All Across Malaysia

Petronas Towers

Petronas Twin Towers were once the tallest buildings in the world. Now the world’s tallest twin structures, the 88-storey buildings were designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates with both towers joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 58 metre-long, double-decker Sky Bridge.

Standing 452 metres tall, the Petronas Twin Towers retained its world-title claim to fame until 2004 when Taipei's 101 was built, measuring 508 metres tall. Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010) retains the spot as the world’s tallest building. Located in the KL city centre, the Petronas Twin Towers’ architecture is Islamic-inspired and the buildings primarily house the corporate headquarters of the Petronas Company and other offices.

When the Petronas Twin Towers were completed in 1998 they were declared the tallest buildings in the world, surpassing the 442-metre-tall Willis Tower in Chicago, U.S.A. At the base of the Petronas Twin Towers is Suria KLCC, an upmarket shopping mall that is very popular with tourists.

Tower One is fully occupied by the Malaysian state oil company Petronas, and its subsidiaries and associate companies. Tower Two is mostly taken up by multinational companies such as Accenture, Al-Jazeera, Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, Boeing, IBM, McKinsey & Co., Microsoft, Reuters and more.

Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

At the heart of Kuala Lumpur is an area which never sleeps, and far more colourful and bustling than its bigger and more glamourous neighbours, KLCC & Bukit Bintang. Chinatown, based in Petaling Street, is also known as 'Chee Cheong Kai' (Starch Factory Street), a reference to its roots as a tapioca-producing district. Deeply immersed in Oriental culture, heritage and history, Chinatown is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist spots in Malaysia.

Chinatown is also a well-known bargain hunter’s paradise, a place where you can find all sorts of stuff from Chinese herbs to imitation goods. At night, its main market area, Petaling Street, transforms into a lively and vibrant night market, filled with hundreds of stalls offering all kinds of goods at dirt-cheap prices.

Chinatown Attractions
Chinatown’s biggest attraction is perhaps the rows and rows of stalls selling all types of merchandise from food to clothing at bargainable prices. But look further and you will find that there’s more to Chinatown than fake branded goods.

Just around the corner from this paradise of bargains are temples that have been around for more than a century. Built in 1873, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest and most elaborately-designed Hindu temple in the country, while Chan See Shu Yuen Temple and Kuan Ti Temple are fine examples of Oriental architecture with open courtyards, symmetrical pavillions and embellished roofs.
 
Chinatown Restaurants
Chinatown is practically filled with Chinese restaurants and hawker stalls selling all sorts of delicacies from steamed buns to seafood. Almost everywhere you look, a Chinese restaurant greets your eyes, the glorious smells wafting from its kitchen beckoning you to come inside and sample what’s cooking.

But those are not the only things you can find here; there are many more popular delicacies that are unique to Chinatown and can’t be found anywhere else in the city. What’s best about these places is that they are all open until late at night, well into the wee hours of the morning.

Chinatown Nightlife
The nightlife in Chinatown is in a league of its own; it’s not about rows of clubs, pubs and bars offering music-and-alcohol-fuelled entertainment, but the extra colour that seems to grow more vibrant at night, lighting up Petaling Street and its surroundings. The Reggae Bar and The Beatles Bar are situated just across the road from each other, offering a laid-back environment to chill out in.

Chinatown’s night market serves as the area’s main attraction – even bigger and more happening than during the daytime – giving you a kind of nightlife that is quite different from what you may be used to. Soak in the atmosphere of this legendary night market as you trawl the rows of shops and stalls in what is deemed the mother of all night markets.

Chinatown Shopping
Chinatown’s most well-known shopping area is undoubtedly located along the stretch of road called Petaling Street. Marked by a huge, green awning sheltering shoppers from rain and daytime heat, the street is practically stocked to the brim with shops and stalls along it offering all kinds of goods at dirt-cheap prices, from fake branded fashion items to delicious hawker food. The best thing is, the prices can be brought lower still as haggling is the way of life here.

But besides Petaling Street, there are also quite a number of shopping centres around Chinatown, with three malls and a touristy bazaar called ‘Central Market’ (Pasar Seni) serving the area, which, although not as grand and glamourous as their counterparts in the city’s more upmarket areas, offer plenty of good bargains within its walls. Aside from Petaling Street market and shopping malls, there are plenty of independent shops dotted all over Chinatown.

Chinatown Activities
Believe it or not, there are more to Chinatown than hunting for bargains and shopping ‘til you drop. Chinatown is practically littered with foot massage parlours and foot reflexology centres. There is one in every corner, claiming to be the best in town. They’re not only strategically placed, but also reasonably priced as well, making it convenient for visitors to just drop in for a much-needed pampering for their tired feet after a long day hunting for bargains.

Alternatively, you can simply take a walk around, preferably with a camera in hand, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Kuala Lumpur in its most raw form – unbridled and unpretentious.

Aquaria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur

Aquaria KLCC located on the concourse level of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the 5000sqft Aquaria KLCC is said to be largest aquarium in the world. Home to over 150 species of marine life, its star attractions include scary tiger sharks, lethal sea snakes, blue rays, bright coral fish, seahorses and more.

It’s a well-stocked aquarium just begging to be explored, and after a few hours here you'll have seen over 5,000 freshwater and marine creatures, including massive arapaimas, giant groupers, gar fish and more. Some people write it off as a tourist trap, but they’re sorely missing out – beyond the big tanks, with gallons of water, filled with necklaces of kelp, coral and mysterious and sometimes menacing sea creatures, is one of the country’s foremost sightseeing attractions with real depth and complexity.
 
Well worth exploring, Kuala Lumpur Aquarium doesn’t just ‘submerge’ visitors beneath thousands of gallons of seawater – instead the venue is laid out to take visitors through different watery landscapes, from the highlands and flooded jungles of Malaysia, to the Amazon basin, coral reefs and the open ocean. Your journey isn’t a linear one – start off on Level 1 where you’ll see piranhas make quick work of their meal as well as electric eels, elephantnose fish and electric catfish. Also in this section, visitors can check out the DNA Touch Pool where they can pick up and feel the texture of live corals and star fish.
 
The Tunnel at Aquaria KLCC
One of the highlights of Aquaria KLCC is a giant tank (featuring an authentic-looking shipwreck) – a 90m walk-through tunnel with a moving travelator in its centre. Inside you’ll be surrounded by sand tiger sharks, huge stingrays and more. You can take a break from looking at Nemo and his crew, as you head to The Stream which plays host to the giant water rat and the adorable Asian small-clawed otter. Meanwhile, the Jewels of the Jungle section is home to a variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects including the green snake, coatimundi, tarantula and many others; also be sure to check out the exhibit showcasing the life cycle of butterflies.

Weird and Wonderful
Level 2 sees you journeying through the Amazon Flooded Forest where the oversized araipaima, red tail catfish and many others dwell; next, head up to The Coast to see archer fish, horseshoe crabs and more. Later, develop a deep appreciation for deep sea inhabitants such as the octopus and giant blotched fantail ray at the Oceanarium. Lastly, the Weird & Wonderful section is home to chambered nauticus, sea jelly and more, while the Coral Discovery Section has the requisite array of coral, seahorses and more. What’s more, catch the fish feeding sessions which take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in the 2.5 million-litre aquarium.

Diving with Sharks
The best parts of Aquaria KLCC might actually be when you’re feeling a little lost – either literally, given the sheer size of this place, or figuratively, as you try to learn as much as you can about the oftentimes ignored multifaceted deep sea world. Though the aquaria revels in simple pleasures, thrill seekers are also well catered for – they can get-up-close-and-personal with tiger sharks, stingrays and more as the aquarium has a Diving with Sharks program. Even though visitors have to sign a liability waiver form in order to strap on tanks, it’s a safe environment as the sharks have been in Aquaria KLCC for more than five years now and are domesticated. Those who don’t have diving permits can join the Cage Rage programme where visitors take the plunge into the tank within the confines of a submerged cage.

While this elegant underwater world may seem a kid-centric attraction, it caters well to all ages. There are plenty of reasons to ‘dive in’ and those who do will not regret it. After all, how many people can say they explored oceans in just a few hours?

Aquaria KLCC
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 20:00

Location: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Complex, Kuala Lumpur City Centre

Tel: +603 2333 1888 or +603 2333 1975

Langkawi Cable Car

The entrance for the Langkawi cable-car, which takes visitors all the way up to Mount Mat Cincang, Langkawi’s second highest peak,  is located in The Oriental Village in the upper northwest of Langkawi Island, near Pantai Kok. Entering the village and passing through the pleasant oriental garden and souvenir shops, visitors make their payment at a counter before stepping onto an escalator which brings them to the cable-car pedestal.

Once in, the cable-car ascends; you’ll begin to notice the temperature dropping and a windy breeze begin flowing into the cabin through ventilation slits at the top.

After around 600 metres, the cable car reaches the first station, where you disembark to either; take another cable car up to the peak, or lull around the observatory deck and admire the magnificent surroundings. Most will not spend too long here, as the view from the peak is even more amazing. After a short queue, you can grab another cable car and ride up another wire cable which doesn’t rise too sharply, though the initial jolt of the car leaving the second station can feel quite unnerving.

As the car settles to a decent speed after the brief spurt from the station, passengers will be treated to an even higher view of the rainforest and hills below. The car here is at its coolest and in too short a time, you’ll reach the final station which is where most of the excitement is. Passengers leaving the cab will be greeted by a menagerie of stalls selling souvenirs, toys, snacks and drinks.

You’ll want to climb a set of staircases that cuts through a thin forest to reach the observatory deck above. Once on the top, you can finally enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding horizon; the island’s landscape, skyline and seas beyond. At the side is a steel bridge suspended across Mount Mat Cincang and a neighbouring mountain. Walking across this bridge is a fantastic experience and offers a different viewpoint of the island and sea towards the north.

After immersing yourself in the views, it’ll be time to go, and the entire process of cable-car ascent is repeated in a descending route. Along the way, you can pick up some souvenirs at the final or base station before carrying your adventures elsewhere in the magnificent island of Langkawi.

Langkawi Eagle Square - Dataran Lang

Also known as Eagle Square, Dataran Lang is one of Langkawi’s best known manmade attractions, a large sculpture of an eagle poised to take flight. A sight that greets visitors to the island via ferry, the 12 metre-tall statue is one of the island’s most instantly recognizable monuments.

Located at the southeast corner of Pulau Langkawi, besides offering beautiful views of Kuah Bay, Dataran Lang has beautiful miniature fountains, terraces and bridges, making it the ideal place for those postcard-perfect holiday photos. The square is a good place to watch ferries ply across the harbour but plan a trip here early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is at its least intense.

The reddish-brown eagle at Dataran Lang was built as an emblem of the island. According to folklore Langkawi’s name came from two Malay words – ‘helang’ (eagle) and ‘kawi' (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi.

Adjacent to the CHOGM Park and Taman Lagenda Dalam Langkawi, the monument is also within walking distance of some of the best duty-free shops in Langkawi and the Jetty Point Mall – chocolates and alcohol are especially good buys here.

Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls in Langkawi

Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls is billed as the island’s most wonderful natural attraction. Set on Langkawi’s western headlands, its name means Seven Wells Waterfalls, referring to a series of seven connected natural pools fed by seven separate waterfalls in Mount Mat Cincang.

Managed by the Berjaya Leisure (part of the bigwig Berjaya Group), there is an ugly pipeline that runs next to the pools and the waterfall goes all the way to the Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort. This development has resulted in reducing the water flow at the pools during the wet season to a reserved cascade and a trickle in dry season.

Locals say that the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls are home to fairies, but really it is probably the gorgeous flora in the area that makes the place seem magical. Plant life here includes unique lime plants and Sintuk, a climbing type of foliage, which grow abundantly.

Adventure enthusiasts can brave the steep climb to the top of the waterfalls, past huge rocks and through the seven pools: a journey that will take you approximately 45 minutes, along the way you are likely to spot macaques, hornbills and a positively giant squirrel or two along the way.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a boutique hotel that’s one of Penang’s best-known attractions in an ornate edifice built in the traditional Hakka – Teochew style. Located at 14 Leith Street, the structure was erected in the 1880s when Hakka merchant, Cheong Fatt Tze commissioned its construction.

Penang Khoo Kongsi

Khoo Kongsi is one of Georgetown’s most interesting attractions. Built some 650 years ago, it is part of the goh tai seh (five big clans) that formed the backbone of the Hokkien community in olden-days Penang. One of Penang’s most lavishly decorated kongsis, it is located on Jalan Acheh, off Lebuh Pitt.

A kongsi (clan house) is a building in which Chinese families of the same surname gather to worship their ancestors. Representing a family’s social and spiritual commitments between extended relations, ancestors and the outside community, the kongsi also acts as an important means of solidarity. These days the primary functions of kongsis are supportive roles: they help with the educations of members’ children, settle disputes and advance loans.

Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang

Standing on a hilltop at Air Itam, near Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The complex is divided into three zones while the temple grounds comprise the hill entrance, souvenir, food and drinks stalls and the turtle liberation pond. The mid section of the temple houses temples, gardens, the pagoda and the four heavenly kings pavilion; meanwhile the hilltop plays host to an enormous statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin as well as more gardens and temples.

Comprising a series of monasteries, prayer halls, temples and beautifully-landscaped gardens, this national icon was built in 1890 by Beow Lean, a devout immigrant Chinese Buddhist. The ten-acre site was purchased in 1893 and the initial temple structure was built on the summit of He Shan. 20 years later, the two-decade long additional construction of this sprawling house of worship is largely funded by donations from the Penang Straits Chinese community.

The complex is a cornerstone of the Malaysian Chinese community. Also known as the ‘Temple of Supreme Bliss’, it features a maze of souvenir kiosks as well as a turtle and fish pond. The turtle pond – known as The Liberation Pond – was built because according to Chinese tradition, turtles symbolize longevity, strength and endurance and the act of capturing and freeing a turtle is a symbol of spiritual liberation.

Kek Lok Si is both carved into the rock face as well as perched atop the slopes of Air Itam. The main attraction here is the impressive pagoda of Rama VI and at the centre of the complex, the seven-storey, 30-metre high tower is acknowledged as the ‘face’ of Kek Lok Si. Topped with a Burmese crown, Ban Po Thar – the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda – displays a collection of alabaster and bronze Buddhas and has a Chinese octagonal base while its middle tiers are of Thai design. Meanwhile sited in the Hall of the Devas, are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings – each of the Kings allegedly controls one of the four points of the compasses – Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch'i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and lastly Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).

Additionally, there’s a three-storey shrine with a large Buddha icon that was donated by King Bhumibol of Thailand – you can find several temples here as well as shops and a vegetarian restaurant. At the highest level there is a 36.5 metre-high bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy; in the future 16 ornately decorated bronze columns supporting a roof over the statue, as well 1000 two-metre high statues of the goddess are planned to be built.

At the apex are a couple more temples, a fish pond, sprawling gardens and 12 animal statues that represent the Chinese zodiac. Kek Lok Si temple houses tablets and imperial Buddhist sutras gifted by Manchu Emperor Kwang Xi and Empress Cixi of the Ching Dynasty; these historic relics are kept in the temple archives. The impressive complex is usually crowded with visitors and is located approximately three kilometres from Penang Hill.

Markets

Local produce markets can be found all over the highlands and these are one of the spots tourists flock to get everything under one root. There are many of these markets sprouting over the past few years and almost all are located along the main road so you cant miss them. The most popular tourist market is at Kea Farm but you can also find some smaller ones almost everywhere you look.

Strawberry Farms

The climate in Cameron Highlands is excellent for year-round strawberry production and this has encouraged many farmers to cultivate this fruit. In fact, strawberry production is such a big business here, the people of Cameron Highlands have associated themselves very closely with this fruit. Hotels are named after strawberries, clothes come in strawberry prints, there are strawberry toys, strawberry souvenirs, even pillows, strawberry farm visits, strawberry jam, ice cream and a whole range of Malaysian food fushioned with this berry.

Most strawberry farms are concentrated at Tanah Rata, Brinchang and Kea Farm. During higher production season from May till August, many of these farms offer strawberry picking by hand to attract visitors. Visitors wishing to indulge in this activity are charged between RM50 to RM60 a kg of fruit plucked.

Three of the most popular strawberry farms where visitors can do interactive visits are Big Red Strawberry Farm in Brinchang, Kasimani’s Farm close to the Golf Course and Raju Hill Strawberry Farm near Kea Farm.

Tea Plantations

No trip to Cameron Highlands is complete without a trip to the tea plantations. This is one of the main attraction that’s got to be in your “must see” list. You can visit the factories to learn about the tea making process and you can also sit down and enjoy a cup of tea at the cafe. The view overlooking the plantations is beautiful and perfect for the picture album.

Pangkor Fishing Villages

Much of the east coast of the island is given over to fishing, which remains a mainstay of the local economy. The main catches in these waters include anchovies, shrimp, cuttlefish and a local delicacy known as satay fish. You can see fishing boats going to and fro at certain times of the day and shop for seafood and souvenirs fashioned from shells and other materials harvested from the ocean at the island's fishing villages -- kampung, in the Malay language.

Historic and Natural Sites on Pangkor

Pangkor features a number of historic and natural sites. South of the main town are the ruins of a Dutch fort, a reminder of the 17th century, when that nation ruled the area. Near the fort is Tiger Rock, a one-of-a-kind boulder with a tiger chiseled on it, an enigmatic and haunting relic of the Dutch occupation. For nature lovers, the 800-foot hill at the center of the island offers jungle treks, and in the Pasir Bogak jungle is a suspension bridge dangling near the top of the rain-forest canopy.

Chinese Cemeteries

Some of the more unusual sights near Pangkor are Chinese cemeteries, including the large ones at Seri Manjung and Sitiawan near the mainland town of Lumut, though there are smaller ones on the island itself. Ethnic Chinese cemeteries in Malaysia feature distinctive horseshoe-shaped low walls enclosing the main monuments, which are often elaborately decorated with works of art and Chinese calligraphy. As befitting Chinese custom, the grave sites are meticulously maintained and are the focus an annual festivals and periodic offerings of incense, food and drink.