Unplug your devices, turn off your cell-phones and spend some quality time with your loved ones. Try out some night-time outdoor activities to explore and appreciate the mystery of the dark. It also creates many other opportunities for peace, tranquility and exploration. As such, we list out 5 of Selangor’s attractions which will bring you closer to nature and bedazzle your night.

Explore Some of the Best Stargazing Spots

Taking 45-minute journey from Kuala Lumpur and easily accessible by KTM, Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) remains as one of the best spots preferred by avid stargazers. Stargazing activity in KKB is an ideal getaway from the city. The fewer the streetlights, the better. Enjoy the night vibe while stargazing to help reduce the emission of the Chlorofluorocarbon Refrigerant (CFC) if you were to stay at home switching the air-conditioner. You do not have to go very far to enjoy stargazing activity as Selangor has the best spot for you. Semenyih Dam is another spot to add to your list of stargazing sites. It does not require hiking but it does take a little bit of a drive. Bring along some comfort items like blankets, yoga mats or reclining chairs to improve viewing experience. When you are away from home, you help save energy.

Mesmerising Fireflies

A trip to Kuala Selangor without stopping by at Kampung Kuantan to watch fireflies will not be complete. The village is situated about 56 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the most well-known firefly-watching spots in Selangor. You can ride on the traditional sampan accommodating maximum four people to see the lightning bugs! Besides, replanting Berembang trees would help supporting the efforts to conserve fireflies’ habitats so that our future generations stand a chance to admire these beauties. Apart from that, Bukit Belimbing which is also located in Kuala Selangor is another firefly paradise along the Selangor River. It is an enchanting experience to ride a boat during the evening and witness the beauty of the fireflies. It is very important to create awareness on conserving Berembang trees for the fireflies to breed and to help maintain the cleanliness of the river.

Camp-it-Out!

Having a picnic by the Sungai Chongkak river is a must-do to those to who love vast greenery surroundings and swim-able rivers. It is situated in Hulu Langat district and takes about 50 minute-drive from Kuala Lumpur but it is worth the visit! Nevertheless, the effort in keeping the campsite clean is always the crucial part to every visitor. So do not forget to always pack and tidy everything up before you leave.

A place that deserves many returns for everyone that loves camping! Commonwealth Eco Forest Park is for those who wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse themselves in the great outdoors. It provides an idyllic green getaway by combining dense jungle with landscaped gardens, lakes, campgrounds, chalets, jogging tracks, hiking trails and many more! Also, “leave nothing but footprints”; the simplest and most fundamental rule of all time.

Love Heritage, Love Nature, Love Life! – Jungle School Gombak

Jungle School Gombak is a hidden gem that welcomes you on an eye-opening outdoor and cultural adventure. It is situated in Batu Caves and you get to experience Indigenous People’s authentic lifestyle, life skills, cultures and day-to-day activities. The Interpretation Walk module at Jungle School Gombak allows you to learn on the history of the jungles of Gombak and diverse jungle knowledge. It is important to preserve nature and culture as they will become valuable heritage to the new generation.

Staycation – Eco-friendly and Unique

With the tagline “Get Lost, Naturally”; The Sticks, KKB brings you to several jungle houses. It takes an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur and is an off-grid glamping retreat with 12 unique houses.

You will unwind and enjoy the moments spent swaying in hammocks under the stars, floating down the river or dining on hearty home-cooked meals by enjoying comfort during the stay. A staycation that would disconnect you from your gadgets as phone signals weaken. It is an indication of the remoteness of the eco-friendly nature.

The retreat that provides back-to-nature experience that aims to connect visitors to nature; Sekeping Serendah Retreats is a private retreat that strives to be environmentally-conscious. The sheds are transparent to celebrate the natural-beauty surroundings. An hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, it provides fun in a calm way to escape from the demands of the city life. The fact that there is no air-conditioning system and you have to bring your own toiletries here also shows how eco-friendly the place is. Activities range from jungle trekking, taking a dip in the waterfalls, visiting Orang Asli’s villages, and many more.

Invite your friends or family to some quality outdoor night activities in Selangor, and, enjoy and appreciate bedazzling moments together with your loved- ones! The campaign “Nak Bercuti? Pusing Selangor Dulu” by Tourism Selangor has been highlighting the State’s best attractions to the masses. However, it is to be reminded that tourists in Selangor must adhere to the SOPS set by the Malaysian National Security Council. They should also register through mobile application “SElangkah:Langkah Masuk Dengan Selamat”, maintain social distancing, use hand sanitizers on a regular basis and wear face masks at all times.

For more information, please log on to the official website of Tourism Selangor at Selangor.Travel.

This small and vibrant yet hilly district of Gombak is essentially a border to the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, along with the other remaining areas under it such as Rawang and Batu Arang. In this amazing district, you surely will be captivated by the eye-popping and buzzworthy spots where you can find yourself roaming around and filling up your time with awesome activities!

Here’s a suggested itinerary for a day in Gombak

8.00 a.m. : Have a delightful breakfast at Teratak Nogori Restaurant
9.00 a.m. : Explore the astounding Kanching Falls
10.00 a.m. : Hop on a safari tour at Zoo Negara
12.00 p.m. : Treat yourself for lunch at Coca Seafood Restaurant
1.00 p.m. : Stroll around the extravagant Batu Caves
2.30 p.m. : Get your dose of adrenaline at Gua Damai Extreme Park
3.45 p.m. : Wander around the Orang Asli Museum
4.45 p.m. : Stop by Durian Cendol @ Mel’s Corner Batu Caves
5.45 p.m. : Shop at Melawati Mall
7.00 p.m. : Have dinner at Wira Seafood Ikan Bakar

Have a delightful breakfast at Teratak Nogori Restaurant

A joyful voyage to Gombak involves popping into the most cherry-picked breakfast spot in town! Noshing on their mouth-watering Malaysian dish like Nasi Lemak and Lontong is definitely a great way to get on the ground in the morning. Amazing breakfast like this is one of the reasons why Gombak is consistently-visited by the locals and tourists. You do not want to miss this one, for sure.

Explore the astounding Kanching Falls

Situated exactly in between Rawang and Kuala Lumpur, the waterfalls at Kanching Eco Forest Park are by all odds the best nature-crowd-pleaser whereabout in Gombak. Inside, you will be taken to seven levels of waterfall, surrounded by an absolute eye-catching view of the natural terrain. Rumour has it, the most famous ones are the second and third levels- so be sure to check those two spots out! If you are seeking for a relaxing moment on the early bright, then this is clearly the right place for you!

Hop on a safari tour at Zoo Negara

When it comes to an amusing safari tour, Zoo Negara in Gombak is utterly the most prominent one that you must include in your itinerary! There are over 5173 animals which primarily consist of 476 species that you can set your eyes on once you are there. Besides being a place of edutainment, you can also carry out events here. Be it a birthday party for your children or even a family day, Zoo Negara offers a wide range of package selections for you to choose from!

Treat yourself for lunch at Coca Seafood Restaurant

You are seriously missing out if you do not stop by Coca Seafood Restaurant during the course of your visit to Gombak. This Restaurant is known big-time for their bizarre bowl of Curry Mee that is said to have certainly captured both locals and tourists’ attention! Their heavenly signature dish with sides such as Curry Chicken is definitely going to leave you wanting more! So do not and waste your time looking at other eateries; this is the place where you want to be.

Stroll around the extravagant Batu Caves

Your trip to Gombak would not be complete without visiting the most-talked-about place of worship; the Batu Caves. We all know how distinguished this temple is in Gombak where crowds of worshippers and tourists fill on a daily basis. The spectacular architecture that best describes Hinduism is the highlight that draws the public’s attention! Every year, the largest Hindu celebration, Thaipusam is also held here and practically involves thousands and thousands of people pre Covid-19 pandemic.

Get your dose of adrenaline at Gua Damai Extreme Park

If you are looking for a quick yet thrilling sporting activity, then Gua Damai Extreme Park is here for you. Take in a session of a rock climbing at the iconic Gua Damai Extreme Park situated very near to Batu Caves, providing you with an eco-recreational outdoor activity. This site will bring you to a wide range of climbing grades to suit every sports enthusiast – beginner and professional!

Wander around Orang Asli Museum

Want a relaxing and laid-back spot to go to? Orang Asli Museum surely makes the cut! You can wander around this Museum to get information on Selangor’s indigenous folks’ histories and ancient artifacts. Not to mention, they also have this amazing exhibition gallery as well as an incredible mini theatre hall that you would not want to miss!

Stop by Durian Cendol @ Mel’s Corner Batu Caves

After a long day in Gombak, don’t you just want to take five and regain your energy? Therefore, be sure to swing by Mel’s Corner for the most tempting and mouth-watering Durian Cendol ever. You can get a big sized bowl of Durian Cendol that comes with a luscious local durian tembaga and ice cream as low as RM 20! Prices differ according to season; be sure to check online from time to time. So, if you drop by Mel’s Corner during a durian season, then you are in luck!

Shopping at Melawati Mall

It is not called retail therapy for nothing. Just by window shopping, one can easily lower his or her stress level from a lengthy and tiring day of travelling. Melawati Mall in Gombak is basically a suburban Shopping Mall with more than 200 retail outlets that is ready to gratify all your needs and desires! It without a doubt offers one of the best shopping experiences in Gombak.

Dinner at Wira Seafood Ikan Bakar

For a scrumptious dinner in Gombak, be sure to dine in at the famous Seafood Ikan Bakar Restaurant located at Taman Sri Gombak! The restaurant offers a variety of tantalizing seafood options that will leave you wanting to try them all. One that should not be missed is their Ikan Bakar, Nasi Lemak and Kerabu which are also known to be the highlights or signature dish at the restaurant!

Here you have it; the prominent and incredible district of Gombak. Everything that you seek for in your travel plans are here, just name it! From breath-taking natural environment attractions to various extravagant cultural experiences – everything is just within your grasp.

For more information, please log on to the official website of Tourism Selangor at Selangor.Travel.

Feeling nostalgic and would like to indulge in authentic Malay delicacies for breaking fast with family and friends this coming Ramadan? Here’s one highly recommended one in Kuala Lumpur; the Sudirman Café at Koptown EDC Hotel.

Located along Raja Laut, Koptown EDC Hotel is a go to hotel if you’re looking to explore Kuala Lumpur. Offering 242 rooms consisting of Duluxe rooms and lavish suites, the hotel is a perfect place for business or pleasure. Nearby attractions are Sunway Putra Mall, SOGO, GM Plaza, Masjid India, KLCC & Bukit Bintang.

This coming Ramadan, Koptown EDC Hotel Kuala Lumpur will be celebrating Ramadan at their in-house café, the Sudirman Café with a wholesome and diverse blend of authentic Malaysian kampung delicacies providing patrons a journey that promises to excite their palate, delight their senses and transport them to a culinary wonderland.

Sudirman Café was named in honour of the late Sudirman bin Arshad, or better known by his stage name Sudirman, a legendary Malaysian singer and songwriter. Apart from being a renowned singer from Malaysia he was also a trained lawyer, a composer, writer (specifically focusing in producing memoir and children books), cartoonist, canned drinks entrepreneur and an actor.Throughout his career, he was known as the “Singing Lawyer”, the “People’s Singer”, the “Patriotic Singer” and the “Elvis Presley and Claude François of Malaysia”.

Seating in the cafe during the entire buffet session will be thoughtfully arranged to ensure ample space between guests as per Covid19 SOP rules set by the Malaysian government.

Sudirman Café will be serving their buffet menu on rotation basis, which means they will offer different menus on different days, but here’s giving you a glimpse of some dishes that you what you can expect during the buffet;

For appetizers, there are assorted fresh Ulam-Ulaman alongside with mouthwatering sambals for you to pair with.

Apart from Ulam-Ulaman, there are also assorted Kerabu for you to pick from. What’s a must try over here in my opinion is the Jelatah Timun& Nanas as well as the Mango Salad. These two is a real kicker. The taste leans more to the sour note and those who loves sourish food will be able to enjoy this to the max.

Salad counter offers plenty of fresh garden vegetables for you to assemble your salad bowl with. There’s also assorted jeruk and fruit Rojak for you to munch on too.

Noodle counter offers a variety of local noodles. Whether you prefer rice vermicelli or yellow noodles to go with the flavourful broth, they have it all.

A variety of hot seafood and vegetables dishes. Ko Po Sotong, Sayur Campur and Pucuk Manis Masak Lemak are some of the must try highlights if you would like something that’s full of flavour but not spicy of the palate.

Love traditional Malay dishes? Be sure to indulge your palate with some of the hot dishes at the buffet spread. Some of the must try that caught my attention is the Daging Masak Lemak Cili Api, Ayam Masak Merah, Kari Kepala Ikan, Asam Pedas Daging Tetel and Burung Puyuh Percik.

Ais kacang counter offers a DIY fun in making your own ais kacang.

Refreshment aplenty in the form of cordials as well as coffee and tea.

Carbonated fruit punch is also available at the refreshment counter.

Desserts includes traditional savoury and sweet kuih, cakes, bubur as well as jellies. If you have sweet tooth, let me assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Overall, dining at Sudirman Café at Koptown EDC Hotel Kuala Lumpur is fantastic. Not only the food is tantalisingly delicious but hospitality is above and beyond as well with friendly staff who are always helpful and eager to help.

For those who are interested to dine in Sudirman Café for buka puasa this coming Ramadan, you may refer to the information below:

Address:

Sudirman Café@ Koptown EDC Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Chow Kit,
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Contact:03-40519191

Price:
Adult-RM55 nett per pax
Children- RM35 nett per pax

Time: 6pm-10pm

Surau facility: Available for prayers at Level 12, Block B

Parking: Located at Block B and chargeable at RM5.00 per entry

Group buy promo: Buy 1 free 1

Reservations are highly recommended to avoid disappointments. Booking for the Sinar Ramadhan Buffet can be made at: 03-40519191 or 012 9112569

Website: https://www.edckl.com.my/

Family that eats together, stays together. Won’t you agree with me with that statement? This statement is true for me and I think it’s the same with everyone else too. We may not see eye to eye and we may have disagreements with our family members every now and then but good food is always something what everyone can always enjoy, despite our differences.

My family and I love good food during our get togethers. Here’s sharing some of the must have family favourites whenever we eat together in family gatherings. They’re all Chinese food with great taste in Malaysia.

Spring Rolls– Spring rolls, or also known as popiah, are well loved Chinese pastries. It is usually deep fried and served as appetizers or snacks. Rolled in thin pastries stuffed with vegetable fillings and served with a side of dipping sauce, they’re pretty much addictive and a must have in family gatherings. For the Chinese, spring rolls also symbolises wealth as it looks like gold bars.

Dumplings– Dumplings is another one of the top delicacy that’s a must have in my family dinner or reunion gatherings. It’s a dish of dough stuffed with vegetable or meat fillings and we’d usually serve those either boiled with a side of black vinegar dippings or in soup.

Longevity Noodles– Longevity noodles is not something that we would order every time we get together. This is a dish exclusive only for birthdays and we only will order or make them when we celebrate someone’s birthday. So what’s so special about this dish? Well, unlike the regular noodles that we eat during normal days, these longevity noodles are served uncut or broken while being cooked. It’s supposed to symbolise good luck and long and healthy life ahead of you.

Assam Chye– Assam Chye is another one of my family’s favourite dish. It’s a spicy and sour vegetable dish. Really good to be paired with a bowl of piping hot rice, but strangely good on it’s own too. What’s special about this dish is that it’s actually known as the ‘rubbish’ dish in amongst the traditional Chinese. This is because This dish is made by dumping leftovers in one pot to be cooked with sour tamarind. This dish is made and served when we have too many leftovers and don’t know what to do with it.

Zong Zi– Zong Zi, or more commonly known in Malaysia as Zhang, are actually sticky rice dumplings. This dish is made from glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, or sometimes with reed or other large flat leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling. My family’s version is always the vegetarian version, stuffed with salted egg yolks, vegetarian lock meat, chestnuts as well as Shittake mushrooms. This is usually served during Dragon Boat Festival gatherings.

Angkoo Kueh– Another special Chinese delicacy that’s worth mentioning is the Angkoo Kuih. Made to look like a red tortoise, this is a sweet Chinese pastry with soft, sticky glutinous rice flour skin wrapped around a sweet filling in the centre. This used to be traditionally served to celebrate baby’s full moon, but these days it’s more like a daily teatime desserts.

Tangyuan– Usually served during Winter Solstice. It symbolises togetherness, but in my family, it’s usually served as desserts.Tang Yuan is type of round dumpling. The dough is made of glutinous rice flour and water, and filled with sweet fillings like red bean, lotus paste, peanuts or black sesame seeds.

If there’s one thing that I miss dearly before Covid19 restriction strike the country is the get together sessions with my family. We used to get together over lunch or dinner in restaurants and we’d catch up on each other’s lives over the meals. But these days, we don’t do that anymore. Dining out is a real pain with so many SOPs to follow and we rather order food delivery via Foodpanda. It not only saves us the hassle of having to travel unnecessarily but it’s quick and convenient too. Fancy some delicious Chinese food for your get together? Try ordering some from Foodpanda. You’ll be spoiled for choices.