Where Kids Rule
DARYL YEP CHECKS OUT KIDZANIA, THE NATION FOR KIDS, AND IS FASCINATED BY THIS AWARD-WINNING THEME PARK
Kai! That’s probably the first word you’ll hear as you step into KidZania, Kuala Lumpur’s latest indoor family edutainment centre. Here’s how greetings are exchanged instead of hello. It’s personal; giving kids an instant sense of belonging and a feeling of being connected and accepted within a place meant only for them.
KidZania even has its own dance and song, not to mention currency, the kidZos.
The Road to Old Terengganu
Anis Ramli takes a road-trip on one of the earliest-built highways in Malaysia to discover the old-world charm of Terengganu...
The deep seas off Terengganu may be rich in oil and gas reserves, making the east coast state among the region's leaders in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, but some argue that its real treasures are all found on the mainland.
With a documented history reaching as far back as the 2nd century, Terengganu certainly has accumulated a wealth of heritage influenced by the Langkasuka and Srivijaya kingdoms it was part of, and the Majapahit, Khmer and Chinese empires it traded with. Despite modern developments, the old Terengganu still remains - and the best way to explore it? Via Federal Route 3 - approaching a hundred years old, but still one of Malaysia's most scenic highways.
Malaysia Export Exhibition Centre
Did you know that there is a permanent display promoting local products and services from over 500 Malaysian companies?
The Malaysia Export Exhibition Centre (MEEC) at Menara MATRADE in Kuala Lumpur is the place for trade visitors to obtain more information on Malaysian local products for export.
Heaven at the Edge of Borneo
Robert Frost once wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." He could very well have written about Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, a mere dot on the map of Kudat district in Malaysia. Relatively unknown due to its remote location, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau doesn't get many visitors, and for now, this outpost on Borneo Island remains a paradise.
This promontory in an isolated part of Sabah is reachable after three hours' drive northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the last part of which is over unpaved dirt roads snaking through a small traditional Borneo village. A proper road to these parts, in fact, was only built as recently as in the 1960s, prior to which access was made possible only by navigating a boat along the coast.
1Malaysia International Tourism Night Floral Parade
Floating gracefully along Putrajaya Lake, the decorated boats take on a life of their own…
This year, at the 1Malaysia International Tourism Night Floral Parade, visitors will be greeted by a splash of colours, bright lights and mesmerising decorative boats, set to take place from 30 June till 8 July.
A total of 15 boats will converge on Putrajaya Lake, representing popular tourism icons; will sail on for nine consecutive nights at Precinct 2, from 9.30 pm till 11.30 pm.
1Malaysia Year-end Sale 2011
The fabulous 1Malaysia Year End Sale (1MYES) has just started!
It was kicked off officially with a special launch at the Bukit Bintang Dome in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, by Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, the 1MYES 2011 sale season starts from 15 November 2011 to 1 January 2012.
Putrajaya, the making of a city
As a young capital, Putrajaya may not have the character and soul of the great cities of the world, but it is well on its way there with innovative architecture, community-centric town planning and long term ambitions. In relation to many of Malaysia's other cities like Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, the garden city of Putrajaya is like a new kid on the old block. Granted, it lacks the dramatic history of the former and the age-old culture of the latter but what it has in excess is youthfulness, a modern vision and a spirit to embrace the new.
Striking Oil And Spilling Attractions
A lone oil well sits atop Bukit Telaga Minyak in Miri, Sarawak, an icon of the city’s present-day tourist attraction and an important landmark that sparked Malaysia’s entire history in oil and gas. Ironically, it almost never got built if not for the perseverance of a young college dropout from England.
Choosing cadetship over completing his studies at Jesus College, Cambridge, had brought Charles Hose to Borneo in 1886, where he subsequently played an instrumental role in shaping the geographical landscape and history of Miri.
Apparently, it took some 20 years – with many obstacles in between – for Hose to convince various parties of the treasures that lay beneath their feet. Hose, who became Resident of Baram (a district near Miri) in 1890, when he was only 27, had even put up a proposal for oil explorations in Miri; it was, however, rejected by a British consultant geologist on the grounds of rural Miri’s poor logistics at the time.
Tea Garden with a Difference
A RANGE OF TOUR PACKAGES AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS MAKE SABAH TEA GARDEN A POPULAR SPOT FOR BOTH EDU- AND ECO-TOURISM. DARYL YEP FINDS OUT.
Having returned from Cameron Highlands recently where I overdosed on a dizzying array of tea, I suppose going on another tea trip is out of the question. But strangely enough, in no time, I found myself traversing steep and winding roads yet again, to be surrounded by rolling hills of scenic tea plantations and served a variety of tea. Apparently, this writer just can’t resist anything that the Land Below the Wind has to offer.
Nestled in a pristine rainforest reputed to be 130 million years old at 2,272 feet above sea level, Sabah Tea Garden offers visitors an unusual visit to the ‘tea forest’ where rainforest trees and organic tea plants grow side by side. Its popularity as a weekend getaway has been growing through the years, particularly among families and students. Besides, Kota Kinabalu is just a two-hour drive away while Mount Kinabalu Park is merely an hour’s journey.
Dinos Alive!
Apatosaurus (pronounced ah-PAT-uh-SAWR-us).
This long –necked quadrupedal dinosaur, which lived during the late Jurassic period, is one of many dinosaurs now roaming the Pusat Sains Negara, located at Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. An exhibition highlighting these amazing creatures, titled ‘Dinos Alive’ is currently on display until 31 May, 2011.