The year may have just started but it doesn’t hurt to plan your getaway right from the start!
What better way to start the new year than by planning your getaway - it's always nice to have something to look forward to as you plough your way through the daily grind. Whether near or far, be it adventure, luxury or both, with friends or family, you don't have to look too far to find a nice spot to plonk yourself down and recharge. Although not an exhaustive list, here are a few places I have been to and reckon are worth a fair-go.
SIPADAN ISLAND, WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Accredited World Heritage status, Sipadan is well known the world over and is a must visit for anyone with a license to scuba. If you've never seen a turtle underwater, this is the place to go. Rising out of the deep like a mushroom, Sipadan boasts rich coral reefs on its table-top surface and memorable wall dives at its edges.
Visitors to Sipadan can't stay on the island itself - most visitors stay at one of the many resorts on Mabul Island (also an excellent site for muck-diving enthusiasts).
MULU CAVES
Boasting caverns large enough to fit 40 Boeing 747's, Mulu Caves is home to millions of bats that make for spectacular evening shows as they fly out in squadrons thousands-strong to hunt and feed on the valley floor below.
The caves are well preserved and carefully monitored by forest rangers who also act as very knowledgeable guides. The walk to and from the caves themselves are full of things to see, a veritable treasure trove of natural wonder and beauty - ants living in bamboo plants that make a sound like rain falling when disturbed, huge ancient trees rising up 100 meters or more above the jungle floor, flowers, creepers, pitcher plants and creepy crawlies galore that you never thought you'd ever see.
Getting there is relatively easy - fly into Mulu via MasWings, a local rural airline which can be booked online at www.malaysiaairlines.com. Accommodation is basic and clean consisting of 2 lodges - one in the park, the other just outside it. For a more comfortable lodging experience travellers can stay at the Royal Mulu Resort, the only 5-star resort in the area.
MALIAU, THE LOST WORLD OF SABAH
And you only thought you'd hear about Lost Worlds in the movies! Looking very much like a small rice bowl from space, this little depression in Sabah measures 400 square kilometres and takes approximately 40 days to travel end to end. The bowl is about 1km deep and is bordered on one end by mountainous peaks ranging from 1 to 2 km in height. Still untouched, the area boasts a huge variety of flora and fauna, many unique to this region of the world. Visits to this area normally include guided jungle walks and a visit to a majestic 7-tiered waterfall. Accommodation is basic but comfortable, part of a research station setup to study the area. It's an adventure right from the start since there's no way in except by specially purpose built and fitted four-wheel drives.
CLIMB MT KINABALU
If you haven't conquered your mountain yet here's your chance to do it. Contrary to belief climbing Mt Kinabalu is not as difficult as you think. The trek to base-camp (3,270 meters above sea level, the summit is 4,095 meters above sea level) takes only 4 to 6 hours along a well-travelled dirt track, depending on your pace - more like climbing one really long staircase. Anyone who is relatively fit (which means a vast majority of the population) can make it up and down. Climbers ranging from as young as 8-years to the more mature of 70-years or more have successfully taken the challenge and come out on top.
For the more adventurous there's the Via Ferratta - ropes secured to the side of the mountain allowing one traverse the side of Mt Kinabalu in safety. Full safety equipment and training is provided. The best thing to do for anyone interested in this is to secure places through a travel agent as places are very limited and normally sell out fast.
REDANG ISLAND
One of my personal favourites, Redang Island is a nice middle-class island for both the lower budget traveller and for those seeking more luxurious settings. The island's 'Long Beach' is where almost all the island's resorts can be found. Redang Beach Resort and Laguna Resort are better suited for families and are located at the end of the beach allowing for better privacy.
My favorite of course is Berjaya Redang Beach Resort, a full-fledged island paradise completes with spa, restaurants, dive centre, entertainment rooms, swimming pool, private beach and beach bar. Rooms are spacious and luxuriously appointed.
The best bit is yet to come, rather than drive, simply hop onto a Berjaya Air flight from Subang Airport direct to the island. The flight takes approximately one hour versus a road trip which can take anywhere between 7 to 8 hours.
TENGGOL ISLAND
A little gem of an island, Tenggol is well known among the diving community as a 'well known secret', its name quietly whispered in hushed conversations only to the deserving individual. It's definitely not the Ritz; accommodation on the island is basic but clean and comfortable. What really draws people there is the excellent diving - a haven for the macro enthusiast and just recently a hot spot for whale shark and manta ray sightings. There is only one beach and two decent resorts so numbers are very limited. Once there however expect to truly experience island living - there's nothing else to do but laze in the sun and swim with the fishies. Some of the rarest and weirdest creatures can sometimes be seen simply by snorkeling in the sheltered bay of the island.
LANGKAWI ISLAND
Welcome to holiday island Malaysia! This island is a duty free zone which means everything from booze to designer perfume is generally much cheaper than anywhere else. It's also a popular destination with overseas holiday goers - be forewarned, the resorts here aren't exactly cheap but they are very nice. Try the secluded Andaman or have champagne for breakfast at the Damai. Get a chalet on the sea at Berjaya Langkawi or book a room at one of the many boutique resorts along or close to Pantai Chenang - try Casa del Mar or Bon Ton Resort, a unique boutique resort with one of the best restaurants on the island.
MALACCA
Head down south to Malacca, one of the oldest and most historic cities in Malaysia - only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from KL along the North South Highway. Sure there are a number of hotels you can stay at but for the best experience try the boutique hotels found within the old quarter of Malacca, Jonker Street. These boutique hotels are normally converted heritage buildings, mostly the family homes of Baba Nyonya families who own and have maintained them to this very day. Some of them like Puri Hotel and Spa cater to small families and honeymooners.
The best time to go would be on the weekends - what you really want to do is be a part of the crowd as they stroll through the weekend night markets along Jonker Street. What else is there to do in Malacca? Well besides the historic sites which you really should visit, there's the unique Nyonya cuisine to sample and the many pubs and artsy cafes to lounge in complete with wandering minstrels singing everything from evergreen to bossanova!
CAMERON HIGHLANDS
Although a little over-developed now, Cameron Highlands is still a nice place to getaway for the weekend. With the new highway now in operation it's even easier to get there. With a little research one can easily find privately owned bungalows for rent (some come equipped with a caretaker who will see to your every need). Alternatively try YTL-run Cameron Highlands Resort for a luxury stay complete with in-house spa with the golf course within easy reach. For those wanting a more rustic experience there's the Smokehouse also just off the golf-course - chit-chat by the fireplace with a glass of wine in hand while the waiters prepare you a table at the restaurant.
Attractions include farms growing and selling everything from fresh produce to prize orchids. So while you're there be sure to pick up a thing or two for the garden back home.
GOOD OLE KUALA LUMPUR
For the KL folks, never thought you could unwind in the place you live and work in? Think again. All you need to do is book yourself into one of the many luxury hotels - for once let others take care of the bed-making the cooking and the cleaning. Some good spots to start with are the Traders and Mandarin Oriental hotels on the KLCC Park, or The Prince, Grand Millennium, Berjaya Times, or the Equatorial all very close to where the action is. Alternatively try Sunway Resort which is a great place to take the kids since its right next to the water theme park, cinemas and toy shops!
What you need to remember is that sometimes a good break simply means leaving the mundane behind and letting other people take care of the nitty gritty.
Spend the day shopping, catching a movie or playing catch-up with chums and girlfriends. Do everything within walking distance and for once, don't keep looking at your watch!