Hertz Travelogue - A driving holiday to Malaysia
A home away from home, that's Malaysia for me. That's because OVERDRIVE has given me enough opportunities to visit this South East Asian country. I've been to Malaysia quite a few times in the past two years but every single time has been a different experience. Most Indians look at Malaysia as just another affordable holiday destination but there's more on offer if you know the right places. The best way then is to go out on a driving holiday to explore the country by road and, in our case, sometimes on sea.
After landing in Kuala Lumpur, I headed straight to Putrajaya, the administrative centre of Malaysia and a federal territory. Why was I heading there then? That's because I was going to spend the night at one of Malaysia's most iconic hotels, Hotel Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside. The hotel is located only 25 minutes from the airport and is crafted to depict architectural design and ambiences that are distinctively Malay, Chinese, Indian and of the Borneo continent. Malaysia itself is influenced by these very cultures and this makes the country very unique. My car was waiting to be picked up at the hotel and was going to be the mode of transport for the next four days. I wanted to drive a car that was popular in the country. Proton is Malaysia's largest automobile manufacturer and hence I decided to drive the Proton Preve, the company's newest car. The C-segment car is larger than its rivals and this meant that I had no problems when it came to luggage space and room for other passengers. With the car sorted, it was time to plan a route. Tourism Malaysia have recently started to promote fly and drive tours. As the name suggests one has to just fly to Malaysia, pick up a rented car from Hertz at the airport and head out on a holiday. I decided to follow the same route and so can you.
Though Putrajaya is close to Kuala Lumpur, I decided to bypass the congested city and instead visit the Sepang International Circuit located just 30 minutes away from Putrajaya. Malaysia's premier race track was built in the year 1999 and plays host to various motorsport events including Formula 1 and MotoGP. I got a behind the scenes tour of the facility and learnt how a race is managed. Anyone can be part of the tour during non race days for a nominal fee. The highlight of the visit was the opportunity to drive the circuit. My Proton wasn't exactly the ideal car to go track hunting in but was still fun to drive around the 5.5km long track. I even passed corner 11 where I paid tribute to Marco Simoncelli. After a quick tour and drive around the circuit, it was time to head towards the next destination. The highway network is well connected in Malaysia, the roads are wide and smooth too. This helped me easily cover the next 100km in no time. I reached Kuala Kubu Baru, a Malay village at the foot of Fraser's hill in time for lunch. The small laid back town is one of the few traditional towns in Malaysia. The town doesn't have many tourist attractions but is a nice place to break free from the urban life. The central grid of streets offers a diverse mix of shops, from a traditional barber, to simple eateries that offer ethnic meals at a budget price. A break in Kuala Kubu Baru is worth taking especially when driving towards Fraser's hill.
As I drove ahead, the roads got narrower but were still smooth and pothole free. The 40km route climbed through winding roads and the temperature got cooler as we got closer to the hill resort. Fraser's hill derives its name from Louis James Fraser, a Scottish pioneer who discovered an ancient forest of moss-draped trees and ferns that was constantly moist in the cloud layer. He was out in an expedition to find gold and other valuable metals and ended up setting up a tin mine. However, Fraser vanished without trace after a few years. When nobody found him, people saw the place and found it perfect to be a hill station. Work started on the access road to the hill in the year 1919 and three years later, it opened to visitors as Fraser's hill. Today one can take part in a lot of recreational activities in the various resorts. Malaysia's earliest highland golf course was constructed here in 1925 on former tin mines. Fraser's hill is also a bird watching paradise. More than 270 species of local and migratory birds are found here. Birding aficionados from across the world visit the place to spot some exotic birds. The hill even plays host to the annual international bird race. There are many walking and trekking trails around the hill too, I went on a night trail and even spotted the hard to find trap door spider and wood that glows in the night. A day well spent then.
I woke up early next day since it was going to be a longer drive this time with more stops en route. I drove down Fraser's hill and drove close to 100km to Sungai Pasu. The area is known for its various homestays that have been setup by the government to help generate revenue in the smaller towns. The area is known as the most beautiful village in the district. I was greeted by the family that takes care of the homestay, the children and women of the house performed to traditional music and later offered local appetizers and drinks. Malaysian food is the influence of various cultures from Asia such as Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisine. The food served in the homestay is very different from what one finds in bigger cities in Malaysia, this makes the cuisine very distinctive. The lunch platter consisted of various preparations, sea food lovers won't be disappointed. The locals love the sweets and it was no surprise to see a lot to choose from. After the meal I was asked to play a few outdoor games with the locals including sepak takraw, a sport native to the Malay-Thai peninsula. The game allows players to only use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. It was quite a challenge and I barely managed to get it right. Homestays are definitely worth going to since it's not only affordable to stay but also lets one see a completely different side of the country. Having only driven half the distance for the day, I decided to leave to the next stop that was just 10 minutes away, the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah. The centre is dedicated to the protection of wild elephants. Many elephants are under threat in their own habitat thanks to human encroachment and hence need to be moved to safer areas. The centre is a permanent home to some orphaned and injured elephants since they can't survive in the wild. These elephants are the ones that I got to see. They are introduced to visitors and obey some basic commands, later one can even feed them fruits and assist in giving them a bath. It was getting very sunny and I was waiting to get to the next destination about 100km away. That's because I was passing by the Bukit Gembang water amusement park. After getting there in a few hours, it was time to jump into the pool and laze in the water until evening. The park is perfect to relax and have a good time especially if you're travelling with friends or family.
Driving to Terengganu from Bukit Gampang was the longest leg of the drive. 250km may not sound like much but with quite a few stops planned en route, we had to leave earlier. The route from here towards Kemaman is known for eateries along the highway, 40km down I stopped at Warung Otak-Otak Wan to sample some local snacks. The place serves Sata, a local rice and coconut based sweet delicacy that is wrapped with coconut leaves and then char grilled. Yet another snack called lekor is made by mixing minced fish with flour and then deep fried. The meal ended with cool tender coconut juice and I was now headed to Pantai Kemasik, a beach resort. The beach is free of commercialisation and is never crowded, I spent a few minutes on the beach and continued to drive further for lunch at Awana Kijal golf, beach and spa resort. The resort is known to serve one of the best buffet lunches around the area and I wasn't complaining. Food from India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia are served here. I avoided Indian food and was more interested in the local Malay dishes. After a lip smacking lunch it was time to drive close to 135km along the T119 highway. With the ocean on one side and lush greenery on the other, the drive felt very relaxing. Too bad that the drive got over sooner than expected thanks to the empty and straight roads leading to Terengganu. Entering the town, I stopped at the Noor Arfa Craft Complex. The shop is known for its batik printing (special wax painted silk materals) and glass blowing, I was taken for a tour and shown the entire process that goes into making authentic batik printing. I even tried my hand in painting a sample piece. Then I checked in at the Primula beach resort in Terengganu. I needed to rest after a long day and staying at the resort turned out to be a good decision.
Since Terengganu lies in the eastern coast of Malaysia, it is the ideal place for someone looking to take a ferry to the Redang Island. Parking facilities are available in the jetty, I parked the car and took the jetty to the island. Since the ferry was to leave in two hours I spent some time in the local food market. The market is known to serve various local snacks and is also known for delicious fresh fruits. The ferry ticket is very affordable and can be bought for just 20 Malaysian ringgits (Rs 360). I was finally in Redang Island, one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It is one of nine islands, which form a marine park that offers one of the best snorkelling and diving opportunities in the world. The Marine Park can be reached by taking a 10 minute boat ride from the island. The indiscriminate exploitation of turtle eggs had caused fewer turtles returning to nest on the island. This led the Terengganu government to setup the park as a conservation site for sea turtles. The area around the island is also known for the highest concentration of corals in the world. I spent an hour snorkelling and it was a beautiful sight under water. Later the marine park officer asked me if I was interested in releasing some baby turtles into the ocean. Only 10 per cent of the total turtles survive when let into the ocean, I prayed that my little one makes it and let him go. The turtle had just begun its journey while I ended mine.
In the last four days I drove a total of 700km over hills, along beaches and across the countryside. Malaysia may be perceived as a strictly budget holiday destination by Indians but the country offers you a great variety for less money. And if you hire a car from Hertz, like I did, then you can escape the stress that comes with buses and trains, giving you a sense of freedom. You will get to see a Malaysia that no holiday package can offer.
HERTZ
Many believe in taking a flight or a bus in Malaysia on a holiday but driving across the country is the best way to see the country. The highway network is well connected and drives through one of the best scenic routes in South East Asia. Indians will find it easy to drive too since in Malaysia one drives on the left side of the road in a right hand drive car. Acquiring a car is also simple thanks to car rental agencies like Hertz. One of the world's most widely used car rental services. There are a wide range of cars to choose from depending on the family requirement. The Hertz counter is also conveniently located in almost every important airport, railway station and other major points to make pick-ups and drop-offs convenient. One can also get insurance, emergency road assistance and a sat nav at a nominal fee.