Holiday Guide Holiday Guide

Guide to Architecture in Malaysia

If you are a lover of buildings and architecture, Malaysia offers a wide range of attractions for you. This is largely contributed by the different colonies that have come to the country throughout history and have set up their bases here. You will be able to appreciate all types of architecture here in Malaysia ranging from the very traditional ones in villages and small towns to the ultra-modern state-of-the-art ones found in the major cities around the country.

Historically, Malaysia has been colonized by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Japanese and the British where these superpowers in the past have left more than just their traditions here. While in Malaysia, they have built homes and buildings that cemented their influence over the people here. Walking around the major towns around the many states will provide you with a quick understanding of the level of influence here. Alor Setar in Kedah is well known for its Dutch architectural designs while in Malacca, you will be able to see a lot of Portuguese designs around. If you are around in Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, you will be able to see a lot of Chinese styled buildings and structures which are still being used today.

In Negri Sembilan, you will be able to see a lot of Minangkabau architecture which comes from Indonesia. These are basically remnants of the matriarchal Adat Perpatih which are still being practiced by certain communities today. In the villages located around the country, you will be able to see the Kampong homes which are built on stilts to avoid rising waters during floods which happen every once in a while. Apart from that, you will also be able to experience the natural living styles here without much aid of modern world technology, which is an amazing practice among the communities.

For those of you who like the modern architectural designs, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are the best places to go. Kuala Lumpur hosts the Petronas Twin Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world which is still being regarded as an architectural wonder of the modern world. Here you will also be able to see the modern buildings like the Menara TM as well as the major international shopping centers too. Putrajaya, which is the administrative city of the country hosts all the major governmental departments and agencies where the buildings and structures here are designed and built by internationally renowned architects.

A guide to Food in Malaysia

Malaysia is known as the food haven of the world. With so many different communities and races, food offerings are abundant where it is impossible to try out all the different types of food from all the communities here. Depending on where you are visiting, you will find that they basically offer a specific type of cuisine where it is known for. Malaysians are known to be very knowledgeable when it comes to food and they are also known to travel high and far for a specific dish.

The most popular state where food is known for would be Penang. This is where you will find a wide variety of Chinese dishes like the Hokkien Har Mee, the Char Koey Teow and many more. Penang is believed to be the best place to go if you want to visit a place where many types of delicious cuisine congregate. Places like Gurney Drive is one of the most renowned spots in the country where one can find all types of food well known in Penang. The same can be said about Ipoh in Perak where you will be welcomed with the internationally renowned Ipoh Bean Sprouts Chicken Rice and many others.

Meanwhile, towards the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, the state of Johor is very popular with the Malay cuisine where they are known for their laksa and their Otak-Otak, a type of fish barbecue popularly taken as snacks. Sabah and Sarawak, the 2 East Malaysian states are very popular for their spicy cuisine as the chillies produced here are known to be spicier than those found in the Peninsular.

If you do not have time to travel to the outskirts or visit many states during your trip to Malaysia, exploring around Kuala Lumpur will allow you to experience the best food around the country as well. Most food courts here offer a variety of dishes that incorporates the various communities here while many areas like Kepong, Cheras and Klang are also popular for their Chinese cuisines like Bak Kut Teh, Char Siew Rice and fried noodles. Another common eating places are the Indian muslims restaurants here where you will be able to experience the likes of Indian curry, Roti Canai and many more. Known as Mamak stalls, this is where you can enjoy typically Indian Muslim and Indian authentic cuisine which usually operates until the wee hours of the morning.

Wildlife attractions in Malaysia

Malaysia has one of the oldest and richest wildlife attractions in the world. The natural climate of the country provides an ideal environment where there are many rainforests and wildlife attractions if you are one who likes nature and adventure. From mountain climbing, jungle trekking, caving and such you will find that there are many choices of adventures and attractions to choose from if you are here for these purposes. Take note that not all national parks allow the public to visit as they might be meant for conservation purposes while there are many which are designed for tourists with cabins and cafes available.

There are reportedly more than 8,000 species of plants in Peninsular Malaysia and thousands more in East Malaysia. Among the unique species found in Malaysia include the Rafflesia which is the largest flower in the world while the Tualang is the tallest tropical tree in the world. Apart from vegetation, there are also many types of animals and insects that include the largest cockroach in the world.

You will be able to find a national park in almost every state in Malaysia with the Taman Negara National Park being the largest one here. It is also one of the oldest parks in the world. If you are visiting any one of these national parks, you might be fortunate enough to find or see many species of animals like Tapirs, lizards, bears and many types of monkeys. Apart from that, there are also hundreds of bird species in these places.

Among the many national parks in Malaysia, the ones in East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are known the most popular ones. This is because Borneo island is very rich with flora and fauna and it is also in Sabah that you will be able to visit the Mount Kinabalu National Park that host Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in the country and in Southeast Asia. This is where you will be able to climb the mountain while enjoying and appreciating the hundreds and thousands of birds, trees, insects and others some which you will not be able to see in the common places like zoos and such. The National Zoo is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur while you can also visit alternative zoos like that in Taiping which is known for its night safari while the Malacca Zoo is also one of the most popular wildlife showcases in the country.

A guide to the Adventure seeking tourist

If you are looking for adventure when travelling in Malaysia, then you have come to the right place. This is because Malaysia has an abundant of choices when it comes to adventure where you can go camping, mountain climbing, rock climbing and many others.

The naturally rich forests and hills around Malaysia meant that there are much to offer if you are up for an adventurous and unforgettable travelling experience here. Perhaps the most obvious choices in Malaysia would be mountain climbing. There are many mountains in around the country that you can choose from where you can either go for the hills which are catered to the beginners or choose those for the advance climbers. Mount Kinabalu sits majestically in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of East Malaysian state Sabah. This is the highest peak in the country as well as in Southeast Asia where you do not need any special equipments to climb to the top. Basically, all you need is a lot of perseverance and fitness over the countless hours of walking up the mountain where you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful sceneries ever.

Gunung Tahan or Mount Tahan is the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia and climbing this mountain would require you to have camping equipments and such because even if it is lower than Kinabalu, it takes at least 5 days to reach the top.

In Sarawak, you can also go caving at the Mulu and Niah Caves National Parks respectively. The Mulu Caves is known to be one of the largest caves around the world. For those of you who like rock climbing, Batu Caves is one of the most common spots to enjoy this extreme sport. Deep sea divers would be able to travel into the waters along Pulau Sipadan in Sabah as well as through the various islands like Tioman and Perhentian to indulge into this sport.

There are also white water rafting sports provided at most major rivers with strong rapids around the country. In Sabah, one can head out to Kiulu river while the Selangor River at Kuala Kubu Baru is also another renowned challenging rafting spot. If you are into jungle trekking, you will find that most national parks and states offer this service where you can head out into the woods and try to spot the waterfalls before enjoying a cool dip in the waters.

National Day and Malaysia Day

Malaysia has a unique celebration of Independence. On the 31st of August each year, the country observes the National Day, otherwise known as Merdeka or Independence Day. A fortnight later on September 16th, the country observes Malaysia Day which is the date when East Malaysian

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Christmas Day

Christmas Day is held on the 25th of November every year across the world. It is to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. This is a commemorative and symbolic date as the actual birth date is still unknown. Most significant date for Christians Christians, including

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Deepavali

Deepavali is one of the several festivals observed in large scale across Malaysia by the Indian community. It is considered as one of the most sacred events of the Tamil calendar. Significant date for Indians Like other parts of the world, Deepavali is a significant

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Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Muslims across the world observe their new year through Hari Raya. In Malaysia, it is known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Aidilfitri end of Ramadan Muslims observe a month of fasting during the month of Ramadan. After that, they celebrate the Festival of Breaking Fast. This

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is one of the most significant yearly celebrations observed by the Chinese community worldwide. In Malaysia, the Chinese community observes this festival known as the Lunar New Year. Most important celebration for Chinese Following the Lunar Calendar based on the 12 zodiac

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Kapas Island Comprehensive Guide

Kapas Island or fondly known as Pulau Kapas is a resort island located off the coast of Marang town of Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia. Kapas is the Malay word for cotton and this does not mean that you can find a lot of cotton here.

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Guide to tipping in restaurants

Tipping has often been a tough decision to make in our daily lives. Believe it or not, people actually remembers if you are a good or bad tipper which is why you sometimes get really bad services at certain restaurants despite having patronage those places

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Shopping Attractions in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia’s Unique Attractions

In Malaysia, there are several options that you can choose from when travelling. In fact, you might just enjoy the most complete set of attractions in any country for that matter. Something of everything for everyone in Malaysia This is because Malaysia has a broad

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All about Putrajaya

Putrajaya is one of the most significant cities in Malaysia. It is gazetted as a Federal Territory together with Kuala Lumpur and Labuan and is managed under the federal government through the Ministry of Federal Territories. The Federal Territory of Putrajaya occupies a large area

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Malaysia – A Shopping Haven

Malaysia has plenty to lure the world traveler. The country is brimming with natural beauty, friendly people, unique cultures, unforgettable food, arresting architecture and perfect, sunny beaches. But there’s one more aspect that has proved absolutely irresistible for visitors to this country – SHOPPING! Shopping

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