Asian News on Travel and Hotels

A lot of people have 24, and only 24, hours in Kuala Lumpur. Think about it. The foremost metropolis is a paragon alpha world city in Asia, let alone Malaysia, and, as such, a global financial pulse point. The result? Hordes of business travellers. Head honcho executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, all in town for a short stay, for a pitch, a confab, a conference, or layover.

Kuala Lumpur is a hub, point. Your travels may well take you to hotels in KL, either on business, leisure, pleasure or all of the above. If you happen to be so fortunate, this 24 hour guide will prove essential.

Menara Kuala Lumpur
2 Jalan Punchak

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KL’s other tower is a made-for-tourism dynamo with all the requisite attractions, from observation deck to panoramic restaurant (yes, it revolves).

Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is one of Southeast Asia’s retail and entertainment district par excellence. Replete with busy pedestrian enclaves, stellar budget eats, spas, malls and nightlife spots, the area is KL’s irrepressible hive of activity.

Where to stay: Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Malaysia |

Sabah, the Malaysian state in northern Borneo, is considered one of the best destinations for adventure and ecotourism. Many visitors, for instance, venture to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park or attempt to conquer the summit of Mount Kinabalu.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

Malaysia offers a ton of special events and holidays in which to participate. Hari Merdeka, for one, or Independence Day, involves the entire country, from Kota Kinabalu to Langkawi, and takes place every August 31. The de facto national day commemorates the formal dissolution of British colonial rule and establishment of a true Malaysian state.

Merdeka Square – Photo credit

Muslim holidays, of course, form a big part of the annual calendar, from Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of Ramadan, to Hari Raya Haji. Other important holidays in eclectic, multi-cultural Malaysia include Chinese New Year, Duanwu, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Diwali, Thaipusam, Vaisakhi and Wesak. Suffice to say that young residents of Malaysia receive a deep cultural education, practically by osmosis, by virtue of the diverse cultural, religious and secular holidays that populate the calendar. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Malaysia |

Bako National Park is the oldest national park in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia and spans a tidy 27 km². With easy accessibility from the city of Kuching, comfortable accommodation and exotic flora and fauna, waves of tourists include the national park on their Borneo to-do lists.

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The usual gateway to Bako National Park is via a flight to the vibrant city of Kuching. There are groups who book their own hotels in Kuching and simply arrange for overnight stays within the park from there. To arrange and pay for accommodation, one must proceed to the Visitors Information Centre and take a 45-minute taxi or bus ride to Kampung Bako village. Once in Kampung Bako, a short boat ride takes you to the National Park. A small entrance fee later and Bako is yours to explore.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

Putrajaya is located about 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur (KL) and only 20 km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang.  In 1999, a new seat of government was chosen to avoid congestion in frenetic KL. The development of a new capital city was an idea hatched by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad years before. As a result, the planned city was built over a vast 5,000 hectare swamp.

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In 2001, Putrajaya was made a Federal Territory of Malaysia, the third in the country with KL and Labuan.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

Lying near the Pacific Ocean, Malaysia sees its share of monsoons, vast tropical storms that whip the seas and land with torrential rains and powerful winds. In an act that makes lemonades out of lemons, the Malaysian government launched the Monsoon Cup, a sailing event that pits the will of man versus the awesome forces of nature.

Photo courtesy of Foto Ilustrativa.

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Posted in Events, Malaysia |

I have been fortunate enough to see the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur several times in the past.  As for the Skybridge, well, I never had the chance to visit it up close and personal.  You see, the climb to floor 41 of the impressive twin skyscrapers not only requires precious ringgits but in my case, a good deal of patience and sheer determination as well.

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The Petronas Twin Towers (or simply the Petronas Towers) were designed by Argentine architects César Pelli and Djay Cerico. The towers were the world’s tallest upon completion in 1998 but had to relinquish the glory to Taipei 101 in 2004.  Still, the modern icons are the tallest twin buildings worldwide, which counts for something.

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Posted in Malaysia, Things to do |

From the 1st to the 31st of October, 2010 Kuala Lumpur will celebrate its food culture with the 10th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival. With this year’s theme being “Magic Chefs”, you can guarantee a month of food fantasy as 30 of Malaysia’s top restaurants send their best chefs to present their wondrous cuisine.

Photo courtesy of giselleai.

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Posted in Events, Food, Malaysia |

There are quite a number of destinations in Asia where one can throw caution to the wind and experience the exhilaration of white water rafting.  Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia is no different.

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White water rafting is an adventure sport laced with high voltage thrills. It involves a small group of people who plot the course of a river on board a raft.  The label “white water” comes from the frothy white appearance of the rapids. These white water rafting tours are offered on a regular basis by tour groups usually in partnership with different hotels in Kota Kinabalu.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

There is always something interesting to learn in each and every country I visit.  Exploring different tourist attractions allows me to understand more about a country’s culture and rich history.  When I check out the various shops, I meet numerous locals, chat and fill my suitcase to the brim. It’s a classic best of both worlds scenario – educating myself and giving in to guilty pleasures.

The Petronas Towers Photo by:  kitci

It’s no secret that Malaysia is a favorite destination among tourists from all over the globe.  I feel quite fortunate to have visited a couple of Malaysian cities and even made some friends along the way. Some have introduced me to the wonderful world of Malaysian crafts by inviting me to the Kompleks Budaya Kraf – or literally, the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |