January 30, 2016

Masjid Jamek

Gracefully designed in Mughal style by British architect AB Hubback, this onion-domed mosque is situated at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers. At the time of research the surroundings were being relandscaped as part of the River of Life project and the original steps down to the river reinstated. You can visit the inside, outside of prayer times, but dress conservatively and remember to remove your shoes before entering the prayer halls.
It was the first brick mosque in Malaysia when completed in 1907 and the city's centre of Islamic worship until the opening of the National Mosque in 1965. The small Islamic Experience Centre , on the left as you enter the compound, has some informative displays on Islam.


Manukan Island


The Manukan Island Resort is a luxury private island resort. This serene retreat offers exquisite accommodation, sophisticated cuisine and unparalleled watersport activities in one of the most pristine corner of the world.

The Manukan Island Resort near Kota Kinabalu City is a hideaway that is one of the five tropical islands that comprise the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Manukan Island is surrounded by a protected coral reef, and the island boasts a pristine rainforest and beautiful white sand beaches.
From the moment you arrive at Manukan, greeted by our friendly Sabahan staff, you will completely be immersed in the peace and tranquility of the natural beauty of tropical island life.

Pulau Pangkor

From a swaying hammock on Coral Beach, it’s hard to imagine Pulau Pangkor’s turbulent past. But ‘Beautiful Island’ is a former pirate hideout and bit-player in the battle to control the Selat Melaka (Strait of Melaka). In the 17th century, the Dutch built a fort here in their bid to monopolise the Perak tin trade but they were driven out by a local ruler. In 1874, a contender for the Perak throne sought British backing and the Pangkor Treaty was signed, ushering in British Residents and the colonial period.
These days, the only ruckus is from chattering monkeys and hornbills. Wildlife is easy to spot around the island and a new eco-tourism mentoring programme, kickstarted by NGO EcoMY (http://ecomy.org), seems sure to develop wildlife tourism here.
Pangkor’s low-key villagey feel and beachside activities make it an agreeable place to escape. There’s no shortage of Malaysian weekend warriors, though few foreign visitors wash ashore on Pangkor, probably because its beaches aren’t among Malaysia’s best.
To see a different side to Pangkor, stroll through villages like Sungai Pinang Kecil (SPK), with a pungent fish farm to its north, or colourful Teluk Gedong. That is, if you can bear to leave that beach hammock.



Kinabalu National Park

Towering above the coastal plain and what’s left of the lush tropical forests of northern Borneo, Mt Kinabalu is the biggest tourist attraction in Sabah and the centrepiece of the vast 754-sq-km Kinabalu National Park. The towns scattered around its base also have some attractions of their own, so you can easily spend a few days here instead of charging straight for the summit.

Bako National Park

Occupying a jagged peninsula jutting into the South China Sea, Sarawak’s oldest national park is just 37km northeast of downtown Kuching but feels like worlds and eons away. It’s one of the best places in Sarawak to see rainforest animals in their native habitats.
The coast of the 27-sq-km peninsula consists of lovely pocket beaches tucked into secret bays interspersed with wind-sculpted cliffs, forested bluffs and stretches of brilliant mangrove swamp. The interior of the park is home to streams, waterfalls and a range of distinct ecosystems, including classic lowland rainforest (mixed dipterocarp forest) and kerangas (heath forest). Hiking trails cross the sandstone plateau that forms the peninsula’s backbone and connect with some of the main beaches, all of which can be reached by boat from park HQ.
Bako is notable for its incredible biodiversity, which includes almost every vegetation type in Borneo and encompasses everything from terrestrial orchids and pitcher plants to long-tailed macaques and bearded pigs. The stars of the show are the proboscis monkeys – this is one of the best places in Borneo to observe these endemics up close.
Bako is an easy day trip from Kuching, but it would be a shame to rush it – we recommend staying a night or two to really enjoy the wild beauty of the place. Getting to Bako by public transport is easy.


Aquaria KLCC

Aquaria KLCC located on the concourse level of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the 5000sqft Aquaria KLCC is said to be largest aquarium in the world. Home to over 150 species of marine life, its star attractions include scary tiger sharks, lethal sea snakes, blue rays, bright coral fish, seahorses and more.

It’s a well-stocked aquarium just begging to be explored, and after a few hours here you'll have seen over 5,000 freshwater and marine creatures, including massive arapaimas, giant groupers, gar fish and more. Some people write it off as a tourist trap, but they’re sorely missing out – beyond the big tanks, with gallons of water, filled with necklaces of kelp, coral and mysterious and sometimes menacing sea creatures, is one of the country’s foremost sightseeing attractions with real depth and complexity.


Well worth exploring, Kuala Lumpur Aquarium doesn’t just ‘submerge’ visitors beneath thousands of gallons of seawater – instead the venue is laid out to take visitors through different watery landscapes, from the highlands and flooded jungles of Malaysia, to the Amazon basin, coral reefs and the open ocean. Your journey isn’t a linear one – start off on Level 1 where you’ll see piranhas make quick work of their meal as well as electric eels, elephantnose fish and electric catfish. Also in this section, visitors can check out the DNA Touch Pool where they can pick up and feel the texture of live corals and star fish.


The Tunnel at Aquaria KLCC


One of the highlights of Aquaria KLCC is a giant tank (featuring an authentic-looking shipwreck) – a 90m walk-through tunnel with a moving travelator in its centre. Inside you’ll be surrounded by sand tiger sharks, huge stingrays and more. You can take a break from looking at Nemo and his crew, as you head to The Stream which plays host to the giant water rat and the adorable Asian small-clawed otter. Meanwhile, the Jewels of the Jungle section is home to a variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects including the green snake, coatimundi, tarantula and many others; also be sure to check out the exhibit showcasing the life cycle of butterflies.


Weird and Wonderful


Level 2 sees you journeying through the Amazon Flooded Forest where the oversized araipaima, red tail catfish and many others dwell; next, head up to The Coast to see archer fish, horseshoe crabs and more. Later, develop a deep appreciation for deep sea inhabitants such as the octopus and giant blotched fantail ray at the Oceanarium. Lastly, the Weird & Wonderful section is home to chambered nauticus, sea jelly and more, while the Coral Discovery Section has the requisite array of coral, seahorses and more. What’s more, catch the fish feeding sessions which take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in the 2.5 million-litre aquarium.


Diving with Sharks

The best parts of Aquaria KLCC might actually be when you’re feeling a little lost – either literally, given the sheer size of this place, or figuratively, as you try to learn as much as you can about the oftentimes ignored multifaceted deep sea world. Though the aquaria revels in simple pleasures, thrill seekers are also well catered for – they can get-up-close-and-personal with tiger sharks, stingrays and more as the aquarium has a Diving with Sharks program. Even though visitors have to sign a liability waiver form in order to strap on tanks, it’s a safe environment as the sharks have been in Aquaria KLCC for more than five years now and are domesticated. Those who don’t have diving permits can join the Cage Rage programme where visitors take the plunge into the tank within the confines of a submerged cage.

While this elegant underwater world may seem a kid-centric attraction, it caters well to all ages. There are plenty of reasons to ‘dive in’ and those who do will not regret it. After all, how many people can say they explored oceans in just a few hours?






KL Tower


The KL Tower is a 421m high telecommunications and broadcasting tower which actually appears to be taller than the Petronas Towers, because it is built on a hill. Amidst the city of Kuala Lumpur stands the Menara Kuala Lumpur at 515m above sea level.
It's a joke, and everybody knows, that the Petronas Towers are the highest buildings in Kuala Lumpur. Tourists and executives flying in on business class airfares always try to get a good look at the Petronas Towers. Air travel into the city, whether for business or pleasure, is not complete without seeing these marvels of modern architecture from an airline.
It also claims to house the highest McDonald's in the World. This tower has an observation deck, where you  finally can manage to get a bird's eye view of the city.
Menara Kuala Lumpur ranks fourth amongst the tallest telecommunications towers in the world and was constructed over a period of four years and completed in May 1996. Menara Kuala Lumpur is designed to withstand wind pressures of up to 90mph.
Menara Kuala Lumpur (officially) stands majestically atop Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) at 421 meters and 94 meters above sea level, is one of the first and perhaps most enduring images a visitor to KL will encounter.
 

When you're taking a taxi to go to the KL-Tower, it's better that he drops you off up the hill at the entrance.
There's also a "free shuttle service". Please, report this at the gate down the hill (look at the photo)

When you want to walk up the hill, you'll The verdant green surrounding of the Bukit Nanas Forest – the only oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country. Age-old trees, flora and fauna indigenous to tropical climates.
As a tourist I would advise you to go up the hiil with the "shuttle service" or taxi  and to walk down the on your way back!
When you're down the hill go right and then left and take a nice cold coffee at the Starbuck Coffee. You need that. 



The KL-Tower's architecture reflects the country's Islamic heritage with the construction detailing Arabic Scripts, Islamic tiles, classic Islamic floral and abstract motifs and soothing colour combinations.
The main public area and entrance is at the upper ground level. At this level there are 9 shops, a fast food restaurant, a mini-theatre , which shows a documentary on the construction of the tower (every 15 minutes) and an open-air amphitheatre (222 seats).
There are also public toilets.

Before going to the "observation deck", you'll have to buy a ticket. Price RM8.-
After that you'll proceed to the fast speed elevator, which will bring you very to the "observation deck"


Downstairs are also several souvenir shops, but it's better to wait till you're back again.


At the 'observation deck" someone will ask you, in what kind of language you want to hear about Kuala Lumpur.
"English, please"

Then you'll a tape recorder and a head set, which will guide you on your tour along the "observation deck".

You see a yellow flag on the photo with the number "4".
There you'll listen to the explanation about your view (number 4). For example: "the green building on your right is the Selangor Club"
You can make that tour in your own time. When you want to have a closer look, well, then you stop the tape recorder.
This way uou can see all the Highlights of Kuala Lumpur.


Also there is souvenir shop located in the observation deck for people, who to buy commemorative material.


Once upstairs you'll come captured by a lady who asks you, what language you want to hear.
"English, please".
Then you'll get a cassette recorder with a headphone. This you put on your head, and if you're at number 1. You'll listen to what the lady in the headphone tells you. She will tell all about the things you'll see. After that you'll stop the tape and go to number 2.
On the tape the voice will give you information, about the buildings, district or mountains you'll see.
And so  on...


In the picture of the "observation deck", you can clearly see a yellow flag hung with the number 4 and headphones.
Here you must turn on the headset again. You do not have to do anything in the speed of the tape. You determine your own pace.

Also on the observation deck is a souvenir shop.
 
The view is fantastic. You'll have a much better view than at the famous Petronas Towers, because you're much higher now.
You can see clearly now the Genting Highlands, the Klang Valley and other buildings of Kuala Lumpur.
There's also a restaurant, called:
Berputar Seri Angkasa

It's a revolving restaurant (capacity = 250) and it's located at Level Two of the Tower Head (above the "observation deck"). It serves delicious international and local food
'above the clouds'.

At a height of 282 meters above ground level, you can enjoy a revolving dinner.
The restaurant is open daily from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm for lunch and 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm for dinner. A la carte menus are available for lunch and dinner.
Please make a reservation!