Trishaws of Melaka

An examination of the antecedents of Melaka, reveal that this historic trading port evolved from the amalgamation of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Dutch cultures. As a result, this lively town located by the Straits of Malacca offers a very varied assortment of attractions which include old forts, churches, temples, markets and quaint shop-house restaurants that serve delectable Peranakan delights.

A notable attraction worth adding to this list is the unique trishaw of Melaka, a form of bicycle-powered rickshaw that once served as the main form of public transportation in this historic town.  Over the years with rapid growth and industrialization, the trishaw has been phased out for it has been replaced by more modern modes of transportation like buses and taxis. Today, the trishaw of Melaka functions primarily as an old-world attraction for tourists.

These charming trishaws which can usually be seen lined  in front of the main square present a wondrous sight, as they are elaborately embellished with trinkets colorful artificial flowers, flashing lights, flags and souvenirs. Some trishaw drivers even go a step further and equip their vehicles with audio players that spin popular tunes in a more zealous effort to attract customers.

A one-hour tour on a Melaka trishaw is currently priced at 40 Malaysian ringgits which approximately works-out to $12. This trishaw tour traverses most of the major sights of the port city and is usually accompanied by a running commentary provided by the driver.  These trishaw rides form an extremely popular attraction in Melaka and in order that they do not degenerate into tourist traps, the Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (the municipal council of Melaka) regulates the trishaw services by stipulating the rate the drivers can charge. These regulated rates are then advertised on boards at popular tourist attractions in Melaka like Christ Church and the Stadthuys.

A cruise of on trishaw in Melaka offers tourists with a wonderful opportunity to gain an insight into the soul of the vibrant, melting-point of cultures that is Melaka.

The magical city of Putrajaya

The planned city of Putrajaya is Malaysia federal administrative capital that is located at a distance of 25 km to the south of Kuala Lumpur.  This modern planned city which was constructed in the 1990s, may not have all the buzz and excitement of KL but it has a few attractions which are well worth exploring, like interesting buildings and mosques, lush green parks, attention-grabbing bridges and a central 650 hectare man-made lake which offers opportunities for boating and is designed to control floods as well as cool down the city.

Listed below are some of the main attractions of this planned city:-

Parks

If you have a passion for parks and green spaces, then you are in luck in Putrajaya for the city is home to some of the nicest urban parks in Malaysia like the Putrajaya Botanical garden, a manicured park that showcases more than 700 species of tropical plants and trees, the Wetlands Park which is believed to host the largest man-made freshwater wetland area in the tropics and  the Agriculture Heritage Park which provides much information about revenue generating Malaysian crops like rubber, palm oil, cocoa and more. Other green spaces of note in Putrajaya, are the Putra Perdana Park  which hosts the Putrajaya Landmark and the Taman Wawasan, a peaceful enclave equipped with bicycle and jogging paths, lotus ponds and even  a pebble beach.

The Putrajaya Mosque

The Putrajaya Mosque is one of most important landmarks in the city. This mosque which  has been constructed out of pink granite has been modeled on the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca. The Putrajaya Mosque can accommodate 15000 worshippers at a time.

The Prime Minister’s Office-Perdana Putra

This large green domed edifice is one of the most important buildings in Malaysia, for it contains the offices of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and other bigwigs in the government. Located in front of the Perdana Putra is the Perdana square which is used for the celebration of festivals like the Malaysian Independence Day parade.

Seri Perdana

The Seri Perdana complex is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. This sprawling complex contains landscaped gardens and three main areas, though it can be viewed only from outside as it is not accessible to the general public.

Bridges

The city of Putrajaya is crisscrossed by several interestingly designed bridges like the Putra Bridge, the Seri Perdana Bridge, the Seri Bakti Bridge and the Seri Gemilang Bridge. Most of these Putrajaya bridges are illuminated at night and present a pretty sight.

The Millennium Monument

The Millennium Monument or ‘Monumen Alaf Baru’ is a tall obelisk in Putrajaya which is believed to have been  modeled on the Washington monument. The Millennium monument rises to a height of 68m and is located within a leafy park situated in an area of Putrajaya known as Precinct 2. The lower rungs of the solid metal structure feature etchings that commemorate important milestones and periods of Malaysia’s history.  The park which hosts the Millennium Monument also hosts some of Putrajaya’s popular events like the annual Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and Floria Putrajaya, an annual flower and garden festival.

Recreational activities in Putrajaya

Aside from sightseeing, Putrajaya also offer visitors the chance to take a leisurely cruise aboard an air-conditioned boat or gondola on its man-made lake or then hire a bike from a local bike shop and ride along the wide, tree-lined pathways of the city to take in its many marvelous sights.

Must-do in Langkawi

Langkawi is the largest of a cluster of 104 islands located off the north-west coast of Malaysia in the Andaman Sea. Commonly referred to as the ‘Jewel of Kedah’, the emerald isle of Langkawi is a duty-free enclave and an immensely population holiday destination.

Known for its stunning white-sand beaches like Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok, Pantai Tengah and Tanjong Rhu which host a variety of beach resorts, the island offers almost every possible watersports activity. However, when you feel like a respite from this all beachside action, you can head out to explore some of the other must-do attractions of Langkawi.

Take a ride on the Langkawi cable car

The Langkawi cable car, the longest free-span, single-rope cable car system in the world,   provides a thrilling ride to the top of Mount Mat Cingang, the island’s second highest peak that towers to height of 706m (2,316-ft.). This steep cable car ride stretches traverses a distance of 2.2km and usually extends over fourteen minutes. The rocky summit of Mount Mat Cingang hosts a long, curved suspension bridge that affords gorgeous views of the island and the dense jungle that covers the pinnacle .

http://www.panoramalangkawi.com/

Discover the treasures of the ocean at Pulau Payar Marine Park

The Pulau Payar Marine Park is located at a distance of 30km south-east of Langkawi. Easily accessed via a one-hour boar ride from Langkawi, the Pulau Payar Marine Park makes a great choice for a day trip. The park encompasses four unpopulated islands and offers ample opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving, as it is home to much coral and marine life.

http://www.tourism.gov.my/destinations/detail.php?theme=IL&map_code=pulaupayar&state=kedah

Pay a visit to Mahsuri Makam

Mahsuri Makam is an attraction located in the village of Mawat that features the tomb of the fabled Princess Mahsuri. The tomb which consists of a marble crypt is associated with a sad tale referred to as one of the many myths of Langkawi. As the story goes, Mahsuri, a beautiful princess of Langkawi was unjustly accused of adultery by her mother-in-law and sentenced to death.  At her execution, Mahsuri shed white blood to the surprise of onlookers who were then immediately convinced of her innocence. As Mahsuri lay dying she cursed the island of Langkawi by saying it would be barren for the coming seven generations. However, this has not happened for the island has developed and prospered over the ages.

http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/makam_mahsuri.htm

Visit the marine creatures of Underwater World

Langkawi’s Underwater World is a definite must-do if you are visiting the island with your kids in tow.  This aquarium which is located on Langkawi’s famed Pentai Cenang beach is the largest in Malaysia. Underwater World Langkawi showcases more than two hundred species fascinating and varied marine life. The aquarium offers displays of fascinating pelagic creatures like sharks and manta rays, along with various other marine creatures like rockhopper penguins, fur seals, sea dragons, lion fish, giant clam, pufferfish, sea anemones, hermit crabs and many more.

 http://www.underwaterworldlangkawi.com.my/

Go Kayaking on the Sungei Kilim River

Various tour operators in Langkawi offer organized trips to the Sungei Kilim Nature Park, a protected mangrove swamp located on the northeast tip of Langkawi. This picturesque nature reserve encompasses a diverse landscape that features dense mangrove forests, isolated white sand beachfronts and blue lagoons. The park also has the Sungei Kilim River flowing through it and the banks of the river are inhabited by an assortment of much native flora and fauna.  Various tour operators offer kayaking tours on the Sungei Kilim River which are popular with visitors as they offer a chance to observe much native fauna resident in the park like snakes, monkeys, sea otters, sea eagles and monitor lizards. Other attractions of the park include its bizarre limestone formations that emerge from the sea bed in the midst of the dense mangrove swamps. These formations sport interesting if not funny names like the ‘Hanging Gardens’, the ‘Temple of Borobodur’ and the ‘Elephant Stone’.  The banks of the Kilim River are favored by migratory birds between the months of September and March and constitute a popular bird-watching site.

http://www.mm2h.eu/?page_id=569

The Floating Villages of Kota Kinabalu

 

Pulau Gaya is the largest of the cluster of islands located in the emerald waters of the South China Sea, off the coast of the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. The etymology of the name Pulau Gaya can be traced to the language of its main inhabitants, the Bajau. The word ‘Gayo’ in the language of the Bajau translates as ‘big’ and is thus ideal for this island which extends over 3700 acres.

The island which is located within the famed Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is covered with dense tropical forest and lush mangroves. Pulau Gaya is also home to two luxurious eco resorts, the Gayana Eco resort and the Bunga Raya resort. Aside from this island offers nearly 20 km of meandering hiking trails and many spectacular dive sites as the island is ringed with untouched coral reefs. The stunning Police Bay, a 400 meter long stretch of white sand is yet another well-known attraction located on Pulau Gaya as its  quaint floating village.

Pulau Gaya’s floating village called Kampung Gaya consists of stilt houses built along the beach. These stilt houses are connected by plank walkways. Kampung Gaya is believed to be home to approximately 8000 Bajau Laut people. The inhabitants of Palau Gaya work on the mainland in the many markets of Kota Kinabalu

The village is equipped 24-hour electricity supply though it doesn’t have fresh water supply as yet.  Boats transport fresh water from the mainland to Pulau Gaya, though this is set to change in the coming years, as a new project will soon supply the water village with fresh water supply from the mainland.

This unique floating village is quite self-sufficient as it is equipped with both a primary and a secondary school. The last mentioned institution SMK Pulau Gaya was established in 1989, and the school resembles a floating water chalet. Located to the left of Kampung Gaya is another floating village called Kampung Pondo believed to out of bounds as it is rumored  be inhabited by illegal immigrants and other unsavory folk.

A visit to the floating village of  Kampung Gaya makes for a fun day-trip, if you are on holiday in Kota Kinabalu. You can easily charter a boat from Jesselton Point Jetty on the mainland for your trip. Many tour operators located here offer sight-seeing tours to the floating villages of Kota Kinabalu that provide visitors an opportunity to view these unique dwellings at close quarters.

Luxury Shopping in Kuala Lumpur

If you have all the money in the world and you want to go on a shopping spree, then this post is just for you! Kuala Lumpur has a vibrant shopping scene with something for every pocket and if you have a taste for the finer things in life, read on. 

 In this post, we will tell you about the places where you will find the most exquisite haute couture and the most lavish brands from around the globe. Start jotting them down!

Star Gallery

One of most exquisite malls in the world, Star Gallery is every shopper’s paradise on Earth! With seven floors of luxury brands to choose from, you will never run out of choices. What’s more, this mall has some of the most exclusive standalone luxury watch boutiques that you will not find anywhere else in the world. Its avant-garde architecture will speak for its opulent ambience. With stores like Valentino and Hublot, this place has it all.

Pavilion Mall

With over 450 stores to choose from, Pavilion Mall is yet another ostentatious mall. Not only does it have extravagant dining options to choose from, but it also gives you a complete shopping experience! Since it occupies prime real estate along the Jalan Bukit Bintang, you can find it easily. And to make your shopping experience better, this mall has six shopping zones. 

           

Suria KLCC

Suria KLCC is Malaysia’s premier shopping complex. With more than 320 high end local and international retailers, this place knows how to pamper you! It isn’t just the shopping that will make you go wow. This place is also home to Science Discovery Centre and Malaysia’s first concert hall, Filharmonik Orkestra.

These are just some of the places that we feel can give a head start to your shopping extravaganza.

Happy Shopping!!!