Tourism in Malaysia
Sepilok Orang-utan Center
Fifteen miles from Sandakan, the Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Center was established in 1964 rescue and rehabilitate those orphaned baby orangutans that were being found in ever greater numbers as Borneo was explored and settled by humans. The orphaned orang-utans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as ready.Today it is one of the best places in the world to see the famous wild man of Borneo in its natural habitat. Located on ten thousand hectares of tropical lowland rainforest; where you will ever get to see this fascinating primate in action. While you may well have seen Orang-utan in a zoo back home this is an opportunity to see the animal in its natural jungle environment. You get to see them build places in which to sleep in the unique fashion that only they use. The best times to visit are around 10am or 2.30pm, when rangers lead visitors to one of the feeding platforms to witness the absorbing sight of the large primates feasting on milk and bananas, playing games with each other and gazing solemnly at their human counterparts with intelligent, mesmerizing eyes. The area is also home to the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, which is an even rarer species than the aforementioned Orang-utans.
Rantau Abang
Rantau Abang, the turtle capital of Malaysia .At 22km north of K.Dungun and 80km south of K.Terengganu is probably the most talked about tourist spot in Terengganu. There, visitors can lie quietly in wait from midnight to dawn to watch giant leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In fact Rantau Abang features among the six beaches in the world, which are visited by the leatherback turtles during the months of May to September. The giant creatures trudging on the sandy beach to lay eggs is a sight that the visitors don't want to miss. The beach terrain here is favorable as it has a steep and deep slope so that the turtle can 'land' straight up the beach. The turtles, which can measure up to two and half meters in length and weigh over three hundred and seventy five kilograms, are an endangered species and the work being carried out at the beach is an attempt to protect the animals .
Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They are the sacred place for the Hindu's in Malaysia. They consist of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. The caves are made of limestone and 400 meters long and 100 meter high. They were discovered in 1892. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill.The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Muruga. It is the focal point of the annual Thaipusam festival in Malaysia. Every year, on Thaipusam, as many as 800,000 devotees and other visitors may throng the caves, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.
Danum Valley
The Danum Valley Conservation Area, 83km southwest of Lahad Datu, is blessed with a startling diversity of tropical flora and fauna. On its eastern border is the Danum Valley Field Centre - probably the leading rainforest research center in the Old World tropics. The focus here is a huge spectrum of plant life and their complex ecosystem that supported a very interesting array of rare fauna. Observations so far tally 275 species of birds, 110 species of mammals including true wild Orang Utans, five species of deer, bearded wild pigs, howling gibbons, giant flying squirrels, flying frogs, magnificent Bulwar pheasants, the Asian elephants and one of Danum's best known beasts- the Sumatran Rhinoceros which still roam in its deep.
Kek Lok Si
One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Malaysia, Kek Lok Si is located in Penang in some of the most immaculate gardens you will ever visit. Taking more than 20 years to build, the temple is set against beautiful scenic surroundings. It features a turtle pond, gardens, shrines and beautiful sculptures .If you have never been to a Buddhist place of worship before prepare yourself. Most visitors approach the temple as they ascend a stairway, roofs of which provide shelter to a multitude of shops selling souvenirs and other - mostly secular - commodities. The number of Buddhas, which adorn this particular temple, is guaranteed to shock you. Sculptures of all shapes and sizes are positioned throughout the temple and the site is also home to the beautiful Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The temple is a focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive: for 30 days following Chinese New Year, the temple remains open until late at night whilst thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light. After all, everyone needs to take time out to relax every now and again and this is the perfect place to do so.
Sukau Rainforest -
Situated on the Kinabatangan River, the Sukau rainforest is a unique combination of various blends of wildlife, the main attraction being the proboscis monkey. The Sukau area is in fact so rich in fauna that, in a short stay, you can experience a fascinating number of different wildlife including primates, birds and reptiles.