Oggi, vi invitiamo a un’avventura attraverso uno dei gioielli più iconici della Malesia: le stupefacenti Grotte di Batu, incastonate nel cuore di Kuala Lumpur. Immaginatevi davanti a una maestosa collina di calcare, con gli occhi puntati sulla massiccia statua dorata di Lord Murugan, alta ben cinquanta metri. Questa è l’incantevole visione che vi accoglie all’arrivo alle Grotte di Batu: un santuario induista e una meraviglia naturale. Ma facciamo un salto indietro nella storia: come è nato questo luogo straordinario? Si racconta che le grotte si siano formate oltre 400 milioni di anni fa, con il calcare scolpito dalle forze implacabili del tempo e del clima. E se la maestosità della natura non fosse sufficiente, la storia umana ha intessuto la sua trama in questa meraviglia geologica. Secondo la leggenda, queste grotte furono scoperte da un mercante indiano nel 1800, affascinato dalla loro bellezza e dalla serenità del luogo. Da allora, le Grotte di Batu sono diventate un fulcro spirituale per la comunità induista della Malesia, attrattiva per pellegrini e turisti provenienti da tutto il mondo. Mentre si affrontano i 272 gradini colorati che conducono alla caverna principale, si può percepire un cambio di energia. L’aria è impregnata del profumo di incenso bruciato, mentre i canti ritmici riempiono l’atmosfera. All’interno della Grotta Cattedrale, ci si trova immersi in una vasta sala adornata con ornamenti sacri e statue induiste, illuminata dai raggi di luce naturale che filtrano dal soffitto. Ma l’avventura non si ferma qui. Per i più intraprendenti esploratori, ci sono altre grotte da scoprire, ognuna con il suo fascino e mistero unici. Dalla Grotta Oscura, dimora di rare specie di pipistrelli e insetti, alla Grotta Galleria d’Arte, impreziosita da murales colorati che raccontano la mitologia induista, in questo magico luogo c’è qualcosa in grado di affascinare ogni visitatore. Durante il festival annuale di Thaipusam, uno spettacolo di resistenza e devozione, migliaia di fedeli intraprendono un pellegrinaggio alle Grotte di Batu, portando kavadis, strutture ornate con fiori e piume di pavone, come segno di penitenza e gratitudine. Sia che siate appassionati di storia, amanti della natura o in cerca di esperienze spirituali, le Grotte di Batu offrono un’esperienza unica. Sono testimonianza del duraturo potere della fede, della bellezza della natura e della ricca diversità culturale che rende la Malesia un paese davvero straordinario. Con questo si conclude il nostro viaggio tra le meraviglie mistiche delle Grotte di Batu. Speriamo che questo tour virtuale vi abbia entusiasmati e ispirati ad aggiungere questa incantevole destinazione alla vostra lista dei desideri di viaggio. Foto di Guglielmo Zanchi (Pluto) – Percorsi di Viaggio Per guardare il video sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI. Per ascoltare il PODCAST sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI.

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Clicca QUI per ascoltare il PODCAST in italiano sulle Grotte di Batu Benvenuti a un altro episodio della nostra serie di podcast, nei quali ci immergiamo nelle meraviglie del mondo asiatico. Oggi vi portiamo in un’avventura verso uno dei luoghi più iconici della Malesia, le stupefacenti Grotte di Batu, incastonate nel cuore di Kuala Lumpur. Immaginate di essere ai piedi di una maestosa collina di calcare, gli occhi rivolti verso la massiccia statua dorata di Lord Murugan, alta una cinquantina di metri. Questa è l’immagine che vi aspetta all’arrivo alle stupefacenti Grotte di Batu, santuario induista e meraviglia naturale. Per leggere l’ARTICOLO sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI. Per guardare il VIDEO sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI. Seguici su PERCORSI DI VIAGGIO, i podcast di chi ama viaggiare!  

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Le Grotte di Batu, un’icona sacra incastonata nelle distese di roccia calcaria della Malesia, sono uno dei luoghi più affascinanti e spiritualmente significativi del paese. Situate a soli 13 chilometri a nord di Kuala Lumpur, la capitale malese, queste grotte millenarie sono una testimonianza della ricca storia e cultura dell’area. Scavate nella roccia naturale, le Grotte di Batu costituiscono un complesso di templi induisti che attrae migliaia di pellegrini e turisti ogni anno. Maestose statue, scalinate imponenti e un’atmosfera mistica fanno delle Grotte di Batu un luogo imperdibile per coloro che desiderano esplorare la ricchezza spirituale e la bellezza naturale della Malesia. Un viaggio attraverso queste grotte è un’esperienza che incanta i sensi e nutre lo spirito, offrendo un’immersione indimenticabile nella cultura e nella spiritualità di questo affascinante paese asiatico. Per ascoltare il PODCAST sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI. Per leggere l’articolo sulle Grotte di Batu, CLICCARE QUI.  

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Genting Highlands is like a small version of, say, Las Vegas in the USA, or Macau in China: a place where casinos abound. People from all over the world usually visit Genting Highlands with the purpose of gambling in various types of games prepared for them by the Genting Malaysia Berhad, a subsidiary of Genting Group. Also known as City of Entertainment, Genting Highlands is also the perfect gateway destination for Malaysian and Asian people who want to stay out of hot and humid weather.  As the name implies, Genting Highlands is located at the Titiwangsa Range at about 1760 meters (5710 feet) above sea level, making its temperature hover between a cool 15 to 25 degrees. Also, Genting Highlands has a range of affordable accommodation to suit all budgets. Genting Highlands was founded by Lim Goh Tong, a citizen of Fujian, China, in 1965. He came to Malaysia at that time the country was known as Tanah Malay  (Federation of Malaya) in 1937 and started off as a lowly carpenter. During the following years, he dedicated to vegetable farming and petty trading before involving himself in the scrap metal and heavy machinery business. It was through this business that he finally became rich. The idea to open Genting Highlands came to him while having a meal in Cameron Highlands in 1964. He thought the place was marvelous but a bit too far from Kuala Lumpur, which made it inconvenient to some people. Next, he had a good look around the mountainous area near the capital city, and eventually found a suitable spot on the peak of Gunung Ulu Kali, one of the highest mountains on the Pahang-Selangor border. After studying the topography and planning the development, Lim pooled out his recourses and energy into creating a Highlands resort complete with accessible roads, infrastructure, clean water and electricity supply. Most people at the time thought he was a bit eccentric and the project a crazy one, but Lim Goh Tong did not give up easily. His hard work paid off: not only Genting Highlands opened for business in 1971, but the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, granted him the only casinos license in the country. Genting Highlands quickly grew from a simple casino resort to a modern tourist destination, fully equipped with parks, hotels, large roads and a cable car. Today, Genting Highlands is one of the most popular destinations attracting tourists from all over the world. A visit to Genting Highlands gives you the chance to read some of Lim Goh Tong famous and inspiring quotes: – “Laugh at me as you please, but nothing will deter me from going up that mountain.” “I had fallen head over heels with this virgin wilderness and vowed to transform it into my dream resort.” “I am confident that Genting will continue to be a key contributor to the nation’s economy.” Back to my visit, there are plenty of thing you can do when you are in Genting Highlands. Once you are in the area, you can easily walk around directed by convenient signboards along pedestrian walks. The most common question I get thrown at me is: What are the main attractions there? Like I mentioned earlier, Genting highlights is the casinos, and do not worry if your budget is low: you can either choose to play in a VIP area or in a normal area. But casinos are not all: there are comprehensive rides and attractions in indoor and outdoor theme parks: First World, SnowWorld, Sky Venture, Genting Bowl, Vision City and Funtasy World Video Game. On top of that, you can treat yourself with some shopping, watch shows and performances, visit the Ripley’s Believe it or not as well as the Chin Swee Caves Temple. I was there and I enjoyed it. How about you? GETTING THERE Genting Highlands foothills can be reach from Kuala Lumpur by bus – your best starting point is Puduraya, Kuala Lumpur central bus – taxi or private car.  One popular option is the Genting Skyway cable car, recognized as the World Fastest Mono Cable Car System thanks to its maximum speed of 21.6 kilometres per hour! The fare costs RM 6.40 per way – RM 12.80 return. Express one way is RM 31.80 and Hotel Guest Leisure Return Ride, if you are staying at on the local establishments, is RM 10.80. Operational hours are 7.30 am to midnight. For more info browse http://www.gentinghighlands.info or http://www.rwgenting.com

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It was on the way back from Genting Skyway Cable Car that I came up with the idea to visit Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm in Malaysia. My friends insisted it was not worth paying the (Malaysian Ringgit) RM 8 entry ticket just to see strawberries, but I insisted: I believed a short visit to this attraction was going to be worth our money. I make this point because in the end the place was more than worth a visit. The farm was so peaceful, clean and beautiful, with fresh strawberries and other attractions we all enjoyed. And this is my account: Strawberry farm Strawberry taste is quite sour but all and all, I love it. I like strawberries colour when ripe: red like a lipstick. I love their smell and taste when they melt in my mouth. Overall, I do love strawberry and I prefer to eat them fresh together with ice cream. Let me tell you about the farm. There are plenty of strawberries for the visitor to see and even pluck for a price: the minimum you are allowed to pluck is 100 grams, which cost you around RM 8. Clippers and basket are provided for you. Apart from plucking, you can witness the strawberry farm process on how they take care of the plant until it bears fruits, from the raw material to the final product. If you intend to purchase strawberries and related products, they have a small shop near the main entrance, selling strawberry products like jam and juice. Lavender farm I love strawberry as much as I love lavender, as I know their purple colour is good for the eyes. This farm can be found not far from the strawberry farm, a short walk up a hill. The garden is so lush and green, complete with lavender as well as different species in bloom, like sunflowers and roses. A great place for photo taking. Honey farm It was great to find out that the process of making honey was also represented, with a great wealth of information. The honey is priced according to its quality, but do not be surprised: the honey at Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm is genuine and natural. Honey is such a good product, giving us a perfect eating pleasure and contributing to our health and beauty. Honey can in fact treat acne, sleep problems, gastritis, asthma and hemorrhoids. Stalls As I walked across the farms, I found a lot of souvenir shops selling several products such as Genting Highland strawberry tea, coffee and chocolate drinks, t-shirts, key chains, fridge magnets and more memories to bring back home. And since I felt like a tourist, I did buy some: the coffee drink mixed with strawberry cost RM 32 and the burdock tea RM 40. Wow, you would think: expensive! But let me tell you about burdock tea: it is a traditional drink made out of tree bark and marketed for health purposes. Chinese people in China and Malaysia drink this tea everyday in order to treat and prevent health problem such as diabetes, cholesterol problem, detox and constipation! Mushrooms farm It was at the last section of the farm that I encountered rows and rows of mushroom, some not yet sprout. They looked so unique and beautiful that I felt the need to learn about them. It turned out those were abalone mushroom, known as ‘king oysters’ thanks to their health qualities. This mushroom consists mainly of Vitamins B and proteins, which are helpful in strengthening our immune system. A small stall at the corner has abalone mushroom for sale to the public. _________________________________________________________ When I read the notes I jotted down during my visit, I realized the RM 8 entrance fee is not so bad (kids only pay RM 5). The visit was extensive and the air was refreshing. I would suggest the farm to set up a stall on the outside so visitors to the area who are not willing to pay the entrance fee can still purchase the delicious strawberries produced by Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm. Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm is open to public everyday from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm. For more information, visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Genting-Strawberry-Leisure-Farms-157150721552/timeline/?ref=br_tf

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Like other wonderful buildings in the world, namely the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur also have a place in time: they reflect the oil history of Malaysia, which started in the 19th century. Oil was first discovered by the people of Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) with the first find at Canada Hill, Miri, Sarawak. Before its commercialization, oil was collected and used for lighting lamps and for medical purposes, mainly in the treatment of skin disorders like eczema. Oil drilling began in Miri in August 1910 and oil finally started flowing in December that same year. Thanks to Miri success in oil discovery, the oil exploration then proceeded to other onshore areas of Sabah and Sarawak, though to date Miri is the only onshore area that contains oil. Miri oil industry has produced more than 80 million barrels of oil in its life span. It was only in the 1960s that Malaysia managed to track down other areas with significant oil quantities, first in offshore Sarawak and later in Sabah and Terengganu. These findings eventually led to the incorporation of the national company PETRONAS (Petroliam Nasional) in 1974. Petronas functions were to manage the reserves of crude oil and national gas, important contributors to the country’s development. The success of Malaysian oil industry can today be seen through the splendour of the Petronas Twin Towers. Petronas Twin Towers are of course the location of Petronas’ headquarters, a 100% state owned company and the largest company in South East Asia. These twin towers are also known as Twin Skyscrapers and are the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. With their height of 454 meters, these tower held the record as tallest building in the world from 1st January 1998 to 31st December 2004. Beside that, due to the soil, it is known as the building built on the deepest foundation in the world. The site where the Petronas Twin Towers were built was once a Hindu temple named Anandha Krishnan as well as an old horse race track. Located at Jalan Ampang, the towers were designed by Argentina-born architect Cesar Pelli; the project started off in 1992 and construction was completed in 5 years, with the official opening celebrated in 1999 by YAB Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s 4th Prime Minister. The design of the building won the bid as it is not only capture the public eyes but it also represents the past and future of Malaysia, embracing the country’s heritage towards modernization and symbolizing Malaysia’s culture and advancement on the world stage. Most of Petronas towers interior motifs are a reflection of local handicrafts and weaving patterns, and the combination of stainless steel and glass reflect Islamic patterns. Also to be noted that the buildings floor plates have shape of eight-pointed stars which architecturally describe important Islamic principles. Thanks to this beautiful design and the towers’ height, the Petronas Twin Towers have become one of Malaysia’s landmark, and an important feature in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Each tower has sharp pinnacles standing 73.5 meters tall and feature a diamond-faceted facade consisting of 83,500 square meters of stainless steel. They can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. This impressive compound is part of the  KLCC complex (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) and consists of 88 storey with offices, a shopping mall ( http://www.suriaklcc.com.my – 5 floors of mostly expensive brand boutiques and many restaurants, with a recommended food court on the 2nd floor), a hotel, a TGV movie theater on the 3rd floor, Kinakurnya – the largest bookstore in Kuala Lumpur, Petrosains – the interactive technology exhibition/museum by Petronas on the 4th floor, a state-of-the-art aquarium on the ground floor (Aquaria KLCC http://aquariaklcc.com – where you can even dive with sharks) and a Sky Bridge located at the 41st floor, which is free and limited to 800 tickets a day spread over 20 time slots. Great views are to be had from this vantage point, so try to get there early since tickets are issued starting at 8.30am. The towers and KLCC are surrounded by a fantastically landscaped park complete with benches, manicured lawns and a lake with a water fountain that gives you an ever changing skyline view. The area is suitable for those who want to spend time at leisure and with family, tourists and locals alike, as well as being a popular romantic meeting place for couples. The new affluent city district created around them includes many new luxury Condonimums in the immediate vicinity, which creates a contrast great for picture taking. A must for any visit to Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers are open to public daily from 9am to 7pm, closing on Fridays between 1pm to 2.30pm due to muslim prayers. Entrance fee for the observation deck on the 86th floor is steep at RM80 for adults and RM25 for locals (present a Malaysian Identity Card), and RM12 for children. To get there, you can chose from the LRT – stop at KLCC Station, Monorail – Bukit Nanas station is at a 10 min walk along Jalan Ampang. Find out facts at http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my – and for more information you can contact Infoline at 0063-323318080 or email skybridge@petronas.com.my

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 appeared first on Asian Itinerary.