It is situated north-west of Pahang in cool fresh air, away from noise and pollution of the city. If you would like to rent a car and drive there it is going to take around 3-4 hours from Kuala Lumpur (295km drive through breathtaking green jungle), the fastest way to drive there is to take the expressway near Tapah town. A lot of people prefer driving to taking a tour with a travel agency since driving itself can be an eye candy. There are a couple of really nice places to stop by such as Kuala Woh Forest Recreation Park where you can have fun at a hot spring.

There are quite a few companies that organise tours to the Cameron Highlands that arrange pickup service from major hotels of Kuala Lumpur (RM320 adult, RM200 child).  Most travellers prefer to leave in the morning and come back in the evening, since there are a lot of things to see it is usually better to spend the whole day, you really wouldn’t want to rush.

Tours will take you to the tea plantation, where tea-making process will be revealed to you in front of your eyes, strawberry farm can delight your eyes with bright-red coloured strawberries in the amount you could only dream about, butterfly park, where you can find some astonishing looking species of the most exotic butterflies and take some photos, a rose garden (no need to say anything if you understand the value of pretty flowers).

Absolutely any nature lover will be happy to spend a day in an incredibly green paradise of Cameron hills, they are literally too green.

Cameron Highlands provides and oasis for those who like to walk. Pleasant  strolls are everywhere and the weather is never hot so you can enjoy the high altitude scenary without the efforts required in other parts of Malaysia.

Simple maps are available at many tour operators and hotels. You can choose organized tours or pottering about by yourself whatever you decide Cameroon Highlands with its plantations waterfalls and greenery are a walker’s paradise.

While in Brichang why not take the trek to Gunung Brinchang? This marvelous peak is not too strenuous at 2000m and can easily be reached on foot taking trail 1 from Brinchang. Many people have difficulty finding the path  as the sign is located about 10m from the main road.  Ask for the way to the army base and walk to the end of the road from there the path is clearly sign posted.

It takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to reach the summit but  The walk to the top takes about 2-2.5 hours depending on your fitness but the view is spectacular. Once there you can walk 6kms down to the road and the boh tea plantation. From here you can walk or take a bus back to Binchang.

This is a very popular and not to strenuous trek and there is really no need for a guide, however, if you prefer to walk with an aid and other walkers, there are numerous places to book this beautiful hike with local tour operators.

As the main towns in Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata and Brinchang are the liveliest at night with most people heading to either for the evening. There is bus service between the two which costs 1.5 RM or if there are a few of you, you might want to share a cab which is a little more costly at 6RM.

There is only one pub in Tina Rata called The Travelers Bistro and Pub. Nothing in the way of dancing or cabaret but a pleasant place to talk with friends or make new ones as this is a popular venue with fellow travelers. It also shows football matches on the big screens which are popular with the locals too.

Brinchang has a weekend night market which runs throughout the week during the school holidays night selling all manner of clothes souvenirs and groceries the honey is especially good. The market adds to the local color and is safe and pleasant to walk about at night with very little in the way of crime or vice. Apart from restaurants and shopping there are also a few clubs and lounges in the town to hang out after dinner.

Kota Kinabula is a fabulous destination easy to get around by taxi, bus, motor cycle or even just walking there is much to see and one compact easy to negotiate destination

A good place to start after enjoying the beaches is The Atkinson Clock Tower – built in 1902 in memorialize Francis George Atkinson, the first district officer of Jesselton, as KK used to be know. The tower is on a hill beside Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman very close to the city centre.

For those who enjoy religious wonders the Sabah State Mosque – located on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and also worth seeing is The State Museum which gives a quick quide to the city’s history and culture.

Another must see is Monsopiad Cultural Village which is about half an hour south-east of the city centre, this small park shows the traditional way of life of the Kadazan ethnic group and tells the story of Monsopiad, a Kadazan local hero, who  300 years ago  killed 42 men who attacked his village. Take a cab form KK and arrange pick up 3 hours later.

Near the small town with the same name Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is just south Kota Kinabalu. It features all manner of monkeys, elephants, birds, local deer, a few tigers, a Sumatran Rhinoceros and is expanding with a reptile house very soon. It’s a marvelous wildlife experience as you get much closer than you would in the jungle. The best way to get there is a pre arranged cab with pickup from Kota Kinabalu.

One of the oldest courses in Sabah is the eleven hole Kinabalu Golf Course or KGC course which was established in 1933 by the European employees of The British Charted Company.

In the city, just close to the waterfront, you will find a challenging 27-hole championship golf course designed by Graham Marsh which is beautifully landscaped with terrains and waterways and is flood lit for night playing.
There is also Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club, and Karambunai Golf and Country Club which also offer great facilities.
At a higher altitude to the waterfront is Mount Kinabalu Golf Club. Situated 1500 meters above sea level it is great test of stamina as well as skill and is the highest golf course in Malaysia.

All of these courses can be can be part of arranged tours which are great value. Or you can travel to Borneo enjoy spectacular courses and also spend time exploring with jungles and mountains whilst still regularly hitting the greens. Tours are spread over nine or five days and are well worth experiencing. Kota Kinabula is also ideally situated to courses further afield like Thailand where there are great courses in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Depending on your time and budget Penang and Kuala Lumpur are also great destinations with fantastic courses.

Pirates Bar – The largest outdoor bar in Kota Kinabula. Located in Asia City in the T food Court across the road from Centrepoint just behind the Mercedes Benz Dealership. It has live music at weekends.

Shenanigan Fun Pub – This lovely bar is on the ground floor of the Hyatt Regency.

• Shamrock Irish Bar – The Waterfront Lot 6. Dependable Irish fare, with outdoor seating. Add 16% tax.

• Cocoon – Locally famous this relaxed bar by day becomes a lively bar/club by night, open till the wee small hours.

• Razz-Ma-Tazz – Lust outside the central business district along Julaan Tuaran. It is one the city’s largest and most popular nightclubs.  Has two rooms the larger featuring life music and D.J’s. The smaller room, Zuave, plays house, trance, and other pulsating dance tracks.

• Bed – Nice small place on the Promenade near the night markets. One room with a cover band, Pool table and DJ.

• Beach Road Pub and cafe has live bands and a pool.

Even the most unfocused child should have a lot to occupy them. With a little pre arrangement games, such as spot the fauna or name the insect can provide hours of contented fun.

There is so much to see and do that a three day family visit is action packed. Getting around is very easy with on foot or local buses for the budget conscious. Maps are plentiful so make sure you pick up one for you and one for them!

Taxis and four wheel drive offer tours of the area.

The Butterfly Park contains fish snakes, turtles, tortoises, scorpions grasshoppers, stick insects and guinea pigs. Most children will find this very interesting but supervision and support is needed for the more sensitive child! Allow 1-2 hours here which includes ample time for lunch or refreshments.

The Strawberry Parks are everywhere and kids not only love picking strawberries but can also eat them later with ice cream topped with sugar. Yum!

The Cactus Farm and Robinson waterfalls are well worth visiting but supervision is, of course, recommended in both these areas.

A trip to The Smokehouse Restaurant for tea and scones is a must and maybe as a reward for a picking up litter excursion which many children enjoy. Hotels provide a plastic bag and a useful activity for the ecology of this wonderful place.

State Mosque
The main mosque is located in the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu on the way from the airport to the city centre. This is the central place of worship for Muslim community in Sabah boasting its beautiful domes and golden motifs. It is also a fine example of contemporary Islamic building.

Sabah Museum
Just five minutes from Kota Kinabalu’s city centre, the museum consists of many interesting galleries displaying totemic figures, old photographs, ancient pottery from all over Southeast Asia and antique Korans. A variety of life-size replicas of traditional houses of ethnic entitles in Sabah are shown in the Heritage Village. Here you can also find an Ethno Botanic garden and a Zoological garden, an all-in-one stop that invites visitors to discover diverse cultures and fascinating history of Kota Kinabalu.

Atkinson Clock Tower
This is one of the major landmarks in Kota Kinabalu located on the bluff along Signal Hill Road. Built in 1905 by Mary Edith Atkinson as a memorial to her son, Francis George Atkinson, who was the first District Officer of Kota Kinabalu, this clock tower is one of the oldest structures in Sabah that has survived the WWII.

Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary
Located in the heart of the city, the bird sanctuary is home to a number of bird species including many migratory species from Northern Asia and also hundreds of tiny fish that hide under the mangrove roots to escape feeding birds. One of the best-known natural sites for wildlife in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit place that will delight children and adults alike.

Mount Kinabalu National Park
This is one of the best national parks in Malaysia with Mount Kinabalu being the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Offering breathtaking views from Mount Kinabalu, the park is also perfect for trekking and walking. Tourists can observe many beautiful species of fauna and flora while many find it an ideal place for camping.

Melaka is simply bursting with interesting sights reflecting a long, rich history or maritime trade and Portuguese and Dutch occupation. Here are just a few of the top attractions.

A Famosa:
The remains of this mighty fortress are is the oldest surviving European architecture in Malaysia and consists of a small gate, canons and foundation stones. Built in 1511 by the Portuguese during the colonisation of Melaka, the fortress was taken over by the Dutch and was later given to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon’s expansionist France.

Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple
Awarded by UNESCO for outstanding architectural restoration, the Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple is one of the most exquisite Chinese temples in Malaysia. Boasting its beautiful walls with ornate mythological figures, spectacular Chinese paintings and carvings dating back to the early 1600s, the temple is a centre of worship and spirituality for the Chinese, remaining one of the most significant sanctuaries in the Southeast Asia. You can also observe how the Chinese pay respect to their gods here at this temple.

Kampong Kling’s Mosque
This stunning temple marks as an important venue of worship for the Muslim community. One of the oldest mosques in the country, the Kampong Kling’s Mosque reflects rich Sumatran influence through its magnificent three-tired pyramid-shaped roof and an infusion of Oriental influences through a tall free-standing white pagoda. Tourists are welcome to visit this impressive mosque but no flip-flops, shorts and sleeveless shirts are allowed.

Maritime Museum
The museum is built in a replica of the ‘Flor De La Mar’ (the Flowers of the Sea), a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka and disappeared mysteriously on the way to Portugal. Visitors can explore the ship and detailed history of Melaka here at this museum. Children will find it fun to play pirates and sailors while adults can observe a map displaying actual charts used by Portuguese sailors in the past.

Melaka’s Sultanate Place
This large and lavish palace reveals outstanding Malay architecture based on the sketches found in the Malay Annals. Believed to be a replica of the original 15th century palace of Melaka’s Sultanate, this beautiful place now houses the Maleka Culural Museum displaying an impressive collection of artefacts, prints, photographs, drawings, costumes, jewelleries, brassware and ancient weapons.

St. John’s Fort: is another stunning sight in Melaka, St. John’s Fort was built as a chapel by the Portuguese but renovated into a fort by the Dutch. The fort enjoys a perfect location on the top of the hill where visitors can witness picturesque views of the city and clear blue sky. Interestingly, unlike other forts, St. Paul’s Fort was built to defend from inland invaders so the canons are faced towards inland.

The Baba and Nyonya Heritage: is a private museum run by the Babas and Nyonyas (Chinese of noble descendants) of Melaka who have blended the Malay culture into their own. The Babas and Nyonyas are also known as ‘Straits-born Chinese’ or ‘Peranakans’. Displaying distinctive and unique heirloom, the museum is a hidden gem that will unlock the rich history of the Babas and Nyonyas for visitors to see.

The Stadthuys:bBuilt in 1650, the Stadthuys (or the Dutch Square) is one of the most famous landmarks in Melaka. Boasting its exquisite bright red-painted buildings and a magnificent clock tower, the square also houses a Historic and Ethnography Museum displaying traditional bridal costumes and relics. Visitors can also observe outstanding Dutch architectural details shown in heavy wooden doors, thick red walls and wrought-iron hinges.

Heavily publicized as one of the region’s most popular attractions, Gunung Mulu National Park offers visitors 529 square kilometres of unspoilt wilderness marked with limestone and sandstone mountains and a large number of naturally beautiful attractions such as caves, trekking trails and diverse wildlife.

Once you’re inside the park, follow Hunter’s Trail, which will take you along an old tribal war path to discover a number of interesting animals and plants. Further into the park you will find a network of caves, which lead under the park for around 300 kilometres.

Be careful not to get lost because there’s plenty of other attractions to explore. It is a good idea to hire a guide at the entrance to the park to ensure that you manage to see all the highlights and stay on the right track. A good way to cut costs is to wait for other visitors to arrive and share the guide’s fee between you.

One of the most popular caves is known as Clearwater Cave. This is believed to be the longest cave in Southeast Asia and the trip includes a boat ride up the Melinau River to the mouth of the cave.

Dee Cave is also popular as it contains the world’s largest cave passage and visitors to this interesting cave must first embark on a three kilometre walk through the jungle.