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After hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games, for
which Malaysia invested over £300 million, sports facilities
have been greatly improved throughout the country. The authorities'
initiative to present Malaysia as an international sports venue
continues with a bid for the 2008 Olympic Games and the recent
construction of a new £44-million Formula One racing circuit
in Sepang (located adjacent to Kuala Lumpur International Airport).
However, it is Malaysia's beaches and rainforests which endure
as the main attraction for activity holidays. A comprehensive
list of tour operators offering tailor-made package holidays
is available from Tourism Malaysia (see address section).
Adventure sports:
Sabah, located in northern Borneo, is Malaysia's
premier destination for outdoor adventure sports and there is
a wide range of sporting and activity events held in the region
throughout the year. For further details, contact the Sabah Tourism
Promotion Corporation (tel: (88) 212 121; fax: (88) 212 075;
e-mail: info@sabahtourism.com;
website: www.sabahtourism.com).
Scuba diving:
The tropical waters off peninsular Malaysia and
Borneo offer ideal conditions for scuba diving. Water visibility
is often greater than 30m (100ft). The selection below gives
a brief overview of some of Malaysia's best dive sites:
Layang Layang: Located northwest of Kota Kinabulu, off the coast of Sabah and
accessible by air, this coral atoll consists of 13 coral reefs linked together.
Underwater sights include an amazing array of corals and marine life and cliffs
that plunge 2000m to the ocean bed.
Miri:
Located north of Kuching, off the coast of Sarawak, Borneo. Popular dive sites
include 'Sea Fan Garden', 'Atago Maru', a Japanese World War II shipwreck
and 'Scubasa Reef', a swallow reef which provides refuge for migrating turtles
during August, each year.
Pulau Redang: Home to Malaysia's first protected marine park, the Terengganu
Marine Park, located north of Kuala Terengganu. The Pulau Redang archipelago
contains nine islands. Popular sites include the 'Mini Mount' (good for both
day and night dives), the 'Picture Wall' (dotted with sea fans and corals)
and 'Cathedral Arches' (canyon network with huge arches). 'Turtle Bay', known
for its sea turtles, is at the northern end of the island.
Pulau Sipadan:
Located off the north eastern coast of Borneo, Pulau Sipadan is Malaysia's
only oceanic island. It is renowned for its wide range of rare marine species.
Pulau Tioman: Located within the Pahang Marine Parks, consisting of eight islands.
One of the best dive sites is Tiger Reef, which has a particularly high number
of sea fans; divers should note that currents can be very strong.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park: Close to Kota Kinabulu (15 minutes by boat). One of
the most popular sites in this area is Mamutik.
Pulau Tenggol:
Popular weekend getaway for Malaysians, located south of Terengganu, accessible
by air. The waters are protected by marine park status.
Pulau Paya Marine Park: Located on peninsular Malaysia, in the south of Langkawi
Island (a busy tourist resort) in the north of the Malacca Straits.
Pulau Perhentian:
Eastern Malaysia's northernmost island group consisting of Perhentian Besar
and Perhentian Kecil, located in the South China Sea, off the coast of Kelantan.
Can be reached on a fishing-boat trip from Kuala Besut, a small fishing village
on the mainland. A fairly isolated region, praised by divers for the giant
soft corals, large schools of pelagic fish and nocturnal shellfish.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park:
Located in Borneo, easily accessible from Kota Kinabalu. Local marine life
includes manta rays, lion fish and whale sharks (from December to April).
Labuan Island: Popular wreck-diving destination. Two wrecks from ships sunk
in World War II, and one recent Malaysian wreck.
Trekking and caving:
Nearly 75 per cent of Malaysia is covered in forests,
of which the rainforest is reputedly the world's oldest (130
million years). There are seven national parks and many wildlife
reserves and protected areas. Many of the parks offer excellent
trails for jungle-trekking, particularly at Taman Negara National
Park (peninsular Malaysia).
The best time to visit is between February and
September (dry season). Expert guides should be hired from the
Wildlife Department at the Taman Negara Resort at Kuala Tahan,
the park's headquarters. Kuala Tahan is reached by a three-hour
riverboat trip from Kuala Tembeling, but there are also flights
from Kuala Lumpur. Treks up Gunung Tahan mountain (2187m/7,174ft)
are also possible; a guide is compulsory and the trip takes several
days.
In East Malaysia, the best treks are in Sarawak,
Borneo and Gunung Mulu National Park, which is renowned amongst
caving enthusiasts. The recently discovered Sarawak Chamber and
the 51km (32 mile)-long Clearwater Cave (accessible by boat only)
are favourite destinations. Permits for Gunung Mulu National
Park must be obtained in Miri, reached either by a short flight
or a couple of 3-hour boat trips
Adventurous trekkers may wish to explore the Kelabit
Highlands around nearby Bario, but these are quite demanding
and should only be undertaken in the company of a local guide.
Another famous trekking destination is the Kinabalu National
Park, located in the state of Sabah, whose centrepiece, Mount
Kinabulu (4101m/13,452ft), is South-East Asia's highest peak.
Despite its size, Kinabulu is very easy to climb. No skills are
required, but a guide and a climbing permit (which can be bought
on location) are still compulsory. The climb involves an overnight
stay in one of the resthouses along the route. Due to the altitude,
people with high blood pressure or heart problems should not
attempt the climb.
Golf:
Malaysia has nearly 250 golf courses. The locations
vary from coast to tropical rainforest or the mountainous highlands.
The Malaysian Open Golf Championships, held each March, attract
professionals. For further information, contact Tourism Malaysia
(see address section).
Karate:
More than 150 karate training centres offer regular
training sessions under black-belt instructors six days a week.
Visitors are welcome to receive free karate training for one
week in any of the centres. A list can be obtained from the Chief
Instructor, Karate Budokan International, Jalan Jubilee, Kuala
Lumpur.
Traditional sports:
Malaysia has many unusual sports, including Gasing-
spinning (called Main Gasing), which uses s fashioned from hardwood
and delicately balanced with lead. Wau-kite flying is a traditional
pastime. Sepak Takraw is a game like volleyball, played with
a ball made of rattan strips. Players may use their heads, knees
and feet but not their hands.
Longhouse visits:
Malaysian longhouses, which are common along the
rivers in Sarawak and Sabah, are really entire villages housed
under one single roof, inhabited by native communities. For some
years now, Tourism Malaysia has been promoting these characteristic
habitations to tourists who, apparently, are welcome to stay
free of charge (although small gifts as a sign of appreciation
are recommended). Visitors should be accompanied by a local guide
who can also take them on a jungle walk.
Jungle railway:
Malaysia's central railway travels largely through
areas of dense jungle. It commences near Kota Bahru and continues
via Kuala Krai, Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis and Jerantut to meet
the Singapore-KL railway line at Gemas. Owing to extensive road
building, this itinerary may change, and travellers are advised
to check with Tourism Malaysia (see address section).
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