Malaysia Splendor 14 Day *Cost per person twin-share $3543.00 Single Supplement $ 896.00 High Season surcharge $ 210.00 Dec 09 - Jan 15 - Jun 01 - Aug 31 * Based on a minimum of 2 pax traveling SUN : DAY 01 LOS ANGELES/SINGAPORE Your exciting journey begins as you board your Singapore Airlines 747 wide-bodied jet for the flight across the Pacific to the Orient. Delicious meals are served inflight. MON : DAY 02 SINGAPORE Known as the "Lion of the Far East", it manages to be both modern and natural at once. One of the only two cities in the world with a genuine rain forest, it is a fascinating habitat for an abundance of flora and fauna. Rare exotic species exists here, blissfully unaware that they are within minutes of the world's busiest harbor and a modern metropolis. TUE : DAY 03 SINGAPORE pYour tour of Singapore gives you a glimpse of Singapore City. See the priceless collections of jade carvings dating back to the ancient Chinese dynasties, visit the heart of Singapore's Civic center, past bustling waterfront into Singapore's Wall Street-Shenton Way. For a dramatic contrast in architecture, we proceed to old Chinatown. Walk through Chinatown to experience the sounds, smell and sights of this very old part of Singapore-then up Mt Faber for a panoramic view of the city and the strategic Straits of Malacca. You will be captivated by the world's finest collection of orchids at the Botanical Gardens. WED : DAY 04 SINGAPORE/MALACCA Take a short ride across the causeway linking Singapore to the Malaysian Peninsula before entering Johore Bahru, on the southern frontier predominant of Malay heritage. The picturesque Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, claimed to be the most beautiful in the country is a sight not to be missed. We will also pass by the beautiful sights of Istana Besar and Istana Bukit Serene. Our journey to historical Malacca, witness the local technique of pottery-making at Ayer Itam. Therafter, lunch enroute. Upon arrival in Malacca, begin to explore Malaysia's oldest city, featuring the Baba Nonya Heritage Museum, Cheng Hoon Teng (the country's first Chinese temple built), the Dutch Stadhuys, Porta de Santiago (the gateway remains of the ancient Portuguese fortress), the ruins on St. Paul's Hill and the Portuguese settlement. THUR : DAY 05 MALACCA/KUALA LUMPUR Depart Malacca for the "Heart" of the country, Kuala Lumpur via an old route encompassed by the countryside to Alor Gajah. Arrive in Kuala Lumpur, the young and vibrant city full of diversity in its people, its history, its cultures and its lifestyle. Discover the exciting landmarks of the city. View the splendor of the King's Palace. Share the glorious historical past at the National Museum with its countless exhibits. Visit the National Monument and view the impressive Parliament House. Proceed to the beautiful National Mosque with its majestic domes where Muslims worship every Friday. In the evening, wander and test your bargaining skills at a quaint local promenade; Petaling Street or better known as "Chinatown". Then dine at a local restaurant renown for the Malay cuisine and enjoy a cultural show. FRI : DAY 06 / CAMERON HIGHLANDS Enjoy an early start to Cameron Highlands. Enroute a stopover at Royal Selangor, the world's largest pewter factory, also visit Batu Caves, a natural limestone wonder with its 272 steps up to its main cave housing a sacred Hindu shrine.Arrive in Tapah, a small town at the foot of the Cameron Highlands for lunch. Thereafter visit a domestic cottage industry of vegetable basket making before the begin of the 1542 meters climb above the sea-level through scenic rainforest. Take a break at Lata Iskandar waterfall and an Orang Asli (Indigenous People) settlement before arriving into Cameron Highlands. SAT : DAY 07 / CAMERON HIGHLANDS A morning tour to encounter the solitude yet ineffable grandeur of nature. You will visit a tea plantation to witness how tea is planted, picked and matured. Also visit the vegetable farm and the morning market. An hour stop at the township of Tanah Rata for your leisure before proceeding for a guided jungle walk to further explore the nature of Cameron Highlands. At night, experience a steamboat dinner. SUN : DAY 08 / CAMERON HIGHLANDS / PENANG Enjoy a pleasant journey descending the highlands to Ipoh, once the city of tin mines. A brief stop at a Chinese Temple which was built out of gigantic limestone cave. After lunch, proceed to Perak's royal town of Kuala Kangsar to visit the unique Ubidiah Mosque and the stately Iskandar Palace. Also see the first rubber tree planted in Malaysia. Cross the sea on the longest bridge in Asia and the third longest in the world, the Penang Bridge, before arriving at the idyllic tropical island of Penang. MON : DAY 09 / PENANG An interesting round island tour... consisting of a drive along the sea coast passing Fort Cornwallis-oldest structure on the island built in 1808-and the busy harbor and water-front. Visit the Snake Temple, a sanctuary for tame,uncaged snakes considered to be divine disciples of a Chinese deity. See typical Malay fishing villages... spices and fruit plantations and a Batik (cloth) factory...continuing the coastal drive past miles of glorious beaches. TUE : DAY 10 / PENANG/KOTA BAHRU Take an early morning journey to the state of Kelantan, the "Land of Lightning". Old fashioned Malay houses, rice fields and the simple life style of the rural folks are the common sightings enroute. The landscape slowly transform to endless terrain of forest, occassionally interrupted by agricultural plantations and a massive man-made lake, Temenggor Dan. Lunch stop enroute before continuing the journey on the highway that brings both coasts of the peninsula closer to each other. Arrive in Kota Bahru, the capital of Kelantan in the late afternoon. WED : DAY 11 / KOTA BAHRU/TANJUNG JARA Once hailed as the "Cultural Haven of Malaysia", one sees the rich and delightful blend of Malaysian-made items in Kota Bahru. Join the throng at the central market which is abuzz with endless stalls. See how cottage industry thrives here in this state from the endless activities of weaving of "Kain Songket" to silverware mastery to Kite Making ! Travel along the East Coast from Kota Bharu southwards to the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. Stopover at Kuala Trengganu for lunch before proceeding to Rantau Abang, where annually the giant leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, each turtle measuring some 1.5 meters in length. Visit a Turtle Information center in the vacinity for further information on this rare specie before arriving into Tanjung Jara Beach Resort. THU : DAY 12 / TANJUNG JARA/KUANTAN Journey to Kuantan, capital of the largest state of Peninsula Malaysia, Pahang. Enroute stop by at Kijal to try "Lemang" at the stalls located at both sides of the road. Take a bite or two on this delicious ricecake baked in bamboo. (During the Muslim Ramadan month the stalls will not be open).Before arriving into Kuantan, visit a Pandanus weaving cottage and the small fishing village of Beserah to see how salted fish is processed. Visit a Hindu temple before having lunch in Kuantan. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the unspoiled and beautiful beaches of Kuantan. FRI : DAY 13 / KUANTAN/SINGAPORE Sojourn to Pekan, the royal town of Pahang. View the Royal Palace, the residence of His Highness the Sultan of Pahang. Arrive into Mersing for lunch. Continue on a more relaxed journey further south towards Johore Bahru, a midst terrain of rubber trees, diminishing with the increase of housing development as you are approaching the city. Marking the end of this last leg will be the Singapore-Malaysia causeway where you will have the usual customs formalities and immigration check point before leaving Malaysia. SAT : DAY 14 / SINGAPORE DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport for your departure flight back to the United State