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.
1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival
Vibrant colours leap out from the painting, embellishing the walls with a unique style of Malaysian contemporary art.
Malaysian art scene has steadily gained acclaimed recognition with the emergence of unique painting styles, catapulting Malaysia's artists to international prominence.
Gaining momentum as an art tourism destination, Malaysia is slowly but surely entering the international art foray with a yearly three-month long campaign held from July to September under the aptly titled, ' 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival'.
Entering its third year, the festival, aims to establish Malaysia as a hub for contemporary art in the region by showcasing the works of local artists. The collaboration of art galleries, museums, state governments, embassies and educational institutions, NGOs and the private sector is also helping to promote the event extensively.
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 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.
Labuan
Labuan, a triangular shaped island with six smaller islands, is located 10 km off the coastal waters of Sabah.
The Federal Territory of Labuan comprises Labuan Island (75 km²) and six other smaller islands which are Pulau Burung, Pulau Daat, Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Papan, Pulau Rusukan Kecil, and Pulau Rusukan Besar.
Facing the South China Sea, Labuan is situated south-west of Sabah and to the north of Brunei Bay. One can visibly see nearby Sabah and Brunei which is accessible via ferry service.
It is one of three federal territories in Malaysia. The others are Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, located in Peninsular Malaysia. Labuan is recognised as an international offshore financial and business centre.
It is said that Labuan is derived from the Malay word used at the time, labuhan, which means port.
Offering a host of amenities, Labuan has become a popular island for tourists foreign and local. It boasts world-class resorts, sandy beaches, duty-free shopping, wreck-diving, golfing as well as several important World War II Memorials.
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.
A day-trip to Melaka
Click! Click! Click! …
Standing excitedly in front of Porta De Santiago, Timothy Woo snapped away with his camera.
He and three of his friends, from the United States, went on a one-day trip to Melaka recently.
“We were asking around for a destination that we could go on a day-trip from Kuala Lumpur, and everyone suggested Melaka,” said Timothy Woo, of Boston, Massachusetts.