​Malaysia : Have A Splendid Time in Malaysia!

#Malaysia #Asia #friendly #Malay Peranakan
Malaysia often advertised as "Malaysia Truly Asia", is a culturally diverse land filled with people from various ethnicities and providing you an exceptional array of features. From immense man-made structures to impressive geographical features, Malaysia has all of it to offer. The people of Malaysia are friendly and you can witness a diverse range of cultural variations throughout the country. And everyone – Malay, Chinese, Arabic, Indian, Peranakan alike will welcome you with open arms and a big smile! This place also has to offer various gastrointestinal delights and most places in Malaysia are filled with hawkers selling food in all kinds of ways possible!

Petronas Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is steeped in modernistic designs and architectural marvels. The city is very well-planned and should be on your list of places to visit in Malaysia. It is well connected by international flights as well as roadways to allow for an easy arrival into the city. One of the most striking features of Kuala Lampur is the world's tallest twin towers. At a height of 452 m, no other twin tower in the world can match the grandeur that this one displays. There are 88 floors to the top in this tower and an impressive 76 elevators placed throughout the complex for easy conveyance. The twin towers are even connected by a sky bridge at about midway between the 41st and the 42nd floor. Surely at that height, you could click some of the most stunning pictures of the city!​

Batu Caves Selangor

As already mentioned, Malaysia is a small hub for cultural diversity in Southeast Asia and Batu Caves is one of the finest places to witness this miracle. It is situated just outside Kuala Lampur city and would take you about an hour's drive to reach. The caves are divided into 3 complexes and have a series of smaller complexes as well and have been existing for hundreds of years. It serves as a shrine to Hindu gods and the caves have statues and figures of such gods.

The Cathedral Cave is the main attraction of the entire complex and you have to cross 272 colorful steps to reach it. The entryway at the bottom of the stairwell hosts a 43 m tall statue of Lord Murugan welcoming all visitors alike. Visitors could explore these caves all by themselves and may even go for a guided tour.

Mt. Kinabalu Trek

Kinabalu National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Malaysia and is also regarded s a UNESCO World Mt. Kinabalu, at about 4000 m is a part of this park and also happens to be the highest peak in Malaysia. Reaching the national park is very easy via roadways and it is a one-day trek to and from the peak. Mind you, trekking Mt. Kinabalu is not for the faint-hearted and requires some expertise in mountain climbing since this is going to be an intense climb!

There is a huge variety of flora and fauna that you will come across as you traverse through the heights of this interesting peak. It hosts a unique ecosystem and comprises shrubs, meadows, grasslands, and alpine vegetation. You will also find many orangutans, a threatened species, on your way to the top of the peak.

Only 185 permits are handed out each day to climb the peak which is an environmental measure adopted to preserve the sanctity of the place. Climbers younger than 16 years of age are also allowed to scale the peak though there are certain restrictions imposed to ensure a safe passage. Though climbing to and from the peak is a one-day experience at most, climbers could even plan a stay at the National Park since it offers many homestay and hotel options.

Perhentian Islands

Situated at the northeastern corner of the country, the Perhentian Islands is a bounty of everything scenic that you can hope for. In the olden times, the Perhentian Islands used to be a halting spot along the seafaring trading routes and serves as an amazing tourist spot nowadays. Since these are a group of islands, the only way to reach them would be through motorboats.

Pulau Perhentian Basar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil are two of the major islands to visit and they offer all kinds of facilities such as accommodations, shops, and so on. The former of the two has an extensive backpacking scene while the latter is more of a family package away from the everyday crowd.

Though you can use the waterways to travel from one spot to another, one of the major and most exciting options to trail through the islands is the trek routes passing through the jungles. These routes will get you face to face with the flora and fauna available at this place and you will get some of the most mesmerizing views of Malaysia here. Various water sport activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving are regularly conducted here. If you are looking forward to doing something offbeat, then you can sign up for one of their turtle conservations programs.

Sipandan Islands

If you are a nature enthusiast and looking for some of the best marine habitats in the world, Sipandan Islands is the place for you. It is easy to reach through the waterways on motorized boats. The rich ecological diversity of the island needs to be preserved and thus there are limitations to the number of people who can visit the place- only 120 permits are handed out each day to expecting tourists and visitors. Staying overnight on the island is not allowed and thus tourists generally come in the morning and they have to leave the premises by 3.00 PM.

Once you have reached the islands, you can explore the place on foot. The beaches are near to one another and you can hop from one beach to another in minutes! Of the many different kinds of fauna that you will find at this place, getting a look at the endangered hawksbill turtles is an exceptional experience. You might also find whale sharks, monitor lizards, and many coral species among other marine or terrestrial fauna at this place.

Gunung Mulu National Park

If you are looking for an adventure-filled expedition, there could be no place better than the Gunung Mulu National Park. It is an impressive place and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous feature of the national park might be the limestone karst shaped like a conglomeration of people. However, the extensive network of caves is one of the most stunning features of this place.
The national park is covered in thick rainforests that oftentimes make traversing through it difficult. You would find the largest passageway in a cave in the world in this place along with the largest underground chamber. The Deer Cave is a significant attraction of the place. The ceiling is above 122 m high with numerous waterfalls that cascade along the rocks. The Pinnacles Summit Trek is one of the most impressive excursions to go for while here. It will take you about three days and take you through an extensive tour through the thick jungles.

Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple in George Town is one of the most impressive man-made structures that you would find in Malaysia. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and is situated at the base of Air Itam mountain. Though the construction of the temple was done quite recently in 1890, the immense 7-story pagoda has the potential to astound anyone out there. The structure is even surrounded by 10,000 statues of Buddha giving it a touch of magnificence.
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It is a scenic and calm place filled with peaceful serenity and exclusive views. Prayer halls, fish ponds, and gardens abound the place and there are even stalls selling religious as well as secular souvenirs. The 36 m tall Kwan Yin statue is also an attractive site for tourists in this place. It is also an important pilgrimage site and attracts pilgrims and religious people from all around the world, especially during the Chinese New Year.