Malaysia:
Langkawi-shrouded with myths and legends
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia at a glance
The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia, which is made up of 11 States, three Federal Territories as well as the States of Sabah and Sarawak situated in Borneo.
Cable car
Capital city: The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur.
Geographical location: Located between two and seven degrees north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the States of Sabha and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak share a common border with Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei Darussalam. Area: 329,758 km2 Population: 27 million People: Malays make up about 50 percent of the population and are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.
Language: Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. Malaysians also speak various languages and dialects.
Underwater world
Religion: Islam is the official religion but all other religions are practised freely.
Government: Malaysia practices parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The Head of State is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister. The country has a bicameral legislative system.
Climate: Malaysia has a tropical climate and the weather is warm all year round. Temperatures range from 21 C to 32 C and the annual rainfall varies from 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia for some would be a country steeped in history with much historical facts on offer and for others somewhat like a Mideastern country with a Muslim culture with people speaking a different dialect. But it certainly turned out to be a country that has something to offer everybody.
Batu caves. Pictures: www.google.com
Malaysia boasts of a skyline that reflect much of the tangible make-up of the country - combining with pre-war and colonial structures some of which are Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Central Market and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and of course the modern stand out buildings spattered around. In particular the Petronas Twin Towers take top billing as it is the tallest twin towers in the world with a height of 1483 feet. Much of the high risers are found in the capital of Kuala Lumpur (KL) - the Garden City of Lights.
On a recent familiarisation tour organised jointly by Thai Airways International and Tourism Malaysia for a group of travel agents and two journalists, it was quite a learning experience of how multiple religions coexisted peacefully in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country. The tour was initiated by Thai Airways General Manager Weerawat Swasdibutra to promote bilateral tourism in Thailand and Malaysia.
The main gateway to Malaysia is through the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, located approximately 55 km south of Kuala Lumpur.
Several public transport options provide easy access to the city. There are also other airports - at Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabahu and the island of Langkawi. An excellent road and railway network links KL to Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south.
Once any visitor steps into Malaysia there is a well developed and efficient public transportation system and service (buses, taxis as well as trains are aplenty) available. It won’t harm if you try to haggle a taxi fare with a driver but generally you are unlikely to be ‘taken for a ride’.
There is an express train service - KLIA Express - that costs approximately Malaysian ringgits (RM) 35 that leaves the airport to the KL Sentral Station plying non-stop a distance of 50 km in 28 minutes. (You can safely enjoy a cuppa and won’t feel shaken or stirred!) The train departs every 15 minutes or 20 minutes depending on the peak times.
This is one of the fastest modes of transport that connect the airport to the KL Central Station.
Langkawi
One of the most alluring places of Malaysia is Langkawi (The Jewel of Kedah) which is accessible by road, rail, air or by sea. Those travelling by road have to drive to Kuala Kedah on the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The route from KL to Kuala Kedah takes approx 6 hours while Kuala Perlis is an additional hour away. There are also direct air services from KL to Langkawi. Rail services too are an option to visit Langkawi.
These services operate from KL to Alor star. From there a taxi or bus could be taken to Kuala Kedah from where one could proceed to Langkawi.
Regular services are also provided by Express ferries to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah. The journey from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi takes just over an hour while it takes 2 1/2 hours from Penang to Langkawi.
Pregnant Maiden
The Lake of the Pregnant Maiden a.k.a. Tasik Dayang Bunting is something that would capture anyone’s attention purely for its name.
The name of this lake in Langkawi is attributed to the legend of a lovely fairy princess who married an earthly prince.
Her first child had died after birth. It is said that she was so depressed that she buried the child in the crystal clear waters of the lake.
And before returning to her celestial abode she blessed the water so that any childless maiden who bathed in the lake would conceive thereafter.
To reach the lake one has to first get to the Island of the Pregnant Maiden and then take a short walk through the forest reserve. There are three geo-forest parks in Langkawi. At the Kilim Karst beautifully formed landscapes of nearly vertical to sub-rounded karstic hills and pinnacles of various shapes and sizes could be seen.
Cable car
The Langkawi Cable Car with a length of 919 metres has been named the ‘longest free span single rope cable car’ by the Malaysian Book of Records.
It is claimed to have one of the steepest gradients in the world, at 42o.
There is also a sensation-giving 125m suspension bridge. This is said to be a remarkable feat of engineering with a curved bridge that links the cable car station to the Machincang mountain range.
Langkawi cable car is at the Burau Bay, about 30 minutes away from Kuah town.
Underwater world
The island’s rich treasure trove of marine life could be seen at the Underwater world at Langkawi. Located at the Cenang beach this aquarium features over 5000 types of aquatic life.
There is also a giant tank that displays large marine species such as sharks, stingrays, eels and green turtles, with a 15 metre tunnel for visitors to walk through.
-Ruwan
DAILYNEWS.LK
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
RAM's JOURNEY FROM AYOTHYA TO SRILANKA: AN INDIAN ODYSSEY: BY MARTIN BUCKLEY!!!
CHENNAI: Martin Buckley embarked on many a train journey while travelling across India more than 25 years ago.
Like many of us, he would pass the time reading a book. "As soon as I would take out my book, the other passengers' eyes would immediately light up. That's when I knew that this was no ordinary book, but something much deeper," he recalls. The book Buckley was reading was the country's very own epic Valmiki's Ramayana. Eventually, he fell in love with India and decided to work as a sub-editor at Business India magazine in Mumbai. During his time in the country, he travelled to many places from Allahabad and Rishikesh to Bodhgaya. But the tale of Rama never left him. So when he returned in 2005, he travelled from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka like Rama a journey documented in his book, An Indian Odyssey.
At the launch of the book at Madras Terrace House on Friday, Buckley spoke about the people's relationship with the epic. "I think it's fascinating that this book that was prehistorically written is still worshipped," he says. He adds that Valmiki's version of the story is very real, with the characters going through various emotions.
Although the book talks about his life in India and his journey in Rama's footsteps, Buckley also intersperses it with the story of the Ramayana and his version appears more contemporary. For instance, Hanuman doesn't build a bridge using boulders to cross over to Lanka, but wades and swims across during a low tide. "There are no monkeys in my book. I describe them as forest dwellers, comfortable living amongst trees," he explains.
So does he believe the Ramayana took place in real time or is it a figment of people's imagination? "I think Rama is a character that is an assortment of people that really lived. The epic tells the story of guerilla warfare, fought by indigenous people," he says. However, he thinks the academic's view is nonsense. "Some even say that the notion of Lanka being in the South is false!" he exclaims.
Buckley feels the spirituality in India and has had a spiritual experience himself. "One of the wonders of this country is that you can meet an intellectual who is also deeply spiritual," he says. He is impatient with the smug secularism of certain people in the country. "India's culture is what it is. It's wonderful to live in a place where every minority has a voice, but let's not forget the totality of Indian culture," he states.
Through his book, he wants to give the Western audience a message that it is ok to talk about spirituality, without turning to strange music or drugs.' But is he not worried about how the book might be received in India? "The book has its own identity and is a universal story now. I'm sure some people might find it offensive, but it should be read with an open mind," says Buckley, who plans on writing his version of the Ramayana in the future.
lakshmi.kumaraswami@timesgroup.com
courtesy..timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Like many of us, he would pass the time reading a book. "As soon as I would take out my book, the other passengers' eyes would immediately light up. That's when I knew that this was no ordinary book, but something much deeper," he recalls. The book Buckley was reading was the country's very own epic Valmiki's Ramayana. Eventually, he fell in love with India and decided to work as a sub-editor at Business India magazine in Mumbai. During his time in the country, he travelled to many places from Allahabad and Rishikesh to Bodhgaya. But the tale of Rama never left him. So when he returned in 2005, he travelled from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka like Rama a journey documented in his book, An Indian Odyssey.
At the launch of the book at Madras Terrace House on Friday, Buckley spoke about the people's relationship with the epic. "I think it's fascinating that this book that was prehistorically written is still worshipped," he says. He adds that Valmiki's version of the story is very real, with the characters going through various emotions.
Although the book talks about his life in India and his journey in Rama's footsteps, Buckley also intersperses it with the story of the Ramayana and his version appears more contemporary. For instance, Hanuman doesn't build a bridge using boulders to cross over to Lanka, but wades and swims across during a low tide. "There are no monkeys in my book. I describe them as forest dwellers, comfortable living amongst trees," he explains.
So does he believe the Ramayana took place in real time or is it a figment of people's imagination? "I think Rama is a character that is an assortment of people that really lived. The epic tells the story of guerilla warfare, fought by indigenous people," he says. However, he thinks the academic's view is nonsense. "Some even say that the notion of Lanka being in the South is false!" he exclaims.
Buckley feels the spirituality in India and has had a spiritual experience himself. "One of the wonders of this country is that you can meet an intellectual who is also deeply spiritual," he says. He is impatient with the smug secularism of certain people in the country. "India's culture is what it is. It's wonderful to live in a place where every minority has a voice, but let's not forget the totality of Indian culture," he states.
Through his book, he wants to give the Western audience a message that it is ok to talk about spirituality, without turning to strange music or drugs.' But is he not worried about how the book might be received in India? "The book has its own identity and is a universal story now. I'm sure some people might find it offensive, but it should be read with an open mind," says Buckley, who plans on writing his version of the Ramayana in the future.
lakshmi.kumaraswami@timesgroup.com
courtesy..timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
