Sunday, June 3, 2012
S A R A W A K
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.
KUCHING
Kuching (meaning Cat in Malay), is a beautiful bustling city situated by the river and is approximately 32 kilometres away from the coast.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.
KUCHING CHINATOWN
BEACH
This living museum depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of equatorial vegetation.
Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance.
DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI
The new State Legislative building, or better known as DUN (Dewan Undangan Negeri) Sarawak by the locals, is an iconic piece that no other state in Malaysia could be-little, for now, that is. Standing majestically across the Sarawak river, the new building boast of many things such as a banquet hall, individual rooms for elected representatives, a convention center and an undisputed design which depicts Sarawak’s multi-racial diversity. Indeed, it is an icon, and a unique building, regardless of what others say on how much was spent on building such a magnificent building.
KUCHING WATERFRONT
A major restoration and land reclamation project has become the most popular meeting place in the city. Drab warehouses have been replaced with an almost 900m long esplanade, beautifully landscaped and dotted with wooden benches, food stalls, restaurants and entertainment facilities. A number of old buildings have been preserved and incorporated into the design, including the Chinese History Museum, the Sarawak Steamship Building, an open-air theatre and the Square Tower. Modern additions to the Waterfront include a restored Chinese pavilion, an observation tower, a tea terrace and the spectacular musical fountains, as well as a number of modern sculptures. During the daytime, the Waterfront offers excellent views of the Astana, Fort Margherita and the Malay kampungs which line the north bank of the river, but at night-time the waterfront really comes alive; it seems that half of Kuching is out meeting friends, watching a show or just taking the air.
PAHANG
Pahang is the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia and is situated in the eastern coastal region. Two thirds of it is covered by unspoiled rain forest. Pahang has lots to offer to the tourists-famous hill resorts, palm-fringed beaches, lakes, waterfalls, and Malaysia's oldest national park Taman Negara.
NATIONAL PARK
Pahang is home to the National Park (also known as Taman Negara in the Malay language), one of the oldest rain forests in the world. It is estimated to be 130 million years old, older than the rain forests of Congo and the Amazon.Taman Negara is also home to the majestic Gunung Tahan (Tahan Mountain in English) the tallest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia. Gunung Tahan stands majestically at a height of 2,187 meters and to reach the summit, you would have to travel 55 kilometers by foot. There are 3 trails to reach the summit of this mountain.
GENTING HIGHLANDS
The other Pahang travel destination worth mentioning here is Genting Highlands, or better known as The City of Entertainment. Some locals even call Genting the "Playground of Malaysia".Genting Highlands is a place for you and your family to enjoy cool refreshing air combined with fun-filled attractions with entertainment and the luxury of an international class accommodations.
CAMERON HIGHLANDS
Cameron Highlands is more suited to those who are looking for a cool and quiet place to relax themselves and to get away from the hectic city life.
The major attractions of Cameron Highlands are the Rose Garden, the Cactus Valley, the Strawberry parks, fruit orchards and vegetable farms that spread extensively on the mountain slopes. The rose garden is home to more than 600 species of roses and is definitely a romantic place for couples to spend their vacation.
JOHOR BAHRU
The word Johor is taken from the Arabic word, 'Jauhar', which literally means 'Precious Stones'. This illustrates the influence of the early Arab traders who traded spices in Johor. To the Siamese, Johor is 'Gangganu' or 'Treasured Stones'. One can trace the multifaceted culture and ethnic mix evident today back through the centuries when it was fought over by the Malays, Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch and British sometimes on grounds of religion but more often because of trade.Johor Bahru Malaysia is more of a stopover city then a real destination as many stay long enough to take the good and leave the bad.Johor Bahru Malaysia is the capital of the state of Johor and acts much like a gateway to Singapore sitting at the southern tip of the country. Well known as the "half-price bazaar" Johor Bahru has very inexpensive shopping and entertainment which many Singaporeans enjoy on a regular basis by crossing the 1038 meter bridge which connects the two countries.
SENAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Opened in 1974, it serves the state of Johor as well as people from the southern states of Peninsular Malaysia. Senai International Airport used to be hubs of AirAsia and used to serve as a domestic hub of Malaysia Airlines until the rationalisation of its domestic routes to cut the company's losses. As a result, Malaysia Airlines only served two destinations from Senai after the rationalisation.
ENDAU ROMPIN NATIONAL PARK
This park that sits between Johor and Pahang encompasses the watershed of rivers in Endau, Johor and Rompin, Pahang, which comprises some 488 sq km of forest.Lush and relatively untouched, it is one of the few remaining lowland tropical rainforest in the country and the last refuge of the Sumatran rhinoceros.It is a major conservation area due to the diversity of flora and fauna found within. Its rocks and hills are estimated to be nearly 250 million years old.
SULTAN IBRAHIM BUILDING
Sultan Ibrahim Building is the former state secretariat building of Johor. It is located at Bukit Timbalan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1939 and was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration.[1] It was officially opened by the late Sultan Ibrahim of Johor.It was also the tallest building in Malaya during the pre-Merdeka era. In Johor Bahru itself, it stood unchallenged as the tallest building in the town until the completion of the Merlin Tower in the 1970s.The offices of the state secretariat have now moved to Kota Iskandar. There are plans to convert the building into a museum.
OLD CHINESE TEMPLE
Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple (Chinese: 柔佛古廟) known as Old Temple (Chinese: 古廟) by the locals, is a Chinese temple located inJohor Bahru, Malaysia. Located at downtown Johor Bahru of Jalan Trus, the temple is flanked by modern skyscrapers. This temple is one of the oldest structures in Johor Bahru. The temple is a place of worship and a symbol of unity among Five Chinese Dialect Groups which are "Teochew", "Hoklo (Hokkien)", "Cantonese", "Hakka" and "Hainan".
SULTAN ABU BAKAR MOSQUE
Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar is one of the historical relics that show the greatness of the Kingdom of Johor. Construction of the mosque took place after the capital was moved from Singapore to Tanjung Puteri, a fishing village which later was named of Johor Bahru.This grand mosque was built in 1893 AD (1311 AH), and completed in 1900. Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is located in a very strategic location on the hill in Lido Beach, overlooking the Straits of Tebrau, the strait that separates mainland Malaysia with Singapore.
PELEPAH
WATERFALLS, KOTA TINGGI
MALACCA
Melaka (old name - Malacca) is a state in Peninsular Malaysia which is rich in history and culture. Her strategic position at the narrowest part of the Straits of Melaka or Malacca made her one of the most important stopover post for ships travelling from east to west. (Malacca Straits got its name from this ancient port) The end of the 14th century saw Melaka grow into a rich trading post and kingdom under the Melaka Sultanate, gaining a name in the maritime world. Conquered and administered by the Portuguese in 1511, the Dutch in 1641, and the British in 1824, Melaka is a centre of many diverse cultures, a unique melting pot of races.
MALACCA A FAMOSA
A Famosa (Malay: Kota A Famosa; "The Famous" in Portuguese) is a Portuguese fortress located in Malacca, Malaysia. It is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. The Porta de Santiago, a small gate house, is the only remaining part of the fortress still standing.
THE STADTHUYS
The famous "Red" building - the identity of Malacca. Although it was hot, there were a lot of visitors.Built in 1650 as the official residence of Dutch Governors, it is a typical example of Dutch architecture of the 17th century. It now houses the Historic Museum and Ethnography Museum.
ST PAUL’S CHURCH
The Portuguese's 'Our Lady Of The Hill' was built by a Portuguese Captain by the name of Duarte Coelho. The Dutch it into a burial ground for their nobles and renamed it St. Paul's Church. St. Francis Xavier, the missionary who helped spread Christianity here, was briefly enshrined in the open grave in 1553 before being shipped to Goa, India.
MARITIME MESEUM
The Maritime Museum itself is a replica of the 'Flora de La Mar', a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka while on its way to Portugal, carrying loot plundered from Melaka. Work on the replica started in early 1990 and it was opened to the public in 1994. The Maritime Museum was officially opened by the Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on June 13, 1994. |
THE BABA NYONYA HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum is a living museum located in Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, a street adjacent to the Jonker Walk. Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock also known as the Millionaire’s Row in Melaka. Established in 1896, the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum was once the family home of the Baba Chan family known as Rumah Abu. Having been around for more than 100 years, this heritage building was built during the Dutch occupancy and later bought over by the Baba Chan family.
EYE OF MALACCA
Situated on the banks of Melaka River, just opposite the old Cathay Cinema near Jalan Hang Tuah Bridge, the 25 metre high Eye on Malacca is Malacca’s latest tourist attraction. It is expected to be bigger than Taman Tasik Titiwangsa’s Eye on Malaysia, as two other attractions have been added on to it, a trampoline bungee and a pirate ship – which can be experienced as a bundled deal along with a ride on the Eye on Malacca.
NEGERI SELANGOR
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. It surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, both of which were once under Selangor's sovereignty.The state capital is Shah Alam, the first city in Selangor, and the royal capital is Klang. Selangor is one of only two Malaysian states with more than one city; the other is Sarawak. Selangor has the largest city in Malaysia and it is growing rapidly due to modernization in the Klang Valley.Selangor is the richest state in Malaysia in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. This state is also the most developed in Malaysia with good infrastructure such as highways and transport. The state also has the largest population in Malaysia, with a high standard of living and the state's poverty rate is the lowest in the country.
BATU CAVES
Batu Caves is both an important religious landmark for Hindus and a popular stopover for tourists. During the annual Thaipusam Festival, more than a million devotees and tourists will congregate. In fulfillment of vows, devotees carry kavadis and milk pots up the 272 steps to the cave temple. In 2006, the giant statue of Lord Murugan, standing at 42.7 meters, was unveiled.
KOTA DARUL EHSAN
The Kota Darul Ehsan arch over
the Federal Highway. As a
commemoration of the cession of
Kuala Lumpur to the federal
government to form a Federal
Territory by Selangor.
SULTAN SALAHUDDIN ABDUL
AZIZ MOSQUE
The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque (Malay: Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz) is the state mosque of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located in Shah Alam. It is the country's largest mosque and also the second largest mosque in Southeast Asia after Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Its most distinguishing feature is its large blue and silver dome. The mosque has four minarets, one erected at each of the corners.
Melawati Hill ,Kuala
Selangor
Melawati Hill is located in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor, a 30-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. In the late 18th Century, the second Sultan of Selangor had a fortress constructed on Melawati Hill to protect the state from intruders.
The hill provided a vantage point to monitor ships in the Straits of Malacca. Even with a strategic hold, the Melawati Fort yielded to the Dutch cannons.
The hill provided a vantage point to monitor ships in the Straits of Malacca. Even with a strategic hold, the Melawati Fort yielded to the Dutch cannons.
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