Travel Agent - August 18, 2008 - (Page M3)

E S S E N T I A L I N F O R M AT I O N F O R M A K I N G T H E m o s t o f T H E M a l ay s i a T R AV E L E X P E R I E N C e Malaysia is fast becoming one of the leading dive destinations in the world with one of the richest marine environments in the Indo-Pacific Basin. Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor, Tioman and the Islands of Terengganu provide excellent underwater seascapes for snorkeling and scuba diving. Rich with marine life, Sipadan Island near Sabah is rated by diving experts as one of the top ﬁve dive sites in the world. November through March is the east coast’s monsoon season, so diving conditions are not optimum during this period. Avid mountain climbers may attempt to climb Mount Kinabalu, one of the region’s highest mountains. For jungle trekking enthusiasts, national parks such as Taman Negara Pahang and Endau Rompin National Park have ofﬁcial camping grounds. TOP 10Mal aysia MUST-SEES in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 View Kuala Lumpur from the sky atop the 1,483-foot-high Petronas Twin Towers, which ranks second among the world’s tallest buildings. Get your tickets early in the morning, as they tend to get sold out by midday. Go diving in Sipadan Island. This “Diver’s Paradise” lies off the southeast coast of Sabah and is considered one of the ﬁve best dive locations in the world. Revel in the beauty of the isle of Langkawi in the Andaman Sea. Langkawi’s white sandy beaches, pristine seawater and ample sunshine make the isle an idyllic retreat. Experience the old-world charm of Penang Hill, riding a famous red Swiss-made funicular train up the hill to enjoy a panoramic view of the island from its peak. Visit the historic city at Malacca and explore the back lanes lined with artisans, followed by a tour of A’Famosa, a Portuguese fortress built in 1511, then browse the shops along Antiques Row (Jonker’s Street), while experiencing the legacies of colonial Dutch, Portuguese and English inﬂuences. Watch the sun rise from Mount Kinabalu at Malaysia’s ﬁrst World Heritage site, Kinabalu National Park. Learn about Malaysia’s indigenous culture at the Sarawak Cultural Village, also known as the “Living Museum.” The village has traditional longhouse dwellings, arts and crafts demonstrations, and dance and music performances by various ethnic groups. Savor authentic Malaysian cuisine by immersing yourself in the culinary delights of Malaysia at an outdoor food court or at hawker stalls at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur. Also in Kuala Lumpur, the Saloma Theatre Restaurant provides live theatrical performance while diners enjoy an array of Malaysian cuisine. Take part in a Malaysian festival. Various celebrations include Tadau Kaamatan or Harvest Festival in May; Colors of Malaysia, also in May; the Rainforest World Music Festival in July; and Merdeka Day in August, which celebrates Malaysia’s independence. Watch baby orangutans at Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. Set in 15 square miles of beautiful rainforest and only a short ﬂight from Kota Kinabalu, the Sanctuary helps once captive orang utans learn to survive in the wild. Club Golf Datai Bay, Langkawi, Kedah Golf Courses Malaysia has more than 200 professional-standard golf courses, many designed by such notables as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Robert Trent-Jones. The courses feature a variety of scenic settings offering sea, rainforest and mountain views. Standout courses include the Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club in Malaysian Borneo, The Golf Club in Datai Bay, Langkawi, and a selection of courses in Kuala Lumpur, including the 27-hole Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Club, and the 45-hole The Royal Selangor Golf Club. Some courses, including Glenmarie Golf and Country Club near Kuala Lumpur and Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah in Selangor, offer night golﬁng as well. Each year Malaysia hosts the World Amateur InterTeam Golf Championships, an event that attracts more than 900 international golfers. Malaysia was conferred the “2008 Asia and Australasia Golf Destination of the Year” award from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). Dining Delights When you gather so many diverse cultures into one country, it’s a recipe for an exciting combination of cuisines in the kitchen. In Malaysia you’ll sample traditional Malay dishes, Chinese cooking and Indian fare. Try the fusion style called Peranakan, also known as Nyonya cuisine, a combination of Chinese and Malay culinary techniques. Prevalent ingredients include coconut milk, lemon grass, turmeric chilies and lime leaves. These are used to ﬂavor seafood, meat and vegetables. The best known dish is satay, consisting of skewers of succulent marinated meat barbecued and served with a pungent peanut sauce. There are world-class restaurants throughout Malaysia, but visitors should also treat themselves to local fare at one of the numerous outdoor hawker stalls. www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my • www.tourismmalaysiausa.com Malaysia TRAVEL PLANNER 3 http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my http://www.tourismmalaysiausa.com

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Travel Agent - April 18, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Pacific/Asia: Visitors to Ubud will Discover the Essence of Balinese Art and Culture Special Supplement: Malaysia Travel Planner New Zealand: There is Plenty to See and Do Throughout the West Coast of the Southern Alps Europe: Beauty, History and Culture Combine in Valencia, Spain Caribbean: Scrub Island is the BVI’s First Development in 15 years The Wyndham Rio Mar’s $40 Million Makeover is Well Underway in Puerto Rico The Latest on Grenada, a Caribbean Up-and-Comer Mexico: Big Hotel Plans are in the Works for the Riviera Nayarit Florida: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel turns Orlando into Italy Las Vegas: Dinner at these Restaurants Can Get your Clients into Vegas’ Hottest Nightclubs Cover Story: Medical Tourism Special Supplement: Destination Weddings Specialist 3.0 Hotels: Everything Old is New Again at New York’s Algonquin Cruise: Short Cruises Keep your Clients on the Move for Less Group Travel: Disney makes Exotic Locales Friendly for Family Travel Car Rentals: How Much Insurance Does your Client Need for a Rental Car? Agency Profile: Corporate Travel Sales are Rising at MTravel.com, a Division of Montrose Luxury Travel Expo Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Hyatt comes to Curaçao New Hotels and Resorts in Asia CLIA Tightens Qualifications for ID Tripology Links Agents to Clients In the Spotlight Agent Access Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - August 18, 2008

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