Malaysia's Unique Wildlife

Have you heard of Orangutans? Of Proboscis Monkeys or Tapirs?  What of bearded pigs? Now, if I have piqued your interest let me tell you that these exotic sounding creatures are resident in the many rainforests and jungle terrains of Malaysia and to quote an old adage ‘have to be seen to be believed’.

It is estimated that tropical paradise of Malaysia, is home to a vast repository of exotic fauna, which features approximately 210 species of mammals, 600 species of birds and 200 species of reptiles. Rare and unusual creatures like Malayan sun bears, tapirs, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, Bornean pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, bearded pigs and more roam the lush forests of peninsula Malaysia and the island of Borneo. Unfortunately many of these creatures are considered ‘endangered’ and are now protected in sanctuaries and nature reserves, which are however accessible by the general public.

A guide for viewing some of Malaysia’s unique fauna

The Malayan Tapir

The Malaysian version of the tapir is believed to be the largest of its kind. This oddly shaped, snout-nosed mammal faces extinction and is protected within nature reserves like the Jerangu Forest Reserve (in Terengganu) and the Krau Wildlife Reserve in Pahang.

The Malayan Tiger

The Malayan tiger is respected as a symbol of bravery and strength throughout Malaysia. This magnificent beast, who like others of its kind faces extinction today, is known to be protected within Malaysia’s national parks like the Taman Negara, the Krau Wildlife Reserve, the Endau Rompin National Park and the Royal Belum State Park.

The Proboscis Monkey

This comical creature is native to Malaysia and is not found anywhere else in the world. While the females of the species are quite ordinary-looking, it’s the males that evoke guffaws with their funny appearance, as they sport oversized, dangling hooters, potbellies and flattop thatches of hair. As these primates are endemic to the island of Borneo, the best place for a viewing of these creatures the privately owned Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, near Kota Kinabalu.

The Orangutan

This fuzzy, red-haired large primate has legions of fans throughout the world. Unfortunately, over the years its population has dwindled considerably so that it is now protected in reserves like Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah and at Pulau Orang Utan, in Perak. However, sightings of orangutans in the wild are still possible at the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah or within Borneo’s Danum Valley Conservation Area.

 

 

 

A Shopaholics Dream- the 1Malaysia Year End Sale

Shopaholics of the world rejoice for the 1 Malaysia Year End Sale (1MYES) is back. Just in the time for holiday season, the shopping extravaganza invites shoppers to loosen their purse strings and refresh wardrobes, spruce up homes and pamper loved ones with gifts, all bought with the many rebates, bargains and promotions offered by the ultimate shopping carnival, the 1 Malaysia Year End Sale.

The 1Malaysia Year End Sale (1MYES) is an annual event organized by Tourism Malaysia, which also organizes other annual mega sales and shopping carnivals during the year, like the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and the 1Malaysia GP Sale. This holiday shopping bonanza is currently underway at every mall, market and shopping center in Malaysia, and if you want to snag the many awesome deals on offer do make sure you wing your way to Malaysia before the 5^th of January, 2014, the last day of this truly awesome sale.

Some highlights of this extravaganza include: -

The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur combines its 1 Malaysia Year End Sale along with its 125^th Anniversary Celebrations and offers bargains galore along with cultural performances and a food fair.

For more details do visit www.centralmarket.com.my

The Sungei Wan Plaza in Kuala Lumpur offers shopping promotions with attractive prizes like air tickets and a Christmas on Broadway musical spectacular to delight and enchant shoppers.

http://www.sungeiwang.com

Christmas promotions are also being offered at various other malls and shopping complexes around Kuala Lumpur, like Berjaya Times Square, Aeon Alpha Angle, Mid Valley Mega Mall, Suria KLCC, KL Festival City and many more.

However, these promotions and festivities are not limited to Kuala Lumpur alone for malls and shopping centers all over Malaysia are taking part in the event.

Do download the official 1 Malaysia Year End sale booklet from the website of Tourism Malaysia so that you can plan your shopping expeditions when you visit Malaysia during this grand extravaganza.

As the bargains beckon, you cannot afford to wait any longer, so why not unearth your largest suitcases and book your air tickets, to fly away to Malaysia, for the truly delightful 1Malaysia Year End Sale 2013.

 

Malaysian handcrafted souvenirs

The term souvenir is derived from a French term meaning memory or remembrance. Souvenirs are integral to a holiday, for they help us remember the wonderful times we have had at a particular destination. Most souvenirs take the form of kitschy t-shirts, post cards, fridge magnet and the lot, but in Malaysia, a country with a rich tradition of arts and crafts; souvenirs take the form of stunning handcrafted wares.

Popular and much coveted Malaysian handcrafted souvenirs include:

Batik and songket textile products

Malaysia is famed for the production of handcrafted batik and songket(a plush brocade-like fabric). Both these textiles are the product of art forms handed down through generations and are used to fashion apparel and various lifestyle products though songket, which is produced by hand weaving gold and silver threads, is much more exclusive and expensive as well.

Beadwork

Malaysia’s indigenous peoples like the Orang Ulu and Iban tribes are known to produce quality beadwork items like lampshades, collars and necklaces, which are much sought after.

Nyonya wares

Malaysia’s Peranakan people are not only known for their excellent culinary skills, but are also much admired skills like embroidery and glass beading. These skills are used to produce classic Nyonya wares like intricately beaded slippers, handbags, coin purses and phone covers and so on, which make for popular keepsakes from Penang and Melaka, destinations with substantial Peranakan populations. Also finding favor is the much embellished, sarong kebaya (skirt and blouse) attire traditionally sported by Peranakan womenfolk.

Silver ware and Pewter

Malaysia is a powerhouse of resources and is blessed with seemingly inexhaustible supply of materials like silver, pewter (an alloy of tin) and many others.  Some of these metals are used to make various home wares and lifestyle products much favored as keepsakes. Silverware products from Kelantan like fruit bowls, tea sets, ashtrays, brooches and bracelets are renowned for their intricate designs and excellent workmanship and are highly coveted.

 

 

Woodcarvings

Woodcarvings are popular throughout Malaysia but ornamental woodcarvings from the states of Kelantan and Terengganu are especially well known as they are used to adorn dagger handles and a variety of furniture items.

Pottery

Malaysian pottery items like vases, jars and water receptacles are handcrafted in states like Perak and Sarawak and are popular mementos as well.

Forest fiber items

Most of Malaysia is covered by dense rainforests. These green lungs provide a steady supply of forest fibers like rattan, bamboo, ribu-ribu, pandanus , mengkuang  and so forth. Local artists and indigenous people coil, intertwine, weave and plait these fibers to make functional and ornamental mats, bags, baskets and more, all popular souvenir items.

 

Malaysia: A favored destination for Emiratis

Malaysia in recent years has been consistently topping the charts as a choice destination for Muslim tourists. It’s hardly surprising, for as a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia is especially well equipped to cater to the needs for Muslim tourists.

Listed below are some of Malaysia’s much appreciated facilities catering to requirements of tourists hailing from the Middle East and other Islamic countries.

Prayer halls and locales are easily available everywhere

In multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Malaysia, are not only mosques ubiquitous further, a prayer hall or a Surau can be found at every shopping mall, department store and airport. Additionally, most malls like Petaling Jaya’s Sunway Pyramid mall are also equipped with separate prayer halls for male and female visitors.

Easy availability of Halal food

The Malaysian government and the Department of the Islamic development of Malaysia ensure that halal food is easily available all over Malaysia. Moreover, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and various other food production centers are regularly inspected and certified by government agencies. For a listing of hotels and restaurants serving halal products do visit -http://www.halal.gov.my/v3/index.php/en/list-of-hotel

Well-trained hospitality staff

Surveys have indicated that tourists from the Middle East tend to travel with their families in tow. This is largely due to customs and traditions of a region where women don’t really travel alone. The Malaysian hospitality industry is aware to this particularity and has responded by training staffs to be especially sensitive to the needs of the Middle Eastern visitor.  For instance, front desk staffs in Malaysian hotels and resorts are usually proficient in Arabic language and this greatly aids facilitates processes like speedy check-ins, a facility much appreciated by Arab tourists.

Further, it has also been noticed that tourists from the Middle East favor Western, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines and the easy availability of these cuisines in various parts of Malaysia further enhances the appeal of Malaysia as a choice destination.

Numerous family-centric attractions

Muslim travelers usually enjoy traveling along with their families, Malaysia with its multitude of theme and amusement parks like Legoland, Sunway Lagoon, Berjaya Times Square, Resorts World Genting and many more is unsurprisingly a huge draw.

Safety

Last but not the least is the safety factor. Malaysia is viewed as a generally safe and stable country and thus regarded as an ideal locale for a Muslim traveler.

For more information for planning a trip do visit the website of the Islamic Tourist Center of Malaysia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malaysia's Delightful Eats and Treats

Malaysia is renowned the world over for its hugely diverse, flavorful and culturally rich cuisine, which mirrors the colorful ethnic make-up of its society. Malay, Chinese and Indian influences are amply evident in native Malaysian fare.

However, aside from local foods, Western cuisine is easily available in Malaysia at all price-points. Popular western fast-food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Popeye, A&W and others are very visible in various urban centers in Malaysia, so if you rather not experiment with local food and stick with the tried and tested global fast food brands you can easily do so while visiting Malaysia.

However, travel is a wonderful resource which helps broadens your outlook and when you travel you should try and sample the native culture; one way to do so is via the destination’s food offerings.  In Malaysia, you are truly spoiled for the country offers a smorgasbord of diverse foods that gastronomes can’t help but rave about. Further, if you are worried that these foods may not be halal, you can be rest assured for most food in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation, is halal and is regularly inspected and certified by the authorities.

Based on the above listed are some food experiences you should sample whilst in Malaysia: -

Indulge in delicious Malaysian street food

The plethora of Malaysian street foods like Satay, Char Kuay Teow, Laksa, Nasi Kandar, Hokkien Mee and more offered at locales like Gurney Drive in Penang are renowned the world over. Similar experiences can be hand at spots like Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur and the city center streets of major cities like Kota Kinabalu.

Sample Baba-Nyonya cuisine

The Peranakans are known for their own unique culture and traditions and a style of cooking which is essentially a blend of Malay and Chinese cuisines. Popular Peranakan dishes include preparations like Asam Laksa, Popiahs(fresh spring rolls) and otak-otak (fish ,coconut milk, galangal and spice paste wrapped in banana leaf and steamed).

Delight in mouth-watering Mamak fare

The India population in Malaysia has largely originated from Southern India and is composed of both Hindus and Muslims, while the Indian Hindus brought along various vegetarian delicacies like thosai, idli, puri and more, the Indian Muslims contributed dishes like nasi  biryani, Roti Canai, Murtabak and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1Malaysia Year End Sale

Offering rebates, bargains and promotions galore, the irresistible 1Malaysia Year End Sale rolls into town once again. Encompassing glitzy malls, bustling markets and lively street-side stalls, this bountiful shopping carnival will gladden hearts and weaken wallets all around Malaysia, over two months from Saturday, 16^th November to Sunday, 5^th January 2014.

This grand shopping bonanza is being organized by the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat, a unit operating under the sphere of Tourism Malaysia, the force behind similar events like the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and the 1Malaysia GP sale. These various efforts endeavor to draw more tourists to Malaysia as they seek to establish the country as a premier shopping destination in the Far East.

A truly justifiable goal, for Malaysia undoubtedly offers a great selection of shopping options at the most reasonable prices in the region. Additionally, much coveted, high-end goods like wrist-watches, cosmetics, fragrances, cameras, computers, gold and jewelry, leather shoes and bags, apparel from leading brands and more, are in fact offered duty-free in Malaysia, at some of the lowest prices in the world.

Added to this enchanting mix, is a shopping terrain littered with luxurious malls and shopping centers offering an abundance of retail outlets, eateries, and spa, beauty and entertainment services. All of which make for a truly enjoyable experience, superbly complemented by Malaysia’s burgeoning hospitality sector, which offers a range of accommodation options at attractive prices to suit the needs of all travelers.

Since the bargains beckon, don’t waste a moment longer. Rather gather together your biggest suitcases as you book your air-tickets, so that you can be spirited away to a land known as Malaysia, where innumerable pleasures await including the spectacular 1 Malaysia Year End Sale.

  

Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2013

If you have a yen for yachting, as a competitor or a spectator, then you should perhaps consider heading to Malaysia this month, for the country’s eagerly anticipated annual sailing extravaganza, the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2013. This exciting event is scheduled over a period of nine days from 15^th to 23^rd November at various locales off Malaysia’s beauteous western coast.

 This grand yachting tourney comprises of a series of offshore sailing events, organized by the Royal Selangor Yacht Club in association with the renowned offshore racing organization, the RORC (the Royal Ocean Racing Club).

The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta dates back to 1990, when it was organized as a sequel to the five annual offshore series of races linking the most popular and beautiful isles off the west coast of Malaysia, namely Pangkor, Penang and Langkawi.

His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor has been a patron of the Regatta from its inception and this year too his highness, will be on hand to meet and mingle with the sailors at the various events and to hand out the magnificent Raja Muda trophy to the winning team.

The 24^th edition of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta in 2013, will feature three overnight passage races encompassing a total of 260 miles (from Port Klang to Pangkor, Pangkor to Penang and Penang to Langkawi), along with three days of harbor racing in Penang and Langkawi.

The event will as usual welcome a wide variety of yachts ranging from IRC1 racers to classic yachts, multihulls and ancient, slow moving100-year-old cruisers. All these vessels will set sail from a new starting point in Port Klang, the new Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) Marina Annexe at Pulau Indah. They will also finish at a new termination point, the Telaga Harbor in Langkawi, which will also serve as the site of the prize distribution.

The nine-day long Regatta will feature a bouquet of exciting races including passage races and inshore harbor sprints, guaranteed to enthrall and delight participants as well as spectators. Aside from its competitive element, the Regatta will also feature various glitzy social events like regatta dinners, a rickshaw race and the Miss International Yachting Malaysia contest.

 

 

Discover the delights of ‘Mamak’ cuisine

‘Mamak cuisine’, one of the many native Malaysian cuisines, is hugely popular all over Malaysia. This delicious fare is usually associated with Malaysia’s Indian Muslim population and is served both at roadside stalls (open 24 hours a day) and as well as at full-service restaurants.

‘Mamak cuisine’, is believed to have been brought to Malaysia, by Indian Muslims, hailing from the southern states of India, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the 19^th century, when these immigrants were brought by the British to work on the rubber and palm oil plantations. In fact the popular Mamak stall beverage, Teh Tarik, the Malaysian interpretation of Southern Indian pulled coffee was once served at stalls set up at the entrance of plantations

The Indian immigrants then went on to intermarry with the locals and they soon came to known as Mamaks and were largely associated with roadside eateries popularly referred to as known as ‘Mamak stalls’. These roadside ‘Mamak ‘stalls continue to survive, though the Malaysian dining landscape today, also features full-service ‘Mamak’ cuisine restaurants that offer a wide array of tasty dishes.

Favored ‘Mamak eats’ include dishes like: -

Roti Canai

Roti Canai is a hugely popular breakfast dish and consists of a flaky paratha served with a spicy chicken curry sauce

Roti Tisu

Roti Tisu, is a wafer-thin conical pancake topped with a syrup of condensed milk and sugar.

Rojak Pasembur

This salad dish is served warm and features shredded vegetables like cucumber and turnip mixed with diced potatoes, beansprouts, boiled eggs and tofu, all of which are tossed together with sweet and spicy peanut sauce.

Nasi Kandar

A Nasi Kandar meal is composed of nasi (rice) offered with an assortment of vegetarian or non-vegetarian spicy curries.

Murtabak

A serving of Murtabak features a roti stuffed with fillings like eggs, mutton, sardines, beef or chicken. A Murtabak is usually complemented with a lentil-based dipping sauce.

Nasi Lemak

Renowned as Malaysia’s favorite comfort food, a dish of Nasi Lemak features rice steamed in coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves and served with anchovies, peanuts and a fiery sambal.

 

Maggi goring
This dish feature Maggi instant noodles stir-fried with dark soy sauce, curry powder, spices, vegetables, tofu and chicken and topped with a sunny-side up egg.

 

 

Lip-smacking Nyonya Baba cuisine

Malaysian fare encompasses various indigenous cuisines, which reflect the fabric and culture of the diverse Malaysian society. One such homegrown cuisine widely available in all of Malaysia is Peranakan cuisine, popularly referred to as Nyonya Baba fare.

The origins of this cuisine date back to the 15^th century, during the rule of the Ming Dynasty in China, when a Chinese Emperor gave his daughter Princess Hang Li Po, in marriage to the Sultan of Malacca in an effort to strengthen ties with the rich and strategic port city. The princess arrived in Malacca with a retinue of 500 attendants who then went on to settle in Malacca in an area, which came to be known as Bukit China (China Hill). These early Chinese settlers soon intermarried with the local Malays and this intermingling gave rise to the first generation of Chinese-Malays, the Peranakan people

A male Peranakan soon came to be referred to, as ‘Baba’ while a female was referred to as ‘Nyonya’. The Peranakans developed their own unique culture and heritage, which was an amalgamation of Chinese, Malay cultures peppered with diverse colonial influences.  Nyonya communities at first were limited to Malacca but then they migrated to other areas like Penang and Singapore and came to be known as ‘the Straits Chinese’.

In addition to their inimitable culture and tradition, the Pearankan people also developed their own cuisine, an eclectic fusion fare, which features a mixture of Chinese, Malay, European and even Thai ingredients. This flavorful cuisine comprises several key ingredients like belacan(a dried shrimp paste), tamarind, coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal (wild ginger), chilies, shallots and kaffir lime and pandan leaves.

Widely available in Malaysia at food-courts, street-stalls and fine-dining restaurants, Nyonya Baba fare is a must-try.

Intrigued? Discover mouth-watering Peranakan fare through dishes like Mee Siam(tangy rice noodles), Chicken Kapitan( a lush chicken curry served with Roti Jala, Kangkug Belacan(water spinach sautéed with belacan) and delicious  Peranakan deserts like Bubur Cha Cha, Cendol and colorful Kuih(Peranakan pastries).

 

Urbanscapes: A Celebration of Malaysia’s Contemporary Arts

Have you ever wondered about Malaysia’s contemporary arts scene?  Then its time to introduce you to KL’s annual Urbanscapes festival, a yearly celebration of the vision and creativity of Malaysia’s contemporary arts fraternity. This arts exposition brings together artists, creative communities and business, hailing from the fields of music, fashion, arts, design and more.

A local company Freeform Sdn. Bhd, founded the festival by hosting a first kick-off arts event at a small, KL eatery, in 2002.  Since that initial launch the festival has grown tremendously and now draws massive crowds. As a result, it is now hosted on larger venues and is usually conducted over a weekend, popularly referred to as ‘the Big Weekend’. This year’s edition of Urbanscapes, is scheduled for the weekend of 23^rd and 24^th November and will be hosted at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) at Serdang, Selangor. A venue easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur by various modes of transport.

Aside from attracting increasing numbers of arts enthusiasts, the festival portfolio has also expanded to include much international participation from the region and beyond. Music concerts, stand-up comedy performances, dance recitals, shadow puppetry, poetry readings, beat boxing presentations, percussion and ukulele routines, all feature in the festival program at Urbanscapes.

The exciting lineup for Urbanscapes 2013, features acts like Scotland’s chart topping rock band Franz Ferdinand, Canadian indie-rock duo Tegan and Sara, Northern Ireland’s dance-rock trio Two Door Cinema Club, Efterklang, a electronica rock outfit from Denmark along with  various other international acts like the Obedient Wives Club from Singapore, the Black Voices from the UK, the Last Dinosaurs from Australia and many more. The lineup additionally features popular standup comedy acts like Pierre Hollins from the UK and Malaysia’s very own Kuah Jehnan who describes himself as tall, dark and comedian.

Urbanscapes also has a strong retail component in the form of popup shops showcasing the works of ingenious artists and businesses and offering apparel, accessories, home wares, lifestyle products, vintage wares and other knick-knacks for sale. In addition to retail outlets, the festival grounds also host several food and beverage kiosks, to cater to the dining needs of festivalgoers.

So if you would like to uncover Malaysia’s contemporary arts scene, why not plan a trip to Kuala Lumpur and pencil in a visit to Urbanscapes as a part of your shopping, dining and sightseeing in KL itinerary.

 

Kuching’s Cat Museum- an entertaining oddity

Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak is often referred to as ‘Cat city’. This is mainly due to the fact that the name of the city is thought to have been derived from the Malay word for cat, ‘kucing’.  However, some folks state that the name ‘Kuching’ came to be derived from the Chinese word ‘cochin’ which means port. While yet  others state that the city’s evolved from the word ‘mata kuching’ which translates as ‘cat’s eye’, a term used to describe the  green longan fruit which grows in abundance in Kuching.

Whatever may be the origin of the name, it is evident that the tabby is much venerated in Kuching, for the city is littered with statues, paintings and sculptures of cats. The fact that cats are much loved in Kuching city makes sense, for most Malaysians believe that cats bring good luck and felines often play an important role in the everyday lives of Malaysians.

One of Kuching’s most prominent attractions is the odd but entertaining Cat Museum.  This must-do attraction for cat lovers is housed on the ground floor of the Kuching North City Hall headquarters and is managed by the said organization.  Kuching’s Cat museum was founded in 1988 and contains more than 2000 exhibits feline-related displays. Much of the museum’s permanent collection was obtained from the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur where it had been on display until 1987.

Kuching’s Cat Museum is quite an intriguing attraction, for not only does it aim to entertain; it also seeks to educate visitors about the evolution of cats and provide information about the beliefs associated with them. For instance, in Malaysia there exists a superstition that if you drown a cat you will probably succeed in bringing much needed rainfall to a destination.

The display at Kuching’s Cat Museum features a mix of historically important exhibits along with various kitschy forms. Among the most impressive exhibits at the museum are a mummified Egyptian cat dating back to 3500 BC and the only stuffed specimen of the world’s rarest cat, Felis badia, an inhabitant of the jungles of Borneo.

Aside from these taxidermy samples, the museum hosts several cat statues, paintings, posters, stamps and even cat-shaped headstones, all of which never fail to enthrall and enchant the many visitors who pass through the museum’s strange gigantic fang-shaped doorway.

Love cats? Then the odd but entertaining Cat Museum in Kuching should definitely feature on your visit Malaysia itinerary.

 

Hari Raya Aidiladha

Hari Raya Aidil Adha or Hari Raya Haji as it is known in Malaysia is a festival celebrated by Muslims all over the globe. The festivities associated with Hari Raya Aidil Adha usually extend over three days. The Islamic calendar Hiraj, stipulates that the festival commences on the 10^th day of Dhul Hija, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Typically, Hari Raya Haji is celebrated seventy days after the holy month of Ramadhan.  Hari Raya Aidil Adha for 2013 is slated for 15^th October.

Hari Raya Adil Adha has much religious significance as it essentially commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail in accordance with the will of Allah. The incident is mentioned in the Holy Quran, which also adds that just as Prophet Ibrahim was about to deliver the fatal blow, Allah appeared and replaced Prophet Ismail with a ram. Hence, Hari Raya Adil Adha is regarded as a ‘festival of sacrifice’ and is also known as Hari Raya Korban for the term ‘Korban’ means sacrifice.

The festival also marks the end of ‘Haj’ the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. During Haj, thousands of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world congregate on the Holy land in Mecca to perform a series of rituals. The annual Haj pilgrimage is thought to be the fifth pillar of Islam and every able-bodied Muslim man or woman who is equipped with financial means  is expected to undertake this journey to Mecca at least once during his/her lifetime.

As the concept of selfless sacrifice is integral to the festival of Hari Raya Aidil Adha, families or even local communities in Malaysia come together to sacrifice animals like lambs, goats, cows, bulls and camels as they celebrate the festival. On the day of Hari Raya Aidil Adha, congregational prayers are held at the local mosque, after which the animals are sacrificed according to the diktats of Islam. Most well-off Muslims in Malaysia tend to sponsor these animal sacrifices for Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

The meat so obtained is distributed in three parts. The family or the local community which supplies the animal retains one third of the share, another third is distributed amongst friends, relatives and neighbors while the rest of the meat is given to the poor and needy.

After the sacrifice, the congregation disperses to spend the rest of the day with friends and relatives as is customary during any festival. The celebrations associated with Hari Raya Aidil Adha in Malaysia may appear to be rather solemn but the festival nonetheless has much religious significance as it reminds Muslims to reaffirm their faith in God and thank him for his many blessings.

Kidzania- Sneak Peek into an Adult's World

If you are traveling to Kuala Lumpur with your kids in tow, then a visit to the activity cum entertainment center Kidzania is definitely recommended. Kidzania is an indoor info-entertainment space that aims to teach young ones the art of dealing with the real world. Kidzania in Kuala Lumpur is located within the city’s Curve mall and is a franchise of a world-wide chain, which operates in various locations around the world.

Once children enter KidZania, they encounter a child-size replica of a real city consisting of buildings, stores, cinemas, street-lights pedestrians, vehicles, and more.  The entire enterprise encourages role-play of all sorts, as it urges children to try their hand at a profession they seem naturally inclined to or then are curious about. At the Kuala Lumpur outpost of KidZania, sixty diverse establishments offer 90 entertaining activities suitable for children aged four to twelve.

However, before the children can start off with these various activities, they have to open a saving account at the KidZania bank and receive Kidzos or the official currency used in the world of KidZania. The kids receive Kidzos in the form of cash and working debit card and they use these Kidzo to pay for a particular activity or class. For example, at the chef’s station the kids are offered Oreo-making or sushi-making classes which are both paid activities. Each establishment located within Kidzania has a listing of the amount of Kidzos needed to be dispensed with, if a child wishes to participate in the particular activity offered by the facility. The listing also has details about the expected length of time of each activity, the suitability for various ages and the amount of Kidzos, that the child will earn when he or she completes the role play at that particular station.

Armed with their Kidzos, the young ones then head towards the various KidZania establishments to try their hand at the very real-world professions like being a chef, a fireman, a TV presenter, a dentist, a pilot, a doctor, a midwife, a hairdresser  and even a CIA agent. As they perform each role, for e.g. check teeth while role-playing at being a dentist, they earn Kidzos. The kids can then choose to spend their Kidzos or then save their Kidzos for their next visit.

Accompanying parents are not allowed into the various establishments while their kids perform their ‘tasks’, though they are allowed to watch from the outside. Kidzania Kuala Lumpur is also outfitted with an  air-conditioned parent’s  lounge equipped with food and free Wi-Fi, which is located on an upper floor, where you can relax and wait while your young ones have  the time of the lives playing at working in a grown up’s world.

http://www.kidzania.com.my/

 

Malaysia Moto GP

If Moto GP racing gets your adrenaline pumping and your pulses racing, then perhaps you should make your way to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend for the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The event which is slated for the 11^th to 13^th October 2013 will feature all the big guns of Moto GP as it constitutes round 15 of the 18-leg MotoGP World Championship.

In fact,  the 2013 Moto GP title hunt is currently poised at a very exciting stage as there is an ongoing tussle between the competition’s two leaders Tuenti HP 40’s Pol Espargaro who is in hot pursuit of championship leader, Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding. Twenty points separate them at this juncture and with Redding having suffered a loss to Espargaro at Aragón, the Brit will no doubt be looking for victory at Sepang in an effort to cement his grip on the title.

The 22^nd edition of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix hosted at Sepang in 2012 was a grand success so much so the event was declared the MotoGP event of the year by Dorna, the main marketing company for Moto GP. The 2012 event drew huge crowds on every day and this year, the numbers are expected to be even higher as tickets for the event have been selling very rapidly.

Aside from Espargo and Redding, spectators will have the chance to witness the exploits of various other championship drivers like Aspar Team Moto2’s Nico Terol, Espargaro’s teammate Tito Rabat, Alex Mariñelarena who is racing for Blusens Avintia this year and Thai rider Decha Kraisart, who is with the Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech3 team.

Malaysian Moto GP fans will be keenly following the achievements of home-grown talents like Hafizh Syahrin who is racing for Petronas Raceline and who narrowly missed a podium finish last year. Also competing in the tourney is local hero Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin and the home crowd is  also pinning its hopes on him for a podium finish in the Moto3 Category. Other local talents creating a buzz amongst fans include Malaysia’s latest racing outfit, the Touchline SIC AJO Racing Team, which will have Amirul Hafiq & Husni Aizat, as Moto3 Wildcard Entries; and current SuperSports 600cc category ARRC championship leader, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who qualified for the event on his own merit.

Apart from heart-stopping racing action, the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix will also offer a number of entertaining  side attractions like the Ducati Club convoy scheduled for  race day, 13th October along with approximately 60 kiosks featuring various vendors including the best bike manufacturers from around the world. Also on offer at the 2013, Malaysian Moto GP will be an autograph signing section scheduled for 12^th October 2013 at the Welcome Center. At this event, ticketholders will have the once in a life opportunity to interact with their idols in persons.

 

More information about the race program, public transport, contests and more is available at the official website of the event at http://www.sepangcircuit.com.my/race/7.

Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon

Malaysia’s highest peak the magnificent Mount Kinabalu, which rises from the midst of Sabah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinabalu Park presents a wondrous sight. The pinnacle, which ascends to a height of 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level, also ranks as one of the highest peaks in South East Asia.

However, in spite of its great stature, Mount Kinabalu is thought to be quite an easy peak to conquer. So much so that even climbers with little or no mountain climbing experience can clamber up to the summit of the peak and take in in the gorgeous views of Kinabalu Park and its environs. It is believed that as many as 40,000 climbers attempt the climb up Mount Kinabalu every year.

The Sabah Tourism Board realized the tremendous tourism potential that Mount Kinabalu offered and it therefore decided to take over the administration of the park’s Climbathon with the intention of converting it into a competitive event. The Mount Kinabalu Climbathon was instituted in 1987, as an exercise to speed up the rescue efforts of park rangers, who are often called upon to climb up the peak in order to rescue stranded or injured climbers. For the first few years, this competitive Climbathon was open only to domestic participation but in 1995, the tourism board threw open the event to international participation as well. The event quickly began to feature amongst the world’s leading mountain climbing events and continues to be regarded as a premier mountaineering competition until today.

The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon will this year be held over two days, 19^th and 20^th of October. The event will also feature two different races, the Summit Race and the Adventure Race.

The Summit Race

Slated to be held on the 19th October, the Summit Race will feature only 110 elite male and 40 elite female qualified runners. Qualified runners wishing to participate in the race will need to meet one of three criteria listed below:-

 
1.      They have previously successfully competed in one of the Climbathons held since 2008.    
2.      They have participated in  their home country’s own official mountain race and have proof  of their participation
3.      They have a letter of recommendation from their country’s mountain race / athletic body or any other body recognized by the organizers of the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.

The Summit race will kick off from the Kinabalu Park entrance. Runners will then have to go up to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu (4,095.2 m). After this, they will be required come down to the Mesilau Nature Resort and finish the course at Kundasang town.

The challenging Summit course extends over 33 Km and will require runners to navigate 15 Km of tarmac road, 18 Km of forest trails and the rock face of the summit.

The   Adventure   Race

The Adventure Race will feature greater participation as it is open to all fit men and women aged 18 years and above. The Adventure race is scheduled   for   20th October 2013 and features a newly altered race course. The runners participating in the Adventure Race will have to navigate this newly altered course. They will start off at the Kinabalu Park entrance and then go up to Layang-Layang Hut (half way up Mt. Kinabalu at 2760.3 m). The runners will then have to come down to the Mesilau Nature Resort before finishing the race at Kundasang town

The course of the Adventure race extends over 23km and requires runners to run over 15 km of tarmac road and 8 km of forest trails

Registrations for the 2013, Mount Kinabablu International Climbathon are currently closed but if this has piqued your interest, you can always plan to take part in next year’s event.

For more information do visit -http://www.climbathon.my