It is a very quiet city, situated on the eastern coast of the peninsula, where the most magical creations of craftsmanship and the Malaysian cultural tradition were born: the huge kites, the yarn making on special spools and the little shadow puppetry, masterfully made by the experienced hands of local artist. You can also immerse yourself in the numerous and lively outdoors markets, where you can find little silver pieces of art and batik fabric, that is famous for the tangled and suggestive drawings, splendidly made by hand.
This is the
capital of Malaysia, a modern and vibrant city, where the gracefulness and
taste of the Old World coexist with the glass-and-steel skyscrapers and other Moorish-style
buildings. Shopping in this cosmopolitan city might take you a lot of time, as
there are many malls you can have a walk in, like the Central Market, the
Karyaneka Handcraft Centre and the bizarre Petaling Street. A refined
architecture features the Palace of the sultan Abdul Samad, the train station,
the Dayabumi Centre, the Royal Selangor Club, but above all the Loke
Artiquariam, that exhibits an impressive collection of artwork. Some outdoors
activities are the Batu grottos, a spectacular calcareous formation that hosts
some Hindu temples; the agricultural park of the Scià Alam, a forestry village hosting a rich and luxuriant flora;
and, at last, the Gardens lake, with its hectares of splendid vegetation,
including multicolor-flowers gardens.
New
administrative and financial capital of Malaysia, it is a modern and
technological city, that was built to alleviate Kuala Lumpur’s gridlocks and
overcrowding.
Its
population is a fascinating mix of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Portuguese
races. In the XV c. it became famous for being the Asian largest harbor and a
species trade center. It was later colonized by the Portuguese, the Dutch and
the English and each of them left indelible marks in this city’s landscape.
These marks are visible in the St. Paul’s church, in the Famosa fortress
(theater of the siege of the Portuguese garrison by the Dutch militia), in the
Christ Church and in the Stadthuys one, heritage of the Dutch domination. Other
traditions are relived in the Cheng Hoon Teng temple, the oldest Chinese place
of worship in Malaysia, and in the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum, where there are
many evidences dating back to the XV c.. Some must-visits are the Cultural Museum, a reproduction of the
sultan’s palace, and the Jonker Street, where you can have a walk and discover many
antiques.
It is the
second largest city of Malaysia. Some important attractions are the Perak Tong
calcareous stone grottos and the Sam Poh Tong ones, with very typical temples
in the inside, the Geological Museum, the ruins of the Kellie Castle, the Lake
Gardens of Taiping, the Bukit Larut Hill Resorts, the National Museum, the
Ubudiah mosque, the sanctuary of Kuala Gula Bird and the jungle park of Kuala
Who.
This island
is known for its natural beauty and its legends. The popular beaches are
Cenange, Pantai and Langkawi that offer a great variety of accommodation in
both luxury resorts and medium-price hotels. Some must-visits are Padang
Masirat (the field of burnt rice), Telaga Tujuh (the seven wells), Telaga Air
Panas (the thermal spring), Gua Cherita (the grotto of the stories) and Makam
Mahsuri (the Mahsuri mausoleum). South of Pulau Langkawi there are two
beautiful little islands you can have a journey to: Pulau Singa Besar, a sanctuary
of birds and other animals and Pulau Dayang Bunting, whose attraction is the
calm and fascinating lake.
Off the
coastal city of Lumnut, it is famous for the anchovies and the squids. Its
principal attractions are the beaches of the western coast, Pantai Purteri
Dewi, Teluk Belanga, Teluk Nipah and Pasir Bogak. Pangkor is a private island,
whose emerald-color bay has an amazing thin-and-white-sand beach situated in
the middle of a pure and untouched landscape.
It is a
lively and animated island with many pure beaches: it is a perfect place for
those who love the sun, but also swimming and snorkeling thanks to the tangled
cliffs that dive into crystal clear water.
This island
is part of the Terengganu State, that extends along the eastern coast line for
225 kilometers. The beaches are amazing:
golden sand and crystal clear water make this island an ideal place for diving
and a relaxing life at sea. It is also one of the rare refuges that the giant
turtles choose to nest. In the Malaysian language Perenthian means “break” (it
was once the place where fishermen and pirates used to take a break).
The Penang
island is a mixture of the Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Nyonya cultures. The
capital city, Georgetown, is the commercial and administrative center of the
country: its attractions include the National Museum and the Art Gallery, the
Cornwallis fort, Wat Chayamangkalaran, the National Mosque, the Kapitan Kling
Mosque and the Khoo Kongsi and Kuan Yin Teng temples. Penang is also famous for
its beaches, that are ideal for any kind of aquatic sport. Other interesting
places are the temple of the snakes, Penang Hill, the Kek Kik Si temple, the livestock
of butterflies, the Mariamman temple, the botanic garden and a bird park in Seberang Jaya.
This national
park is the oldest tropical forest in the world and hosts thousands of species
of flora and fauna, that have been untouched for over 100 millions of years.
Here live many luxuriant botanic species and it is a place particularly appropriate
to the observation and the study of animals. In this large area there are also
Gunug Tahan, the highest peak of the peninsula (2.187 m) and an exciting place
for the mountain fans to conquer (it takes about three days of walk to reach
the top).
1.829 m
a.s.l., in the Pahang state, it is one of the highest points of the peninsula.
There are three main localities: Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. All of them
are quite popular among the tourists. The cool climate that can vary from 10°
to 21° and the rich territory make the area the perfect place for the
cultivation of tea and a wide range of vegetables and fruit. The local
attractions comprehend the market plaza in Brinchang (shops of craftsmanship),
the Chin Swee Buddhist temple, the tour to the cultivations of vegetables and
fruit and to the plantation of tea. The old colonial-style houses are really
interesting to see. For those who love the green we suggest a nice golf course
with 18 holes.
