It’s Adventure Time In Malaysia

Reema Sisodia – Kuala Lumpur

When you think of Malaysia, I bet it’s only the Petronas Towers that comes first to your mind. If you look beyond the towers or take a bird’s eye view from the top itself, you would see Malaysia in a different light.

It is a product that offers a host of activities in the area of adventure tourism ranging from diving, whitewater rafting, river safaris and cruises, cave exploration, angling, bird watching, jungle trails and safaris, paragliding and the list can read longer.

This sounds like good news, especially for the Indian outbound traveller who gets all that he is looking for in the area of adventure tourism just at a distance of approximately four hours from India and of course at prices that are surprisingly affordable. Just like India, which can be easily regarded as a haven for adventure sports, Malaysia too has a number of specialities to its name, keeping in view its geographical and topographical spread. Blessed with exotic fauna and flora, it possesses some unique sanctuaries and national parks. Malaysian national parks are also known for seriously working toward the cause of eco tourism. Rehabilitation programmes are conducted for Orangutans and Proboscis monkeys in the national parks.

In the heart of the country lies the world’s oldest rain forest region called Taman Negara. Malaysians simply call it the ’Green Heart’ which is also the oldest national park in Malaysia. It sprawls across the mountains and limestone hills of the peninsular state of Pahang.

If the mountains and the forest is your idea of inspiration that you seek from nature, Taman Negara will never let you down. It will in fact lift up your spirits and engulf you in its surroundings which are tranquil and pure. It’s not just the destination but the journey to the destination that makes the experience all the more exciting. Cutting across the river in a small narrow boat, getting deeper and deeper into the jungle and then ultimately reaching your ‘natural home’ is a beautiful experience which just grows on you. River safaris and cruises can also be experienced in Melaka, Kuala Berang in Terengganu, Lake Chini in Pahang and also Sarawak, apart from Taman Negara. Once in Taman Negara, it’s the Canopy Walk which has to be a part of your itinerary. It’s regarded as the longest Canopy Walk in the Asia Pacific belt and is a ‘wow’ experience. Walking into the jungle, trying to sight exotic species including birds, plants, animals, insects etc is a unique experience which this rain forest region has to offer. There are special high tops created for wildlife enthusiasts who can stay there to spot their animals. The river water in the region is also very inviting where one can fight through the rapids while taking the small boat up stream. Stepping into the lush green waterfall of the region, trekking across the area, etc are some of the rejuvenating activities which the region gives every adventure lover as a gift to be unwrapped. If you wish to just laze around and take life at a slow pace, then you have the option of relaxing in the natural setting soaking in the sights and sounds of the regions. In this peace, you may spot rare birds and insects which many a times go unnoticed when constantly on the move. Bird watching activities are a treat in themselves. But if tougher challenges are what give you a high, then try hiking through the jungles to reach mountain points identified on the maps. There is something for every mountain lover, whether professional or amateur climber. Gunung Jerai in Kedah, Gunung Korbu in Perak and Gunung Tangsi in Negari Sembilan are places for amateur mountaineering while Gunung Gagau in Taman Negara and Gungung Tahan, the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia are mountaineering treats for professionals. But the highlight of Taman Negara is the night walk in the jungle. It’s a journey full of surprises, as at every step there is hope to spot the exotic creatures of the jungle. Your torchlight is indeed your best friend during these times. Yet another experience where you would need the torchlight handy is your journey into the country’s few exotic caves.

Nature has been almost as generous to Malaysia regarding its caves as it has with the rain forest. Both the world’s largest single cave chamber, and the longest cave passage in Southeast Asia can be found in Sarawak’s extraordinary Gunung Mulu National Park. In fact, almost every national park in Malaysia has a significant limestone cave system, and many of them offer guided tours, with varying levels of penetration.

If the earth is not your calling and it’s the sea that gives you a high, then beach lovers are in for some pleasant surprise in Malaysia. From the eastern coastline of Peninsular Malaysia to the black sand beach of Pantai Pasir Hitam and the smooth pebble beach of Pantai Batu Kerikil, Malaysia’s shores have a lot to offer. Water-skiing, wind-surfing, snorkelling are other attractions which sea lovers can explore. There are also beautiful tropical islands in the region, such as Langkawi and Paula Tioman. The tropical waters of both peninsular Malaysia and Borneo offer some of the world’s best scuba diving. Malaysia is also a relatively undiscovered fishing destination. It is endowed with quality freshwater and marine game fishing.

If you plan to travel to the regions of Sarawak and Sabah, don’t miss the chance to view a special kind of dwelling called longhouses. Along the rivers of Sarawak and Sabah are some very unique native communities where people live in structures called longhouses, which are really entire villages housed under a single long roof. Most visitors come with a native guide who can also take you on a jungle walk and translate for you. Some longhouses have special "guest longhouses" adjacent for visitors, others host guests inside the main longhouse itself.

So, if your heart is set on an adventure trip, you know where to head.