Native Flora and Fauna in Malaysia

In my recent trip, I was fortunate to have visited Europe. I did some review of notes on my experiences there with that I had in Malaysia. Well, I wasn't able to see live animals in Europe, like my camel friend here. I did enjoy the pigeons. Europe is rich in structures and architecture. Malaysia is more green, even in the city. Sun, water, trees . . . that's how I remember Malaysia. Who knows, I may come back in Malaysia sooner than I think. That would be exciting! See you Jack, remember him?

Malaysia is well-endowed with natural resources in areas such as agriculture, forestry and minerals. In terms of agriculture, Malaysia is one of the top exporters of natural rubber and palm oil, which together with sawn logs and sawn timber, cocoa, pepper, pineapple and tobacco dominate the growth of the sector. Palm oil is also a major generator of foreign exchange.

Regarding forestry resources, it is noted that logging only began to make a substantial contribution to the economy during the 19th century. Today, an estimated 59% of Malaysia remains forested. The rapid expansion of the timber industry, particularly after the 1960s, has brought about a serious erosion problem in the country's forest resources. However, in line with the Government's commitment to protect the environment and the ecological system, forestry resources are being managed on a sustainable basis and accordingly the rate of tree felling has been on the decline.

In addition, substantial areas are being silviculturally treated and reforestation of degraded forestland is being carried out. The Malaysian government provide plans for the enrichment of some 312.30 square kilometers (120.5 sq mi) of land with rattan under natural forest conditions and in rubber plantations as an inter crop. To further enrich forest resources, fast-growing timber species such as meranti tembaga, merawan and sesenduk are also being planted. At the same time, the cultivation of high-value trees like teak and other trees for pulp and paper are also encouraged. Rubber, once the mainstay of the Malaysian economy, has been largely replaced by oil palm as Malaysia's leading agricultural export.

Source: Wikipedia

Holidays Tours in Genting

The Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway is a main highway from Genting Sempah to Genting Highlands, Malaysia's famous mountain resort and entertainment parks. Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway was used to be a private highway owned by Genting Highlands Resort. The construction of the highway was regarded as one of the most astonishing engineering project in Malaysia. However, frequent landslides at the highway during recent years have caused the highway to be recommissioned as a federal road by Malaysian Public Works Department in 2005.

Genting Highlands is a mountain peak within the Titiwangsa Mountains on the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor of Malaysia and is home to a famous mountain resort by the same name, which can be reached by car from Kuala Lumpur in one hour. It is also accessible by the world's fastest and South East Asia's longest cable car called Genting Skyway. In 2006, the resort had 18.4 million visitors. Genting Highlands was founded by the late Lim Goh Tong in the late 1960s. Currently, this resort is being lead by Lim Goh Tong's son, Lim Kok Thay who is also the current president and CEO of Star Cruises company.

It is sometimes informally known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, dubbed the "City of Entertainment", as it has the only legal land-based casino in the country and is run by Resorts World Bhd, a subsidiary of Genting Group. The resort, Genting Highlands Resort, also features many hotels owned by Genting subsidiaries including Awana Genting, First World Hotel, Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel and Theme Park Hotel. Facilities in this resort include two theme parks, a "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Museum, a wind-turbine sky diving simulator, golf courses and shopping malls.

There is a computerized system outside First World Hotel which can automatically calculate the number of parking-bays left in four hotels; First World Hotel, Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel and Resort Hotel.

Genting Highlands is also home to a 100 million year old forest.

The cool mountain air makes it an exhilarating experience to enjoy the many rides at the Outdoor Theme Park. Whether taking leisure drives in the Antique car or experiencing the adrenaline pumping Space Shot, it's a magical adventure of fun and excitement for the whole family.

There is more than 20 different kind of excitement in the theme park , for example, "the space shot" which 185 feet high,"the pirate ship", "a spinner", so much much more.

Genting Skyway, located at the Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor side of Genting Highlands, Malaysia, is currently the world's fastest and South East Asia's longest cable car system. Its lower station is located near Gohtong Jaya, and its upper station is located at Highlands Hotel of Genting Highlands Resort. It was officially opened in 1997 by the former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohammad.

Source: Wikipedia

A Trip to Malacca

It was raining during the early part of the day when I left the hotel. Fortunate for me, the sun was shining brightly at Malacca. The city is a bit far from where I was staying, so we left very early. The travel was worth it. The place is truly rich with Malaysian culture.

I was able to make a swift tour, digesting everything my eyes can behold. At the park, there are a number of colorful rickshaws that you can ride to take you around the area and have some photo shoots. The people are amiable.

Selamat datang, as they say.

Bird Watcher

Wow, I miss blogging. Just returned home from Europe. Back with the birds!

I visited the commercial squares in Europe. This one was in Portugal. The birds won't fly, looks like they're heavy from getting fed by the tourists there (probably pizza crumbs).



Birds . . . they're great to watch when in a flock. I love watching them fly together. At home, in the Philippines, I am so blessed to have a view of a flock of flying birds every afternoon, an hour before sunset. Lately, I discovered the same flock fly after sunrise, when I walk my dogs in the morning. What a lovely world!

I sure had a greater time with the birds here in Malaysia, at the Batu Caves, where they were more in number during my visit and had more energy to flap their wings.

Even my hotel in Malaysia has flying birds as motif on the walls. Cool! Fly on!

Church Finder

That day, I saw a big mosque in the city. Jack, my "teksi" driver said there is a bigger mosque that he can show me. Later on in the afternoon, Jack changed his mind and brought me to a Catholic church instead. He said we came there so I can pray. I was a little disappointed not to see the grand mosque like he said earlier but it was a good suggestion from him that I pray here.

We went to St.Peter's Church in Melaka (or Melacca).

The church was constructed in 1710 under the Dutch administration. It is the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. Its facade and decorative embellishment is a mix of both eastern and western architecture. Its bell was delivered from Goa in 1608.

The church was closed. I headed for the adoration chapel instead where I offered my thanksgiving. I was so thrilled with my trip here in Malaysia. I was so happy that I even had this opportunity to visit a church and pray. Jack's idea was great after all.

Local Malaysian Foods

Malaysian foods, got hooked with them. Love the local food such as Nasi Lemak and Nyonya. The tropical fruits in season are also great.

Nasi Lemak is rice steamed with coconut milk to lend it special fragrance. It is served with anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and a chili paste known as "sambal". The mamak variety of "sambal" tends to be a bit more spicy whereas the malay version of "sambal" in a nasi lemak tends to be on the sweet side.

Nyonya food was developed by the Peranakan people of Malaysia and Singapore. It uses mainly Chinese ingredients but blends them with South-East Asian spices such as coconut milk, lemon grass, turmeric, screwpine leaves, chillies and sambal. It can be considered as a blend of Chinese and Malay cooking.

Source: Wikipedia

Economy of Malaysia

Tin and petroleum are the two main mineral resources that are of major significance in the Malaysian economy. Malaysia was once the world's largest producer of tin until the collapse of the tin market in the early 1980s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, tin played a predominant role in the Malaysian economy. It was only in 1972 that petroleum and natural gas took over from tin as the mainstay of the mineral extraction sector. Meanwhile, the contribution by tin has declined. Petroleum and natural gas discoveries in oil fields off Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu have contributed much to the Malaysian economy.

Other minerals of some importance or significance include copper, bauxite, iron-ore and coal together with industrial minerals like clay, kaolin, silica, limestone, barite, phosphates and dimension stones such as granite as well as marble blocks and slabs. Small quantities of gold are produced.