Kid-friendly places in Malaysia

Planning a family-friendly holiday can be incredibly difficult task, for you have to find a destination that ticks all the boxes and pleases all. Malaysia is one such destination which offers a plethora of attractions that cater to all tastes and ages. Whether it is golfing, shopping, or beach combing, the many myriad destinations in Malaysia offer opportunities for them all and more. You might then be tempted to ask but then what of the youngest members of a family? For children, in fact Malaysia offers wide assortment of delights which are guaranteed to enthrall and enchant.
Theme parks
Malaysia is home to a good selection of theme parks like Resorts World Genting which is located within close proximity to Kuala Lumpur and offers not one but three different theme park experiences at its three main facilities -an indoor park, an outdoor park and a water park. Other notable theme parks in Malaysia include the newly created amusement centres in the southern state of Johor, namely Legoland   the only one of its kind in Asia, Hell Kitty Land and the Little Big Club. However, all these three newly constructed parks tend to cater to younger children.
Also worth a mention is the Sunway Lagoon  Theme Park, a popular day trip option from Kuala Lumpur which also offers a multitude of thrills and chills within its five theme parks which include a wildlife park, an extreme park, a scream park, amusement park and water park.  Other theme parks of note include theme parks like Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, A’Famosa Resort near Melaka and the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.
Nature Reserves
Malaysia’s many nature reserves and national parks give children a chance to learn about its fascinating flora and fauna. Moreover, these parks also give kids a chance to exercise their limbs as they explore their environs. One of the most kid-friendly nature reserves in Malaysia is the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary and Deerland. This elephant conservation center which is easily accessed via a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur is home to 600 wild elephants. At this elephant refuge, children have the chance to interact with the pachyderms at close quarters as the sanctuary offers opportunities for children to go bareback riding on and even swim with these giant creatures. Yet another fun nature-based attraction for kids is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, home to numerous species of exotic birds and the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary.
Similar nature-based experiences can be had at reserves like  the Zoo Negara, the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park,  Orang Utan island part of the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort,  the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary in Sabah, the Penang National Park and, the  Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah
Cultural attractions
Cultural attractions are not usually a hit with children but, you can entertain your children as well as give them a history lesson if you plan appropriately. One such cultural expedition can be planned to Putrajaya,  a planned city located 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur. Putrajaya functions as the administrative capital of Malaysia and is home to several grand buildings like the prime minister’s residence, the court house and various other colonial edifices. Such a sight-seeing expedition to Putrajaya can be combined with some fun activities like a boat cruise of Putrajaya Lake or a leisurely stroll in the gorgeous Putrajaya botanical gardens, believed to be home to more than 700 species of flowers and plants.
Beaches
Malaysia is renowned for its many pristine beachfronts like Batu ferringhi in Penang, and Pantai Cenang in Langkawi which offer a whole host of water sporting facilities at the various resorts that they host. These various water based activities like banana boat rides, snorkeling, riding in glass bottom boats are always a hit with children and adults alike.

Undiscovered destinations in Malaysia

Pristine beaches, bustling cities, animated local markets, lush green rainforests are well-documented icons of Malaysian tourism. However, this vibrant, multicultural country also hosts many stunning, hitherto ‘unknown’ destinations which can be truly described as ‘off the beaten’ path.  Listed below are some of these destinations which have for now been spared the tourist hordes.
Perhentian Islands
Located off the coast of the Malaysian state of Terrenganu, north of the beach paradise of Pulau Redang is a small cluster of relatively untouched islands, known as the Perhentian islands. Perhentian Besar( Big Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil(Small Perhentian) offer miles of virgin, white-sand beachfront which are dotted with a few beach shacks, bars and cafes, but none of the commercial tourism found on many other Malaysian beaches. The islands are part of a conserved area, so activities like fishing or collecting coral is prohibited. The Perhentian Islands abound with gorgeous diving and snorkeling spots and are a well-kept secret among the scuba diving community.
Gemia Island
Gemia Island is yet another idyllic island paradise which is situated off the coast of Terrenganu close to the better-known islands  of Pulau Kapas and  Pulau Redang. This tranquil, island paradise extends over only nine acres and is a nesting site for much native Malaysian fauna like the giant Leatherback turtles, sea eagles and reef herons. The island has a rugged, rocky terrain bordered by a white sand beach and hosts only one resort- the Gemia Island Resort and Spa.  Gemia Island can be reached via a 15 minute boat ride from the Marang Jetty, located at distance of 25 km from the town of Kuala Terengganu.
Belum-Temengor Rainforest
Much of Peninsular Malaysia is covered with lush rainforests. One such verdant enclave is the Belum-Temengor rainforest which is the largest continuous rainforest enclave in Malaysia. It is estimated that the Belum-Temengor rainforest has been in existence for over 130 million years, and  it is thus considered to be one of the oldest rainforest enclaves in the world. The bulk of this 300,000 hectare rainforest is located within the state of Perak but forest spills over into the neighboring state of Kelantan as well. This relatively virgin rainforest is home to numerous species of indigenous Malaysian flora and fauna, including the largest number of Malayan tigers.  Part of the rainforest is designated as the Royal Belum State Park and this verdant territory also hosts the Belum rainforest reserve which serves as an excellent base for rainforest explorations.

The Tour de Langkawi

Cycling is an immensely popular sport in Malaysia. In spite of the Malaysia’s year-round hot and humid conditions, cycling enthusiasts of all ages and levels, enjoy traversing Malaysia’s excellent network of palm-tree lined, flat, paved roadways considered to be extremely conducive to cycling. Accordingly, Malaysia hosts various major cycling events like ACC Track Asia Cup, Le Tour de Langkawi, and the Melaka Chief Ministers’ Cup, amongst others which attract throngs of domestic and international participants.

The biggest of all these various cycling events that are held in Malaysia, is a biennial, tourney called Le Tour de Langkawi. This demanding event was born out of an idea in 1996, suggested by the then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammad. The competition was named after its first origin, a starting point on the beautiful isle of Langkawi, but in recent years the race has not featured Langkawi at all. The initial years of this grueling multi-day cycling event was marred by many disruptions, caused by adverse weather conditions and logistical difficulties, but soon these were ironed out and recent editions of the challenge have been relatively incident-free.

The Tour de Langkawi, is today included as part of  the UCI Asia tour, and it is the only Asian cycling race to have garnered the prestigious two hors category (2HC) badge that indicates that it is a multi-day race for Elite Men. The competition involves a fierce contest for four jerseys, though down the years, the colors of these jerseys have often been altered to suit the preferences of the sponsors. At stake this year, were the Yellow Jersey (General Classification), the Green Jersey (Points Sprint Winners), Red Polka-Dot Jersey (King of the Mountain Winners) and Blue Jersey (The Best Asian Riders). Each individual category featured a winner, though there were also additional contests for titles like Best Asian Team and the Best Overall Team.

The 18^th edition of the Tour de Langkawi featured a strong international presence with Five WorldTour teams and riders, who hailed from thirty nations around the world. The route of the race featured many territorial trials as it crisscrossed seven Malaysian states and territories, namely: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor,  Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.  The various individual stages of the race ranged from 110km to 168km, and it is believed that all the cyclists by the end of the race had covered a total of 1467 kms over a period of 10 days.

The end of the ten day competition saw Nippo-De Rosa's Julian Arredondo emerge triumphant in the individual category, while MTN-Qhubeka team were declared overall winners in the team competition.

Tour de Langkawi  Stages in 2013
Stage 1: Kangar - Kulim     162.7 km
Stage 2: Serdang - Kuala Kangsar     116 km           
Stage 3: Sungai Siput - Cameron Highlands     145.4 km   
Stage 4: Tapah - Kapar     168 km           
Stage 5:, Proton - Genting     110.3 km           
Stage 6: Mentakab - Kuantan     212.8 km           
Stage 7: Kuantan - Dungun     149.8 km           
Stage 8: Kuala Terengganu - Tanah Merah     164.5 km       
Stage 9: Pasir Puteh - Kuala Berang     123.6 km           
Stage 10: Tasik Kenyir - Kuala Terengganu Loop     114.8 km

  

 

Luxury resorts in Malaysia

Malaysia is an immensely popular leisure and business travel destination in South East Asia. Accordingly the country is equipped with a wide range of hotels that attempt to cater to all preferences and budgets. High-end, low-end, mid-range accommodations, Malaysia offers them all and more.  However, the country’s most luxurious resorts deserve a special mention for these opulent abodes provide guests with a truly spectacular vacation experience.
Listed below are some of Malaysia’s most luxurious resorts that are definitely worth breaking the bank for.

The Datai
Regularly included in the list of the world’s best hotels, the fabulous Datai hotel is situated on a gorgeous white-sand beach on the northwestern tip of the isle of Langkawi. Enveloped by virgin rainforests, the Datai’s accommodation’s portfolio includes private villas, beach villas, rooms and suites, all of which are adorned according to local Malaysian sensibilities. Guest facilities at the Datai include an exclusive 18-hole Championship golf course, a secluded private beach, two tennis courts, a full-service spa, two outdoor swimming pools and well-kitted out gym. The hotel is also equipped with four eateries that serve both Asian and international cuisines.
http://www.dataihotels.com/

The Andaman
The Andaman is yet another splendid resort that is located on the ‘jewel of Kedah’ the island of Langkawi. The Andaman which overlooks tranquil Datai Bay, is encircled by an ancient rainforest offers 186 well-appointed rooms and suites. Leisure and recreation facilities abound at the Andaman in the form of the V Botanical Spa, a large outdoor swimming pool and verdant nature trails. The hotel is additionally equipped with state of the art fitness center, several fine dining outlets and top-notch convention and conference facilities. Guests can also stay connected with the outside world with the hotel’s complimentary Wi-Fi access facilities. Younger guests similarly will be kept suitably occupied at the hotel’s Kids Club facility.
http://www.theandaman.com/

Pangkor Laut , Perak
The magnificent Pangkor Laut resort is situated on a private island off the west coast of Malaysia along the Straits of Malacca. Pangkor Laut can be accessed by sea via a thirty –minute ferry ride or then via a helicopter ride from the town of Lamut.  Pangkor Laut is a villa-only hotel and guests at the resort have the option of booking a sea-facing or then a tropical garden villa. All the villas at the resort have balconies and are equipped with modern-day conveniences like flat screen TVs, in-room safes and more. The opulent ensuite bathrooms feature both a bath and shower area and are well-supplied with luxe toiletries especially produced for the resort. A well-equipped gym, two outdoor swimming pools, squash and tennis courts take care of the guests’ recreational needs while the hotel’s award-winning spa ensures that they get enough relaxation. Dining options on the resort are provided by the hotels eight food and beverage outlet that offer a wide range of cuisines.
http://www.pangkorlautresort.com/

Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu’s Pantai Dalit Beach hosts the award-winning Shangri-la Rasa Ria resort that extends over 400 acres. This expansive resort offers 420 opulent rooms and suites, all of which are equipped with their own private lanais/balconies and are kitted out with an assortment of amenities like air-conditioning, complimentary internet access, cable television and much more.
A variety of active pursuits are offered by the hotel’s many recreational facilities which include an 18-hole golf course, three swimming pools, and a 64-acre nature reserve which offers jungle canopy walks along with expeditions to see orang utans and other Malaysian wildlife. Guests who prefer more leisurely activities can avail of a plethora of treatments at the hotel’s full-service spa or then indulge in slow-moving catamaran cruise offered at the hotel’s private beach front. The resort’s eight dining outlets further cater to the guests’ dining needs as they offer a good selection of international cuisines like Malay, Japanese, and Indian, along much continental fare.
http://www.shangri-la.com/kotakinabalu/rasariaresort/

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and   Spa
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa extends over thirty acres on Penang’s famed Batu Feringgi beachfront.  Palm trees, rain trees and lush gardens surround the large-sized resort which is equipped with three outdoor pools. Other recreational facilities at this high-end resort included a par-three nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a fitness center.
This family-friendly resort offers 304 well-appointed rooms and suites, that afford views of the ocean or the hotel’s very own lush tropical paradise.  LCD television equipped with satellite and cable service, complimentary high-speed Internet access, in-room safes, pillow menus,  bathrobes and slippers are just a few of the abundant amenities offered at the Rasa Sayang resort dwellings. Younger guests at the hotel receive special treatment at the hotel as it is equipped with kid-friendly Adventure Zone, a 10,300 square foot indoor play facility that features modular play equipment, slides and a fun-filled game zone.
http://www.shangri-la.com/penang/rasasayangresort/

Top 5 shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur

Shopaholics around the world know that Kuala Lumpur is one of the best shopping destinations in Asia. High-end, mid-market, low-end products, Kuala Lumpur has every taste and budget covered with its wide array of malls, markets and various other shopping destinations. The fact that ‘KL’ as Kuala Lumpur is popularly referred to, is a premier shopping destination in Asia was recently confirmed by the latest Global Shopping Index which praised the city’s unique ability to combine competitive prices with a wide array of products and stores. You may then be prone to ask where in KL serious shoppers should head in order to get the best shopping experience.

KL is in fact littered with bustling shopping malls and given below is a list that features the city’s best malls:-

The Pavilion Mall

The huge city-center Pavilion mall is located at the epicenter of KL’s golden triangle- a prominent shopping, dining and entertainment district which is encircled by three main streets Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail. The Pavilion mall offers outposts of fashion’s biggest names Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bulgari, Bottega Veneta and many more. Aside from these big guns of fashion the Pavilion mall also hosts many local and international eateries, bakeries and a huge food court that offers the best of Malaysian local foods from every region. The mall also hosts several entertainment outlets like a cinema, a karaoke facility and a video-game arcade. A star attraction at the mall is it’s jaw-dropping centerpiece a Liuli Crystal fountain, reputed to be the tallest in Malaysia.

http://www.pavilion-kl.com

Star Hill Gallery

Located adjacent to luxurious KL city-center hotels, the JW Marriott and the Ritz Carlton hotel and residences, the sumptuous Star Hill gallery provides a platform for the leading names of the couture world. The Star Hill gallery plays host to high-fashion gurus like Valentino, Hermes, Alexander McQueen, Missoni, Kenzo along with other luxe retailers like Audemars Piguet, Jaeger Le Coutre, Garrad, Christofle, Edward Kong and others.  The mall also hosts a variety of eateries on its lower floors like Spice of India, Sentidos, Luk Yu tea house, Shiok and Enak KL which serve a smorgasbord of global and local cuisines.

http://www.starhillgallery.com/

Suria KLCC

The towering Petronas towers are KL’s most famous attraction, the Suria KLCC mall which is located at the base of these sky-touching monoliths, is thus one of the most popular shopping destinations in KL. This perennially busy mall welcomes hordes of visitors every day and offers an eclectic collection of brands that cater to all tastes and budgets. Located in the mall are outposts of various international and local brands like Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Bally, Miu Miu, Canali, Burberry, British India, Marks and Spencers, Gap, Banana Republic and many more. The mall also hosts numerous dining options in the form of individual restaurants, cafes, food courts, bakeries and fast-food kiosks. Leisure-time options at KLCC include an aquarium, a cinema and verdant park. The mall also offers tourists a privilege card which entitles them to whole host of discounts at various stores located within the mall. Other services offered at the mall include a prayer room, a parent’s room, banking and money exchange facilities.

http://www.suriaklcc.com.my/

Lot 10

Lot 10 has reigned supreme for several decades on KL’s shopping scene. The mall is a favored spot with shoppers of all ages and offers a plethora of youth centric brands like Zara, H&M alongside big name brands like Braun Buffel, Brikenstock, the National Geographic store, Zang Toi and more. A star attraction at the mall is its exceptional food court, Lot 10 Hutong that features some of the best family-run eateries from all over Malaysia. Lot 10’s Hutong is acknowledged as one of the best destinations for authentic Malaysian eats in Kuala Lumpur.

http://www.lot10.com.my

Plaza Low Yat

If you rather spend your cash on the latest and greatest devices, then you have to include a trip to Plaza Low Yat in your KL shopping itinerary. This mall which is situated on Bukit Bintang hosts numerous vendors of cell phones, computers, laptops, cameras over its seven floors. The prices of these covetable products are supposed to be the ‘best’ at Plaza Low Yat, so if the purpose of your KL shopping expedition is to acquire the newest smartphone or some other highly covetable thingamajigs, then Plaza Low Yat is where you need to gravitate to.

http://www.plazalowyat.com/

 

Exploring the Batu Caves

The Batu caves which are located at a distance of 12 kms from the heart of Kuala Lumpur city constitute one of the most important Hindu religious sites, in the vibrant, multicultural nation that is Malaysia. The caves which ordinarily attract about 5000 visitors a day, are a major focal point during the annual Hindu Thaipussam festival, when they are known to attract more than a million devotees.

The caves and their temples serve as the termination point of the annual and truly fascinating Thaipussam procession which originates from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown and usually spans a period of eight hours. The Batu caves lie nestled amongst limestone hills and provide an informative cultural diversion on any trip to Kuala Lumpur,

Major attractions of the Batu Caves
As you approach the caves, you will be transfixed by the towering, gold statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.  This statue which was erected in 2006 is the tallest one of its kind and it stands sentinel to the 272 steps that lead up to the entrances of the main caves. As you make your way up these grueling steps, you will be rewarded with stunning views of KL city and its suburbs, though you will also be greeted by gangs of chattering primates, who reside in the hills around the caves and prey on unsuspecting tourists.

The Batu cave system is home to three main caverns- the Temple Cave, the Dark Cave and the Art Gallery Cave. The Temple cave is the largest of the three caves and boasts of high ceilings which are nearly 300 feet high. Located within the Temple cave are various Hindu shrines.

The Dark Cave is located under the Temple Cave and this underground grotto features some stunning limestone formations. The Dark Cave is known to host various cave residents like the endangered Trapdoor Spider. The Dark Cave can only be explored by booking a special tour and such an expedition includes much crawling in enclosed spaces so it’s not advisable as a sight-seeing activity if you are claustrophobic or not physically agile.

Across the Temple cave is the Art Gallery cave which features Hindu carvings and wall paintings that depict Hindu legends and deities.

Aside from sight-seeing, the Batu caves are also known to be a favored spot for rock-climbing. 170 bolted routes in the limestone hills around the caves provide great opportunities for climbers of all levels and skills.

Batu Caves 101

•     The caves can be accessed via a 45 minute taxi ride from the Golden Triangle in Kuala Lumpur.
•     Public access to the Batu Caves is free.
•     The caves are open daily from 7:00AM to 7:00PM.
•     The cave area is not disabled friendly; also older travelers may have difficulty negotiating the steps that lead up to the cave entrances.
•     There are several stalls and restaurants around the cave area though many of them tend to be tourist traps.
•     Bring bottled water, a cap, sunscreen and bug spray for your expedition to the Batu caves.
•     If you intend to do any underground cave explorations, carrying a change of clothes is also advisable as the caves located below the surface tend to be very muddy.