Posts filed under 'General Info'
GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is getting more common and popular in our region, thanks to the affordable pricing of GPS-enabled mobile phones and GPS units, as well the comprehensive GPS maps of Malaysia and Singapore contributed by Malsingmaps community.
Just taking my workplace into consideration, about 20% of my colleagues own a GPS device. I’ve also recently joined the troop, by getting the QStarz BT-Q818 GPS receiver to pair with my Sony Ericsson P1i.
I’ve already revised most (not all yet) of the previous posts with relevant GPS coordinate at the last sentence of each post. If you have a GPS device as well, hopefully the GPS coordinate given could ease your routing on the road. However, to those who don’t possess this gadget, I’ll still carry on providing a conventional map.
I’ve been convoying with my colleagues for a few road trips, which were heavily dependent on GPS for our direction. The most challenging one was done in Krabi, a place of total geographic unfamiliarity to us, with a total of 4 cars driving out of the city. Though common sense and some good guesses are needed at times, especially at places with under-developed map features, but still, GPS works great and help a lot in our leisure.
January 25th, 2008
Welcome to a brand new beginning for year 2007. In the context of tourism Malaysia, year 2007 marks an important yearlong campaign – Visit Malaysia Year 2007 (VYM 2007).
The VYM 2007 is held in conjunction with the golden jubilee of Malaysia’s independence, celebrating 50 years of nationhood.
In efforts of promoting Malaysia as one of the world’s most preferred traveling destinations, promotions are not only to be done by government sector, but spread of words by local residents is undeniably important as well, especially in this broadband age where information is easily transmitted over the web.
Realizing the importance of Internet marketing strategy, the Visit Malaysia Cyber Campaign (VMCC) initiative is established to promote Malaysia the cyber way. VMCC is a site which allows participants to help promoting tourism Malaysia in the following approaches:
For your information, the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign will be officially launched by the Prime Minister on Saturday January 6th 2007 evening at a colourful gala in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. The highlights of the event will include a concert featuring renowned Malaysian artistes, an exciting fireworks display and the unveiling of the 60 metres high Ferris Wheel similar to the “London Eye”; dubbed the “Eye on Malaysia” – a first such structure in South East Asia.
In recent months, efforts of Tourism Ministry to push a success jump-start for VMY 2007 are evidently seen everywhere in Malaysia. Personally, of course I hope the VMY 2007 will be a great triumph to attract number of foreign arrivals to the country targeted at 20 million in 2007.
One of my wishes of the year is to make AmazingMelaka.com a recognized tourism Melaka info hub. I’m glad that this site has attracted quite a satisfying level of participations from visitors, in the sense that some of the popular posts are continuously receiving comments and feedbacks. My continuous and long-term efforts to publish up-to-date information at AmazingMelaka.com has gotten positive feedbacks recorded at Alexa, with surging traffic ranking and visits as shown in the following screenshot captured.
Thanks to all my subscribed readers and visitors.
Cheers for a fabulous 2007!
January 1st, 2007
The Historical City of Melaka (also known as Malacca in English language) is a city with a glorious past hidden behind each façade of the centuries-old buildings where the history of Malaysia began. Nowadays, Malacca hosts a wide and interesting collection of a diversified culture, a unique blend of Eastern and Western architecture and a rich background of history. Malacca was once the cradle of modern civilization in a multinational society and the center of trade in the region that was even envied by the Europeans. Now it is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Malaysia.
Every step you take down the narrow winding roads, there will be a piece of historical treasure waiting to be discovered or a captivating story waiting to be told. Malacca being the second smallest state in Malaysia, is undoubtedly the wealthiest when it comes to historic value, culture and cuisine. Malacca’s ‘live’, or rather, preservation of historical artifacts and architecture make it so much easier and interesting for one to learn and absorb. Let’s take a literal stroll down memory lane because here is where it all began.
Naming an Empire After a Tree
According to the legend, Malacca was founded in 1396 by Prince Parameswara from a dying ancient kingdom of Srivijaya. Parameswara came to Temasik (Singapore), killed the ruler who paid tribute to Siam (today’s Thailand) and reigned there for five years until the Siamese drove him out. Parameswara was out hunting one day and while resting under a tree, one of his dogs cornered a mouse-deer and in defense, the mouse-deer kicked the dog smartly on its nose. Paramswara was so impressed by the mouse-deer’s courage and also believing what he saw as a good omen, he decided to build his empire on that sacred land and named it after the tree he was resting under, which was the “Melaka” tree. Incidentally, he was the first Malay prince to become Muslim and inevitably, Islam became the official religion.
The Cosmopolitan Empire
By the end of the 15th century, Malacca had become a great trading empire as well as a rendezvous for every seafaring nation - Arabs, Indians, South Americans, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and English. Here, gold, silk, tea, opium, tobacco, spices, perfumes and countless other items and natural resources were traded or exchanged. The Portuguese were the first to rule in 1511, followed by the Dutch in 1641 and British in 1824. Each ruler left its mark behind to be forged and blended into a new and unique mix. The day came in August 31st 1957, when Malacca, together with the other states of Malaya, achieved independence. The historical melting pot of cultures and races has every much influenced the architectural designs of homes and buildings in Malacca today.
As history evolved, Malacca became the city that boasts a wonderful mixture of cultures - Malays, Chinese, Indians, the Chittys, the Babas and Nyonyas and the Portuguese. And here, in Old Malacca is where it all happened.
Take a journey into the heart of Malacca and discover 600 years of glorious and colourful past. It is definitely a state that is not to be missed when you’re in Malaysia.
Visit Historic Malacca Means Visit Malaysia
Part of the contents are sourced from Tourism Promotion Division of Malacca Chief Minister’s Department
January 27th, 2006
