Showing posts with label malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label malaysia. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2009

Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

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Destination #11: Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

Year of Visit: 2007

Fraser's Hill is a hilltop resort located in the state of Pahang in Malaysia.

It was discovered in the early 20th century by a group of British clergymen during the colonial era and it was developed into a hill station by the British to escape from the heat of the lowlands.

Today, Fraser's Hill is a popular getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city especially among city folks from nearby Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Fraser's Hill is located approximately 100km from Kuala Lumpur.

I first set foot on Fraser's Hill in 2006, fell in love with it immediately and I went back again in 2007. Fraser's Hill is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque hill resorts in Malaysia with plenty of greenery, chiefly British architectures and a cool high altitude temperature.

Many beautiful colonial-styled bungalows are privately owned by certain individuals, companies and organisations. It is quite unfortunate that those who are not affiliated to any of those organisations, companies or individuals who own some of the bungalows at Fraser's Hill will have to get a room in one of the hotels in town depriving them of the opportunity to enjoy the luxuries and comforts of living in one of these British bungalows.

These bungalows have a cosy feel to it and many of them have a very large lawns. Large enough for a diverse range of flowers and plants to grow which went on to attract the birds and the bees.
The bungalow that has brought us many good memories.

From the side.

I realised that these bungalows in fact have a striking resemblance to the country houses I have seen in Britain. It is as if these bungalows were transplanted 10,000 over km from the UK to Malaysia.

Vegetables planted by the locals for their own consumption.

The backyard.


Another nicely refurbished bungalow - in case you can't read see, the signboard reads Richmond Bungalow. You guys should seriously consider taking the trail up to the cluster of private bungalows but be careful not to wander too far into their compound. I was accused of trespassing by the housekeeper of the Singapore House for merely admiring the flowers in his compound. He even threatened to sue me for trespass!

Our meals were prepared by the housekeepers throughout our stay there. The housekeepers can really cook! They've been there for decades, I won't be surprised if they were trained by their predecessors who have served the British back in the colonial days.

The famed clock tower of Fraser's Hill.

The lush greenery on Fraser's Hill.

After spending a day in the comforts of the lovely bungalow we set out for some outdoor activities - first pit stop - horse riding.



Trees at the riding range.

2nd pit stop - bungalow hopping. I wish I have a holiday home up here one day.

I will dream harder.

Pit stop #3 - boat paddling at a nearby lake. Yes there's a lake on Fraser's Hill and it's large enough for you to paddle deep into the jungles and never be seen from the station.

It was very misty that morning that within seconds the mist had enveloped the lake and parents were screaming hysterically for their children to come back fearing that they would paddle deep into the jungle and run away from their controlling parents.

The mist later enveloped the hill which made driving dangerous so we went back to the bungalow and curled around the fireplace playing cards and sipping English tea.

Dory fish and mash for breakfast. Heavenly.

We head down to town again later in the afternoon to hunt for souvenirs.

The picturesque clock tower and post office.

We then drove out of town again in search of a mini waterfall.

There was a trail which led us along a flowing stream, it was such a serene sight, only birds chirping and the sound of water hitting the rocks as it flows through the stream.

We followed the flowing stream, walk through narrow paths, some ascending, some descending until we saw what we all have been looking for.

The mini waterfall. The water near the waterfall was shallow hence the kids had alot of fun.

We then continued with our tour around Fraser's Hill in the car and we came to this old English bungalow cum hotel. I highly recommend this place if you love unconventional and distinctively unique hotels.
Before we left, a special occurrence took place which was later reported as a solar phenomenon. I reckon it was the high altitude which made it so visible to the eyes.


The Fraser's Hill ranks among my top three most favourite holiday destination in Malaysia.

It is undeniably one the most perfect family getaways from city life in exchange for a quiet and laid back lifestyle.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Penang, Malaysia

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Destination: Penang, Malaysia

Special Entry


Penang or Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
also known as the Prince of Wales Island and the 'Pearl of the Orient'.

Founder: Captain Francis Light, 1786
Capital: Georgetown - Named after King George III of Great Britain.

A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE since 26 July 2008

Penang, the inner city of Georgetown in particular is a cultural and religious melting pot with a unique colonial heritage which will transport you two centuries back. As you step out of the inner city you will see modern Penang with skyscrapers reaching the sky, nice beaches and hills. And not forgetting Penang's renowned street food! Penang has it all!

*Click on the links provided for more information.


Before you start exploring Penang proper, head to the Penang State Museum at Farquhar Street to learn more about Penang and her history.


Opening hours :
9.00am to 5.00pm - Saturday to Thursday
Closed: Friday

Admission Fees: RM1.00 (Adult)


So far, I have brought two foreign visitors around Penang and played host to my friends from outstation and at the same time read alot of travel blogs written by foreign visitors to Penang.

Most foreign backpackers were clearly not very well-informed about Penang thus they found Penang to be boring and lack places of interest. They ended up sitting around their budget hotels in Chulia Street drinking beer and chatting with other backpackers.

As a proud Penangite, I would love to play my part in promoting Penang to the world.

Bried Facts

1. State with highest population density in Malaysia.
2. Only state in Malaysia where ethnic Chinese are the majority.
3. State with third largest economy in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor.
4. Home to multinational corporations such as Intel, Dell, AMD, Seagate and Motorola.
5. Cyber-city status and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. 9th most liveable city in Asia - ECA International Location Ranking Survey
7. Has the best street food in Asia - TIME Asia

When is the best time to visit?

Check the events calendar at the Penang Tourism website.

Annual events to look out for:
Penang International Dragon Boat Race
Penang International Floral Festival
Wesak Day Procession
Bon Odori Festival
St. Anne's Festival
Chingay Procession
Hungry Ghost Festival
Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Getting around.


Getting around Penang can be hard work, as buses (has since improved - check out RapidPenang [check the routes on the website]) tend to be infrequent and taxis uniformly refuse to use the meter. Always haggle with the taxi driver and agree on a price before jumping into a taxi. Avoid driving during the rush hours between 7.30 a.m. - 9.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. -7.30 p.m. Motorcyle riders can be undisciplined and tourists should be extra vigilant of them. One of the best ways to sightsee is to walk around Georgetown; but wear light clothes, start early in the morning, and put on plenty of sun-block during the daytime. When crossing the roads, remember to look both ways, even on a one-way street! (motorcycles/scooters/mopeds)

[source - wikitravel]

clockwise from top left: Penang trishaw, Penang ferry, Rapid Penang bus, Penang Hill tram.

The main hub for RapidPenang buses in Georgetown is at Komtar and the secondary hub is at the ferry terminal.

Express/long-distance bus terminal is located at Sungai Nibong, south of the island.

Accommodation - Try here & here

There are plenty of options ranging from budget ones along Chulia Street & Love Lane to highly exclusive hotels and resorts such as the Eastern & Oriental Hotel and Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa.


Places of interests:


clockwise from top left: Queen Victoria Clocktower, Fort Cornwallis, Church Street Pier, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.

clockwise from top left: Penang city hall, Penang town hall, Penang legislative assembly, prewar shophouses.

photo taken from photojerk.com - Homestead Mansion along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Georgetown Inner City which includes many heritage sites and historical buildings such as:
(click on the links!)
  1. Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base
  2. The 1886 Building
  3. ABN-UMRO Bank (Royal Bank of Scotland at present)
  4. Ban Hin Lee Bank building
  5. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
  6. Church Street Pier
  7. City Hall Buildings
  8. Eastern & Oriental Hotel
  9. Fort Cornwallis
  10. Francis Light's Tomb
  11. The Garage,
  12. Ghee Hiang biscuits
  13. House of Yap Chor Ee (The Sire Museum Restaurant)
  14. Hu Yew Seah
  15. India House
  16. Jewish Cemetery
  17. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building
  18. Limburg (KFC Larut Road)
  19. Logan Memorial
  20. Loke Mansion
  21. Malayan Railway Building
  22. Penang Supreme Court
  23. Queen Victoria Clocktower
  24. Standard Chartered Bank Building
  25. State Assembly Building
  26. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Centre
  27. Penang Town Hall
  28. Woodville Mansion
  29. Penang HSBC Building
  30. Homestead
  31. Clan Jetties & Chew Jetty Weld Quay
  32. Pinang Peranakan Mansion
  33. KOMTAR Tower


Places of Worships

  • Clockwise from top left: Khoo Kongsi Clan House, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, Church of Assumption.

    Clockwise from top left: Kek Lok Si Temple, St. George's Anglican Church, Hindu Temple, Floating Mosque.

    Clan House/Clan Temples


    Chinese Temples


    Hindu Temples


    Churches


    Mosques


    Thai Buddhist Temple


    Inner city tour - Try the three-wheeled trishaw for a pleasant experience of an inner city tour. Some of the trishaw peddlers are pretty knowledgeable when you ask them about Georgetown and its history. Take the Penang ferry as well from the island to the mainland and back for the unique experience. It is the oldest ferry service in Malaysia.

    Colonial era schools

    Penang Free School, est. 1816 - The first English-medium secondary school in South East Asia.

    Gurney Drive promenade at night.


    Gurney Drive

    Penang's centre for entertainment, food and shopping where locals and tourists alike throng the promenade after the sunset to eat their favourite Penang hawker food, stock up on pirated DVDs, young couples dating along the promenade, kids running around, shoppers walk in and out of Penang's premier shopping mall, Gurney Plaza, youngsters sipping Cappuccino in trendy cafés or teh tarik in nearby mamak stalls, some getting ready to party in nearby clubs and lounge, ambitious young men gazing at the expensive condominiums along Gurney Drive, luxury cars and sports cars zooming into hotel lobbies....this is the centre of Penang!

    Beaches




    There are also many hotels and resorts such as the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Golden Sands Resort and the upcoming Hard Rock Hotel are located.

    If you fancy water sports activities make sure you make a trip up to Batu Ferringhi!

    There are plenty of restaurants in this area and a night market selling souvenirs and all sorts of paraphernalia.


    Nature Sites



    Only if you have time to spare:
    Chinatown - Roughly bordered by King Street, Stewart Street, Muntri Street, and Campbell Street.

    Little India - Market Street, King Street, Queen Street and Penang Street - all now form the heart of Little India.

    FOOD PARADISE


    We Penangites have a passion for eating and Penang's food is known all over the world.

    It has been featured in many international magazines and TV channels such as the Discovery Travel & Living. Don't travel all the way to Penang for a BigMac or KFC for goodness' sake. Venture out and explore Penang's exotic and spectacular food, just follow the local crowd!



    Penang's Famous Hawker Food

    [Click on the link to discover some of them]

    Penang Peranakan Cuisine

    BBQ Steamboat
    Golden BBQ Steamboat, Nagore Place
    Jolly BBQ Steamboat, 8-Row

    Check out the following blogs with extensive reviews of Penang food.
    Shiok or Not
    Lingzie
    PenangTuaPui

    My very own Penang food directory
    -not the most updated one because i've been away for quite a while

    Night Life
    - definitely not as good as KL's but it's definitely picking up!

    Upper Penang Road & Leith Street
    Gurney Drive belt (includes G-Hotel, Gurney Plaza & Gurney Hotel)
    Batu Ferringhi
    Belissa Row
    New World Park


    E-Gate
    QE II

    Shopping

    Queensbay Mall
    Gurney Plaza I & II
    AEON Seberang Perai
    Prangin Mall
    Island Plaza
    Sunway Carnival Mall
    One Stop Midlands Mall
    Bukit Jambul Complex
    Penang Times Square - opening soon

    ....[for more check out this website]

    I hope all the above information will be helpful.

    Please utilise the links given

    CREDITS: Links mainly from http://penang-traveltips.com

    Photos: Kazuo Lim @ PBase Galleries, Jiann Fa, TYW & Victor of skyscrapercity.com

    Tuesday, December 23, 2008

    Pulau Payar, Malaysia

    4 comments
    Destination #5: Pulau Payar, Malaysia

    Year of Visit: 2007

    Pulau Payar is one of the hidden snorkeling and diving gems of the west coast of Malaysia.

    Situated in the northern part of the Straits of Malacca, Pulau Payar can be assessed from Pulau Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Kedah on the mainland.

    Image courtesy of http://www.malaysiasite.nl/payar.htm

    There are no accommodations on this island but if you wish to live the semi-castaway life of Robinson Crusoe you may request for a permission from the Fisheries Department in Alor Setar, Kedah to camp on the island. The marine life at the Pulau Payar Marine Park is very much alive and kicking but be please be reminded that fishing is strictly prohibited.

    Most tourists make a day trip to the Pulau Payar Marine Park from Pulau Langkawi, Kuala Kedah (approximately 30 minutes ferry ride) and Penang (approx. 1 hour).

    I, for instance, took a day trip from Swettenham Pier, Penang.

    This is how the Pulau Payar Marine Park looks like. The ferry will first drop you off on a large Langkawi Coral floating platform. That's where you leave your belongings behind, put on your snorkeling or diving attires, apply your lotion, listen to instructions, get your shower and off you jump into the water.

    The turqoise water and corals beneath.

    When we were there we brought along with us loaves of bread to feed the fishes.

    I'm not sure if it's still permitted though. Ask the operators when you make your reservation.

    Feeding the marine fishes was really exciting and plenty of good fun. Hundreds of them will swim to you so quickly as if they have not eaten for years and it's also the best time to prank your friend by throwing bread at him. The fishes will nibble him all over thinking that he's a giant piece of bread.

    For those who don't dive, you can marvel at the spectacular sights below the surface from the observation chamber at the floating platform.

    A barracuda and a diver close by.

    You can also dive near the observation chamber to have your photo taken - like this!

    The Langkawi Coral floating platform.

    Just before the buffet lunch, you will be transported to the beach in a glass bottom boat for a walk on the sandy beach and also to witness a shark feeding session.



    Shark feeding session.

    The black-tip baby shark, similar to the one in Maldives!

    You don't have to go to Maldives to see it, haha!

    Remember to bring your camera with you when you're transported from the floating platform to the island! You won't wanna miss out on the shark feeding photos!!

    The school of fishes and baby sharks was a very pretty sight.

    The giant floating platform and the corals of Pulau Payar Marine Park.


    A group photo taken from the observation chamber on the floating platform.

    For more information of the Pulau Payar Marine Park, log on to:

     

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