North Malaysia

Kedah

Kedah is not only an excellent destination for golfers considering a Malaysia Golf Holiday or golf tour in Kedah, it has the distinction of being the “Rice-bowl of Malaysia” – a term that takes on aesthetic significance when one sees the rice fields for themselves: the flat expanse of padis against a backdrop of rolling hills provides a picture of utter serenity that lulls the senses.

Off Kedah’s western shores are clusters of sun-drenched islands that comprise the legendary archipelago of Langkawi, easily the most popular resort location in the country. More than a land of mere scenery, however, Kedah is also the site of Malaysia’s most extensive ruins. In the Bujang Valley are the sprawling remains of a Hindu kingdom believed to date back to the 6th century A.D.  Golf in Kedah and your Malaysia golf holiday will be special.

Langkawi has been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark, Southeast Asia’s first, and Malaysia’s pride. This cluster of 99 islands offers beautiful beaches, world-class infrastructure, ultra-cheap duty-free shopping and fascinating myths and legends.

Off the coast of Kedah is a cluster of 99 islands with the best of many worlds; beautiful beaches, world-class infrastructure, mangroves rich in flora and fauna, ultra-cheap duty-free shopping and fascinating legends.

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Kedah Holiday Attractions

Kelantan

For most visitors, the charms of Kelantan are found in the vitality of its culture and its remote, unsullied beauty. The traditional sports of giant kite-flying, top-spinning, silat, wayang kulit, bird-singing competitions and the making of exquisite handicrafts such as songket, batik, silverware and mengkuang products still remain fixtures here, offering a glimpse of tradtional Malay culture in truly spectacular setting.Kelantan’s coastline is almost completely undeveloped, and offers a number of idyllic beaches. Vast stretches of tropical forest cover the state, and its southeastern corner forms part of the Taman Negara National Park.

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Kelentan Holiday Attractions

Kelantan’s Central Market is one of the most vibrant and enjoyable sites in the country. The sights, sounds, and colours are uniquely Kelantanese–women traders display brilliantly-coloured fresh graden produce, food stands grill delectable barbecued chicken, and craftsmen offer traditional wares like Kelantanese silver rose bowls.

In Kota Bharu visitors to Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, can view the traditional arts of Kelantan, including kiteflying, rebana (giant drums), silat (martial arts), giant top spinning, wayang kulit (shadow play).

Gunung Stong is Kelantan’s highest mountain at 1,422 metres. Located here is Gua Ikan (Fish Cave). Its name is derived from a lone rock that looks like a fish. To cave explorers on an expedition, part of the lure is trying to find a pot of gold believed to have been hidden during the Japanese Occupation.

Museum of Royal Traditions and Customs built in 1887 by Sultan Muhammad II for his grandson Long Kundur, this former palace, Istana Jahar, is now a museum of cultural history. The intricate wood carvings are testimony to the superb craftsmanship of the Kelantanese. Photographs, artifacts and exhibits on Kelantan’s rich cultural heritage will keep visitors enthralled.

Believed to be one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia, Masjid Kampung Laut was actually dismantled and rebuilt piece by piece from its original site at Kampung Laut because floods from the nearby river threatened its structure. The mosque was built entirely without the use of nails. It is located at Nilam Puri.

Penang

Penang needs little introduction to many visitors to Malaysia, having long been known as one of Southeast Asia’s finest destinations. Penang’s outstanding beaches and exotic sights have made it one of the most popular destinations in the region.

Temple in Penang As fabulous as its beaches are, some of Penang’s deeper mysteries should also be experienced. According to local folklore, the Snake Temple, dedicated to a Buddhist healer-priest, was inhabited by snakes who crawled out of the jungle on the night of the temple’s completion. The snakes are still there today. The Kek Lok Si temple, at Air Itam, is reputed to be the most beautiful and largest temple complex in Southeast Asia. Its seven-story pagoda, over 90 feet high, is a harmonious blend of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese architecture and craftsmanship.

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Penang Holiday Attractions

Kek Lok Si is reputedly the largest Buddhist temple complex in South-East Asia. The temple is also widely-known for the beauty of its design, which incorporates elements of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese architecture. Kek Lok Si is dominated by the seven-tiered pagoda of Ban Po Thar, which is dedicated to the Boddhisattva Tsi Tsuang Wang, who declined to enter nirvana after enlightenment in order that he might assist others along the path.

Located at Lebuh Farquhar, the Penang Museum and Art Gallery houses old photographs, maps, charts and historical relics. It was built in 1821 and was formerly the Penang Free School. Opens: 9am-5pm (Daily) On Fridays, closed between 12.15pm -2.45pm

The Penang Bird Park occupies a generous landscaped site in Seberang Jaya. Within its beautifully-designed aviaries are over four hundred species of birds from all over the world. Man-made islands with cascades, gardens, and ornamental plants abound. The park also contains a wide variety of orchids and hibiscus plants. Entrance Fee: Adults: RM4.00, Children: RM2 00 Open: 10am-6pm (Daily)

Perak

Golf courses in Perak help to make it a state that is defined by the course of its namesake river. Perak’s population is about two million. Until the nineteenth century, Perak’s golf package golfers and people were concentrated along the Perak River, and the chief city was riverside Kuala Kangsar. However, the discovery of wondrously rich tin deposits in surrounding valleys lead to the establishment of and transfer of the capital to Taiping and, later, Ipoh.

The tin mines around Ipoh are reputedly the richest in the world, and it is no surprise that the city has expanded steadily from the time the mines were discovered in the nineteenth century. Today, Ipoh is one of Malaysia’s larger cities, with a population of about half a million people.

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Perak Holiday Attractions

Kuala Kangsar, located 48km north of Ipoh on the Perak River, is the royal town of Perak. It is dominated by three beautiful buildings: Istana Iskandariah, Istana Kenangan and the Ubudiah mosque. The Istana Iskandariah, situated on a hill overlooking the river, is the palace of the Sultan of Perak.

Kuala Kangsar is also the home of the Malaysian rubber industry. It was here, in 1877, that nine rubber trees were planted by the British resident Hugh Low, marking the arrival of an industry would within decades vie with tin as the country’s most important export.

Taiping succeeded Kuala Kangsar as the capital of Perak in the late nineteenth century. Taiping was during that time the thriving center of the tin industry in the surrounding valley. In the 1890s, disused mining pools at the edge of town were cleverly landscaped to form the beautiful Lake Gardens.

Bukit Larut, located just 10 km from Taiping, is Malaysia’s oldest hill station. Bukit Larut is not nearly as developed as the more celebrated Cameron and Genting Highlands. However, it preserves much more of the atmosphere of a colonial hill station, with modest, welcoming bungalows, carefully cultivated gardens, and a pervasive atmosphere of cool quietude.

85 km southwest of Ipoh is the naval base town of Lumut. Of interest here is the Naval Museum which houses a collection of ancient weapons and historical artifacts. Lumut is also the departure point for Perak’s internationally-known islands, Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Pangkor Laut.

The countryside around Ipoh is studded with dramatic limestone outcroppings, many of which are dotted with cave temples. While many of the temples are of recent origin, cave paintings dating back two millenia have been located at one site.

The Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary attracts a wide variety of exotic birds, particularly during the migratory season between August and December. Hundreds of species of birds have been sighted here, as well as a number of fascinating mammals, the dusky leaf monkey, smooth otter, and ridge-back dolphin among them. For information, contact the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Ipoh.

Midway along the East-West Highway is Temenggur Lake, formed by the the construction of the magnificent Temenggur dam. Set atop an island in the lake is the Banding Resort, a small facility offering basic accommodations and outstanding fishing. The Bandung area is slated for tourist development in the near future, but at the moment the Bandung Resort continues to be a lovely retreat.