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What About Kuching 2019

byMalaysia Asia
-October 09, 2019

What About Kuching or #WAK2019 is a month-long festival that is purely dedicated to the lifestyle, arts and culture scene of Kuching in Sarawak.

While Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, this laid-back city has been known to charm visitors due to the old-world splendour where modernization has not overtaken this part of Malaysia.

However, the Kuching people or Kuchingites, have dedicated a unique festival spanning 30 days that are held throughout various locations in the city area.

What About Kuching

WAK 2019 is the festival to experience in October

Conceptualized back in 2017, the organizers have created possibly one of Kuching's most unique festivals that has the potential to be one of the top festivals to attend in Malaysia.

Even the Sarawak Tourism Minister mentioned in a recent interview with the media that What About Kuching has the potential to grow into a top regional event similar to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

What is Happening at What About Kuching 2019?

WAK 2019 has lined up a total of 56 collaborating groups with 99 different events and more than 315 daily events taking place over 30 days from Sept 28 to Oct 27.

Depending on the day and time you are in Kuching, there will be something going on at selected venues in the city area.

There are workshops, shows, exhibitions and many other interesting events taking place. The main events are also best experienced on weekends on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Therefore if you are visiting on a particular weekend, do check out the event list for WAK2019.

You can also see the full list of events and activities at the What About Kuching 2019 Calander.

One of the interesting workshops at WAK2019 is the Tuak Brewing Workshop

Who Should Visit What About Kuching?

Generally anyone and everyone. This includes locals and also visitors to Malaysia, especially anyone who is visiting Kuching from September 20 to October 27, 2019.

When you are here, look for the brochures on WAK2019 which are available around Kuching city. Kuching International Airport is also one of the places where you can pick them up when you arrive.

Alternternatively, you can also search Google for 'What About Kuching' and get the calendar of events from the main website.

When and Where is What About Kuching (WAK)?

Date: Sept 28 to Oct 27 (30 Days)
Where: All over Kuching city
Website: What About Kuching

Ramsay Ong is one of the renown artists from Kuching, Sarawak

How to Travel to Kuching?

There are various flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu and other cities around Malaysia and Southeast Asia that fly directly into Kuching, Sarawak.

Once here, visitors can easily walk around the city area or if you are ambitious enough, rent a car to move around. Ride-hailing or e-hailing services are available in Kuching as well.

At one of the DJ sessions in Kuching

Conclusion

Personally, I feel that Kuching is still one of the best cities to visit in Malaysia, and over the last 10 years, I have been visiting here for many events and activities.

In the last decade alone, I have seen how moderately Kuching has grown, and they are in no rush to keep up with other fast-growing cities in Malaysia.

This is something that I find very fascinating, that a city taking its time to mature without affecting the people, the culture and the overall charm of the place.

Therefore, if you have been planning or have plans to visit Kuching in October, do make it a point to catch some of the events or activities taking place for What About Kuching 2019.

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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 See Wildlife in Malaysia

Why Sandakan is the Best Wildlife Destination in Malaysia?

byMalaysia Asia
-January 12, 2021

Having visited Sandakan City numerous times in the last 12 years for my work, I have decided on writing this article about why Sandakan is the best wildlife destination in Malaysia.

You see, over the last decade, most visitors or tourists would love to visit Sabah, but a majority of them usually end up in Kota Kinabalu, or on the east coast side of Semporna, to access the islands of Mabul or Sipadan.

Due to the common visitor or traveller's timing, they would just opt for these two destinations, and only a handful would venture on a longer sightseeing experience in Sabah. I believe it is high time that this tourist mindset is changed, and I hope to contribute to this.

Sandakan - The Best Wildlife Destination in Malaysia

Sabah is not only about stunning mountains, beautiful beaches, exotic islands, and incredible seafood, as most people tend to think so.But when you look deeper into this part of North Borneo, you will find out that there is much more appealing to many different travellers.

While most travellers are accustomed to doing the five days to one week tours, they simply want to see the best of Sabah, resulting in visitors just spending time in Kota Kinabalu and some of the islands.

This article is more suited for those who love nature and wildlife. Therefore it will focus solely on that, and if you want something else, read this article on things to do in Sandakan for the general traveller.

Where is Sandakan?

A map showing where Sandakan is located in SabahBefore I continue, you should know that Sandakan or Little Hong Kong is located on the east coast of Sabah Borneo and is a six-hour drive or a 40-minute flight from Kota Kinabalu City.

Known as Sabah's Nature city, many come here for all kinds of nature and adventure experiences due to the vast choices for places to visit.

Sandakan is also known as Little Hong Kong, a history dating back decades and is currently one of the cities that is up and coming among the niche tourism genres.

Many come here to also experience some of the best food in Sandakan, where some of the dishes cannot be found anywhere else in Sabah or Malaysia.

Sandakan is also connected by flights from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu or KK, while those seeking a driving adventure can also drive from KK.

Where are the Places to See Wildlife in Sandakan?

There are many different places where some are located near the city area, while most of them require travelling to the destination. This means that you need to book a tour to do so.

While some backpackers may try to do this independently, you can, but it requires a lot of time, namely, public transport and walking.

Let me start with the closest wildlife attractions to Sandakan, and from there, it gets a little further. Note that if you stay in Sandakan City, you will not walk to any of the attractions.

The main entrance to Sepilok Orangutan Centre
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

This is probably the most famous wildlife sanctuary that that world recognition and is home to the Bornean Orangutans. Even Star Trek Discovery star Michelle Yeoh has visited Sepilok among the many famous people who have done so repeatedly.

Many people have claimed that the rehabilitation program conducted here is one of the best globally and is also the best way to see Orangutans in their natural habitat.

Sepilok is not a zoo and has special timed sessions to see the Orangutans being fed, once at 10.00 AM and the other at 3.00 PM.

The place is family-friendly, and numerous tour companies offer trips here from Sandakan City. A special volunteer program is also available, but by request and not walk in. If you have ever wanted to see Orangutans naturally, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is highly recommended.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Sabah Wildlife Department,

W.D.T. 200, Sandakan, Jalan Sepilok,

Sepilok, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

Tel: +6 089 531 180

Entrance: Adults - RM30, Children below 18 - RM15

Camera Fee (Personal) - RM10 per unitThe Bornean Sun Bear at Sepilok
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center

Just next to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is another world-class wildlife conservation centre called the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center or BSBCC, which specializes in the conservation and rehabilitation of rescued sun bears.

These are the smallest bears globally and have been seriously threatened by hunting, poaching and forest degradation, which has now reached an alarming level.

Opened in 2014 by passionate Malaysian biologist Dr Wong Siew Te, he has single-handedly struggled to do this passion project into what it is today. In total, there are about 40 sun bears there.

Visitors to Sepilok now have two places to explore with the Orangutan and Sun Bear centres side by side, and this has made both these places one of the most popular in Sandakan.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center

PPM 219, Elopura, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

Tel: +6 089 534 491

Hours: 9.00 AM to 3.30 PM

Entrance: Adults - RM31.80, Children below 18 - RM15.90

Camera Fee (Personal) - RM1000 for lens 500mm and above

One of the observation towers at the RDC in Sepilok
Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC)

Located just nearby the Sepilok Orangutan and Bornean Sun Bear Center are the Rainforest Discovery Center or RDC. This is one of the best places to see birds and smaller wildlife, where a massive one-kilometre steel canopy walk runs through the rainforest here.

The RDC is also best suited for day trips from Sandakan and is also children or family-friendly. This means that you can bring your kids here to learn about nature and wildlife as it is highly educational, with information found through the reserve here.

Rainforest Discovery Center
Address: Sepilok, 90715 Sandakan, Sabah
Tel: 089-533 780
Hours: 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM
Admission: Adults RM15, Kids RM7
Website: http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/rdc/

Monkeys crossing a manmade bridge at Labuk Bay
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Known as the best place to see Proboscis Monkeys up, close and personal, Labuk Bay is a sure bet to see these unique primates that are endemic only to the island of Borneo.

The surrounding location is a palm oil plantation, and the landowner created Labuk Bay as a conservation for the Proboscis Monkeys who were found to be living in the vicinity.

Since opening this sanctuary in 1994, tens of thousands of visitors and nature lovers have been coming here to see the monkeys. The location is at the Semawang mangrove forest, which is about 48km from Sandakan city.

There are special feeding times, which are done four times a day at two main viewing platforms. Platform A feeding time is 9.30 AM and 2.30 PM, while Platform B feeding time is 11.30 AM and 4.30 PM.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Address: Off Jalan Labuk, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah
Hours: 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Tel: +6 089 672 133
Tickets: Adults RM60, Kids RM30 (Non-Malaysians)
Camera Fee: RM10 per camera

Gomantong Caves, photo by Sabah TourismGomantong Caves

Gomantong Caves are not your regular cave visit but more of an educational experience about caves, bats, and birds' nest harvesting. This cave is located a little further out of Sandakan and is usually a half-day trip or a stopover for those heading to the Kinabatangan River.

These caves' beauty is home to one of the most popular bird's nest harvesting in Sabah. If you come on certain months, you can see the harvesters at work and using centuries-old technology.

There are two main caves here, the Black Cave and the White Cave, where both can be explored. Other than that, the cave formations, cave wildlife and the outsides of the cave is an interesting experience: spot orangutans, birds, red leaf monkeys and other wildlife outside the cave.

Gomantong Caves
Address: Off Jalan Sukau, Gomantong Hills, Kinabatangan, Sabah
Hours: 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Contact: Sabah Wildlife

Wildlife watching at the Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River

The ultimate place for wildlife watching in Sandakan and possibly in all of Malaysia. If you are a serious wildlife lover or photographer, the Kinabatangan is the place to visit. This mighty river is also the second-longest river in Malaysia, with a total length of 560 km.

There are numerous lodges and resorts located all along the Kinabatangan, and many tour companies in Sandakan sell all kinds of packages here.

The journey is via road to the river jetty and then by boat to your respective lodge or resort. All tours are conducted with boats, and there are some walking treks available.

A map showing the jetties along the Kinabatangan River

If you are staying deep inside, then your start point will be at the Lepit Jetty or the Sukau Public Jetty, and if you are going to Abai, you may just take a boat from Sandakan Abai.

There are many options to choose from for lodging, ranging from homestays, lodges, guest houses, and resorts. Most packages sold here are overnight to multiple days, but I would recommend spending at least three nights at Kinabatangan to fully experience this place.

Kinabatangan River
Lepit Jetty or Sukau Public Jetty, Off Jalan Sukau,
Kinabatangan 90200 Sabah.
Contact: Various travel agents in Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu.

A green turtle lays eggs by the beach.Turtle Island

One of the more unique wildlife experiences combined with a lot of conservation is Turtle Island or Pulau Selingan, off Sandakan City. This special experience allows visitors to spend a night at Turtle Island, observing sea turtles come up to the beach and lay eggs.

Visitors are also invited to help collect the turtle eggs and then re-bury them in the special turtle hatchery on the island.

And if your luck is good, you may even have the opportunity to release some of the newly hatched turtles from there. Overall this is an amazing experience for just about anyone, namely those travelling with kids.

Turtle Island (Pulau Selingan)

Off Sandakan City, Sabah

Tours: Various travel companies in Sandakan CityOne of the nature lodges in Sepilok, SandakanWhere To Stay In Sandakan?

There are numerous choices for nature lovers to stay in Sandakan, and in most cases, the accommodations would be out of Sandakan City and nearer to the nature places. However, you have various options, depending on the type of nature or wildlife package you choose.

Some of the popular places include Sepilok Nature Lodge near the RDC, the Orangutan centre, and the sun bear conservation. All of the places are within walking distance too.

And if you choose the city, try the S'kan Styles Hotel in town, one of the recommended places to stay.

If you are going to Kinabatangan, you will most likely book a package that includes your stay there, so there are also many options.

Flights take less than three hours from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan. Image from Google

How To Go To Sandakan?

To get to Sandakan, there are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur or from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Most visitors would fly in and spend several days here.

If you are in Kota Kinabalu or any other city around Sabah, you can also rent a car and self-drive to Sandakan. From KK city, various tour companies organize tours to Sandakan as well.

For the budget travellers, buses are going to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu and other larger cities all over Sabah.

Pulau Selingan or Turtle Island
Conclusion

Having been to Sandakan many times, I can easily say that this place is truly a nature lover paradise waiting to be discovered and explored.

If you are planning to visit, you can also take a look at some of the things you can do in Sandakan when you are here, as it all relates back to nature and adventure.

For those who love fast city life, shopping malls and an abundance of entertainment, Sandakan is not the place for you. Sandakan is more laid back and a tiny city that takes its time to mature.

After visiting this incredible place, you will know why Sandakan is the best wildlife destination in Malaysia, and you may even come back for more.

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Malaysia
Malaysia Wildlife
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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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HomeEating in Malaysia

13 Sarawak Noodles You Have To Try

byMalaysia Asia
-December 22, 2020

When you visit the Land of the Hornbills in Borneo, food is undoubtedly one of the things to explore, and here are 13 Sarawak noodles you have to try when you are there.

Most visitors will start in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, and the adventurous will travel north towards Sibu and then to Miri.

There will be many opportunities for you to sample some of the best local Sarawak food along the journey. Among them, some of the more unique Sarawak noodles are highly recommended.

If you notice, I am not naming restaurants or hawkers for most of them. When you are in the cities or towns, you can look out for them at various coffee shops, hawker centres, cafes, restaurants or even at some hotels. Below is the list of unique, exciting and different noodles to explore while in Sarawak.

13 Sarawak Noodles You Have To Try

This Kolo Mee is unique, with everything added inside.1. Kolo Mee

This is undoubtedly one of the most famous Sarawak noodles literally found anywhere in and around Sarawak, from villages to towns to big cities.Kolo Mee is an egg noodle served dry, in soup or even fried, and sold more commonly by the Chinese community.

However, due to this noodle's popularity, you can even find Halal versions of Kolo Mee sold at some Malay hawker stalls or restaurants.

Kolo Mee is predominantly served with roast pork slices known as Char Siew, but the meat is replaced with chicken or beef pieces for a Halal or pork-free version.

The price varies from RM3.00 to RM6.00 a bowl, depending on where you eat them in Kuching. In the main cities, prices are obviously a little higher than in the smaller towns or villages.Some of these hawkers have also taken the liberty to offer Kolo Mee Special, where they include many other ingredients like innards, prawns, etc.

Sarawak Laksa, one of the world-famous noodles2. Sarawak Laksa

After gaining worldwide attention from the late Anthony Bourdain, who visited Kuching and sampled this local favourite, more people know about the famed Sarawak Laksa dish.

While many will debate where to find the best Sarawak Laksa, I leave it up to the consumer's judgment, not based on one person's judgment.

To be very honest, Sarawak Laksa's taste varies from stall to stall. After years of visiting Sarawak and speaking to many locals, each has its own favourite laksa stall or restaurant.And do not be easily fooled to think that you can get a good bowl of Sarawak Laksa in Kuala Lumpur, as it is not the same thing. It is like comparing the Sabah Laksa with the Sarawak one.Sarawak Dry Laksa or Laksa Kering3. Laksa Kering (Dry Laksa)This one is rather special and different as it is a dry version of the famed Sarawak Laksa. Yes, a completely dried version like the typically dried noodles we order.While it has been done several times before, it never really took off as Laksa is Laksa and most people agree that it should always be soup-based.So, one fine day while I was staying in the Padungan area of Kuching, I ventured around here and ended up in a local coffee shop and noticed a stall promoting the Laksa Kering or Dry Laksa.Without hesitation, I ordered a bowl to find it attractive compared to the original. The mixture base is the Laksa sauce cooked until a dried paste.The noodles are then served with the dry paste at the bottom, and all you need to do is mix them together, and you have your Laksa Kering.If you are in Kuching, head over to Restoran Taipan Corner in Padungan and look for the Laksa stall in the coffee shop's front.The 'Oh-so-unique' Mee Belacan from Kuching4. Mee Belacan

This has become one of the most unique noodles that I have tried in Sarawak and possibly in all of Malaysia. A noodle that is complimented with a special belacan sauce, which is out of this world.

Firstly, belacan is a fermented shrimp paste and is an acquired taste for Malaysians. With that, not many people can accept this dish, including me.

The noodle is boiled and then complimented with a clear soupy belacan flavoured soup with fresh cuttlefish pieces and vegetables.

On top of that, belacan paste is added to the dish to boost the flavour, which totally blew my mind. I have only tasted the Mee Belacan twice and never again.

But I swear that some local Sarawakians love this special dish, which can be found in the Padungan area of Kuching. Trust me, this Mee Belacan is totally an acquired taste and not to be messed with.Mee Dawai, a local favourite in Sarawak5. Mee Tomato (Mee Dawai)
As the locals call it, another of Kuching's local favourites is the Tomato Noodles or mee tomato. Some even nicknamed this dish mee dawai or wire noodles due to its outcome after being served.

The Mee Tomato is a simple dish with its origins in the popular Cantonese noodle dish of Kung Fu Chow. Only the sauce is replaced with a strong tomato-based thick gravy.

The noodles are first deep-fried, and then the tomato gravy is cooked with chicken or pork pieces and then poured over the deep-fried noodles before serving.

You can find Mee Tomato at most hawker centres or some restaurants around Kuching and other cities or towns in Sarawak.

Is it nice? Being Malaysian, this dish is easily accepted due to the similarities of the Cantonese noodles and the sweet and sour dishes, so I recommend trying this in Sarawak.

The trick to getting a good plate of Mee Tomato lies in the gravy or sauce, as it should be a balanced thickness, not too watery or too thick.
The lobster noodles in Foochow style6. Sibu Lobster Noodles or Big Prawn Head Noodles

This noodle got me all excited, as seeing a river lobster or Udang Galah in a bowl of noodles is beyond our usual expectations.

Only in the city of Sibu in Sarawak will you chance upon this at a local coffee shop, and it is known to be a typical dish here.

Sibu is home to many Foochow people, and trust me, the Foochow people really know how to cook noodles. During a trip there, I was introduced to many different types of Foochow dishes, and this Udang Galah noodle was something I was totally fascinated with.

One of the local restaurants had this on the menu, and the price was based on the size of the river lobsters; on average, a bowl of this can cost anywhere from RM20 to RM40.

While that may be quite pricey for some, trust me if you are a visitor here, you have to splurge on this local favourite as the way it is cooked, and the sheer freshness of the river lobster brings this dish to another level.

You can find the Sibu Lobster Noodles around the main city area, specifically at local Chinese coffee shops or restaurants. It is best to go with the locals too.One of the well-known Kampua Noodles in Sibu7. Kampua Noodles

One of the more popular Foochow noodles is the Kampua noodles, found all over Sibu city in central Sarawak. However, in places like Kuching or Miri, you can still find them, but very few places sell this.

If you are looking for a famous Kampua noodle, you most likely have to visit Sibu to try this. While I am still on my journey to try more of these Foochow noodles, I will probably get more information by 2021.Also, a few so-called famous Kampua Noodles are found in Sibu, so the challenge is for me to look for them.
Kway Chap in Kuching8. Kway Chap or Kueh Chap

This is probably every meat lover's favourite, but finding the best Kueh Chap in Kuching is considered not easy. I have tried a few, and most of them are just average, but then again, what is normal?For a good bowl of Kueh Chap, one needs to contact a local foodie who knows where the good ones are located. Over the years, I have met many locals who have given me a different place.To date, the only acceptable and pleasant Kuey Chap is still at the Temple Food Court on Carpenter Street in Kuching. The price is not that cheap, but it is quite good on average.Mee Cangkuk Manis is usually mee hoon noodles9. Mee Cangkuk Manis
This is one of the more challenging dishes to find due to a lot of work to prepare this dish, and Cangkuk Manis noodles are worth hunting for when you are in Sarawak.Often called Sayur Manis, this vegetable noodle is usually fried with mee hoon or fine rice vermicelli and can be found at specific night markets or even coffee shops. However, the taste varies from place to place; some simply fry it for the sake of selling, and others passionately do this as a local favourite.And the worst part is I cannot even list down one place where you can get a decent plate of Mee Cangkuk Manis in Kuching. Maybe someone can help me out here.
A Halal version of the Kolo Mee Goreng in Kuching10. Kolo Mee Goreng

With Kolo Mee being a popular dish, it is only fair that there is a fried version of this, and there are many places that offer this option around Sarawak. Well, it's not super popular, but you can still get them at food courts.

Over the years of exploring Sarawak, I noticed that the Kolo Mee Goreng is commonly found among Malay food vendors. One of them is at Damai Central, just in front of the Sarawak Cultural Village.

The method is clearly straightforward, where they use the Kolo noodles to fry it, similar to a fried noodle style or Mee Goreng.Condiments are similar to fried Maggi or Indomee, but the noodles make it slightly different, and if you're lucky, you can ask to add some Dabai into it.
One of the interesting Foochow fried noodles in Kuching11. Foochow NoodlesAll over Sarawak, you will easily find Foochow people, and when you find them, there will always be unique Foochow food available. Among the popular Foochow food, the Foochow Noodles seem to get much attention from locals and tourists.Some of the Foochow Noodles are so interesting that they often taste out-of-this-world, especially with the type of cooking wine used.Overall, there are so many Foochow Noodles that it is hard to narrow them down; hence it is best to visit a Foochow restaurant or coffee shop and try them individually.One of the recommended places is Mee Kwong Cafe in Kuching, and they serve a mean menu of Foochow dishes here.Marudi Kuay Tiaw or Kuey Teow12. Marudi Kuay Tiaw (Kuey Teow)This is one dish that I totally went crazy for, not only because it is so hard to find but also because it is so normal but different.Marudi Kuay Tiaw is not easy to find because it is not something familiar that you can locate in Miri, Sarawak. Only the locals seem to know where to get this unique dish.Of course, if you visit the town of Marudi in Sarawak, you will have the opportunity to experience the Marudi Kuay Tiaw first-hand, and that apparently is the best.So, what makes this dish special? It is the thickness of the flat rice noodles, and it is double what we are used to. Imagine this dish with much thicker flat kuay teow noodles.My mission is to visit Marudi to try this, and the one in the photo above is actually taken from a house stall in Miri City.The 75-year-old handmade noodles in Miri13. Lo Shu Fen Miri (Loh Shi Fun)Famous in Miri and known only to locals, this noodle is called Lo Shu Fen or Loh Shi Fun and is hand made rice noodle with a 75-year history.The family that runs this shop is now in the third generation and does not seem to stop soon. The quality of the noodles is supreme because it is still handmade.The family has moved from their humble beginnings of a stall and a shop lot in the Pujut area of Miri, Sarawak.A typical menu is seen at a local Foochow stall in Kuching. ConclusionFor the record, I have also done a specialised Kuching food review using a Galaxy Note 10 Plus in 2019, and it features some of the more unique foods around Kuching.The above is a collection of real-time experiences by me after exploring Sarawak in the recent years of my travels.I have gone upriver into the interiors and explored many smaller towns and villages, yet there is still more to explore.During my exploration, I always make it a point to try out the local food from each area; hence I came out with this article on 13 Sarawak noodles you have to try.

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Eating in Malaysia
Eating in Sarawak
Food
Malaysia
Malaysia Food
Sarawak
Sarawak Food
Sarawak More To Discover

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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 Z Flip

Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 Price in Malaysia

byMalaysia Asia
-August 11, 2022

Since Samsung launched the latest Z series foldable smartphones worldwide on August 10 2022, many have been curious about the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 price in Malaysia.You should also know that these are the fourth-generation foldable phones from Samsung and are highly sought after by many. The launching of new Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4 foldable phones was unveiled during the August 10 Galaxy Unpacked event.Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 Price in MalaysiaIt is a no-brainer that the fourth-generation foldable smartphones are costly, as many improvements have been made over the last few years.Smartphones are no longer under the RM1,000 category unless you are a super beginner and just need a phone for messages and calls only.Mid-range and high-range smartphones cost anywhere from RM2,000 to RM10,000, depending on the brand and the specifications.Samsung is one of the leading smartphone brands worldwide and has invested quite a bit into its technology, resulting in some pretty amazing smartphones over the years.You should also know that I have been a day-one Samsung user since the early days of the Samsung Galaxy Note 1, and I am currently using the Galaxy S22.So, without any other writing drama, below is the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 Price in Malaysia;Galaxy Z Flip4, Fold4 and Galaxy Buds2 Prices in Malaysia.Please visit the official Samsung Malaysia website for more information, videos, and special promotions. You can also buy the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4 smartphones from there.As I have been actively using Samsung smartphones for years now, you can also read some of my Samsung smartphone reviews which I have done.I also have other smartphone reviews on my lifestyle blog, David Explores, which features more general reviews and news about smartphones in Malaysia.Galaxy Z Fold4 and Flip4.Galaxy Z Fold4 and its additional accessories.ConclusionNow that you have seen the list of prices, it is only when you want to upgrade to the new foldable phones by Samsung.On the other hand, many will wait for Malaysian telco companies to start their contract promotion for new phones. Again, these are the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 price in Malaysia.

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Samsung 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 S22

Smartphone Photography of Buildings in Kuala Lumpur

byMalaysia Asia
-January 15, 2023

I take a lot of smartphone photos daily, mostly just for self-satisfaction, and sometimes I enjoy doing smartphone photography of buildings in Kuala Lumpur.Why? Because Kuala Lumpur offers some fascinating and beautiful building architecture that feeds my hobby using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone.Smartphone Photography of Buildings in Kuala LumpurKL, as the city is fondly known, is home to several world-class skyscrapers and is relatively easy to move around with the mass transit services.The city of Kuala Lumpur often undergoes lots of construction.When I go for my smartphone photography in KL city, I usually take the LRT or MRT train from Petaling Jaya, where I live, as it is much more convenient.My first stop is always at the older part of KL at Petaling Street or Chinatown, where I will walk around for my smartphone street photography while looking for interesting building angles.From there, I will take the LRT train towards KLCC and explore that part of Kuala Lumpur, as you can also find many skyscrapers around the area.Below are random photos taken with my Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone on several occasions of visiting Kuala Lumpur city. Please click on the pictures to see them in full size as smartphone mode re-sizes them a little odd.One of my favourite technicolour murals near Central Market in KL.The Petronas Twin Towers is one of the most photographed buildings in KL.Dayabumi is one of the early skyscrapers of KL city.In some areas of the city, you can get shots like this when you look up.A distant view of the Kuala Lumpur City skyline.A lot of interesting buildings can be found all over KL city.Some buildings are simple, while others look futuristic.Some buildings provide interesting angles for architecture.The Petronas Twin Towers are hidden among other skyscrapers.TRX Exchange was now one of the latest skyscrapers to open in 2022.Looking up at the TRX Exchange.Beautiful architecture around the TRX Exchange.TRX Exchange 106 building in KL.One of the odd-looking building designs in KL city.Outside the Exchange 106 skyscraper.ConclusionIf you enjoyed this, please check out my other smartphone photography articles and photos I have taken over the years.I travel quite often, and I often use my Galaxy Smartphone to take photos, so keep a lookout for travel photos in 2023 with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, launched in February.Thanks for viewing my smartphone photography of buildings in Kuala Lumpur article. I would one day love to organise a special photowalk for this.

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Galaxy S22
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Galaxy S22 Ultra Review
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Photography
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Smartphone Photography
Smartphone Review
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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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HomeAirlines

Narita Airport vs KLIA2 Review - Part 2

byMalaysia Asia
-June 06, 2019

This is a continuation of my Narita Airport vs KLIA2 review, where the first part was published in May 2019. And I have also done a comparison article review of KLIA2 vs Bangkok Don Mueang.

My mission in doing these airport reviews is to help raise awareness about the state of our airport services, which many travellers take for granted. And by doing so, I hope to provide constructive feedback to the relevant parties - without bias and prejudice.

Narita Airport Review

Narita Airport Terminal 2 is simple and functional.

Narita Airport is the main international airport for Japan, and if you are flying in from around the world into Japan, this is where you will arrive in Tokyo.

Once known as New Tokyo International Airport, it was renamed Narita International Airport to avoid confusion with Haneda International Airport, also known as the Tokyo airport.

If you did not already know, Tokyo Haneda was voted No 2 and was just behind Changi International, which won the world's best airport from Skytrax 2019. View the World's Top 100 Airports of 2019.

While both airports are not the same in terms of aircraft handling, i.e. Narita is a full-service carrier airport while KLIA2 is an LCCT, you may be surprised to know that Narita does, in fact, open up slots for long-haul budget airlines at its Terminal 3.

As was reported in Part 1 of my article, Narita T3 was ranked World's No 2 Best LCCT, which many still need to learn about.

The walkway to Terminal 2 and 3 of Narita Airport

Narita Airport Operating Hours

Narita Airport operates from 6.00 AM till 11.00 PM, with a special allowance of one hour for landing after 11.00 PM for delays and bad weather.

I am sure you are surprised as I am because it is an international airport; I had assumed it would operate 24 hours for flights landing from all over the world.

The main reason for banning flights from 11.00 PM to 6.00 AM is the noise concerns of aircraft flying in and out around the town of Narita.

Considerations have been made numerous times, as the country's international airport should run 24 hours daily.

The wide check-in counter area of Terminal 2

Narita Airport Passenger Flow Convenience

Built just like any other airport, the passenger flow is perfect and easy to navigate, even if it is your first time there. The main entrance to the check-in counters is very near when you arrive via train, bus or taxi.

For train arrivals to T2 of Narita, you will need to make your way up to level three, where the main departure hall is located, and there are clear and precise signs directing you all the way up.

Signages are one of the most important things at airports.

Honestly, I could not ask for more accessible directions as there was no need to look lost and confused. This is something that the Japanese are very particular about - directions, and they are seen at eye level anywhere you are in the terminal.

Once you have checked in at the counter in Narita, your next move would be to do some last-minute shopping.

After eating and shopping, simply head back down, and you will arrive at the main international departure entrance. It's simple math, where you check in, explore, indulge and go for your flight.

Checking in at the Narita Airport

Checking in At Narita Airport

Whenever I check in at airports out of Kuala Lumpur, I always find the counter staff very helpful and always with a smile, and most importantly, professional in what they do.

Well, on the many times I have flown AirAsia, the counter staff is some of the best around when it comes to checking in. I have heard of complaints, but so far, so good.

Over in Narita, nothing was compromised, as their professional customer service ethics paid in full, and I could not fault them in any way.

Shopping at Muji to Go at Narita Airport

The counter staff maintained a pleasant face throughout my checking-in, even doing the traditional Japanese bowing after handing me my boarding pass.

This will always impress me - the immaculate Japanese hospitality that has been around forever.

I often wonder why this kind of hospitality cannot be emulated by other countries in my own country's airports.

Narita Airport Mall at Terminal 2

Shopping at the Airport Mall in Narita

When you stand in the middle of terminal two, at the main information counter, you can see everything in one glance, which is very convenient for foreign travellers.

And for me, I saw that the shopping and dining were located on the upper level (Level 4) of the airport.

This made it super easy for me to go up, explore, shop, and have a meal before heading back down to the departure gates.

The simple and straightforward shopping area at terminal two

The selection of shops here, I found it interesting due to a simplified layout and also a special section where it was dedicated to purely Japanese arts and crafts, which appeals to most tourists before leaving Japan.

The concept of having smaller stores or kiosks meant that they only needed minimal manpower to manage and operate.

Unlike KLIA2, there are many larger stores where two or more staff are employed. And when things are quiet, staff being staff, tend to talk to each other out of boredom, creating a very laid back and unprofessional image.

How can one go wrong at any Japanese 7-11 store?

For dining or quick meals at Narita Airport, having fast food, a convenience store, and a proper restaurant in one area makes total sense. You can go straight to the restaurant for a solid sit-down meal if you have time.

And if you are on the go, you can either get some fast food or visit the convenience store to grab some bites and drinks. I never looked deeper at the food and beverage layout, but seeing how the Japanese simplified it, made total sense.

However, at KLIA2, it is convenient, with too many choices. And the problem is that because there are too many, they are spaced out everywhere. This means there are about ten restaurants and cafes at the main departures terminal.

An example of a practical pharmacy is at Narita Airport.

And over at KL Gateway Mall, another 20 restaurants, cafes, and fast food spread all over the mall. This makes it difficult and quite a waste of time to walk around.

If you look at these logistics, it only contributes a little to the food and beverage retailers inside the airport boarding areas.Why? Because passengers have spent time walking around the mall, leaving only enough time to rush to the boarding gate.

Also, because some of the gates are located so far away, passengers will not have time to browse around the duty-free areas, leaving these shops with less business.Honestly, how often have you experienced rushing to your gate only to bypass all the stores along the way?

The shops along the boarding gate area of Narita.

Boarding Gate Areas at Narita Airport

Another thing I love about international airports is the journey to the boarding gates area; this is where you can spend all your remaining foreign currencies.

This means that most airports I have visited have a wide boarding area walkway.

The journey to the boarding gates is a breeze; you just need to follow the large, conveniently placed signs. Every corner you take, you will surely see signages that point you in the right direction.

The duty-free shops along the way to your boarding gate

At the start, you will enter the duty-free zone, where stores line both sides of the walkways, which I found to be narrower and lovely for two-way traffic flow.

Travelators or moving walkways are conveniently placed all the way to the end of the gates and are not too long.

The stores are found all the way to the gates, making the walk not tiring as the human eye would be glancing to see if there is something of interest along the walk.

Along my journey to the boarding gate, I found all kinds of shops, from souvenirs to apparel and cafes to coffee shops, which are all high quality.

One of the attractive duty-free shops on route to the boarding area

They usually don't cost an arm and a leg; hence, this was for the passenger's convenience to quickly shop and move along.

Sadly at KLIA2 in Malaysia, they tried to adapt this concept, but the overall boarding gate area was too narrow.

When you get further, there are no more shops, as they are all concentrated at the beginning of the gate areas, with low-quality stores, making the airport look bad.

Again, over at KLIA2, if you have already walked around the KL Gateway Mall, you would have limited time to explore the duty-free area.

The only thing on your mind is to reach the boarding gate area, so you will not miss your flight. This is a common occurrence among many travellers at KLIA2.

Just take a look at the KLIA2 walkways. It feels very empty and cold.

Final thoughts on Part 2 of my Narita Airport vs KLIA2 Review

As mentioned earlier in this article, what I write here is my own views based on my experience flying in and out of KLIA2. They are without bias and prejudice and hopefully will be noticed by the respective authorities.

If you are interested in airports and aviation, I have also done many other airport articles and reviews from Malaysia and Asia.

In this series's next and final part, I will discuss Narita T3, rated the World's 2nd Best LCCT by Skytrax. If you have any comments or feedback, I would love to hear them below.

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Airlines
Airport News
Airport Reviews
Airports
Aviation
Japan
KLIA
KLIA2
KLIA2 News
Malaysia
Malaysia Airport
Malaysia Airport News
Malaysia Airports
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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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HomeBorneo Jazz

Borneo Jazz Festival 2022 Virtual Tickets Open For Sale

byMalaysia Asia
-May 31, 2022

Sales for virtual tickets to the Borneo Jazz festival 2022 are now open at the festival’s official website jazzborneo.com!Themed “Jazz in The Jungle”, the 17th edition Borneo Jazz Festival will be held from 24 to 26 June 2022 in a hybrid format with the physical concert at Coco Cabana, Miri, to reach out to the greater jazz-loving community worldwide.Borneo Jazz Festival 2022 Virtual Tickets Open For SaleBorneo Jazz will be joined by an international community of jazz artists, rappers and DJs from France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, USA, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and China, not to mention the best names in Malaysian jazz.Music lovers can look forward to performances from DJ Estephe, Alemay Fernandez, Richard Jackson, Masia One, Afro Asia, Asiabeat, Steve Thornton, Matti Klein Soul Trio, Bunga and many more!For those who want to buy Borneo Jazz Virtual Tickets, they are priced at RM25 per viewing block – approximately an hour segmented into your favourite performers.For more information on the virtual slots, fans can check out BJ’s official website for updates on performances.Some of the performers for the jazz festival in Miri.Actual Event Ticket PricesThose attending the physical concerts can purchase BJ tickets starting now from the official Borneo Jazz site.For the public category;1 Day Pass is priced at RM128 per ticket2 Day Pass is RM228 per ticket3 Day Pass is RM338 per ticketAs for students and senior citizens;1 Day Pass is priced at RM88 per ticket2 Day Pass is RM128 per ticket3 Day Pass is RM188 per ticketThe venue for the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022.ConclusionThis is a must-attend music event if you are a fan of jazz music, as it is currently the premier jazz festival in Malaysia. You can also read more information on the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022.

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Borneo Jazz 2022
Malaysia
Malaysia Jazz Festivals
Miri
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Sarawak Music Festivals
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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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HomeHealth Tourism in Sabah

Sabah Targets Health Medical Tourists from Indonesia

byMalaysia Asia
-August 12, 2022

In an exciting move, the Sabah government is ready to cooperate to open flight routes to Indonesia through Batik Air to develop the state as a health tourism destination.State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the flight routes to Indonesia include Pontianak, Balikpapan in Kalimantan.Sabah Targets Health Medical Tourists from IndonesiaHe hoped that the flight routes would be realised shortly because they were also one of the essential factors in attracting visitors from neighbouring countries to Sabah.He also mentioned that it was the right time for Sabah to target health tourism by promoting the latest facilities offered by (Sabah) hospitals, especially to the Indonesian market.Datuk Jafry met with the Chief Executive Officer of Batik Air, Captain Mushafiz Mustafa Bakri, general manager Muhammad Ariff Abdul Aziz and some Batik Air Kuala Lumpur staff.Jafry also said that the value chain and the health tourism industry will open up opportunities for tourists to explore tourist locations with the 'natural healing' concept in Sabah.He added that Sabah should take full advantage of the current health tourism trend since every medical tourist has the potential to spend more than ordinary tourists.ConclusionCurrently, several hospitals are found all over the city, and here is a list of top hospitals for medical tourism in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.This is probably why Sabah targets health and medical tourists from Indonesia. Facilities are there and must provide proper infrastructure for medical tourism in Sabah.

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Health Tourism in Sabah
Malaysia
Malaysia Health Tourism
Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism in Sabah
Sabah
Sabah Health Tourism
Sabah Medical 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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HomeDJI

DJI OM 5 Review and Setup Guide for Beginners

byMalaysia Asia
-October 14, 2021

So, I finally got my hands on one of those new smartphone gimbals and here is my inaugural review and setup guide for the DJI OM 5 in Malaysia. But first of all, it is my first time using one of these gimbals, and I'm not as tech-savvy as many out there where I initially ran into major issues after unboxing the DJI OM 5.But after several days of trying this and that, I finally found the fix and got it all set up, ready to roll.DJI OM 5 Review and Setup Guide for BeginnersAfter unboxing the DJI OM 5, this is what's in the box.This particular review is done for those who are not as tech-savvy as the younger generation, and I have literally made it very straightforward.After unboxing the DJI OM 5, I assumed it was a plug and play tool; therefore, I unlocked the arm, put my phone on it and put it on. But nothing happened.You also need to download a DJI application to operate this gimbal, which of course, I didn't know. So, let's go through the setup process below;Stage One - Downloading and Setting Up the DJI OM 5After unboxing the DJI OM 5, the first thing you want to do is charge the gimbal, and it should take you a few hours for this.When the gimbal is charged, unfold the unit's arm as shown in the 'Quick Start Guide.Next, take the magnetic phone clip out and fix your smartphone onto the clip, which can extend to fit your phone. Make sure you put it in the centre of your phone.After attaching your smartphone, just affix the magnetic part to the gimbal section. The magnet is pretty strong so just let it naturally clip together.Put on the DJI OM 5 by pressing the "M" button on your left of the handle. Next, put on your phone Bluetooth, and it should pair with the gimbal, which is OM5-20036U (or maybe another OM5 number).Take out the instructions manual or 'Quick Start Guide' from the DJI box and open it to the first page. You will see a QR Code in section 1 of the page.Use your smartphone and click on that QR Code to download the application from DJI onto your phone. The app is called the DJI Mimo App.It is an apk file, and your phone will prompt you with a warning, but just go ahead and download it. It should be a file with a bunch of numbers like 1333782172439DJIMimo_1.6.4.apk.There are both IOS and Andriod options when you click download, so choose whichever operating system (OS) you are using.The download is about 350MB in size, so it should take a minute or so. After downloading the DJI Mimo App, install it on your smartphone.The next screen will be the 'Terms of Use'; just go ahead and click 'Agree' and continue to 'Allow' device to access your phone, record and so on.Stage Two - Calibrating The DJI OM 5 with your SmartphoneThe next step is configuring your phone to calibrate with the OM 5, and the start screen should appear on your phone screen. Just click start.The seven-step tutorial guide will ask you to press selected buttons and move the joystick to calibrate.When you are done, just click 'Complete', or you can just repeat the tutorial again if you are unsure or missed out on something.The last screen is a custom setting that you can just ignore and click done.And you are done. You can now experience using the DJI OM 5 freely, and if you still run into any issues, you can always contact DJI Support via Facebook Messenger.Or you can also check YouTube for any specific troubleshooting.The OM 5 is unboxed.There you go, a quick and easy setup and review for beginners using the DJI OM5. Again, this was done because I am considered a beginner using this gimbal.I have been photographing for over 30 years, and in the last 10 years, I have also been using smartphones for my photography.During the last 10 years, I have also managed to do some smartphone videography which I found pretty interesting. And with today's technology, I am pretty impressed with what the smartphone can achieve.And this time around, I have put interest in trying out new ways of creating videos, where one of them is by using the DJI OM 5 as a multipurpose unit for my videography.After doing a proper review using the DJI OM 5 in Malaysia, I should have another review article coming out here.

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DJI OM 5 Review
DJI Review Malaysia
Gadget Review
Gimbal Review
Smartphone Review
Smartphone 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 Street Art

Kuala Lumpur Street Art with Galaxy Smartphones

byMalaysia Asia
-February 01, 2023

Here is a special article for Kuala Lumpur street art with Galaxy Smartphones that I have used in the last two years.I am currently using the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the best unit for my smartphone photography due to its incredible camera capabilities that lets me enjoy photography to its maximum.Kuala Lumpur Street Art with Galaxy SmartphonesOver the years, I have travelled around Malaysia a lot for my personal and tourism work, and I always encounter interesting street art or murals painted on shop lots and buildings.I used to take photos with my DSLR camera many years back, and eventually, in 2019, I moved to a mirrorless camera, leaving the bulky DSLR world.Since technology with smartphones has improved, I started to focus on using my Galaxy smartphone for general photography, namely when I walk around for street photography.Therefore, here is a series of street art and murals from around Kuala Lumpur, which I have been taking photos of over the last few years with my Galaxy smartphone.Also, note that some of the street art may no longer be there as the building owners sometimes paint over it. Click on the images to see the full photos.I found this very interesting, and it is one of my favourites. Very minimalist.Cloak is one of the well-known street art and graffiti painters in Malaysia.Sometimes, the messages make up the art.This is one of my favourite street art or graffiti pieces in KL, and it's no longer there.Massive graffiti piece, which I believe was commissioned by Standard Chartered and DBKL.Even Habib Jewels has a mural done at the side of their building.This is found at the original Pasar Karat in KL and is one of my favourites.I believe this was commissioned by a sponsor.Fine street art like this is unique but can be seen in KL.An interesting play of colours for this graffiti piece.I love this piece, which was done during the Covid-19 pandemic in KL.One of my favourite paintings is at a shop lot in Petaling Street, KL.These are the old-school graffiti works seen around KL.Interesting street art murals in KL City.This is hard to miss as it is located by the River of Life in KL.Pik Wah Cafe did a Bornean street art piece showing an orangutan.Building street art on the side of Rex KL.Some of KL's graffiti is interesting.This was taken at one of the car parks before it opened, using my S22 Ultra on a wide angle.Detailed graffiti work captured with a Galaxy S22 Plus.Some of the graffiti was painted in the open car parks of Jalan Sultan.I saw this several times in KL, but I think it is no longer there.Beautiful colours from one of the paintings on a school wall in KL.Old Kuala Lumpur Street Art at Pik Wah CafeBelow is a series of street art murals painted at the side of the Nanyang Art Supply shop at Jalan Petaling in KL city. The cafe next to it is Pik Wah Cafe, which serves coffee and food.Street art shows the life of KL city in the 50s and 60s.Kuala Lumpur in the good old days.Life in Kuala Lumpur in the 50s and 60s.Beautiful details of old Kuala Lumpur.The old KL street art is painted at the side of the Nanyang Art supplies store.This is my all-time favourite street art in KL.I have also done a series of street art photos in Melaka, showcasing some of the fantastic murals on buildings around Malaysia's historical city.For those into landscape and building photography, I also used a Galaxy S22 Ultra to capture smartphone photography of buildings around Kuala Lumpur.And for those travelling around Malaysia, I did an article about places to see street art in Malaysia, which was written in 2015 and updated.ConclusionYou can also take a look at some of my Malaysia smartphone reviews that I have done over the years, including some interesting units like folding and flip phones.And for anyone else who is into this, you can also check out my Smartphone Photography Malaysia Facebook Group, where I and others post pictures.I hope you enjoyed this Street Art Malaysia photography series with Galaxy Smartphones. I will have another series out soon, so please subscribe to my articles if you want more.

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Malaysia Street Art
Photography
Places to see Street Art in Malaysia
Samsung
Samsung Malaysia
Smartphone Photography
Smartphone Review
Smartphone Reviews
Street Art 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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HomeCommunity Based Tourism

Pekan Nabalu Tourism Information Centre

byMalaysia Asia
-May 30, 2023

As part of the Community Based Tourism in Sabah, plans to set up the Pekan Nabalu Tourism Information Centre are on the way.This is excellent news for the local communities around Nabalu and the greater Kinabalu area, as the tourist information centre will highly benefit local tourism here.Pekan Nabalu Tourism Information CentrePekan Nabalu is a popular stopping point for travellers to Kinabalu Park and an ideal starting point for visitors to explore the area's eco, cultural and agricultural tourism attractions and activities.Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the tourism centre initiative aligns with plans to organise a Pineapple and Fruit Festival at Pekan Nabalu.With that, the vision of promoting rural tourism in the Kiulu, Kadamaian and Kinabalu areas will complement each other. Joniston also said;"Having the Pekan Nabalu Tourism Information Centre would help promote and enhance the overall tourism experience for visitors. The Ministry has also recognised the significance of Pekan Nabalu as a strategic location and believes that the centre will play a pivotal role in enhancing the tourism infrastructure and offerings in the area.Moreover, CoBT has been gaining momentum with the active involvement of local villagers. The tourism centre can further strengthen this engagement, providing valuable information and services to tourists planning to explore the area’s natural wonders, adventure opportunities, and culture.The tourism centre will facilitate access to nature-based farms, plantations and agro-tourism sites, offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn about local farming practices, participate in fruit picking, and sample fresh produce,”.A beautiful view of Mount Kinabalu from Kndasang.ConclusionFor those visiting Kinabalu in the future, you can soon stop at the Pekan Nabalu Tourism Information Centre once it's opened.There is no set date on when this TIC will open, but it will likely take around one to two years.

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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 Borneo International Music Festival

byMalaysia Asia
-February 14, 2023

In early February 2023, a group from China showed interest in working with Sabah to hold an international music festival in the state.During a courtesy call, the Hong Kong International Musician Association to Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai conveyed this.Sabah Borneo International Music FestivalIts chief executive officer Jye Lee proposed that a Sabah Borneo International Music Festival that features competitions, forums, and masterclasses, among others, be staged in the Land Below the Wind.The group had visited the Sabah International Convention Centre to assess the venue's suitability for events and had found it to have promising possibilities.The Hong Kong International Musician Association is a professional organisation that promotes music artists worldwide. The association has a global reach and has been involved in more than 600 music events across the globe.Jye Lee said;“We aim to offer an international stage for all the musicians, and we believe the Sabah Borneo International Music Festival could potentially attract about 10,000 participants, including family members,”.The Sabah Tourism Board chairman said Sabah was looking into hosting more international events to attract more tourists and draw economic investment, which would benefit the state and locals.Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said;“This is an excellent idea because we want to host a homegrown event. I can see the possibility of working together, and given the association’s global connections and performances, Sabah can take advantage of this network.It's high time Sabah had its very own music festival, and I'm confident we can entice musicians to visit, discover, and draw inspiration from our state's rich culture and landscape,”.Conclusion to Sabah Borneo International Music FestivalFinally, Bangkuai added that the Sabah Tourism Board was keen to understand what the association offered and suggested that the group prepare a proposal paper.On to when this will take place, there is no official announcement and once news is out, I will share it here.

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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

A Complete Guide to Royal Floria Putrajaya

byMalaysia Asia
-April 24, 2019

For the flower and garden lover, I have come up with a complete guide to Royal Floria Putrajaya, and what is this event all about here in Malaysia.

Most Malaysians are generally not interested in flowers and gardens, mainly due to the hot, humid and unpredictable weather in Malaysia.

But you will be surprised that there are in fact many who love plants and gardens in Malaysia, and the Royal Floria in Putrajaya is the biggest and best event to visit for this.

This amazing Malaysian horticulture event also reflects the standards of the nation's landscaping industry, which has gotten better over the years since it was first inaugurated.

Complete Guide to Royal Floria Putrajaya

Royal Floria has also managed to put the country on par with other countries that are known for their flower and garden expos and events.

Entrance to Royal Floria in Putrajaya, Malaysia

This complete guide is done for the visitors to fully understand what Royal Floria is all about. Most may know this as Putrajaya Floria, which is a garden and flower expo held for a week in Putrajaya.

The event sees over 1,000,000 visitors and has a wide range of activities, exhibitions, bazaars, demonstrations and many other fringe events that take place here in Putrajaya.

The Putrajaya garden, flower and horticulture expo originally started in 2007 as a biannual event, and from the year 2010, it became an annual event due to the overwhelming response from the public and participants.

10th anniversary of Royal Floria in 2018

10th Anniversary of Royal Floria Putrajaya

2018 marked the 10th anniversary of Royal Floria and featured a special showcase of the last 9 years of Floria as the main display. This was a stand-alone special garden for visitors to walk through.

Visitors are taken through a special garden time walk with displays of the theme flowers starting from 2007 right till 2016 and with some basic information of each year.

Royal Floria 2018 showcased 10 years of Floria, this is Floria 2009 with the Orchid theme

Overall landscaping was done using all the flowers from the previous years, which created a vibrant outlook for the flower festival.

His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor officiated the event on the first day along with VIPs and other dignitaries.

Below is the official poster for Royal Floria 2019 which was issued out on the 21st of July 2019. The 11th installation of the flower and garden show takes place from the 31st of August to the 8th of September 2019.

It will also be held at the Taman Botani Putrajaya of Precinct 1, Putrajaya. The event will also open from 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM.

Royal Floria 2019, with a theme called Mother of all Gardens, Orchids & Bonsai

Previous Floria Putrajaya and Royal Floria Shows with Themes

Below is a list of the event from the start till 2018, and showing what were the flower themes of each year. Articles are linked to my review for some of the years the event was held.

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2019 - Mother of All Gardens, Orchids, and Bonsai
Royal Putrajaya Floria 2018 - 10 Wonders of Floria, every theme flower from last 9 years
Royal Putrajaya Floria 2017 - There was no event this year
Royal Putrajaya Floria 2016 - Chrysanthemum Theme
Royal Putrajaya Floria 2015 - Lily Theme
Floria Putrajaya 2014 - Begonia Theme
Floria Putrajaya 2013 - Orchid Theme (Orkid)
Putrajaya Floria 2012 - Flower Paper Theme (Bunga Kertas)
Putrajaya Floria 2011 - Rose Theme
Floria Putrajaya 2010 - Heliconia Theme
Floria Putrajaya 2009 - Orchid Theme (Orkid)
Floria Putrajaya 2008 - There was no event for this year
Floria Putrajaya Flower and Garden Exhibition 2007 - Hibiscus Theme

Begonia was the theme flower for Floria 2014

What is Royal Floria?

Originally called Floria Putrajaya Flower and Garden Exhibition, then Floria Putrajaya, this unique event was renamed as Royal Floria in 2015 by Her Majesty, the Queen of Malaysia.

The Royal endorsement was graced by the HM Queen of Malaysia on the 29th of May 2015, and at the Royal Garden of Negeri Sembilan.

A large Floria sign is seen at the event

However, reports state that in 2014, the ‘Royal’ status was awarded by His Majesty Agong (King) of Malaysia, and this needs to be clarified as there is no official documentation.

Royal Gardens also became part of the exhibition where each year, a different state in Malaysia would feature their own Royal Garden or Taman Di Raja as one of the main exhibits.

Visitors are allowed to visit these beautifully manicured Royal Gardens and also take photos. A good tip is to come as early as possible if you want nice photos with a clear blue sky.

Otherwise, visit the Royal Garden during sunset hour for the magical moment when the lights are put on.

Putrajaya's enchanted garden at Royal Floria 2018

Royal Floria is also the brainchild of the Putrajaya Corporation (Perbadanan Putrajaya or PPj), and they work in collaboration with the Federal Territories Ministry.

This event is also supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia, and also Tourism Malaysia, to brand this as a major tourism event in Malaysia.

In 2017, Royal Floria won the Malaysia Tourism Council (MTC) Gold Award for The Biggest Flower and Garden Festival in Malaysia.

Since then, Royal Floria has also won numerous awards and accolades locally and also internationally.

Floria 2010 with the Heliconia themed garden on display

Floria Putrajaya History

Since the humble beginnings of the Putrajaya Flower and Garden Exhibition in 2007, it has been ten years since the inaugural event. In 2018, the theme was also called Celebrating 10 years of Floria.

The first Putrajaya Flower Expo was also opened by then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in front of the Palace of Justice at 9.00 am on Aug 25, 2007.

There was no official theme except that it was in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th Anniversary of Independence, and the event was selected as one of the national level events for Malaysia.

Today, this flower and garden event is marked in the tourism calendar of Malaysia, making it one of the must-visit events in Malaysia during the National Day week.

Beautiful flower colours on display at Royal Floria Putrajaya

However, being the first time the event was held, there were many hiccups which included dying flowers, wilting flowers and plants, bad layout designs and no proper signages.

Over the years, all of these issues were ironed out by the organizers, and till today, Royal Floria has become of Malaysia's most beautiful and successful outdoor events.

A Merdeka themed garden in conjunction with the Malaysia National Day

Did You Know?

Did you know that Royal Floria always takes place around the month of Merdeka or the Malaysia National Day? It also lasts for nine whole days at Anjung Floria.

Because of this, there is a lot of emphasis on the elements of the nation's independence that is used on the floral decorations. They are also done by professionals and also the college and university students.

This, in turn, results in some beautiful creations by the designers and landscapers for the largest floral and gardens exhibition in Malaysia.

When is the Best Time to Visit Royal Floria in Putrajaya?

This is a tricky question, but if you ask me, I would personally recommend you visit the flower exhibition in the first few days.

It is also best to visit just before the weekend, as the event can get really crowded on weekends and on National Day. Trust me, it does get really crowded.

For photographers, or those who want some peace and quiet, I would highly recommend going on an opening day, and in the morning or evening. Try to avoid going on midday as it can get really hot and humid.

For those who dislike the humid weather, I recommend going in the evenings, when the weather is much cooler. The event closes at around 11.00 PM, so you have a lot of time in the night there.

One of the floral displays located indoor

Exhibitions and Displays at Royal Floria

Every year, various international designers and landscape architects from around the world are invited to participate and showcase their creative work and designs at Royal Floria.

Over the years, there have been many countries taking part, namely the Southeast Asian and Greater Asia countries that have been strong supporters of this royal event.

Designers floral work

There have even been countries from as far as the Middle East and Europe that have taken part in Royal Floria in Putrajaya.

Every year, we see new countries participating, and in 2018, Korea had also participated in the event. Hopefully, for Royal Floria 2019, we will see even more countries participating.

Among some of the main displays and events that are held every year are below;

Royal Floria Entrance Statement
Royal Floria Wonder Garden
Royal Floria Royal Garden
Royal Floria Miniatur Garden
Royal Floria Fertigation Garden
Royal Floria International Dialogue

The main entrance into Royal Floria in Putrajaya

Royal Garden

This is one of the main highlights of the event where every year, a state from Malaysia will be selected to showcase their Royal Garden at the event.

An elaborately designed garden will be created by the participating state, complete with a mock-up of the royal palace for that state.

And like every year, the King or Queen of Malaysia will be invited to graciously officiate the event, followed by a special tour of the Royal Garden and the event grounds.

Often, the prime minister or deputy prime minister of Malaysia is also invited for the official launching of Royal Floria.

The word Floria at the entrance of the event

What Goes On At Royal Floria?

While flowers and plants are the main highlights at this Malaysian horticulture event, there are a few other things that go one during the nine-day event here.

Exhibits of themed gardens are held indoors and of course outdoors from participating teams, councils and companies from around Malaysia, and also some regional companies.

Though creativity takes centre stage here, a fun-filled family or couple activity is easily achieved when you spend the day here.

And apart from just the flowers and gardens, there are of course other things happening at Royal Floria, which are;

Flower and Garden Displays
Colleges and Universities Gardens
Floral Pavilion
Orchid Display
Bonsai Display
Outdoor Plant Bazaar
Craft Bazaar Indoor
Floria Flavours Food Center
Horticulture Talks
Workshops and Demonstrations
Various Contests

Orchids being sold at the Plant Bazaar of Royal Floria

Plant Bazaar at Royal Floria

Every year, there will be a plant and garden bazaar at Royal Floria where numerous vendors from around Malaysia will set up shop at a specialized area of the event.

This plant and garden bazaar is highly popular among the locals as it is the one time that you can find many different vendors selling all sorts of plants, flowers, orchids, air plants, fertilizers and so on.

On average, there are about 20 vendors that provide an avenue to beginners or even plant collectors to get some of the plants and fertilizers for discounted prices.

Orchid vendors at the plant bazaar

Most popular are the orchid vendors, that showcase many different types of orchids for sale. This is a big hit among the locals and also orchid lovers.

Many locals will head to the Plant Bazaar to buy all sorts of plants because the vendors come from all over Malaysia.

And if you love plants, I would highly recommend you make your way to the Plant Bazaar at Royal Floria.

Vendors include many orchid sellers, who have some beautiful hybrid and rare orchids, air plant sellers, cacti and succulent sellers, and the commercial landscaping plants.

Inside the Royal Floria Craft Bazaar and Hipster Square

Craft Bazaar and Hipster Square

This section is held inside an air-conditioned tent at the event and houses over 50 vendors. You will find a good mix of items being sold here, but of course, the priority goes to plant-related sellers.

Overall there are all sorts of everything at the Royal Floria Craft Bazaar which range from clothes, food, jewellery, collectables, terrariums, and the list goes on.

In the middle of the event hall, they have a horticulture themed art experience for kids and also adults, which is open to everyone.

There are also workshops and demonstrations done here. The art session and vendor list change from year to year too.

One of the contestants for the Royal Floria awards

Royal Floria Contest and Awards

Every year, Royal Floria will have various contests held throughout the duration of the event here in Putrajaya. There are also special awards given out to participants as well.

The contest is divided into a few main areas, one for the invited participants, one for the media, and the other for the visiting public.

Below is a list of the contest that is usually held in conjunction with Royal Floria;

Contest and Awards for Participants

Garden Prime Awards - This is for participants that showcase gardens at the event, and stand a chance to win a cash prize of RM15,000.
Designer Boutique Garden Award - Another award and prize totalling RM10,000 for this category.
Garden of Malaysia Award - This category has a cash prize of RM5,000 as well.
Royal Floria Putrajaya International Cup
Bonsai and Suiseki Competition Awards
Orchid Competition Awards

Some of the air plants that make interesting photography subjects

Contest for Media

Best Media Article - RM5,000 for either print or electronic media
Best Media Photograph - RM5,000 for either print or electronic media

Contest for Public

Photography Competition - Open to the public, but you need to register at the event for this
Watercolor Competition - Open to kids, and registration at the event
Colouring Contest - For kids and set on a specific day, registration required

One of the floral competition pieces on display

Where is Royal Floria?

This prestigious event is held in Precinct 4 of Putrajaya, at a place called Anjung Floria. This is a specially dedicated event area for Royal Floria.

Previously, the first few events were held at Precinct 2 of Putrajaya, and after negotiations over the years, the organizers finally found a home here at Precinct 4.

Anjung Floria is located near the main CBD area of Putrajaya, where all the government administrative buildings are located at.

It is also located just by the Seri Saujana Bridge, which is one of the most modern and beautiful bridges in Putrajaya.

One of the creative designs using flowers on display indoors

Royal Floria Ticket Prices

Tickets to Royal Floria are available at the door, or you can buy them online at the official website. Usually, there are discounted tickets a few months before the event.

Below is the current price of tickets for Malaysia and foreigners, with special discounts for children, senior citizens, and disabled people.

Please note that there are weekday and weekend tickets for Royal Floria and the prices below are based on the 2018 event.

Weekday Tickets

Malaysian Adult - RM12.00
Malaysian Child (7 to 12 Years Old) - RM6.00
Malaysian Senior Citizen/OKU - RM6.00
Non-Malaysian Adult - RM24.00
Non-Malaysian Child/Senior Citizen/OKU - RM12.00

Weekend Tickets

Malaysian Adult- RM15.00
Malaysian Child (7 to 12 Years Old) - RM6.00
Malaysian Senior Citizen/OKU - RM8.00
Non-Malaysian Adult - RM30.00
Non-Malaysian Child/Senior Citizen/OKU - RM16.00

*OKU is also known as Disabled People.

Directions to Royal Floria from Kuala Lumpur

How To Go To Royal Floria Putrajaya?

There are many ways to drive into Putrajaya and it depends on where you live. Below are the main highways that you can access Putrajaya.

Elite Highway (AH2)
MEX Highway (E20)
LDP Highway (E11)
SKVE Highway (E26)
North-South PLUS Highway (E2)

For Locals Visiting Putrajaya

Honestly, the best way to get to Putrajaya without any hassle is by driving here. It takes about 50 to 60 minutes' drive from Kuala Lumpur, and there are ample parking spaces around Royal Floria.

It is also recommended to use Waze or Google Maps and just key in Anjung Floria and follow the instructions, and it will lead you directly to the event. I usually do that when I visit the event.

However, if you do not own a car or motorbike, you can still take public transport like the train service, or even take a taxi or ride-hailing services like Grab, GoCar or MyCar.

For Foreigners Visiting Putrajaya

For foreigners, there are a few ways to get here which is by either using public transport, trains, taxi or private car services like Grab, or other ride-hailing services.

You will need to download the application onto your Android or Apple smartphone, and please note that there is no Uber in Malaysia.

How To Take A Train To Putrajaya?

The most affordable way to travel to Putrajaya is by taking the train and then using Grab to move around. However, you may consider the other options below.

Train - KLIA Transit from KL Sentral and get off at Putrajaya station and then take the local Nadi Putra Bus.
Taxi - From KL Sentral, it is around RM45-50 one way to Putrajaya. To get back from Putrajaya, I suggest you call a taxi service or use Uber or GrabCar. If you take a normal taxi, I also suggest you tell the taxi man that you may need a return journey or get his contact number.
Bus - Rapid KL bus from KL Sentral to Putrajaya, around RM5 one way. Bus services usually end around 10 to 11pm.
Shuttle Bus - Some hotels in Kuala Lumpur offer a paid shuttle service to and from, but you need to check with your hotel. Shangri-la Hotel in KL is one of them.

Swimming pool view from the Pulse Grande Hotel in Putrajaya

Where To Stay In Putrajaya?

For those planning to come from out of town or want to spend a few days here, I have also come up with a list of hotels in Putrajaya where you can stay.

Most of these hotels are in the 3 to 5-star ratings, and offer a choice of budget choices, depending on which you prefer.

If you think you need to spend a night here and not rush things, you can check-in for the night and leave the following day.

Below is a list of hotels in Putrajaya which are in the main area;

Pulse Grande Hotel Putrajaya (Former Shangri-La Hotel) - This is a 5-star hotel with an average price of RM230 per night. Book a room at Pulse Grande Hotel Putrajaya.
Pullman Resort Lakeside Putrajaya - This is a 5-star resort and spa, located near the lake area. The average price is about RM300 per night. Book a room at Pullman Resort Putrajaya.
Everly Hotel Putrajaya - This is a 4-star hotel with an average price of around RM200 per night.Book a Room at the Everly Hotel Putrajaya.
Dorsett Putrajaya (closest hotel to the venue) - This 4 Star hotel has an average price of around RM260 per night and tends to sell out fast.Book a room at the Dorsett Putrajaya.

Map to Royal Floria

Below is a map to Royal Floria Putrajaya, which is held at Anjung Floria in Precinct 4, at the end of the main commercial district.

You can use the map to get directions here or simply key in Anjung Floria into Waze or Google Maps for directions and it will direct you to the event.

Royal Floria Address
Anjung Floria, Presint 4, 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8893 1967
Opening Hours: 9.00 AM to 11.00 PM
Website: http://floriaputrajaya.com.my/

Organizer, Manager, and Supporters of Royal Floria

Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) - Organiser
Putrajaya Leisure and Services (Pulse) Group - Manager
Putrajaya Floria Sdn Bhd (PFSB) - Manager
Federal Territories Ministry - Supported
Tourism and Culture Ministry - Supported
Tourism Malaysia - Supported

The Terengganu Garden at Royal Floria 2018

Final Thoughts on Royal Floria Putrajaya

Every year, Royal Floria takes place at Anjung Floria in Putrajaya, and when there is no event, the place is open to the public as a general garden where you can walk around.

Due to the initiative of the organizer, the event is supported by several local tourism bodies and also the private sector. Only in 2017, there was no Royal Floria event due to financial matters from the government side.

For your added knowledge, the Penang Flora Festival also took place in 2015 at the Penang Botanical Garden but never followed through. However, the Penang Orchid Show was a more popular event on the island.

You can also read my review on the previous Royal Floria 2018, which of course I attend yearly without fail, and there are also photos with information about the event.

As I have always been an avid lover of plants, gardens and flowers, namely the more exotic and rare types of jungle ferns and orchids, I do get to see some of them at this event. And it kind of makes my day, especially when I end up buying more than I budgeted.

I hope you found this complete guide to Royal Floria Putrajaya helpful, and if you have any comments, I would love to hear them in the comment form below.

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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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