The Beauty and Fun Sibu Island's Resort

Vacation To Malaysia
By SHARON OVINIS on Thestar.com


MAGINE your tanned skin glistening under the scorching sun, beads of sweat trickling down your forehead; but you welcome the perspiration as it cools down your body.

You’ve worked hard to reach the pinnacle of success and you’re not going to let a little humidity dampen your spirit. You know only too well that you’ve got to do it all on this three-day, two-night vacation. So you soak in the sun as you take long walks on the sandy white beaches, ride the banana boat and swim in the deep blue sea.

This is no imaginary trip. Sibu Island Resort, Johor, will be whisking 10 lucky winners from The Star-Pizza Hut’s Newspaper-in-Education contest, to this privately-owned island off the east coast of Malaysia.

Teams clinching the top spot in the Mag Inc 2009 contest from the upper secondary and primary categories are in for an idyllic getaway after toiling hard on their three-page mini magazine entries on the theme of teenage angst.

Sibu Island Resort has opened its doors to the world with a fresh look, heralding a new dawn to island adventurers. The resort has had a masterful make-over — 121 timber chalets refurbished and upgraded to luxurious accommodation and land reclamation to provide three stretches of pristine beaches.



With the construction of its own water desalination plant, the resort now boasts a constant supply of clean, fresh water — the first project of its kind on any island in Malaysia.

The island is easily accessible from Johor Baru by road at only one-and-a-half hours’ drive. From the Tanjung Leman jetty, the trip to Sibu Island is but 20 minutes on a comfortable air-conditioned, 50-seater twin-hulled catamaran.

At the resort, students and teachers are promised an island-spiced holiday with an integrated experience. Their days will, no doubt, be filled to the brim with both active fun and laid-back indulgence, from dawn till dusk.

The resort’s 27 hectares (67 acres) of natural surroundings feature a myriad of activities that are designed to challenge the mind, strengthen the body and build cohesive bonds. Not only is the island a perfect safe haven from the hustle and bustle of the city, its environment is rife with team-building pursuits such as telematches, adventure games and obstacle course programmes.

If students cannot get enough of the sea and salt water in their hair, then there is scuba diving, wind surfing, jet skiing, boat cruising, canoeing, snorkelling, fishing and island hopping.



Plan to unwind from the sand and surf? Then, explore the island at your own pace and discover charming surprises in store. The grounds and gardens offer a tranquil backdrop for jungle-trekking, deer-feeding and spice gardening.

If it’s a more rigorous workout that you’re up for, then pump those arms and flex those muscles at The Gym, dance to aerobics or jog around the resort.

And nothing can sound a whole lot better than a soak at the sauna to soothe those sore muscles afterwards. Or else there is the wide range of therapies and massages to be checked out at The Tropical Holistic Spa.

The resort isn’t without its culinary versatility. Students and teachers will be treated to island fare that is designed to excite the discriminating Malaysian palate.

Options are aplenty as there are barbecues by the beach, diverse Malaysian specialities, theme night parties and more. The Selayar Restaurant and the open-terrace Lumba-Lumba Coffee House serve up specialised buffet selections all day long.

Rather sit by the beach for a picnic and strum your guitar? Then let them pack you a take-away picnic basket as you tuck in by the beach.

And if you want to tune in to some hip-swaying music, head to The Suji Lounge where entertainment thrives while the sun sets in the horizon.

So write away and pen your thoughts on issues surrounding teenage angst. Sibu Island Resort promises to be an amazing location for celebrating a win with teammates!

Golf and Travel Vacation in Malaysia

Golf Vacation

This may surprise some golfers, but Malaysia is a country with a very developed golf product, home to more than 200 golf courses. The historic Royal Selangor Golf Club in the center of Kuala Lumpur dates back to the 19th century.

Today, golf courses are in just about every part of the country, especially around Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. To the north, the Genting Highlands, home to the country's only casino resort, has several golf courses. Some of Malaysia's most exotic clubs can also be found off the mainland, on the island of Borneo in the Sabah and Sarawak regions.

Most of Malaysia's golf courses are open to the public, and night play is common. Green fees are relatively cheap for westerners, as top courses range between 75-175 RM (plus golf cart). Caddies are available at all clubs and sometimes mandatory, though they only cost 10-25 RM. Gratuity is customary.

Many of the country's courses are cut through thick, rolling jungle. Older courses use a native "cow grass" that is thick and grainy. Newer courses, however, primarily use various Bermuda strains, Zoysia or Seashore Paspalum. Golf course architects who have built in Malaysia include Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

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Orna Golf Club in Melaka, Malaysia

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You're in for one of Malaysia's top golf courses at Tiara Golf & Country Club, which is not only tough and well designed, but also kept in great condition. It's one of the top courses in the country and is on par with the 27-hole course at A'Famosa Resort as the best round in Melaka.

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Shah Alam’s isle of birds

Vacation To Malaysia
By SALINA KHALID The Star Online






THE Antan Batura boat moves slowly from the jetty, cruising towards Pulau Undan.

Our eyes are fixed on the flock of birds perching on a tree top on the island.

With its yellow and orange long beaks, the beautiful birds have white bodies with black streaks on the side of its wings. They have pink and white tails. They are known as the Painted Storks.

It was a sight to behold as they moved gracefully. A few had twigs and grass clasped tightly in their beaks. They were nesting.

Somehow the presence of the cruise boat and its passengers did not seem to bother them. It was the continuous flicker of the cameraman’s shutter that caused them to fly away momentarily before coming back when they realised that the situation was safe.

A sharp cry from a child in a distant suddenly made us realise where we were.

Image via Wikipedia

We were not on any isolated island, away from the hustle and bustle of the city - we were in Shah Alam. And that island is named Pulau Undan, one of the two islands found in the middle of the Shah Alam Lake. We were on a cruise boat touring the Shah Alam Lake.

Watching the Painted Storks is part of the itinerary of the boat cruise recently introduced at the lake that is located in the city centre, near Kompleks PKNS.

The cruise started from a jetty near Antan Batura Restaurant located in front of the Sirim building. It moved slowly, allowing everyone on board to enjoy the scenery around the lake.

Passengers were taken for a trip around the lake, with stops at the island which is also inhabited by peacocks, geese, ducks and variety of birds including waders like egrets and herons.

But the island is named Pulau Undan (Storks Island) because of the Painted Storks - the island’s main inhabitants.

The storks’ beautiful colour make them one of the favourite subjects to be captured on canvas and it is no wonder why they are named as such.

These birds, however, are not native to Malaysia. They were brought in from Sri Lanka in the 1960’s and being freshwater dependent, they survive better and have since then multiplied.

Those who have visited Zoo Negara might have seen them there.



Even at the zoo, these birds are not kept in an enclosure. They are free to fly around and have been spotted throughout the Klang Valley.

One such place that they call home is the Shah Alam Lake.

“A few dozens have made Pulau Undan their home and hopefully they will stay and become a permanent feature here.

“We do not interfere with their habitat and do not feed them as they find their food like fish and insects from the lake,” said MBSA’s public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad.

Soon the inhabitants will have another resident to share the island with. The city council is planning to introduce two pairs of spotted deer this month to lure more visitors.

The spotted deer, which are distinguished from the other species of deer which are raised for the meat, have a brown-reddish coat with white spots on its back. Its underparts are white.

“This lake and its features have potential to attract more visitors.”

A group of Singaporeans are scheduled to visit this month to view what the city has to offer. The city council is hopefull that they would promote the city and help bring in more visitors.

Shahrin added that offering the cruise was also part of efforts to provide healthy activities for the locals as well as tourists.

The cruise takes about half an hour around the man-made lake located at the city centre. During the ride, one can view the city’s landmark including the Kompleks PKNS, Sirim and Wet World water theme park.

The boat will pass the Laman Budaya, where regular cultural activities are being conducted on weekends, passing through the canal and under the bridge towards Tasik Tengah.

The Tasik Tengah (middle lake) has a more scenic view, This is where the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque or also known as Shah Alam Blue Mosque is located.

The boat stopped briefly to allow passengers to enjoy the scene and capture the images on their camera before moving on and passing by the floating restaurant and back to the jetty.

Shahrin said the boat service is available daily for a fee of RM5 for adults and RM3 for children between two and 12-years-old, The public can enjoy the service from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays and from 10am to 7pm on weekends.

The tickets are available at the jetty near the Antan Batura restaurant, infront of Sirim. The boat will move once it has a minimum of six people.

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Jacob Dalager pay for a one-year mission trip to Malaysia

As he raises money to pay for a one-year mission trip to Malaysia, 21-year-old Jacob Dalager of Austin is turning to music to help him cover travel expenses.

Dalager, who recently graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with degrees in trumpet performance and music theory and composition, will hold a fund-raising recital at 2 p.m. July 12 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin.

"I could have just sent out a letter, but I hate stuffing envelopes," he said. "This way I can get a bit more of a personal connection with the donors."

Dalager already has some experience living abroad. When he was in third grade, his father, then a Lutheran pastor, spent a year leading a church in Bogota, Colombia. When he was in sixth grade, he spent half a year in India after his mother accepted a job as a woodwind teacher at an international school.

Dalager, who is going to Malaysia through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Young Adults in Global Mission program, said he will teach English and music at the Jireh Home for Children in Kota Kinabalu, a city with around 579,000 residents.

"I don't feel called to proselytize, necessarily," he said. "I have a little more modern view that I think there is more than one way to salvation, or what have you. If they put me in a situation where I'd have to do that, I think I would have declined."

He's going on the trip partly because he's interested in travel, which he got a taste of while living abroad with his family.

"I really enjoyed living abroad because you learn so much more about other cultures and about yourself by getting outside of your comfort zone," he said.

Dalager starts his mission trip orientation on Aug. 19 and flies to Malaysia on Aug. 26.

Vacation To Malaysia - Pulau Lang Tengah

Pulau Lang Tengah or Lang Tengah Island off the coast of Terengganu is one of the nation's well-kept secrets. Its arresting beauty can easily captivate you while you are there. Crystal clear sea-water, pristine beaches and untouched tropical jungle. Its arresting beauty lingers forever in your memory. An island you can call your own, private and tranquil.

Getting there

Lang Tengah Island is located about 40 km north east of Kuala Terengganu (22.5 km from Tanjung Merang) on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. The island is reached by boat from Tanjung Merang (not to be confused with Marang, south of Kuala Terengganu), 45 minutes’ drive north of Kuala Terengganu.

Boat services to Lang Tengah
Most resorts include return boat transfers from Tanjung Merang to Lang Tengah in their packages or arrange it for their guests. You can also charter a boat from the nearby Perhentian Islands or Redang Island (Redang Island also has an airport – see below).

Tanjung Merang is a small fishing village 45minutes north of Kuala Terengganu an

Image via Wikipedia

d the jetty is a few minutes outside of the village. Taxi services are available or your resort can arrange a land transfer from Kuala Terengganu airport or bus terminal.

Image via Wikipedia

Speedboat departures from here are usually pre-arranged with your resort and take 40 minutes. Most boat operators have a fixed schedule, with two departures daily (morning and afternoon) in peak season and one departure in off-peak season.

Image via Wikipedia

Transfers cost around RM 95 return.

It is possible to charter a boat (from RM 380 per trip) to Lang Tengah Island from Tanjung Merang, Redang Island or the Perhentian Islands.

Getting to Kuala Terengganu / Tanjung Merang
Directions for buses and flights are to Kuala Terengganu. From Kuala Terengannu, you can take a taxi or local bus to Tanjung Merang jetty or arrange a land transfer with your agent/resort from the airport or bus terminal. If you are driving, continue north on highway 3 and follow the signs to Merang jetty.

Fly
Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines have several daily flights (50 min) from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu.
Firefly has daily flights from Kuala Lumpur (Subang Airport) and Penang.

Berjaya Air offers daily flights from Kuala Lumpur (70 min) Subang Airport and Singapore (90 min) Seletar Airport to Redang Island. From here, you need to arrange a boat transfer to Lang Tengah.

Take a bus
From Singapore buses depart from the Lavender St bus station and are operated by Transnational. Tickets cost around SGD 35 and the journey takes around10 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys. There are other coach & travel companies operating out of Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road (e.g. Five Stars, Enjoy Holiday Tours, Konsortium and Gunung Raya etc.) that provide holiday packages and coach services to Kuala Terengganu or Merang. These buses are more luxurious, but are also significantly more expensive.

From Johor Bahru buses depart from the Larkin bus station. Several choices are available, including Transnational, Damai, Adik Beradik and Cepat express. Tickets cost around RM 35 and the journey

Image by g™'s Flickr via Flickr

takes just under 9 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys.

From Kuala Lumpur buses depart from the Hentian Putra bus station. Several choices are available, including Transnational, Damai, Konsortium, Plusliner, Sutera and Mutiara. Tickets cost around RM 30 and the journey takes around 7 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys.

From Penang buses depart from Komtar or Butterworth bus stations and are operated by SP Bumi or Atieza. Tickets cost around RM 35 and the journey takes around 9 hours. Buses depart late in the evening for overnight journeys.

From other major cities and towns in Malaysia, there are also several bus companies that operate services to Kuala Terengganu. For updated information and schedules, enquire directly at the long distance bus station.

Drive
There are car parks at Merang.

From Kuala Lumpur take the east bound highway (East Coast Expressway) in the direction of Kuantan. From Kuantan, take the coastal road (highway 3) north, in the direction of Kuala Terengganu (follow signs along the way). The journey should take around seven hours.

From Singapore / Johor Bahru Cross the border at Woodlands or the Second L

Image by samuel_lee via Flickr

ink and from Johor Bahru take the Plus highway north. Exit at Yong Peng. Follow highway 1 to Labis and Segamat, highway 12 to Kuantan, then use either highway 14 to KT or coastal highway 3 via Kemaman, Paka and Dungun.

From Penang take the East-West highway 4 towards Kota Bharu via Grik and Jertih. From Kota Bahru, proceed south on highway 3 to Merang or Kuala Terengganu.

From Kuala Terengganu continue north towards Merang and follow the road signs to Kota Bahru; Batu Rakit; Kustem Universiti; Sutera Beach and finally, Merang Jetty.

Things to see and do

Scuba diving and snorkelling
There are 12 dive sites around the island, with a depth of 7-26 metres and within 5-15 minutes’ boat ride from the resorts. At the nearby Redang, Perhentian and Bidong Islands, there are another 40 sites, within 30-45 minutes from Lang Tengah by boat.

One of the notable attractions for scuba divers at Lang Tengah is the possibility of sighting whale sharks or manta rays at certain times of the year. Turtles are present throughout the year as are barracudas and if you are lucky you may also spot a leopard shark.

Jungle trekking
For early risers, one of the best treks is the early morning trek to Batu Kuching (Cat’s rock) where you can watch the sunrise at 06:30 am. The trek takes around 30 minutes from the resorts and can also be done at any other time of day for beautiful views over the island and the surrounding sea.

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Malaysian Vacation - Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur

More than any other spot in the country, Kuala Lumpur, or "KL" as it is commonly

Image via Wikipedia

known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. While the city's past is still present in the evocative British colonial buildings of the Dataran Merdeka and the midnight lamps of the Petaling Street nightmarket, that past is everywhere met with insistent reminders of KL's present and future. The city's bustling streets, its shining, modern office towers, and its cosmopolitan air project an unbounded spirit of progress and symbolize Malaysia's unhesitating leap into the future. To some, this spirit seems to have been gained at the loss of ancient cultural traditions, but in many ways KL marks the continuation rather than the loss of Malaysia's rich past. Like Malacca five hundred years before, KL's commercial centre is a grand meeting place for

Image via Wikipedia

merchants and travelers from all over the world.

In the same way, the city brings together Malaysia's past and present, its many constituent cultures, and even its remarkable natural treasures, allowing first-time visitors an invaluable opportunity to see Malaysia as a whole before setting off to explore its parts.

Image via Wikipedia

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Vacation To Malaysia

Image via Wikipedia

Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's rapid economic growth and prosperity is reflected by the Petronas Towers, headquarters of the national oil giant.
Rolling tea fields in Malaysia.


Welcome to my country Malaysia. Vacation to Malaysia that means you go vacations to all Asian.
This weblog can help you where you can go when you all make decision come vacation to Malaysia.
We give you smile everydays you all in Malaysia. Come and see my beauty country

Image by CeeKay's Pix via Flickr

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What You Must Know.
Culture of Malaysia

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society. The population as of February 2007 is 26.6 million consisting of 62% Bumiputeras (including Malays), 24% Chinese, 8% Indians, with other minorities and indigenous peoples (Dept of Stats. Malaysia). Ethnic tensions have been rising in recent months. The Malays, who form the largest community, are defined as Muslims in the Constitution of Malaysia. The Malays play a dominant role politically and are included in a grouping identified as bumiputra. Their native language is Malay (Bahasa Melayu). Malay is the national language of the country.



Mahathir bin Mohamad was the leading force in making Malaysia into a major industrial power.

Current Prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak

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