Malaysia
Travel and Visit Beautiful Malaysia Today!

Written by: Debbie Salcedo
05/15/05

Title: "Things to do in Malaysia"
About: Travel and Tourism Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia, with its extremely well-developed tourist infrastructure and good transport connections to its neighbors Singapore, Thailand and Sumatra is fast becoming THE tourist destination for overland travelers and holiday makers alike.

The peninsula’s coast is blessed with some of the most idyllic white sand beaches in the region. Coupled with plenty of lively offshore reefs, Malaysia’s beaches are ideal for long, lazy days of sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling.

For nature trippers, lush jungles are readily accessible to hikers through very well-maintained park trails complete with animal hide-aways.

About 600 kilometers east from the main peninsula are the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah which offer further opportunities for more adventurous – albeit more expensive – exploration. They share the vast, thickly forested island of Borneo with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province and the tiny sultanate of Brunei and are only accessible from Peninsular Malaysia by plane.

Once there, travel inland is done by the river especially if visitors would like to see the long houses (traditional communal homes) of the tribal people. Staying in a long house and jungle hikes are highlights of every visit to Eastern Malaysia.

Here are a few more highlights of tourism in Malaysia:

1. The beaches – The biggest, most developed beaches are to be found on the islands of Pulau Langkawi and Pulau Tioman. Backpackers on a budget however, prefer the cheaper and more laid-back Perhentian Islands which are also known for good snorkeling grounds, Cherating Bay with village style huts on stilts, and the tiny Pulau Kapas. Pulau Pangkor, located six hours from Kuala Lumpur may also be considered for a relaxing holiday stay.
 

2. The Cameron Highlands – Visitors wishing for a more “countrified” and genteel ambiance usually enjoy a visit to the Cameron Highlands. Tea plantations and colonial residences set amidst rolling green fields and farms invite tourists to enjoy an gentle stroll though the walking trails in the pastures.
 

3. Taman Negara National Park – A “must-visit” for outdoor enthusiasts, Taman Negara is the peninsula’s biggest and most popular national park. There’s a canopy walkway through treetops where visitors can survey the lush greenery around them. For a little bit of wild life spotting, visitors may try spending the night in an animal “hide” and try spotting elephants and leopards. They may also opt to do the guided tours and nine0day trek to the summit of 2187-meter high Gunung Tahan, Malaysia’s highest peak.


4. Kuala Lumpur – The variety of architectural styles in the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur can best be described as a mixture of intriguing and ambitious. Traditional Chinese temples to the extraordinary Anglo-Indian Railway station, and of course, the 88-storey high Petronas Towers, one of the world’s tallest buildings.
 

5. Georgetown – Malaysia’s second largest city and former British trading port in Penang, Georgetown exudes historical charm and old European elegance. Visitors may walk around the town and visit the old churches, warehouses and forts, and the traditionally shuttered local Chinese shops.

6. Sarawak – Expansive river systems, a huge national park, and native tribal longhouses are just a few of the attractions this island has to offer. The Gunung Mulu National Park, offers dramatic views of limestone pinnacles, cave systems ripe for exploration, and tons of hiking and climbing opportunities. The state capital, Kuching, is an appealing old waterside colonial outpost and home to an ethnographic museum.
 

7. Sabah – Gunung Kinabalu in Kinabalu National Park is Sabah’s biggest tourist draw. The summit may easily be accessed by any reasonably fit hiker willing to undertake the day and a half’s climb. Other attractions are the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center where tourists may watch the baby orangutans learn to swing and mug at cameras, and the forests around the Kinabatangan River to take a peek at the proboscis monkeys.
 

8. Melaka – An old port town once famous for its role in the early spice trade, tourists have loads of photo opportunities at the number of churches and town squares left over from Dutch and Portuguese rule, hundreds of years old ancestral homes, and fine Peranakan (descendants from Chinese-Malay intermarriages) houses.
 

9. Turtle-Watching at Rantau Abang – May to September brings with it some giant 400kg. Leatherback turtles returning to the beach of their birth to lay their eggs. As these turtles are now on the endangered species list, this event is under strict supervision by national park rangers.
 

10. Kota Bharu – Located close to the Thai border, this little town is a great place to observe cultural practices, watch shadow puppet plays and traditional sports like top-spinning. The night market in Kota Bharu is also one of the best in the country with food stalls serving anything from freshly barbecued chicken with coconut sauce to sugar cane juice and fried purple rice.




 

Visit Beautiful Malaysia today!