Malaysia
offers two very distinct experiences: the peninsula and Borneo (an island
shared with Indonesia and Brunei). The peninsula is a mix of Malay, Chinese and
Indian flavours with an efficient and modern capital, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian
Borneo features some of the most interesting places in Malaysia with a wild
jungle, orang utans, granite peaks and remote tribes. Combined with some
beautiful islands, luxury resorts and colonials towns, Malaysia, for most
visitors, presents a happy mix.
Almost 2 million foreign tourists travelled to Malaysia in 2010.
Most of them were citizens from neighbouring countries such as Singapore and
Indonesia but a growing number of other foreign tourists are discovering this
country as well.
The top
10 Malaysia tourist attractions:
10. Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is
one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations, first developed by the British
in the 1920s. It has a population of more than 34,000 people consisting of
Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. The Cameron Highlands is
renowned for its trails. They lead visitors through the forest to waterfalls
and other tranquil spots. Apart from its jungle walks, the sanctuary is also
known for its tea plantations and visitors can book several “tea factory” tours.
9. Georgetown
Inner City
Named after Britain’s King
George III, Georgetown is located on the north-east corner of Penang Island.
Most of George Town’s population is of Chinese origin. Due to strict controls,
George Town retains many of its colonial-era shophouses to this day. It is
officially recognized as having a unique architectural and cultural townscape
without parallel anywhere in Southeast Asia. The town truly springs to life in
the evenings, when most of the locals head to the nearby street hawkers to have
their meals and drinks.
8. Taman Negara
Taman Negara, which literally means “national park” in Malay, is one of
the oldest tropical rain forest in the world. It features massive trees,
waterfalls, jungle treks of various duration and the world’s longest canopy
walkways. Several trails enable the visitor to explore the forest without a
guide. Taman Negara is a haven for endangered species such as the Asian
elephant, tigers, leopards and rhinos, but numbers are low and sightings are
very rare. It’s unlikely that you will see anything more than birds, small
deer, lizards, snakes and perhaps a tapir.
7. Pulau Tioman
Tioman is a small island
located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. In the 1970s, Time Magazine
selected Tioman as one of the world’s most beautiful islands. Tourists have
surged to the island ever since, seeking a taste of paradises. The island is
surrounded by numerous white coral reefs, making it a haven for scuba divers
while the interior is densely forested. Visitors outnumber villagers outside
the monsoon (November to February), but Tioman can be virtually deserted at
other times.
6. Mount Kinabalu
With a summit height at 4,095 meters (13,435
ft), Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Borneo. The mountain is known
worldwide for its tremendous botanical and biological species biodiversity.
Over 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species have
been identified at Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding. The main peak of the
mountain can be climbed easily by a person with a good physical condition, and
requires no mountaineering equipment although climbers must be accompanied by guides
at all times.
5. Petronas Twin Tower
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur were
the world’s tallest buildings before being surpassed in 2004 by Taipei 101.
However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. The
88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel
and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection
of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. The Petronas Twin Towers feature a sky bridge
between the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors.
4. Langkawi
Malaysia’s best-known holiday destination,
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. The islands are a
part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. By far the
largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of
about 65,000, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Fringed
with long, white beaches and with an interior of jungle covered hills and
craggy mountain peaks, it’s easy to see why this is Malaysia’s most heavily
promoted tourist destination. The most popular beaches can be found on the west
coast with a wide choice of restaurants and eateries and some of the best
resorts in Langkawi.
3. Pulau Perhentian
Located off the coast of northeastern Malaysia
not far from the Thai border. The Perhentian Islands are the must-go place in
Malaysia for budget travelers. They have some of the world’s most beautiful
beaches and great diving with plenty of cheap accommodation. The two main
islands are Perhentian Besar (“Big Perhentian”) and Perhentian Kecil (“Small
Perhentian”). Both the islands have palm-fringed white sandy beaches and
turquoise blue sea.
2. Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok Orang Utan
Rehabilitation opened in 1964 for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging
sites, plantations and illegal hunting. The orphaned orangutans are trained to
survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The Orang
Utan sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, much of
which is virgin rainforest. About 60 to 80 orangutans are living free in the reserve.
It is one of Sabah’s top tourist attractions and a great stopover on any
Malaysia itinerary.
1. Mulu Caves
The Mulu Caves are located in the Gunung Mulu National Park in
Malaysian Borneo. The park encompasses incredible caves and karst formations in
a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting. The Sarawak chamber found in one
of the underground caves is the largest cave chamber in the world. It has been
said that the chamber is so big that it could accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s,
without overlapping their wings. The enormous colony of Wrinkle-lipped bats in
the nearby Deer Cave exit almost every evening in search of food in a
spectacular exodus.
So guys come let's spend our holiday in Malaysia........
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