Malaysia, Melacca: A History Place

The Portuguese colonised Melaka from 1511 to 1641. The first thing they did was build a fort overlooking the river, calling it A'Famosa. As Melaka was the centre of struggles between super powers of the time, and suffered the constant threat of attack, the A'Famosa fort was critical in Portugal maintaining its colonial foothold in the Far East.

Within the fort walls were housing and food stores, a castle, a meeting room for the Portuguese Council and five churches. A seven-month attack by the Dutch just about destroyed the entire fortress, leaving only the entrance façade and the structure of a church at the top of the hill.

Go for a stroll up St. Paul's Hill on a cool late afternoon and wander among the majestic trees and historical remnants. Here, you can almost imagine the glories and miseries of the besieged lives the Portuguese would have led right here all those years ago...

travelling in Hong Kong

From Yum Cha (tea and dim sum) in the morning to a moon lit view from the top of Victoria Peak or stunning night time harbor cruise, mingling with shoppers in the numerous malls and markets around Tsim Sha Tsui , tasting delicacies at dai pai dong, taking a trip in a sampan or high speed ferry, Hong Kong will guarantee its visitors an unforgettable experience. There will always be something to enchant you and quite probably make you fall in love with this unique place, be it sightseeing, shopping, dining or simply exploring its many delights by day and night.

An open city with a wonderful natural harbor, Hong Kong is the meeting place of various cultures that blend harmoniously with Chinese traditions and exotic influences. On one hand traces of British culture can be found everywhere as a result of former colonial rule. On the other hand, Hong Kong preserves traditional customs and the core values of Confucianism that have faded in Mainland China. This is reflected in its colorful festivals ranging from Spring Festival to Christmas. Nowhere else on earth do luxury restaurants, street side food-stalls known locally as dai pai dong, grand mansions and penthouses, tenements, office blocks, wooden boats and huge liners coupled with English in a variety of accents and multifarious Chinese dialects coexist peacefully.

The villages and natural environments are still preserved, and of course, the Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island!

travelling in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Disneyland is the fifth Disneyland-styled theme park in the world. The park features Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland!

China-Xian

Xian, the eternal city, records the great changes of the Chinese nation just like a living history book. Called Chang'an in ancient times, Xian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient civilization in the Yellow River Basin area of the country. During Xian's 3,100 year development, 13 dynasties such as Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC), Qin (221 BC - 206 BC), Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and Tang (618 - 907) placed their capitals here. So far, Xian enjoys equal fame with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as one of the four major ancient civilization capitals.
Xian is the capital of Shaanxi province, located in the southern part of the Guanzhong Plain. With the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Weihe River to the north, it is in a favorable geographical location surrounded by water and hills. It has a semi-moist monsoon climate and there is a clear distinction between the four seasons. Except the colder winter, any season is relatively suitable for traveling.

Top 10 Must Visit In MALAYSIA

Up Close with Elephants

Elephants. No cages. No bars. No cordoned off display areas. After seeing so many animals in zoos, seeing these elephants out in the wild like this is refreshing if not surreal. Here, I got to see them as how they should be; not trapped but free in the wild.

Perlis' Hidden Cave

Perlis is the most northern state in Malaysia, often quiet compared to its northern siblings like Kedah and Penang. But I was glad I visited because their Gua Kelam (Dark cave) is rather interesting. This limestone cave, at 370 metres long, can only be accessed by a suspension bridge. And that's only half the fun!

Mulu Caves – Simply Amazing

Des! Help! I could not imagine getting myself stuck in this position. My cousin Desmond knew I wasn't keen but after much cajoling and the promise of an unforgettable holiday, I gave in. And here I was stuck in a cold dark cave…Desmond (lucky for him) came quickly to my rescue. We proceeded through a narrow opening. And then I saw it. A cavern, you could fit a cathedral into, bathed in the most translucent light. It was beautiful!

Gua Tempurung

When you walk into Gua (Cave) Tempurung, you're walking into 400 million years of history. The limestone cave which is approximately 1.9km in length and 120 metres in height is a jaw-dropping experience with its mysterious look and vibes. And to think that such magnificence can be found in our own backyard! Incredible!

The Spectacular Waterfalls at Maliau Basin

Icy clear water flowing profusely and relentlessly, the scent of earth and mist, the grandeur of scale - this epic experience seems like the embodiment of Mother Nature herself. Part of Danum Valley in Sabah, Maliau Basin is the elusive home of untouched nature.


So Beautiful!

The fireflies here…man...they were BEAUTIFUL! We were huddled together in the small boat, all quiet as if the slightest sound would tip the boat over. But we were excited…to be in complete darkness waiting for blinking lights around us. And soon enough, they appeared. All pretty twinkling lights around us. Lovely!

Bird watching, Fraser’s Hill

Did you catch a glimpse of that silver-eared mesia?! It was just in the shrub. Oohh..wonder what we can spot next? Maybe the long-tailed sibia. Then again, there are many birds here at Fraser’s Hill. In the annual competition, the best eyes to spot as many bird species here, win! More than 250 local and migratory bird species are found here, with migratory species from islands north of Japan and far flung places like northern Siberia. Do, come visit. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a pair of sturdy binoculars!

The Climb up Gunung Ledang

Gunung Ledang (also known as Mount Ophir) is often a training ground for many who are aiming for tougher terrain. Being my maiden mountain climb, it was tough but thoroughly enjoyable. The awesome view at the top and the inviting waterfalls along the way were lots of fun - more so with my friends.

A day with Orang Utans

I've heard so much about this place and was glad I could squeeze in some time before my flight back to KL. It's nice to watch the orang-utans roam freely in their own habitat, at times times acknowledging tourists. For just RM30, everyone who stops by Sandakan and appreciates nature should visit.

The Rafflesia in Full Bloom

The Rafflesia is the world's largest flower. And I believe that it is also one of the most fragrant. Not in a good way though. Imagine rotting smelling meat; that is how this flower smells like. Yet, despite its unsettling odour it is amazing seeing this unique flower open up close and in full bloom.

The Climb that Brought Me to the Top

It was a fantastic journey for me to climb up the tallest peak in South East Asia. Never mind that I wasn't that physically ready for it, it was worth the toil, the pain and the head cold. Mount Kinabalu challenges even the most fit but the views along the way are breathtaking and the feeling of extreme victory at reaching the top is unmatched.

One with Nature

What I find most amazing about this natural reserve is that it has remained unchanged for millions of years. Kind of like stepping into a time machine and revisiting the ancient past. Deep emerald forest, steep limestone cliffs, and an overabundant of natural life: I wanted to see nature at its most primal, and I got it!

Nerve Wrecking FUN!

If you're anything like me (afraid of heights), you must challenge yourself to go on this 400-metre forest canopy walk. It's the longest forest canopy walk and it's 25 metres above ground. Nerve wrecking I kid you not, but extremely rewarding to be walking in full view of the rich diversity of both flora and fauna. Truly a worthy experience.

Remnants of World War II Underwater

I dived in one of the islands off Labuan and was lucky to be able to view both the Australian and American wreck. Both World War II ships were brought down by the Japanese and now lie on the seabed, a safe depth of 33 meters. It really is an amazing underwater discovery with most parts of the ships still intact!

A Guest at Niah Caves

When I first entered Niah Caves, it was unsettling at first. The chamber walls have changed very little over the aeons. But after our guide told us that this used to be home to many prehistoric people, a sense of familiarity and warmth sets in. The many artefacts found here including pottery and cave paintings showed that this was a thriving lively and colourful community.

Meet the Indigenous Proboscis Monkey

Also in Sandakan is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This is a must-visit as you get to observe this indigenous species up close. Their features are distinguished by their big, orange, dangling noses and flat-top hairstyles. A boat trip allows you to see other monkeys and some bird watching too.

Take A Dip Here

Don't you just want to jump in? That's what I did IMMEDIATELY after I snapped this picture. The water was freezing but it was a welcome change to the heat from the blazing sun. The Lata Iskandar waterfall is on the way to Cameron Highlands from Tapah so remember to make a pit stop here!

Royal Belum Forest

The Royal Belum Forest is a massive 290,000 hectares with a crazy 146,000 hectares of pure virgin forest. It is most pleasing to know that Malaysia is determined to protect nature, especially in this day and age of modernization.

Bako National ParkSarawak's oldest national park was established in 1957, covers a modest 27 sq. km., and is about 37km from Kuching. It's known for its extraordinary natural scenery, habitats, plants and wild life.

Hong Kong is made up of four parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Hong Kong Island is the center of economy, politics, entertainment and shopping. Northern Hong Kong Island is the main commercial, shopping and entertainment area; the residential area is located in Eastern Hong Kong Island; and Southern Hong Kong Island known for its sea shores and bays. Kowloon is another flourishing part of Hong Kong. Above all, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai , Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok are the most popular areas. These areas are busy day and night, and tourists can feel secure enjoying the lively nightlife, because Hong Kong is one of the most secure cities in the world. The New Territories and Outlying Islands are ideal places to experience a peaceful and natural Hong Kong.

The heart of Hong Kong, has all the shopping, gourmet, entertainment and outdoor activities!

The most attractive is the Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok areas, famous for their shopping, gourmet, entertainment and cultural attractions!