus and on the eve prayers are held both at home and in the temples.Hindus take a traditional oil bath in the early hours of the morning on Deepavali day and after prayers entertain their friends and guests to “open house.

* Christmas

The birth of Christ is celebrated by Christians in Malaysia in the true traditional style. Most Christians homes are decorated with festoon and coloured lights and the Christmas tree is a must! Young Christians go carolling days before Christmas day to usher in the Yuletide spirit. Churches hold midnight masses on the eve of Christmas. The festival is celebrated on a national scale in Malaysia and Christians hold “open house” to entertain their friends and colleagues.

* Thaiponggol

In Malaysia, Thaiponggol is a harvest festival celebrated out of season because it is fixed in the Hindu calendar. Tamils celebrate this festival around the second week of January. While it is still dark, farmers rise and cook some of the newly harvested grain. Ponggol is the presentation of the cooked harvested grain to the sun at dawn.

However, for urban families, this ritual has been adapted to their own living conditions. Here the family rises, bathes and gets dressed before dawn. This is done without the use of any form of light. When everyone is ready, wearing their best clothes, they assemble around a display of fruits and flowers. Only then are lamps lit.

* National Water Festival

Water resource plays an important role in the socio-cultural and economic development of the Malaysian society. Apart from functioning as a communication system, an economic, resource and determinant of early settlement pattern of the Malaysian society, it had also been a place where families carried out their recreational activities in the past. Therefore, water resource in whatever form should be protected, valued and utilized to the maximum.

The fun gets merrier with the drinking of the inevitable tapai which is an alcoholic drink made from rice wine. Apart from these, there are also organised agriculture shows, buffalo races, cultural performances and traditional games as part and parcel of the festive celebrations.

* Gawai Dayak

The Gawai Dayak festival is celebrated by the Dayaks of Sarawak who live in longhouses. Being one of the major festivals of the community, it is celebrated on a grand scale and lasts for a week. The Gawai Dayak festival marks the transitional period between the season of rice harvesting and the new planting season. Hence, it is a reason of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and also a time to rest from work before the new planting season. The sound of boisterous laughter, convivial talk, drinking, dancing and merry-making will echo relentlessly all through the days of this exotic and colourful festival.

* Penang International Dragon Boat Festival

The Penang’s first Dragon Boat Race was held in 1956 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Municipality of George Town. 10 years later the race was revived as part of the Pesta Pulau Pinang. The Pesta races was originally confined to participation from the local teams such as teams from Government Department, associations and commercial establishments. However, in 1979, the boat festival became an international tourism carnival with 2 participation from overseas, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Penang International Dragon Boat Festival has participating teams all over the world include Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Macau, Thailand, Japan, Britain, West Germany, USA and others.

* Nine Emperor Gods Festival

The Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods falls on the ninth day of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. Devotees flock to the temples throughout the country for this religious festival. The Nine Emperor Gods are part of a spirit-medium cult known locally as ‘Jieu Hwang Yeh’. These Nine Deities are believed to dwell in the stars in heaven under the reign of ‘Thien Hou’ – the Queen of Heaven.

A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, take vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. A procession to send the Nine Emperor Gods home then takes place to complete the rites of this religious festival.

More information about Festival in Malaysia just go to http://malaysia.tourism-asia.net/malaysia-festivals.html

Visit Malaysia

charming beaches, clear waters, a pleasing climate, verdant green surroundings, a rich culture and history and an abundance of entertainment and things to do! Malaysia offers you all this and more! Malaysia?s one of the top holiday destinations in South East Asia because of its position, topography, friendly people and its hospitality. Let?s see what makes Malaysia such a fun place to visit ?
- Location
Malaysia?s in the center of South East Asia, bordered by Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia. This location makes it convenient to reach Malaysia from any of these five countries. Apart from this, Malaysia?s connected by air to all other parts of the world. The national carrier Malaysian Airlines and the low cost carrier Air Asia have their base in Malaysia. So the capital city Kuala Lumpur is connected to a vast network of cities in all countries. Get great offers on Kuala Lumpur flights from London, Australia and all countries in Asia on the low cost carrier Air Asia. Travel to Malaysia on board the hospitable Malaysian Airlines from USA, London, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand or any country in Asia.

- Accommodation
Accommodation in Malaysia is very cheap when compared to other similar countries. You can book a good luxury stay at less than $60 per night. And if you are a budget traveler, there are lots of reasonale low frills hotels available at very cheap rates. Most of the hotels offer free breakfast. The staffs are friendly and service is invariably good wherever you go in Malaysia.

- Travel
A holiday to Malaysia would be absolute if you visit all the significant destinations – Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Johor, Malacca, Sabah and Terengganu. Your holiday to Malaysia should ideally start from the capital city Kuala Lumpur. To travel to other destinations in Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, it?s best to use the public transport system which is very dependable. Take a ferry or flight to go to Langkawi. Taxis are very dependable in Malaysia. So it?s better to take a taxi to travel to your destination than driving on your own which can be tiresome .

- Places to see
4. Kuala Lumpur ?The capital city of Malaysia has a lot of sights to offer. Take a day trip and see the city sights ?stroll through Chinatown, see the Petronas tower, visit National Museum, go to the top of the KL city tower for a magnificent view of the city and take a trip to Batu caves. Spend a full day in Genting Highlands; get to experience the world?s fastest cable car and experience the theme parks in the ?city of entertainment?.
5. Langkawi
This is a charming archipelago of islands that can be accessed by ferry or flight from the mainland. Make sure to book a resort for your accommodation here and have fun in the sun and the beach.
6. Penang
Penang is a dream destination for a holiday with lush emerald mountains and lovely beaches. There are lots of things to do in Penang for the thrill seekers like snorkeling, surfing, hiking, sailing and cycling. Visit Georgetown, Penang National Park, botanical gardens ad Penang Beach. Penang?s an excellent place for cheap shopping.

apart from this, visit Terengganu for its terrific beaches, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum in Johor, Mount Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu bird sanctuary in Sabah and ort Margherita and Sarawak Museum in Sarawak.

Malaysia travel agents can get you a cheap holiday package that covers accommodation, travel and sightseeing. So, if you want a cheap tour to Malaysia, get in touch with a travel agent and get holiday package information from him. Malaysian Airlines also sometimes offers some tour packages that offer a three night accommodation package for travelers to Malaysia. Make use of such offers for a great holiday at low cost .

The internet is also a good source to get superb Malaysia holiday deals. You can get details of Malaysian travel agents on the net whom you can contact for the best travel deals. These agents can provide with details of dependable Malaysian travel guides to direct you around all places of interest.

So have a wonderful time in Malaysia, Truly Asia!

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.

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.

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