Smiling Taiwan: Feel it! Love it!

Smiling Taiwan. That is how it Taiwan likes to refer to itself. And as a tourist, you will feel it and start loving its people immediately. It’s green mountains, its lovely smiling people, its efficient road system, its busy and workhorse like capital, its beaches, its corals and many more. Taiwan is a land that is very special and deserves a lot of time.


A lot of people visit Taiwan only for Taipei 101. While Taipei 101 is spectacular, the night markets, the really devout people, the bullet train, the stinky tofu, the ability to get all kinds of food, some fantastic green tea, some amazing landscapes and more is what you should go to Taiwan for. The central mountains and the east coast is more less populated, while the north and the west coast is the more well populated and busy. And if you are looking to buy some phones or laptop spare parts, then you are in the right country.

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The Snake Alley of Taipei

Snake Alley! This is how the Taipei locals refer to the Hwahsi (Huaxei) tourist night market. Just the name was enough to take me to this place that is situated close to the famous Longshan Temple. I had heard a lot of stories about this place. It’s snake soups, the ability to taste all kinds of exotic meats and more. Personally, I am a vegetarian, but I was keen on saying how the place got its name.


And when I went there, I saw a typical tourist market that served all kinds of meats, had all kinds of reptiles on display, had many sex toy stores and sold Taiwan’s favorite stinky tofu that would make you cringe when you walked past those stalls. As a wildlife lover, it hurt me to see turtles, pythons, cobras, crocodiles and many other reptiles being served on dinner plates. But, since there is demand here, these poor reptiles get captured and eaten. This alley is also good for getting great deals on hardware accessories and shoes. Even though this place is technically a tourist night market, you will find more locals here than tourists.

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Top 5 Attractions of Kuala Lumpur

A mining outpost of just a century ago and now the capital of Malaysia with a population of over 8 million, KL is one of the major centers of Southeast Asia. This crowded architectural marvel of a city has a lot to offer for the tourist. Below are the top 5 tourist spots.


Colonial City Centre
West of the confluence of the Gombak and the Klang rivers is where one will find the old city centre for British colonial rule, with its 19^th century Mughal-style administrative buildings. Most of these buildings are clustered around Dataran Merdeka or the Independence square. The most imposing of these buildings is the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, the colonial administrative center. The other important buildings here are the Old Supreme Court, Old Town Hall, Royal Selangor Club, Masjid Jamek, Kompleks Dayabumi and Masjid Negara.

Petronas Twin Towers The city’s most striking landmark is one of the world’s tallest building, the 1,483 feet tall Petronas twin towers, whose identical towers are linked midway up by a skybridge. The towers reach a numerically auspicious 88 storeys above the traffic congested streets and house the contemporary Suria KLCC shopping mall, an excellent concert hall and thousands of offices.

Bukit Bintang The fulcrum of modern consumer life in KL is Bukit Bintang, an area of shops, restaurants and hotels to suit every budget. One can find a whole bunch of shopping malls in this area. The Sungai Wang Plaza and the adjacent Bukit Bintang Plaza offer more than 500 shops, including some of the most affordable, trendy clothing options in KL. Imbi Plaza and Plaza Low Yat concentrate on computers and software, while the high end shoppers can explore the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the luxury Starhill Gallery and Lot 10.


Menara Kuala Lumpur For the best city view of Kuala Lumpur, climb the Menara Kuala Lumpur, a 1380 feet telecom tower, one of the highest such structures in the world. At its base is a lovely tropical forest park that is deserving of an exploration.


Petaling Street
The city’s most famous street bazaar, Petaling Street, lines Jalan Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir. It is most famous for pirated versions of branded goods, from handbags and jeans to watches. Bargaining hard here can result in very good buys. Apart from shopping, one can also explore the temples around this area such as Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, ornate South Indian Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and the Chan Shee Shue Yen Clan Association.

Note: Photos in this post have been used with written consent from Beehive Communications on behalf of Tourism Malaysia.

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Remarkable Malaysian Wildlife

Compared with East Africa or India, relatively few visitors to Malaysia take the time to explore the region’s national parks and wildlife reserves. Yet there is a great deal to see as the natural habitats of Malaysia are some of the richest on earth, home to remarkable range of animal life.


The tropical rainforests of Malaysia, dominated by gigantic trees are home to a wide range of wildlife that includes numerous species of monkey and smaller primates, such as the silvered-leaf monkey at Bukit Nanas in Langkawi and the nocturnal tarsier that is indigenous to the jungles of Sarawak. The Malayan flying squirrel leaping from branch to branch is quite the specialty here, while down on the ground there are forest elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, honey bears and scaly ant-eaters. One of the most unusual animals is the Malayan tapir, a distant cousin of the elephant, which can be seen in parts of peninsular Malaysia.


Over 620 species of birds have been recorded just on the peninsula. The giant hornbill found in the equatorial forests is one of the more treasured sights. Other bird species include spectacular pheasants and many groups of colorful birds such as kingfishers, sunbirds, woodpeckers and barbets.


Snakes such as the cobra and the python also can be regularly seen. So are the saltwater crocodiles that are found in plenty in many rivers and coastal areas. A variety of lizards, geckos and chameleons can be seen throughout the region, as can improbably colorful tree frogs.


Malaysia is a true ecological gem, the excellent combination of sea, sun, fascinating rainforests, mysterious mangroves, birds and wildlife. So whether you are a simple tourist or an ardent naturalist, Malaysian wildlife is bound to leave an impact on you.

Note: Photos in this post have been used with written consent from Beehive Communications on behalf of Tourism Malaysia.

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Kuala Lumpur: 8 places to shop till you drop

When shopping is on your mind, Malaysia won’t disappoint you. With its enviable selection of malls and markets, Kuala Lumpur offers alluring alternatives to everything on your list, all within your budget. So whether it is designer labels, cosmetics or traditional souvenirs, Malaysia can definitely be your one-stop-shopping destination!!

Bintang Walk Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Bintang Walk is popular with locals and tourists alike. Stretching from Lot 10 Shopping Center to the JW Marriott hotel, Bintang Walk is a colorful and vibrant row of street-side cafes, restaurants and pubs. The night life here is fabulous too with its colorful and dazzling array of lights. ‘Go here for some energetic shopping’.

Central Market The oldest shopping center of Kuala Lumpur, the Central market is where one can stock up on traditional Malay items. Pick up traditional goods such as batik, embroidery, carvings, souvenirs, sculptures, clothes, among other interesting items. You can also request local artists to paint caricatures, or even get full-blown portraits made. After your spree, relax and unwind at some of the restaurants and cafes in the building or at the riverside amphitheater nearby. ‘Traditional Shopping at its best’.

Berjaya Times Square Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is an architectural masterpiece that houses over 10,000 shops, service outlets and a variety of retail anchors all under one roof. Linked to the 5-star hotel Berjaya Times Square, this is your one-stop leisure destination with its mind-boggling range of food courts, indoor theme park with an IMAX theatre, cinema, spa centre, games arcade, karaoke lounge, supermarket, bank and IT mall. ‘It’s All in the Square’.

Jalan Petaling For an authentic taste of Malaysia, visit this vibrant marketplace for its Chinese-centric goods.  Learn more about the traditional medicines and herbs on display and browse through fashion accessories and electronic goods. The stalls here peddle everything you are likely to need, from Holland grapes to Taiwanese batteries. Sit down at some of the popular Chinese al-fresco restaurants and treat your taste buds to traditional delicacies such as pastries, savory meats and cakes. ‘Bargain Shopping can be very satisfying too’.

Sungei Wang Plaza Spend time at this award-winning shopping complex, which covers over two million square feet together with the Bukit Bintang Plaza. This two-decade-old plaza houses over 500 retail outlets selling everything from food to clothes, and is the best place in the city to get yourself a good bargain. ‘Perfect for family shopping’.

Craft Complex Looking for traditional artifacts? Head straight to the handicrafts complex situated in the golden triage of Kuala Lumpur’s business district and indulge in a unique variety of craft-related activities and programs. The key places to check out here are the Craft Museum, Craft Village, Karyaneka Craft Boutique and the Artists' colony. ‘Astounding Malaysian Art’.

Suria KLCC When you need retail therapy, indulge yourself at this premier shopping destination that is located next to the famous Petronas towers. Navigate through six levels for leading brands at its luxury boutiques; tuck into mouth-watering treats at its food courts. Book lovers should stop at Kinokuniya, the only branch of this premier bookstore in Malaysia. ‘Opulence next to the world’s second tallest towers’.

Pasar Malam (Night Markets) Take a leisurely stroll through the night markets to browse through and haggle for household goods, audio/visual equipment and trinkets. Check out the prominent display of pirated goods at throwaway prices. Pick up fresh produce and sample food items or just soak up the infectious atmosphere of the night market. ‘Shopping that continues well into the night’.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to shop till you drop…in truly Malaysia?


Note: Photos in this post have been used with written consent from Beehive Communications on behalf of Tourism Malaysia.

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