Malaysia Travel and Tour Information Portal

ORANG ASLI IN ECO-TOURISM: For the Orang Asli of Kampung Ulu Geroh in Perak (Malaysia), their village is their beloved home. It has also been the site of the Malaysian Nature Society’s Rafflesia Conservation and Ecotourism project since 2000. The village is also a haven for the rare Rajah Brooke’s birdwing butterfly, a protected species in the forest habitat.

TWO SURGEONS PICKED FOR MALAYSIA’S FIRST ASTRONAUT PROGRAMME: Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and dental surgeon Kapt Dr Faiz Khaleed, both bachelors, have been selected to undergo 12-month training in Russia. They were chosen from 11,000 applicants since the Malaysian National Space Agency (ANGKASA) started screening candidates in 2003 for Malaysia’s first astronaut programme. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced their names on Sept 4 at the Bunga Raya complex at the KL International Airport. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, 34, is attached to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, while Kapt Dr Faiz, 26, is with the Malaysian Defence Forces.

A BIT OF RUSSLA IN VMY 2007: Check out a six-storey space shuttle from Russia that will be an attraction next year as Malaysia celebrates “Visit Malaysia Year”. Called Buran, the space shuttle will be flown into the country by a special aircraft and exhibited at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the aerospace exhibition, on now until August next year, will also commemorate the send-off for the country’s first astronaut into space, which is scheduled at the same time.

CROCODILE HUNTER KILLED: Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the “Crocodile Hunter”, was killed on Sept 4 by a stingray during a diving expedition near Low Isles Reef. He was 44. Irwin was reported to have been filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier reef in Queensland, the northeastern Australian state, when the accident occurred. “Crocodile Hunter” was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel. Credited for developing the Australia Zoo as a tourist attraction, he was Australia’s best-known export. A passionate conservationist, Irwin was also seen as a vocal critic of wildlife hunts in Australia. He is survived by his American wife Terri, and their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.

MALAYSIA AIRPORTS Holdings Bhd Senior General Manager for Operation Services Azmi Murad held a media briefing recently on the ongoing upgrading works being carried out at KL International Airport.
Some RM135 million is allocated for the programme which includes upgrading facilites to accommodate the Airbus A380,the world’s largest commercial aircraft.
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SOME   200 journalists, media representatives and their friends descended on Bidor, Perak, on sept 9. This quiet town was on the route of a treasure hunt organized by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (Malaysia Airports).

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KL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT has received the “Highly Commended” award at the OAG Airport Marketing Awards 2006 held in conjunction with the 12th World Route Development Forum in Dubai on Sept 18.
OAG Managing Director Duncan Alexander presented the award to Malaysia Airports Managing Director Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad, witnessed by Malaysia Airports Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Dr Aris Othman. (more…)

Sex symbol and women’s rights activist. Chirpy VJ and wry host. Local celebrity and international star. Asha Gill has worn more hats and acquired more labels in her 34 years than most people do in their lifetime.
“I’m sure I’ve always wanted to do everything,” said the multi-talented self-confessed schizo-phrenic in an interview with KLIA Times. “My brain goes a mile a minute sometimes. I just fall into things. And when I see the door and what’s behind it and I like it , I’m like a dog with a bone. So far, so good.”
Born July 3,1972 in Kent, Asha was schooled and raised in the United Kingdom. She came to Malaysia to be with her parents in Seremban. But she returned to the UK to take her O-Levels and A-Levels and went on to do her Bachelors in Science in Quantity Surveying at Kingston Poly, Surrey.
After a stint in production work in the UK, Asha decided to come to Malaysia to stay for good. This decision proved instrumental in shaping her career. Her talent in modeling and hosting was quickly recognized. She began getting one high-profile job after another and firmly launched her career.
Asha first made a name for herself as a Channel [V] VJ (1999-2003), though she did get credits for directing, producing and writing for the company.  “Now that is what I love. To be a proper part of the team,” she said. (more…)

KENONG RIMBA PARK (Pahang): Get really close to nature. Discover places that only now are being discovered. You can stay in a chalet, a dormitory or at a campsite go caving in this park which is sprawled over 120 sq km in the Kenong Valley, bordering Taman Negara. The popular caves are Gua Hijau (green cave), Gua Buta (blind cave) and Gua Harimau (tiger cave). Kenong is accessible from Kuala Lipis town by a two hour boat ride and a trek to the base camp. Contact the Kuala Lipis District Forest office at 609 3121273.

Malacca: A visit to the historical town of Malacca is both an education and a pleasure. You get to see the vestiges of early foreign occupation-Portuguese and Dutch-that hark back to a glorious past when it was a vibrant maritime trading centre and coveted by several foeign powers. You can’t miss , a fortress built by the Portuguese admiral Alfonso d’AlBuquerque in 1511. and there is of course the striking salmon-red Stadthuys. Built in 1650 as the official residence of dutch governors and officials. It is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East (Circa 1641 and 1660).