Discover the hidden gems in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Find the best destinations that you should not miss when visiting here. To make your vacation enjoyable and fun, plan your trip earlier with these following destinations.

Balik Pulau, Penang

Balik Pulau, the secret back garden of Penang, has gained fame for its durians but the place certainly has more than that to offer. Mouth-watering durians aside, Balik Pulau is also an ideal destination for those who want to simply put aside their worries and enjoy a rejuvenating kampung vacation.

Wander around the old quaint town, marvel at the traditional Malay houses along the beach, visit a dairy goat farm, a countryside horse stable and a nutmeg factory, indulge your stomach with traditional Hakka dishes at Hakka Village, and enjoy a killer bowl of Penang laksa. Just remember to take everything slow and easy for a full taste of Balik Pulau.

Sasaran, Kuala Selangor

If you are an active user of any social media, you have seen the above pictures for countless times already in recent months. Before Sasaran is unearthed by local media and travel bloggers a few months back, it is almost the best kept secret within the area, only known to the nearby villagers. So what are you waiting for? Book a tour, bring your camera and be the first few people to witness this masterpiece of nature at Sasaran before the place is flooded with tourists.

Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Kelantan

Although it is not known to many Malaysians from other states, Pantai Cahaya Bulan or Moonlight Beach is definitely a star player in the East Coast tourism industry. This is a fun and scenic place to laze off your weekend with friends and family. A few B&Bs have been opened up near the beach in recent years so you do not have to worry about overnighting in the area.

Sunbathing, water sporting and kite-flying aside, many people also come to Moonlight Beach for a lovely picnic. You do not have to prepare for your own food because there are plenty of food stalls lining up like a pasar malam right on the beach.

Read more: Bintulu, one of the hidden gems in Malaysia

Semenyih, Selangor

A day trip to Semenyih is never complete without summiting Broga Hill and savouring the famous ikan bakar or grilled fish. If you start hiking at around 6.15 am so that you can catch the gorgeous sunrise. You can end the hike by 8.00 am and then make your way to the Chinese temple area to kill time until the restaurant opens at 10.00 am. The ikan bakar at Broga is the best thing you can ask for a brunch.

Source Internet

Marvel at these stunning road trips in Asia

The iconic road trip is a must experience travel style for wanderers of all ages. As the fundamentals of the road trip are in-line with long-term travel, we've researched what we're calling the top 5 must experience road trips in Asia.

The Karakoram Highway (Pakistan and China)

Often hailed as the highest road in the world, this trip is as much an amazing engineering feat as it is a tourist attraction, and there are many people who travel long distances to be able to drive or ride a motorbike over the Himalayas on this road connecting China and Pakistan.

There are some stunning scenic areas with beautiful lakes and mountain views along this road that are well worth stopping to enjoy. Many people also use this route to gain access to some of the best mountain climbing spots in the world. The road rises to higher than 15,000 feet, so be conscious of the potential for altitude sickness and how it could affect you during the trip.

The Hokkaido Scenic Byway (Japan)

Hokkaido is one of Japan's four main islands, and many people also consider it to be the most beautiful regarding the scenery. Driving the Hokkaido Scenic Byway will take you through a series of routes around the island that offer beautiful sights.

With stunning coastal and mountain views, this route is a breathtaking one, and it offers plenty to see and do along the way. Consider rolling down the windows as you drive through the  fragrant lavender fields or stopping at one of hot springs along the way.

Golden Road to Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Uzbekistan is a country that is well off the tourist trail for most people, but it has an interesting history (the city of Samarkand was once the capital of the large empire of Tamerlane), and it's a fascinating place to explore.

Although there isn't a formal route, most visitors will fly into the capital city Tashkent, and then transfer to Bukhara. This beautiful, old city is home to many historic sights, and from there, you can follow an historic Silk Road route to Samarkand. The historic ruin of the Rabati Malik caravanserai (inn) is a wonderful place to stop along the way. After arriving in Samarkand, you can explore the history of the city by visiting a few landmarks, such as the Registan square or the Ulugbek observatory.

The Mountain Tunnels of Guoliang and Xiyagou (China)

The Taihang Mountains have been a remote part of China with limited access for centuries. Even though most of the country's road system is publicly funded, it was decided that it was uneconomical to build roads in this region, so the locals ended up blasting their own roads out of the cliffs.

Driving through these tunnel roads is a remarkable experience, as they are inside the cliffs, and the windows along the route have spectacular views over the surrounding mountain scenery. These two tunnels are connected by a road that takes you through the Taihang Mountains on a relatively short stretch of 60 kilometers. Most visitors get to the area by going through the city of Xinxiang.

Nha Trang to Quy Nhon (Vietnam)

This 134-mile stretch of highway is spectacular—it's got mountain scenery on the inland side of the road and stunning sea views with golden beaches on the ocean side of the road. It is easy to stretch this road trip into a vacation to stop in the many towns and villages along the way. Plus, you'll find plenty of places to relax on a beach.

Every two years, there is a week-long festival where visitors drive the route together and take part in a large celebration. If you want a memorable experience between Nha Trang to Quy Nhon, consider joining in that celebration.

See more: 5 best multiple-country trips in Asia

Source: Internet

Da Nang, a worth-living city in Vietnam

For the foreigner travelers, Da Nang might fall insignificant due to its lack of long-standing and unique cultural attractions than its neighbors – Hoi An and Hue. However, if you ask the locals if they want to travel to Da Nang, most of the time, the answer will be “Yes.” Now, let’s find out why this city is so loved even it seems to be low-key and unpopular.

The Da Nang people are always proud of their city “Da Nang – my city”

If the people in Ha Noi love the antiqueness and the traditional lifestyle of their city, and the Saigon people love their city’s sleepless nights and nonstop lighting buildings, the Da Nang people love their food, their local government, their beautiful coastal city.

They are proud of everything they have, from the local food to the culture. Together with their proud, they always want to improve their hometown. This is an extremely valuable love for their city.

Watching the “super bridges” at night

The bridges in Da Nang are highly appreciated by their beauty as well as their investment and the ideas, therefore, many people have said that “Da Nang city is the place of the super bridges in Vietnam”. Typically, the Dragon Bridge can breathe fire and water, the Han River Bridge can be rotated 90 degrees. Visiting Da Nang without contemplating these bridges is really a shortcoming.

Out-of-earth seafood

One thing that cities like Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh could not afford is seafood. As a coastal city, Da Nang has a wonderful scene of seafood. The fish are fresh, you can even buy fishes and other sea creature right after it is caught. If you can make it to the beach, there would be nothing better with 100% fresh food which is available on the beaches for you to choose. You can also enjoy seafood with an open view of the beach. That is “luxurious.”

A feeling of “Ha Noi in Da Nang”

While travelling in Da Nang, you can easily meet your acquaintances, your cousin, your friends, or your ex here, which make you think that this is Ha Noi. You wonder why? The answer is very simple. In recent years, Da Nang has developed rapidly with a lot of famous buildings and works that attract more and more tourists from everywhere, especially the youth in Ha Noi. Whenever they come here, Da Nang atmosphere always makes them feel comfortable and satisfied. Therefore, that is a big reason for many people want to come here again and again. Da Nang is considered the number 1 city that attracts people to come back after visiting.

Non-stop entertainment

If lazing on the beach is not for you, it is easy to keep entertained while in Da Nang. The city is home to plenty of young locals and expats who are always looking for a good time and organised events such as beach yoga, language exchanges, lunch meet-ups and board game nights are all weekly occurrences.

Da Nang also boasts a wide variety of fun and interesting attractions including a small ice-rink, several museums, a concert venue and Asia Park, one of the largest theme parks in South East Asia. Thrill-seekers can get a kick out of the roller-coasters and other fast-paced rides here before taking it down a notch on the 115 metre-high Sunwheel. Meanwhile, party animals eager for a night on the town should look no further than Bach Dang Street that is lined with dozens of lively bars, restaurants and late-night venues.

Read more: The fascinated spots in Da Nang

Source Internet