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.

Unique Adventure: Tempurung Cave, Perak Malaysia

Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave) is considered the longest cave in Peninsula Malaysia at 4.8 km. It is a popular destination for caving fans. Part of the cave has been developed as a show cave with electric lighting and walkways.

Gua Tempurung is located in Gopeng, Perak and can be reached using the PLUS NorthSouth Highway. It is a fine river cave, the river passage runs about 1.6 km through the hill. There are three very large chambers and some spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

There are 4 options of tours for the cave visitors from easy and exciting to a very challenging and strenuous adventure.

For more information about Tempurung cave:

Gua Tempurung Malaysia

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