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Komodo Island For First Time Visitors

byMalaysia Asia
-January 17, 2021

Among some of the most beautiful places in Indonesia, Komodo Island is hands down one of the best to visit, not your typical Bali.In the last few years, I was fortunate enough to visit Komodo Island several times for multiple tourism reasons, which most tourists want these days.I came here to see the Komodo Dragons, experienced some trekking, explored my photography, did some scuba diving, and did some bird watching.Therefore, these beautiful islands are highly recommended to visit if you want something other than Bali or Lombok. Just to let you know that Komodo Island and its surroundings are not your regular developed tourist islands.Komodo Island For First Time VisitorsFor anyone who has never been here, you are in luck, and this article highlights all the key important factors for the first time visitor to the Komodo Islands.First of all, Komodo Island is not the island where you will be staying at as it is a national park that consists of multiple islands making up the Komodo National Park.Map showing where Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Komodo Island is locatedYour port of entry will be a town called Labuan Bajo, which is located on the west-most of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara. Please see the map above to know where this is located at.This is where everyone who visits Komodo will be staying at, and there are numerous choices of accommodations available which I have also listed below.Please also note that there are numerous kinds of tours available to Komodo National Park, and you should only take the legal and registered tour company ones due to safety.The cheaper tour packages are usually run by unlicensed tour operators and can be quite dangerous. And if anything happens, you will not be covered by any insurance. Remember this carefully.

Komodo National Park Island

The main Komodo National Park sign at the entrance.For the first-time visitor, Rinca (Pronounced Ring Car) Island will be the first place that tours will bring you to visit.After Rinca Island, your next destination on the tour boat will be Komodo Island which is also part of the Komodo National Park.

It is here where you will have your lunch, on a raised eating area. You may encounter some Komodo Dragons and other wildlife along the walk but fear not as the park rangers will be with you to make sure nothing happens.

While having your lunch, take note of your surroundings as these mighty dragons will most definitely be seen around the lower floor trying to get up, but the good old park rangers will be there to fend them off.

In any case, your lunch will be disrupted due to simply wanting to get a closer look at the dragons or even attempt a distant selfie with them. After lunch, a beach trip is planned for Pink Beach.

The unique Pink Beach at Komodo Island - Photo by TripTribe

Pink Beach at Komodo Island

One of the unique experiences is visiting Pink Beach or Pantai Merah, which is on the other side of the main Komodo Island.

A short boat ride will bring you here, and it is here where you can sunbath, swim or snorkel at one of seven pink beaches in the world.

For those who prefer to hike, you can do so by heading up the main hill here, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the overall beach from up above.

The beach gets its name from the red coral that washes ashore for the curious on why it is pink. You will be amazed at the beautiful marine life here, which is rich with soft corals and abundance of colourful coral fishes for snorkelers.

Usually, the tour operator will ask if you are doing snorkelling as the gear will be prepared. One more thing, when the boat lands on the beach, you may get your feet wet, so slippers are in order, or simply remove your shoes and hand carry them for your hike.

Read my article about scuba diving at Komodo Island for any divers heading here, as it is one of the most beautiful places for divers.

I also have a Komodo Island dive trip review from my two visits here, where I scuba dived at various dive sites.

Check out this amazing photo on top of Padar Island by Faelasufa (www.faelasufa.wordpress.com)

Visiting Padar Island

Most tour packages already include Padar as one of the islands to visit, and this island is perfect if you love photography or landscapes.

The catch is - you need to trek up a hill, sounds easy, but let me just say, it was one of my hardest treks uphill, so I only managed halfway on my first try.Update: I understand because of the popularity, they installed stairs and railings at some of the hiking points in 2018/19. This makes climbing up easier, I guess.

But those in my group managed to reach the peak, and the photos are astounding, and the second time around, I managed to get to the top. See my video on Padar Island.

For our trip, we managed to reach here at about 4.00 pm for the sunset. But judging from other photos seen, it is recommended to come here in the morning to get that amazing photo of Padar Island.The mini infinity pool at Slyvia Hotel and Resort in Labuan BajoWhere to stay in Komodo Island?

You cannot stay on Komodo Island as it is a national park, so everyone stays at Labuan Bajo town on Flores Island.

There are many hotels in Labuan Bajo, usually simple ones ranging from guesthouses to one or two-star hotels and several 3 to 4-star ones.

Over the years, more resorts and higher-end hotels have been opening here in Labuan Bajo, a top-rated tourist destination.On my most recent trip, I stayed at the Sylvia Hotel and Resort, away from the main town area and secluded with its own private beach.

During one of my other trips here in October, I stayed at probably one of the best hotels on the island, La Prima Hotel, a 4-Star property with a seafront and sunset view.

It comes with a swimming pool, spa, and proper restaurants while the rooms are very nice. You can directly book a room at LaPrima hotel in Flores.The main facade of La Pirate Hotel in Labuan BajoYou can also check out Bintang Flores Hotel, another 4-star hotel, or see my hotels in Labuan Bajo article. On another trip, I stayed at Le Pirate Hotel in the main town area of Labuan Bajo, which is a very unique and hipster style hotel.

Alternatively, some tours let you live on board a boat when visiting Komodo Island, and you can check with the relevant tour companies offering this service.

This is for those wanting something different as it is quite interesting, especially if you are a diver or a fishing enthusiast.
Beautiful weather for trekking at Komodo IslandWhen is the Best time to visit Komodo Island?

Edit November 26: While someone asked me this question on Social Media recently, I thought it would be good to have this information here.

So the best time to visit Komodo Island is from April till November, and the ultimate time is June and July as the waters are much calmer overall.

The rainy season starts from around December till early April. For the high season here, it is during the Summer months of July and August while for me, personally October and November are ideal, with the huge crowds gone.

If you are planning to visit in December, I would recommend going early for the month, as chances are the weather maybe a little better, but then again, it is mother nature.A Komodo Dragon relaxes off the main walking path.What is the Weather on Komodo Island?

The average weather at Komodo is around 20 to 40 Degrees Celsius (68 to 104 Degrees Fahrenheit), and on the rainy season, it lingers around 20C to 25C.

Humidity is around 68% to 86%. It is always recommended to bring along a poncho or raincoat when you visit the islands as being in a tropical zone, you never know when it can rain suddenly.

There you have it, a general guide on getting to Komodo Island and what you can do around here.

First-timers should engage a proper tour guide and company as there will be local boatmen at the jetty that will offer you private tours.A park ranger leads the way along the main walking path.Is Komodo Island Child-Friendly?

I often get asked this question from family travellers, and the answer is yes, Komodo Island is child-friendly.

But you must always be with your child, and never let them stray out of your view when you are trekking here.

Komodo is not pram friendly, so please do not lug your prams along with your infants. I would not recommend coming here with infants or babies.

The best age for children to visit is around eight years and above. If your child is the crying type, please do not bring him or her as it will be a huge distraction.The trails are uneven and not disabled-friendly or for old people.Can Elderly People Visit Komodo Island?

Yes, it is possible. The journey here is via boat, and then some trekking. If you are travelling with elderly people, then it is best to arrange for a special tour just for your family.

It is best not to join a group to save money, as older people walk slower and need time, and you do not want to slow others down.

No walker or wheelchairs, please because you need to board boats and do some mild trekking at Rinca or Komodo Island.

Elderly people need to be in walking or trekking conditions before coming here, so please take note.

Is Komodo Island Disabled Friendly?

Well, I would say no, because of the walking and trekking that is done on Rinca and also Komodo. This rules out wheelchairs, crutches or walkers.

Unless there are exceptional arrangements, you could probably only visit the main ranger's office to see the Komodo Dragons lying around there.One of the islands near Komodo called Gili Lawa Darat.What else to do Around Komodo Island?

Since you have already planned to visit this amazing destination in Indonesia, you will want to know what else is there to do around here.

I have also come up with a list of things to do in Labuan Bajo, as you will be staying in this town when you visit here.

For anyone who is planning a longer trip here, you may want to also know what is there to do in Flores, as the island is really huge.That's me with one of the must-take signature photos at Komodo Island National Park.ConclusionFor first-time visitors to Komodo Island, you should be prepared to visit a place that is still original and not modernised like Bali.You can also read my other article on how to go to Komodo Island as I have done a detailed review on this.You can also travel here solo, couple, family, or friends and you will find that this place accepts all travellers' styles.At the end of the day, the mission is to see the unique Komodo Dragon on two of the islands at the national park.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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Sabah Laksa at Yee Fung Kota Kinabalu

byMalaysia Asia
-December 13, 2020

 I think that most people who have been to Kota Kinabalu would have already tried the famous Sabah Laksa at Yee Fung coffee shop at Gaya Street.However, there will always be new visitors to Kota Kinabalu, and probably this review of the Sabah-style laksa will give you a different perspective.Sabah Laksa at Yee Fung Kota KinabaluYou see, I have always been a pure travel blogger, writer and photographer for the last 30 years, but in 2019, I realised that I had tried so much food, it would be a waste not to share my experiences.Hence in 2020, I decided to rebrand Malaysia Asia into a travel, food and lifestyle blog; therefore, you will see more food and lifestyle postings, like this Sabah Laksa article.The exciting menu at Yee FungSo, if you have already tried the famous Sarawak Laksa, let me just say that the Sabah Laksa is not the same thing. It is completely different though it looks similar, the taste is not.However, Yee Fung's Sabah Laksa's uniqueness has gained a lot of attention among the foodies and food lovers over the last ten years, making them one of the must-try noodles in Kota Kinabalu.On average, the place gets really crowded not only from tourists but also the locals who swear that the Sabah Laksa is one-of-a-kind.I tried the Sabah Laksa not once but twice in a span of a few years and still find it difficult to understand the unique taste.I guess I have been spoiled by the Sarawak Laksa over the last few decades of eating it and when I was introduced to the Sabah Laksa, I expected similarities among them.A close up of the Sabah Laksa by Yee FungBut on a side note, the portion is pretty healthy as they give you a good amount of chicken pieces and prawns. The noodles are just nice for one person while you can still share it among two people.On a side note, if Laksa is not your thing, you have many other choices here as they offer interesting dishes like beef noodles or Ngiu Chap, dry noodles and even claypot chicken rice.I find they are well balanced in terms of the menu, and it caters to groups of people who want to try different food when they are here.Is Sabah Laksa Spicy? Well, it depends on the level of spicy that you can accept and here, it is just level 2 out of 10, making it easy for anyone to try.Some people will add-on the local chilli paste to the Sabah Laksa to give it a good kick while eating. This is recommended for those who love a strong chilli base.The main entrance of Yee Fung at Gaya StreetWhere is Yee Fung Laksa?Kedi Kopi Yee Fung is located along Gaya Street in Kota Kinabalu, and it is pretty hard to miss with the large signboard and crowds.If you stay in the main Kota Kinabalu city area then walking her is very easy, plus most visitors to KK city will end up exploring Gaya Street as it is one of the popular places.If you still need exact directions, I recommend using Waze and searching for Yee Fung in Kota Kinabalu as it will bring you there.Yee Fung Laksa along Gaya StreetConclusionI guess I need to perhaps give the Sabah Laksa another try to see if I feel the same way, but hey, if you are visiting Kota Kinabalu, I recommend you give it a go.Also, take note that this place gets really crowded on weekends and during the peak lunch hour. Therefore, I recommend coming here around 11.00 AM to avoid the crowds.And after you have tried the Sabah Laksa at Yee Fung, please let me know what you think about this local dish as I am curious to know.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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KLPF 2023

byMalaysia Asia
-April 15, 2023

This year, the KLPF 2023, or Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2023, will be held at a new venue after several years at Viva Home in KL city.The new venue is at KL Gateway Mall, and KLPF 2023 will be from 18-20 August, right here near Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, with the theme "We are Family".KLPF 2023This is Malaysia's largest photo festival for photography fans, with thousands of visitors attending over three days. The festival not only showcases photography, but there is also a lively stage show happening daily. At the same time, there is a mini bazaar where vendors sell or promote their items.Last year's KLPF launch event was at VIVA Home Shopping Mall in KL.Over the years, I was one of the activities visitors to the photography event and in 2022, I managed to have my first solo exhibition at KLPF.And if you did not know, KLPF was first organised in 1997, which marks its 26th year of the festival, well, if you include the Covid-19 year, where there was no event.KLPF We Are Family ThemeSome of you may want to know why they chose the theme "We Are Family", and it was mentioned that when photographers meet at KLPF, it feels like we are family.Family represents respect for and appreciation of one another regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, status, capability, skill, talent, etc.In photography, interpretation is always practised in its broadest sense with much inclusivity. With World Photography Day 2023, KLPF invites photographers to celebrate our diversity and show the world "We are Family".The Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2023 also invites photographers to submit images for the Annual Theme Exhibition "We are Family".The key people behind KLPF.Who is Participating at KLPF? Because it is photography, you will see various photography genres showcased, usually a well-balanced mix of photography. Regulars are;Independent PhotographersWildlife PhotographersPortrait PhotographersLandscape PhotographersFilm PhotographersBird PhotographyStudio PhotographyWedding PhotographersSchool Photography ClubsCollege and University Photography ClubsPhotography Societies and ClubsKLPF 2023Date: 18, 19, 20 AugustTime: 10.00 AM to 9.00 PMVenue: KL Gateway Mall, Bangsar South,2, Jalan Kerinchi, Kuala LumpurWebsite: https://klpf.com.my/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLPFMalaysia/My first solo photography exhibition at KLPF 2022.David Hogan Jr Solo Exhibition at KLPF 2022Last year, I had my first solo photography exhibition at KLPF, where I took a massive challenge by using a Galaxy Z Fold4 Smartphone to photograph the UNESCO Caves of Sarawak.This was a difficult task requiring me to handheld my device as there was no allowance for using a tripod or monopod to take photos in the caves.With my passion and dedication towards the first solo exhibition, I visited both Mulu and Niah National Parks in Sarawak to photograph the caves.My mission was to show that cave photography was possible using just a smartphone, and the photos spoke for themselves during the exhibition.Many who saw the photo were stunned that a smartphone could take such amazing pictures with outstanding clarity and detail.Visitors view some of my smartphone photos.Some professional photographers even stopped by and mentioned that with today's DSLR or Mirrorless technology, they could only get the natural highlights and details with heavy editing.This was a rare moment which gave me a massive boost in confidence for my overall photography, which includes smartphone photography and mirrorless cameras.To view those cave photos taken with a smartphone, please see the link in the first paragraph, and let me know what you think.This year, I may have another solo exhibition again at the Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2023, and I have not completely decided on my theme.I may focus on bird photography this time, but I am still finalising a suitable destination for this, and it looks like Sarawak is my first choice.The KLPF2023 Poster.ConclusionThe Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2022 was the last event held at Viva Home Shopping Mall along Jalan Loke Yew in KL. Now it has found a new home at KL Gateway Mall for 2023.With that, I hope to see you all at KLPF 2023 from 18-20 August and that you will come with friends and family. And if I have my 2nd photography exhibition there, I would be happy to see you at my booth.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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Origin Mattress Review Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-November 24, 2020

 How many times have you slept outside of your own bedroom only to find that your back hurts or the experience was uncomfortable? If you travel as much as I do, my life often revolves around hotels, resorts, and even bed and breakfast places, which is when a good night's sleep is essential to me.I guess this is highly important when age comes into mind, and if I rewound back 30 years ago, I did not really care where I slept or how comfortable the bed was. Now that I have reached mid-life in terms of age, I have been quite particular about my bed, namely my mattress. Well, if you have been having sleepless nights or backaches, read on.Origin Mattress Review MalaysiaSome of the everyday aches and pains I encountered recently from my old mattressIn the last 8 years, I had a latex and memory foam queen mattress used to the maximum, and it was time to get a new one. Therefore, shopping for one was not as easy as I thought it would be until I came across Malaysia's most comfortable mattress called Origin Mattress.Before this, I went around shopping malls and independent mattress warehouses looking for one that suits my age and needs for sleep.Let me tell you that it sounds relatively easy, but in actual fact, it is pretty tiring in terms of travelling around, talking to salespeople, testing out each mattress and so on.I must have spent around a month looking for a suitable mattress for my wife and me, and when we found one, it was too expensive or underperforming.And then I sort of gave up and searched online only to find out about Origin Mattress, which is engineered in Germany but made in Malaysia.Malaysia's Best MattressWhen the mattress arrivedThough the tagline sounds a little misleading, I was pretty sceptical about it, but I did more research on Origin Mattress only to find that it was indeed one of the top quality mattresses out there. Looking at the Origin website, I realised that there was a lot more favourable information there and little did I know they were also award-winning.At the end of the day, the product's information is essential to me, making me choose Origin Mattress.After the mattress was sent to my bedroomInstructions are clearly printed on the side of the mattress box.So, the next step was crucial as I needed to wait for the delivery and actual product testing.You may be wondering why I got the mattress without buying it, and the reason is that Origin Mattress has a 120-day full refund for unsatisfied customers.This is the kind of confidence companies should provide consumers, and I feel that Origin Mattress understands this very well.After placing my order, I waited a week for the mattress sent from Singapore. The day came when the delivery guy called me to say he was on the way.Unboxing the Origin Mattress MalaysiaFirst, open the top of the box to remove the mattress from the inside.Then it looks like a bolster, vacuum packed and rolled up.Cut with a blade or scissors along the side of the vacuum pack.When you cut, make sure it is laid out on your bed frame or floor.This I have to highlight as I never expected the mattress to be delivered in such a small box. I was under the assumption that they had made a mistake and sent me a mattress protector. But the nice delivery guy assured me that this was, in fact, the Origin mattress, compressed into that little box, and I was still in doubt.After sending it to my unit, I looked closely at the box, still unclear if it was the right one, and then unboxed the mattress.To my surprise, the contents were vacuum-packed tightly and rolled up. Then I remembered watching a video of how mattresses were delivered this way.I then followed the instructions to cut according to the instructions, and the Origin mattress started to unfold slowly.My First Impression of  the Origin MattressAfter cutting the outer layer of the plastic, the mattress begins to unfold.The Origin Mattress will slowly unfold from the vacuum pack position.The mattress takes a couple of minutes to fully unfold into the bed shape.The next step is to cut the second layer of plastic that seals the entire mattress.Removing the inner plastic sheet will fully uncompress the mattress.After removing the inner plastic layer, the mattress will uncompress into the original shape.After the mattress had unfolded, both of us were still in awe about the entire process. We then proceeded to move the mattress correctly on our queen bed frame.The positioning was crucial as you can clearly see the top and bottom before placing them on the bed frame.Spending the First Night on the Origin MattressWell, I did wait about 5 hours before trying out the Origin Mattress for the first time ever, and it was a drumroll moment for both of us.After putting on the queen-sized bedsheet, the moment had come, and we got on the mattress. The first impression - It was cooling due to the cool gel layer on the top.My Verdict of the Origin MattressIt is there along with the world-class mattresses, meaning the comfort level and the sleep quality I experienced.Back support and a semi-firm mattress are crucial to my age. You should consider changing your bed for anyone in their 30+ who is experiencing backaches or uncomfortable sleep.Many people tend to try and save on mattresses and end up with low-quality and sub-standard beds that do not help the back.The Origin Mattress, after being uncompressed.Why Origin Mattress? The main factor is that it is a made-in-Malaysia brand, and most Malaysian brands with latex are highly recommended.Another reason is the hybrid factor, where they have combined latex, spring and memory foam into one beautiful and functional mattress.The mattress consists of six layers of perfect comfort that makes up the Origin brand and comes with a 15-year warranty if you did not already know.And if you buy it online, they will provide you with free delivery anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia.On top of that, the company has sold over 70,000 mattresses in Malaysia since 2018, which is pretty impressive.How to Buy Origin Mattress? You can simply visit their official website called Origin Mattress and get it from there. Currently, there is a massive promotion ongoing with up to a 60% discount for all mattresses.And if you are uncomfortable buying online, they have a showroom in Petaling Jaya at SS2. Here, you can see the mattress, test it and even ask questions.What Else Does Origin Have? Well, apart from their award-winning mattresses, they also have a beautiful bed frame, mattress toppers and one of the best pillows in the market.Yes, the Origin Superior Coolmax Latex Pillow is totally one-of-a-kind, and it is also featured as one of the best 8 pillows in Singapore.I think, after this article, I will be making my next purchase for the Origin Superior Coolmax Latex Pillow to complete my bed. I wish they also have a bolster in their product range, and maybe in time to come, they might.The Origin Mattress unfolded.ConclusionHonestly, the Origin Mattress is not only for those above 30+ years but for everyone in general. Age has caught up, and the backaches are not messed with; hence I needed a good mattress.There are many choices of mattresses available in the market, and to me, an excellent local brand is well worth the support, which is why I got the bed.Gee & Shaun, the founders of Origin Mattress. Photo Credit: Express PhotographyOne of the plus points for this brand is that they are very engaging online and on social media, and for anyone who is old-school, you can visit their showroom in SS2, Petaling Jaya.To top it all off, I just love the 120 night trial period they offer, which is remarkable and the fact that Origin is a brand by Malaysians for Malaysians.I  hope this review of the Origin Mattress in Malaysia has provided you with more than enough information, and if you still need more, you can always check their website.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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Matta Fair November 2021

byMalaysia Asia
-November 02, 2021

After a long wait, the 49th Matta Fair November 2021will be finally taking place at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur from 20-21st of November.While many are eager to start travelling, there is good and bad news for everyone out there, and you should know that the focus of this year's Matta Fair 2021 will be on domestic travel.However, visitors to the travel fair are encouraged NOT to bring their children as per the health ministry's recommendation.Matta Fair November 2021Following the last MATTA Digital Fair 2020, from 23 to 30 September, 95 travel and tour agents took part from most states around Malaysia. And the previous physical fair was held in September 2019.Malaysia Airlines was the official airline, and the Sarawak Tourism Board was the destination partner and over 1,000 packages, mainly domestic, were offered, with the tagline 'Buy Now Travel Later'.Matta Fair March 2021 was also cancelled due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced nationwide. People were confined to their homes while domestic state borders were closed.Eventually, the government's plan for vaccination reached 90% for double-dosed on adults, and borders were ultimately opened for domestic travel in October 2021. Many took the opportunity to travel locally, while others took advantage of some travel promotions and flew to Langkawi.Now that the Covid19 numbers have significantly decreased to under 5,000 daily cases, more people are considering travelling around Malaysia.Visitors at a previous Matta Fair at PWTC.Again, international borders are still not fully opened while specific allowances are given for special reasons like education, medical or business travels. However, leisure is still in a very grey area.But I do not see international travel being high on anyone's agenda due to the complicated procedures for entry to various countries. Each one has different criteria and quarantine processes, it can get pretty complex, so many feel it is best to just wait it out.Who is Participating at Matta Fair 2021?There has not been any official announcement on who is participating. Still, I gather that Tourism Malaysia will be the main anchor, the state tourism boards, airlines, and various domestic tour companies.Independent tourism attractions, theme parks, airlines and even homestays should also be active at this years travel fair.You can also expect a lot of domestic travel packages, namely weekend packages or 3D/2N packages, to be offered at excellent prices.Other packages should include nature, culture, scuba diving and even the popular free and easy packages. It would also be better for the consumer to visit the fair to see what is on offer.Update: 3 November;The news came out after I published this article, and international tourism organisations from Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Turkey and Uganda continue to promote their markets for international tourism.The 49th Matta Fair will also be held on a smaller scale and occupy Hall 3 and 4 of the WTC (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.Hall 3 WTC (International Hall) - International Tourism Organisations will be featured here.Hall 4 WTC (Malaysia Hall) - Nearly all state tourism organisations and domestic travel and tourism products will be featured here.Local Malaysia State Tourism Boards Participating;The state tourism boards of Sabah, Terengganu, Sarawak, Pahang, Selangor, Johor, Kedah, Perak and Negeri Sembilan will be participating at Matta Fair November 2021.Official Partners for Matta Fair 2021Legoland Malaysia will be the official theme park partnerGojo (A licensed e-hailing company) is also a partnerThis year's Matta Fair will take place from 20-21 November at PWTC, KL.Matta Fair November 2021Date: 20 - 21 NovemberTime: 10.00 AM to 8.00 PMVenue: World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur (PWTC)Admission: FREEConclusionYou can now visit this upcoming Matta Fair November 2021 at WTC, Kuala Lumpur, if you have been waiting patiently to start travelling again. However, please take note that the majority of tour and travel packages are for domestic travel only.For international travel, there is no confirmed news on when it will be fully opened as each country around the world has different criteria for entry, based on vaccination and so on.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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Home5 Star Hotel

How Tanjung Rhu Resort Turned Around

byMalaysia Asia
-March 06, 2020

Being one of the pioneer luxurious resorts in Langkawi, the Tanjung Rhu Resort has become a household name for many who have been visiting the island since the 90s.

One of the questions asked by some people is that after all these years, how did the Tanjung Rhu Resort turn around to become one of Langkawi's favourite beach resort?

Well, the credit goes mainly to the Aariana Hospitality International, who took over as the management of the resort in September 2018.Turning Tanjung  Rhu Resort Around

The courtyard of the resort seen from the main lobby.

Having visited this resort several times in early 2000, I have always considered the Tanjung Rhu Resort as one of the select and exclusive resorts in Langkawi Island.

The reason is probably because of the pristine location away from all the hustle and bustle of Langkawi's Cenang and Pantai Kok areas.

To me, the Tanjung Rhu Resort has always been one of the luxurious 5-star resorts that predate many of the new hotels and resorts popping up in Langkawi.

The 136-room resort was under one main management all this while until trouble arose and the property went into receivership.

Currently, there are a total of 71 rooms available, an all-day dining restaurant called Sands, a fine-dining restaurant called Chef's Table, two pool bars and a cafe, a Mandara Spa, and a new sports bar called Saffron which opened in January 2020.

Reginald doing his rounds at the resort while Ameran, the RM is seen at the back.

During this period, Aariana Hospitality International was appointed to oversee the continuation of the business, and Reginald Pereira the CEO, led his team to undertake this mammoth task.

The main objective was to raise the value of the resort to secure a potential buyer, and to date, Aariana Hospitality International has achieved the impossible by raising the value of the property.

From the first time I visited the resort in November and another follow up in January 2020, I personally saw huge improvements implemented throughout the resort.

The iconic stand-alone beach chairs and parasol of the Tanjung Rhu Resort.

This included cost savings from lighting systems to staffing and constant management meetings that would be a nightmare for most resorts.

However, due to the importance of the task involved, everyone was on board with what needed to be done to achieve the goals set.

During the initial visit, I did a review of the Tanjung Rhu Resort based on my personal experience here.

Reginald busy on the phone, which is a common sight at the resort.

Who is Aariana Hospitality International?

The group is helmed by Reginald Thomas Pereira and is an ASEAN based hotel management company. They are a pure Malaysian company thus making it very easy for locals to deal with.

Aariana Hospitality International was established in 2013 and each of the directors has decades of experience behind them. The company specializes in hotel management and consultancy as their main business.

Other areas of expertise include talent search, training, professional certification, people development, and mergers and acquisitions of hotels.

A Google Map showing the location of the Tanjung Rhu Resort.
Where is the Tanjung Rhu Resort Located in Langkawi?

The resort is located in the Tanjung Rhu area of Northeast Langkawi, which is on a private land totalling over 1,200 acres of pristine mangrove and coastal wetlands.

The great part about the location is that it is away from the main touristy areas of Langkawi and the resort boasts of its own personal white-sand beach stretching a whopping 1.2 kilometres.

From Kuah or Pantai Cenang area, you need to use Road 112 and then Road 111 to get to the resort.

The beautiful beach in front of the Tanjung Rhu Resort.

Conclusion

While it has been a decade since I last visited the Tanjung Rhu Resort, my conclusion is that under the leadership of Reginald from Aariana Hospitality International, the resort has definitely undergone a major turnaround.

Don't be surprised if you see Reginald walking around the resort if you do plan a vacation here. He has a very strong belief in management by walking and observing, day or night.

You can also visit the Tanjung Rhu Resort website for more information which includes some interesting new getaway packages for couples.

One of the packages is called Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate, which is a three day and two-night getaway for two persons.

The place still looks great, the staff is professional, polite and friendly, while the location of the resort is still considered one of the best in all of Langkawi Island.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeHotel Reviews

Tanjung Rhu Resort Review

byMalaysia Asia
-December 18, 2019

After almost two decades of visiting Langkawi Island, I finally found a second opportunity to re-visit one of the most prominent luxurious resorts here.

It gives me great pleasure to share with you my Tanjung Rhu Resort review as I stayed there in November 2019 on a quick working trip.

You may have heard about popular places like Pantai Cenang or luxurious properties around the Datai Bay area, but many have overlooked the Tanjung Rhu area.

This article will highlight the resort and what makes this property so special in the Tanjung Rhu area.

Review of Tanjung Rhu Resort in Langkawi

The main entrance to the resort

Tanjung Rhu is located in the north most part of Langkawi Island and is only 25 minutes drive from popular places like Pantai Cenang, the airport, and Kuah Town.

Most people who head to Langkawi will usually want to know where resorts are located and more importantly, the accessibility to move around the island.

If you are heading to Langkawi for a shopping and lifestyle getaway, then you would just stay at one of the smaller resorts or hotels around the main commercial areas.

But, if you want a proper beach holiday that is not commercial and with lots of privacy, then the Tanjung Rhu Resort is a place that you can consider.

Why I like it here is because of the location of the property, hidden deep away from the main roads or other hotels and resorts.

The surrounding area is also filled with trees and mangroves creating a kind of rainforest oasis or nature escape.

To me, the ultimate relaxation is being away from the noisy budget holiday-makers, or the commercial tourists that just want a cheap holiday and at the closest place to popular beaches.

The beautiful beach at the resort is known to be the best in Langkawi

What Makes Tanjung Rhu Resort So Special?

This would be the most important question many will ask and let me just share with you why. I have personally stayed at many other resorts in Langkawi over the last 20 years and this is my observation.

1. Location

Tanjun Rhu is located way up north of Langkawi Island

Overall the resort is located in a private area that totals over 200 acres of land. There are no other resorts in the immediate vicinity of Tanjung Rhu so you can expect serious privacy.

While many other resorts may boast of similar reasons, Tanjung Rhu is actually well balanced in terms of the beach, nature, privacy and yet quick access to other areas.

In total, the Tanjung Ru Resort sits in a massive area of 1,100 acres of land, all owned by the resort and this is one of the reasons why people love to stay here.

2. Beach

The signature beach chairs of Tanjung Rhu Resort

You really need to experience the Tanjung Rhu Beach as it is noted to be the best beach in all of Langkawi Island.

I am not kidding as I have personally been to most of the beaches around the island and not one comes close to the quality of the sand and landscape found here.

For the serious beach lovers, you know what a good beach is all about, and it is always the smoothness and colour of the sand. So when they say white sand, it needs to be white and sandy.

The main beach in front of the resort also stretches for a whopping 2.5 kilometres, and this provides guests with unlimited privacy along the coastline.

Other beaches like Pantai Cenang or Pantai Tengah may be popular, but the quality of the sand is not comparable to Tanjung Rhu beach.

3. Privacy and Security

The peaceful and quiet beach at the resort

I guess this is one of the most important factors for anyone who wants to have a nice and peaceful vacation without having to run into neighbouring resort guests on a beach.

Often when you want to sunbathe on the beach or on a deck-chair, you will find it difficult when there are many people around you, especially with your belongings.

And when you travel with kids, you always need to be keeping an eye out for them, especially in crowded areas, but at Tanjung Rhu Resort, you can be assured that the level of privacy and security is very high.

4. The Food

Champagne breakfast served daily at the resort restaurant

To be very honest, I can be very particular when it comes to food, and during my stay here, I found that they have an amazing executive chef that has come up with many creative dishes ranging from local to fusion-international.

The kitchen is certified Halal, hence Muslim travellers will be pleased to know that they have created many localized Chinese dishes. For example, they have a special Beef Ku Teh dish, which emulates the Bak Kut Teh (Pork Broth Soup).

Breakfast is always the most important meal of the day and when you are here, you will be spoiled with a local and international array of dishes. This also includes the luxurious champagne breakfast.

Overall, this is not a Michelin-star restaurant and they don't try too hard, but the selections, the presentation, and the taste are beyond my regular expectations. I won't give it a 10 over 10, but I'm giving the food here an 8 over 10.

Chef's Table, the resorts fine dining restaurant

The resort also comes with a fine-dining restaurant called Chef's Table, serving Asian modern contemporary with Mediterranean cuisine and with an open-kitchen concept.

The restaurant is located in a stand-alone building away from the other restaurants and a dress code is required. Meaning that guests are required to dress up to dine here and also make reservations in advance.

There is a very decent wine list available for those who prefer to pair their foods. The main courses are well worth a try and of course, the desserts were my favourite when I dined here.

For beach dining, you can always request the resort to arrange something special, like a honeymoon or anniversary candlelight beach dinner as they are able to provide this.

A beach barbecue is also available for guests and this too needs to be pre-arranged with the resort front office.

5. The Swimming Pools

The Sands Pool is an adults-only pool at the resort

Yes, I must highlight this as they not only have one or two pools but three swimming pools at the resort. Two of the main pools are for kids and adults where one pool - Sands Pool is only for adults.

Travelling alone or with a loved one? No worries, just use the Sands Pool where privacy is highly observed and minus the loud screaming kids. The Sands Pool is a 50-meter ozone-treated private pool with a bar serving cocktails and drinks.

Travelling with kids or a large group? Head over to the Sunset Pool or the saltwater pool located within the resort area. The Sunset Pool is a massive 60-meter freshwater pool that comes with a cafe and bar.

6. Non-Resident Package (NRP)

This is one of the unique offers to visitors who are not staying at the resort, but who want to experience the luxurious property and its services.

The NRP comes at a price of RM200 per person (50% for children of 6 to 12 years old) and is valid for an entire day.

The price includes the usage of the resorts multiple pools and includes a 3-course a-la-carte lunch or dinner with two drinks.

This simply means that if you are staying anywhere else on the island, you can still come to the Tanjung Rhu Resort and purchase this package to spend a day enjoying the facilities and food.

7. Open To Public Bar (Sands Pool Bar)

Sands Pool Bar is also open to walk-in visitors

If you did not also know, the Sands Pool Bar is open to the public and you can just walk-in for drinks here. Plus, the bar serves probably the cheapest 5-star resort beer on Langkawi at RM8.00 a draft.

The resort does not have a no-outsiders policy hence if you stay elsewhere, you can still visit the resort to utilize the bar facilities here.

Just inform the security post that you are going to the Sands Pool Bar and if you are driving, just park at the visitors or guest parking.

Rooms at Tanjung Rhu Resort

What one of the suites looks like in wide-angle

There are overall five categories of rooms available at the resort and each of them catering to different styles of travellers. The rooms are;

Damai Suite - This is the most common room in the resort that totals 50 square meters, living room, king-sized bed, full amenities, and a garden view.

Cahaya Suite - These 60 square meter rooms come garden facing and with king-sized beds complete with full amenities. The wooden flooring gives the room a very rustic feeling.

Bayu Suria Suite - With two balconies, this is another popular suite having both garden and sea view from the room.

Bayu Senja Suite - The second-largest suite with a total space of 80 square meters and with an unobstructed view of the Andaman Sea with the tall French windows and sliding glass doors.

A king-sized bed, walk-in bathroom with a jacuzzi and full amenities will pamper those who seek a memorable vacation or even a special event like an anniversary or honeymoon.

Anjung Suite - This is the presidential suite and of course the most luxurious suite at Tanjung Rhu Resort. Filling up 100 square meters, the suite is located on the top level of the resort overlooking the Andaman Sea and also the resort garden from the back.

The Anjung Suite is massive and is the only unit that has direct lift access to the suite. Inside, you will find a common lounge area, a dining area and the bedroom area with tall French windows overlooking the sea.

The suite also comes with a king-sized bed and two balconies that face the open sea and also the garden area. You can expect full amenities and pure Indian cotton fabrics

Facilities at Tanjung Rhu Resort

The main view of the resort from the lobby area

For facilities, you will not be disappointed as there are many available for all walks of life. Below is the list;

Mandara Spa - A resort without a spa is unheard of and over here, the world-class Mandara Spa will provide guests with much-deserved pampering. The spa also offers a retail boutique, manicure-pedicure area, outdoor jacuzzi, and steam room.

Experiential Center - A one-stop centre that provides guests with all kinds of tour activities that range from mangrove tours, nature walks, sunset cruises, fishing trips, and even various adventure experiences like cave exploring, bird watching or jungle trekking.

Library and Cafe - Overlooking the Andaman Sea lies a two-story cafe and library for those wanting to just chill out with a book or smartphone. The cafe offers coffee, cakes, pastries and ice cream with indoor and outdoor seating.

Kayaking and Biking - At the sports centre of the resort, you can rent kayaks or mountain bikes to explore the vicinity of the resort. This can be done solo or with a guide.

ATV Course - This is the only resort in Langkawi that offers an in-house ATV circuit where guests can explore the beach and mangrove track located away from the main resort.

Meeting Rooms (MICE) - There is one hall called the Pavilion that can accommodate up to 100 pax for any kind of meeting, launching or function. Great for small to medium companies to have their get-away meetings or events and 50 to 80 pax would be ideal for this space.

Babysitting Services - Yes this is available for those who travel with kids or infants. The resort offers well-trained staff to babysit your kids up to 12 years of age.

Promotions at Tanjung Rhu Resort

If you did not already know, there are numerous promotions available at the resort, and you can easily find them by visiting the Tanjung Rhu Resort Website.

Directions on how to go to Tanjung Rhu Resort from the Langkawi Airport

How To Go To Tanjung Rhu Resort?
From the Langkawi International Airport, it only takes you 25 minutes to reach the resort and if you book a stay with Tanjung Rhu Resort, you will be chauffeured by the resort limousine.
Singles or couples will be picked up by a luxury saloon while families or large groups will be driven by the resorts luxury Vellfire van.
Obviously, from Kuala Lumpur or other major cities, there are direct flights into Langkawi Island via AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air and Firefly.
For international, Qatar has a direct flight into Langkawi three times a week and those in Europe and the Middle East can easily visit the island.

Conclusion

The resort photographed at night

To be very honest, if you are truly looking for a peaceful and quiet vacation, the Tanjung Rhu Resort is one to consider. It provides luxury with a charm like no other.

The great thing about the resort is that they do not try too hard to please guests here and being the pioneer resorts on Langkawi, you can expect no less from the newer properties.

I hope you have found my review of the Tanjung Rhu Resort in Langkawi helpful and that it has provided you with some major updates of this place.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeMalaysia

New Malaysia Truly Asia Campaign to be Announced

byMalaysia Asia
-March 25, 2020

A new Visit Malaysia Truly Asia campaign will replace the recently canceled Visit Malaysia Year 2020 and this was officially announced by the Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on March 18, 2020.

The reason for the Visit Malaysia 2020 cancelation was due to the Coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic that swept Malaysia and the world in a matter of weeks.

New Malaysia Truly Asia Campaign

With some major setbacks occurring in the tourism industry in Malaysia and around the world, this will be a mammoth task for Tourism Malaysia to undertake.

But before anything can happen, we still need to see if the Covid-19 curve has been flattened and as to date, it has not.

What is even more alarming is that cases are rising fast despite the Movement Control Order the government imposed from 18th to 31st March.

And just when writing this article on the 25th March, our Prime Minister announces on live TV this afternoon that the MCO has been extended another two weeks to April 14th, 2020.

In total, Malaysia will observe a total of 28 days for the Movement Control Order and this is surely going to affect the country and also the tourism industry really bad.

In times like this, the announcement of a new Malaysia Truly Asia campaign sheds a light and gives hope to many in the tourism industry.

And this goes all the way from the airlines, agents, hotels, guides to even shops and other businesses. where everyone gets a piece of the tourism Ringgit.

An empty Batu Caves in early March of 2020.

How has Covid-19 Impacted Tourism in Malaysia?

Let's take a look at our tourism industry in Malaysia and what has happened to date. And below is my personal opinion on what is happening to the industry players.

Also, some of the outgoing links put here may or may not be active as due to the pandemic reporting, even mainstream news has been facing issues, where reporters are publishing articles and then removing them.

Airlines in Malaysia

Local airlines have been hit so hard that many of them have grounded aircraft, canceled flights and even laid off staff or imposed voluntary unpaid leave.

Don't forget that not only general consumers use these airlines to travel for both leisure or business, but even tour companies also rely on these airlines for their customers coming into Malaysia and so on.

In the news, Malaysia Airlines had asked 13,000 employees to take unpaid leave, but there was confusion in that article.

In actual, Malaysia Aviation Group has given its staff the option to voluntarily take five days of unpaid leave per month for at least three months, or between one to three months beginning April.

AirAsia issued a flight suspension throughout its fleet on 26th March, 2020.

Another NST article published on the 25th March highlighted that Malaysia Airlines is on the brink of bankruptcy if they do not get any sort of financial aid during this time.

According to the Aliran news portal, Malaysia Airlines has seen 63% of flights canceled while AirAsia and Malindo Air are up to 70% on canceled flights.

During these troubled times, AirAsia has come up with a Covid-19 Flight Change website where travelers can get more information about their flights and other issues faced.

It looks like a massive bailout will be required to get things back on track, and we will have to see what happens in the next few weeks to come.

Tour Operators

Probably one of the hardest to be hit from the Covid-19 pandemic are the tour operators in Malaysia. Both inbound and outbound have suffered massive losses from this.

Once things get better, the first markets that most of the inbound operators will target is the PRC market, as it has been announced that China is now opening up restrictions for its citizens.

However, it all depends on how fast Malaysia flattens the curve or controls the pandemic. It could be sooner than expected, but in reality, it will take at least three to six months or even longer.

Since most tour agents are members of MATTA or Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, and agents have been paying for the annual membership, perhaps they could assist in a unique way?

And not by just having press conferences asking the government to do this and that or support and welcome what the PM says.

Kuala Lumpur City Centre at night. This photo was taken in early March 2020.

Hotels and Resorts

With Malaysia stopping incoming visitors, the hotel and resort industry is facing some serious losses and even before the MCO was applied, many hotels were already going downhill with 20% to 30% occupancy.

Don't forget that hotels not only depend on room nights, but they also depend on business events, weddings, and meetings.

With Ramadan and Hari Raya around the corner, a lot of hotels usually gear up for the 'Buka Puasa' or Breaking of Fast promotions at their hotel restaurants.

But for now, we can not predict what will happen in the next two to three weeks, and it is a huge gamble for the hoteliers. They can only wait and see what happens next.

Tourism Destinations

The MCO had shuttered all tourism destinations and products for two weeks and this included national parks, forest reserves, museums, theme parks, and just about anything related to tourism.

Even minor and major events and festivals around Malaysia has been either canceled or postponed due to the Coronavirus issues.

One of the biggest events is the Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 which has been postponed by the Sarawak Government.

Since writing this, the MCO shutdown will now extend for another two weeks making it a total of 4 weeks of shutting from 18th March to 14th April.

Cruise Tourism

With the worldwide news of cruises being affected terribly with Covid-19 cases, many are skeptical about cruises in the future, but it could change after the pandemic.

A local tour guide leading a group in the rainforest.

Tour Guides

Almost all tour guides have been without jobs since the MCO and this is their daily income. Of course, this comes along with the tour bus and van drivers, the dive instructors, divemasters and the whole chain.

Each state tourism board can possibly help out, but if you want to help, you need to help a lot of people. However, I still think MATTA should be doing their part in helping out in this situation.

Tourism Boards

All tourism boards have adhered to the MCO and key staff is to work from home unless it is a critical issue and they have to attend office meetings.

Probably the most challenging in re-marketing Malaysia is the tourism board's marketing department, and with the MCO ongoing, I don't even want to think about how this will be done.

Don't forget that there is the main Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) and also the individual state tourism boards and the council tourism departments.

And each one has very different objectives in terms of tourism arrivals from which country or which product they want to market. Often, this can be quite tricky in terms of seeing eye to eye.

Tourism Malaysia will market on a general overall directive for Malaysia as a whole, while other states will focus on their individual strength and countries.

Inbound Tourism

If Malaysia continues with the uptrend in Covid-19 cases and takes a long time to rectify the issue, tourists will not want to visit Malaysia. It is simple and straight forward.

The most likely scenario would be to promote local tourism to Malaysians for a start before actually reaching out to other countries to visit Malaysia, and all of this takes time.

I also wrote an article about a tourism lockdown in Malaysia on March 18th, which was targeted towards tourists.

Outbound Tourism

This is quite tricky as the minute any travel restrictions are lifted, there will be those who will quickly try to take advantage of low airfares and start traveling abroad without thinking twice.

A Possible Solution to the Tourism Industry - Bailout

It looks like the only possible solution is that the federal government will have to step in to bail out most or all of the tourism-related industries in order to see each and everyone gets back on their feet.

How they do this is another matter, but knowing the industry, it will be done in a very interesting way. And no, they are not going to just give everyone a stack of cash.

There is no doubt this is being discussed by the tourism ministry as the Malaysian tourism industry needs all the help it can get.

For now, it is also wise to sit back, stay home, be safe and not complain about what the ministry is doing. The article below clearly shows that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is actually doing something.

Press Release of the New Malaysia Truly Asia Campaign

Malaysia's Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. Photo from Facebook.

This article appeared in a news release on March 25, 2020.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) will introduce a new campaign to replace the Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign which was canceled following the spread of Covid-19.

Capitalizing on the ‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’ brand, Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the campaign would run in the long-term while highlighting the country’s unique experiences.

“Motac is confident that this effort will strengthen the country’s competitiveness and sustainability in tourism while ensuring the industry is inclusive,” she said in a statement today.

On March 18, Nancy announced the immediate cancellation of VM2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19, in addition to the impact of the outbreak which had affected the local and international tourism sector.

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, Nancy said tourism industry players such as hoteliers, travel agents as well as food and beverage businesses suffered an estimated loss of RM9 billion in the first quarter of the year.

As such, she said, after discussing with the industry players on March 17, it was decided that a strategic action plan should be introduced.

“Motac has put in place an action plan to help revitalize the industry and ensure the well-being of Malaysians whose livelihoods depend on this industry.

“Among those present were representatives of the associations from the hotel and tourism industry, bus operators, traders, tour guides and taxi drivers. The meeting was organized by the Tourism Recovery Action Council (TRAC),” she added.

Nancy said Motac would discuss with the Ministry of Finance and related agencies, in looking into details tabled by the tourism industry players especially on the forms of assistance that could be channeled to the industry.

Please note the above only indicated the plans for a new Malaysia Truly Asia campaign and is not the answer to what the next campaign will be or when it will be.

On how they are going to help each relevant sector is another story, which we need to wait for their action plan to come out, therefore do not make assumptions for now.

I speculate it will be called Visit Malaysia 2021.

Conclusion

From the above, it shows that Tourism Malaysia is not enjoying the MCO but working around the clock to fix this major issue.

From what I gather, Tourism Malaysia will most likely create a Visit Malaysia 2021 to follow through from this year's cancellation.

The ministry will most likely put a focus on local travel campaigns like Cuti Cuti Malaysia promoting the local destinations around the country.

Until the official news comes out, we can wait patiently on the announcement of what the new Malaysia Truly Asia campaign will be.

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

You might like
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HomeHealth Tourism

Top Hospitals in Kota Kinabalu for Medical Tourism

byMalaysia Asia
-August 14, 2022

This is a list of top hospitals in Kota Kinabalu for medical tourism as the North Borneo state is now considering including this as part of health tourism.Medical tourism in Sabah is still something new as the state has never ventured deep into this genre, and now, with more flight connectivity to Indonesia, the potential is there.Top Hospitals in Kota Kinabalu for Medical TourismWhile those planning to research medical tourism in Malaysia, many Indonesians will consider Sabah and Sarawak as medical tourism destinations due to the proximity to Kalimantan.As Sabah is considered one of the new players in medical tourism or health tourism, several modern medical facilities have slowly been operating in the capital over the last ten years.Therefore, this list will highlight some of the top hospitals in KK for medical tourism and is in no particular order.Sabah recently announced they are targeting health and medical tourists from Indonesia with the current flight connectivities.Gleneagles Hospital in  Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.1. Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital - A private hospital in the city of KK or Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and offers medical services that include cardiac care, brain and nerve, orthopaedic and spine, women and children care.Address: Riverson@Sembulan, Block A-1,Lorong Riverson@Sembulan, Off Coastal Highway,88100 Kota Kinabalu, SabahWebsite: Gleneagles Kota KinabaluKPJ Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.2. KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital - A well-known private hospital in Kota Kinabalu built in 2012 and started operating in 2014 with 245 beds. This hospital, formerly known as Sabah Medical Centre or SMC, is a household name among local Sabahans.Address: Lot No.2 Off,Jalan Damai, Luyang Commercial Centre,88300 Kota KinabaluWebsite: KPJ SabahJesselton Medical Centre in KK.3. Jesselton Medical Centre - Originally established in 2009, it was first a Maternity and Child Hospital and developed over the years into "a one-stop" tertiary centre of international standards. Jesselton Medical Centre has 23 consultant rooms and 72 beds, of which 59 consisted of 16 single rooms and 21 double rooms, 6 intensive Care beds and 7 delivery suites.Address: Jalan Metro 2, Off,Jalan Tuaran, Jalan Bunga Ulam Raja,88300 Kota KinabaluWebsite: Jesselton Medical CentreRafflesia Medical Centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.4. Rafflesia Medical Centre - Popularly known as RMC, this medical facility currently has wards with 19 beds and more to be added to the next expansion plan. Strategically located within easy reach, RMC offers a variety of clinical specialities ranging from obstetrics and orthopaedics to surgeries to meet the public's medical needs at affordable prices.Address: Lot 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Millennium Commercial Centre,Jln Lintas, Kepayan, 88200 PenampangWebsite: Rafflesia Medical CentreConclusionYou can also read my other article on medical tourism in Malaysia, as I have highlighted the pros and cons for anyone interested.The four leading medical tourism hospitals in Kota Kinabalu above cater to international medical tourists, and I hope to see more medical facilities opening up in the coming years.And these are currently the top hospitals in Kota Kinabalu for medical or health tourism as of 2022.

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Health Tourism
Health Tourism in Sabah
Malaysia
Malaysia Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism in Sabah
Sabah
Sabah Health Tourism
Sabah Healthcare
Sabah Medical Tourism
Sabah Tourism

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeBest Places to Visit in Malaysia

Best Place in Malaysia To Visit After CMCO

byMalaysia Asia
-December 11, 2020

 We Malaysians have been cooped up for so long that now everyone is just thinking of the best place in Malaysia to visit after the CMCO or Conditional Movement Control Order.While many places sound inviting, there are still some reservations about red zones and possible active Covid19 cases lurking around.However, there are still many remote places worth visiting, but being Malaysian, many still prefer a more commercial destination with good infrastructure and facilities.Best Place in Malaysia To Visit After CMCOMalaysia offers so many beautiful and unique places, it would be such a waste to highlight places where there have been many cases of Covid19.Since the pandemic went into the second phase in Malaysia in October of 2020, many popular tourist destinations like Sabah and Selangor were hit really hard.Pristine beaches and stunning islands at LangkawiBut there have been several places that have been spared from the second phase of the Covid19 spread, and these are the recommended places that locals can visit.Overall, there is one place spared quite well, and Langkawi Island is noted as the best place in Malaysia to visit after the CMCO.You may be asking why Langkawi Island? And the answer is quite simple - A local destination that appeals to all walks of life, offering the best of the beach, rainforest, resort living and a localised culture in one place.Why Langkawi Island? Langkawi is still one of Malaysia's most beautiful islands, which is easily accessible by sea and air with many airports having direct flights into the island.Langkawi Island during the peak seasonThe concept of a culturally rich island with doubles as a duty-free post makes it even more desirable for those who want the best of both worlds.While Langkawi offers beautiful beaches, stuffing landscapes, a rich marine ecosystem and a never-ending mangrove system catering to ecotourism.What do Do in Langkawi Island? So much to see and do, the list is never-ending. But again, it also depends on the type of Malaysian style traveller. Most of the time, it is the safe traveller who just seeks a simple getaway.Many beautiful and secluded resorts can cater to your style for those who want just an escape from the city. This includes doing everything in and around the resort area.Chenang Beach is seen from the flight landing.Most holidaymakers love to self explore, and the best way is to rent a car and drive around the island visiting all the many places.Panorama Langkawi or the Langkawi Cable Car is one of the popular destinations where you get to go up Mount Matcincang in a gondola and then spend time up there seeing the stunning views.Beach holidays are also high on most locals, and this is best done at Pantai Chenang where it is hands down the most popular beach in Langkawi.The combination of a long wide beach with water sport activities, restaurants, bars, cafes and street shopping makes this place the ultimate spot in all of Langkawi.The beautiful Geoforest Park in LangkawiRainforest escapes are not-so-popular but still appealing to nature lovers, and this is usually done at the Kilim Geoforest Park area.Over at Kilim, you get to do mangrove excursions, cave visits and wildlife spotting in one trip which works out perfect for anyone who wants to connect back to nature.Do note that this is a full nature experience that is highly recommended for anyone and all walks of life, old or young.One of the things that Malaysians love to do is shopping, and over here you have some of the best duty-free shopping in Langkawi Island. You can find these places from Kuah town to Pantai Chenang.You can always take some of the many boat trips that offer island-hopping around the island for those who love the sea.Paradise 101 Island by Naam in LangkawiThere is also a special island called Paradise 101 which caters to a full island and water sports experience. This is by Telaga Harbour and is operated by Naam Tours.I also did an article on the many things to do in Langkawi a few years ago which you can also refer as it caters to a very general guide.Where To Stay in Langkawi Island? There are many choices for accommodation around Langkawi and depending on what kind of place you prefer, you can choose from the city area to beachside living.For those on a budget, you are also in luck as many of the hotels and resorts are offering desirable room promotions, including couples or even families.The facade of the Tanjung Rhu Resort in LangkawiOne of the recommended places worth checking out is no other than the Tanjung Rhu Resort, a luxurious suite-only resort with its own private beach. The current Tanjung Rhu Resort promotion until December 2020 is desirable at RM200 per suite for two persons inclusive of breakfast and additional discounts of food and beverage.Other popular hotels and resorts include those along the ain Pantai Chenang beach road, but that comes with a catch, which is usually the crowds.One of the many promotions for CMCO offered by Tanjung Rhu ResortWhat to Eat in Langkawi? Personally, I always love to explore the local food scene whenever I visit Langkawi and every time, I will make it a point to try a new place.On my recent visit in June of 2020, I tried the local famous Nasi Daging Bakar Langkawi, a nice old food centre at Padang Matsirat, near the airport.The glorious spread of Malay food at Kak Yan RestaurantOther well-known local Langkawi cuisine includes the super famous Kak Yan Nasi Campur in Langkawi, Malay mix rice and is something everyone should try.Of course, many other proper restaurants, cafes, fast-food joints and even fine dining establishments are available all over Langkawi.Visitors enjoying the beach in LangkawiConclusionOverall, Langkawi Island is hands down one of the best places to visit for a short, medium or long vacation as there is plenty to do here depending on how long you choose.Most important is that the activities offered caters to all walks of life, and as for food and beverage, there is so much to choose from.There are many other destinations to visit, but this article highlights the best place in Malaysia to visit after the CMCO, and I hope you have a great time with our domestic tourism.

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Langkawi
Malaysia
Malaysia Post-Covid 19
Visiting Malaysia After Covid-19

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeKuala Lumpur

MATTA Awards

byMalaysia Asia
-July 05, 2019

The inaugural MATTA Awards was held for the first time on 30th June 2019 and at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur Hotel in Malaysia.

After decades of working with tour agents around Malaysia, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents or MATTA as it is known finally came up with an award series for the tourism industry players.

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents has been around for 44 years, and it is about high time to create something exciting for the industry players.

MATTA Awards

These special tourism awards were created as a way to recognize the achievements of its members and their contribution to the Malaysian tourism industry.

The inaugural MATTA Awards were also praised highly by the Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, who was a special guest at the event.

Also present at the ceremony was YBhg. Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, and a total of 500 local and international tourism industry players.

In total, 50 nominations were submitted for the MATTA Awards 2019, and out of that, only 13 category winners were selected.

The winners of the MATTA Awards 2019. Click to enlarge

Winners of MATTA Awards 2019

Below is a list of the people and companies who won the inaugural MATTA Awards this year;

Best Tour Operator - Inbound: Asian Overland Services Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd
Best Tour Operator - Outbound: Apple Vacations and Conventions
Best Tour Operator - Responsible Tourism: Borneo Eco Tours Sdn Bhd
Best Travel Agency - Cruise: Hwajing Travel and Tours
Best Travel Agency - Startup: Toranj Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd
Best Travel Agency - Umrah and Hajj: Andalusia Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd
Most Creative Marketing Campaign: Ice Holidays Sdn Bhd
Most Creative Tour Packages: Naam World Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd
MATTA Tourism Icon Award: Datuk Seri Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah

Datuk Seri Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah with the MATTA Tourism Icon Award

How Are The MATTA Awards Selected?

According to the organizers, the nominees are suggested by the MATTA Committee themselves and then voted as the winners.

Only members of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents are eligible to participate in these awards.

Nomination forms were made available to MATTA members by downloading them from the awards website. From there, the nominations could be done for a company or person, or for themselves.

The winners are then selected by an independent panel of judges based on a strong operational knowledge of the industry and also with years of experience in the tourism industry.

Possibly in the future, there would be another system to select and determine who the nominees will be, and also how the judging process will work.

I believe it would be much better to have both the public and also the tourism industry players to have their votes for selecting the winners.

The MATTA Awards Trophy and Certification

Who Came Out With The MATTA Awards Idea?

The concept of these awards was actually brought forward by MATTA President Datuk Tank Kok Liang.

One of the other reasons the awards were held was also to recognize the resilience of travel and tour operators in the country, especially in the face of disruptive technology.

MATTA President Datuk Tank Kok Liang had this to say during an interview with a local newspaper;

“The Awards were meant to recognize the achievements of MATTA members and their contributions to the Malaysian tourism industry. It was also meant to encourage more travel and tour operators in the country to be more innovative, especially in the face of disruptive technology.”

“For the past few years, there have been many opinions about whether tour and travel operators will go bust, but they have only been going stronger. One factor behind their staying power was being innovative by embracing technology.”

Naam World Travel and Tours with the Most Creative Tour Package Award

Original MATTA Award Categories

According to the MATTA Awards website, there was a list of 13 categories that were selected by the organizing committee and they were;

Best Tour Operator (Inbound)
Best Tour Operator (Outbound)
Best Tour Operator (Domestic)
Best Tour Operator (Responsible Tourism)
Best Tour Operator (MICE)
Best Tour Operator (Land Transportation)
Best Travel Agency (Start-Up)
Best Travel Agency (Umrah & Hajj)
Best Travel Agency (Cruise)
Best Travel Agency (Air Transportation)
Most Creative Tour Package
Most Creative Marketing Campaign
MATTA Tourism Icon Award

Out of the 13 categories, only nine were presented during the MATTA Awards 2019.

MATTA Awards Gala Dinner

As with most award ceremonies and presentations, there will always be a gala dinner included, and attendees will be required to dress formally for the awards.

For the inaugural tourism awards by MATTA, the gala dinner was held at the Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on the 30th of June 2019 and from 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM.

Tables were made available for members and non-members to purchase in individual seats or by entire tables. The gala dinner table pricing was;

MATTA Members
Tier 1 = RM 3,000.00 (per table/10 pax)
Tier 1 = RM 300.00 (per seat)
Tier 2 = RM 2,500.00 (per table/10 pax)
Tier 2 = RM 250.00 (per seat)

Non Members
Tier 1 = RM 3,500.00 (per table/10 pax)
Tier 1 = RM 350.00 (per seat)
Tier 2 = RM 3,000.00 (per table/10 pax)
Tier 2 = RM 300.00 (per seat)

Who are the Sponsors of the MATTA Awards?

There were different categories of sponsors for the MATTA Awards which ranged from platinum, gold, and silver. Below are the sponsors for this year's awards;

Platinum Sponsors

Malaysia Airlines
Hong Leong Bank
Boost

Gold Sponsors

Apple Holidays
ICE Holidays
Innogen
Sunway Putra Mall
UOB

Silver Sponsors

China Mobile/CMI Travel
Effortless Beauty Malaysia
Sarawak Tourism Board
Petronas

The event was also supported by;

Backstage Skills
iAdventure Escape
Sunway Putra Hotel Kuala Lumpur

For more information on these tourism awards, you can visit the official MATTA Awards website as there is contact information available there.

Albert Chin holding the Best Tour Operator award for Responsible Tourism

When is the Next MATTA Awards?

With the success of the inaugural awards, the next one will possibly be held at the same time which is around mid-year. The MATTA Awards 2020 would also possibly see more nominations for all 13 categories.

Again, to be nominated in the next MATTA Awards 2020, the tour company needs to be a member of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.

Suggestions And Opinions

Personally, I think this is a great move by MATTA for the tourism industry players and a very positive one. But for the future awards, I would also consider adding in categories for the smaller tour agents.

While the large agents always seem to be at the forefront, let us not forget about the smaller tour agents and companies. They too are bringing in tourists into Malaysia, and also contribute to our tourism economy.

I would also love to see a category for Best Tour Guide in various sub-categories like city guides, historical guides and also nature guides.

With everyone talking about the digital revolution and digital media, there should also be a special segment for those who utilize social media platforms to promote.

Under the digital tourism category, there could be sub-categories like best social media promotions, best online tourism articles, the best website and so on.

Final Thoughts on the MATTA Awards

Overall, awards are always welcomed by all industries, no matter tourism or non-tourism, and it is these kinds of things that help drive the industry forward.

As I have been writing about tourism in Malaysia for the last 10 years, I too hope that the MATTA Awards will consider adding a category for online tourism articles by others as one of the categories.

At least this way, I know that it would attract more people to write about tourism articles and promotions in Malaysia and also out of Malaysia.

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Malaysia
Malaysia Tourism Awards
MATTA Awards
Matta Fair
Tourism Awards
Travel Awards

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeCameron Highlands

Traditional English Tea and Scones Restaurants in Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-October 28, 2021

One of the more British influences that have remained till this very day is the English tea and scones found at numerous restaurants around Malaysia.However, these places are mostly found at highland locations where the climate is much cooler and relaxing, namely for visiting vacationers. This article will highlight some of the best places to have traditional English tea and scones around Malaysia.Traditional English Tea and Scones Restaurants in MalaysiaEnglish Tea House Restaurant in Sandakan, Sabah.There are several places in Malaysia where you can enjoy tea and scones where some are located in the peninsular, and just two places over in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo.Tea and scones are not the normal palates for Asians, but with strong English influences over the last century, there has been a small demand for colonial cuisine. Much of this was fusioned with Chinese Hainanese cooks, resulting in a unique cuisine only found in this part of the world.However, the traditional English scones could not be fusioned; therefore, they are still being served as they once were from back in the day, complete with cream, jam and good old English tea.Visiting English tourists to Malaysia found this rather fascinating as when they explored several hill attractions, there was a chance they would encounter a restaurant that served good old English food with tea and scones.The beautiful tea plantations at Cameron Highlands.Cameron Highlands Tea and Scones RestaurantsOver at Cameron Highlands, you can try the family-run Bala's Chalet and Hotel Cameron Highlands as they too have served English tea and scones for many years now. Bala's was rebranded to Planters Country Hotel in 2013.Another place called the Smokehouse Hotel in Cameron Highlands is a replica of a traditional Mock-Tudor home complete with lush-manicured gardens with swings and cobbled pathways.The Bharat Tea Shop serves English tea and scones on your way up the highlands for a quick fix. This place offers incredible views of the tea plantation, and customers can dine at the open-aired balcony.View inside the restaurant of Ye Olde Smokehouse at Fraser's Hill.Fraser's Hill Tea and Scones RestaurantsOver at Frasers Hill, there is also a nice and cosy place called the Smokehouse Frasers Hill, similar to Cameron's but under different management. You can find traditional English food while the property also offers accommodations. The impressive menu offers Hors D'oeuvres for starters to incredible roasts, pies and puddings. This place does get crowded on weekends and holiday seasons; therefore, it is best to book ahead.Apparently, many people also claim that the tea and scones at Fraser's Hill Smoke House are much better than the ones found in Camerons.The entrance to Sabah Tea Garden in Ranau.Sabah Tea and Scones RestaurantsIf you are visiting the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, you can also try the English Tea House in Sandakan, which is over on the east coast of Sabah. This is probably one of the oldest traditional English restaurants in all of Borneo.Another place is called the Sabah Tea Garden, about two hours from Kota Kinabalu up north towards Kudat. This beautiful tea garden, cottage and restaurant also serve tea and scones.View of Penang from David Brown's Restaurant & Tea Terrace.Penang Tea and Scones RestaurantOver in Penang Island, when you go up Penang Hill, there is a restaurant at the top called David Brown's Restaurant & Tea Terrace, which serves traditional tea and scones.This place has an excellent hill view of Penang island, the Penang bridge, and the mainland on a clear day. Many day-trip visitors will come here for the beautiful restaurant ambience while having lunch up here.Tea and scones are also found at various cafes, restaurants and hotels.Tea and Scones at Cafes and Hotels around MalaysiaNowadays, in the larger cities around Malaysia, namely Kuala Lumpur, you can find tea and scones at numerous cafes, restaurants and hotels. Still, the feeling is not the same as having it in the cool highlands versus the city.If you Google 'Tea and Scones in Malaysia', results will come out as afternoon tea places with scones, and multiple articles will highlight places serving this in the city areas. Again, these are not the same as the places mentioned in this article.You can find tea and scones all over Malaysia.ConclusionFor an authentic experience in having traditional English tea and scones, I recommend trying some of the places mentioned here. Then only you can make your judgement on why there is a vast difference between the city types and the hill resorts.Well, each and everyone has their own tastebuds and opinions, especially when it comes to food. But if you are genuinely a real foodie, you would know the difference between traditional and modern-day cooking.For me, good old traditional English tea and scones are still found at the places mentioned above, it is just a matter of trying them over the years of travelling.

Tags
Cameron Highlands
Food
Food Review
Fraser's Hill
Pahang
Penang
Penang Hill
Perak
Ranau
Sabah
Sandakan
Tea and Scones in Malaysia

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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HomeGalaxy S23

Khao Lak at Night with a Galaxy S23 Ultra Review

byMalaysia Asia
-March 10, 2023

Here is a special smartphone photography series of Khao Lak at night with a Galaxy S23 Ultra review done at the end of February 2023. This was also done just after the flagship smartphone was officially launched.I was given the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to test out photography during my work trip to Bangkok and Khao Lak. While at both places, I tested the camera system to see how it compared with the S22 Ultra.Khao Lak at Night with a Galaxy S23 Ultra ReviewIf you did not know, Khao Lak is a lovely quiet beach town 90 minutes north of Phuket and is less known to most travellers. My work was mainly to review the La Vela Khao Lak Resort, one of the top resorts here.One of the common bars seen around Khao Lak town.Spending five days in Khao Lak, I explored the entire area, visiting beaches, national parks, heritage old towns and the main Khao Lak nightlife, unlike Phuket or Koh Samui.So, below are Nightography photos taken using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra while I explored the nightlife around Khao Lak.I also used the night mode function on the normal and ultra-wide modes during my photo-taking to explore different angles.4-5 seconds of holding still are required when using ultra-wide and night mode, while it only takes 2-3 seconds for the normal mode.Generally, when you click the shutter button, you just hold still for a few seconds. Then the smartphone will calculate and compensate for the photo, resulting in beautiful and realistic night shots.A bar called Fat Shark was photographed in Nightography with the S23 Ultra.A beautifully lit restaurant along the Khao Lak main walking street.Using the ultra-wide angle and in night mode on the S23 Ultra.Motorbikes are commonly used to move around Khao Lak.Shot using night mode with realistic colours as an outcome.An Indian Restaurant is photographed in night mode n the Galaxy S23 Ultra.A vendor sells hand-carved candles and is photographed in night mode on the S23 Ultra.Even with sufficient lighting, you can still capture photos in night mode, like at this art gallery.A local Mookata Restaurant at Khao Lak is photographed in night mode.Night scenes are now even easier with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, as seen in this photo.Capturing the entire Khao Lak street with ultra-wide and night mode.A local Khao Lak restaurant was photographed in night mode on the S23 Ultra.I love the natural colours without over-compensating from the S23 Ultra.Some of the exciting photo-combinations of plants and buildings.A photo of a local pub with striking colours came out just like my eyes saw it.Again, using the night mode, the colours were well-balanced and not overdoing it.This shot shows more greenery versus lights, and with the night mode, it looks natural.Khao Lak's nightlife is captured in night mode on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.Here's a simple shot with fewer lights, and the S23 Ultra knows how to keep it real without overdoing it.Khao Lak at night, photographed with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.ConclusionSince I switched to smartphones many years ago, I have been very impressed with the technological advancements done for every model.I currently use the Galaxy S22 Ultra for Nightography, my favourite smartphone due to its incredible camera capabilities, especially while travelling. Therefore, using the S23 Ultra saw a slight improvement in the camera system.The photos are more natural now, without the A.I. trying too hard; therefore, most of the photos above are what my eyes see at night. That is a huge plus point for me, especially since heavily using Galaxy smartphones for years.And I hope that you enjoyed this Nightography series of Khao Lak at night with a Galaxy S23 Ultra. I will be sharing more reviews in the coming articles.

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Galaxy S23
Galaxy S23 Malaysia
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Khao Lak
Photography
Samsung Malaysia
Smartphone Photography
Smartphone Review
Smartphone Reviews
Thailand

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Malaysia Asia
Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school.

Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards).

After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

You might like
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