10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE AROUND THE WORLD IN 2017

This Asian country is known, International Living says for its “878 idyllic islands, stunning beaches and untouched rainforests.” It’s a multicultural place that’s home to a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Europeans and Americans.

The cost of living is low, the health care quality is high and IL Malaysia correspondent Keith Hockton says “the food is not just first class, but world class — and the shopping in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, where I live, is to die for.”

by: FORBES

For just over a quarter of a century, International Living has ranked, rated, and named the best retirement destinations in the world. Each year we’ve refined and improved the process, bringing new categories and considerations into play, gathering new data, and asking more and better questions of a greater number of expats.

We’ve added countries to the shortlist as they moved into the limelight, Malaysia in 2000…Colombia in 2007…and let others drop away. But the winner this year has been constant. For the past 14 years, this country has consistently ranked in the top 10 retirement destinations on the planet. And—for the fifth time—it takes the top spot once again in our Annual Global Retirement Index.

This year sees our most comprehensive index yet, with a list of 24 top retirement destinations, all of which have been put under the microscope and examined as regards their cost of living, retiree benefits, climate, healthcare, and much more.

This thorough questioning and assessment ultimately leaves us with a definitive list of the best retirement havens from around the world. All of which share the values that you can expect from an International Living approved retirement destination, while also maintaining aspects that make them stand out as individuals, meaning our index has a place to suit every taste.

So, without further ado—after months of research, number-crunching, and fact-finding—allow the expats who live there to introduce you to the benefits of the world’s top 10 retirement destinations in 2017.

Read the rest in International Living.

MALAYSIA EXPECTS 1 MILLION TOURISTS FROM INDIA IN 2017

This year, Malaysia is looking forward to attracting one million tourists from India and has strengthened its tourism promotion efforts in a bid to achieve this target.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Tourism and Culture Minister asserted that in 2017, Malaysia is confident of achieving a large number of tourists from India, at the inaugural ceremony of South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), Delhi, on Tuesday evening.

Nazri said that the target was quite ambitious

However, he added that the target was ‘achievable’ thanks to the complete support of their partners in the Indian travel industry. The three-day SATTE travel fair had commenced on Wednesday. It was jointly opened by Mahesh Sharma who is the Indian Minister of State for Tourism and Culture and also Mohamed Nazri.

The visiting Malaysian delegation comprises officials from the Tourism and Culture Ministry, Tourism Malaysia, members of the travel industry and the state representatives.

India ranks as the sixth largest source of tourists for Malaysia with 722,141 Indian travellers recorded in 2015.

Malaysia received about 54,0530 Indian tourists in the period between January and October last year, as per the latest statistics. Furthermore, this country has relaxed its visa procedures to strengthen tourism in 2017. Last year, the government had introduced an e-visa facility that enables the issuance of single-entry visas within 24 to 48 hours.

Of late, Malaysia has also announced that Indian nationals who reside abroad would be granted visa-free travel.

Such a measure is targeted at the greater number of non-resident Indians based in regions like North America, Australia, Britain, Singapore and the Arabian Gulf nations.

The country has in place a brilliant program for destination marketing with a view to impress travellers from India.

The minister went on to add that India has been viewed as a crucial market for Malaysia. The largest Indian diaspora living abroad actually stay in Malaysia and they are the most important ambassadors who has good potential promote Malaysia to the world.

Mohamed Nazri also mentioned that Malaysia is ready to focus on sustainable tourism.

In addition, the nation has already offered niche products to Indian tourists including destination weddings, honeymoons, sports tourism, luxury travel and shopping. He feels that Malaysia is a unique country as it is blessed with many heritage sites and natural charm, apart from its four Malaysian sites that are recognized by UNESCO.

He said that there is the Kinabalu National Park, Gunung Mulu Naitonal Park in Sarawak and Kinabalu National Park in Sabah, as well as the archaeological heritage site of the Lenggong Valley.

Source: travelandtourworld

4 COUNTRIES WITH THE BEST HEALTH CARE IN THE WORLD 2017

One of the main concerns of any person looking to retire overseas is the quality of healthcare. Is it possible to get medical treatment as good as what's available in the U.S. and Canada? The answer…a resounding yes. Sometimes it's even better than what's on offer at home, and at a more affordable price too.

Measuring the quality of healthcare is difficult, and it's hard to put a number on it. We can, however, put a number on the price of medical procedures. And these costs (as well as quality) helped us score each of the 24 countries in the healthcare category of International Living's 2017 Global Retirement Index.

Read on to learn more about the top five countries in the world for healthcare. In each of these countries you'll find clean, excellent hospitals, highly trained doctors, and very affordable care.

1. Malaysia: Medical tourism is booming

A stronger U.S. dollar, cheaper air travel, mounting healthcare costs in Western countries (and long waiting lists), have all contributed to the Malaysian medical tourism boom in the past decade. Medical tourists arriving in Malaysia have increased on average by 100% in the last five years.

George Town and Kuala Lumpur are the main two medical centers in Malaysia, and both cities are serviced by a multitude of international airlines from around the world.

Malaysia has some of the best-trained doctors in Asia–and the majority of them were trained in the U.S., Australia, or the UK. All of them speak English too, and that takes a lot of the stress away from what is already a stressful situation.

Getty Images

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur City

A stronger U.S. dollar, cheaper air travel, mounting healthcare costs in Western countries (and long waiting lists), have all contributed to the Malaysian medical tourism boom in the past decade. Medical tourists arriving in Malaysia have increased on average by 100% in the last five years.

George Town and Kuala Lumpur are the main two medical centers in Malaysia, and both cities are serviced by a multitude of international airlines from around the world.

Malaysia has some of the best-trained doctors in Asia–and the majority of them were trained in the U.S., Australia, or the UK. All of them speak English too, and that takes a lot of the stress away from what is already a stressful situation.

Western accreditation is also a vital component for confidence in undergoing foreign medical treatments. Numerous hospitals in Penang and Kuala Lumpur are among Southeast Asia's first recipients of the United States' prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) certification. Seen as the gold standard for healthcare service providers around the world, Malaysia has no less than eight JCI-accredited hospitals.

That being said, there are also some very good "not for profit" hospitals here too. One of best is The Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Penang. I've had two operations there, and I can't say enough about their professionalism.

The most popular areas of treatment across the board in Malaysia include cosmetic surgery, dental work, and dermatology. In 2016 Malaysia was visited by more than 1 million medical tourists from around the globe, a figure that is certain to rise in 2017.

Other considerations to take into account are that there is little to no waiting time when you arrive. It's as simple as registering at the hospital of your choice and then waiting for that particular specialist to see you. You also don't need to be referred to that particular specialist by a General Practitioner. – Keith Hockton 

Read the rest here

KNIGHT FRANK RATES MALAYSIA AS WORLD'S BEST FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS

KUALA LUMPUR: Global real estate consultancy Knight Frank has rated Malaysia as offering the best value for money for real estate investors in the world, and the highest yields and least volatility in the market across the Asia-Pacific region.

Knight Frank LLP's 2017 Global Cities report, which analysed real estate markets across 30 countries, favourably cited Malaysia, where a prime office building of over 390,000 sq ft could be purchased for just US$100 million.

"Coupled with the step-up on transport infrastructure development, which increases mobility and connectivity throughout Greater Kuala Lumpur, this transformation gives the city the edge, and represents the best value propositions for any multinational corporations (MNCs) or investors in the Asia-Pacific region," said Knight Frank Malaysia managing director Sarkunan Subramaniam at the 2017 Global Cities report briefing here yesterday.

The report, however, said that Kuala Lumpur's prime office rents are forecasted to experience negative growth at 1.1 per cent.

In addressing this, InvestKL Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Amanshah said instead of seeing the downturn as unfavourable, the negative growth positions Malaysia as an attractive business location for MNCs and investors.

"Kuala Lumpur today has several business hubs for investors to choose from.

"Global MNCs are looking at the city's fluid business ecosystem and cost-competitive factor as favourable advantages, compared to other major cities in the region.

"Kuala Lumpur's competitive real estate rates, cost-effective talent and generally lower operations costs are main criteria considered," said Zainal.

As of 2015, InvestKL has attracted 51 MNCs with a cumulative approved or committed investment of RM5.9 billion.

Read more here

THE 19 MOST WEALTHY AND ECONOMICALLY HEALTHY CITIES IN THE WORLD

Global design and consultancy firm Arcadis released a report on the most sustainable cities in the world.

Arcadis said it ranks 100 global cities across three sectors of sustainability — “People, planet and profit.”

Nestled within the report, entitled “Sustainable Cities Index 2016: Putting people at the heart of city sustainability” is a “profit sub-index” which ranks all the cities in the world in order of wealth and economic sustainability.

It basically examines a city’s performance from a business perspective, combining measures that are indicators that can be “broadly be thought of as capturing economic health:”

•        Transport infrastructure (rail, air and tra†c congestion)
•         Ease of doing business
•         Tourism
•         GDP per capita
•         The city’s importance in global economic networks
•         Connectivity in terms of mobile and broadband access
• ·      Employment rates

Naturally, cities that are considered major global financial centres ranked highly, as they tend to be most prosperous and have a highly-developed living infrastructure.

The more business is done in these key cities, the more money that flows through that area.

The group said “the profit sub-index is related to cities’ wealth, as the economic development indicator is the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (essentially, average economic output).”

Take a look at the top 19 cities:

19. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — The Asian city is one of the world’s key hubs for Islamic finance and has one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Read the rest of the article here.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO KUALA LUMPUR AND ITS ATTRACTIONS

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s glittering capital has all the makings of a world-class city. With its high rise buildings, contemporary hotels, swanky shopping malls, and international cuisine, Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is commonly known, is Malaysia’s most developed and happening city.

The city, which took roots as a small time mining town, has in a matter of 150 years, grown into a completely modern metropolis, with the spectacular Petronas Towers, the world’s second tallest buildings, flaunting its rise to international fame. Kuala Lumpur’s mining industry attracted people from across the world including Britain, China and India, and the joint influences can be seen in the city’s architecture, cuisine, customs, and traditions. It is this multicultural character that makes KL such a fascinating place. The vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the city can be best experienced in the Chinatown, Little India and Kampung Baru, the heartlands of KL’s Chinese, Indian, and Malay communities.

The hedonists can find pleasure shopping to their hearts content in the sleek malls during the day and in the cranking nightlife after the sun sets. But for all its urban landscapes, KL is very traditional in heart. You can experience tranquil moments in its beautiful parks or in the impressive colonial-era buildings. Modernity blends with traditional charm— here you can see pre-was shops and hawkers share space with skyscrapers and spectacular high-rises. This is Kuala Lumpur, your gateway to a unique holiday experience.

Things To See

Take a walking tour of Kuala Lumpur to soak up the sounds, and smells of this colorful city. The central hub for all activities is Datran Merdeka (Independence Square). Also worth admiring is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, with its intriguing mix of Victorian and Moorish architecture. Providing a striking contrast to the colonial architecture are the Masjid Negara (National Mosque) and Masjid Jamek (Friday Mosque), with their distinct Islamic influence. The ornate Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, now no longer functional, is a cross between the two architectural forms. The western suburb of Bangsar Baru, with its pavement cafes has also captured the imagination of the visitors and locals alike

You can read the full article here

MALAYSIA HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY (KDN) TO IMPOSE VISA REQUIREMENT ON VISITORS FROM MIDDLE EAST

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — The Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) is prepared to impose foreign visa requirement on Middle Eastern countries’ citizens as proposed by the National Security Council (NSC), to curb Daesh militant threats in Malaysia.

Its deputy minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said to date the NSC had not submitted the proposal to the ministry, but the ministry was prepared to implement the move upon instructions from the council.

“That (visa) is under NSC’s jurisdiction. So far KDN has not received any directives. We will act as soon as we get the directive,” he told Bernama here today.

Nur Jazlan added that the ministry would leave it to the NSC to decide on which Middle Eastern countries came under the move. NSC secretary Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad yesterday (July 9) had proposed that the government imposed visa requirement on citizens from Middle Eastern countries to curb Daesh militant activities in Malaysia.

- See more here

ECO-TOURISM IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia attracts visitors drawn to its diverse culture that is infused with Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions. Malaysia's diversity extends to its natural landscapes, notably its rainforest, which is 60 percent virgin forest that has not changed for millions of years. The country's numerous natural attractions lend to its success as one of the world's leading eco-tourism destinations.

Flora and Fauna

As one of the most biological diverse countries of the world, Malaysia is home to over 15,000 species of flowering plants and almost 300 species of mammals. Additionally, there are over 150,000 species of invertebrates including marine life and insects and approximately 4,000 different species of fish. Malaysia's mangrove forests of Langkawi are an example of the fragile ecosystem that acts as a sanctuary for the country's flora and fauna.

Protected Areas

Malaysia has created over 50 environmentally protected areas that include reserves and national parks and cover approximately 4.5 percent of the country's land area. Most of the nature reserves are not generally open to the public, but the national parks welcome guests to enjoy Malaysia's undisturbed natural areas. Because of its rich diversity in tropical plant species, Kinabalu Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to Mount Kinabalu, which is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea.

Activities

With all of Malaysia's national parks, you will have ample opportunity for outdoor activities. In addition to hiking and trekking through the jungle, visitors may go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, scuba diving and bird watching. Malaysia subscribes to eco-tourism as defined by the World Conservation Union, which includes environmentally conscious travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas to connect with nature. Additionally, eco-tourism activities promote conservation, have low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socioeconomic involvement of local populations.

Attractions

In addition to independently traveling to Malaysia's national parks, you can find specific natural attractions to pique your interest. Head to Sungai Lebam Wetland Preservation Area to watch the sky light up with hundreds of fireflies. Watch the world's largest birds, ostriches, race each other at the Desaru Ostrich Farm (desaruostrichfarm.com) located in Johor. While you are in Johor, also consider visiting Crocodile World (crocodileworld.teloksengat.com) in Teluk Sengat, home to over 1,000 crocodiles. To connect with Malaysia's ancient history, visit Kelam Cave, the "Cave of Darkness," one of Malaysia's largest caves that is believed to have been the home of cavemen in the Stone Age.

Source: USA Today

KUALA LUMPUR TOPS GLOBAL RICH LIST WITH 13,800 MILLIONAIRES

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — Malaysia’s largest city Kuala Lumpur has the highest number of millionaires (denominated in US dollars)  surpassing all other cities of the world, according to a report by international wealth research group WealthInsight.

The city had 13,800 millionaires or high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in 2013, higher than Abu Dhabi’s 12,500, Cape Town’s 8,753 or Birmingham’s 8,736, WealthInsight said.

The  number of millionaires concentrated in Kuala Lumpur gives an indicator of Malaysia’s fast-growing wealth at the top end but also suggests an increasing gap between the richest and the rest of the population.

Average annual income in the country stands around RM20,000 and minimum wage weighs in at RM900 a month.

WealthInsight predicted that Malaysia’s number of millionaires will jump from over 26,000 last year to 30,054 in just four years, with total Malaysian wealth also projected to increase from US$151 billion (RM527 billion) to US$206 billion (RM719 billion) in the same period.

“Malaysian wealth grew at the remarkable rate of 59.6 per cent between 2009 and 2013 and is expected to increase by a further 28% to reach US$206 billion in 2018,” said the group which claims to have a detailed database on the rich and an international-based team of over 500 economists, analysts and researchers. 

Read more here

MALAYSIA'S PLACES OF INTEREST V.1 : MEDAN NIAGA SATOK, KUCHING SARAWAK

Medan Niaga Satok is the biggest market in Kuching. It has an assortment of product ranging from vegetables, fruits, taditional snacks to crafts. This brand new structure replaces the old Satok Weekend Market. Medan Niaga Satok has five main complexes housing a farmer's market, a wet and dry market, a plaza, cafeteria as well as a food court. It is situated in Kubah Ria, about 3 km from Kuching.

It is no exaggeration to say one can easily get lost in Medan Niaga Satok, a weekend market so large it houses a staggering 2,500 traders. The market is a lot of fun for tourists, You could get almost everything you want from that place. You want fish? Sure. Want seedlings, they have that too.

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is simply unique. No other city in Malaysia has such a romantic and unlikely history, nor displays its charms with such an easy grace. The residents of Kuching (pop. 650,000 approx.) enjoy living here, and take great pride in their fascinating city, which is reflected in their attitude to visitors. Kuching welcomes visitors warmly, but it does not put on an act for them. Instead it goes about its own business in a relaxed manner that hasn’t changed in 160 years. It is impossible to really enjoy Kuching from the air conditioned comfort of a tour bus. To make the most of your visit you must put on your walking shoes, take to the streets (and the water), and join in.

More info or who to contact, Sarawak Tourism Board

   

MALAYSIA – TRULY ASIA

Malaysia is always a good place to visit, explore and experience. It narrowly missed the top 10 of most visit visited countries in the world last year. 

Malaysia is more well known as a bubbling bursting melting pot of cultural diversity.

If you are still not sure where to go for your coming holiday trip, well Malaysia is a very good option. Come on, take the risk and the opportunity…. , come to Malaysia and capture all those memories, excitement and enjoyment. Soon after you have reached home you will realise it is best risk you will have ever taken.

Here is the list of Malaysia Credentials:

1.   World Top 10 Tourists Destination – UNWTO 2012

2.   Top 15 in International Tourism Receipts

3.   No. 4 Best Shopping City – CNN Survey 2012

4.   No. 1 Muslim-friendly Holiday Destination – Survey by Crescentrating 2012

5.   No. 3 in world’s Top Retirement Heavens – Internationalliving.com 2013

6.   Top 7 in Meetings Destination in Asia Pacific – ICCA

7.   World’s Friendliest Country – Forbes Online 2012

8.   No. 12 Most Competitive Economy – World Banks’ report 2013

9.   1st Prize Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance for its Homestay Programme.

You can get more information on Malaysia here

FREE VISAS TO ATTRACT MORE INDIAN TOURISTS

MUMBAI: Visa fees are to be waived for tourists from India, to encourage more of them to visit Malaysia and go shopping.

An Indian traveller currently spends about RM350 to RM400 on the visa and other related payments.

Tourism minister Nazri Aziz said the waiver was among the means of bringing in an additional two million visitors, and reach a target of 29.4 million international tourist arrivals this year.

Last year about 1.4 million Indians visited Malaysia, and accounted for nearly RM1.8 billion in tourism earnings between January and September in 2014, compared with RM1.3 billion during the corresponding period in 2013.

India was the fifth largest source of tourists for Malaysia, which was one of their favourite Asean destinations.

Nazri said Indian tourists, on the average, stay about six and a half days in Malaysia, spending about RM2,900 during the visit.

“Indian tourists are big spenders especially when it comes to shopping, like the Chinese tourists,” Nazri said.

Tourists from China, South Korea and Japan already enjoy free-visa privileges. “We at the ministry are strongly in favour of such a good gesture to be extended to our Indian guests as well,” Mohamed Nazri said before launching the Myfest 2015 promotion campaign in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, here yesterday.

Nazri said there was vast potential for further growth of the Indian travel trade to Malaysia, as four major airlines planned to increase direct weekly flights to Malaysia.

Currently, there are 156 flights per week connecting Malaysia and key Indian cities, offering nearly 30,000 seats.

The minister also pointed out last year, total arrivals of international tourists stood at 27.4 million and the ministry was actively organising promotion campaigns, not only in India but also other Indian sub-continent countries to promote Malaysia.

“We need to bring at least two million more tourists into the country to meet our target this year, with estimated revenue of RM80 billion or we will lose out to other Asean countries, which already implemented such exemption (visa fee waiver),” he said.

He also said Indians wishing to stay longer in Malaysia could choose Malaysia’s Second Home Programme, where they can live in Malaysia for up to 10 years without visa requirement.

– BERNAMA

From http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/02/14/free-visas-to-attract-more-indian-tourists/

MYFEST 2015: WORLD KITE FESTIVAL - PASIR GUDANG

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Pasir Gudang has been renowned worldwide as the Best Kite Festival Organiser. This internationally acclaimed event has been hosted continuously since 1995, attracting hundreds of thousands visitors and kiting enthusiasts from all over the world. Last year over 180 international kite flyers from 25 countries came to Pasir Gudang to show off their latest creations and kite-flying technology and experience the best organised kite festival. It has become the focal point for kite enthusiasts all over the world

The festival will be filled with domestic and international contests, demonstrations, spectacular ground displays, and some of the most amazing kites you will ever see.

The inaugural ceremony starts with a participant parade which present all local and international guests. Waving flags the international guests represent their countries with pride as well over 100,000 spectators cheer.  Following the precession and the arrival of the HRH Sultan of Johor, local Wau and International participants get their chances to present their kite flying skills. The Royal Family of Johor have indeed been a staunch supporter of the festival over the years.

Over the festival duration, engulf and explore the incredible number of stalls selling various goods, collectibles, snacks and food.

Workshops are also held throughout the seven day festival so complete novices can learn the basics of kite making, while those already well-versed in the art can learn an even higher level of skill. Prizes are then given for the best kites to emerge from these workshops.

Enjoy the night with spectacular cultural and modern performances line up to spice up your stay and don’t forget to visit the Kite Museum which is within the festival site.  This year marks the 13th year anniversary of the the Pasir Gudang Kite Museum, which was opened during the 7th Kite Festival. It is the first kite museum in Malaysia and has a unique working windmill that generates the electricity supply for the museum.

Venue

Bukit Layang-Layang, Taman Bandar Pasir Gudang, Johor

Organiser

Pasir Gudang Municipal Council

Phone

+607-251 3720

Website: http://www.kitefestpasirgudang.com/

Museum Entrance Fee:

Adult                            RM 2.00

Children (7-12 years)  RM 1.00

MALAYSIA CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE: MALAY GAMES AND PASTIMES - SILAT, WAU BULAN & GASING

Apart from the traditional performing arts and fine arts, noteworthy Malay games and pastimes include kite flying (Wau), the martial arts collectively known as Silat, top-spinning (Gasing), congkak and sepak takraw. In addition there are a number of lesser games played indoors as well as outdoors.

Yet these games and pastimes of the Malays are not always entertainment-oriented per se. Several varieties of, which have come to the Malay peninsular from Java, for instance have religious or mystical meanings. The art of kite flying in which huge highly ornate are used is a serious business in Kelantan and Terengganu involving fierce competitions. This also is the case with top (gasing) spinning in which heavy metal tops are used. Silat, wau flying and gasing or top spinning are thus serious games intended for adults rather than for children.

Sepak takraw, also known in neigbouring Thailand, has now reached the international arena. If in all of these games women have a game in which they can participate it is Congkak, a game with an ancient history known in many lands.

MALAYSIA IN TOP 5 OF BEST RETIREMENT HAVENS IN THE WORLD

Malaysia boasts one of the finest and most affordable health care systems in the world, and scores very highly in the category “Fitting in”.

Here are the top 10 destinations for expat retirees on the Annual Global Retirement Index:

1. Ecuador

2. Panama

3. Mexico

4. Malaysia

5. Costa Rica

6. Spain

7. Malta

8. Colombia

9. Portugal

10. Thailand

Malaysia—Great Value for Money in a Cultural Melting Pot

Every year, more and more expats are waking up to the amazing opportunities Malaysia has to offer. The country has one of the most robust economies in Asia, and this is reflected in the consistently high standard of living available to locals and expats alike. It’s just one of many factors that led to it being ranked the highest Asian nation in this year’s index.

Quality of life in Malaysia is cost-efficient as well as excellent. In typical expat locations such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, high-quality real estate is available for rent at a low cost. Why buy when you can rent a 1,600-square-foot apartment with a swimming pool for just $850 a month?

For the full results, visit Internationalliving.com

MYFEST 2015: SKYRIDE FESTIVAL PARK, PUTRAJAYA

Enjoy a magnificent view of Putrajaya from 150m above ground at Skyride Festival Park at Lake Putrajaya throughout 2015!

Held for the first time ever, this festival offers the opportunity for visitors to ride on a giant helium balloon with a gondola measuring 13m. It can accommodate a total of 30 passengers per ride.

Read more here

WELCOME 2015, WELCOME TO MALAYSIA

Happy New Year.... and happy travelling!

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

ECO-TOURISM MALAYSIA: LOOK OUT FOR GAHARU - The Perfume Tree

Gaharu (Aquilareia malaccensis) is also known as agarwood, incense wood and aloeswood. In Malaysia, the best quality of Gaharu can be found in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, and Kelantan and Terengganu in the Peninsular.

This intensely fragrant resinous wood is very popular as ‘the wood of the Gods’, It is because of its uses range from incense for religious ceremonies, perfume for the Arabic world, medicinal wine in Korea and ornamental functions in China. As a healthy tree the Aquilaria is worth next to nothing, but wounded its defence mechanisms produce agarwood and the tree becomes a valuable commodity. Today the range of agarwood products and their uses is seemingly endless. Natural art Solid pieces of agarwood are highly appreciated as ‘natural art’ in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Craftsmen carve raw pieces of agarwood into beautiful wooden sculptures . Agarwood is also turned into beads and bracelets. Most of the wood, however, is processed and either turned into oil which is used in perfumes and other cosmetic products, or the agarwood chips are ground into powder which is used as the raw material for incense making (and sometimes also for special cigarettes). 

The oil is also used in the production of traditional medicine as anti-asthma antitoxic, antioxidant, hypertension (anti-stress), hepatitis, sirosis, diuretic, painkiller, and many other diseases.

It is because of the aromatic smell of some composition of oils as reported by some scientists there are dihydroagarofuran and isodihydroagarofuran ; sesquiterpene, agarol and a couinarinolignan, aquillochin; sesquiterpene alcohols, jinkohol II and jinkoheremol; agarospirol, jinkohol-eremol and kusenol.

This is why agarwood or gaharu so expensive. The high price of this woody species actually is corelated to the resin or so called “Gubal”. This resin looks like a dark brown to black solid lump or a chunk with a fragrant smell (if burned), which is found in the heartwood or roots of gaharu-producing trees undergoing a chemical and physical change due to fungus infection. The trees frequently become infected with a parasite fungus or mold, and begin to produce an aromatic resin in response to this attack. So, not all plants can produce the resin because it depends on the attack. The fungus and decomposition process continue to generate a very rich and dark resin forming within the heartwood. While the unaffected wood of the tree is relatively light in color & almost useless, the resin dramatically increases the mass and density of the affected wood, changing its color from a pale beige to dark brown or black. In natural forest only as rare as 7% of the trees are infected by the fungus in natural way. Thus, agarwood develops very, very slowly over time, typically several hundred years. However, nowadays people inpurposely develop agarwood plantation using fungi-forming gaharu injection on the hole of the trunk for fast harvest.

Some of the Health benefits of Gaharu:

• Asthma, Chronic Cough, Sinus
• Chronic Fatigue
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Anxiety
• Treats Thyroid Cancer and Lung Tumor
• Sleep Disorders (Reduces Insomnia)

For a more compelling story regarding history of Gaharu read The Hidden Story of Scented Wood