Malaysia

Lojing Highlands, Kelantan: Blowing Darts at an Aboriginal Senoi Village [SP]

Posted on June 23, 2012

Learning darts, aboriginal-style! After our two-hour return hike to see the Rafflesia blooms, we detoured to a small resettlement village of the Senoi, one of the orang asli or aboriginal groups of Malaysia for a demonstration of their blowpipe hunting skills. While there are no more real aboriginal villages in Lojing Highlands, the government has provided resettlement villages for displaced families, where some of them earn a living through eco-tourism and handicraft-making. There were 22 families living in the villageRead More→

Lojing Highlands, Kelantan: Jungle Trekking for Rafflesia, the World’s Biggest Flower! [SP]

Posted on June 23, 2012

Rafflesia in the flesh at Lojing Highlands, Kelantan! A closer look at Rafflesia kerrii, second largest in the genus Driving an hour north of the popular hill resort of Cameron Highlands, our full-day adventure started as soon as our 4X4 Land Rover detoured to a bumpy dirt track that lead to our jump-off point to a quick jungle trek to find the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, which I’ve been trying to see for years.  The forests ofRead More→

George Town & Melaka: Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Posted on May 12, 2011

Stadthuys (Red Square), Melaka If the Philippines has Vigan, Malaysia has the World Heritage cities of George Town and Melaka. Having the opportunity to visit Singapore frequently for business trips has afforded me leisurely side trips to Peninsular Malaysia from time to time. My favorite getaway is Melaka, a former settlement of the British East India Company which still retains much of its colonial, small town charm. It is a city that wakes up the senses: the architectural textures ofRead More→

Singapore Sidetrips: Tanjung Pinang, Johor Bahru & Pulau Ubin

Posted on November 9, 2010

The following article is a commissioned article I wrote for this month’s issue (November 2010) of SMILE, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air. You may browse the magazine online at http://www.cebusmile.com With its central location, Singapore is a great jump-off point to other destinations. Why not take quick visits to some of the city’s outlying attractions? TEXT EDGAR ALAN ZETA-YAPPHOTOS LESTER LEDESMA (TANJUNG PINANG), EDGAR ALAN ZETA-YAP (JOHOR BAHRU AND PULAU UBIN) Tanjung Pinang The neighboring Indonesian island ofRead More→

Express Bus Schedule To/From Kinabalu Park

Posted on May 31, 2010

Timpohon Summit Trail, Kinabalu Park To KOTA KINABALU From Sandakan Arrival at Kinabalu Park 6:30 AM 11:00 AM 7:00 AM 11:30 AM 9:00 AM 1:30 PM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM 2:00 PM 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 12:30 AM To SANDAKAN From Kota Kinabalu Arrival at Kinabalu Park 7:00 AM 8:30 AM 8:00 AM 9:30 AM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:30 PM 8:00 PM 9:30 PM To SEMPORNA From Kota KinabaluRead More→

Mt. Kinabalu Climb: Budget Breakdown

Posted on May 20, 2010

South Peak is the most recognizable ‘postcard’ vista of Mt. Kinabalu Last April’s climb up one of Southeast Asia’s highest peaks was a life-changing experience, after eleven hours worth of uphill trekking through cloud forests, alpine meadows and granite massif, battling occasional downpour, icy winds and altitude sickness. Mt. Kinabalu – my first mountain climbing experience – is an accessible peak that can be scaled by the inexperienced but persevering adventure-seeker. Re-posting the climbing expenses from a travel forum forRead More→