Mad dogs and travel writers go out in the midday sun,” I was telling myself as I braved that fiery ball at that very hour to check out a market. This was the Sunday Market on Satok Road. It was hot — perhaps 34 seething tropical degrees — as I trudged through the city centre, [...]

Photographer Cheang Kum Seng’s love affair with the limestone hills of the Kinta Valley has yielded thousands of photos spanning two decades. RENOWNED photographer Cheang Kum Seng hopes to instil awareness on the importance of conserving the hills of the Kinta Valley through the images he has captured in the past two decades. His fascinating [...]

Having to deal with tons of elephant dung can be a bit of a headache, but a touch of innovation has turned it into a profitable business. The first thing that caught my eye as we were waiting at the entrance of Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka, was a huge orange sign at a small [...]

Sarawak’s botanical riches, diverse landscapes and wildlife make it a favorite stomping ground for nature lovers and scientists alike. Where in Malaysia can you find a state that boasts more than 20 national parks, five wildlife sanctuaries, three nature reserves and 700,000ha of totally protected forest land (10 times the size of Singapore)? The picturesque [...]

There’s a cosy lodge deep in a plantation where horses graze, the food is great and staffs are friendly. It also feels like Dallas here. Nestled deep within a plantation in Sedenak, Johor, is a hidden treasure not well known among Malaysians called Riders Lodge. It can be a bit tricky trying to locate the [...]

Getting excited when you come face to face with a roaring waterfall is one thing, but dedicating your life to protecting it is another. One woman shows how a life-long obsession isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With a garbage bag in one hand and an empty Coke bottle in the other, Elvin Hee, 32, struggled [...]

Our writer follows the trail of the famous 19th century British traveller, Isabella Bird, in Negri Sembilan. We were following in Isabella Bird’s 19th century footsteps through the peninsula. This intrepid lady traveller used a boat named Moosmee to negotiate the rivers, as well as antiquated buggies and a pony, to get to villages, but [...]

Popular for its breathtaking views and easy access, Selangor’s Bukit Tabur has, however, been in the news for the wrong reasons. Where in the Klang Valley can you clamber up a peak at sunrise, enjoy jaw-dropping views of forest-cloaked reservoirs and still make it home in time for brunch? Little wonder, then, that Bukit Tabur, [...]

Often vast, always mysterious, reclining Buddha statues sport enigmatic smiles. Our writer digs around and discovers the secrets of these dazzling figures. Strictly speaking, they should not exist. Reclining Buddha statues could be condemned as idolatry because the Buddha asked that no images be carved in his likeness. So, at first, after he slipped away, [...]

Need an idea for a day trip that’s easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur? How about one that incorporates forgotten chimneys, an old coal mining town, a historical church and beautiful orchids? My friends and I did just that — we had a fun outing exploring Batu Arang in Ulu Selangor. I’d been to that area [...]

The removal of all structures, including the dive resorts, on Sipadan Island has greatly benefited the nearby islands of Mabul and Kapalai. These islands were not affected by the government order to completely move out all man-made structures from Sipadan by the end of 2004. It was a bold move aimed at conserving the fragile [...]

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Hoary but true. Perseverance in what you do is the sure way to success and happiness, insists Henry Law Ing Hua, 58, whose dogged pursuit of his dream of an agro-tourism resort has made him “the luckiest man in the world”. Law was just eight when [...]

One of Terengganu’s best-kept secrets is Jeram Berasap which seems perpetually enveloped in a fine mist, writes ALIAS MOHAMED. WHEN is there smoke without fire? Try Terengganu’s Smokey Rapids or Jeram Berasap in Kemaman. Here, one hardly ever sees the sun, especially in the morning, as the whole valley will be misty and wet. It’s [...]

Once known as the Alcatraz of Malaysia, Pulau Jerejak has been transformed into a haven for holiday-goers. BACK in the 1960s to the early part of 90s, if someone told you “if you break the law, you will be sent to Pulau Jerejak”, that was considered a dire warning or a threat. These days, though, [...]

The biggest cave temple in Malaysia is undoubtedly the Sam Poh Tong temple located in Gunung Rapat which is about 5km south of Ipoh. The cave temple is a famous landmark in Perak and it’s a well known tourist destination among the locals. He decided to make the cave his home and a place for [...]