Top five golf courses in Malaysia

A’Famosa Golf Resort, Melaka
A’Famosa Golf resort in Melaka is an entertainment cum recreation facility located within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur. This 27-hole parkland course is equipped with three nine-hole loops namely the Rockies, a course littered with boulder outcrops, the Crocodile which actually hosts a crocodile pit in its midst and the picturesque, the Palm course which is speckled with tall palm trees.
http://afamosa.com/

Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort
Part of the Resorts World Complex situated within the Genting Highlands holiday resort and easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur, the Awana Genting offers a Ronald Fream designed championship golf course. This 18-hole golf course is located at a height of 3,100 feet above sea-level, and offers golfers a chance to tee off amongst perennially cool environs. Coupled with stunning mountain views, the Awana course which is dotted with undulating greens and bunkers, holds the promise of many an exciting round of golf.
http://www.rwgenting.com/en/golf/index.htm

Ayer Keroh Country Club, Melaka 
Considered to be one of the best maintained golf courses in Malaysia, the Ayer Keroh golf course was conceived by the former Chief Minister of Malacca, Ghafar Baba in 1964 in an effort to boost tourism to the state. The course which was carved out of the dense jungle surrounding Malacca, offers three scenic nine-hole loops all of which surround the Ayer Keroh Lake and are named Tunku’s nine, Ghaffar’s nine and Governor’s nine.
http://www.akcc.com.my/

Then Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur
Acknowledged as the grand dame of Malaysian golf, the Royal Selangor Golf club (RSGC) is the oldest golf club in Malaysia which dates back to 1893. The club which is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur has the who’s who of Malaysia as its members. The RSGC is equipped with two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole course. The club is also equipped with a driving range and offers a golf program for children.
http://www.rsgc.com.my/

Palm Resort Golf and Country Club, Johor
Johor, the southernmost Malaysian state is home to several excellent golf courses, which are visited frequented by golfing enthusiasts from across the border in Singapore. A popular choice is the Palm Resort Golf and Country club, which is equipped with three 18-hole championship courses –the Allamanda, Cempaka and Melati courses, all of which are enveloped by lush gardens and much tropical flora. Golfers believe Allamanda to be the easiest of the three loops, while the Melati course which measures a whopping 7,205 yards is the longest and most challenging course, that is littered with 35 sand bunkers, six water bodies  as well as  Malaysia’s longest hole measuring 684 yards.
 http://www.palmresort.com/

South East Asia’s highest mountain- Mt Kinabulu

Malaysia is known the world over for its many diverse attractions, many of which have been accorded UNESCO World Heritage site status. One such magnificent specimen is the spectacular Kinabalu National Park, located at a distance of ninety-kilometers from the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and considered to one of the world’s most glorious natural environments.
The Kinabalu park is home to an awe-inspiring amount of bio-diversity that includes thousands of species of flora and fauna, most of which are resident on the slopes of the park’s, towering sentinel, the magnificent Mount Kinabalu, which rises to a height of 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level and whose peak, called Low’s Peak seems to be perennially shrouded in swirling mists.
Kinabalu National Park is visited by thousands of tourists every year.  Most of the visitors to the park come with the aim of climbing Mt Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks of South East Asia. Luckily for these tourists, Mt Kinabalu is one of the easiest peaks in the world to conquer and climbers of all abilities including those with little or no mountain climbing experience have been known to have successfully reached its summit and drunk in the breath-taking views.
On average, climbers equipped with a reasonable level of fitness take two days to scale the mount. Climbers usually start their journey from the Timpohon Gate situated near the park headquarters. The climbers then can choose to follow one of the two trails that lead to the summit-the Summit Trail or the Mesilau Route. After hiking throughout day one, climbers usually break for the night at a point called Laban Rata, which is located at a height of 3273 meters (10,738 feet) and is equipped with guest houses. They then continue onwards with their journey to the top rising early on the second day, in order to get to the summit to take in the usually stunning views at sunrise. After having had their fill of the panoramic views, the climbers generally begin their descent back towards the park headquarters.
All throughout their climb, the climbers are awarded with sights of the peak’s diverse montane vegetation patterns.  These varied patterns of plant and tree life, include fruit trees like durian, rambutan, fig and carnivorous pitcher plants that inhabit the lower rungs of the mountain.  A range of trees like conifers, oaks, members of the tea and eucalyptus families and mosses, ferns and liverworts are then widespread between levels located at heights between 2,600 to 3,200 m (8,530 to 10,499 ft.).  The mountain is then anointed with many varieties of orchids which are visible on its higher rungs. Also on display is the vibrant animal and bird life endemic to the Kinabalu Park, like pygmy squirrels, fruit bats, black and Kinabalu shrews, the mountain blackbirds, rhinoceros hornbills and leaf monkeys and many others.
A climb up Mount Kinabalu is certainly a treat for the mind, body and soul and is definitely recommended on any trip to the wondrous paradise, Kinabalu Park.

Secret Garden

Malaysia abounds with much natural beauty, preserved in its many parks and nature reserves, but now one of Malaysia’s premier shopping destinations, the gargantuan, 1 Utama Shopping center located in Bandar Utama, Damansara, a township in the north of Petaling Jaya, has created its own verdant paradise, its relatively new attraction, the Secret Garden, located on the roof top of the mall
This lush, carpet of greenery which encompasses 30,000 sq. feet, is not really a secret, for its existence has long been known to staff and tenants of the mall. However, access to the garden initially was only by way of a hidden lift, as it was out of bounds for the general public. This has now changed and the public now can enjoy this tropical garden for free on weekends and public holidays.
This lush paradise was conceived and developed by the director of the 1-Utama mall, Datuk Teo Chiang Kok, an avid nature conservationist who worries about issues like preserving the environment for future generations. Datuk Teo’s idea was given life and form, by the project lead, well-known Malaysian botanist and researcher, Dr Francis Ng.
The Secret Garden is home to more than 600 species of rare and unusual plants including cacti, succulents and dry climate plants, climbers like clematis, cool-climate plants like rhododendrons and camellias, flowering plants, accent plants like palms, cyads, century plants and giant aroids, ornamental plants like crotons and begonias, and various other temperate and highland plants along with herbs, spices and water plants like the Madagascar tree arum.These various plants are carefully labeled and arranged according to their categories within 16 zones.
Several innovative methods have been employed in the cultivation and creation of this verdant paradise. These various experimental methods include the use of soil and Biochar (crushed charcoal pieces) as growing agents and the use of a system of hidden sprinklers set on timer, to ensure that the plants are misted and watered even during the driest part of the day. Other revolutionary methods used at the garden include irrigation methods that use water derived from the mall’s air-conditioning system and a rainwater harvesting system to recycle rainwater, so that the entire effort is environmentally friendly as well.
Visitors to the garden can learn about the many plants, trees and shrubs on display as they stroll through this green heaven and relax on the benches that litter the garden’s many pathways.
So remember if you need a respite from shopping on your next visit to the 1-Utama mall, head to its rooftop and relax and rejuvenate, in the midst of the verdant splendor of the mall’s Secret Garden.

Best locations in Malaysia for scuba-diving and snorkeling

Malaysia is known to be a great destination for scuba-diving enthusiasts for the country is littered with numerous dive resorts that feature gorgeous white sand beaches, crystal clear seas and live coral reefs, all of which offer the diving and snorkeling enthusiasts the chance to get up close and personal with the amazing life that exists beneath the oceans. Lion fish, frog fish, bat fish, reef sharks, parrot fish and even deep-sea residents like hammer head sharks and manta rays can be viewed on a scuba-diving or snorkeling expedition in Malaysia.
Given the plentiful choices Malaysia offers for a diving enthusiast, listed below are some of the best  sites for a spot of scuba diving and even snorkeling in Malaysia.
Pulau Redang
Redang Island is an island paradise, situated in the South China Sea off the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The island is actually one of nine islands that make up the protected enclave of the Redang Marine Park. Most resorts located on the island offer scuba and snorkeling trips for their guests.
The Marine Park area of Redang Island is home to about 3000 species of fish and 500 species of reef-building coral. The park also encompasses a ship-wreck, as an added attraction for divers. Some of the popular dive sites located here are Big Mount, Staghorm Garden and Batu Terjun. The best time to visit Pulau Redang is believed to be between the months of April and September or the ‘dry’ season.
Pulau Tioman
Pulau Tioman is a favored island destination in Malaysia. This jewel-like island paradise located 35 km of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, in the South China Sea, is renowned for its sandy beaches, coral reefs and lush rainforests. The marine area around Tioman Island has been classified as a marine park in an effort to protect its indigenous aquatic flora and fauna. The park is nonetheless scattered with excellent dive sites, the most popular of which is Renggis reef. The best time to visit Pulau Tioman for diving is thought to be between the months of April and September.
Mataking Island
Mataking Island situated in the Celebes Sea near the town of Semporna in Sabah is another choice diving locating in Malaysia. Divers and snorkelers are treated to frequent sightings of marine creatures like ribbon eels, leaf fish, mandarin fish, frog fish, barracuda and even rare pygmy seahorses, as they explore the reefs that surround the island. Popular dive sites on Mataking island include the Eel Garden, the Turtle Playground, Lobster Lair, the Coral Garden and the famed Underwater Post Office, a man-made reef created by the Reef Dive resort by sinking an ancient 40-foot wooden cargo ship. The best time for diving and snorkeling on Mataking Island is thought to be during ‘the dry season’ or between the months of March to October.
Sipadan
Sipadan is recognized as one of the best dive destinations in the world. This small island located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah is easily accessed by speed boat from the town of Semporna on the mainland. Rainforest covered Sipadan is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and the sparkling waters that surround the island host as many as 3000 species of fish, along with many types of coral. Moreover, the waters which surround the island are also renowned for their incredible year -round visibility which in fact is enhanced to more than 50 meters during the dry season.
The island offers more than a dozen unique dive sites, which offer divers and snorkelers, a chance to view at close quarters fish like barracudas, white-tip reef sharks, parrot fish, triggerfish, eagle rays along with various types of hard and soft coral and turtles like green and hawksbill turtles. The best time to visit Sipadan is thought to be during the island’s dry season i.e. between the months of March and October. A point to remember, the island’s star attractions, the hammerhead sharks congregate in the waters around the island during the months of April to May, a time considered to be mating season for the pelagic creatures.

Colors of Malaysia

Colors of Malaysia, is month-long celebration of Malaysia’s rich multicultural and multi-ethnic heritage. The festival which is locally known as ‘Citrawana’ is an annual celebration slated for the month of May each year. The celebration of the kick-off event for ‘Citrawana’ this year is schedule for the 18th of May.
This grand cultural extravaganza will be held at the city center Dataran Merdeka (Freedom Square) of the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur and will feature the participation of approximately 4000 dancers and musicians. Each of Malaysia’s thirteen states will participate in this glittering celebration consisting of a parade that extends over one and half kilometers. By way of their participation, the states seek to showcase the fascinating multicultural social fabric of Malaysia. These various Malaysian states make use of traditional song and dance presentations to illustrate this truly unique aspect of Malaysian society.
The states’ performances are usually full of vigor and passion, and never fail to mesmerize the huge crowds that congregate for the event. Aside from rejoicing Malaysia’s great cultural diversity, these dynamic recitals also aim to draw attention to the country’s brilliant future.
The flag-off Citrawana parade is usually followed by a celebration of all things Malaysian in the form of grand pageants, carnivals, cultural expositions and feasts. All these various festivities associated with ‘Citrawana’ seek to highlight Malaysia’s various traditional arts and crafts along with its rich cuisine, believed to be truly representative of the melting pot that is Malaysia, a country home to a population made up Malays, Chinese, Indians and the Orang-Asli (indigenous aboriginal people) peoples.
The idea of the ‘Citrawana/ Colors of Malaysia’ festival was conceived by the Malaysian government in an effort to boost tourism to the country. To further give impetus to this effort, the retail and hospitality sectors of Malaysia also offer attractive rebates to both international and domestic visitors so as to encourage them to visit Malaysia and its various diverse regions as they shop for traditional, Malaysian arts and crafts like pewter, batik, songket, beaded slippers, wood carvings and feast on delicious Malaysian eats.
Hence if you choose to visit during the month of Citrawana, you are likely to be surrounded by expositions of the ‘real’ Malaysia in the form of myriad cultural performances. So don’t be surprised, if the staff at your hotel in Malaysia break out in song and dance during your stay, for they are only introducing you to the vibrant ‘colors’ that make up the fascinating country that is  Malaysia

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