Reflections: Traveling in Malaysia – Part 2

As I finished two and a half years living in Taiwan, I wanted to take one more excursion within Asia before I flew back to America. My roommate and I settled on five days in Malaysia, based out of Kuala Lumpur. We got to see many of the wonders of Malaysia, but missed out on the Petronas Towers.

One of the highlights of our trip was a trip to Kuala Selangor to see the fireflies. Although we probably could have gotten there a lot cheaper on our own, we opted for convenience and booked a package tour through our hotel. We were surprised when the ‘tour’ actually consistently of a very comfortable sedan for the two of us and our own driver! We drove first to a lighthouse, where we got to see the coast and the dozens of monkeys who were comfortable around humans. We then were taken to dinner at a riverside open-air restaurant, where we ate traditional Malay dishes. While we were there, the sun was going down over the river with a beautiful display of colors. We finally made our way to the “Firefly Park Resort, where we boarded a boat to see the fireflies. What makes these fireflies unique in the world is that they flash in unison every evening for hours. All along the river, in every direction, we could see fireflies flashing in synchronization.

Another great day trip we took was down to the seaside city of Malacca. This historic port town was heavily influenced by traders from around the world, so we had what seemed to be authentic Indian food for lunch, complete with eating with hands only off a banana leaf. We explored the city, had a snack by a stream in a French-influenced cafe while cooling off in the heat of the day, visited the historic Christ Church, and went onboard the ship that serves as a Maritime Museum. We also visited the replica of a Malay palace that houses the Cultural Museum, with historical artifacts and furnishings.

The last outstanding event of our trip was visiting the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) to take their rainforest canopy hike. This is a series of rope & plank walkways strung between trees high in the upper reaches of the rainforest. It was fascinating to see the trees and ecology of the rainforest from that high up, but it also was a bit scary to have the walkways sway underneath while looking down at the ground far below.

When I think back on our trip to Malaysia now, an overarching memory is of the food. Malaysia has great food! There was a small snack stand outside our hotel, where we could sit outdoors and enjoy Malay chicken satay, Indian roti bread, and smoothies. There was another day that we went to an outdoor street market and enjoyed local delicacies.

The biggest disappointment of our trip was that we never got to go up the Petronas Towers, which were at the time one of the tallest buildings in the world. Although entry to the Petronas Towers observatory is free, it does require a timed ticket which must be picked up in person. We didn’t do enough research ahead of time, and so the first time we went, they were closed (as many attractions are on Mondays), the second time we went too late and the tickets were gone for the day already, and the third time was the day we were leaving, and by the time we got there, the times available were past when we had to go to the airport.

In spite of this disappointment, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Malaysia and heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, English-speaking nation to visit in Asia.

Reflections: Traveling in Malaysia – Part 1

From Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysian, after driving 400 km north across the long Penang Granville Bridge, I saw the scenic Penang City in the view between the sea and the sky.

Walking in the streets of Penang, I noticed varieties of shops and stand vendors on both sides of the arcades and corridors along the streets. The vendors, tricycle drivers warmly greeted me with Chinese dialects. When I was there, local counterparts showed me into a restaurant, serving fish ball soup, oyster pot, steamed bread etc. Amazingly, there were also Wulong tea, the famous Chinese tea.

Visiting the famous Tzu Chi Palace, I found that it is almost same with the one in Longhai Temple. On the pierced carved stone pillars there is a couplet: “Tsz Wan Chui Lai Kwong, Chi Shek Joe Shek Kung”, which means “the gentle clouds offer great shade; great contribution to the world no fade”.

Penang State has 1.3 million population, most of them are Chinese, more than 500,000. Penang of Malaysia is the earliest opening to the outside world, and it has been functioning as a free port, a deep-water port. There is an airport, too. In the centre of the city of Penang, among the modern high-rise buildings, there is a Mercy Goddess Temple, the oldest Chinese temple there; It was built in 1800 by the first Chinese moved to Penang, attracting a large number of immigrants from China.

Penang city, also known as George City, the only free port in Malaysia, and it is Malaysia’s second largest city, after Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the country. Penang, located in the northeast of the island, is a city with long history and culture.

When I returned from there , some friends asked me about some recommended attractions. I told them that I didn’t have a clear idea, for I had paid much attention to the culture and people there. However, the temples, mountains, and beaches impressed me deeply. There are trains and ships from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. In the city, there are buses, taxis and tricycles.

It is a city with scenic views; also, it is a city with culture. I love the place, and I want to enjoy it more.

The best destinations for adventure travel

Southeast Asia is one of the most alluring regions on this planet, and if you’re looking for adventure then a good place to start would be any of the large capital cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. To the casual observer these places would appear to be westernized, but in fact they are so different from similarly sized cities in Europe, the U.S. and anywhere else. When arriving at the airport the sweet, tropical air is quite noticeable even before you clear customs and collect your bags. After you’re out the door and waiting for a cab (and it won’t take long for a driver to approach you) the humidity can be quite a shock, especially if you’ve come from a cooler environment.

Taking a walk around town is an adventure in itself. Remember, this is Asia and everything with wheels occupies every available square foot of road. This is true especially in Bangkok, where you’ll see cars, buses, tuk-tuks, bicycles and one person scooters dart in all directions. Drivers in Asia seem to be more aggressive, and will cut people off if they can. Don’t take it personally if nobody slows down for you if you’re crossing a street on foot. The rules of road in this part of the world dictate that vehicles have the right of way. The markets are filled with unique souvenirs which will cost next to nothing, and the food is delicious! Street stalls offer exotic snacks all day and all night, and it’s no wonder thousands of tourists come to these countries every year. They want excellent cuisine on a low budget.

Of course, Southeast Asia has much more than big, sprawling cities. Trekking in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia, or in northern Thailand near Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son can provide welcome relief from the heat and humidity of the cities. It’s much cooler up here, and you’ll be as close to nature as you can get. You can get the chance to see members of remote hill tribes, many of whom have never been in contact with outsiders before. Meeting people who have not been touched by the conveniences of 21st century life is oddly refreshing, and it makes for a richer experience.

If you’re a mountain climber then I suggest you take a crack at Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo. At 13,000 feet, it’s not the most challenging peak in the world but it is the tallest in Southeast Asia. With its incredible biodiversity and endemism, the area surrounding the peak is on my “to do” list.

Up and coming destinations include Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. They are less developed than their Thai, Malay and Singaporean neighbours, but what they lack in infrastructure they make up for in charm and beauty. From the Golden Triangle up north where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma connect, you can cruise all the way down to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

Why is karaoke so popular

Karaoke is a popular pastime in many countries. Employees go to the karaoke after office hours. Young adults attend such function with their friends during the weekend. I remember being at the karaoke for the very first time with my former colleagues when I was working as a computer programmer for a life insurance company in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the late 1990s. It was indeed a very exciting, and thrilling experience for me. For the first time, I could actually hold the microphone, and sing my favourite song to some people. During that time, I began to like karaoke, and to realize why it had become a popular pastime

Karaoke was first invented by Daisuke Inoue, a Japanese musician in the early 1970s. Since then, karaoke lounges can be found all over Japan, and around the world especially in other Asian countries. In some restaurants, there are also karaokes for guests at dinners to sing their favourite songs.

Now, here are some reasons why karaoke is so popular. Firstly, karaoke is an equipment that plays the accompaniment, and display the lyrics on a television screen. Each word on the lyrics changes colour one at a time to assist the singer to sing in time. The accompanying music is actually the same music used by the professional or celebrity singer of the song. By having the opportunity to sing to the same accompaniment, you can feel you have been given the special privilege of singing in place of your favourite singer or the person who originally sang your favourite tune. At the same time, singing can also be challenging as the original voice of the singer has been tuned down or removed, and in most cases the accompanists do not play the melody. And so, you also have the opportunity to show off your memory to your friends especially in terms of the melody, and the correct pitch. With the lyrics available, you don’t have to worry about forgetting your line.

When I was at my first karaoke, I had to chance to render a song by the Bee Gees who was also quite popular in Malaysia at that time. The only regret I had was I couldn’t sing anything in Mandarin to further impress my Mandarin-singing colleagues. Fortunately, they appreciated both English, and Mandarin songs. That was not the only time I attended karaoke sessions with my colleagues. For each session, I had been signing the same Bee Gee’s song. My colleagues might have gotten fed up of it. However, I believe, out of courtesy, they did not tell me to stop.

The second reason why karaoke

Six Months in a Paradise Island; Living in Langkawi, Malaysia

Since my first visit to Malaysia in 1994, I’ve always been curious about Langkawi; an island very close to the border of Kingdom of Thailand. Back than my friends told me it would be empty because of rain season. So I’ve never been there. Than suddenly, a phone call while I was in Bangkok opened an opportunity to live in Langkawi.

I’ve arrived there in October, 2006 which was almost the beginning of high season. I’ve flew to Kuala Lumpur with Gulf Air and than to Langkawi with Air Asia. The airport is small, few shops and cafes, lots of car rental benches and taxis. It’s clever to rent a car in Langkawi because taxi is more expensive than big cities. Also there are no public transports, if you want to go around, you always need a taxi. It’s very easy to find a good deal for a small car or with a little more budget a Perodua jeep. More expensive cars are available but I don’t think it’s necessary.

There are lots of hotels and resorts in Langkawi. Most of them are stationed around Pantai Cenang area. But if you want to live there, you don’t have many choices.

If you want to live in Langkawi, you might prefer a condo. There are 5 choices; Century Surya which is close to the west Kuah Town, almost in the middle of the town; Kondo Istana, Chogm Villa which is what I’ve chosen back than, Sri Lagenda is right at the opposite of Chogm Villa and in a very remote place between Pantai Cenang and Pantai Kok; Perdana Beach Resort. Also you can find Malay houses around Pantai Cenang or other areas. It’s really hard to find a decent one and usually most of them need lots of repairs.

Prices vary between 1000rm (~$290) and 3500rm (~$1000). Kondo Istana and Century Suria looks very nice but they have poor pools and prices are high compared to others. I strongly recommend Chogm Villa which is a very beautiful place. Apartment quality is same as the other condos and it has a very big beautiful pool.

For shopping there are not much choices. You can go to Langkawi Fair which is the biggest shopping mall now. You can find a good supermarket here and lots of shops where you can buy nice souvenirs, furniture etc. Most of the good quality and brand shops are here. There is also Langkawi Parade at the west entrance of the town. It’s the poorer version of Langkawi Fair. But it has a large supermarket at the bottom floor where you can find lots of goods. Other than these malls you can go to Trimula to buy mobile phones, some electronics and house accessories like curtains, window blinds.

Food in Langkawi is really good. There are lots of choices. You can find almost any type of cousine here; Thai, Japanese, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Italian and even Russian. Because of its touristic state, island has very good high quality restaurants. But for long term, you need to learn where to buy goods to cook by yourself. Other than buying from markets, there is a wet market in Padang Matsirat which is close to Langkawi International Airport. Here you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fish, crabs and lobster.

Going in and out of island is a little problem. Penang is quite close, you can go there by ferry but ferry hours for a round trip to Penang is not useful at all. From airport, you can fly to almost anywhere. Like any other Southeast Asia country, flights are really cheap. If you want to go to mainland by car, you must send your car one day before with freight service than take it there. If you bought your car in Langkawi, because of its duty free status, you can use it in mainland not more than one month.

Once you get your own car or bike, it’s really easy to find your way around in Langkawi. People are quite friendly and most of them speak English. Also the foreign community of the island is really large and they are really willing to help.

Must see attractions in Malaysia – Part 2

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is the capital city of Malaysia, a tropical South-East Asian country, neighbour to Singapore and Thailand. In KL city, you can find yourself being immersed in a paradise of tantalising local food, authentic Malaysian styled shopping and many many bargains

The below listed is a guide for those who intend or plan to visit KL city in Malaysia.

Places to visit:

1. Bukit Bintang Area ( alight at Bukit Bintang Monarail Station)

i) Sungei Wang Shopping Centre: a local Malaysian Styled Shopping Centre (Pink Building)

Things to look out for at Sungei Wang include shoes at very attractive prices, trendy apparels, fashionable handbags, accessories, jewellery items, watches and food outlets

Typically Malaysian in nature where you get yourself surrounded by shoppers. Lots of items to view- a pleasure to a shopper’s eye.

ii) Lot 10: Green building opposite Sungei Wang at the junction of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail.

This place is ideal for shoppers who have an eye for the finer items.

iii) The Ship’ Restaurant: Located along a row of shophouses, 2 units away from McDonalds at the cross junction of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail; between McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

They serve western styled fresh seafood and sizzling beefsteaks A must try is their oven Baked Escargots in Cream Sauce. An authentic western styled restaurant with internal dcor theme of a ship’. Very nice ambience and suitable for a romantic dinner with a Valentine’.

iv) Secret Recipe Restaurant: Next to the Ship’ Restaurant

They are famous for their award winning cheesecakes and dishes. My personal recommendation is their Chocolate Indulgence’ Cake. A taste of its quality would tell you that the restaurant is the brainchild of a cake lover. Main Course to try include their Lamb Stew and Thai Styled Fried Rice, Pasta and others.

v) Open Air Hawker Food at along Bukit Bintang : by the whole inner stretch of road beside KFC. Note that they are only opened in the night.

Typical Asian Hawker Food to find here include:

- Barbeque Stingray fish, other types of fish, shellfish, squid , prawns and crab in local Sambal Chili Sauce

- Fried Oyster and egg

- Satay ( resembles kabub in a stick): choose between beef, chicken and mutton, to be eaten with satay sauce.

- Other local dishes like Fried Kway Tiao, Fried Hokkien Mee

- Local Fruits eg Durian, Mango, Mangosteen, Coconut Juice- enjoy the uniqueness of eating by the

When your pet snake escapes

Many exotic animals like snakes are surely not the best as pets, but despite this, there’s always too many people who can’t do without challenging and making violence, with their egoism disguised as love for animals, to the nature of these animals.

So, they transform snakes in pets, keeping them in their houses, in most of cases, in narrow cages that are always a prison for them.

Also many public and private zoos detain many snakes in the so-called “reptilaria”, but the problem is the same.

Cages are necessary for holding snakes, also if they are simply large and not poisonous, like pythons, because they could bite or even crush among their coils the land owners of their guests (their bite is anyway very painful, for their many sharp teeth oriented backwards) or even try to swallow your little babies, dogs and cats, if they are a little hungry than usual; but cages are absolutely necessary when snakes are poisonous and must be solid and safe.

Despite this, many are the cases, in the world, every year, of snakes escaping from their cages (or prisons, as I like better to consider them) profiting of the lack of attention and excessive confidence of their owners, to look for their deserved freedom.

A mistake that sums up to the first “original” mistake of having taken or bought a snake.

An escaped snake can be dangerous to other people, when it circulates along the streets and gardens of little and big towns, taking by surprise people who pass close to them.

In many cases, they are not aggressive, but only confused and they can attack only for self-defense, not to chase “juicy humans” as food.

Many are also the risks they run moving across a town, an unknown and dangerous environment for them; they can die killed by cars or trains, clubbed and shot by persons or killed by electric power and toxic products, or by a too cold climate in winter.

Some of them are aquatic snakes, like pythons and can adapt themselves well to the waste-waters networks and channels of towns, where they can find many rats.

In some Asian big towns, like Singapore, Kuala-Lumpur, Jakarta and others, it’s possible to find frequently big pythons in the waste-waters, but they are not escaped from private houses, in most of cases, but they come from the tropical forests and swamps near to these towns to look for food.

There are some specialized teams, trained to be called by people and capture snakes, without killing or wounding them and carry again far from the town.

The owner of a poisonous snake, like a cobra, a rattle-snake or a mamba, has the moral commitment to call the authorities (firemen, police, or specialized volunteers or workers of hospitals, universities and animal protection associations; it depends from the Country), because a person can be wounded and even killed by a snake bite and the right telephone number must always be present in their agenda.

Unluckily, an official register of snakes, reptiles and other exotic animals owners doesn’t exist in many Countries and many owners, surely, don’t submit a loss denounce to the authorities, for not being condemned to high fines or even to prison.

Also this is part of their false love for animals.

Furthermore, a good part of these escaped snakes were illegally detained by their owners, who find a double reason for not denounce anything, as it occurs in my Country (Italy), where there are many “fans” of snakes imprisoned in their houses.

So, my best advice against snakes escapes from houses is absolutely preventive; DON’T HOLD SNAKES OR OTHER EXOTIC ANIMALS IN YOUR HOUSE. This is not love for animals, I repeat, but only egoism.

Must see attractions in Malaysia – Part 1

The many wonderful attractions of Malaysia are wide spread and you have no chance of seeing most of them in one visit. Wherever you are, there will be places well worth visiting and many opportunities for really memorable experiences. Cover as many as you can.

The obvious starting point is Kuala Lumpur, the capital and my favourite city. Its most famous attraction is the Petronas Twin Towers which were, until recently, the joint second highest buildings in the world. The number of visitors is strictly limited and you need to go early in the morning to queue and wait to see if you are lucky enough to get a ticket which will allow you to go up to the bridge that links the two towers about half way up. There is a lot to see at the base of the building which houses a large shopping centre, Suria KLCC, with expensive fashion shops and several elite stores. The surrounding area is beautifully laid out with fountains, ponds, gardens and many restaurants. If it seems a little expensive, don’t worry, just have a good look and go later to one of the other sixty plus shopping malls which offer bargains galore. The choice of hotels is extensive and you can find luxury accommodation at prices well below normal city levels. My favourite is the new Hilton which is close to the main railway station. If your next stop is Singapore you can travel by train in first class for a very low fare.

To see some of the other many interesting places it is better to negotiate a price for a fixed time with a taxi driver and tell him what you want to see. Organised tours involving other tourists are likely to include factory outlets or other shopping opportunities that give the tour operator commission. Absolute musts are the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) with it’s 95 meter flagpole and Kuala Lumpar Railway Station which is no longer used but retained as a tourist attraction. Going around the city there are many other eye catching buildings. Don’t forget Chinatown and Little India. Make sure you go about eight miles north of the city to the Batu Caves. This is a site of worship for Hindus and comprises several caves, some huge, within a limestone hill. Beautiful altars and magnificent statues.

Kuala Lumpur has a whole host of activities for the family. Children can enjoy watching animals graze in the zoo, visit the aquarium or butterfly park, get interactive with exhibits in the Science Centre or have a water-splashing fun time in theme parks across

A look at the tallest buildings in the world – Part 1

There are many tall buildings in the world but I’m going to take you inside a few of them. For starters lets talk about the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is located in New York and it was built in 1931. This building stands 1454 feet tall. It took 775 days to complete and 41 million dollars. The Empire State Building is well known for its attractions and courteous employees. For example, when you walk up to the front deist in the main lobby you can expect the person to smile and say welcome to the ESB, how may I help you. They try to make sure your visit is the very best one it can be. You can choose to stand in line and wait for a ticket but many agree that takes to much time. The best Way is to get the speed pass, that bumps you ahead to the front of each line; that way you can enjoy more attractions. If you go to the 86th floor you can enjoy the 86th floor Observatory. It has high powered binoculars available on the promenades on all for sides of the building at minimal cost for best views. You can also enjoy restaurants, banking, and more. For instance,if you are hungry you can enjoy meals at Chipotle, Europa Cafe`, Rosa’s Pizza ,and Uncle Louies G’s icecream all located between West 34th st. and West 33rd st. They have shopping for the ladies as well as kids at Strawberry fashions. Men they have something for you too, The Mens Warehouse for all your shopping needs. Just think you get to have an adventuring day at a low cost.

The next building I’m going to talk about is the Menara Telecom Tower. It is located in Kuala Lumpur and it was built in 1996. The MTT is perched atop a 3 level basement. Once inside you can enjoy a mall featuring outlet shops , a mini theater, an outdoor amphitheater, fast food, and a prayer room just incase anyone want to pray for a while. Every year this building gets over 1 million visitors to hang out on the observation deck. The staff keeps busy.

The next building will always be remembered by all and that building is the World Trade Center.The WTC was built in 1973 and located in New York. The one WTC featured Windows on the World, an elegant restaurant with a marvelous view of the city. The second tower featured two observation decks, Each tower had 104 passenger elevators. The WTC was built to withstand heavy wind loads and settlement loads but nothing prepared the building for the attack. On September 11, 2001 The WTC was unable to survive the direct hit by two hijacked commercial jetliners during

10 Travel Adventures That Won’t Break The Bank

Dreaming of taking a Big Trip in 2007? Finances a bit tight? Well, take a look at the following destinations.

Magic, thrills and adventure, yes. But for the budget-conscious globe-trotter, what’s equally important is that these are places where your dollars will stretch a long, long way. As a travel writer, I’m lucky enough to have experienced all 10–but I’d love to revisit every single one as a vacationer.

Vietnam

Vietnam packs a lot into its borders. Highlights include misty Halong Bay with its fairytale seascapes of limestone outcrops and islands; the Mekong delta with its floating markets; the old Vietcong tunnels at Cu-Chi near Saigon–now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. (Don’t worry about getting stuck: one tunnel has been specially widened for westerners.) Backpacker beds are exceptionally cheap, but decent hotels often cost less than $40. A filling bowl of pho bo beef noodle soup or six seafood spring rolls is less than a dollar. In local hangouts, Saigon Export beer costs 40 cents a bottle.

For the ultimate traffic tale to tell the folks back home, head for Hanoi’s old quarter. Any attempt to cross the road turns into a heart-racing adventure. Not only are you contending with psycho-cyclos (rickshaw bicycles), there are thousands of motorbikes and scooters whose riders regard a red traffic signal as a suggestion rather than an instruction. Best place to experience the utter chaos is from within a cyclo rickshaw.

Lithuania, Eastern Europe

The southernmost of the Baltic States, visitors usually couple Lithuania together with Latvia and Estonia. However, you can easily spend a week in Lithuania alone. Quirky cities like Vilnius and Kaunas are steeped in art, music and historical curiosities…mushroom-scented woods and farmers riding on haycarts…mysterious sites steeped in pagan traditions…the windswept sands of the Curonian Spit where you can beach-comb for amber.

Mid-June would be a great time to go. A national holiday in Lithuania, the old pagan festival of Rasos marks the summer solstice. It’s an all-night affair with singing, dancing, bonfire-leaping, hunting for “magic” ferns, and floating garlands down rivers. Despite some serious alcoholic partying, most people manage to stay awake to greet the sunrise. As for prices, how about $2.54 for three potato pancakes with smoked salmon and sour cream and $1 for a glass of Svyturnys beer?

Granada, Nicaragua

From the laid-back colonial city of Granada, you can do a lot in a week in Nicaragua: tackle volcanoes…take Spanish lessons…visit Masaya craft market and also the villages where rocking chairs, hammocks, and pottery are made…explore the Selva Negra’s cloud forests and coffee plantations…chat with expats in the beach surfing town of San Juan del Sur…go to colonial Leon, where you might get to meet indigenous Indians.

Settling into a rocking chair with a cold Victoria beer is a pleasure that generally costs under $1 and spending more than $7 on a meal is difficult. The Alhambra Hotel on Granada’s main square costs a mere $30 a night.

Goa, Southern India

India is beyond fascinating, beyond anything you’ll ever experience elsewhere. The easiest introduction to this teeming country is the seaside state of Goa. Baking below a tropical canopy of banana, coconut and mango trees, this drowsy world of Arabian Sea beaches, backwaters, and spice-laden breezes is stamped with more than a few reminders of Old Portugal. You’ll find sunrise yoga on the beach, full massages for $8, dolphin trips for about $6, and colorful hippie markets.

Including four beers, two people can eat in a beach shack for under $10. And if you want to cut your expenses to the bone, there’s accommodation in simple beach chalets for as little as $8 a night.

Porto and Northern Portugal

Famed for its port wine lodges (yes, they do offer free samples), Porto is Portugal’s second city. An historic Atlantic trading port, its warren of laundry-hung alleys plunges down to a waterfront of boats, nets and fish restaurants. Sheets of cod (bacalhau) hang outside grocery stores with original art nouveau tiled facades; the church of Sao Francisco has a gold leaf interior that would make King Midas salivate. Don’t miss the Bolhau food market or the Torre dos Clerigos, Portugal’s highest belfry tower. From the top, you’ll get great views over the jumbled cityscape of churches, bridges and red-roofed houses.

By EU standards, the price of dining, accommodation, and public transport throughout the region is astounding. Trains and buses are an affordable way to make exploratory day-trips along the coast and into the interior of terraced vineyards and green river valleys. Don’t miss Braga and the thousand-stepped stairway of Bom Jesus church. On holy days, some pilgrims tackle these steps on their knees.

Montenegro

After its split from Serbia, Montenegro is Europe’s latest holiday hot spot–and also the world’s newest independent nation. Along with three-course meals for $7 and rooms in private houses for $10, you’ll find a land of craggy mountains with a switch-backed Adriatic coastline of bays, beaches and villages of pale gray stone. The sea sparkles like blue topaz and medieval walled towns with crumbling fortresses and palaces are often emblazoned with the winged lion emblem of the Venetian Republic.

Now paint in monasteries slotted into mountain crevices and fishing villages of red-tiled roofs and deep-green shutters. Roman mosaics…olive groves…water-lilied lakes…deep canyons and the mighty Boka Kotorska, Europe’s southernmost fjord…the border town of Ulcinj with its minarets and tales of pirate slave-trading.

Austria

The Alps? There’s no denying that Switzerland is one of the most scenically gorgeous countries on earth. But unless you’re armed with an expense account, I can promise you that exploring its mountains, lakes and medieval towns will wreak havoc on your finances.

Winter or summer, neighboring Austria has just as much of the alpine wow factor…plus the city splendors of Vienna and Salzburg. And it’s a lot less expensive than you may think. For example, in the Tyrolean village of Fendels, you could rent a furnished apartment for two in a chalet next spring for as little as 175 euro ($230) per week. Surrounded by hiking trails, Fendels village makes an excellent base–the Tyrolean Oberland is close to the borders of Switzerland and Italy. (Go to the Austrian Tourist Board’s web site at http://www.tiscover.at and you’ll find plenty more self-catering accommodation at similar prices.)

Penang, Malaysia

A melting-pot of Malay, Chinese and Indian culture, Malaysia offers up powder white beaches and virgin rainforest teeming with wildlife; the bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur and the historic port city of Malacca; inexpensive seafood and inexpensive spa pampering; sailing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, golf and island-hopping.

With a distinct Chinese flavor, one of Malaysia’s star turns is Georgetown, capital of Penang island. You come across snake temples, arcaded shophouses and tiny workshops specializing in mahjong tiles and dice; kong-teik craftsmen who make funerary paper artifacts; fish getting dried like laundry in the open air. On the Weld Quay waterfront, around 2,000 fishing families live in rickety wooden dwellings on the Clan Quay jetties.

Chania, Crete

On the Greek island of Crete, Chania is one town that it would be criminal to miss. Crete’s former capital, its history goes back 5,000 years. In the Old Town’s skinny alleyways you’ll find icon workshops…lyres hanging in dusty musical instrument repair-shops…bursts of white jasmine cascading from archways…cats snoozing on balconies…the unlikely sights of a pencil-thin minaret above church towers and a mosque squatting on the waterfront.

Strung with garlands of colored light-bulbs, Chania’s old Venetian harbor at dusk truly is the stuff of romance. The water shimmers in waves of crimson, sapphire and emerald, the Venetian lighthouse sends out its beady wink, and stalls do a steady trade in pistachio nuts. Alleys that were afternoon-silent become thronged with locals taking the volta–the evening stroll. Even in July and August, you’ll find studio apartments here for under $40 a night…plus you can eat well for $10.

Bohemia, the Czech Republic

Prague teems with tourists but few people realize what the rest of the Czech Republic offers. One of its regions is Bohemia, blessed with a spellbinding mosaic of castles, frescoed houses and Rapunzel-style turrets straight from a sword-and-sorcery tale. At Cesky Krumlov you can peer into a medieval bear pit complete with bears. Sedlec, a suburb of Kutna Hora has a chapel entirely decorated with human bones, right down to its chandelier.

Many towns have stoupas…lofty “plague pillars” adorned with chained devils. They commemorate deliverance from the plagues, which swept Europe during the Middle Ages. Then there’s Karlovy Vary, the oldest of Bohemia’s grand spa towns. With spa water bubbling up all over town which visitors can collect for free, it’s a gorgeous place of baroque buildings in sugar-plum colors, flowery parks, and shops glittering with Bohemian crystal.

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