Miri City

An oil-rich boomtown at the northern end of Sarawak, Miri is a major transport hub for those heading to/from Brunei, the Kelabit Highlands and three of Sarawak's national parks: Mulu, Niah Caves and Lambir Hills.

The town itself is a somewhat poorly laid-out jumble of big hotels, shops, restaurants and a surprising number of bars. While it's not the most prepossessing town in Borneo, it's not a bad place to lay over for a day or two en route to or from the jungle.

Miri is an industrial town whose appeal for tourists lies in its proximity to some of Sarawak's most beautiful national parks. The famous Mulu National Park is just a 40 minute plane flight away from Miri. You can reach Lambir Hills National Park, which is ranked as one of the world's most bio-diverse sites within half an hour, and even the Niah Caves are only 2 hours away.

Miri itself also has a few sights to offer. The Tua Pek Kong Temple in the old part of town is worth a visit. Right next to the temple you will find the fish and produce markets which open daily.

Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division.

Miri is the birthplace of Malaysia's petroleum industry, which remains the major industry of the city. The first oil well (the Grand Old Lady) was drilled by Shell in 1910, and is now a state monument and one of Miri's tourist attractions. Shell also built Malaysia's first oil refinery in Lutong, a suburb of Miri, in 1914. Recently, vast oil reserves were discovered just offshore northeast of the city. Miri has grown phenomenally since oil was first discovered in the early 1900s, burgeoning into the business, commercial and educational centre it is today.

The city's other major industries include processed timber, oil palm production, and tourism. The world famous Gunung Mulu National Park with its Sarawak Chamber, a half an hour flight from the city, is one of the favourite eco-tourism destinations. Miri is also the main tourist gateway for Loagan Bunut National Park, Lambir National Park, and the Niah Caves. Miri has lately become known for its exotic coral reefs.

Kuala Terengganu

Introduction
Standing on a promontory formed by the South China Sea on one side and the wide Sungai Terengganu on the other, Kuala Terengganu is the state capital and the seat of the sultan.
Oil revenue has transformed Kuala Terengganu from a sprawling, oversized fishing village of stilt houses into a medium-sized modern city. At first glance Kuala Terengganu appears much like any other Malaysian city, but it remains a stronghold of Malay culture, with colourful markets and craft workshops, where you can buy handmade batik, kain songket and basketware, while just across the river on Pulau Duyung, traditional fishing and boat-building methods are kept alive by the thriving kampung (village) community. The city's also a good place to sample authentic Malay cuisine, as well as some excellent Chinese seafood. Keep in mind that it remains a fairly conservative place and has a strong Islamic ethos - there's not much in the way of nightlife.

Places of Interest
Standing on a promontory formed by the South China Sea on one side and the wide Sungai Terengganu on the other, Kuala Terengganu is the state capital and the seat of the sultan. Oil revenue has transformed Kuala Terengganu from a sprawling, oversized fishing village of stilt houses into a medium-sized modern city. At first glance Kuala Terengganu appears much like any other Malaysian city, but it remains a stronghold of Malay culture, with colourful markets and craft workshops, where you can buy handmade batik, kain songket and basketware, while just across the river on Pulau Duyung, traditional fishing and boat-building methods are kept alive by the thriving kampung (village) community. The city's also a good place to sample authentic Malay cuisine, as well as some excellent Chinese seafood. Keep in mind that it remains a fairly conservative place and has a strong Islamic ethos - there's not much in the way of nightlife.

Name: Central Market
Address: Jln Sultan Zainal Abidin Town Centre
The central market is a bustling bazaar, with all kinds of food on display. When they say the fish is fresh, they really mean it - the fishing boats dock right outside. Upstairs, there's a good collection of batik and songket. Bargaining is possible here - and necessary to get fair prices.

Name: Istana Maziah
Address: Jln Masjid Abidin Town Centre
East of Bukit Puteri, you come to Istana Maziah, the sultan's palace, on your right. The palace is closed to the public, except for some ceremonial occasions. Nearby is the gleaming Zainal Abidin Mosque (Jln Masjid Abidin).

Name: Pantai Batu Buruk
Address: Town Centre
On the ocean side of town, Pantai Batu Buruk is the city beach and a popular place for kite flying and picnics during the day. It is an inviting stretch of sand, but swimming can be dangerous here due to riptides and strong waves.

Related Posts: Malaysia Country, Kota Bharu City, Kuala Lumpur City, Johor Bahru City

Kota Bharu City

Introduction
In the northeastern corner of the peninsula, Kota Bharu, which calls itself 'The Islamic City', is the termination of the east-coast road and a gateway to Thailand. At first glance, Kota Bharu, with its bustling modern centre and traffic-clogged streets,
seems much like any other Malaysian city, but this is a city rich in Malay culture, with royal palaces, colourful markets and several museums to linger over; it's also a good base for exploring the surrounding region. Many travellers plan an overnight stop here en route to or from Thailand or Pulau Perhentian.

Places of Interest
In the northeastern corner of the peninsula, Kota Bharu, which calls itself 'The Islamic City', is the termination of the east-coast road and a gateway to Thailand. At first glance, Kota Bharu, with its bustling modern centre and traffic-clogged streets, seems much like any other Malaysian city, but this is a city rich in Malay culture, with royal palaces, colourful markets and several museums to linger over; it's also a good base for exploring the surrounding region. Many travellers plan an overnight stop here en route to or from Thailand or Pulau Perhentian.

General
Name: Muzium Islam
Address: Town Centre Jln Sultan
Telefax: 09 748 2266
Muzium Islam occupies an old villa once known as Serambi Mekah (Veranda to Mecca) - a reference to its days as Kelantan's first school of Islamic instruction. Nowadays it displays a small collection of photographs and artefacts relating to the history of Islam in the state.

Name: Istana Batu
Address: Town Centre Jln Hilir Kota
Telefax: 09 748 2266
The sky-blue building of the Istana Batu, also known as the Muzium Diraja, was constructed in 1939 and served as the crown prince's palace until it was donated to the state. The richly furnished rooms give a surprisingly intimate insight into royal life, with family photos and personal belongings scattered among the fine china and glassware; even the late sultan's collection of hats is there for inspection.

Name: Kampung Kraftangan
Address: Jln Hilir Kota Town Centre
Kampung Kraftangan is a touristy affair in a pedestrian square opposite the Istana Batu, featuring a one-room museum with displays of woodcarving, batik-making and other local crafts. The complex includes souvenir shops and a restaurant offering a good-value lunchtime buffet. Batik classes also take place here.

Related City: Kuala Lumpur City, Johor Bahru City, Malaysia Country

Kuala Lumpur City

Introduction
High-rise ambitions in a colourful whirl of cultural diversity. Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars: in almost 150 years, it has grown from nothing to a modern, bustling city. Take in its high-flying triumphs from the viewing deck of one of the world's tallest buildings, then dive down to explore its more traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown.
It's a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other Asian boom-cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India.

Malaysia is divided into two regions - Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia - with Kuala Lumpur in Selangor province near the west coast of the peninsula. The traditional heart of the city is Merdeka Square, easily spotted because of the 95m (312ft) flag pole - reputedly the world's tallest. KL is a relatively easy city to navigate, with major north-south thoroughfares assisting in the speedy movement of people. At peak hour, however, the city resembles most other industrialised cities in the world, and the air - already dripping with humidity - gets thick with smog. Travelling around the city on foot can be a frustrating experience. New multi-lane highways and overhead bridges divide the city with little thought to pedestrian traffic.Southeast of Merdeka Square, the banking district merges into hectic Chinatown, where travellers can find a wealth of accommodation and restaurant options. Due south of the square, past the main post office, is the historic KL train station, while further west is the 'green belt', where you'll find the Lake Gardens, National Museum and Monument and the Malaysian Parliament.Southeast of the old KL station is KL Sentral (Central Station), the new hub of Malaysia's national railway system. Puduraya bus station is on the eastern edge of Chinatown. The international airport, KLIA, is located some 75km (47mi) south of the city centre. Puduraya is between Chinatown and the Golden Triangle, KL's premier business, shopping and entertainment district. Crowded with mid-range and luxury hotels, the Golden Triangle has long since expanded from its original boundaries of Jln Imbi, Jln Raja Chulan and Jln Sultan Ismail and now stretches north to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development anchored by the Petronas Towers.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +8
Area: 243
Coordinates: 3.15000009537 latitude and 101.708000183 longitude
Population: 1800000
Area codes: 03

Getting There
KL is hot and humid almost all the time. Although there is rain through the year, March to April and September to November are the wettest months. KL's wide ethnic diversity means that celebrations of one kind or another are usually going on somewhere around the city; these can make transport more crowded than usual. Public holidays are a surprisingly good time to be around, as most locals head for the beaches and hills. In more liberal KL, Ramadan doesn't pose the same 'where to eat?' problems that affect the more devout Muslim areas on the east coast.

Weather
It's hot and humid throughout Malaysia all year round, with overnight lows rarely sinking below 20 ° C (70 ° F) and maximums rising above 30 ° C (86 ° F) on most days, so whenever you go, take it easy. Rainfall is variable and falls all year round. It is rare for rain to fall all day; it usually confines itself to short-lived torrential downpours in the afternoons. The driest months tend to be June and July.

Places of Interest
Graceful mosques huddle below spectacular modern towers.
KL's boom periods have produced an intriguing mix of architecture throughout the city; elegant colonial buildings contrast with soaring modern edifices such as the twin Petronas Towers. Add the ground level bustle of the numerous street markets, and you have a city that rewards exploration.

Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars: in almost 150 years, it has grown from nothing to a modern, bustling city. Take in its high-flying triumphs from the viewing deck of one of the world's tallest buildings, then dive down to explore its more traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown.

It's a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other Asian boom-cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India.

Events
With sots many cultures and religions in Malaysia, there is quite an amazing number of occasions to celebrate. Although some of them have a fixed date each year, the Hindus, Muslims and Chinese all follow a lunar calendar, so the dates for many events vary year to year. Tourism Malaysia puts out biannual Calendar of Events sheets with specific dates and venues of various festivals and parades, but state tourist offices have more detailed listings. The capital is a good venue for Malaysia's major holidays and festivals like Thaipusam (when devotees of Lord Subramaniam prove their faith by piercing their body parts with metal spikes and hooks), Chinese New Year and Deepavali (Festival of Lights, when tiny oil lamps are lit outside the homes of Hindu people to entice Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, inside). City Day is 1 February, when KL commemorates becoming a federal territory. Celebrations take place at Tasik Perdana and Lake Titiwangsa gardens in the north of the city. In July, KL goes flower-crazy during the Flora Fest, with exhibitions and the international Floral Parade. At midnight on 30 August, revellers crowd Merdeka Square (like Times Square on New Year's Eve) to celebrate National Day, the anniversary of Malaysia's independence in 1957. There are parades and festivities the next morning, usually at Commonwealth Stadium, but ask a tourist information office to be sure. For two weeks in September, KL celebrates Malaysia Fest (also called the Colours of Malaysia) with exhibits of traditional arts and special cultural performances around town. The October Shopping Carnival follows on its heels.

Johor Bahru City

Introduction
Capital of the state of Johor, Johor Bahru (popularly called JB) is the southern gateway to Peninsular Malaysia, connected to Singapore by road and rail across a 1038m-long Causeway. JB inevitably suffers from comparisons with its successful, plutocratic southern neighbour.
Historical significance and pockets of interest aside, few foreign travellers linger in JB, and the city is largely a transit point for those on the way to more exotic destinations. On the practical side, flying into or out of JB rather than using Singapore as a regional transport hub can net big savings on tickets. On weekends and public holidays, Singaporeans flock across the Causeway for shopping and excitement. Central JB exudes a seedy border-town feel, but a government crackdown on JB's fleshpot reputation, coupled with a spiralling crime rate (including bag-snatching and car theft) have sent male Singaporeans elsewhere for their paid pleasures.

Places of Interest
Capital of the state of Johor, Johor Bahru (popularly called JB) is the southern gateway to Peninsular Malaysia, connected to Singapore by road and rail across a 1038m-long Causeway. JB inevitably suffers from comparisons with its successful, plutocratic southern neighbour. Historical significance and pockets of interest aside, few foreign travellers linger in JB, and the city is largely a transit point for those on the way to more exotic destinations. On the practical side, flying into or out of JB rather than using Singapore as a regional transport hub can net big savings on tickets. On weekends and public holidays, Singaporeans flock across the Causeway for shopping and excitement. Central JB exudes a seedy border-town feel, but a government crackdown on JB's fleshpot reputation, coupled with a spiralling crime rate (including bag-snatching and car theft) have sent male Singaporeans elsewhere for their paid pleasures.

General
Name: Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque
Address: Selat Johor Area Jln Ibrahim
West of Muzium Diraja Abu Bakar is the most attractive part of Johor Bahru, the old colonial/royal district of greenery and fine buildings. Under construction from 1892 to 1900, the magnificent Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is a mixture of architectural styles (principally Victorian). The minarets resemble British clock towers, and the abiding impression is that of a colonial administrative building.

Name: Muzium Diraja Abu Bakar
Address: own Centre Jln Ibrahim
Telefax: 07 223 0555
Once the Johor royal family's principle palace, the marvellous Istana Besar was built in Victorian style by Anglophile sultan Abu Bakar in 1866, and is open to the public as the Muzium Diraja Abu Bakar - the admission fee is also payable in ringgit (at a bad exchange rate).

Name: Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim
Address: State Secretariat Bldg Town Centre Bukit Timbalan
Sitting magnificently atop Bukit Timbalan, designed by Palmer & Turner architects, the imposing Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim is a mighty melange of colonial pomp, Islamic motifs and indigenous design. Completed in 1942, the city landmark was employed as a fortress by the Japanese as they prepared to attack Singapore.