Honeymoon bliss

Honeymoon bliss
Sunday July 6, 2008
Compiled by Faridah Begum

Honeymooning domestically is just as good as doing so abroad.

Bukit Tinggi, Pahang



None can compare to the French influenced Colmar Tropicale, which is only about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and boasts of not just a setting but the ambience is not unlike the real towns of France that it emulates. Perfect for a weekend or just a short honeymoon, it is sure to appeal to the hearts of newly-weds for a repeated honeymoon trip.

Cameron Highlands, Pahang



The highlands offer honeymooning couples a great English setting. Not having to fork out thousands to get to the outskirts of London, you can enjoy afternoon tea, cool weather and many cold evenings together with good steamboats and Continental meals at most restaurants here.

The Andaman, Langkawi, Kedah



Situated in the picturesque Datai Bay, honeymooning couples will find the tranquillity a great help in keeping the romance burning. Lots to do with the natural setting such as bird watching, sunsets and even a round of golf if either one or both are enthusiasts.

Serai di Lanjut, Pahang



If a timeless holiday is on the cards, then this place is just right. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life coupled with the slow and easy pace here, one can just stretch out on the white sandy beaches for hours on end or play a round of golf or even go river fishing.

Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu

Many couples have met on scuba diving trips and this can account for quite a percentage of marriages. It is only right and perhaps understandable if they choose to go on a scuba diving honeymoon, especially where they first met. Pulau Perhentian may be the place or even a good alternative. Known as one of the best diving posts in the country, Pulau Perhentian is actually made up of two islands, namely Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil.

Pangkor Island Resort, Pangkor, Perak

Look forward to sunset cruises, traditional Malay massages and lots of time together in the beautiful resort that was voted the best in the West Coast. With a private beach exclusively for guests of the resort, you can plan many outdoor activities such as jungle trekking, archery, parasailing and cycling.

Permai Rainforest Resort, Kuching, Sarawak



If your wish is to have a taste of everything, then this is the perfect getaway for you. You get a package of the sun, sea, beach, mountains, waterfalls and modern facilities all in one place. Just 30 minutes from Kuching, you will want for nothing except more time to do all the things you want together as a couple, and more.

Tanjong Jara, Terengganu



Noted for its pristine turquoise waters and its hidden location, there are lots that a honeymooning couple can do here. For one, it boasts of a good spa, just right for a couple that has gone through the mill with the preparation of the wedding and the crush of relatives. It also provides the couple a chance to be just by themselves and enjoy their newly entwined lives together.

Pulai Springs Desaru, Johor



Designed like an ancient Malay palace, Pulai Springs is on one of the unspoilt beaches south of the East Coast in the peninsula. Like most resorts, it promises the excitement of a beach resort yet maintains a calm and serene atmosphere that is conducive for honeymooning and gives couples time to acquaint themselves further besides enjoying the array of activities available here such as golf and jungle trekking, and with an untouched forest that casts a romantic glow in the evenings.

Nexus Resort Karambunai, Sabah



Winner of many prestigious awards, this place has been described as heaven on earth with its natural setting and the numerous activities that come with it. A lagoon park fulfils one’s desires of water games and the 30ha nature park within the resort gives honeymooning couples hours of trekking together.

-- The Sunday Metro

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Tanjung Malim Sights and Attractions

Easy in Tanjung Malim
Text by Faridah Begum
Sunday April 6, 2008

Take a leisurely stroll through Tanjung Malim and enjoy its good food and warm hospitality.

Proton City



Here is the boom for Tanjung Malim, which was almost dying at one time. Now, Proton City is beckoning to Malaysians who want to live in bungalows by a beautiful lake and with good facilities, besides the numerous job opportunities that the city offers with the setting up of the Proton plant here that manufactures some 75,000 cars annually.

Railway Station



This is an eclectic mix of old and new, where the old concrete signage stating the town you are passing through is still in place while the tracks are new with the new double-tracking system in place. Again, this is a walk down memory lane.

Sungai Klah Hot Spring Park



Natural and curative, this hot spring has been turned into a resort, where jacuzzis utilising the hot spring water is available for some of the chalets here. It is nestled in lush forest patches, surrounded by hills and clear cold mountain streams and rivers. A haven close to Kuala Lumpur!

Police Station



This is the place where most of Tanjung Malim’s history was recorded, especially during the communist insurgency. The pre-war building is still sturdy and a walk into this building seems to bring back scenes of yesteryear. Worth a visit, even if only to ask for directions.

Sultan Idris Teaching University



The Sultan Idris Teaching University is a tribute to the Sultan Idris Training College for Malay teachers, founded in 1917 by the Malay Federated States and Straits Settlement assistant director of education, R.O. Winstedt. Its establishment was to ensure adequately trained teachers were available for the education of locals in Malaya. The college, now a university, has since become an icon for this town and is a tourist attraction.

Hindu Temple



From afar, it is awash with colourful statues. Inching your way closer to it, you will see statues in their most resplendent hues and forms. It is truly a work of art and a beautiful example of what a peaceful and beautiful place of worship ought to look like.

Yik Mun Pau



No visit to Tanjung Malim would be complete without a stop at the Yik Mun Restaurant. One of the first food outlets to produce halal pau, most travellers would make a beeline for this restaurant where they get not only good and tasty pau, especially the savoury ones with curried meat, but also good toasted bread with thick kaya and aromatic Hainanese coffee. There are also frozen pau for sale if one wants to bring Tanjung Malim’s No.1 fast food home.

Tanjung Malim Rest House

This building has old-world charm, being constructed and completed in 1880. The prestigious Rest House is famous for its Mee Hailam and Chicken Chop. The rest house is also a popular stop for VIPs when they come to Tanjung Malim and despite age, the rest house stands proud and tall as a heritage building.

Slim River – Water Rafting



Not too far from town is Slim River where Four-Wheel Drives go on a trail through the river and more often than not, it is water rafting time down this body of water, which promises a great time with the rapids. If you are feeling adventurous, then this is a must-try Sport.

Masjid Jamek Tanjung Malim

Built in 1926, this mosque is very popular with visitors to Tanjung Malim as it has beautiful architecture and many Muslims from abroad actually make their way here besides many wanting to pray in this old and mesmerising place of worship. The mosque was designed by an English architect.

It is really easy getting to Tanjung Malim. Once you get on the North South Highway, head on towards Ipoh and you would pass the little towns of Rawang and Behrang. Once you reach an arch near Proton City, look out for the exit for Tanjung Malim, which is about 40 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur. -- The Star Leisure.

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Bentong known for communality

Bentong known for communality
By Sim Leoi Leoi
Saturday February 23, 2008

BENTONG: Walk along the main road of this small town and one cannot help but notice the abundance of signboards advertising clan houses and associations.

In fact, for its small size – it has some 120,000 residents of whom 53,000 are registered voters – Bentong has a high number of clan associations and houses. At the last count, there are over 60.

There are clan houses for the Lees, Huangs, Cheongs, Leongs, Yongs and Kochows and even one for local merchants.

For MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who has been Bentong MP for the past two terms, it is a sign that people in the town are extremely close knit.

“Bentong people like to get together and participate in communal and cultural activities. The clan associations have been helpful in providing scholarships for students,” he said.

Vibrant: For a small town, Bentong has over 60 clan associations.

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Some associations concentrated around Jalan Loke Yew and Jalan Chui Yin are nearly a century old.

The Kwangsi Association, for instance, has over 1,000 members and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in two years.

However, with many in the younger generation preferring to work in Kuala Lumpur, which is less than an hour’s drive away, a common complaint among the associations is the low number of youths.

Many of their members are over 40 years in age.

Kwangsi Association chairman Lee Wah Cheen, 73, said: “I have a restaurant here and one of my sons works in it. But my eldest son and two daughters live and work in KL.

“I have thought it and wanted to live in KL, but the city is too busy and getting around for me is difficult,”

If only there were more industries here, rued the sprightly old man.

A local resident, who used to be active in politics, said: “You won’t find anyone young here to interview. They have just come back for Chinese New Year and they won’t be back again for some time, unless they come back to vote.”

Critics pointed out that attempts to pull in industries in places like Kampung Sungai Dua in the outskirts of town had failed to take off, and only had a few factories to show.

Liow admitted there had been some rankle over the lack of industries in Bentong.

“My voters are slowly greying, which is becoming a problem to me,” he said, adding that his plan was to turn Bentong into an agro-tourism hub.

“I hope to attract young graduates into high-technology agricultural practices where they use less land. Bentong is famous for its ginger plantations and hot springs, which we can use to attract tourists,” he pointed out.

Liow said Bentong hoped to catch the spillover effects of economic growth in Kuala Lumpur and the launch of the Kuantan development corridor.

“As Kuala Lumpur continues to extend eastwards, Bentong will benefit. We want Chinese businessmen to pursue opportunities in the East Coast Economic Region,” he said.

Pahang MCA chief and Bilut assemblyman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said resorts like Genting Highlands, Bukit Tinggi and Tanah Rimba were within the Bentong constituency.

“They attract tourists and course trainees who often stop here to eat and shop,” he said, adding that it was difficult to find parking space in the town during weekends.

For people like Cheong Peng Choy, 62, however, life could not be rosier than in Bentong.

“If life here is likened to my two hands, my satisfaction is represented by nine of my 10 fingers. Only one finger is my level of dissatisfaction. I hope to see more funds for our Chinese schools,” said the chairman of the Wei Neng Association, a Kwangtung subclan house. -- The Star.

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Majestic Hotel reopens (Malacca)

Majestic Hotel reopens
By Steven Daniel
Friday February 15, 2008

MALACCA: The Majestic Hotel has regained its colonial grandeur and sophistication that made it one of the prestigious hotels around in its heyday after a RM30mil restoration and expansion project.

Reopened recently by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Khalil Yaakob, the Majestic Hotel is now part of the YTL stable of high-end, world-class luxury five-star hotels and resorts.

Constructed in 1929 as a private mansion for a prominent businessman, it was sold and converted to a hotel in 1953.

Fit for a king: The Majestic Hotel recently underwent a RM30mil renovation project.

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It was closed down in 2000 and restoration works on the hotel commenced in October 2006.

In its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, the Majestic Hotel was one of the most prestigious hotels in the state with a wide ranging guest list comprising Cabinet members, local and foreign dignitaries, as well as artistes and movie stars.

The hotel draws influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Peranakan cultures, with an architectural style that mirrors the state’s multi-faceted colonial past.

During restoration works, the original floor tiles, stain glass windows, roof tiles, reception table and many more items were left untouched so as to preserve the hotel’s mixed colonial past.

In the rooms, four-poster beds are draped in a mixture of rich silks and cool cottons and bathtubs for two provide the comfort and romance required by the discerning modern traveller.

“Like its sister properties, Tanjong Jara Resort, Cameron Highlands Resort and Pangkor Laut Resort, this 54-room hotel on the banks of the Sungai Melaka is set to be placed among the world’s best, providing the quality, service, luxury and the absolute authenticity of every YTL hotel and resort,” said YTL Hotels executive director Datuk Mark Yeoh.

Adhering to the brand’s philosophy of honouring the healing traditions of the local region, the Spa Village is the only spa in the world to base its therapies on the healing heritage of the Baba-Nyonya culture.

Colourful ceremony: Mohd Khalil (centre) cutting the ribbon to signal the reopening of the hotel. Looking on are Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam (second from right) and Datuk Mark Yeoh.

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Malacca’s newly invigorated landmark is expected to provide a unique and memorable experience to visitors who walk through its doors to be transported back to the hotel’s glorious past. -- The Star Metro

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Ever peaceful Taiping

Ever peaceful Taiping
Sunday February 10, 2008

A visit to this lovely town brings much bliss and serenity.

Kuala Sepetang Wildlife Sanctuary

The Matang Mangrove Forest is the recipient of numerous international awards. This mangrove swamp is one of the best managed in the world and noted as an outstanding example of conservation and management of its rich biodiversity and mudflat ecosystems. It is a place no one should exclude from the itinerary when in Taiping



Taiping Prison

Taiping Prison is the first prison to be opened in 1879 and was the first purpose-built prison in Malaya. It remains in operation today.

Taiping Lake Garden

This 64ha garden has been the focal point of Taiping since 1880. Besides a lake created from a former tin mine, it also hosts a recreational park and a Japanese garden and is a stone throw from a golf course and zoo.



Natural Water Bodies

Taiping is home to many pools, rivers and streams that have kept Taiping cool and nice, even in hot weather. Among them are the Burmese Pool, which has a natural water slide; the Austin Pool that has a very deep square granite pool with a waterfall flowing into it; the Taman Suria streams which flow from Bukit Larut; the Coronation Swimming Pool located at the foothill of Bukit Larut and has very cold mountain stream water even on hot days; and the Hot Water Well in Batu 9, off Jalan Trong.

Perak State Museum

Built in 1883, it is the oldest museum in the country and is home to an impressive collection of ancient weapons, aboriginal implements and archaeological treasures, including artefacts from Perak’s rich historical culture and heritage. Admission is free.



Bukit Larut(Maxwell Hill)

It was previously the rest and recreation centre for British high-ranking officials from 1884. At 1,250m above sea level, it reminded most of them of their cool homeland. Up until 1948, the only way up was by sedan chairs. Tarred roads were later constructed. It is still one of the most natural hill resorts in the country and was renamed Bukit Larut in 1979.



Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

One of the premier theme parks in Malaysia, it also includes the Orang Utan Island, where preservation of the orang utan is carried out. The theme park is a favourite with Perak folk as well as those from other states, especially during the school holidays. It is also a popular venue for corporate companies’ team-building programmes. There is an eco-park for those who want to bask in the natural surroundings.



Taiping Zoo

Also known as Taman Mergastua Idris Shah, the zoo is on a 16ha land where in the day it is a typical zoo but transforms into a night safari after dusk. It is home to some 1,300 animals from more than 180 species,all flourishing due to its successful breeding programmes. It is the only zoo in the north of the peninsula.



Food

Taiping is famous for its cheap and delicious food and visitors must have some of these famous delicacies such as: Cendol in Jalan Barrack; Chinese fried kway teow in Taman Sri Hijau, Taman Sungai Mas; Malay fried kway teow at Restoran Doli in Jalan Tupai; Roti Canai at Bismillah Restaurant on Jalan Taming Sari; Popiah at the Prima Restaurant and the Popiah stall in the Larut Matang food court; Nasi Lemak Special/ Mahal/ Orang Kaya on Jalan Tupai; Mee Rebus at the Larut Matang Market, Prima Food Court and the Pokok Assam night market; Steamed Chicken Rice in Jalan Barrack.



Kota Ngah Ibrahim Historical Complex

It used to be the residence of Ngah Ibrahim, who was found guilty of murdering British Resident J.W.W. Birch. It served as the country’s first teachers’ training college called the Matang College and was also the headquarters of the Japanese army during the Second World War. Today, it serves as the Matang Historical Complex.
-- Sunday Metro.

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Capitalising on agrotourism

Capitalising on agrotourism
By Errol Oh
Saturday February 9, 2008

The agriculture sector and the tourism industry may be miles apart in some ways, but both are vital components of the Malaysian economy. The fact that the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) devotes an entire chapter to each area underscores their potential and the Government's aim of increasing their contribution to the nation's growth.

Ngiam: Tourist from Japan and Europe are most likely to visit agrotourism attractions

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As such, where agriculture and tourism intersect, there are surely many opportunities for entrepreneurs to capitalise on the drive for development.

Agrotourism – also known as agritourism, particularly in the United States – straddles these two fields. It essentially involves visits to farms and other agricultural sites to experience the various aspects of farming and the rustic lifestyle at close hand. Often, the farms provide boarding as well.

The definition can be broadened to incorporate elements of entertainment, shopping, education and food.

Agrotourism ties in with the current global emphasis on ecotourism and responsible tourism because when done right, it encourages the appreciation of nature and helps develop rural communities in a sustainable manner. It is a vast arena, and there are many well-established examples all around the world. Tuscany in Italy has been a famous tourist draw for ages, and vineyards, olive groves and farms are part of its scenic beauty. Several other places in Europe also have a similar allure.

Many of the states and provinces in the US and Canada have vibrant agrotourism markets. Among the more prominent attractions are dude ranches (resorts featuring camping, horseback riding and other outdoor activities), u-pick farms (where visitors can pick fruits and vegetables), vineyards and farmers' markets.

Given the importance of agriculture in their economies, it is only natural that Australia and New Zealand are known for their farmstay holidays. In Taiwan, agrotourism – over there, it is known as leisure farming – has taken off in a big way and there is even an association to serve the interests of the operators.

In comparison, agrotourism in Malaysia is not as large and organised. Says Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Ngiam Foon, “It's a niche market and at the moment, it doesn't have a high profile here. But it definitely has a lot of potential.”

He adds that tourists from Japan and Europe, particularly the younger ones, are most likely to visit agrotourism attractions.

The good news is there is plenty of room for growth and the Government sees the wisdom in encouraging the development of agrotourism.

The 9MP points out that the key to enhancing the distinct appeal of our tourism products and services is to promote the country’s traditional advantages, namely, its cultural and natural heritage. This is especially relevant to agrotourism.



Furthermore, our climate welcomes tourists the whole year round and a large portion of the population speaks English.

In addition, the Malaysian tourism industry as a whole is robust and healthy. After a bad year in 2003 due to the SARS (Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare, tourist arrivals and receipts have rebounded strongly to achieve new records.

A main component of agrotourism in Malaysia is the homestay programme, which increases participation of the rural population in tourism-related activities and provides rural households opportunities to supplement their incomes.

During the Eight Malaysia Plan, covering 2001 to 2005, an additional 463 homestay operators were trained and licensed, bringing the total to 1,089 from 79 villages.

The efforts on this front continue under the 9MP. These include farmstays and visits to agricultural parks and research stations, says the 9MP report. Guests will be encouraged to visit handicraft sites and participate in activities such as pottery-making, batik-canting, songket- and basket-weaving.

There is also comfort in the fact that there are some agrotourism success stories in Malaysia to learn from and to emulate.

A shining example is Cameron Highlands, which has been one of the country's top destinations among domestic and foreign tourists. Much of this has to do with its tea plantations and strawberry and vegetable farms. Also, there are a number of farms (ranging from those cultivating tropical fruits to ostrich farms) that cater largely for visitors.

The website of the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry (agrolink.moa.my) has a directory of dozens of agrotourism sites, including pasar tani locations. Among the notable places are the Malaysian Agricultural Park in Shah Alam, a honey processing centre in Kedah and a veterinary station in Perak.



Entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector are, of course, prime candidates to operate agrotourism projects. However, Ngiam of Matta says it is important to first understand what is needed to create a sustainable tourist attraction.

Ultimately, that means ensuring that the visitor has a positive experience and goes home with fond memories. After all, tourism is a service industry. “It's not just about providing the hardware. The software is just as important,” Ngiam reminds.

In addition, it may be a good idea to adopt the cluster approach in developing agrotourism attractions so as to give tourists more reasons to make the trip. -- Bizweek.

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