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| Malaysia travel: 10 things to know before you go Posted: 19 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT World's best Guinness outside of Ireland? It's here. World's worst taxis? Yup, Malaysia's got those, too  Malaysia's cultural diversity is matched only by its phenomenal natural landscapes. All that variety means vacation options are seemingly endless, whether you want to enjoy an award-winning pint with your pasembur in Penang, retrace Jim Thompson's last steps in the Cameron Highlands or swim with hammerheads off Sipadan Island. But there a few constants in the chaos to keep in mind as you plan for that perfect trip. 1. Everyone can fly
Between the "Apprentice Asia" bossman Tony Fernandes' airline and Penang-based Firefly, some 18 domestic destinations across peninsular and East Malaysia are interconnected with scheduled flights. Breakfast in the UNESCO-listed world heritage city of Georgetown, lunch in Kuala Lumpur and asleep in the Borneo rainforest by nightfall? Travelers can now live the jet-set lifestyle, no frills edition. More on CNN: Low-cost carriers drive Asia's booming airline industry 2. Fair taxi fares? You probably won't find them
Their notoriety isn't helped by comments made by a minister who said the attitudes of the cab drivers were "worse than our filthy public toilets." (A comment later withdrawn with an apology.) Savvy visitors insist on meter usage, haggle or, if they have time, use local public transportation. Many of the new taxi booking apps are helpful: Easy Taxi, TaxiMonger and My Teksi are good. More on CNN: Is this the world's most awesome taxi? 3. It's always Milo time
It's sold everywhere from KFC to kopitiams (coffee shops), McDonalds to mamak stalls. You can enjoy it hot or iced, with Nescafe (aka Neslo), with a heap of powdered Milo on top (aka Milo Dinosaur) or a dino on steroids -- Milo Godzilla, with additional whipped or ice cream to top it off. More on CNN: World's 50 most delicious drinks 4. The word "bacon" is used loosely
One of the criteria used for the survey was access to halal-compliant food. This means there are large voids left by pork sausages and bacon at most hotel breakfast buffet lines. You'll find pork in the country at Chinese-run restaurants, especially in destinations like Penang, but overall the pig pickings are slim. More on CNN: Cameron Highlands: Malaysia's enduring 'Little England' 5. Greatest Guinness outside Ireland
For five consecutive years, Malaysia has won the coveted Guinness League of Excellence Award and bragging rights for brewing the velvetiest Irish stout beyond the popular black nectar's home turf. More on CNN: Around the world in 10 great beers 6. Duty free islands
Yet you probably wouldn't have guessed that the country also rounded out the top 10 of the world's largest alcohol guzzling nations in 2011, according to the World Health Organization. Luckily, islands like Langkawi, Tioman and Labuan are all designated tax-free zones, so you can stock up on quality booze and smokes. Government tariffs are also waived on hotels and selected retail goodies. More on CNN: 10 best islands for a Malaysia holiday 7. Plants and animals like it here, too
The waters around Sipadan are reputed to cover some of the best dive sites in the world, while the largest flower in the world, the rare Rafflesia arnoldii, aka corpse flower, can be found on Malaysian Borneo. More on CNN: The best of Malaysian Borneo 8. The best char kuay teow is in Penang
Why else would diners put up with long waits (more than an hour in some instances) and a notorious red-hatted proprietor known for her surly attitude, plying stir-fried noodles that cost double what other hawkers are charging? If you're feeling a bit masochistic and/or hungry, any local will direct you to the infamous Lorong Selamat Char Kuay Teow at Kafe Heng Huat. The island's numerous hawker centers ply all sorts of other Chinese, Indian and Malay fare, from hokkien mee to curry mee and rojak. Some would (and do) even say the best street food in the world can be found on the island. More on CNN: Malaysia's top 40 foods 9. Visiting during Ramadan isn't a problem
But unlike in more conservative destinations such as Dubai, visitors and non-Muslim Malaysians aren't expected to abstain from eating, drinking or smoking in public during the month of fasting. Nevertheless, it's considered a polite gesture for visitors not to be scarfing and swigging on the street during this time. Nighttime is the time to eat -- there's a dizzying spread at the Ramadan Bazaars (called "Param" locally) -- lively markets where lots of food stalls are set up to cater to Muslims breaking their daily fast at sundown. More on CNN: Top tips for an incredible Malaysia road trip 10. Malaysians are mad for social media
In a global study conducted by research firm TNS in 2010, Malaysians ranked as the most e-social nationality on the web, with an average of 233 friends in cyberspace. As of 2012, a reported 87.9% of Malaysians on the Internet access Facebook. If you want a new Malaysian BFF, it won't be hard -- locals are often enthusiastic to become your newfound friend, fan or follower. More on CNN: How to do Malaysia ... and get it right CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.      |
| How to jack your heartrate to 177 bpm in Singapore Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:04 AM PDT Zip-lining, indoor skydiving, jetpacking. Sentosa Island is the place to conquer your inner wimp  Despite being more than four decades old, Singapore's Sentosa Island is a tourist attraction that knows the importance of reinvention. In recent years, it's become the top destination in the city for those in need of a fast adrenaline fix, thanks to a huge cluster of adventure activities, from surfing to indoor skydiving. It also presents a great opportunity for someone like me -- fainthearted, petrified of heights -- to conquer their fears. I recently spent a weekend on Sentosa doing just that -- or trying to -- on the scariest thrill-rides and adventures I could find. To gauge my terror during each exercise, I slapped on a Polar FT7 heart rate monitor watch during the trip. I also devised an ad hoc "nausea level" rating. These are my normal heart rate readings. Average resting heart rate: 77 bpm (beats per minute) Maximum resting heart rate: 87 bpm Average nausea level: 0/5 (though certain movies and TV shows can push that to 2/5) More on CNN: Best new restaurants in Singapore ClimbMax
Maximum heart rate: 177 bpm Nausea level: 4/5
On the top of Sentosa's largest hill, the rope course consists of three levels, with heights up to 12 meters. Knowing I was safely secured and seeing 12-year-olds enjoying the course a level below me didn't do much to calm me, particularly when I reached a section that involved jumping across a gap between platforms. At that moment, my heart raced to 177 bpm. In the end, I couldn't finish -- I didn't have the strength, nor courage, to continue to the highest level. Conclusion: This is an intense exercise to combat fear of heights. And embarrassing, if you're concerned with what those on the ground below are thinking as they watch you struggle. ClimbMax, MegaZip Adventure Park, Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore; open daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; S$38 ($30) More on CNN: Keong Saik Road: The coolest new block in Singapore MegaZip
Average heart rate: 141 bpm Maximum heart rate: 150 bpm Nausea level: 2/5
But once I finally worked up the courage to let go, MegaZip was pure fun. Singapore's first three-wire zip allows multiple people to zip-line at the same time, from a hilltop across a patch of jungle, over the beach and onto a small platform over the water. The views along the 450-meter-long journey are exhilarating. Conclusion: This one's addictive. I now plan to zip-line every chance I get. MegaZip, MegaZip Adventure Park, Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore; open daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; S$38 for a zip ($30) Jetpack
Maximum heart rate: 134 bpm Nausea level: 3/5
"It can take you up to 10 meters high," says Tran. "I think it's the safest way to fly, as you have the power to control your flight." The equipment will be available in October and the waiting list is getting long -- almost 200 people had already signed up by mid-September. When I slapped the jetpack on my back and headed out to sea, I could feel the jealousy emanating from all eyes on the beach -- until they saw me struggling for the good part of an hour. It wasn't easy. "The first step is always the most difficult," said Alred Low, SeaBreeze business partner/instructor. "You cannot fight the machine, and you have to find your center of balance." "Once you can balance then you can fly just by pressing a button -- like in a cartoon," said Low. Conclusion: You'll have to conquer your fear of drowning before you tackle your height issues. SeaBreeze Water-Sports, Wave House Sentosa, Siloso Beach, Sentosa; open daily from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; an hour of jetpack training costs S$288 ($183) More on CNN: Island hopping around Singapore Flying Trapeze
Maximum heart rate: 174 bpm Nausea level: 2/5
After basic instruction, visitors climb right up to the highest platform. "When I say 'ready,' you hop," said the instructor. After you master the basic swing, you need to lift your legs up and hook them onto the bar, so you can let your hands go and swing upside down. I sought advice from fellow acrobats after my first failure. "The most difficult part is to lift your legs up," said Nuala Goggins from Ireland. "Timing is really important, so you have to listen to the instructions." Her compatriot Vicky Reynolds added, "It's a kick, then squeeze your stomach to lift your legs up." Conclusion: Listen to their advice -- I managed to do it the second time. Flying Trapeze, Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore; open Monday to Friday 2:30-6:30 p.m. (closed in bad weather); S$10 ($8) per swing or S$20 ($16) for three swings More on CNN: Singapore's best cocktail bars iFly Singapore
Maximum heart rate: 116 bpm Nausea level: 1/5
iFly Singapore launched in May 2011. With a height of about 17 meters and a width of five meters, it's the world's largest indoor skydiving simulator. The wind tunnel can accommodate 20 professional flyers at one time. There are four fans in the tunnel generating airspeeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. But, according to iFly Singapore, usual body-flight speeds range from 160 to 190 kilometers per hour. It looks easy, but striking the right balance is challenging. "It's actually more difficult than skydiving outdoors, because you're confined in the tunnel," said Tay. "The first time I skydived for real [after training with iFly Singapore], I was flying better than many seasoned flyers." The first two flights are mostly about learning to balance. Once you've mastered that, an instructor will help you catch enough wind to soar up to nine meters, offering a great way to experience the weightlessness of free falling. Conclusion: This is the best way to train before jumping out of a plane. iFly Singapore, next to Beach Station, Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore; open Thursday to Tuesday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Rates vary, visit iFly Singapore's website for full info. More on CNN: Fly in the world's largest wind tunnel, then get tipsy ParaJumpAverage heart rate: N/A Maximum heart rate: N/A Nausea level: N/A No, my heart didn't stop in terror. I wimped out. I couldn't do it. In my defense, this one involves strapping into a harness and trusting the safety wire to keep you from splattering to the ground at the end of a 50-foot freefall parachute jump. "A woman from the UK was trying ParaJump," says Hafiz Hanafiah, an instructor in the MegaZip Adventure Park. "She stood on the platform for 45 minutes before finally daring to jump. After she made that jump, she hugged me and thanked me for being there for her the whole time. It was very memorable for me." Hanafiah says that before he joined the company, he was afraid of heights as well. "Since then, I took a leap every day from ParaJump until I overcame the fear." Conclusion: I'll consider taking that leap next time. Baby steps. ParaJump, MegaZip Adventure Park, Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore; open daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; S$18 ($14) More on CNN: Sentosa Island: No longer a tourist attraction just for tourists    |
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