Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts

Monday, December 6, 2010

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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Monday, June 7, 2010

Scuba Diving in Redang Island Malaysia

Redang Island offers one of the best sites in the world for scuba diving. My first scuba diving experience has been breathtaking. It still gives me chills to think that I have actually danced 20 meters deep in the crystal clear waters of Malaysia.

The island is a spectacular place, with white sandy beaches, warm tropical forests, clear blue waters and amazingly visible coral reefs. It's ideal for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, diving, boating, jungle trekking and canoeing. The underwater paradise is home to around one hundred species of fish and over fifty types of coral. Sea turtles, reef sharks and moray eels can be commonly seen. The unbelievable combination of the blazing sun, warm water, green forests and white powdered sand makes it a heavenly abode.

I instantly fell in love with Redang, the first time I visited it, not only for its scenic beauty but also for the awesome scuba diving experience. My husband and I went for our honey moon to Malaysia sometime back and once we where there, we were thrilled to do scuba diving. So we went to this beautiful resort in Redang, just located near to the Turtle Bay. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. Trekking in the tropical forests was breath of fresh air, snorkeling was fun, food was great but it was scuba diving that we were anxiously waiting for.

So the next day we met a cool diving instructor, who made us fill a legal form. After which he provided us with necessary equipment including the diving cylinder and regulators, rebreathers, diving suits, masks, and swim fins. Then we went to a nearby diving spot named as 'Teluk Dalam' by boat.

At first, when I jumped in the water, the waves pushed me drastically and I lost control for a moment. I started to panic, that maybe this is not my thing. But before I could create a scene my instructor advised me to just take glance under water. So I did! And I would never forget that moment. A whole new world was in front of me. All I could think now was just to go down no matter what it takes.

The Teluk Dalam spot is 15 to 20 meters deep. As we started to sink deep down, I could hear my heart beat through my hurting ears. I could feel the pressure on my ears and it took me a few moments to breathe accordingly. But as we reached the bottom, the striking scene made all my pain disappear straight away. I still can´t believe it, I was there deep down in the pacific ocean, with my husband, on my honeymoon.

The instructor and my husband left me at a spot, to wonder around a little. I decided to stay still for a while and absorb the beauty around me. I could see goby fish hiding here and there. As soon as I emptied the fish food packet in my hand, hundreds of happy coral fish gathered around me, I could touch them and dance along them. It was amazing. There were many stripped angelfish in sight also and few others like sepias, needlefishes, whitetip reef sharks and Napoleon fish.

Next I swam around a little joined by my husband. All I could see was greenery. There were stretches of hard and leather soft coral reefs of incredible shapes and color variations. Fish could be seen hiding in the boulders and rocks. I think I also saw a sea turtle. Just when I thought of staying there forever the instructor waved at us to tell that it's time to go.

As I reached the surface and merged out, it felt like I had been to another planet. The Malaysian marine life is certainly well preserved, offering people a life time experience. About 80% marine species of the total coral triangle are found here.

Having an out of this world experience is really rare. All you need is to scuba dive in the deep Malaysian seas to feel on the top of the world.

Happy diving and don't forget to breathe!


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Adventure Walk in Malaysian Tropical Jungle

If you are living with the daily hassle of a big city, always in the continuous fight for time and speed, you may like to give it a break. Unwind yourself, and revert to the natural living. Go over to the jungle in Malaysia to taste the nature. How would you like to live for a few days without television and newspapers or your portable phone?.

When I told my children that my parents did not have the TV and newspaper or electricity in Kuala Lipis, Malaysia in 1960s, they were amazed. How could people survive without tv and computers?. Then I told them, tv is a recent toys, only in 1970s we had that and computers only in 1980s. For thousands of years civilizations rise and fall without them.

If you like to try the activities close to nature, then you can try the national park. A night or two, will expose you to how the natives live. Some people will say, how could you live with all the insets and leeches. People will be surprise, the primary and thick tropical jungle do not have too much of those menace. Only the secondary jungle will have a lot of the insets and leeches.

If you walk through a deep jungle, the ground actually is clear of thick woods and trees. The big trees have formed a huge umbrella, a high canopy that shield the sunlight. So,it is rather difficult for seedlings to grow.

You can feel the cool temperature especially at night. Of course it is humid and it get dark very fast. Walking through it a life experience, it will simulate your senses, your hearing will be free from the decibels of the cars and buses. The calls of the birds and monkeys will be the alarm clock to wake you in the morning.

If you like, you can try to camp in the jungle, a real camping without the allotted camp site. It can only be done with the experienced guide. Selecting the site is a task in itself. You got to think of the wild animals, some of them are dangerous. What if it rains or strong wind in middle of the night. Normally we would have the fire burning through out the night. The animals are scared of fire, it keep us warm and keep the insets away. Of course the smoke will make you cloth smell, but after some hours, everybody will be sweating and smell the same. So no body complaint about body odor, as our nasal automatically readjust itself.

One of the thing to take care, please do not lost your way in the jungle. You will be surprise, that the track will look about the same. The trees will appear similar. Take care to provide tracking signs. A bright color string tied to a branch will be good. Leaving a mark on the trees will help. If you get lost, prepare for the camping before it gets too dark. If you do not have any tent, then leaves waving will save you from the heavy thunder.But you have to know what type of leave to gather and how to make it to withstand the heavy rain.

Frankly I miss the jungle walk and the jungle trekking, especially the night hunting. I hope I can still remember the do's and don't of night trekking in the thick jungle.

Kuala Lipis, in Malaysia, is lucky as it still have those jungle, although I don't think it will remain there for long. The big commercial companies as trying to establish their present.


Sunday, April 25, 2010

Best White Water Rafting Trip

Dare to take a ride on the nature's roller-coaster and face the wild water? Its time to get wet and have fun unlimited. Since, 1980s this leisure activity has been attracting adrenaline lovers and till date, various rafting sites has been introduced in the world of adventure.

With taking care of your passion, thrill and excitement; we bring to you some great option for a white-water rafting trip.

Indonesia

Bali Island, located at the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia is the best spot to take a rafting trip. The gushing rivers (Ayung, Unda, Ubaya, Balian and Telaga) in the former welcome rafters round the year. Along with experiencing the heart pounding adventure, you will find the chance to explore eco-friendly environment and unique culture of Balinese people. An ultimate fun in Bali starts, when rafters need to navigate through the 27 class II and III rapids and cover an 8 km stretch of river.

Malaysia

Go Malaysia and enjoy a journey down the thundering rapids. The Padas and Kiulu rivers are excellent site to practice water rafting. Internationally certified as Grade 3 and Grade 2, the location falls under normal temperature with consistency in depth and speed. Also, Sungai Sungkai in Perak (Grade 2) and Sungai Selangor(Grade 3) are popular spots, controlled by groups of well-trained rafting operators.

India

Rafting in India is just more then any recreational activities. States blessed with Himalayan ranges and snow-clad mountain rivers are ultimate destination for white-water rafting adventure. Regions like Ladakh, Garhwal and Rishikesh is a well-known place, where rapids hit Max. 8 to Min.4 on the scale. A rafting trip to Shivpuri- Rishikesh-Devprayag welcome newbies, who knows a bit about the adventure programme. Professional tour operators organizes camps along the 70 km stretch and provides a hilarious sail through the river Ganges.

Thailand

Thailand is a paradise for white-water river rafters. Not less then 13 rafting destination dot the country. Churning rides amidst the sets of rapids can be enjoyed in some featured location like, Pai - Mae Hong Son, Nam Wa - Nan, Mae La Mao -Tak, Song Galia - Kanchanaburi, Klong Glide - Nakorn Si Tammarat etc. Rafting tour to Phang Nga takes you along side the mountain rivers, bordered with lush forest and waterfall. Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the way is a must-visit place.

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Indialine provides India travel guide with information About India, Indian states, hill stations, beaches, wildlife tourism adventure tourism and many more.