Jenny recently took a trip to Malaysia, courtesy of Somak Holidays and Malaysian Airlines, and fulfilled a dream to see the Orang-Utans in their natural habitat ...

Malaysia is made up of two regions, Peninsula Malaysia and the states of Sarawak and Sabah on the Island of Borneo. It is a country of many cultures and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and Europeans live together in harmony. There is a mix of modern cities with tall skyscrapers and primitive villages, some of which are water villages with the wooden houses built on stilts in the sea.

The diversity of the population is reflected in the cuisine, with a wide selection of Asian and European dishes. The official language is Bahasa Melayu (Malay) but English is widely spoken. Islam is the official religion but all other religions are freely practised. The climate in Malaysia means that it is a year round destination with temperatures ranging from 21c to 32c. Annual rainfall varies between 2,000mm to 2,500mm.

I travelled to Malaysia with Somak Holidays and Malaysian Airlines. My first stop was PENANG followed by SABAH in Borneo and finally KUALA LUMPUR.


PENANG is an island is a 10 miles x 15 miles island with its own airport but is also connected to the mainland by bridge. Batu Ferringhi is the main resort with sandy beaches. There are many attractions in Penang including the Wat Chaiyamangkalaran Temple inside which lies the third largest Reclining Buddha in the world. Measuring to a length of 33 metres, the gold foil-wrapped Reclining Buddha has eyes and toenails made of seashells. Other attractions include the funicular railway to Penang Hill, the Snake Temple, India Temple, Penang Museum and the War Museum. A visit to the night market in Batu Ferringhi is a must.

The Bayview Beach Resort on Batu Ferringhi Beach is a 3* + hotel and is located on the quieter end of Batu Ferringhi Beach. It offers a choice of three restaurants & four bars, one of which has live entertainment five nights a week. Leisure facilities include outdoor pool with swim-up bar, jacuzzi, water sports, kids club and playground, teens club, tennis, squash, snooker, spa, sauna, steam room and fitness room. There are 366 air-conditioned rooms with bath/shower, hairdryer, mini bar, safe, tea/coffee making facilities, satellite TV & balcony.

BORNEO offers great wildlife, unique culture, soft adventure and wonderful beaches. A side trip to Sandakan to visit the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary is a must. The one day trip also includes a visit to the Sandakan Memorial Park which is adjacent to the site of the original Sandakan Prisoner of War camp and the fascinating water village. Sepilok Forest Reserve is an equatorial rainforest where the world’s most famous sanctuary for orphaned and captured orang-utans is found. Highly trained specialists prepare the orang-utans for their release back into the wild.

Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort is a 5* resort situated on the beachfront of Kota Kinabalu overlooking a marine national park, and is ten minutes from Kota Kinabalu town centre. The resort offers a choice of five restaurants & three bars with live entertainment. Leisure facilities include two outdoor pools, water sports, tennis, kids club, 9-hole pitch & putt golf course, spa and fitness centre. There are 500 air-conditioned rooms with private bath & separate shower, hairdryer, mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, safe, satellite TV and balcony.

Shangri-la’s Rasa Ria Resort is a relaxed informal 400 acre 5* resort with unspoilt beaches and its own orang-utan sanctuary and flanked by a rainforest. The resort offers five restaurants & three bars with live entertainment. Leisure facilities include outdoor pool, kids pool, spa, jacuzzi, water sports, 18 hole golf course, private orang-utan sanctuary & nature interpretation centre, kids club, spa & fitness centre. There are 330 air-conditioned rooms with bath/shower, hairdryer, mini fridge, tea/coffee making facilities, satellite TV and balcony.

KUALA LUMPUR is the capital city of Malaysia and is a bustling city with a mixture of luxury hotels, modern shopping malls and street markets. The many visitor attractions include the following:

Merdeka Square, where independence was declared in 1957,
Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world,
KL Tower, the best place to view KL from
The railway station built in 1911, a stunning example of British architecture, and
The Jemek Mosque.

Also worth a visit is Batu Caves, a fascinating Hindu Shrine situated outside the city centre, but only if you are prepared for the 272 steps to the entrance!! Included in the half-day tour is a visit to the pewter and batik factories.

Nightlife in Kuala Lumpa is varied with many bars and restaurants. If you like to haggle for a bargain, especially if you have a penchant for fake designer goods such as bags and t-shirts and pirate DVDs & CDs, then a visit to the bustling Chinese night market is a must.

The Hotel Equatorial is a 4* hotel situated in the centre of the “Golden Triangle” – the central area for shopping & entertainment. There are four restaurants, a coffee shop and a bar. There is an outdoor pool with sundeck overlooking the Petronas Towers and a fitness centre. The hotel offers 270 air-conditioned rooms with private bath/shower, hairdryer, mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, safe & satellite TV.

This was my first visit to the Far East and I did not really know what to expect but I have to say I was not at all disappointed. The service in the hotels, restaurants and bars was impeccable and all the people we met were very happy and friendly.

Jenny Nuonno visited the Far East in November 2005. If you would like to contact Jenny for more details of her trip, click here.