Malaysia Archives - Hoblets On The Go

Malaysia: Sarawak – Kuching, visitor’s guide

Kuching is the capital city of Sarawak which is part of East Malaysia and is located on the wider island of Borneo. Anyone who has been to Peninsular Malaysia will find that Sarawak has a very different feel, and Kuching in particular, thanks to its strategic location on the snake-like Sarawak River, is one of the prettiest spots in the region.

Malaysia: Sabah – Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu Park established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world.

An amazing panorama from the viewing platform about the Rainforest Lodge - Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo

Malaysia: Borneo – Danum Valley

We returned to the Kinabatagan River for the second time to complete a journey that got disrupted five years earlier when I had an accident and had to be evacuated from the rainforest.

Malaysia: Sarawak – Gunung Mulu National Park

The Gunung Mulu National Park is a national park in Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses caves and karst formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting. The park is famous for its caves and the expeditions that have been mounted to explore them.

Rhinoceros hornbill in flight over the Kinabatangan River - Sabah, Borneo, Asia

Malaysia: Borneo – Return to the Kinabatangan River

We returned to the Kinabatagan River for the second time to complete a journey that got disrupted five years earlier when I had an accident and had to be evacuated from the rainforest.

Malaysia: Sabah – Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

In the centre of the mangrove forests of Semawang is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can see Borneo's indigenous proboscis monkeys.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Five great things to do

Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on the west coast of Malaysia. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, the main island offers a mixture of picturesque paddy fields, jungle-clad hills, and tranquil waterfalls.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Giant Eagle Statue

The icon of Langkawi, Eagle Square locally known as Dataran Lang is the home of Langkawi’s giant statue of an eagle. Local folklore suggests the island gets its name from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), hence the name lang-kawi.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Kilim Karast Geoforest Park

Kilim Geoforest Park (or Kilim Karst Geoforest Park as its full name) is one of the three geoforest parks associated with the Langkawi Geopark. Langkawi Geopark comprises the whole of Langkawi Island and was endorsed as the 52nd Global Geopark by UNESCO on 1st June 2007.

Malaysia: Langkawi – Sky Bridge & SkyCab

Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-metre (410 ft) curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia, completed in 2005. The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang on Pulau Langkawi.

Malaysia: George Town – 15 great things to do

George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.

Malaysia: Penang – Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi

Established in 1810 Cheah Kongsi is one of the oldest Hokkien clan associations in George Town, Penang. Its members have their ancestral origins from Sek Tong Seah in the Sam Tor District of the Hai Teng County at Cheang Chew Prefecture, Fujian Province, China.

Malaysia: Penang – Batik Museum

This Musuem aims to tell the historical story of how this art form began in the 1950's and its subsequent development by a good number of talented artists in Malaysia.

Malaysia: Penang – The Wonder Food Museum

The Wonderfood Museum is a unique museum in Penang that features oversized replicas of traditional Malaysian dishes, art and historical information. There are larger-than-life delicacies on display from across Asia.

Malaysia: Penang – Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and is also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia: Penang – Chew Jetty

Chew Jetty was one of 5 wooden jetties constructed in 1888 as part of a development project on the quay side in George Town. 2 other wooden jetties were built in the same area in the 1960s. One jetty burnt down so only five remain.

Malaysia: Penang – George Town Street Art

George Town's street art scene boomed in 2012. That year Ernest Zacharevicm, a Lithuanian artist, created 6 wall paintings during the celebration of the annual George Town festival. These murals soon achieved worldwide fame.

The Pinang Peranakan Museum has a distinctive green exterior - George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Malaysia: Penang – Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a museum dedicated to Penang's Peranakan heritage. The museum itself is housed within a distinctive green-hued mansion at Church Street, George Town

Malaysia: Penang – Khoo Kongsi

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia. It is known for its extensive lineage that can be traced back 650 years ago, as well as its closely-knit and defensive congregation of buildings and a magnificent clanhouse.

Malaysia: Penang – Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion)

Built between 1896 to 1904, teams of master craftsmen from China were hired. The majestic blue house was built with 38 rooms and 5 courtyards. At that time, 3 of his wives occupied the Blue Mansion. The Blue Mansion (otherwise known as Cheong Fatt Tze's Mansion) was large enough to accommodate his extended families.

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. Its modern skyline is dominated by the 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers The city is also home to British colonial-era landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur – Batu Caves

Batu Caves is an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Selangor. Site of a Hindu temple and shrine, Batu Caves attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.

Malaysia: Malacca (Melaka) City – A guide to visiting

Melaka, formerly Malacca, is a town and port, on the Strait of Malacca. The city was founded about 1400 as part of a Malay kingdom. Malay rule ended in 1511, when it was conquered by the Portuguese and it developed into the most important trading port in Southeast Asia.

The dense canopy of the Rain Forest Discovery Centre in Sepilok, Sabah

Malaysia: Borneo – The Rain Forest Discovery Centre

A great insight into the fauna and flora of Borneo. There is a well thought out inside exhibition centre and extensive grounds with a canopy walk-way.

The probicus and other monkey species take to trees at night - Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo

Malaysia: Borneo (Sabah) – Cruising the Kinabatangan River

The start of a journey down the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo. This is the perfect place to see several species of monkeys, including the proboscis monkey and the rare Bornean pygmy elephant.

Cute calf elephant - Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo

Malaysia: Borneo – A chance meeting with pygmy elephants

Whilst I was laid up in my room at the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort from my fall the night before (I was later found to have 5 broken ribs) Karen headed out on a morning cruise (thinking my injury was not quite so serious) towards the ox-bow lake in search of monkeys and other wildlife.

A foraging sun bear - sun bear conservation centre, Sepilok, Sabah

Malaysia: Sabah – Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

The sun bear conservation centre in Sandakan has a mission to rescue these small and endangered bears from captivity and return them to the wild. We were lucky enough to get the chance to visit these charming and cuddly animals during our visit to Sandakan. The centre is just opposite the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

Malaysia: Borneo (Sabah) – Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary

For as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with orangutans. so a trip to Borneo has long been on my bucket list. I felt the urgent need to do this visit sooner rather than later because of the threat to primary rain forests.

Musings and commentaries

Crash bang wallop – a sobering tale

After a recent accident whist away on vacation in an exotic location I came away thankful to be alive, still hungry to travel but reflective on the experience. It will change the way I plan and prepare for future journeys.