Friday, November 6, 2009

Lonely Planet: The top 10 countries for 2010 (MALAYSIA)






Welcome to Malaysia
Selamat Datang" means the warmest welcome in Bahasa Malaysia.

Covering an area of 127,316 square miles (336,700 sq. km), Malaysia consists of two regions; Peninsular Malaysia (States of Federation of Malaya) extending south-south-east from the border of Thailand and the states of Sabah and Sarawak located on the northwestern coastal region of the island of Borneo. The natural vegetation of Malaysia is tropical rain forest which, on the plains, has been replaced by 4 million acres of rubber plantations, palm oil, paddy fields and, of course, modern cities. In the highlands there is considerable variation in flora.

The annual average temperature is between 77°F (25°C), and 83°F (28°C) in the lowlands, the mean minimum temperature seldom falls below 72°F(22°C). At hill resorts: uniform temperature is lower. Days are generally sunny and warm, humidity averaging 85%-90%. Nights are usually cool and comfortable.

Malaysia is a multiracial country with a population of approximately 24.4 million. This consists of the main racial groups of Malays, Chinese and Indians and a very diverse group of indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak.

For years, our tourism authirities have been trying to get the country mentioned in some manner in international travel magazines, to get a leg up on neighbouring countries. Afterr all. we are all selling the same thing - sun, sea, beaches, culture, food and, of course, value for money.

This week, the Tourism Ministry has hit pay dirt when the ever popular travel guide Lonely Planet listed country as one af top 10 countries to visit when famed hitchhiker's guide released its Best in Travel 2010 on Monday.

Although Lonely Planet started out life as a cheapskate guide to travel the world, it has since grown to be more than that.

This year's report is the fifth in its annual collection of the best palaces to go and best things to do in year ahead.

Malaysia, according to Lonely Planet report, "is a clever choice for travellers on the lookout for a bargain."

Last year, we welcomed 22 million tourists who spent RM49.5billion.


Lonely Planet: The top 10 countries for 2010

Want a sneak peek into the future?

1. El Salvador
El Salvador sneaks up on you: in lefty lounge bars in San Salvador, at sobering war memorials and museums, and along lush cloud-forest trails; it’s a place of remarkable warmth and intelligence, made all the more appealing for being so unexpected. Travellers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are virtually never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself – including pristine forests, active volcanoes and alpine lakes.
2. Germany
Some countries are simply allowed to be, but
Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to nearly three decades of division. In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the shining tiara that is the city’s famous skyline. And, of course, to Berlin, whose climate of openness spawns more creative experimentation than a Petri dish on Viagra.
3. Greece
Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ - but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clambering for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit – and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!
4. Malaysia
Malaysia often gets criticised as being mild in comparison with its grittier neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s true, natural disasters and coups only seem to happen across its borders, the roads don’t have too many potholes, buses and trains have air-con and plush seats, and hotels are of international standard. While troubles are few, visiting Malaysia lets you leap into the jaws of one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Asia’s roaring cultural smorgasbord – and not be too worried about it. Cheap connections to Europe and great exchange rates mean that you won’t get eaten up by your wallet either.
5. Morocco
‘Hello, bonjour, salaam alaykum, labes?’ Street greetings sum up everything you need to know about Morocco in a word: it’s Berber and Arab, Muslim and secular, Mediterranean and African, worldly wise and welcoming. Morocco sees how the Middle East is portrayed via satellite news and the internet, and is as concerned with violent threats and abuses of power as anyone else in the modern world. But as you’ll see, most Moroccans are plenty busy working to get by, get their kids through school and greet the king’s planned 10 million visitors by 2010 with the utmost hospitality. Every visitor helps Moroccans realise these goals by creating new economic opportunities, and can make a Moroccan’s day by returning the greeting: ‘Hello, good day, may peace be upon you, are you happy?’
6. Nepal
But for the Himalaya, Nepal would probably be stuck in the shadow of India – but it’s hard to cast a shadow on a country that includes the highest point on earth, the summit of Mt Everest. Over the last decade, Nepal has seen its share of troubles, but 2008 was a watershed year – the rebels became the government, the kingdom became a republic and the king became a civilian. With the fall of the monarchy, the sound of temple bells has replaced the stomp of army boots and peace has returned to Shangri-La.
7. New Zealand
Recommending New Zealand’s too obvious, right? You’re looking for something a bit edgier, under the radar or further off the beaten track. But there’s wisdom in the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it’, and last time we checked the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing. NZ’s checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it’s easy to see why the natives are so chilled.
8. Portugal
Skirting along the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres, long ago abandoned by the young and upwardly mobile in favour of the suburbs, are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.
9. Suriname
South America’s smallest country, both in area and population, is easily one of its most diverse. Some three quarters of Suriname’s people are descended from Chinese, Javanese and Indian labourers that arrived in the 18th century, and West African slaves in the 17th. Add indigenous Amerindians and Lebanese, Jewish and Dutch settlers, and you have the makings for a lot of ethnic tension, right? Fortunately, wrong. Suriname is known for its peacefully coexisting cultures, most emblematically represented by the country’s biggest mosque and synagogue situated side by side in the capital Paramaribo. With everyone speaking different languages, celebrating different holidays and worshipping in different temples, visiting Suriname is really like hitting several countries at once.
10. USA
Suddenly the USA is cool again! Be it from Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday last year, or just tightened budgets during the recession, but more Americans (even hipsters) are looking backwards – and foreigners too – and taking in traditional American historical sites, beginning with Washington DC’s freebie zone of museums and heroic monuments
M A L A Y S I A 2010

4 comments:

  1. Salut mon ami, merci d'avoir visité mon blog et bravo pour ton français :-) ! Ton blog est très bien et très intéressant aussi bravo j'aime beaucoup. A bientôt !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Merci mon ami, je suis encore à apprendre pour comprendre la langue française. Votre blog est aussi très intéressant. Si u ont du temps libre, s'il vous plaît n'hésitez pas à visiter mon blog. Je serai toujours visiter votre blog.

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  3. welcome to my father's blog..

    and welcome to Malaysia..

    ReplyDelete

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