Fall in love with Malaysia all over again as you
discover more about its uniqueness with Agoda
Love is in the air! Chocolates, flowers and candlelit
dinners abound; cheesy love songs and romantic dedications play around the
clock. Yes, Valentine’s Day is here.
While typically celebrated between loved ones, this
Valentine’s why not switch the beat and celebrate love of a different kind? Get
swept off your feet with Malaysia’s curious offerings as Agoda, one of the
world’s fastest growing digital travel platforms, shares an exploration of six fun, quirky
things that make Malaysia the truly lovable and unique country that it is.
The land that
eats round the clock
The word on the street is that Malaysians eat only one
meal a day: they start in the morning and don’t stop till just before bedtime! As
absurd as that may sound, this is one unique trait that is relatable to most
Malaysians. In fact, typically agreeable Malaysians can become some of the most
passionate and opinionated people when it comes to food. And why shouldn’t they
be? A nation blessed with a myriad of 24-hour eateries, Malaysia is a rare culinary
paradise that champions the delicacies of all ethnicities.
For a heady mix
of culture, check out George Town – the capital city of Penang, where the
street and hawker food scene remains a dominant draw for locals and tourists
alike. While there, check into the Seven
Terraces Hotel, a row of houses converted from 19th Century
Anglo-Chinese terraces and now decked out in opulent Peranakan Chinese furniture.
Located only a stone’s throw away from Chulia Street, the hotel is
within walking distance to a haven of local hawker fare, eateries and watering
holes.
Indulge in the
exotic King of Fruits
Ahh Malaysia, the land where the pungent, spikey fruit
is king! Arguably the world’s most divisive fruit, the native Durian is well
known for its powerful aroma and distinctive taste, and is as much a cultural
icon as it is a treasured delicacy. Dubbed the “King of Fruits”, there are over
134 varieties of durian registered[1], the most popular being
Malaysia’s Musang King, D24 and XO. It’s no wonder there is a high demand for
the fruit from China and other neighboring countries!
Set your taste
buds on an adventure and travel to the quaint town of Raub, Pahang from June to
August when the durian harvest is plentiful. While there, stay at the Casabrina
Vacation Villas, a beautiful and serene villa surrounded by lush
greenery. Apart from hunting down the best durians, you can even sign up for
in-house activities like white water rafting and jungle trekking to hunt down
Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.
Ipoh – Where
home grown talents abound
Malaysia
certainly punches its weight when it comes to churning out world renowned
celebrities.
From the likes of veteran TVB actress Mimi Chu and Tan
Sri Dato’ Seri Michelle Yeoh, who played the infamously rich family matriarch
in the recent Hollywood blockbuster; to Datuk Jimmy Choo, the name and face of
iconic luxury fashion brand donned by the stars of Hollywood, each of these
celebrities hold one thing in common, they hail from this beautiful country we
call home – two in particular are from the bustling town of Ipoh.
Known for its whimsical appeal, Ipoh has plenty of
sights, sounds and smells to keep you occupied. Check in to HomestayIpoh
– Octogon for a lovely weekend exploring all that the town has to
offer.
A language to
connect all languages
Only in Malaysia will you hear four languages squeezed
into a sentence – usually an amalgamation of Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil.
For the unsuspecting tourist, hearing what is known as ‘bahasa rojak’ will seem
oddly confusing, but for any local, the lingo is perfectly understood and
accepted as a true symbol of Malaysian-ness.
You will hear most of these conversations take place
in our comfort zones – local hawker centers, where food is aplenty. The well-known
Jalan Alor Food Street located in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Center would
be a good place to start, for a taste of local lingo as well as local fare.
Stay at the Kuala
Lumpur Journal Hotel for easy access to all the hip and trendy
places in town.
Post your letters..under water
While the proliferation of technology has given rise
to high-speed internet and the existence of e-mails and instant messaging, nothing
can compare to receiving hand-written letters and notes. Well, in Malaysia, we
go to the ends of the earth, or precisely to the bottom of the sea to do it!
There are not one but TWO functional underwater postboxes
that allow divers to post letters or postcards to anyone in the world. One is
located in Mataking Island, a jewel in the Celebes Sea located off the East
Coast of Sabah. A haven for divers and discerning tourists, the island is home
to Malaysia’s first ‘Underwater Post Office’ also known as the ‘Shipwreck Post’.
Stay at the
Reef Dive Resort, a charming hideaway that serves as a gateway to
an incredible world beneath the sea, and send your first underwater mail from
here!
Where standing
tall isn’t a tall order
Standing majestically at 4,095 meters, Mount Kinabalu
is one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia and Malaysia’s pride and joy.
The summit climb takes two days and one night to reach Mount Kinabalu’s
prominent peak. A glimpse of the epic sunrise vistas from the summit will be
worth the trek!
Those seeking a less heart-pumping getaway can check
into the Spring
Garden villa in Kundasang which provides unobstructed views of the
mountain. The villa is also located a stone’s throw away from the UNESCO Kinabalu
Park where the world’s largest collections of flora and fauna abound.
About
Agoda
Agoda is one of the world’s fastest growing online
travel booking platforms. From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based
in Singapore in 2005, Agoda has grown to offer a global network of 2 million
properties in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, offering
travelers easy access to a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments,
homes and villas to suit all budgets and travel occasions.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking
Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 3,700 staff across 53 cities in
more than 30 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 38
languages.
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