Handmade Batik - beautiful art

Handmade batik cloth is well-known in Southeast Asia since ancient times. It is wax printed cloth using silk or cotton fabric. Malaysian batik is very famous and mostly uses butterflies and flowers paintings with different patterns and designs. The batik production goes through a very special process. First the artists will draw the design on the material then they use wax to form a foundation. Finally the fabric is dyed and the process is repeated. The batik then can be made into clothing, tablecloths, curtains, handbags, hats or pictures.

Indonesia and Malaysia have been always competing on the origin of batik cloth, which in the end is a national treasure. The debate on this issue can be endless. However we will concentrate here on the features of the Malaysian batik.

Batik is considered a traditional custom in Malaysia and you can see it worn by both men and women in special occasions. Batik can be found in so many places for cheap prices but there are also the more fashionable and high quality types of it.

When you visit Malaysia next time, make sure to buy yourself a piece of batik cloth. It is very easy to find in the local market. As the Malaysian batik is traditional product, so many tourists will go and visit a number of workshops and batik stores. They also can see the production process.

Malaysia's beaches

Malaysia has hundereds of beautiful beaches and islands. Here are some of these interesting places:

Datai beach (Langkawi island)

Pantai Cenang - Cenang Beach (Langkawi)

Pantai Teluk Belanga - Emerald Bay (Pangkor)

Tioman island

Long Beach (Perhentian Island - kecil)

Redang island, Redang archipelago

Turtle Beach, Similajau (Sarawak )

Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower)

Menara Kuala Lumpur
A short stroll away from the city's major hotels, the Menara KL is the tallest telecommunications tower in South East Asia and the fourth tallest tower in the world at 421m.

The ceiling of the lift lobby is decorated using tiny mirrors, an Islamic art form technique. High-speed lifts take visitors to an observation deck that provides a panoramic view of the entire city and beyond. The revolving restaurant above serves a lunch and dinner buffet daily with Hi-tea, as well on weekends.

Facilities on the ground level include a pedestrian mall with a reflecting pool, mini theatre, amphitheatre and a restaurant. A 100 - year old Jelutong tree stands preserved in the compound.International events that take place here include the annual Kuala Lumpur International Towerthon, X-treme sports performances and a B.A.S.E. Jump.

Getting There: Located at Bukit Nenas, buses and taxis are easily available to its entrance at Jalan Raja Chulan. It's also a short walk away from the major hotels at Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Source: Tourism Malaysia

Link:

http://www.menarakl.com.my/

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary is located in Lanchang and around 2 hours drive from Kualalumpur. The sanctuary is implemented and managed by the Malaysian wildlife department and it is a very ambitious program to help in reservation and protection of the endangered elephants in Malaysia. At the same time visitors of the sanctuary are given the chance to observe and spend enjoyable time around these friendly elephants.

Visitors can participate in feeding, bathing and other daily activities of the elephants. There is no entrance fees. However, visitors can make donations to the sanctuary if they will. The sanctuary is well organized with information centres and introductory materials available for everyone.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary have been established for around twenty years and during this period have helped to prevent the elephants population from declining and helped to save hundreds of elephants by relocating them to the sanctuary.

Spending a day in this unique place can be a great fun where you can experience elephant riding which is a real special experience as elephants are the biggest mammals on earth. You can also feed the elephant by yourself while the sanctuary staff will be giving you instructions on how to do it. Finally, you can participate in bathing the elephants which is one of the favorite activities for the elephants and is becoming one of the favorite activities for the visitors as well.

Reviews from visitors to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary say that they have spend a very unique experience there and had a lot of fun.

Hotel ratings to ensure better service

Kuala Lumpur, July 23 - Tourism Ministry announced tighter criteria to reclassify hotels and apartments rating in order to provide better quality service. Ratings for hotel apartments were also introduced.

The classifications for both star and orchid hotels follows the standard set by the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); adjusted to local cultures.

"The tourism industry will always work towards upgrading the hotel services in Malaysia from time to time," said Tourism Minister Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

Five criteria are added in the new rating scheme; providing WiFi access for all floors in a hotel building, tightening the marking system for hotel ratings, promoting warmer welcome practices a la Malaysia and requiring hotels to send feedback forms from hotel guests straight to the ministry.

Tengku Adnan said the main change is in the criteria for a hotel to be given a five-star rating.

"Five-star hotels would now have to provide 24-hour room service, ensure shops and restaurants in the hotel operated for a minimum of 18 hours (depending on approval of local authorities) and use only Malaysian-themed decorations," he said.

A minimum price of US$80 (RM275) for room charges per night must also be implemented, while at least five satellite TV programmes - sports, children, news and two movie channels - are also required.

Tengku Adnan said the steps were necessary to ensure hotels were given appropriate ratings. Orchid ratings are given to hotels, which do not qualify for the one to five-star rating requirements. All hotels will be rated based on their qualitative and aesthetic requirements, common areas, bedroom requirements, services, safety and hygiene standards, and staff.

In the Hotel Monitoring Team, there are 430 personnel involved; consists of personnel from the ministry, local authorities, several NGOs and government departments. Tengku Adnan said there was a need for more personnel, as there were 992 registered hotels in addition to more than 2,200 tourist accommodation premises nationwide.

source: VIRTUAL MALAYSIA - The Official Portal of Ministry of Tourism

Pangkor a thriving tourist destination

Nothing is more enchanting than getting away from the noisy and stressed city life and relaxing at a calm beach in a beautiful island like Pangkor. A piece of heaven where you can enjoy a wonderful sunny day on fine sandy beach watching the calm blue waters.



Pangkor is situated in the western coast of peninsular Malaysia and is part of the state of Perak. It is known as well with the fishing settlements or fishing villages where the visitors get a chance to observe the lifestyle of the local fishermen.



Several fascinating beaches are there in Pangkor. You can go to Pantai Puteri Dewi where you can enjoy your favourite water sports and activities, or may be you would choose to to head to Pantai Pasir Bogak where you can find more simple accommodation for reasonable rents.



The taxis in Pangkor do not use meters so you have negotiate the fare with the driver before starting the journey. Buses also can be found, and several car and motorbike rental agencies. To get to Pangkor you can take the ferry from Lumut on the mainland the journey would take around 40 minutes.



A great selection of resorts, hotels and different types of accommodation offered in Pangkor. Whether your choice is a 5 stars luxury hotel or a small chalet on the beach I'm sure you will be satisfied with the selection there.

Historical Journey in Melaka

Brief History

You will not find any other place in Malaysia as rich in history as Melaka(Malacca). Founded more than 600 years ago and thrived as an important port for merchants and explorers from all over the world. Colonised by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and have been independent with the rest of Malaysia since 1956.

Places of Interest

The attractions and places of interest in Melaka include a number of Museums, Memorials, Mosques and Churches..

• Museums: Museum Rakyat(the people's museum) includes Melaka's economic and social progress particularly in the period after the independence. Maritime Museum this one is constructed after "Flor De La Mar". Malaysia Youth Museum this museum is dedicated to the youths' contribution in the country.


• Mosques: Kampung Kling's Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the country. Kampung Hulu's Mosque, built in 1728 and considered the oldest mosque in Malaysia. Tranquerah Mosque..


• Churches: Christ Church, built in 1753 by the Dutch. St. Paul's Church, built by a Portuguese captain by the name of Duarte Coelho. St. Peter's Church, the oldest roman catholic church in Malaysia built in 1710.


• A'Famosa: The famous hallmark of Melaka. This fortress was built by the Portuguese in 1511.


• Other attractions: Butterfly Farm, Crocodile Farm, Mini Malaysia, Melaka Zoo, A'Famosa Water World, A'Famosa Animal World Safari...

Hotels and Accommodation

In Melaka you can find a wide range of accommodation from budget hotels and guest houses to 5 star Luxury hotels. Some of the popular hotels in Melaka:
Equatorial Hotel - Jalan Parameswara
Renaissance Hotel - Jalan Bendahara
Grand Continental Hotel - Jalan Tun Sri Lanang