HomeCoronavirus Malaysia

Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 is Postponed

byMalaysia Asia
-March 20, 2020

The Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 has been postponed due to the Coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic around the world and also here in Sarawak and Malaysia.

Known commonly as RWMF, the Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Abdul Karim had issued the media statement on 13th March 2020 in Kuching.

Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 Postponed

The crowd at the last RWMF in Sarawak.

The decision to postpone the Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 was done due to the ministry's top priority for public health during the Coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic.

The RWMF is a major flagship event for the state of Sarawak and is also a popular world-renown ethnic music event that sees over 20,000 visitors yearly.

The music festival not only sees local attendees but a large number of international visitors from all over the world attending the festival.

The Rainforest World Music Festival takes place mid-year, usually during the summer of June or July, and is held at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, one hour drive from the capital city of Kuching.

The scene during the last RWMF in Sarawak.

Why this event is so popular is because of the uniqueness where a wide range of local and international performances from traditional music, to world fusion and contemporary world music are held in one natural venue.

This year, the Rainforest World Music Festival was supposed to take place from 10 to 12th July and according to Kevin Nila from the Sarawak Tourism Board, tickets were not opened for sale yet.

This means that the Sarawak Tourism Board had anticipated the seriousness of the Coronavirus and held back from opening the online ticket sales.

Therefore, most of the festival attendees or visitors would have pre-booked airline tickets and accommodations before the event. If you have done this, please read further below on what you can do next.

Orang Ulu at the RWMF

Why is the Rainforest World Music Festival Postponed?

There are in fact many reasons that contribute to why the RWMF is being postponed, and I will list down the most obvious reasons below.

First of all, the current Coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic is the core reason for the postponement. of this festival. This is also followed by the concern of the virus spreading in large gatherings or events.

International musicians also make up the bulk of the performers of the festival, hence, flight logistics would be a serious nightmare for many of them.

Most of the performing bands and musicians come from all over the world, and with the current airline lockdown from many countries and airlines, this would impose a very chaotic situation.

Logistically, it would be an organizer's nightmare just to coordinate the arrivals of the performers, the equipment, the health screenings and so on.

The Rainforest Fringe Festival 2020 is also canceled.

Rainforest Fringe Festival 2020 Postponed

Another major build-up event that coincides with the RWMF is the 2-week long Rainforest Fringe Festival 2020. This event too has been postponed until further notice.

The Rainforest Fringe Event usually takes place around Kuching city, promoting the RWMF with daily and weekly events ranging from workshops to music performances.

One of the performers during the last RWMF.

When is the Rainforest World Music Festival Postponed?

As of writing this article, there is no confirmed date when the RWMF 2020 will be postponed. For now, it was just announced by the ministry.

It also depends on the situation of the Covid-19 or Coronavirus in Malaysia, and if it subsides or continues to spread.

In the event, the Coronavirus does spread and an emergency is declared in Malaysia, all events and music festivals in Sarawak and the country will be canceled or postponed to the following year.

Datuk Karim also mentioned that events are not canceled but only postponed to a later date. This also depends on the outcome of what happens in the next two to three months.

In the event, the Coronavirus comes under control or major improvement is observed, the ministry will then go under review to see if it is viable to set another date.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Sarawak also stressed that the decision to postpone all major events in Sarawak was also due to the advisory of the State Disaster Management Committee.

What if you have bought flight tickets or booked hotel rooms for RWMF?

First of all, you need to contact your airline or online travel agent (OTA) about postponing or refunding your flight tickets.

Next, you need to contact the hotel or accommodation you booked for a cancellation. In this scenario, most companies will be flexible and issue you a refund.

No RWMF tickets were sold online due to the anticipation of the pending Coronavirus or Covid-19 issues in Sarawak and around the world.

The Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak.

Where is the Rainforest World Music Festival held?

Every year, the RWMF is held at the Sarawak Cultural Village or SCV in Santubong, which is an hour's drive from the city of Kuching.

The Sarawak Cultural Village has been the home of this unique music festival ever since it was inaugurated back in 1997.

What other events have been Postponed or Canceled in Sarawak?

With the Rainforest World Music Festival 2020 being postponed, the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak has also made it official that any event in the next two months with more than 250 people has been postponed.

This goes all the way from private to public sectors all across Sarawak and most of them are indefinite for now until further notice has been announced.

Any rumors or fake news going around should be verified with the ministry, and this includes the many social media platforms which are well-known to be the main source of this.

Currently, the major events that are postponed in Sarawak are;

Spartan Race Sarawak 2020
Borneo Jazz Festival 2020 in Miri
Borneo Cultural Festival 2020 in Sibu

The massive crowd at last year's RWMF in Santubong, Sarawak.

Conclusion

If you have plans to attend the Rainforest World Music Festival 2020, you should take note of this event that has been postponed by the tourism ministry of Sarawak.

Hopefully, the Coronavirus situation in the country and the world gets sorted out and things can get back to normal. You can also visit the official RWMF website for any further updates.

Apart from that, any visitors or travelers should also take note that there has been a tourism lockdown in Malaysia and the Visit Malaysia 2020 year has been also canceled.

In the worst-case scenario that the event is canceled for this year, please do not worry as there is always an opportunity to attend the Rainforest World Music Festival 2021.

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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 Unpacked

Galaxy Unpacked 2023: Share the Epic

byMalaysia Asia
-January 11, 2023

Another year has passed, and a new era of Galaxy innovation is coming. Samsung's innovations are designed to enable incredible possibilities for people today and beyond.The new Galaxy S series will be the epitome of how Samsung defines the ultimate premium experience, and they're raising the bar and setting new standards for what's epic.Galaxy Unpacked 2023: Share the EpicFor the first time in three years, Samsung Electronics will hold an in-person Unpacked event in San Francisco, on February 2, at 2:00 AM Malaysian Time.Join Samsung as one of the first to see the new premium Galaxy innovations unveiled during the live event in the USA.The Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event will be streamed live on Samsung Malaysia YouTube, Samsung Malaysia Official Website, Samsung Malaysia Facebook and Samsung Malaysia Newsroom.Since the Covid 19 Pandemic, the events were live streamed to millions of people worldwide, and this was Galaxy Unpacked 2022 was themed The Epic Standard.The much-awaited Galaxy S23 Ultra.Conclusion to Galaxy Unpacked 2023From now until February 2, register your interest at Malaysia Galaxy Unpacked 2023 to receive first-hand updates on Samsung's newest innovations and an RM200 Samsung e-voucher.Stay tuned to the Samsung official channels for all the upcoming teasers, trailers, and news about Galaxy Unpacked 2023.

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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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HomeHuawei

Moon Photography with Huawei P50

byMalaysia Asia
-June 28, 2022

I have been photographing the moon for as long as I can remember, and it has become even more enjoyable since the dawn of the telephoto lenses on smartphones.When I received my smartphone, one of the first things I couldn't wait to do was explore some moon photography with the Huawei P50 smartphone.Moon Photography with Huawei P50I am still testing this new flagship unit from Huawei, and below are some test shots I did when I got my P50 at the end of May 2022. Again, I used the entry-level model, not the P50 Pro.The initial test photo of the supermoon. This photo is also edited.Also, two photos are shown, the first one taking the moon picture with 75 x zoom on the telephoto, and you can see the natural outcome of the image.The following moon photo is the same, just that I did minor touch-ups on Photoshop to decrease the contrast, lighten it a little and sharpen it a little.Original moon photo, not edited, just cropped.After some basic editing in Photoshop, the moon photo looks better.ConclusionI'm still exploring this function to understand why the AI behaves oddly and where it should compensate by lessening the glow around the moon.It may be just the P50 that does not allow the full features and functions of moon photography or astrophotography. I've been an avid smartphone user for all my travels, and with standard flagship units, it is hard to determine how well they perform.One day, I can test the Huawei P50 Pro for my travel photography versus just the standard units. And you can see from the images above that something is lacking in the pictures taken.I also did a previous article for some night photography with the Huawei P50 in Kuching, Sarawak, just a few weeks back when I visited for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2022.Let me see the next moon photo opportunity I get, and I will try it again. Meanwhile, has anyone explored taking moon photography with Huawei P50? If so, please share your experience.

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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

Galaxy S23 Ultra Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-January 12, 2023

 With Galaxy Unpacked 2023 happening on 2 February, many are looking forward to what the Galaxy S23 Ultra will offer in terms of upgrades from the S22.This massive event will be streamed worldwide from San Francisco via its official Samsung country website and social media channels and promises to be the 'Show of the Year'.Galaxy S23 Ultra MalaysiaWhile many fans worldwide patiently await the official news, others in Malaysia, like me, who have been using the Galaxy S series for many years, are also excited about the Galaxy S23.As the S23 was launched during Unpacked 2023 on 1 February 2023, you can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Ultra in Malaysia.The official colours for the S23 Plus and Ultra are available in Malaysia.I cannot wait for the official announcement of the improvements made to the all-new S23 Ultra during Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on 1 February.So much speculation and leaks about the all-new Galaxy S23 have been shared on social media in the last six months, and that got a lot of people, including me, excited about the innovation of the smartphone.The four primary colours of the S23. Photo from PhoneArena.As I have been actively using the Galaxy S series over the last few years, I have reviewed many models of the S series.While there have been so many speculations, many hints toward high-megapixel sensors and improved low-light photography.It seems there was some teaser promotion done on the Chinese social platform Weibo where the teaser claimed that "Stunning night photos are coming soon" and "WOW-worthy resolution is coming", Another speculation is that the chipset will likely be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. This is also rumours that Samsung will be quitting Exynos globally in favour of a unified Qualcomm front.One more rumour is that some or all of the phones might come with at least 256GB of storage, which is double the starting capacity of the current Galaxy S22. Everyone needs more space nowadays.The phone screen is essential to me, and it is rumoured to be an AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rates, which means they are colourful and bright with silky smooth onscreen motion. Hopefully, it will also be the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2.And some massive news as for the flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra phone, rumours are suggesting that Samsung will be bending the glass on that phone on all four screen edges. Maybe slightly.Samsung has been bending the sides of the phone in varying degrees since the Galaxy S6 edge, but this could be a first for an all-around curve on the S23 Ultra flagship phone. That would be really cool!Finally, the rumoured colours for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series are four attractive colours: black, beige, green, and light pink. But these are only rumours, as the current series colours are Cotton Flower (cream), Misty Lilac (pink), Botanic Green and Phantom Black.Another speculated photo of the 200MP Camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Photo BusinessToday.Galaxy S23 Ultra Specification SpeculationsDimension: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)Weight: 233 gramsScreen Size: 6.8 inches, 114.3 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)Screen Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)Screen Resolution: 1440 x 3088 pixelsChipset: Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAMBattery System - Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removableCharging - 45W wired, PD3.0 - 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) - 4.5W reverse wirelessColours: Black, beige, green, and light pinkCamera System on the Galaxy S23 UltraThis is important to me because I use the camera for my work and daily photography, so my focus goes to this department on every launch of the flagship models.The news also announced that Samsung launched a 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor very early in 2022, which could be a major leap in phone photography.It can also be the most significant step forward from Samsung in years, with one source saying the phone has 'night vision', a super improved night camera system.Well, there has been a speculated slight improvement in the quad camera system on the S23, and below is what I have gathered so far;Rear Camera: Four Cameras200 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAFSelfie Camera40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAFBeige colour rendering of the S23. Image from NoteBookCheck. Video System on the Galaxy S23 UltraThis is another area I have been focusing on in the last three years, as I have done several quick videos for social media postings. 8K@24/30fps4K@30/60fps1080p@30/60/240fps720p@960fpsHDR10+stereo sound recording gyro-EISThe official price for the Galaxy S23 Plus Ultra in Malaysia is for pre-order.Galaxy S23 Ultra Price in MalaysiaThis is also one of the factors that many are considering, as a flagship smartphone usually starts around RM3,000 and above.But nowadays, people just trade in older models or take on a new telco contract to get the latest smartphone in instalments. This way, you don't need to fork out RM5,000 and above to buy it instantly.Galaxy S23 Price: Starting from RM3,899 to RM7,199.Probably S23 Variants AvailableGalaxy S23: 8GB of RAM + 256GB Galaxy S23+: 8GB of RAM + 256GBGalaxy S23 Ultra: 12GB of RAM + 256GB/512GB/1TBThe speculated colours for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23. Photo PhoneArena.My ReviewsBefore we end, you can also look at my smartphone reviews, including the current Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy Fold 4 and many other Samsung flagship models.And, for those who are into smartphone photography, you can also check out my Galaxy Z Fold 4 Photography review.That special edition was done inside the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mulu and Niah National Park in Sarawak in 2022. Then I had a smartphone photography exhibition at KLPF 2022 a few weeks later.Conclusion to Galaxy S23 Ultra MalaysiaAnyway, for those who are into whole smartphone photography, please register at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Malaysia to get to know all the details about Samsung's next-generation flagship smartphones, including their features, specifications, pricing, availability, and pre-order information.And finally, this could be the fastest and most advanced Andriod smartphone in the market when launched, if the rumours above are all accurate. But then again, let's wait till they fully announce the Galaxy S23 Ultra during Galaxy Unpacked 2023.

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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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HomeBangkok

Sunset Dinner at Chao Phraya River

byMalaysia Asia
-March 31, 2023

Over the years, I've been to Bangkok several times; even before the Covid-19 pandemic, I would travel at least 4-5 times a year, but I've never seen a lovely sunset here.Therefore, in February 2023, I went for a lovely sunset dinner at Chao Phraya River and at Savoey Restaurant at Tha Maharaj pier.Sunset Dinner at Chao Phraya RiverOk, fair enough, but I have never heard of Tha Maharaj and all this while, I only knew of Asiatique Riverfront in Bangkok. So, challenge accepted! I needed to visit this new place.Getting here was relatively easy; now, with Grab Thailand available, it was just a click of the phone, and a car was available in under five minutes.A view of the Chao Phraya River from Tha Maharaj Pier.The journey from my hotel in On Nut took around 40 minutes, with traffic, but after so many years, I have gotten used to the Bangkok traffic now.So, my destination was Tha Maharaj, but I was also recommended to dine at the Savoey Restaurant here because it had one of the best sunset viewing decks.Savoey Restaurant at Tha Maharaj.Arriving at Tha Maharaj, there were signs leading to Savoey, located on the second floor of the area. There were several cafes, restaurants and bars here, which were relatively easy to find.Before going to the restaurant, I passed a small local Thai bazaar, where vendors sold local Thai handicrafts among several commercial items.The restaurant manager, who spoke simple English, greeted me and was led to a table by the riverside. The restaurant offered two sections - indoor and outdoor-covered dining.The menu arrived, and the giant river prawns were highly recommended by the staff and my friend in Bangkok. And, of course, I ordered those because they are locally sourced from around Thailand.River prawns freshly grilled per order.My interesting dinner spread was pure and authentic Thai food.Massive grilled river prawns facing the Chao Phraya River.Thai-style spring rolls.A freshly grilled Thai river lobster.Placed perfectly for photography.My dinner was a mixture of seafood, chicken, vegetables and Tom Yum Goong, a must-try for anyone visiting Thailand.The best part was dining by the riverside at Tha Maharaj while waiting for sunset and watching the riverboats pass by.The taste was truly authentic, as it is challenging to find good Thai food nowadays due to too many businesses opening and trying to be different by offering Thai fusion.At Savoey Restaurant, I was impressed with the high quality of food they serve here, namely the river prawns and lobster, which are delivered fresh almost daily.The cooks in the kitchen also get my salutes as they are genuinely passionate about preparing the dishes according to how they should taste.As soon as the sun had set, the colours were romantically beautiful, well, not the best I have seen, but better than any other normal day.I took several photos with my Galaxy S23 Ultra and my Huawei Mate 50 Pro to see the comparison, and both performed equally, giving a lovely warm hue and tone for the sunset.By then, dinner had concluded, and it was time to leave and head back to Cross to Vibe, the hotel where I was staying in the outer core area of Bangkok.Photos of Savoey Restaurant at Tha MaharajThe entrance to Savoey Restaurant at Tha Maharaj.Sunset dining at Savoey Restaurant, Tha Maharaj.One of the photo-taking spots at Tha Majaraj.View of the Chao Phraya River during sunset. There are much better days than this too.The view from Savoey Restaurant on the second floor.Savoey Restaurant Tha MaharajAddress: ตึก G ท่ามหาราช Maha Rat Rd,Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon,Bangkok 10200, ThailandPhone: +66 86 341 8472For those who want to pre-book that riverside view, I strongly recommend you make reservations with Savoey Restaurants Bangkok in advance.This is so that you can get the riverside and sunset view tables, which can be adjusted for single, couples or large groups.The location of Tha Maharaj along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.ConclusionIf you are also looking for a decent and authentic Thai seafood restaurant in Bangkok, check out Savoey in the city area, as they have two main outlets in the core area near central.So if you are still wondering where is the best place for a sunset dinner at Chao Phraya River, head over to Savoey Restaurant at Tha Maharaj pier.Of course, there are many other locations along the riverside, but judging from the overall sit-and-view experience, this restaurant is probably one of the better.

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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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HomeFood

Secrets of KL Food, Art and Cocktail Tours

byMalaysia Asia
-February 06, 2020

Kuala Lumpur city has always impressed me in many different ways, but on a recent exploration, I have to admit that I was totally out of touch with KL city and what it has to offer in terms of tourism, entertainment, and nightlife.

This unique story starts with me taking a specialized experience called Secrets of KL Food, Art and Cocktail Tours which is created, managed and operated by Simply Enak, a local food tour company in Malaysia.

Secrets of KL Food, Art and Cocktail Tours

So, you may be wondering what is this tour about, and let me share my experience on attending this so very unique tour which is what Kuala Lumpur city needs right now.

Pauline from Simply Enak and her guests at the start of the Secrets of KL Tours.

Don't get me wrong, but there are a ton of tours available in KL but all of them are the commercial tourist type of tours.

You usually come across the usual KL city tour, Putrajaya tours, Batu Cave tours, and the list go on.

Simply Enak, a pioneer in the Malaysian food tours, has been operating the general KL Food Tours for many years now and has branched out to some different food tours in Malaysia.

Pauline is the mastermind behind this setup and her passion for sharing the wonders of Kuala Lumpur through food and culture made her come up with this unique idea.

Simply said, the objective is to bring visitors to experience a different side of Kuala Lumpur just as the sun sets in the city.

Exploring Petaling Street's Local Food and Culture Scene

Petaling Street's south entrance arch in Kuala Lumpur

The Secrets of KL Food, Art and Cocktail Tour starts at 4.15 PM by meeting up with the licensed tour guide at the Pasar Seni MRT Station, which is located in the Petaling Street or Chinatown KL area.

The tour actually starts at the MRT Station by viewing some of the creative artwork or murals that are painted in the station.

These murals tend to reflect a very modern contemporary art showcase of traditional Kuala Lumpur and truth be told, they are quite interesting to look at.

Exploring Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown on foot is part of the tour.

From the train station, the four-hour tour starts on foot and heads towards Jalan Tun H.S Lee, where Pauline introduces the various Chinese and Indian temples along the way.

After the short walk along Jalan Tun H.S Lee and exploring some of Kuala Lumpur's old businesses, Pauline makes a stop at one unique shop selling the world-famous durian puffs.

She patiently explains how the unique fruit can be made into many other desserts and opens up a tasting experience for the group, which is, of course, something I wanted to try.

One of KL's Chinese Restaurants is along the tour route.

On the way back, she points out various popular local Chinese restaurants, one that is over 50 years old and still attracting locals and some curious tourists.

Along the way, Pauline never seizes a moment to keep the group entertained with her interesting facts and information that is done casually.

This makes the tour less tiring and more interesting due to the constant information being shared along the walk.

Inside the Beryl's Chocolate Shop at Petaling Street in KL.

Our next stop is, of course, something that recently opened at the Southern end of Chinatown and the place is called Beryl's Chocolate Story, which is a chocolate museum, cafe, and shop combined in one concept.

Inside this unique chocolate shop, Pauline will explain the different types of chocolates which of course include the famous Malaysian Cocoa chocolates.

A tasting is done with some of the unique chocolates while one of the staff there will continue to share valuable information about the type of chocolates.

Beryl's Durian Chocolate, a must by as a souvenir from Malaysia.

Don't be surprised when you see Durian Chocolates being sold here, and if you are a huge fan, these can be bought as souvenirs from Malaysia.

Beryl's has been a local household name for chocolate since 1995 and only recently, they have moved towards a more international name.

Kwai Chai Hong or Prankster Lane at Petaling Street, KL.

A quick tour of this place then leads you to the next place located just behind the Beryl's Chocolate Shop and is also one of KL's new tourist attraction called Kwai Chai Hong or Prankster Lane.

This beautiful heritage row was preserved and refurbished to acknowledge what Petaling Street used to be like back in the good old days from the 40s to the 60s.

While here, Pauline or your guide will give you a more verbal explanation of how this place got its unique name.

And if you love photography or want to get a nice memorable picture of your Secrets of KL tours, this is one of the places to do it.

Speakeasy Cocktail Bars in Kuala Lumpur

The beautiful and rustic interior of the Attic Bar in Petaling Street.

After a light dinner and dessert and a short walk, our next stop is one of Kuala Lumpur's hidden speakeasy bars called The Attic Bar.

This is one of the many little speakeasy bars that have mushroomed in the last two to three years around Petaling Street.

Getting to the bar is an adventure by itself, where you walk through a hotel, then climbing up two floors using an antique cast iron spiral staircase before going through a wooden door and then only arriving at the attic of the building.

Once up here, you will be pretty much impressed with the beautiful decoration of the bar and walk towards the outdoor section where the complimentary cocktail will be served to you.

Do not worry if you don't take alcohol or a Muslim traveller visiting KL as Simply Enak can arrange for a mocktail and pork-free food selection on the tour.

Local Food Experience Tour in Kuala Lumpur

Claypot Chicken Rice, just right for a KL Foodie Tour.

From the evening cocktail tour, you move up towards the main Chinatown area where a mandatory stop to sample one of Malaysia's popular Chinese hawker food called Claypot Chicken Rice.

Here, guests are treated to a large bowl of the dish, which is cooked openly over a charcoal fire. Pauline briefly explains how this dish came about before placing the order.

From there, we were brought into the main Petaling Street shopping area where Pauline introduced us to the local street dessert stall selling Tai Kao Meen (Peanut Turnover) and Apom Manis or Soft and Sweet Pancakes.

Of course, we were treated to sample some of these popular Malaysian desserts which are done by this old Chinese uncle, who has been selling these for over 30 years.

Pauline explains the different types of local Chinese biscuits during the tour.

From the dessert stall, a short one-minute walk brings us to one of the oldest traditional biscuits and cake shops in Petaling Street called Fung Wong.

This traditional biscuit shop is now in the fourth generation serving some of the best freshly baked biscuits and cakes in Kuala Lumpur.

The tour continues through Petaling Street or Chinatown KL with Pauline leading you through the many stalls along the way. Vendors will call you to see their wares but we did not make a stop.

However, if you see something that you may be interested in, please do let Pauline know as she can help you negotiate the price of the item.

RexKL, a Heritage Building Revived for Today's Lifestyle

The entrance to RexKL in Petaling Street.

We end the tour at RexKL, one of the latest attractions in Petaling street where an old abandoned cinema was refurbished to cater to the lifestyle travellers.

This multi-store concept building houses various concept stores, a unique food centre and of course one of the popular speakeasy bars called Modern Madness that sells very unique craft beers.

Pauline introduces us to some of the strangest craft beers which will definitely impress any beer drinker. A paddleboard of craft beers is served complimentary and we get to try some of these beers.

The menu at Modern Madness Craft Beer Bar changes from time to time, hence when you are there, you will see what is available. I would recommend trying the Kopi Stout and Assam Boi Beer.

And if you are not a drinker, not to worry as Pauline can easily order a non-alcoholic drink for you. Our group sat down nearby and thus the tour was concluded.

Some of the unique craft beers served at RexKL Craft Beer Bar.

Conclusion

I have to say that this KL Secret Tour experience was totally unexpected, even as a local hailing from Kuala Lumpur, we often tend to overlook our own little backyard.

There are many little hidden gems that we don't see, but others may see, and Simply Enak's Pauline has a strong eye for things like this.

Her dedicated passion and a strong command of English makes the tour so comfortable and worthwhile, that even I could not pull something like this off.

Pauline is one of the most passionate persons I have met in terms of sharing her hometown experiences.

For anyone visiting Kuala Lumpur and wants to experience a very unique and interesting tour, you can contact Simply Enak and they will arrange everything for you. You can also Whatsapp or call them at this number: +6017-287 8929.

Simply Enak has a dedicated team of tour guides, that are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, and have been doing specialized food tours in Kuala Lumpur for almost a decade.

They are one of the highly recommended companies for any specialized food tours due to their passionate nature in sharing the best of Kuala Lumpur.

Pauline of Simply Enak takes some time to pose for a photo.

They also operate a Penang food trail called Eat, Drink Georgetown, which takes you to discover the best food of Penang along with some of the cultural experiences along the way.

Therefore, if you are in KL or Penang, and has around four hours of free time, go ahead and experience the little secrets of Kuala Lumpur with the Secrets of KL Food, Art and Cocktail Tour.

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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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HomeAirAsia Flights to Tokyo

AirAsia X Narita Tokyo Flights Begins

byMalaysia Asia
-November 20, 2019

Great news for Japan travel lovers as AirAsia X begins its Narita Tokyo flights effective 20th November 2019.

The maiden flight D7552 departed KLIA 2 at 12.15 AM and is the first high-speed WiFi-equipped wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft for AirAsia X.

AirAsia X Narita Tokyo Flights Begins

Passengers on board the inaugural flight to Narita, Tokyo

The four times weekly return services will deliver over 150,000 additional visitor seats annually through Kuala Lumpur’s KLIA2 and Narita International Airports.

This flight route will also assist in boosting tourism and the economy ahead of Visit Malaysia 2020 and also the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 in a two-way benefit for Japan and Malaysia.

CEO Benyamin Ismail quoted;

“We are very proud to provide more options for our guests travelling to Tokyo, Japan, with our four weekly return services to Narita International Airport, complementing our existing services to Tokyo Haneda.

This new service signifies our commitment to accelerating our growth in Japan and we are confident the route will be popular, especially for guests exploring Tokyo and the neighbouring northeast region in Tohoku.”

“We wish to thank our airport, tourism and local government partners as well as the authorities for making this route a reality.”

The aircraft used is also the airline's first A330 aircraft to be equipped with high-speed AirAsia WiFi services.

The high-speed WiFi will allow guests to stream videos and connect with real-time social media updates 35,000ft in the sky.

For the inaugural flight, AirAsia BIG members on board were also treated to a complimentary 10MB internet plan.

About Narita Airport

Narita is the main international airport for Japan and is located just out of the main Tokyo Metropolis. From Narita, you can easily catch a train into Tokyo city while there are also express buses.

Previously in early 2019, I visited Tokyo and explored both airports where I wrote an article review on Narita Airport and also a comparison on Narita Airport and KLIA.

Water cannons welcoming the AirAsia X inaugural flight at Narita International Airport

AirAsia X Narita Tokyo Flight Schedule

The good news is that AirAsia X will be flying into Narita four times a week, and the arrival is perfect for Malaysians planning to visit Tokyo.

Midnight departures will see passengers arrive at 8.15 AM in Tokyo which gives them one full day to explore the metropolis.

Below is the AirAsia X Narita flight schedule;

The weekly flight schedule for AirAsia X to Narita International Airport in Tokyo.

Ticket Price to Narita, Tokyo with AirAsia X

For now, AirAsia is offering all-inclusive fares from RM539* for standard seats and RM1,499* for the award-winning Premium Flatbed between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo Narita.

Fares are available for booking at airasia.com or via the AirAsia mobile app from now until 24 November 2019, for travel through 28 March 2020.

Conclusion

AirAsia X is the largest airline group in Japan’s emerging great value, long haul travel sector, operating close to 110 flights weekly.

This includes 12 international and domestic routes to and from Japan and at the end of January 2020, travellers will be able to travel with AirAsia flights to Okinawa Island in Japan.

For those who have been planning to travel to Tokyo, you now have an alternate route as an option. The other Tokyo airport that AirAsia X flies to is Haneda, known as the Tokyo City airport.

While many travellers are also wishing to visit Tokyo to see the Sakura or Cherry Blossom in late March and early April, you have two airports to choose from.

As AirAsia X begins its Narita Tokyo flights, you have up to 24th November 2019 to book them with the promotional flight tickets.

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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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HomeDive Expo

Malaysia International Dive Expo 2023 (MIDE2023)

byMalaysia Asia
-May 11, 2023

This year, the Malaysia International Dive Expo 2023 (MIDE2023) will take place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.The 17th edition of the Scuba Diving Expo is scheduled for 26 to 28 May 2023 and will occupy Hall 6 at Level 2 of the new venue, MITEC. It was previously held at PWTC or World Trade Centre.Malaysia International Dive Expo 2023This is the largest dive expo in Malaysia for first-timers attending, and the event is bigger than in previous years. Still, it will also cater for the space needed to feature the latest products and services from local and international exhibitors from 14 countries.For the regulars, MIDE2023 has a new venue, and you can expect it to be the most well-attended event in Malaysia. The scuba diving event is well-reputed for its trademark resilience and a wide variety of top dive gear suppliers and international diving packages.MIDE 2023 Poster.Dive equipment vendors are plenty at MIDE.MIDE 2023 expo will feature more than 172 companies from Malaysia and internationally, with visitors from Australia, Brunei, China, Denmark, Estonia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.At the dive expo, the visit will see and experience the latest and greatest in scuba-diving-related products and services, new lines including sailing expeditions and various watersports.A speaker shares her favourite diving photos at MIDE.MIDE's founder and organiser, Ms Ness Puvanes, said the dive industry is resilient, having bounced back since 2021. Since then, the dive industry has enjoyed more interest, with the community growing. She added that the demand for boating and watersports has never been stronger.Ms Ness also shared that this year is breaking records with the number of exhibitors – there will be 220 booths set up for the expo.Lucky draw presentation at MIDE.MIDE 2023 New ExhibitorsThis year, the MIDE 2023 will be welcoming 69 new exhibitors, including major associations such as;Malaysian Sub-AquaMalaysian Underwater Hockey AssociationEco District AssociationLangkawi Development Authority (LADA)More and more manufacturers and distributors of sailboats, dive boats, car topper boats, rescue boats & kayaks at the show have also widened the interests of water enthusiasts visiting the expo.Some of the speakers for MIDE 2023.What To Expect at MIDE?Malaysia Airline Flight Discounts - MAS is the official airline partner for MIDE 2023 and offers visitors travelling to KL for the expo a 20% discount on their flights booked by 26 May. The promo code MHMIDE20 must be applied when booking flights through the MAS website.Dive Safety Partner - DAN World is MIDE's official Diving Safety Partner. DAN World offers not only diving accident coverage for divers but is committed to helping enhance diving safety in MalaysiaStaying Connected - Themed "Let's Stay Connected to the Ocean", this year, a major focus will be ongoing conservation efforts to keep the oceans healthy. NPOs will create SOPs for Dive Centres and educate the community on single-use plastic and pollution, the impacts of climate change on the ocean, protected marine life and many more projects.Face-to-face Networking - MIDE 2023 is set to welcome a host of business entrepreneurs, tourism boards, dive agencies, brand manufacturers and distributors who will utilise the platform to network and create new business opportunities and partnerships.A diving talk panel about cave diving at MIDE.Dive Talks - Visitors to the dive show will be hearing from the experts, including TV personalities, who will take the stage to share their knowledge and experiences in the water. Topics include cave diving, underwater photography, marine conservation, health, dive insurance, archaeology and more.Dive Education: By Teens for Teens - A special section on teens taking to the stage to inspire others in the sport and their personal conservation efforts in improving the environment.Scuba Diving Deals & Promotions - Visitors will have a chance to chat with dive operators and tourism representatives; and can take advantage of the wide range of products and services, including many exclusive deals on dive holidays, gear, courses and the latest technologies available today.Prizes to be Won - Visitors who spend at least RM300 will be entered into the Purchaser's Lucky Draw. Collectively, the dive holiday prizes are valued at RM50,000, including a grand prize on a live onboard worth RM22,000 are all up for grabs over the 3-day event.At a previous MIDE event in Kuala Lumpur.Malaysia International Dive Expo 2023 InformationDate: Friday, 26 May to Sunday, 28 May 2023Time:10.00 AM to 7.00 PMVenue: MITEC Kuala LumpurTickets: MIDE WebsiteContact: Tel: +603 79809902 or email at: info@mide.com.my  Social Media: FB, IG & TwitterHashtag: #MIDEEXPOMe scuba diving at the Secret Barge dive site in Perhentian Islands.Me having a close encounter moment with a hairy seahorse at Mabul's P1 Dive Site.For the record, I retired from scuba diving in 2018, and my last dive was a 2-week diving trip to Raja Ampat. After that dive, I hung up my diving equipment and called it a day.My last diving article was about MIDE, all you need to know, and that was done in April 2018 before I went to R4 in West Papua.ConclusionFor those who are into scuba diving, you will not want to miss the Malaysia International Dive Expo 2023 or MIDE2023 this May at MITEC Kuala Lumpur.This is undoubtedly the largest scuba diving expo in the country, organised by AsiaEvents Exsic (AEE). The expo expects to welcome more than 15,000 water enthusiasts and generate approximately RM25 million in sales over the 3-day event.

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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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HomeKTMB

Malaysia Steam Locomotive Train Experience

byMalaysia Asia
-June 06, 2023

Train fans will be pleased to know that a traditional Malaysia steam locomotive train experience will soon be available in 2024 at selected destinations in Malaysia.This news is a bonus in building up to Visit Malaysia Year 2025 as local train operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has joined forces with a local company called Great Leisure Sdn Bhd.Malaysia Steam Locomotive Train ExperienceA news publication announced in early May 2023 that the KTMB Steam Locomotive Train experience will start operating as early as January 2024.The concept will feature a classic passenger train hauled by a traditional steam locomotive and a traditional interior concept that will win the hearts of train tourism fans worldwide.The Tourism Heritage Steam Locomotive Train project is a unique collaboration between KTMB and Great Leisure Sdn Bhd and aims to attract local and foreign tourists to enjoy the beauty of nature along the railway line.A Class 56 steam train engine was seen somewhere in Malaysia.Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth will be the initial destinations for the steam train service before covering other destinations.The follow-up routes will let passengers enjoy the beauty of interesting tourist attractions along the railway line, especially on the forest route from Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, to Tumpat, Kelantan.Great Leisure's MD has also mentioned that the interior decoration of the passenger coaches makes full use of the craft produced by local talents, which is currently about 70 per cent completed.He also mentioned that passenger seats will feature a design concept inspired by legendary Malaysian actors and singers P. Ramlee and Saloma.The Class O 4-6-2 Steam Locomotive. Image from Steam in West Malaysia.Passengers can use the service as a mode of transportation to tourist destinations and the train as a venue to hold any event, including weddings.As for the KTMB steam locomotive train engine, there was no mention, but if I were to guess, it could be the KTMB Class O 4-6-2 steam locomotive, which was highly popular and known as the O Class.It won't be the American-built USATC 2-8-2 trains because those are defunct and probably scrap metal by now. Again I feel it's the O Class 564 series, one of which has been in storage.For more information, please visit the Malaysia steam trains and engines from back in the day, as there is much to learn for the train aficionado.One of the old Malaysia train maps.ConclusionFor now, no official photos or news were released at the time of this writing in May 2023, but once there are, I will update this article. You can also check KTMB for any other information about trains.Therefore, train fans in Malaysia and around the world, you can soon get on the Malaysia steam locomotive train experience and explore 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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HomeKuala Selangor

Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor

byMalaysia Asia
-January 08, 2022

A brand new tourist attraction called Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor opened up during the Covid19 pandemic in 2021. This is one of the new Instagrammable places many are now headed to.Kuala Selangor is an old fishing town that has gained popularity recently due to the famous Sky Mirror, a seabed that appears above water during low tide once a month during the full moon.The place is also well known for the Kuala Selangor Lighthouse, Bukit Malawati Hill and charming fishing villages around the Pasir Penambang area.Boat Cafe Kuala SelangorThe entrance to the boat cafe is shared with the Bagan Seafood Restaurant.Since this unique boat cafe opened, many people have been interested in who, what, why, where, and when. And I will do my best to share whatever information I have gathered since visiting here in late October 2021.This unique concept cafe is also owned by the famous No16 Bus Cafe in Sekinchan; however, the boat cafe caters to both day and night visitors.Because of the popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, this place attracts many people on weekends.Therefore, if you do not like crowds, plan to visit here on a weekday, namely Monday, when there are fewer people.Parking is available outside the restaurant area, but please double check and ensure you do not park in people's spots.What is the Kuala Selangor Boat Cafe?This is one of the must-visit places in Kuala Selangor.It is a large wooden boat refurbished into a multi-level cafe concept and does not sail. It is also parked permanently at the location, so do not expect cruises or trips.You enter via the starboard side into the boat's main deck, where the staff will greet you and ask if you prefer to sit indoors or outdoors.The main deck area has tables and a glass or glass flooring section showing the engine room under the floorboard.The area is air-conditioned and suitable for those who want to cool down or dislike outdoor heat. If you go outside, a small stair leads you to the upper deck, where the outdoor seating area is located.This is a popular area due to the open-aired feeling and almost 360-degree view of the surrounding area. There are high tables and also seating tables for sunset watching.A wooden ladder leads up the main mast to a crow's nest area on top of the boat, where you can view the entire area in full 360 degrees.This area is only accessible for two persons at one time for safety reasons, and up there, you get to take some beautiful photos.What is Served at the Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor?The basic menu of the boat cafe.For food and beverage, there are limited choices but reasonable enough for lifestyle cafe hunters. Don't expect full meals, as this is not a restaurant but a cafe concept.Visitors can choose simple snacks like fries, chicken popcorn, cakes, Korean fried chicken and even a mini hotpot. Drinks include mineral water, coffee, hot beverages, soft drinks, soju and beer buckets.The Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor is not Halal for Muslims, but no pork is served here. They serve alcohol, but visitors can always order canned drinks or mineral water.When I visited around 4.00 PM, I did not order food, just drinks and walked around to take photos and video.Photos of the Boat CafeBelow are random photos of the boat taken with my Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy S10 Plus smartphones when I visited this place at the end of October 2021;This is the main entrance into the boat when you first walk in.The air-conditioned section is located inside the boat.A beautiful chandelier hangs in the captain's cabin of the boat.Visitors can dine in air-conditioned inside the main deck of the boat.The boat engine is seen through glass flooring.The upper deck of the boat cafe provides an outdoor experience.Iced Latte and soft drinks.Monkey God Temple is seen from the boat.Kampung Pasir Penambang is seen from the top of the boat cafe.Thye also sells Sky Mirror tours from the boat.Inside the captain's cabin of the boat.A simple bar counter is available on the upper deck of the boat.The toilets are very clean and unisex.The front of the boat is where a cute red aeroplane lies.A bird's eye view from the Crow's Nest is high on the boat.The Kuala Selangor Monkey God Temple is on the right.A cute red aeroplane is one of the props on the boat deck.Where is the Boat Cafe, Kuala Selangor?The unique boat cafe is located in Kuala Selangor, by the riverside, just after the bridge heading towards Pasir Penambang and Sekinchan.If you drive along the main Jalan Klang-Teluk Intan, you must pass the Kuala Selangor old town area where Bukit Malawati is.There is a bridge over a river, and you need to keep left after the river and enter Jalan Feri Lama and drive to the end where Restoran Makanan Laut is located.They share the same entrance area and are at the side of the Monkey God Temple, Kuala Selangor, while another landmark is the Qi Jian Xian Shi Fo Zu Gu Miao Temple.Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor Address:10, Jalan Feri Lama, Pasir Penambang,45000 Kuala Selangor,Selangor, Malaysia.Tel: +6 016-223 4788Business Hours:Monday, Thursday & Friday: 3.30 PM to 10.30 PMSaturday & Sunday: 11.30 AM to 10.30 PMClosed: Tuesday & WednesdayThe boat cafe.Video of the Boat Cafe in Kuala SelangorConclusionIf you plan to visit this part of Selangor for a day trip or other locations like Tanjung Karang or Sekinchan, this Boat Cafe Kuala Selangor is highly recommended to see in the evening.Be prepared to take some lovely photos, and if things work out well, I will start organising a Kuala Selangor Photo Walk for anyone interested.

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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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HomeEvents

PATA Destination Experience Forum Mart 2023

byMalaysia Asia
-February 12, 2023

The Pacific Asia Travel Association is set to organise the PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 (PDFM 2023) in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, from 21 to 23 June.The event, supported by Sarawak Tourism Board, comprises four components: destination experiences, a conference, a B2B adventure travel trade show with 1-1 meetings, and various networking opportunities.It provides an opportunity for tourism professionals to gain first-hand practical experience and knowledge in marketing and managing attractions, tourism products, and services that are relatively unknown by both trade and consumers to a global audience responsibly and sustainably.PATA Forum Mart 2023Kuching City is chosen for PATA Destination Experience Forum Mart 2023.Focusing on Ecotourism, Gastronomy Tourism, Adventure Travel, Wellness (particularly Sensory Nature Activities), Destination Management and Digital Marketing, the three-day programme begins with a one-day destination experience through a choice of technical tours, followed by a conference and travel mart spread across two full days, as well as various networking opportunities throughout the programme.With gastronomy tourism being one of the themes of the PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023, Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said the theme suits Sarawak perfectly, as its capital city Kuching was recognised as the "City of Gastronomy" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 's Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2021.Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor also said;“Sarawak’s diversity in ethnicities and culture has created a wealth of authentic dishes and food that are staples of the indigenous households, passed down through generations, making Sarawak not only a destination rich with nature and culture but also a place to enjoy and relish in a variety of local foods.”PATA Chair Peter Semone said; “At PATA, we continue to focus on bringing greater depth and value to our events, understanding that, more than ever, delegates are more focused on four aspects when attending events: trading, networking, learning and socialising.As the travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region is seeing positive signs of recovery, the inaugural PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 looks to highlight the best practices in destination marketing and destination management in support of a responsible and sustainable recovery for the region. We all look forward to welcoming you to Sarawak, Malaysia.”The year 2022 has been a thriving one for Sarawak tourism as the industry has seen a substantial surge in tourism arrivals since the region opened its international borders in April 2022, with the rise of "revenge travellers" ticking off Sarawak from their wish list and the increasing demand for ecotourism-based destinations, such as national parks and nature reserves, post-pandemic.Kuching is the capital city of Sarawak, Malaysia, located along the southwest tip of the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. A vibrant city well known for its immersive culture, adventure, nature, food, and festival elements, it makes you feel at home away from home.Visitors can enjoy pristine rainforests, meet gentle orangutans, spot the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, check out the second largest museum in Southeast Asia, the Borneo Cultures Museum, and find the rare proboscis monkey endemic to Borneo at the oldest national park in Sarawak, Bako National Park.The program.Conclusion to PATA Forum Mart 2023Registration is now open for buyers, sellers, and conference delegates. Interested delegates can register now, enjoy a Super Early Bird Rate, and receive a 15% discount on registration fees until 15 February. Afterwards, delegates can enjoy an Early Bird Rate and receive a 10% discount until 15 March.Following the event, delegates can extend their stay and visit the Rainforest World Music Festival, which takes place from June 23-25. Event delegates will receive complimentary access to the festival's first night on 23 June and a discount on tickets to access the entire event during the weekend of June 24-25.For more information about the event, please visit the official PATA Forum Mart 2023 website or email Events@PATA.org.

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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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HomeBakelalan Bird Watching

Bakelalan Bird Watching Trip Report

byMalaysia Asia
-May 14, 2019

One of the few places that have been getting some bird watching attention is no other than the highland village of Bakelalan in Sarawak, Borneo. This is my Bakelalan birdwatching trip report for the serious bird watchers, done in November 2018.

First, Bakelalan or Ba'Kelalan, is a Lun Bawang tribe village located in the northeast highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is also in the district of Lawas, which can be easily accessed from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah or Miri in Sarawak.

Getting here is quite a challenge, but then again, not complicated. However, for bird watchers or photographers, you can take a flight or even drive overland, passing the famous Paya Maga Wetlands.

Bird Watching Trip Report For Bakelalan

Birding in Bakelalan is combined with some adventure and amazing outdoors.

My bird watching expedition here was a cross-border initiative involving the Sarawak Tourism Board and the Borneo Bird Club from Sandakan Sabah.

This was more of a birdwatching inspection trip to initiate cross-border birdwatching tourism between the two states of Malaysia and Borneo.

Our journey started from the town of Lawas, where the Borneo Bird Club flew in from Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu into Miri and then caught a MasWings flight into Lawas.

I was the only one that flew in from Kuala Lumpur into Miri and then caught a similar flight into Lawas, where we all met up to continue our journey overland using a couple of 4x4 off-road vehicles.

Bukit Demaring view point, on the way to Bakelalan

From Lawas, it takes around five to six hours overland through old logging roads, which is not that bad, considering we left as early as 7.00 AM and reached Bakelalan by 1.00 PM.

Along the way, we made a couple of stops to admire the majestic view of the Maligan Highland Range, which is highly recommended for anyone using this route.

One particular stop is called the Bukit Demaring viewpoint, where you can see the beautiful highland range stretch as far as your eyes can see.

One main stop was for lunch at a small licensed logging camp, where a local cafe served coffee, tea, noodles, and even rice.

The signboard at the entrance of Paya Maga IBA in Lawas

Paya Maga IBA in Sarawak

Along the way, we passed the much talked about bird watching spots called Paya Maga, an Important Bird Area or IBA.

Paya Maga was designated as an IBA in 2010, and it is here where you can spot the endemic Black Oriole, which many birders want to see or photograph.

We did not do bird watching in Paya Maga for this trip, as our mission was to explore Bakelalan and its surroundings. Hence, we stopped to take photos of the entrance area only.

Me (the writer) attempting to make some natural salt at the Bakelalan Salt Factory

Visiting the Bakelalan Salt Factory

As we got closer to Bakelalan village, we made a stop at the Buduk Bui Salt Factory, which is recommended for anyone wanting to see how the local highland salt is processed.

Bakelalan is home to several natural salt wells, and the natural saltwater is pumped into a processing hut, where it is boiled over a wood fire until the salt is formed.

This part of the trip was more of an understanding of what the Lun Bawang people do in the highlands.

Again, the locals here are a farming and agricultural society; hence it is good to visit the Bakelalan salt factory when you are here.

The village of Buduk Nur seen from a nearby hill in Bakelalan

Buduk Nur Village in Bakelalan

We arrived in Buduk Nur around 2.00 PM, the main village in Bakelalan, where the small airport is located. We met our host and bird guide, Cikgu Sang, or Teacher Sang, a school teacher in Bakelalan.

After meeting his acquaintance, we adjourned by foot to his beautiful home located smack in the middle of the village. His wife, Julia Sang, welcomed us at his home, and we were treated to some home-cooked food.

Stories about bird watching filled the air while many questions were being thrown at Cikgu Sang, namely about one elusive bird called the Dulit Frogmouth (Batrachostomus harterti).

This is the one endemic bird that can only be seen around Bakelalan, and many bird watchers and photographers from around the world come here to see this nocturnal bird.

On our arrival day, we just hung out at Cikgu Sang's lovely home, settled into our simple and comfortable rooms, and just prepared for the following day of bird watching.

Birding from the local roads around Bakelalan with Andrew Saini, Cede Prudente, CK Leong and David Tseu

Day One - Birding in Bakelalan

When we started early in the morning, we took two 4WDs towards a hillside road on a higher elevation overlooking Bakelalan. This was a supposedly new road linking Bakelalan to Bario, the sister village.

Reaching our stop, we gradually made our way down on foot and checked the birds in the canopy tops. Several spiderhunters, flowerpeckers and mid-sized birds were spotted.

The walk was easy as it was downhill, and the cooling weather made it fun and enjoyable. This is one of the plus points of bird watching in the highlands.

We chilled out at the Cikgu Sang's beautiful homestay in the afternoons, exchanging birding information and casual talks among the group.

A Black and Crimson Oriole perched behind some leaves.

Come 4.00 PM, we head out to one of the most common sites where the Dulit Frogmouth is usually spotted. This is about 10 minutes drive from the main village of Buduk Nur.

After the sun sets, our callings start, and we wait with excitement. No response and we call again. Still no reply, and after about 30 minutes, we move to another spot to repeat the call.

Well, Cikgu Sang mentioned that the Dulit Frogmouth may be nesting or with a baby; hence it may not show. Thus we decided to call it a night and head back.

The trek up and down Pa' Sarui Hill in Bakelalan. Buduk Nur is in the distance

Day Two - Birding in Bakelalan

Same as day one, we started early with the trucks, and this time around, we went to Pa' Sarui Hill and its vicinity. This is also where the famous Bakelalan Owl House is located at.

The journey here requires you to walk through paddy fields and then cross a small stream leading to the beautiful stand-alone wooden house.

Once you reach the Owl House, a trail from the back leads you up to Pa' Sarui Hill, which also doubles as one of Bakelalan's best viewpoints.

Owl House in Bakelalan
Several birds were spotted along the trek up, while fewer birds were at the peak. But as a bonus, the majestic view was breathtaking, especially in the late morning.

The trail up is considered medium, but I would not recommend this trail if you have knee or walking issues. Please take note of this before going up to Pa' Sarui's viewpoint.

At the end of the day, the journey up the hill, spotting some birds and seeing the fantastic scenery was good enough for our group.

By lunch, we had gone back down and headed back to Cikgu Sang's home, and after that, we were invited over next door to see the last traditional Lun Bawang Longhouse, which was quite an experience.

Crossing streams to look for the Dulit Frogmouth in Bakelalan

Day Three - Birding in Bakelalan

Our final day of birding saw us returning to our original spot from day one to see if we could spot one of the much sought-after birds - Hose's Broadbill.

With luck on our side, after some calls, a couple of them did show up, but they landed in the thick bush; hence we managed to spot them through our binoculars.

As for bird photography, luck was not on our side due to the thick bushes. However, we were pleased to know that they are, in fact, there.

Our night session was the final, where we went out to look for the Dulit Frogmouth. This time, Cikgu Sang took us deep into a secluded area, crossing three streams and doing a bit of trekking.

The journey to seek the Dulit Frogmouth in Bakelalan

Reaching the spot, we set up the gear, waited for dusk, and started calling. Within minutes, a response was heard in the distance. The Frogmouth calls were closer but high up in the canopy when it got pitch dark.

Luck was not on our side, as we still could not spot it with multiple calls from the Frogmouth. But it was just there, about 10 meters up in the canopy.

Well, I can say that the Dulit Frogmouth is found in Bakelalan, and it doesn't mean you will be guaranteed to spot it. One theory was that it was the breeding season; hence they don't really show themselves.

My next trip to Bakelalan will guarantee that I will be seeking this endemic bird of Borneo, which is apparently spotted in several places around Bakelalan.

An Ashy Drongo spotted in Bakelalan

List of Birds Spotted in Bakelalan

Below is our checklist of birds we spotted in Bakelalan over the three days of exploring these beautiful highlands of Sarawak.

1) Hose's Broadbill
2) Black and Crimson Oriole
3) Oriental Honey Buzzard
4) Bat Hawk vs Rhinoceros Hornbill
5) Bornean Bulbul
6) Bornean Leafbird
7) Cinereous Bulbul
8) Bornean Barbet
9) Black-Thighed Falconet
10) Whitehead's Spiderhunter
11) Boobook
12) Whiskered Treeswift
13) Yellow-Vented Bulbul
14) Blue Eared Kingfisher
15) Cattle Egrets
16) Barn Swallows
17) Eurasian Tree Sparrows
18) White-Breasted Woodswallow
19) Chestnut Hooded Laughing Thrush
20) Temminck's Sunbird
21) Red-Necked Phalarope
22) Little Cuckoo Dove
23) Verditer Flycatcher
24. Mountain Serpent Eagle
25. Mountain Barbet
26. Blue-eared Barbet
27. Little/Malaysian Bronze cuckoo
28. Dusky munia
29. Chestnut Munia
30. Spotted Dove
31. Grey-rumped treeswift

A male Scarlet Minivet with an insect catch

The female Scarlet Minivet with another insect photographed nearby

As a bonus, during our birding, we actually did manage to spot some mammals, which are listed below;

1) Tufted Ground Squirrel
2) Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel
3. Bornean black-banded squirrels

The location of Bakelalan in Sarawak

Where Is Bakelalan?

Bakelalan is a highland village located in the Maligan Range northeast of Sarawak, Borneo. The town is also the closest to the border of Kalimantan, Indonesia.

For the locals, Bakelalan is nearer to Miri, Lawas or even Brunei. From Kota Kinabalu, it will take you about 9 hours to drive there, while from Bandar Seri Begawan, it will take less than seven hours drive.

Spotting birds in Bakelalan, Sarawak

How Long To Spend In Bakelalan For Bird Watching?
It is a common question that birders will be asking, and most think they can just travel in and out for this part of Sarawak.

In reality, the optimum time to spend in Bakelalan for bird watching would be four days and three nights. This will ensure that you get to spot the birds that you came for.

While many birders will want to also spot the Black Oriole, the trip will be broken up into two sections, one at Paya Maga and the other at Bakelalan for the Dulit Frogmouth.

Kevin from the Sarawak Tourism Board and Rona Sultan from Heart of Borneo Tours do weight checks at the Lawas Airport check-in counter.

 How To Get To Bakelalan?

The best way to get to Bakelalan in Sarawak is to fly into Lawas and then from Lawas to Bakelalan. This journey will require you to take two or three planes.

Please note that there are only two or three flights from Lawas to Bakelalan per week; hence you need to time your flights for the trip to Bakelalan.

Flying From Kuala Lumpur: Fly into Miri (Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia), connect to Lawas with MasWings, and from Lawas, connect to Bakelalan with MasWings.

Flying From Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: Fly into Miri ((Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia), then connect to Lawas with MasWings, and from Lawas, connect to Bakelalan with MasWings.

Driving back to Lawas from Bakelalan is a long journey but worthwhile in many ways.

Driving to Bakelalan

This would be a more accessible but time-consuming option as you may spend around 10 hours from Miri, Brunei or Kota Kinabalu.

However, driving gives you the flexibility to stop and enjoy the local lifestyle along the way and even do some ad-hoc bird watching.

Some bird watchers may prefer to do it this way as you can also make a stopover at the famous Paya Maga IBA, spending the night at the Merarap Hot Spring Resort.

Driving From Kota Kinabalu: From KK, you go south and pass Sipitang to the Sindumin Checkpoint. From there, drive to Lawas town, which is around four or five hours drive to Bakelalan using the old timber roads from Lawas.

The total time without checkpoints and stops from Kota Kinabalu: is 7 Hours, but we are looking at around a nine-hour drive with checkpoints and stops.

Driving From Brunei: From Bandar Seri Begawan, you drive to the Tedungan Immigration Post, then head to Limbang town, and to Ujung Jalan, then to the Mengkalap ICQ, and then to Lawas. From Lawas, it's a 4 to 5-hour drive to Bakelalan.

The total time without checkpoints and stops from Bandar: is 6.5 hours, but with visits and so on, it will take 8 to 9 hours to drive.

From Miri: Head to Sungai Tujuh Checkpoint, then to the Tedungan Immigration Post, then head to Limbang town, and to Ujung Jalan, then to the Mengkalap ICQ, and then to Lawas. From Lawas, it's a 4 to 5-hour drive to Bakelalan.

The total time without checkpoints and stops from Miri: Eight hours drive, but realistically, it will take you a good 10 to 12 hours.

Our cross-border team with Cikgu Sang (4th from right) and Julia Sang (3rd from right) with Rona (Right)

Conclusion

Bakelalan is one of the hidden birdwatching destinations of Sarawak and is slowly getting some recognition for some of the endemic birds found here.

Serious bird watchers have started coming here since 2015, and over the last few years, more birders have been making their way here.

While the accessibility may not be commercially feasible, it makes the entire birding experience more memorable. I have also done an article about the many things to do in Bakelalan when you are there.

With some of the notable Sabah birdwatching guides exploring this destination, it is now easier for them to bring in bird watchers who want to experience birding in Sabah and Sarawak.

Hopefully, this Bakelalan birdwatching trip report will provide additional information about this exotic birding destination. A huge thanks go out to the Sarawak Tourism Board for making this happen.
I would also like to thank Cikgu Sang and his beautiful wife, Julia Sang, for their kind hospitality during our stay there. And also to Rona Sultan from Heart of Borneo Tours for making our trip smooth and memorable.

If you have questions, please ask them in the comment form, and I will do my best to answer them. Otherwise, you can also follow my Malaysia birding website, Birdwatching.Asia, for more birdwatching information and reviews.

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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

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020

byMalaysia Asia
-March 03, 2020

It's that time again for the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 and what are the balloons to look out for? Every year, there will be a series of unique shaped hot air balloons on display and flight.

For this year, we can expect a better show and event as the organizers have always been improving the event to bring exciting hot air balloons to Malaysia.

Update March 6th - The Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 has been postponed to an unconfirmed date due to the Coronavirus or Covid-19 outbreak here in Malaysia.

For those who have purchased tickets, you are eligible for a refund, and you can do so by visiting the official My Balloon Fiesta website.

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 Quick Guide

One of the quirky hot air balloons in-flight.

As always, there will be a total of 25 normal and special-shaped hot air balloons from all over the world participating this year.

You can expect local and international balloonists, hot air balloons from a total of 13 countries participating in this year's fiesta.

Out of that, there are also normal shaped balloons from Spain, Japan, Belgium, Thailand, South Korea, Italy, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

A scene from last year's event, taken from the first hot air balloon in the air.

Must-Watch Events At Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Apart from the many events and experiences happening during the event, there are a number of them which are clearly not to be missed by the public.

Mass Ascension Event - This year’s main highlights include a Mass Ascension in the morning from 7.00 am to 8.00 am daily,

Night Glow Show - The night glow show is one of the most anticipated events during the festival where hot air balloons line up to ignite with the DJ music played.

Fireworks Display - A spectacular fireworks display will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 8.45 pm to 9.30 pm.

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Flight Video from 2019

What are the Unique Hot Air Ballons to Look Out for?

Most visitors love to come here and see some of the star balloons which are usually in odd and funny shapes. This year, you can expect the following;

Minion from the United Kingdom
Little Pirate from the United States
BigHug from Brazil
My Deerling from Canada
Blue Rooster from France
Light House from the United Kingdom
Owlbert from the United States

Where is Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Held?

The event has made its home at the Monumen Alaf Baru or Millennium Monument at Presint 2 in Putrajaya. This is where all the main ministry offices are located at.

If you are planning to self-drive here, just use waze or Google Maps and key in Monumen Alaf Baru or Millennium Monument and it will lead you here.

Location of the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Putrajaya.

When is Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta?

Date: 19 to 22 March 2020 Postponed to a later date
Time: 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM
Location: Monumen Alaf Baru, Presint 2, Putrajaya
Entrance: Free

What Kind of Tickets is available at the Balloon Fiesta?

The tickets for different experiences.

The general entrance to the event is free of charge as has been since days one. This is an initiative by the organizers to make it easy for all walks of life to experience.

However, those wanting an intimate experience, you can purchase Balloon Zone entrance tickets for different individual experiences.

There are three types of access tickets available for those wanting a more personal experience, and they are;

Launching Field Access - For the morning and evening balloon launch at the main field.
Night Glow Access - Access into the main balloon area in the night.
Tethered Balloon Rides - Twice a day rides to go up on a hot air balloon.

Conclusion

Every year, I make it a point to attend this festival as it is something out of the ordinary and different here. The mere sight of hot air balloons in the sky is something spectacular.

You can also take a look at my 2010 Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta review, which was done a decade ago. It shows how dedicated MyBalloon Fiesta is, even after 10 years.

If you have not attended this event, I highly recommend you do so, especially if you have kids or if you have nothing to do.

The Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is definitely considered as one of Malaysia's most interesting yearly event that has seen over millions of people attending.

If you have not attended, or have considered attending, perhaps this year is the year to do it.

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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

Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens Smartphone Photography

byMalaysia Asia
-June 16, 2021

One of the places I love to frequent regularly is the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens or Perdana Botanical Gardens, a perfect place to escape from the city.This time around, I've taken the opportunity to bring along the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone to do some smartphone photography here.And to most people's surprise, they never knew that our KL Lake Gardens was actually gorgeous after seeing my photos on my social media.Perdana Botanical Gardens or Laman Perdana.Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens Smartphone PhotographyA little history about this beautiful place first - This massive garden measures 91.6 hectares or 916,000 square meters big. It was the brainchild of Alfred Venning and officially opened on 13 May 1889.The Perdana Botanical Gardens has undergone numerous names over the last century, and they are;1889 - Public Gardens1900 - Lake Gardens1975 - Taman Tasik Perdana2011 - Perdana Botanical GardensThis place also serves as one of the popular tourist destinations of Kuala Lumpur, and some of the tourist attractions located here are the;National MonumentDeer ParkHerbariumHibiscus GardenOrchid GardenSunken GardenKuala Lumpur Bird ParkKuala Lumpur Butterfly ParkNational MosqueIslamic MuseumThe Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, which I used for my photography here, is one of the latest models from the S series for 2021 and was launched in Malaysia in mid-January 2021.You should also know that there are a total of three S21s in the market right now; they are the S21 Ultra 5G, S21+ 5G and this one I am reviewing, the S21 5G.The Samsung development team has been continuously evolving the photography technology over the last few years, and it just seems to get better and better with each new model.As I am still using the Galaxy S10 Plus, I occasionally get to test out some of the newer models from Samsung, and the main thing I always look into is the photography aspect of the smartphone.Not to confuse the S21 Ultra 5G, this unit is much smaller and one notch lower than the other two Ultra and series. Therefore, the price is also way lower too.Photos of KL Lake Gardens with the Galaxy S21 5G PhoneBelow are photos taken around the KL Lake Gardens with the Galaxy S21 5G smartphone and in no particular order.Also, note that the photos displayed here are not edited at all. They are straight-from-the-phone and only resized to fit this article.You can also click on the photos to see them a little larger than here.Galaxy S21 5G Camera SpecificationsAre you ready for the technical jargon or nerd talk about the cameras on the S21 5G? If you are into this kind of number and words, check out the camera system of the smartphone.Primary Camera - Uses a 1/1.76" sensor with 1.8µm individual pixels, 12 million of them. In front of it is a 26mm equivalent focal length lens with an f/1.8 aperture, which features optical image stabilization, something everyone relies on.The Ultra-wide Camera - The 5G models only has fixed focus, and only the S21 Ultra has an autofocusing ultra-wide camera. The lens has a field of view of 120 degrees and an f/2.2 aperture, while the size of the 12MP sensor is 1/2.55", with 1.4µm pixels.A comparison of the three S21 models: Left is Ultra 5G, the middle is S21 5G, right is S21 Plus 5G.Third camera or Telephoto Lens - Comes with a slightly longer lens than the main module, around 29mm equivalent. Its 64MP sensor is used for hybrid zoom action with 'lossless' results up to the default 3x magnification level. This one, too, has a stabilized lens; its aperture is listed at f/2.0. Now, this is very impressive.Selfie Camera - Relies on a 10MP 1/3.24" sensor with 1.22µm pixels coupled to an autofocusing lens with a 26mm equivalent focal length and f/2.2 aperture.Where to Buy the Galaxy S21 5G in Malaysia? The best place to get this is, of course, from Samsung Malaysia. Or if you have some deal with your local telco company, you could probably get one from them with great promotion.The Galaxy S21 5G phones are available.ConclusionIf you are starting to get the hang of smartphone photography, you can also read my other smartphone review of various models. Each highlighting photography, and the best part, it's not technical reviews.You can also read my Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G photography review earlier in 2021 as I visited Batu Caves in Selangor for this.Overall, since the dawn of smartphone photography and how fast they advanced in the last five years, you will definitely be seeing more reviews from different models from me.I trust you have seen the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens smartphone photography pictures here, and you should roughly have an idea of what is achievable with today's phones.

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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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