Mount Kinabalu

SABAH INFORMATION

• Mount Kinabalu
• Sabah Photos
• Sabah Maps

A paradise of natural beauty – largely carpeted by relatively untouched lush tropical rainforests, sprinkled with isolated tropical islands and home to the three highest mountains in Malaysia.

Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia covering 74,500 sq km. It is also one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. It is a paradise of natural beauty – largely carpeted by relatively untouched lush tropical rainforests, sprinkled with isolated tropical islands and home to three highest mountains in Malaysia.

• Mount Kinabalu - the highest mountain in Malaysia at 4,101 metres and the second highest in Southeast Asia after Puncak Jaya in Indonesia.
• Mount Trus Madi - second highest in Malaysia at 2,642 metres
• Mount Tambuyukon – third highest peak at 2,579 metres

Sabah is a nature lovers paradise come true, if you enjoy outdoor activities such as jungle trekking, mountaineering, diving, spelunking, Sabah is a must go destination on your travel plans.

Sabah currently has 6 national parks. One of it, the Kinabalu National Park, was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

• Mount Kinabalu National Park
• Turtle Islands Park - conservation efforts for endangered sea turtles
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
• Pulau Tiga National Park
• Crocker Range National Park
• Tawau Hills Park

The Sipadan islands off the south eastern coast of Sabah, has been one of the top five dive sites in the world for years. This is attributed to unique underwater geography that encourages proliferation of wildlife. Leatherback turtles, barracuda and white tipped sharks are a common sight while diving in Sipadan.

Sabah has a hot humid climate with temperatures rarely dipping below 30C in the daytime. The wet season starts in November, with the onset of the northeast monsoon in Peninsular Malaysia and ends towards April, with the most rain falling in January.

The main gateway to Sabah is via air through the Kota Kinabalu airports (both international and budget terminals), which is about a 20-minute drive south of the central part of the state capital, where most commercial and administrative activities are concentrated. Kota Kinabalu is the departure point for the idyllic and popular islands off the coast of Sabah.

The other main city of Sabah is Sanadakan, which is the former capital. Sanadakan is also the jump-off point to Turtle Island Park and the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

Join the recovery efforts mobilizing around the world to assist cyclone victims in Myanmar. Your donation to either of these organizations will help survivors of the cyclone and other natural disasters rebuild their communities, and their lives.

As hungry people swarmed the few open shops and fistfights broke out over food and water in Myanmar’s swamped Irrawaddy delta Wednesday as a top U.S. diplomat warned that the death toll from a devastating cyclone could top 100,000.

More on the Myanmar Cyclone

Cyclone Nargis Response - Myanmar
US envoy says toll from Myanmar cyclone might reach 100,000
Myanmar Cyclone’s Devastation Rivals Tsunami

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Malaysia Zoom

Malaysia tourism programme “Cuti-Cuti Malaysia” would be changed to “Zoom”, and it would be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi on May 7.

Malaysia is set to improve on the current homestay programme. The programme is an excellent product that could boost the economic status in the villages as well as the country’s tourism industry. It also encourages culture exchange, friendships and family relationships.

Malaysia Airlines Promotion

Travel to any domestic destination for zero fare on Malaysia Airlines.
Zero fares means that passengers only pay airport tax, fuel surcharge and administration fees. The campaign is valid for travel between June 10 and Dec 14, 2008, with the booking period from today until May 19. Customers must purchase the tickets online at least 30 days before flight departure, MAS said. These tickets are non-refundable and the flight dates could not be changed.

Malaysia Airline’s subsidiary Firefly is also offering zero fares for its destinations on its turboprop aircraft.

However, Malaysia Airlines has no plan to introduce its “Everyday Low Fares” campaign outside the Asean region for time being.

AirAsia Promotion

AirAsia Launches Direct Flights To Kota Kinabalu From Jakarta And Bali.
AirAsia Bhd today launched direct flights to Kota Kinabalu (KK) from Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia as part of its expansion plans towards becoming an Asean airline. Jakarta-KK’s first flight commenced on March 30 and Bali-KK’s inaugural flight have already began. Both routes are being served three times a week.

In defense to the zero fare promotion launched by rival Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia state that AirAsia will pay the difference to any of his passengers if they can find any MAS airfare that is lower than the cheapest offered by AirAsia.

Jonker Street Melaka. Photo by js63

BASIC INFORMATION

• Things to do
• Hotels & Hostels
• Where to eat
• Nightlife
• Transport
• Melaka Photos
• Melaka Map

Hail a trishaw for a ride along little streets that wind through various heritage buildings, ancient landmarks and colonial structures of Melaka.

Melaka, the Historical State of Malaysia is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula. The state’s capital is Malacca Town.

The Historic Centre of Melaka has been nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List (Unesco heritage sites) which encloses the oldest part (18th century historic center of Melaka) and a number of historic and traditional settlements, both inside and outside the protected townscape which reflects the `Old Malacca’.

Melaka is compact (most of the important attractions are situated at St. Paul’s Hill - Stadthuys, Bell Tower, Christ Church), and most attractions if not within walking distance of each other are at least within an easy trishaw or taxi ride. The best way to tour Melaka is in a slow and laid back manner. The trishaw will take you through streets and corners of Melaka that you could easily miss out if you decide to venture on your own. Trishaws can be rented on hourly or distance covered basis at The Stadthuys.

The historical sites of Melaka are well known, so you could spend a few days just digging into that. There are so many things to see that unless you are planing to spend a few days or more in Melaka, you’ll need to pick the attractions that best interest you.

Food is unique here with a wide variety of choices. Nyonya food is a combination of Chinese and Malay delicacies while the notorious devil curry is of Portuguese origin.

Melaka offers many accommodation choices, ranging from hostels, ideal for the budget conscious or young backpacker, to five star resorts for the affluent traveler.

BUS SERVICES - NORTH BOUND (FROM MELAKA)

Like any other top list, our list of Top Destinations in Malaysia is subjective.

Shopping
If your main intention is shopping, look no further than Kuala Lumpur – a shopping paradise with an eclectic spectrum of retail opportunities, from air-conditioned mega shopping malls right through to the frenetic street markets. Plan your Kuala Lumpur vacation to suit these 2008 shopping sales
- Malaysia Year End Sale (29 November 2008 to 4 January 2009)

- Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (24 May 2008 to 3 August 2008)

- KL GP Sale (14 March 2008 to 23 March 2008)

Food
If shopping isn’t your thing, soak up the cultural diversity of Malaysia at the many roadside food stalls in Penang – a trip to Malaysia in Malaysia is never complete without trying authentic Malaysia food, and Penang is definitely the place where the BEST Malaysia food resides.

Cultural / Historical
Melaka

Outdoor
Sabah and Sarawak (Borneo)

Wildlife Observation
Sabah and Sarawak (Borneo)

Nature Parks (Rain forests)
Endau Rompin, Taman Negara

Beach and Island
Redang (East)
Langkawi (West) - Tanjung Rhu (Langkawi): Perhaps the most stunning beach in Malaysia, this wide gorgeous stretch of white sand hugs a crystal-clear, deep blue cove.

Diving
Pulau Perhentian, Redang, Sipadan and Layang Layang are some of the top dive spots to include in any tour of Malaysia.

Resort (Romantic Getaway)
Pangkor Laut Resort

Golf
Kota Permai Golf and Country Club
Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort

Nightlife
Kuala Lumpur

Cool Weather
Cameron Highlands , Fraser Hill

Caving / Spelunking
Sarawak Chamber

Gambling
Genting

Theme Parks
Genting

Answer: The principal differences of climate within Malaysia are those arising from difference of altitude and the exposure of the coastal lowlands to the two monsoon regimes, namely, the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September, and the Northeast Monsoon from November to March. Temperatures vary little from month to month, humidity is high, and there is no large daily range of temperature so night-time temperatures are oppressive. Temperatures are distinctly lower in the hills where there are a number of resorts but, although there is little stress from temperature in the hills, the higher humidity, greater rain, and less sunshine offset this benefit.

The Northeast Monsoon brings heavy rainfall, particularly to the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak, whereas the Southwest Monsoon normally signifies relatively drier weather. The transition period in between the monsoons is known as the inter-monsoon period.

The northeast monsoon is the major rainy season in the country. Monsoon weather systems which develop in conjunction with cold air outbreaks from Siberia produce heavy rains which often cause severe floods along the east coast states of Kelantan, Trengganu, Pahang and East Johor in Peninsular Malaysia, and in the state of Sarawak in East Malaysia.

The southwest monsoon is comparatively drier throughout the country except for the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. During this season, most states experience monthly rainfall minimum (typically 100 - 150 mm). This is attributed to relatively stable atmospheric conditions in the equatorial region. In particular, the dry condition in Peninsular Malaysia is accentuated by the rain shadow effect of the Sumatran mountain range. Sabah is relatively wetter (exceeding 200 mm) due to the tail effect of typhoons which frequently traverse the Philippine islands in their journey across the South China Sea and beyond.

During the inter-monsoon periods, winds are light and variable. Morning skies are often clear and this favours thunderstorm development in the afternoon. In the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, thunderstorms contribute to a mean monthly rainfall maximum in each of the two transition periods.

Answer: Currently there is no Value Added Tax (VAT) for shopping purchases in Malaysia but it is expected that a consumption tax similar to VAT will be introduced by integrating the existing sales tax and service tax into a single base tax to be called Sales and Service Tax (SST).

Answer: Malaysia is one of the safest countries in South East Asia besides Singapore and Brunei. Western tourists are very common in major cities such as KL, as well as main tourist spots (langkawi, borneo etc). Malaysian people are very polite and respectful on the whole and the country is safe to travel in as a single female.

However, bag snatching crime rates are on a rise - by being aware of personal safety and the practice of good safety precautions, you can avoid putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation that may lead to these incidents. It is all about being aware of a potential problem before it happens and that is where my tips on how to prevent street crime from happening come in. Here’s a guide on how to prevent street crimes from happening.

Some safety Tips:

1. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.

2. If you are out at night, stay in well-lit areas and among people.

3. Walk close to the kerb and avoid alleys.

4. Always walk facing the oncoming traffic.

5. Carry your handbag close to your body and avoid wearing highly visible jeweleries.

6. Keep your keys ready when you approach your hotel / rooms and enter immediately.

If you are visiting mosques or other religious sites, something to observe will be to wear long sleeves and pants/dress so as to not expose too much skin, more information can be found - “Visiting Mosques in Malaysia“. Also, don’t go topless sun tanning on the beaches.

Homestay is an excellent way to make friends, learn about Malaysia’s multi - racial culture, and have a taste of the kampung or village lifestyle.

Answer: Travelling in a country where you don’t speak the language can be both challenging and rewarding. But even if you don’t speak any Malay, finding your way around Malaysia needn’t be difficult. English is widely spoken throughout the country, particularly in major cities and tourist centres. Announcements on public transportation are frequently made in both Malay and English.

Even though it is possible to enjoy a visit to Malaysia without speaking the language, it is always helpful to know a few words and phrases in Malay.