Legoland hotel to open in 2014

Planning a holiday with your kids to the fantastic Legoland theme park in Malaysia? Soon you will be able to base your stay entirely within the park’s immediate surroundings, for the representatives behind Legoland Malaysia have recently announced the construction of a Legoland hotel to be located adjacent to the park and which is set to open its doors to the public in the first quarter of 2014.
The idea behind the construction of the Legoland hotel is to provide holidaying families with an integrated destination resort experience, thereby ensuring that they spend quality time together as they explore the many attractions of Asia’s only Lego-themed park. The hotel which is currently under construction is a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments Group, owners of the Legoland brand, and LL Themed Hotel SdnBhd, a local Malay company. Legoland Malaysia hotel when complete will be the fourth such hotel in the world.
The Malaysia Legoland hotel will not however be built of Lego bricks though the iconic colorful bricks will have a notable presence throughout the 249-room hotel. Aside from having Lego bricks as a central theme, the Legoland Malaysia hotel also promises to be extremely child-friendly for it is the first hotel in the world that has been designed from a child’s point of view.
This child-friendly perspective will thus be evident in all parts of the hotel, like the hotel’s restaurants will all be equipped with low counters which will be accessible by children. Additionally, the various Pirate, Kingdom and Adventure-themed rooms of the hotel, will also be outfitted with toy boxes filled with the multi-hued plastic  bricks and several other interactive challenges, guaranteed to keep the young-one’s adequately entertained when they return to hotel, after having spent the day exploring the more than 40 attractions at the expansive Legoland  Park.

Escape Adventure Play theme Park Penang

Penang, the favored destination of the beach and food obsessed hordes, now has a brand-new attraction in the form of the ESCAPE Adventure Play Theme park, which opened its doors to the public in December 2012. The brainchild of a local Penangite and theme park entrepreneur, founder and chief executive of Sim Leisure, Sim Choo Kheng, and this theme park is a family-friendly enterprise that was built to encourage both adults and children to revel in outdoor pursuits set in the midst of natural surroundings.
While conceiving of the idea of such a park, Sim drew upon his own childhood experiences and the fun he had with his friends, playing amongst natural environs while growing up in a kampong in Penang. He used to these personal experiences to create this ‘outdoorsy ’park in an effort to entice children to spend more time playing outdoors.  Sim believes modern-day youngsters spend too much time cooped up in front of a computer or idiot box and this sedentary life is not healthy.
Sim’s park which is located in the catchment area of Penang’s Teluk Bahang dam, offers a variety of invigorating activities that aim to energize the body, mind and soul. Once you arrive at Escape Adventure Play Park, you are expected to leave your stresses and strains at the door, as you throw yourself into the various ‘play’ activities at the park. Popular activities at the park include:-
Atan's Leap
Become weightless as you leap through the air like Atan (the hero of the park) and experience a rush of adrenalin as you rapidly descend onto a cushioned but secure landing.
Monkey Business
Navigate the challenging rope course as you learn to climb and perfect your balance like a tree-climbing primate. The activity offers three levels of expertise and is deemed suitable for all ages.
Go Ape
Relive the joy of climbing trees and bring out your inner ape, as you race your friends and family to the top. A similar experience can be had at the Coco climb which extracts your natural ability to climb a tall palm tree by instinct. Coco climb can be partaken individually or as part of a group activity.
Gecko Tower
Learn to become as sure-footed as a gecko as you shimmy up this climbing tower safe in the knowledge that you are protected by the climb’s auto-belay system in case you lose your nerve.
Tubby Racer
Have oodles of fun as you race downhill aboard a tubby tube. You can even link several tubes together to enhance your enjoyment.
Zoom Bug
Go-karting is always fun but the ESCAPE theme park’s human-powered go-karting activity enhances the pleasure of this activity.
These are just some of the many activities offered at Escape Adventure Theme Park. So if your everyday life seems like a chore and you feel burdened with cares, why don’t you runaway to Penang’s Escape Adventure play theme park and refresh your body and soul as you come alive?
Details:
Tickets:
4-12 years – RM45
13-60years- RM60
Above 60- RM45
20% Discount for Malaysians
Address: 828 Jalan Teluk Bahang 11050 (Before Butterfly Farm)
http://www.escape.my/

Rumah Terbalik (Upside Down House)

The Upside-down house or Rumah Terbalik is one of Sabah’s newest attractions. This 1500 sq. foot topsy-turvy abode is hard to miss, as it stands out prominently in Kampung Bantayan-Telibong in Tamparuli, a location situated along the main highway that leads to Sabah’s famous attractions like the towering Mt Kinabalu, Poring Hot Spring and Kiulu River.
The builder of the upside-down house, construction firm owner and tourist lodge operator; Alexander Yee, specifically chose this location for the dwelling, in order to draw attention to its unusual structure. Moreover, aside from entertaining the crowds, Yee wants to use his upside-down home to drive home his message of nature conservation, for he says if we continue to exploit our natural resources at the rate at which we are doing now, there will come a time when nature will revolt to turn our world upside-down and that would be catastrophic.  Yee goes on to add that through the construction of this topsy-turvy house, he wanted to change how people approached life and themselves.

Yee’s upside-down house took six months to build and is constructed out of recycled wooed and materials. The house which is the only one of its kind in Malaysia displays various decorative features native to Sabah and is fully furnished and equipped with a living room, a dining room, an outfitted kitchen, a veranda, two bedrooms and a toilet. Outside the house stands a garage, where a car has been parked upside-down to stay in line with the theme.

The house which has been flipped on its head provides a totally different perspective, as for its ceiling is actually its floor and its fitted furniture and appliances appear to be suspended over your head. In February 2012, Rumah Terbalik has been entered in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first upside-down house of Malaysia.
A visit to the first Upside-down house in Malaysia is bound to provide a memorable experience and should be included as a must-do on any visit Sabah itinerary. Also onsite at the attraction is well-stocked souvenir shop that offers handicrafts and souvenirs made in Sabah and a café offering locally brewed coffee along with much delicious native fare.
Opening hours
Daily: (including public holidays): 8:00am to 10:00pm
Website : www.upsidedownhouse.com.my
Admission fees
MyKad holders: RM10.00
Others: RM18.00
Students/Children below 12 years: RM5.00
Children below 3 years: Free of charge
Photography indoors is prohibited

Top Tourist Hot Spots in Malaysia

Malaysia is a fascinating country which offers diverse experiences. While peninsular Malaysia is home to vibrant, attraction-filled cities like Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Ipoh, Malaysian Borneo situated on the expansive island of  offers more natural attractions like the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Mount Kinabalu, the magnificent dive sites of Sipadan and the mystical but fascinating Gunung Mulu National Park. Added to this intriguing mix are several fabulous Malaysian beach destinations like Langkawi and Penang, Malaysia in short offers something for every type of traveler. Faced with such heady mix of attractions, you may be tempted to ask the question what are the top tourist hotspots in Malaysia?

Kuala Lumpur
The capital and the largest city in Malaysia is a fascinating city. Dynamic and energized, it offers a whole host of attractions like the towering PETRONAS towers once the tallest buildings the world, the Lake Garden Park, the Bukit Nanas forest reserve, the National Museum and the National Zoo. Aside from sight-seeing attractions, the city also offers numerous options to shop, dine and play at locales like the Pavilion Mall, Lot 10, the Mid-Valley Mega Mall, the Jalan Alor street-food district , the Zouk nightclub and the Sky Bar at the Trader’s hotel.


The Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is a colonial-era hill-station in Malaysia. Located within Pahang state, the Cameron Highlands were developed by the British in the 1920’s. The highlands which are situated at a height of 1500 meters above sea-level in the Titiwangsa hill range are blessed with a year round amiable climate conducive to tea cultivation.  The hill-station is thus littered with tea plantations and factories. Moreover the highlands offer a distinct ‘English’ ambience adorned as they are with many Tudor-style cottages and lush gardens.

Langkawi
The heavily tourist-trafficked island, Langkawi popularly referred to as the ‘Jewel of Kedah’ is one of the most popular destinations in Malaysia. The largest of more than a hundred islands situated in the crystal waters of the Andaman Sea, Langkawi offers an abundance of attractions like white sand beachfronts that host much water sporting action, exhilarating cable car rides, island-hopping tours, parks and nature reserves coupled with excellent duty-free shopping options. Langkawi in fac  has something for all ages and tastes.

Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu located on the island of Borneo is the capital of Sabah state. A bustling urban center, Kota Kinabalu or ‘KK’, as it is commonly called provides visitors with access to many splendid ‘nature-themed’ attractions in Sabah like Mount Kinabalu Park, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, the Poring Hot Springs and the stunning diving and snorkeling sites of Sipadan, Mabul , Matakang and Kapalai islands.

Georgetown
Georgetown, the capital of Penang is one the largest cities in Malaysia and a favored tourist destination which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Home to magnificent colonial-era monuments and myriad other attractions like Fort Cornwallis, the oldest British settlement in Malaysia, the Kek Lok Si temple, the Khoo Kongsi hall, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Georgetown offers a vivid representation to the multi-cultural tapestry of Malaysian society.

Malacca
Easily accessible via a two hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, the charming old-world trading port, Malacca is yet another UNESCO world heritage site in Malaysia. Offering various charming attractions like trishaw rides, the Jonker street antiquing district and night-market, restaurants hosted in historic Chinese shop-houses, Malacca has much to offer for all ages and is considered a rewarding city to explore.

Top fine dining restaurants in Malaysia

Malaysia’s reputation as a ‘foodie’ destination is legendary. This multi-cultural, multi-ethnic country abounds with good food and offers a native cuisine that reflects the unique composition of its population. Most Malaysians have down the ages savored the delicious and hearty meals served at street vendors, food courts and kenduris (parties to celebrate festivals and religious events). However, as tastes evolve and develop, the gastronomic landscape in Malaysia has also changed and the country now hosts several fine dining restaurants that are well worth a visit on any trip to the country.
Lafite
The European fine-dining restaurant Lafite located within the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, has long been a fixture on the city’s fine dining scene. This famed restaurant headed by Chef de cuisine, John Nash, was given a complete make-over in 2010, so that it now sports a modern, sleek and stylish décor which forms a perfect foil to the restaurant’s modern European menu. Lafite habitually attracts the glitterati of Kuala Lumpur and since its opening in 1985, has always featured on the city’s ‘best restaurant lists’.
http://www.shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/shangrila/dining/restaurants/lafite/
Cilantro Restaurant and Wine Bar
Cilantro is another stellar restaurant on Malaysia’s ‘best fine dining restaurant list’. Located within Kuala Lumpur’s luxe MiCasa, all-suite hotel, Cilantro which is headed by innovative chef, Takashi Kimura, offers modern French fare with a distinct Japanese twist. Using exotic and fresh Asian ingredients chef Kimura creates delectable and highly unusual offerings like unagi paired with foie gras.  The restaurant also offers a choice of set menus designed to aid choices as well as wallets.
http://www.cilantrokl.com
Frangipani
The chic Frangipani restaurant located on KL’s noisy; Changkat Bukit Bintang strip has been in existence for over ten years now. Owned by quirky, inventive Chef Chris Bauer, Frangipani is an oasis of calm, equipped as it is equipped with a courtyard dining area set around an inky black pool. On offer at Frangipani is an ever-changing menu that dishes up modern, French fare featuring top-notch ingredients like Hokkaido scallops, foie gras and smoked salmon.
http://www.frangipani.com.my
Bijan
This award-winning upscale Malay restaurant situated on Jalan Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur proves that fine dining  in Malaysia is not just limited to western cuisine, for it offers an upscale version of an array of Malay delights like rendang daging, ikan panggang and cucur udang in decidedly sophisticated environs.
http://www.bijanrestaurant.com
Aside, from Kuala Lumpur, fine dining restaurants can be found in various other Malaysian cities like street-food obsessed Penang as well.
Feringgi Grill
The Feringgi Grill housed within Penang’s spectacular Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa was launched more than three decades ago.  This fine dining heaven still endures as it continues to offer exquisite dining experiences exhibiting dominant European influences.

http://www.shangri-la.com/penang/rasasayangresort/dining/restaurants/feringgi-grill/
Cassis Restaurant

Cassis is a relative newcomer on Penang’s burgeoning fine-dining scene. Headed by experienced and Penang native, chef Beh Weng Chia, this sumptuously adorned restaurant located on Belissa Row offers modern Italian cuisine and is favored by locals and visitors alike.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cassis-Restaurant/133415410049299