Travel Malaysia – An Exotic Retreat in South East Asia

Malaysia is an exotic land pampered by a tropical climate, blessed with immense natural beauty and packed with loads of adventure. It is the tropical climate of the place that allows it to afford a rich and varied floral and faunal wealth, making it a haven for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Golden beaches with swaying palms and perfect sunshine make Malaysia a perfect lazing out spot too. With a dozen of islands teeming with coral reefs, Malaysia is a perfect adventure place with loads of diving, snorkeling and surfing opportunities. One of the most preferred holidaying destinations around the world, the country offers everything one would wish for a dream holiday.

The sheer beauty and bounty of nature makes Malaysia a place as enchanting it is. The tropical climate and dense woods make it a natural home to a wide variety of birds. The forests here are home to around 450 species of birds. It is this avifaunal wealth that attracts thousands of avian-watchers to the land. Tropical rainforests the cover the hills in Langkawi also afford a good population of tigers, orangutans, bears, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, monkeys, panthers, rhinoceroses and elephants, an undying excitement for all wildlife lovers. Langkawi is one of the best places here to enjoy the tropical climate. Penang too is a known for its sheer natural beauty.

Though calm and quiet, Malaysia has immense options for fun and excitement. A host of coral reefs and beaches make the land a hub of thrilling activities. The numerous beaches give out ample of scope for beach games and leisurely strolls. While the crystal clear waters and the corals allow you to dive, snorkel and surf. A number of marine parks have come up in Malaysia that offer a wide range of water-bound activities and exciting games. Langkawi is again one of the best places in the country to grab some bit of fun.

Apart from the beauty bestowed by Mother Nature, Malaysia is alluring for the urbane excitement it has to offer. The country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur throbs with a thumping night life. As the sun goes down the entire city glows as life pounds in the numerous pubs, karaoke, discos and lounges that dot the city. Also known to be a shopper’s paradise, Malaysia offers a whole world of goods for shoppers to pick from. Think of a thing and the markets of Malaysia have it for you. From Oriental treasures to the best of world-famous brands, it’s all there. Walk the streets of the bazaars where tiny shops offer you the most unusual curios or go to the high-tech malls that have the best of brands and labels from every corner of the world.

A trip here cannot be complete without visiting the Genting Highlands, the Las Vegas of Malaysia. The only casino city in the country, Genting Highlands is a place to live the happening spirit of Malaysia. Genting Highlands are also home to two famous theme parks and the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. Some of the finest golf courses and swankiest of malls in the country are present here too.

Home to almost all kinds of hotels and resorts, Malaysia can hardly be a problem when it comes to finding a suitable accommodation. From splurge to economy to budget, hotels in Malaysia serve almost every kind of visitor it receives. With the best of resorts and hotels under the most well-known banners from all around the globe, Malaysia has the best of opulent hotels and lavish resorts. One can also find the best Spa resorts and upscale star properties in here. Apart from these there are a good number of hotels for the economy minded travelers too. The country is truly exceptional and is a perfect holiday destination for everyone.

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Top Reasons for you to Travel Malaysia- Tourist Attractions and Events

Top Reasons to travel Malaysia

There are many reasons why you should travel to Malaysia.One of the top tourist destinations in the world, Malaysia is home to wonderful beaches and breathtaking sceneries. The country is culturally diverse and features many natural wonders that attract millions of tourists from across the world.

Why travel Malaysia?

Malaysia is a picturesque, welcoming, and culturally rich country that offers the right value of money to the tourists. The country is full of natural beauties and is home to many luxury hotels and resorts that speak the last word in comfort and class. The top reasons to travel Malaysia are given below:

Art and culture in Malaysia

Malaysia is a country of diverse culture and tradition. The blend of cultural influences in the country is the outcome of long periods of migration and business with other countries of the world, especially with China, Arabian countries, and India. Every one of these cultures has remained intact in the country i.e. none has genuinely been homogenized. Conventional churches and temples lie alongside mosques. Some of the most popular cultural festivals and events in the country are as follows:

• Colors of Malaysia Festival
• World Harvest Festival and Gawai Dayak Sarawak
• Rainforest World Music Festival
• Merdeka Month Celebration
• Ramadan Bazaar

Activities in Malaysia

Malaysia gives you the chance to take part in various activities. If you accommodate for a few of them, they will add a lot of value to your trip. You can go for caving in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak or diving in the tropical seawaters near Borneo and peninsular Malaysia. Touring the rainforests of Malaysia is also one of the priorities of people coming to the country. You will also find some of the best scuba diving locations of the world in this country. You can visit beautiful islands like the Langkawi, Perhentian, or Tioman Islands. Wildlife watching and shopping are two other popular activities.

Malaysian cuisine

Malaysia is famous for its diverse variety of cuisines. Malaysian cuisines are a blend of Indian, Malay, Chinese, and Peranakan cuisines. You will definitely enjoy the mouthwatering and innovative dishes of this country.

www.flightshotelstours.com provides valuable information about Malaysia Tours and its different tourist attractions.

There are many things to do and see in Malaysia. Make your plan after taking all the events and tourist attractions into consideration.

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Borneo Adventure Vacation - Conquering Mount Kinabalu Via The Mesilau Summit Trail

If you are visiting Borneo for an adventure vacation, then conquering the mystical Mount Kinabalu is not really an option - it is 'the' priority.

The mystical Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia, is strategically located at the Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site. Kinabalu National Park is just about two hours drive from the city of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Mount Kinabalu, which stood at around 4,095 meters above sea level, is an icon for Sabah as well as for Malaysia tourism. Therefore, it is of no surprise that every year, thousands flocked to climb or rather, trek up the mountain. Although the traditional route up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park, there is an alternative route on the other side of Mount Kinabalu called the Mesilau Summit Trail, a newer and more challenging route. This trail is definitely one for those who are more adventurous to consider seriously.

The Mesilau Summit Trail at the Mesilau Nature Park on the Mesilau plateau is about 30 minutes by road away from Kinabalu National Park or about 108 km from Kota Kinabalu.

It is advisable to stay a night at Mesilau before starting your ascent up Mount Kinabalu as the journey from Kota Kinabalu will likely to leave you rather exhausted. Take a rest and acclimatize with the higher altitude at the eco-friendly Mesilau Nature Resort, which is nestled amongst the trees at the foot of the mountain at about 2,000 metres above sea level within the Park. The resort has a total of 22 lodges and 96 resthouse beds.

As for the climb up to Mount Kinabalu, the Mesilau Summit Trail is definitely more rugged, about 1.5km further than the trail from Timpohon Gate at Kinabalu National Park. But it offers more opportunities for viewing flora and fauna. The Mesilau route is still relatively new, but some shelters and toilets have been built along the trail for the convenience of trekkers. The route is also less crowded than the old summit trail. You won't bank into many mountain climbers on the way up.

The first ascent of the Mesilau Trail does involve a climb up, then a drop into the Mesilau valley, and then another ascent to regain the lost height. You will get to see both the Kinabalu and Mesilau routes at higher ground. The trail is also more "jungle" than the traditional Kinabalu Summit Trail. When trekking uphill, it is fortunate that the trail is well laid with steps cut into the earth and thus, making walking easy.

Layang-layang (Place of Swallows) is where the Mesilau Trail meets the Kinabalu Summit Trail at 2,740m. From there onwards, you will notice that the vegetation zone is like a forest of bent and twisted silvery-grey trunks with peeling bark.

A short hike after the sixth shelter, you will reach the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata). Conservatively, it should take a normal fit person an average 6-7 hours to reach Laban Rata, where you will be required to stay a night at Laban Rata Resthouse or at other nearby accommodations (i.e., Mountain Huts and VIP Lodge). From there, the second and more grueling ascent will follow the traditional route all the way to the summit (i.e., Low's Peak), which will start early morning the next day at around 2 am to 3 am

The ascent should normally take a few hours but it is much more challenging than the initial ascent as the trail gets more tiring with each step up the slope as the air gets thinner and thinner. On top of this, you have to battle the freezing cold temperature (sometimes below zero degrees Celsius). If its rains and windy, it will be doubly challenging.

But once you get to the summit and catch the truly magnificent glimpse of the sunrise, you would have forgotten the tough climb. You will feel on top of the world looking down at the tiny villages and small islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu.

For those who had climbed Mount Kinabalu before via the Kinabalu Summit Trail or for those who are searching for a more challenging trek, the Mesilau Summit Trail definitely offers a fuller Mount Kinabalu climbing and adventure vacation experience. To quote an avid climber: "You have not truly conquered Mount Kinabalu if you have not conquer it from both sides of the mountain".