Malaysia: The soul of Asia

The ad campaign of ‘Truly Asia’ is not just a gimmick to lure tourists to Malaysia (although it does a pretty decent job at it!) The country is indeed the very soul of the continent, but one would never believe this till the time they experience it for themselves.

Kuching: The state capital of Koching lies along the bank of the Sungai Sarawak, exuding charm in all possible manners. It offers an atmosphere that is stylish & sophisticated, yet as docile and indomitable as can be at the same time. In Malay, Kuching means ‘cat’, and the city exhibits all the features of the feline species, for it is unpredictable many a times. Till the 19^th century, Kuching was known as Sarawak, and was renamed by Charles Brooke in 1872. It has its own distinct identity that rivals other large towns in Malaysian Borneo, and has an exceptional level of religious, racial and social tolerance. Despite its mammoth size, Kuching is conspicuously quite and isolated in the suburbs lying alongside the river. One can stroll at leisure at the landscaped gardens and parks along the river promenade to soak in the views of the Bungo mountains that rise above the morning mist. There are also quite a few cultural attractions and great options for eating and drinking. In short, Kuching is the ideal strating point for exploring the state.

Kuala Lumpur: Contrary to popular belief, Kuala Lumpur is a lot more than just a capital city. For the country of Malaysia, it represents the determination that is a hallmark of the Malay people. The city had modest beginnings, starting as a tin-mining town, and is today a global metropolis that is both awe-inspiring and enviable at the same time. The city has had its share of challenges and shortcomings, but has never backed down, and that is precisely the reason for its unparalleled success. It lives up to its advertising catchphrase of ‘Truly Asia’, as it certainly is the modern face of Asia! Soaring towers and modern shopping malls co-exist with iconic temples and mosques, while locals enjoy sipping coffee at an elite joint as much as exploring the flea markets and street-side hawker stalls. The cultural diversity is also quite striking, as Indian migrants, British colonialists, Ethnic Malays and Chinese prospectors have played an equally important role in elevating Malaysia to its present stature. Coming back to the highlights for a tourist, eating, shopping and nightlife are undoubtedly things one must look forward to in KL!

Melaka: Unknown to many, this small state of Melaka is the hotspot for numerous tourists who wish to visit the historic port city of the same name. Melaka has an addictive multicultural atmosphere that would not be witnessed anywhere else in the world, besides the regular Malaysian characteristic of great food, shopping and accommodation options!

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Malaysia: Truly Asia

Separated in the centre by the South China Sea, Malaysia is like two countries fused together, since the peninsula is a combination of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures, and Borneo has a combination of granite peaks, exotic tribes and orangutans. Inside of these two diverse regions are many small worlds that exists isolated from the others, and yet form a symmetry witnessed rarely anywhere else, right from the high rise skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur to Sarawak's longhouse villages and the beaches of the Perhentian Islands. Food too, is pretty awesome, to say the least, with influences and assortments from all across the world, ranging from Indian banana leaf curries, Chinese buffets, Western delicacies and authentic & spicy Malay food.

Pulau Langkawi: Among the best holiday destinations in South East Asia, Pulau Langkawi's name alone is enough to conjure numerous pictures in the mind – coconut palms, sprawling beaches, crystal clear water and a carefree holiday. The archipelago comprises of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, 30 kms from the coast of Kuala Perlis. The main island, after which the archipelago has been named, has an area of 478.5 square kms, and is the only one that has substantial human settlement. The sandy beaches on the outskirts, a thick jungle towards the interiors, along with the paddy fields; it is not hard to understand why the destination is the most extensively promoted tourist hotspot. Ever since the island was declared as a duty free zone in 1986, the number of visitors have increased exponentially. There have also been some pretty huge events organised here, like the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition around November, the Langkawi Arts and Crafts Festival (LACRAF) in December, the Langkawi International Water Festival in April and the biennial Langkawi International Festival of Arts (LIFA).

Pulao Penang: Back in the days when companies, governments and armies were like a common entity, this 28 square kms island was taken over by the British East India company as its first settlement on the Malay peninsula, in order to break the monopoly of the spice trade by Dutch Melaka. While that might have been the primary objective, what evolved as a by product was a populous port on the 'Betal Nut Island'. Suddenly, out of nowhere, entrepreneurs from all parts of the world – Chinese in particular – were vying for a piece of the action, settling at this tiny paradise to create business opportunities for themselves. However, similar to what happened to most company settlements, the island collapsed with the fading away of the empire. However, in the present day, it is the Silicon Valley of Malaysia, a fact that is barely visible to casual travellers

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Going Abroad- Don't Forget to Get an International Roaming SIM

In this global communication era where people usually travel from one place to another, remaining connected is the main necessity of each one of us. Millions of people from around the world travel each year for various purposes such as business, leisure, recreationalor educational. If you are planning to move overseas for any of these purposes, you need to stay in touch with your family and friends. Calling is certainly one of the most comfortable mediums of being in touch with each other. If you use your home mobile phone abroad, you will end up spending a fortune as international roaming charges are very expensive. So if you are going abroad, don't forget to get an international roaming SIM card which is also known as global roaming SIM card.

Earlier, people making a trip abroad were never able to make international calls so easily. Hefty amount associated with international calls always avoided the people to make calls to their near and dear ones. If they were making any international call, the duration of the call was always kept in mind to get rid of excessive expenses. Now the time has changed. You can make use of global roaming SIM cards to make calls at reasonable rates to your loved ones. These cards have proved to be the most appreciated way of communication and that too at affordable rates. There are number of offers provided by different service providers on these global SIM cards so that you can have fun while making international calls.

International roaming cards are the cost effective media for the people moving in a foreign country. It is definitely one of the best means of efficient communication universally. Global SIM cards are dynamic and compelling means of communication. It serves according to your need. If you are travelling to more than one country, you can avoid excessive roaming charges with International roaming SIM cards. You get the opportunity to stay in touch whilst you travel without spending a fortune in roaming charges. An international roaming SIM card is inexpensive as compared to other options available for international calling. This card will not cost you much upfront and, once you have one, you will save up to 60% on your mobile bill. I am pretty confident that you would love to keep your money in your own pocket.

By using a global roaming SIM card, you can keep track of your expenditure. Most International SIM cards are prepaid so you know exactly how much money you are spending. If you take an international SIM card, you won't get a nasty global roaming phone bill when you get home. Moreover, an international SIM card makes it easy and convenient to keep in touch with those back home. It is not always easy to get a calling card or access to a landline whilst you are travelling abroad. A global roaming SIM card is undoubtedly an economical and trouble-free way to stay connected with your friends, family and colleagues.

Malay Mania: Are you ready

The tropical paradise of Malaysia has many interesting destinations for tourists to explore and enjoy.

Pulau Langkawi: One of the best-known holiday destinations not only in Malaysia, but the entire world, Langkawi is among the very few places that is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway any time of the year. Located in the Andaman sea 30km from the coast of Kuala Perlis, it comprises of 99 islands that can be visited via boat from Georgetown,Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Satun, Thailand, or by air from Georgetown in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. However, only the main island, Pulau Langkawi, has substantial settlement. Having a picturesque backdrop of snady beaches, paddy fields, and hills comprising of exotic jungles, one can easily see why Pulau Langkawi is the most visited (and promoted) destination in Malaysia. Ever since it became a duty free destination in 1986, the intake of tourists can almost doubled. The island also hosts events like the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition, the Langkawi Arts and Crafts Festival (LACRAF), the Langkawi International Water Festival, and the biennial Langkawi International Festival of Arts (LIFA).

Pulau Penang: In the early days when governments, companies and armies did not have clear-cut distinction among themselves, the East India Company travelled to the Penang harbour and established its rule on the island as its first settlement on the Malay peninsula, in order to tackle the Dutch Melaka’s monopoly of spice trade. However, this eventually resulted in the evolution of a very popular and extremely busy port. Earlier known as the 'Betal Nut island', Pulau Penang saw a sudden outburst of entrepreneurs from all lands (China, in particular) and ethnicities wanting to invest here, resulting in the maximum exposure this island has witnessed in centuries. However, similar to many settlements of the company, the island once again became a forgotten paradise after the British empire saw its last days. Fortunately, the days of glory provided enough ammo to Pulau Penang to continue on the path to being one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in South East Asia. Known as the Silicon Valley of Malaysia, the techie side of Pulao Penang is most of the times invisible to tourists, but exists in a rather prominent manner nevertheless. The capital Georgetown's intense heat kept aside, there are some splendid beach resorts like the Batu Ferringhi, that can be looked at for providing great accommodation. There is also a Malay fishing village of Teluk Bahang, which is worth a visit.

Kota Bharu: Situated at the north-eastern corner of the Malaysian peninsula, Kota Bharu, also known as the 'Islamic City', is the last stop at the east coast road, as well as a gateway to Thailand. One might think of this destination as nothing more than another bustling Malaysian city full of cities overcrowded with traffic. However, there is a rich cultural side to Kota Bharu as well, with exquisite museums and royal palaces.

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Beaches of Malaysia: The magic unravels on the coast

Malaysia is one of the very few countries that are hot and humid all year long. It also has many fascinating beaches, but all the best ones are generally owned by resorts. However, the advantage to this is that they would be really well maintained. Let's take a look at some of the options.

Pantai Teluk Belanga [Emerald Bay], Pangkor Laut: The Emerald Bay is located on a privately owned island off the western coast of Malaysia. It is often listed as one among the world's top ten beaches, with the bay in a crescent shape, having golden sand and emerald colored water. The best time to visit is between January and May.

Datai beach, Langkawi island: The beaches on this particular island are all regarded as being the perfect hideouts, since they are very much secluded from the rest of the world. The Datai beach, along with the Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah are the best choices for independent travelers. Langkawi also have many fantastic snorkelling sites, one of the best being the Palau Payar Marine Park, which also houses Malaysia's best coral reefs. The best time to visit is between November and May, when there is comparatively lower humidity.

Tioman island: In spite of the fact that there has been an exponential rate of development on this particular island, it has managed to retain its glory and natural beauty. Tioman is paradise for underwater divers, nature lovers and golfers. Like the Emerald Bay, here also, travelers will find golden sand beaches, located alongside the tropical jungle. The best time to visit is between March and September.

Long Beach, Kecil island, Perhentian Islands: This set of islands is a must visit for travelers going to Malaysia, particularly the budget ones. There are magnificent beaches with world class diving facilities along with very reasonably priced accommodation. Some of the other popular beaches, besides the Long Beach, are the Corel Bay on Kecil island, or the Besar island for smaller and more peaceful beaches like the Flora Bay. In case one is going in the peak season between June and August, it's best to book in advance. Other seasons to enjoy the best experiences in this region are between March and September.

Redang island, Redang archipelago: Most of the islands in this vicinity, so to speak, are uninhabited, although the ones are are inhabited are also a visual treat in their own way. The main attraction in the Redang island is the underwater life in the marine park, which makes it one of the perfect destinations in Malaysia for diving enthusiasts. The best time to visit is between March to October.

Turtle Beach and Golden Beach, Similajau National Park, Sarawak: The park has an area of 30 kms full of golden sand, exotic wildlife (185 species of bird ) and cliffs, along with waterfalls. The best time to visit is between April and September.

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