Top 10 Places To Visit In Malaysia

Thanks to Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel Guide 2010, I’m proud here to recommend my country, Malaysia, to all travellers who are going to or wish to visit Malaysia for the first time.

As tourism board of Malaysia‘s slogan says, “Malaysia, Truly Asia”. Malaysia’s multiculturism due to its complex population structure where Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups of people live together peacefully and happily, has led to many exciting cultural festival and events held all over Malaysia throughout the year. Not to mention those mouth watering multi-cuisine foods that you can find here.

Same with that is our popular travel destination where travellrs could simply find everything they like to see, do, and explore in a tropical country from highland cooling hideaways, deep tropical rainforest exploration, clear and calm sea snorkelling and scuba diving to crazy madly clubbing and shopping.

Similar to that again is its tropical weather where sunshine, hot temperature with showers could be expected throughout the year, Malaysian people are warm, friendly with smiles on their faces throughout the year.

Among the Top 10 Travel Destinations in Malaysia that travellers must go are:

1. Penang – Mostly populated by chinese community, travellers could find incense and temples everywhere in Penang. The ‘must-do” items includes trying out full varieties of our local foods, site seeing world heritage architectures, sun-bathing at the beautiful Batu Ferringhi beach as well as exploring the ‘spicy’ little Indian street;
   
2. Cameron Highland – The hinterland at highland where you can visit tea plantations in the cool air, sipping tea at cafes, viewing flowers and cactus plantation, as well as trying our local steamboat lunch and dinner. You can also play a round of golf there too. Please check out my photo travel guide to Cameron Highland too;
   
3. Taman Negara – With the thick rainforest surrounding you, try jungle trekking, tracking elephants with your leech-proof boots. kayaking and overnight at Kenyir Lake. Fishing and exploring the National Park at Endao Rompin;
   
4. Pulau Redang, Perhentian, Kapas or Tioman – These east coastal islands are best for snorkelling, scuba diving, photographing live corals and sunsets! You can also witness turtles laying eggs at sea shore if you are lucky;
   
5. Sarawak and Sabah – Climb the massive Mt. Kinabalu, visit the mythical Borneo where you can see wild orang-utans and off course, taste plenty of fresh and cheap seafoods! Off the shore of Tawau is the famous Sipadan “scuba diving heaven” Island;
   
6. Melaka – The historical city with many ancient architectures and cultures herited from the Portugese, Netherland and Spanish. Travellers could learn more on the local Papa and Nyonya community;

7. Langkawi – Big island with all sorts of activities to explore includes the Eagle Square, grand Perdana gallery of art by our previous premier, Tun Dr. Mahathir;
   
8. Kuala Lumpur – The capital city of Malaysia. The heaven for entertainment,shopping, drinking, and people watching. Travelers need at least 3 days to visit tourists spots such as the Petronas Twin Tower, Batu Caves, Tasek Perdana with Birds Park, Orchid Garden, museum, zoo, royal palace, chinese temples etc;
   
9. Putrajaya – A new government administrative district where you could visit the lake, botanic garden, mosque and also to appreciate the grand architectures with nine bridges reaching the district surrounded by a manmade river (or canal?), and
   
10. Genting Highland – Need me say more? The 1-stop entertainment, hotels and the only casino in Malaysia, all on top of a mountain over 5,00o feets from sea water level.

All About: A Famosa

The A Famosa is among the many sites and places that you can find when visiting Malacca. It stands out as the major historical landmark and is probably the most photographed structure in Malacca, next to the Stadthuys.

A`Famosa is also among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. This tiny gate (called the Porta de Santiago) that is still standing today, is all that is left of a once mighty fortress.

Built by the Portuguese in the year 1511 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque, this fortress was built to consolidate their gains in Malacca  after successfully defeating the armies of the Malacca Sultanate. The Portuguese believed that Malacca would become an important port linking Portugal to the spice trade from China.

The fortress that we see today once consisted of long ramparts and four major towers. One was a four-storey keep, while the others held the residence of the captain, an ammunition storage room, and an officers' quarters. You could probably imagine how great and magnificent this structure was during its peak.

In 1641, the fort changed hands when the Dutch successfully drove the Portuguese out of Malacca. Upon seizing the fortress, the Dutch put their company logo, or to be more precise, the "VOC" (Verenigde Oostinidische Compagnie) coat of arms above the gates of Porta de Santiago.

When you're standing in front of the fort, you can actually see the VOC coat of arms on the shield carried by the soldier on the right of the logo.

In the early 19th century, the fortress changed hands again when the Dutch handed it over to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon's expansionist France.

The English were wary of maintaining the fortification and orders were give by the British Governor of Pahang to demolish it, along with the fortress at the mouth of the Malacca river in 1806.

The locals started the demolition work using their spades, picks and crowbars, which were useless against a fortress which reportedly had walls fifteen feet thick.

But before they could use gunpowder, Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, who happened to visit Malacca in 1810 stepped in and saved what tourists can see today. Thanks to him and his passion for history, this small gate was spared from destruction.

The A Famosa is truly a magnificent structure. The sense of awe that you would experience from standing beside a structure that was built almost five centuries ago and has withstood the test of time is indeed remarkable. The A Famosa is a "Must See" when you're in Malacca!

Islands & Beaches of Malaysia

The Beaches of Malaysia are among the most beautiful in the world. With its Equatorial climate, the soft, smooth, sandy beaches attract thousands of tourists from all over the world almost the whole year round. Blessed with hundreds of kilometres of golden beaches, Malaysia has a diverse selection of beaches and island resorts for tourists to choose from.

Each with their own unique appeal and beauty, the beaches of Malaysia never fail to captivate the hearts of the tourists who visit them.

Many of Malaysia's beaches are found nestling in secluded islands and coves, making them the ideal place for those seeking a peaceful vacation, away from the hectic lives they normally lead. Water activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving area plenty for those who crave adventure, but for those who are seeking relaxation, the alternative would be to apply some sunscreen, grab a beach towel and enjoy soaking up the sun.

As your travel guide to Malaysia, allow me to share with you some of the most beautiful beaches in Malaysia. I don't think I can possibly cover all the Islands and beaches around Malaysia (there are just to many of them!), but I'll do my best to make the list as comprehensive as possible so that you'd have a better overall picture of all the amazing beaches in Malaysia. I believe this would be able to help you make a better choice as to which beach or island you would want to visit when you're in Malaysia.

I'll also include my top recommendations and a list of my favourite beaches and islands in Malaysia (they'll appear with a Green-coloured heading). And just for your information, the word for Island in the Malay language is Pulau and the word for Beach is Pantai.

Hope you enjoy!

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Islands & Beaches in Terengganu

• Pulau Duyung
• Pulau Redang Marine Park
• Pulau Perhentian
• Pulau Lang Tengah
• Pulau Tenggol
• Pulau Kapas
• Rantau Abang Beach

Islands & Beaches in Kedah

• Pulau Langkawi
• Pulau Singa Besar
• Pulau Payar Marine Park
• Pulau Dayang Bunting
• Pantai Cenang
• Tanjung Rhu
• Beach of Black Sand
• Pantai Kok
• Burau Bay
• Pantai Merdeka

Islands & Beaches in Pahang

• Tioman Island
• Chendor Beach
• Balok Beach
• Beserah
• Cherating Beach
• Teluk Chempedak
• Rompin/Lanjuk Beach

Islands & Beaches in Johor

• Pulau Sibu
• Kukup Island
• Pulau Besar
• Pulau Tinggi
• Pulau Tengah
• Pulau Rawa
• Pulau Aur
• Pulau Pemanggil
• Desaru
• Tanjung Balau Beach
• Teluk Mahkota Beach

Islands & Beaches in Penang

• Pulau Aman
• Batu Ferringhi
• Teluk Bahang
• Tanjung Bungah

Islands & Beaches in Sabah

• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
• Turtle Islands Park
• Pulau Tiga Park
• Pulau Sipadan
• Underwater Caves
• Pulau Mabul
• Layang-layang Atoll
• Tanjung Aru Beach

Islands & Beaches in Melaka

• Upeh Island
• Pulau Besar

Islands & Beaches in Perak

• Pulau Pangkor

Islands & Beaches in Selangor

• Pulau Ketam
• Carey Island
• Bagan Lalang Beach

Islands & Beaches in Labuan

• Labuan Marine Park
• Wreck Diving
• Pancur Hitam Beach
• Pohon Batu Beach
• Layang-Layangan Beach

Beaches in Kelantan

• Pantai Cahaya Bulan
• Pantai Irama
• Pantai Seri Tujuh
• Pantai Bisikan Bayu

Beaches in Negeri Sembilan

• Port Dickson (PD)
• Blue Lagoon

All About: Sarawak

Interested to find out the most fascinating Sarawak travel destinations and tourist attractions? Want to know more about the hidden paradise of Borneo, a land where civilization coexists with the primitive?

If you do, then you have come to the right place. For the next few minutes, allow me to have the pleasure to be your travel guide to the absolutely intriguing paradise of Sarawak.

Sarawak, also known as "The Land of the Hornbills", is the largest state in Malaysia and is located Northwest of the Borneo Island. It also shares its borders with Indonesia's Kalimantan province in the South and Brunei and Sabah in the Northeast.

Sarawak has a long and interesting history. The history of Sarawak dates as far back as 45,000 B.C. where human fossils from that period were discovered near the Niah Caves.

Sarawak was formerly a dependency of the Brunei Sultanate. However, in 1841, the Sultan of Brunei relinquished control of the state to the British under the command of Sir James Brooke.

Later, Sir James Brooke proclaimed himself the King of Sarawak with the title "Rajah of Sarawak and for the next three generations, the white Rajahs, as they were called, reigned the state.

During World War 2, Sarawak was occupied by the Japanese, and when the Japanese surrendered in 1946, the British regained control over the state and Sarawak then became part of the British colony. In 1963, Sarawak, together with Sabah, Singapore and Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia.

Today, Sarawak is developing state with a population of 2.3 million people made up of 27 ethnic groups. The main indigenous group here are the "Dayaks", and they are made up of the Ibans (the Sea Dayaks) and the Bidayuhs (the Land Dayaks). The other ethnic groups are the Kenyah, Penan, Melanau and Kedayan. Each of these ethnic groups have their own unique culture and heritage.

There are so many Sarawak travel destinations to explore, I don't know where to start. I guess I'll just start with Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak.

Kuching (meaning Cat in Malay), is a beautiful bustling city situated by the river and is approximately 32 kilometres away from the coast.

To explore the rich historical heritage of Sarawak, you can visit the three main museums which are located in the city - the Sarawak Museum, the Tun Razak Museum and the Sarawak Islamic Museum.

There is even a Cat museum (yes, you read it right...Cat museum) here in Kuching. This museum is the first Cat Museum in the world and is devoted to all things feline. You can find a wide range of exhibits, photos, feline art and cat souvenirs here.

Kuching was upgraded to a city on the 1st of August 1988 due to its rapid economic development and increase in its population.

To commemorate this historic event, a gigantic statue of a white cat was erected on the borders between the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other Sarawak travel spot that you should visit when you're here is the Kuching Waterfront Park. This park is Kuching's unique characteristic. You would definitely be mesmerized by the beauty of the green environment and the cleanliness of the areas surrounding the park.

From morning to night, this area is always filled with bustling activities and all sorts of interesting programmes.

I remember the last time I was there, they had a break dance competition going on and the waterfront park was really crowded with people.

If you come here during the Carnival, you would surely enjoy watching the unique and interesting cultural performances of the various cultures.

During dusk, the Waterfront park begins to transform. With the beautiful sunset along the horizon, the evening breeze, and the porters of sampan (small boat in Malay) retiring for the day; the hawkers inside the park are just beginning to get busy. The hawkers here serve local delicacies which are delicious and would definitely tantalize your taste buds.

And while you're waiting for your food to arrive, you get to enjoy and beautiful scenery of the park and appreciate the melodious music of the park.

Sarawak attractions are not only limited to urban areas. In fact, some of the most fascinating Sarawak travel destinations are located in rural areas.

Due to the fact that two thirds of Sarawak is covered with lush tropical rain forests that is rich in flora and fauna, Sarawak is home to 11 National Parks and 2 Wildlife Centres.

Here, the largest cave chamber in the world, the longest canopy skywalk and one of the most spectacular natural limestone formation in the world will leave you bewildered and amazed.

The National Parks and Wildlife Centres that are situated in Sarawak are:

• Kubah National Park
• Tanjung Datu National Park
• Gunung Gading National Park
• Bako National Park
• Batang Ai National Park
• Similajau National Park
• Niah National Park
• Lambir Hills National Park
• Gunung Mulu National Park
• Pulau Talang & Pulau Satang National Parks
• Loagan Bunut National Park
• Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
• Matang Wildlife Centre

These National Parks and Wildlife Centres are home to some of the most exotic wildlife and amazing flora and fauna in the world, from the smallest bird to the biggest moth in the world! The biggest (and also the smelliest) flower in the world, the Rafflesia can also be found here.

The few Sarawak Travel destinations and tourist attractions I've just shared with you here are just a few out of many many places of attractions. There are just too many Sarawak travel destinations and tourist attractions to fit into this one page. Therefore, I'll be starting (and constantly updating) a new section on this page specially dedicated to the amazing and beautiful Sarawak travel destinations and attractions. So, do check back often!

Meanwhile, if you are planning or have already planned a vacation to Sarawak and will be coming here soon, it would be helpful to have a Sarawak Map (requires pdf reader) to make your traveling easier. A Kuching Map (requires pdf reader) would also come in handy when you're on your vacation there.

All About: Putrajaya

Putrajaya is a thoroughly modern and vibrant city located just south of Kuala Lumpur. This city is a model township that has been constructed with detailed planning, innovative urban design and great respect for the environment and it serves as the new federal administrative centre of Malaysia.

The relocation of several Government offices to this vibrant city is to ease the overcrowding and congestion of Malaysia's largest city, Kuala Lumpur.

It is also to ensure that Kuala Lumpur will have adequate supply of land to continue developing as Malaysia's principal business and financial centre. However, Kuala Lumpur still serves as Malaysia's national and legislative capital.

The vision to have a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Kuala Lumpur surfaced in the late 1980s. A 4,930 hectare lush forest area in southern Prang Besar estate in Selangor was identified and later renamed Putrajaya in honour of Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj for his invaluable contribution to the nation.

Putrajaya is a city with a vision and heritage for the country's present and future generations. Its beautifully landscaped roads and parks as well as modern buildings are clearly reflected in the duality of the project theme "Garden City, Intelligent City".

Of the city's total land area, about 37.5% is being developed into parks, lakes and wetlands while the remaining for Government offices, commercial and residential areas, public utilities and amenities. The centrepiece of the city is a 400 hectare manmade lake.

This city is also home to some of the most beautiful architectural works in Malaysia.

Facing the scenic Lake, we have the Mosque, which is arguable the city's most distinctive landmark and one of the most modern mosques in the world.

Then we have the "Perdana Putra", (Prime Minister's Office) which overlooks the Lake, the Mosque and Dataran Putra.

There are 9 bridges in this city. They are the Seri PerdanaBridge, Putra Bridge, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Seri Bakti Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge, Seri Bestari Bridge, Seri Setia Bridge, Seri Gemilang Bridge and the Monorail Suspension Bridge.

In my opinion, the one that stands out here is the Seri Wawasan Bridge, which is an amazing architectural structure.

You should see it at night when the bridge is all lit up. Absolutely beautiful!

And of course, not forgetting one of the most prominent landmarks here, the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, also known as PICC. This convention centre is HUGE! and I mean HUGE as in MASSIVE!  PICC has become one of the most favoured conference venue for high security risk events, hosted by the private or government sector.

PICC has had many important guest including foreign head of states, heads of government and important corporate personalities such as the world's richest man, Bill Gates. Due to its strategic location on the top of the hill, facing the beautiful lakes, it has also become one of the most popular places and sites for film shootings.

This city is truly a magnificent, vibrant and beautiful city. So, if you visit Malaysia, be sure to drop by at Putrajaya, the "Garden City, Intelligent City".