Malaysia
Malaysia- truly Asia is what they say. Maybe that is because you can be able to find all kinds of Asian culture prevailing here. Located in the South China Sea it is a combination of thirteen states. This South East Asian country is divided into two by the sea. Coastal plains, dense forests and mountainous regions comprising of Mount Kinabalu adds natural beauty to the country. Malaysia is bestowed with so many natural resources. Rubber and palm oil are exported and timber, cocoa, pepper, tobacco and pineapple grow in plenty. Petroleum and natural gas industry has also boomed. The climate is a pleasant equatorial climate which makes it inviting all the year round.
Travel to Malaysia: Malaysia’s national airway is Malaysia Airlines and its world class airport is in Kuala Lumpur. The other airlines that cater to Malaysia are Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Air India, Emirates Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and more.
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is at Sepang which is about 55km from Kuala Lumpur. The airport provides facilities like ATM, foreign exchange, lounges, medical service etc. You can reach the city by bus, train and taxis but you have to pre-pay the taxis.
Malaysian Airline System is the domestic airlines which reaches Sabah and Sarawak too. You can also travel by rail and buses but the peak hours are to be avoided. Taxis cost more but are comfortable.
Attractions:
Batu Caves: This holy place for Hindus is located at thirteen kilometres from the capital city (Kuala Lumpur). It receives its name from Sungai Batu, the Batu River that flows past the caves. It comprises of three main limestone caves and some smaller ones. You have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the shrine. The statue of Lord Murugan is about 42.7m high and it took 3 yrs to shape. The rocky surfaces, the lovely greenery and not to miss out on the monkeys are a different kind of treat. Thaipusam, a Hindu festival for Lord Murugan is celebrated with a big bang here. Nearly 800, 000 people swarm the temple irrespective of religion. Many kinds of religious practices and sacrifices can be seen. So visit during the festival to have a taste of the actual spirit of the caves.
Sunway Lagoon theme park: This is a wonderful place to hangout. There are several spots to amuse kids including an interactive zoo. A Sunway Surf Beach provides you with an exciting surfing experience. On entering here you may want to spend the whole day and so many restaurants and shopping centres are also accessible. The theme park is closed on Tuesdays except on Singapore and Malaysian holidays.
Language: Bahasa Malaysia is the official language. Malays form the larger portion of Malaysia and they speak Malay (Bahasa Melayu). The Chinese comprising of Buddhists, Taoists and Christians use Cantonese, Hakka and Hokkien. The Indians also form a quite a number of population. Though many languages prevail among the Indians Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi seems predominant. Sikhs are also a part of the population. The others include the tribes and Eurasians. English is widely spoken.
Shopping: Shopping buffs will love Malaysia. Departmental stores, multiplexes, shopping complex, sidewalk stalls, bazaars and pasar malam or the night markets are frequented by tourists. Duty-free shops are also present. Malaysian batik is preferred by many. Other special purchases include brassware, antiques, jewellery, pewter ware, silver ware, songket, pottery, wall hangings, table ware, wooden furniture and statues, purses, bamboo work, mats, hats, bags, leather goods and sarong. Pasar Seni, an art market sells a variety of artworks and handicrafts. Goods like pens, watches, cameras, perfumes, electronic products and other branded items can also be procured at reasonable prices.
Malaysian Ringgit is the currency of the country. Major credit cards and Traveller’s cheques are accepted. Pounds Sterling is the best currency to exchange. It is better to exchange currency at banks, major tourist centres and the airport. US Dollar is also well received.
Destinations:
Johor Bahru: Located at the Straits of Johor (Straits of Tebrau). This is a very fine place to holiday. You can reach the Johor Bahru’s Senai Airport from Kuala Lumpur. Taxis and rails also reach the city. A ferry connects Singapore with Johor. The sandy beaches are very inviting. The Kota Tinggi here is an exciting hiking and holidaying spot.
Kota Kinabalu: This is the capital of Sabah. Kinabalu National Park is situated here in about 90km from the city and it is a World Heritage Site. Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary is a 24 acre tourists spot. Islands like Pulau Gaya, Pulau Manukan, and Pulau Mamutik etc. attract a lot of holiday makers.
Travel links to Malaysia
Tourist in Malaysia
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