Malacca, Malaysia

Located in the southwestern part of the peninsular Malaysia, between the state of Negeri Sembilan and Johor is the state of Malacca - our last stop on our two-day road trip in Malaysia. It is the second smallest state covering an area of 1,652 square kilometers, yet rich enough in historical significance and cultural resemblance. The state is divided into three regions - Alor Gajah, Central Malacca and Jasin.





On 7 July 2008, UNESCO declared Malacca a World Heritage Site. The birthright of the state's splendour and tempestuous past can be witnessed through a visit to Bandar Hilir, where traces of the Portuguese, Dutch and English influences are still left and preserved.





As we strolled down the narrow streets to visit old temples, museums and medieval fortresses, Malacca's history never failed to allure us. Historical attractions tucked into the nooks and crannies of its limited streets were just barefaced signs of its affluent history. Much of the fragments of Malacca's effulgent past lie within the Town Square and waterfront area near the river.





Our first entry to Malacca started from Ayer Keroh. Places of interest within this place included the Melaka Zoo, Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary and the World Honeybee Museum. Further north along the main road was another place of interest called the Hutan Rekreasi Air Keroh, a recreational forest - part secondary jungle and part landscaped park with paved trails, a 250m canopy walk, picnic areas and a forestry museum. Nearby was the Taman Mini Malaysia which showcased the traditional houses of all 13 Malaysian states, as well as neighboring countries. 

Bullock Cart Ride for RM2.50 per person. This ride was really fun though the place stank so badly! Nature smell!

Souvenir shops along the sidewalks..

We proceeded our journey to Bandar Hilir immediately after having a good lunch at the Macdonalds within the vicinity of Ayer Keroh. Bandar Hilir is the national heritage zone where many historical legacies and remnants of past historical buildings are found. Below are some of the pictures we took from the place.

At my background is the Taming Sari Tower situated within Bandar Hilir which is similar to that of Singapore's Skytower in Sentosa. It is a 110-meter tower that will enable visitors to experience a 360 degree bird's eye view of Bandar Hilir and its surrounds.

Close up view of Taming Sari Tower

Melaka River Cruise - an opportunity to cruise along the river and view the bustling surrounding area and Kampung Morten enclave while recalling the history of Malacca. The trip starts from Taman Rempah in Melaka Town.

Maritime Museum

Inside the Captain's Cabin at the Maritime Museum... That purple hat was my souvenir from Ayer Keroh for RM10. Who wouldn't want to take a pose with this one?!

A day trip in Malacca was certainly not enough for us to fully explore all its places of interests. But we're fortunate enough to capture and visit a few of its historical sights and attractions and though we only managed to visit the Maritime Museum among all the museums there were at the place, it was already a fulfillment that we were really proud of for this had been an unplanned road trip we had in such a short span of time. Malacca is definitely a must visit state in Malaysia for historical sightseeing. 

Kota Tinggi Waterfalls

Located in the southern peninsular state of Johor, Malaysia and 16 km northwest from Kota Tinggi and about 60 km from Johor Bahru (capital of Johor) is the Kota Tinggi Waterfalls - our third stop on our road trip in Malaysia. Known for its continuous rush of cascading cool water down 34 meters from the peak of Mt. Panti, Kota Tinggi Waterfalls is a popular place for locals and holiday makers who throng to the place to escape the scorching heat of the sun and enjoy the cool waters of the waterfall and be enthralled by a beautiful tropical surroundings of flora and fauna. The corresponding stretch of rapid waters has also been channelled to whisk bathers seeking fun and adventure, down the slide with the huge inflatable tube, such that the place is now transformed into a water-themed park attraction, albeit lacking in world-class amenities.

The water park can seem uninviting for a dip especially when visitors are distributed all over the base of the waterfall and a hope of serenity to be able to embrace the beauty of nature is eventually a turned down - a major drawback for this attraction, otherwise I would have soaked myself into the cool waters of the waterfalls. I ventured up the arduous steps of the uppermost part of the waterfalls in the hope to find tranquility but up there was another waterfall attraction where a bunch of people were seen impregnated into pools of water and just having fun. From there I could see the water cascading down below with the view of the 600-meter high Mt. Muntahak in the distance.

As it was always dangerous to play around waterfalls, visitors were always warned not to make head plunges into the pool of water and be reminded to keep the holiday site clean and safe for everyone.





The place also offers chalets for those who wish to spend a night at the place. Rental of equipment such as inflatable tubes and children's float are also readily available.





Entrance fee to this attraction is RM9 per person and parking fee is RM5 per car.

Desaru Fruit Farm Agro Educational Tour in Johor, Malaysia

Desaru Fruit Farm was our second stop on our road trip in Malaysia. It is a 160-acres farm planted with many different types of tropical fruits such as starfruit, jackfruit, soursop, banana, papaya, orange and seasonal fruits like durian, rambutan, and mangosteen. 

We rode on this bullock-cart to go on an agro educational tour around the farm with the help of a friendly, Malay tour guide.

Our tour guide (apparently I forgot the name.. pardon me for that) is smelling the jackfruit to know if the fruit is ready for harvest.

Did you know that dragon fruits grow on cactus-like plants? Well, I didn't until I saw this. To cause a dragon fruit to grow, a farmer would cut off the top of a frond. The

 yellow flower on the left side of the picture is the beginning formation of the fruit. It will develop into a pinkish colored flesh like the one at the center of the picture and contains really strong anti-oxidants.

  A close up photo of passion fruit.

The farm also boasts a collection of herbs such as basil, oregano, turmeric and many others.

Fish therapy at the farm's koi pond! A surprise discovery at the end of the guided tour. Let them nibble at your hands!

 Meet the large, two-toed, swift-footed flightless bird - the largest there is among living birds - the Ostrich, at the farm's mini zoo.

A refreshing sip of coconut drink at the end of the farm tour.

Fruits galore at the farm's souvenir shop. Buy them at a cheaper price here.

So for a better understanding of the commercial fruits produced in Johor, visit the Desaru Fruit Farm. This is another exciting attraction in the state of Johor.

Desaru Beach in Johor, Malaysia

Desaru is situated on the southeastern part of Johor. This was our first stop on our road trip in Malaysia. It is famous for its 25 km beach dotted with resorts and fishing villages. The warm seas here make an ideal place for recreational activities like swimming, canoeing, fishing and boating. This is definitely the nearest beach getaway in Malaysia for all Singaporeans. Below are some of the pictures of the place.

Getting To Know Malaysia

I'm finally back from my two-day road trip to a few of the most exciting places in Malaysia! And with that, I'm going to blog about Malaysia for the next few days starting with getting to know the country as a whole.





Malaysia - a federal country  separated by South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and a portion of the Borneo Island. It consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, eleven of which form the Peninsular Malaysia, two others form Sabah and Sarawak in the island of Borneo and the three Federal Territories are the capital city - Kuala Lumpur, the seat of federal government in Putrajaya and the island of Labuan situated closely to Sabah. Perlis, Kedah, Selangor, Johor, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan are the states having herediatry Rulers while Melaka, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak are the states without Rulers but are headed by the respective Yang di-Pertua Negeri, an appointed head for a designated period.





Malaysia is the 43rd most populated country with a population of 28 million and the 66th largest country with a total land area of 329, 961 square kilometers. It shares land borders with Thailand to the north and Indonesia and Brunei to the east and maritime boundaries with Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. The weather is mostly dry between May to September and gets torrential rain between October to February. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur while Putrajaya is the new government administrative centre. Its official language is Bahasa Malaysia and a muticultural country with major ethnic groups from Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan. Its official religion is Islam and the country's currency is known as Ringgit Malaysian (RM).





Malaysia's head of state is the Yang di - Pertuan Agong, an elected monarch chosen from amongst the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states. The head of the government is the Prime Minister. The country practices parliamentary democracy with a general election held in every five year. It is the King who will elect a Prime Minister who will then nominate members to the federal government. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system. 





In 1963, Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form modern Malaysia but Singapore was expelled from the federation and became an independent city state in 1965.





Malaysia is the largest producer of palm oil in the world. The country is also one of the major producers of natural rubber, pepper, cocoa and timber. The economy of the country has traditionally been fueled by its natural resources but is also now expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. Two thirds of Malaysia is forested, where in the forest you will find the largest flower in the world known as Rafflesia. The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia is arguably the most important shipping lane in the world. The longest highway of the country is the North-South Expressway, which extends over 800km between the Thai border and Singapore. The oil and gas industry in Malaysia is currently dominated by state owned Petronas.





Being a big country comprising of several states, most of which have their own places of interest to explore, Malaysia is definitely an interesting and exciting country to travel in the Southeast Asian region!

Attractions in Sentosa Island Singapore

Revolving gently to a height of 131 metres above sea level is the Asia's tallest free standing observation tower - Tiger Sky Tower - located at the Imbiah Lookout in Sentosa island Singapore. The air-conditioned cabin is capable of taking 72 people at a time and slowly revolves up the tower in seven minutes. While it station on top, you can enjoy panoramic views across Sentosa and Singapore Southern islands as well as neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia on a bright sunny day. It also overlooks the Resorts World Sentosa where the Universal Studios Singapore is situated. Ticket prices for each flight is S$12 for adult and S$8 for child.



The next attraction is the  most famous 37-metre tall resident in Sentosa called The Merlion. Step inside and

you will  be transported to the depths of the ocean to meet the legendary sea dragons and mystical mermaids. And when you climb to the crown, you will have a spectacular 360-degree view of Sentosa, including Singapore's southern shores and city skyline. Down below, experience the Merlion Walk - a 120-metre long Gaudi-inspired mosaic walkway. Ticket price for this attraction is S$8 for adult and S$5 for child.





Try out a part go-cart, part toboggan ride called the Skyline Luge - another exciting attraction at Imbiah Lookout you should not miss. You will have full control of maneuvering down 650 metres of Jungle Trail or 688 metres of the Dragon Trail at your own pace. This is definitely a fun adventure that  you can never find anywhere else in the world. Hop on the Skyride after the Luge ride and take in the fantastic panoramic scenery of the city skyline and beautiful coastline. Buy a single Luge and Skyride Combo ticket for only S$12. Double the rides for S$17, triple them and you'll pay only S$21 and since it's a really addictive ride, you can have five rides for only S$29. Here's a deal for a family though: 4-ride family pass for only S$29 and 8-ride family pass for S$49.





Head down to Megazip Adventure Park for a mega zipline adventure, over 450 metres long and 72 metres above sea level that will whizz you over the jungle canopy and the buzz of Siloso Beach. This is another exciting attraction at the Imbiah Lookout of which tourists and locals alike love to play. Ticket price for this adventure is S$29 per person. But if you are looking for a more strenuous adventure , the park also offers an aerial obstacle course called ClimbMax where you can navigate wobbly bridge, balance on swaying tightropes and scramble along cargo nets high in the sky; and, ParaJump which is a thrilling simulated parachute-like landing adventure. Ticket prices for each is S$24 and S$12 respectively.

Desperados is another attraction in the Imbiah Lookout at Sentosa island. It is a high speed virtual shoot out in a cinema setting, riding on a motion-based saddles and galloping through the animated movie while shooting bandits using the hand-held laser gun. Ticket price for this attraction is S$12 per person.

At the Images of Singapore, you will have the chance to walk down memory lane of the Singapore's history for an admission price of S$10 for adult and S$7 for child. Don't forget to drop by their souvenir shop for beautiful collection of Singapore's memorabilia and other authentic souvenirs.

The Butterfly Park is a nature attraction at the Imbiah Lookout suitable for nature lovers and photographers as well as little children who enjoy the colorful and beautiful sights of fluttering butterflies and exotic insects and of course its authentic tropical rainforest setting. Admission ticket price to this attraction is S$16 for adult and S$10 for child.





Hop on the Jewel Cable Car Ride which is also located at the Imbiah Lookout. This newly-revamped cable car ride will take you to and fro Mt. Faber and Sentosa. It offers a stunning 360-degree view of the Southern precinct and the Resorts World Sentosa  for a ticket price of S$26 for adult and S$15 for child for a two-way trip. Another attraction you should not miss is the Sentosa 4D Magix - an interactive movie experience with four dimensional digital effects for a ticket price of S$18 for adult and S$11 for child. Or get to a free admission at the Sentosa Nature Dicovery where you can embark on a hands-on journey of discovery and sharpen your detective skills. The last but not least attraction to find at the Imbiah is the Sentosa Cineblast which is another four dimensional movie simulated ride that combines virtual roller-coaster rides with high definition wide-screen projection. Here you can feel the elation of being flown to the top of the highest mountain, the thrill of rushing into the deepest valleys and the gripping excitement of being tossed about by white-water  rapids. Tickets to this adventure will cost S$18 for adult and S$11 for child.





The above attractions are the ones you can find at the Imbiah Lookout in Sentosa island. In fact, there are still more that this island has to offer including attractions in Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore's first integrated resorts, known for its casino, a mix of luxury hotels, compelling dining and shopping options, non-stop entertainment like the Voyage de La Vie and the world class attraction Universal Studios Singapore. Another must-see attraction in the island is its 3.2km stretch of sandy shores comprising of the hip Siloso beach, the family-friendly Palawan and the tranquil Tanjong beach. You can also visit its famous Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon attractions at the Siloso Point. And lastly, if lavish escape is what you're dying for, visit Serapang where you can have a relaxing spa at its luxurious resorts or have a game of golf at Sentosa's Golf Club.





Feel free to read my older posts on some of the attractions I already featured on this blog.

Jewel Cable Car Ride in Singapore

It was indeed a pleasant experience to be able to ride the Singapore's newly revamped cable car ride which is presently known as the 'Jewel Cable Car Ride' mainly because of its new sparkling cable cabins done in modern metallic black and chrome design that boasted a large panoramic view windows. The ride offered a spectacular 360-degree bird's eye view of the Singapore city, harbour, sea and Sentosa island. With the upgrade, all 67 cabins are now bigger and can contain eight passengers compared to six, that of the old cable cabin. The highest point stands at 120m above sea level, 30m higher than the previous height. A few of the cabins are catered for VIP rides where guests can opt to dine inside the cabin whilst they enjoy the dazzling scenery at night. Having experienced the old cable car ride, I must say that this upgrade is indeed a major improvement to the overall experience.