Hooray! The Floral Festival has begun! This is among the first events scheduled in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007. Visitors can immerse themselves in colourful festivities and events planned 20th Jan to 4 Feb. Here's the details:

Florathon [ 20 Jan ]
The pre-launch event of the Malaysia Flora Fest, Florathon is held on 20 January 2007. This is a brisk 2km walk from Dataran Merdeka to KL Lake Gardens. Merit is given to flower-power and not speed, so come dressed in your best floral tags and walk away with fabulous prizes.

Flora Hunt 2007 [ 21 Jan ]
An action-packed event, Flora Hunt 2007 organized by Tourism Malaysia Recreational Club is on Sunday, 21 January 2007. The flag-off will be at 8 am at Persiaran Perdana, Putrajaya. The hunt will take participants around Putrajaya, Klang Valley and Selangor. During the hunt, each team is required to answer a series of questions to find the “treasure”. Flora Hunt offers cash prizes of RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000 for the top three winners. Fourth to the tenth winners will get RM500, while 11th to 30th winners will receive hampers. There will also be lucky draws for flight tickets, hotel accommodations, hi-tea vouchers and electrical items.

Photography Competition & Exhibition [ 21 Jan - 4 Feb ]
Show off your creative eye and win some great prizes! It's really simple. Just snap a picture of anything associated with Malaysia’s flora. And all pictures must be related in some way to this year's theme, which is ‘Colours of Harmony’. All winning entries will be displayed from 21 January to 4 February, at the Exhibition Hall Perbadanan Putrajaya. So hurry! Get your cameras ready and win great prizes with your images of beautiful Malaysia.

Floral Parade, Putrajaya [ 27 Jan ]
The Floral Parade held in Putrajaya on 27 January 2007, is the highlight of the Malaysia Flora Fest 2007. This spectacular event showcases floats decorated with bright, colourful and fragrant flowers. The Floral Parade juries will select six floats and award them with individual recognitions based on the best original design, concept, construction, animation, flower display and of course, the float display that is best in line with this year’s theme, ‘Colours of Harmony.’ Apart from the grand display of flora, marching bands from schools, government agencies and other organizations will also be on parade to add grandeur to the event. The decorated floats will then be on display for three days (27 - 29 January 2007) at an air-conditioned tent in Persiaran Perdana (Boulevard) Putrajaya.

Floral Bazaar [ 27 Jan - 1 Feb ]
Open to the public from 27 January to 1 February 2007, this bazaar held at Persiaran Perdana (Boulevard) Putrajaya, offers a wide variety of Malaysian Flowers and plants. Choose from a large selection of fresh and artificial flowers. This bazaar is a one-stop venue where flower lovers, floriculturists and hobbyists can see, purchase and learn more about local blooms and rare flowers.

Shopping Complex & Hotel Lobby Floral Decoration Competition [ 27 Jan - 4 Feb ]
From 27 January to 4 February 2007, participating shopping complexes and hotels will complete to outdo each other with floral display to be recognised as the best decorated complex foyer or hotel lobby. For one week, these lobby and concourse areas will be transformed into a paradise of flowers.

Workshop on Potpourri Making, Flower Arrangement, Planting & Care of Plants [ 1 - 2 Feb ]
This 2 day workshop from 1 to 2 February 2007 in Putrajaya is where you can learn how to make potpourri, as well as the art of flower arrangement. You can also pick up tips and techniques on planting and caring for your plants.

For more information, head on to Tourism Malaysia and get participated in all events
by filling the supplied forms. Enjoy!

Here are the highlight of the events during Visit Malaysia Year 2007 from the month of October to December:

OCTOBER

6 & 7 Oct - Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon - Sabah
Website: www.sabahtourism.com

27 Oct till 26 Nov - Hari Raya Celebration and Open House - Kuala Lumpur and throughout Malaysia
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

28 Oct till 4 Nov - Heart of Borneo 4x4 Safari - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Website: www.sabahtourism.com

NOVEMBER

1 till 30 Nov - KL International Gourmet Festival - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.klgourmetfest.com

3 till 7 Nov - KL International Fashion Week - Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 - 2617 6273

3 till 10 Nov - World Drums Festival - Negeri Sembilan
Tel: 06 - 767 6793

17 Nov - Deepavali Celebration and Open House - Kuala Lumpur and throughout Malaysia
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

26 till 28 Nov - Malaysia A1 Gand Prix (Grand Prix of Nations) - Sepang, Selangor
Website: www.malaysiangp.com.my

28 Nov till 2 Dec - Terengganu Monsoon Cup 2007 - Pulau Duyong, Terengganu
Website: www.monsooncup.com.my

DECEMBER

1 till 31 Dec - YEAR END SALES Carnival - Kuala Lumpur and all major cities in Malaysia
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my, www.malaysiamydestination.com

2 till 10 Dec - KL International Buskers Festival - Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 - 2617 6273

4 till 8 Dec - Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition - Langkawi
Website: www.lima.com.my

25 Dec - Christmas Celebration and Open House - Kuala Lumpur and throughout Malaysia
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

Here are the highlight of the events during Visit Malaysia Year 2007 from the month of July to September:

JULY

1 July till 31 Sept - Malaysia MEGA SALES Carnival - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my, www.malaysiamydestination.com

8 July - Ipoh Open International Run - Dataran Ipoh
Website: www.perak.gov.my

13 till 15 July - Rainforest World Music Festival 2007 - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com

20 till 22 July - KL International World Music Festival - Kuala Lumpur

21 & 22 July - Port Dickson International Triathlon - Negeri Sembilan
Website: www.admiralmarina.com.my

29 July - KL Fest - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

30 July - Penang Bridge International Marathon - Penang
Email: mtpnpenang@motour.gov.my

AUGUST

3 & 4 Aug - Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge - Setiu, Terengganu
Website: www.tourism.terengganu.gov.my

3 till 5 Aug - 50 Years of Nationhood - World Lion Dance Invitation - Genting, Pahang
Website: www.genting.com.my

4, 11, 18, 25, 30 Aug - International Fireworks Competition - Putrajaya, KL Titiwangsa, Port Dickson
Website: www.motour.gov.my

31 Aug - 50 Years of Nationhood - Merdeka Month Celebration - Putrajaya and throughout Malaysia
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my

SEPTEMBER

1 & 2 Sept - Sarawak Regatta - Sarawak
Website: www.sarawaktourism.com

7 till 9 Sept - Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix - Sepang, Selangor
Website: www.malaysiangp.com.my

14 till 16 Sept - Tatto Show - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.motour.gov.my

Here are the highlight of the events during Visit Malaysia Year 2007 from the month of April to June:

APRIL

6 till 10 Apr - Royal Go-Kart Competition - Kelantan

14 till 21 Apr - KL International Arts Festival - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.kualalumpur.gov.my

MAY

1 till 6 May - National Water Festival - Labuan International Sea Challenge - Labuan
Tel: 087 - 408471

12 May - Wesak Day - Throughout Malaysia
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my

25 till 27 May - Johor International Orchid Show - Johor
Tel: 07 - 2241432

26 May - Colours of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my

27 May till 2 June - Penang International Lantern Festival - Penang
Website: www.tourismpenang.gov.my

30 & 31 May - Tadau Kaamatan - Sabah
Website: www.sabahtourism.com

JUNE

1 June till 31 Aug - Aerospace Shuttle Exhibition - Selangor

8 till 10 June - Penang International Dragon Boat Festival - Penang
Website: www.penangdragonboat.com

22 till 24 June - Japan GT - Sepang, Selangor
Website: www.malaysiangp.com.my

22 June till 1 July - Fiesta San Pedro - Malacca
Tel: 06 - 2318200

30 Jun till 7 July - Gawai Dayak & Borneo Cultural Festival - Sarawak
Website: www.sarawaktourism.com

Here are the highlight of the events during Visit Malaysia Year 2007 from the month of January to March:

JANUARY

1 Jan - Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) Grand Launch 2007 - Kuala Lumpur
Website : www.motour.gov.my

1 - 31 Jan - The Eyes of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.motour.gov.my

20 Jan till 4 Feb - Floral Festival - Putrajaya - Website: www.motour.gov.my
                          - Floralton

27 Jan - Floral Parade

FEBRUARY

1 Feb - Federal Territory Day - Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my

7 - 11 Feb - Le Tour De Langkawi - Langkawi
Website: www.tdl.com.my

8 - 11 Feb - Malaysia Open Golf Championship - Kuala Lumpur

11 Feb - Thaipusam Festival - Batu Caves, Selangor
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

18 Feb - Chinese New Year Celebrations and Open House - Kuala Lumpur and throughout Malaysia
Website: www.heritage.gov.my

MARCH

10 Mar till 10 Apr - Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix (KLGP) Sales Carnival - Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my, www.malaysiamydestination.com

16 till 18 Mar - Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix - Sepang, Selangor
Website: www.malaysiangp.com.my

24 & 25 Mar - Taman Negara Eco Challenge - Taman Negara, Pahang
Tel: 09 - 517 1111

Just in case that you are wondering if there's a Malaysian Tourism office in your country, here is the location of them throughout the globe:

AUSTRALIA Melbourne 355 Exhibition Street Melbourne Vistoria 3000 Australia Tel  : 00613 9654 3177 Fax : 00613 9654 3176 Perth Ground Floor, MAS building 56, William Street Perth WA 6000 Australia Tel        : 08 - 9481 0400 Fax       : 08 - 9321 1421 Email    : mtpb.perth@tourism.gov.my Sydney Level 2, 171 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Tel          : 02 - 9299 4441 / 2 / 3 Fax         : 02 - 9262 2026 Email      : mtpb.sydney@tourism.gov.my	KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA c/o Consulate General of Malaysia Lot 241, Al Mualiffin Street Al Rehab District P.O. Box 593, Jeddah 21421 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel          : 02 - 672 8019 / 7740 Fax         : 02 - 675 2391 Email      : mtpb.jeddah@tourism.gov.my	SOUTH AFRICA 1st Floor, Building Five, Commerce Square 39 Rivonia Road, Sandhurst, Johannesburg South Africa Tel          : 002711 268 0292 / 5 Fax         : 002711 268 0296 Email      : mtpb.johannesburg@tourism.gov.my
BANGLADESH c/o High Commission of Malaysia House No 19, Road No. 6 Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh Tel          : 008802 882 7759 / 7760 Fax         : 008802 882 7761 / 3115 Email      : mtpb.dhaka@tourism.gov.my	LAOS PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC c/o Consulate General of Malaysia Route That Luang, Quartier Pholxay P.O. Box 789, Vientiane Laos People's Democratic Republic Tel          : 21 - 414 205 / 6 Fax         : 21 - 414 201 Email      : mtpb.laos@tourism.gov.my	SWEDEN Klarabergsgatan 35, 2 tr, Box 131, 10122 Stockholm Sweden Tel          : 00468 - 24 99 00 Fax         : 00468 - 24 23 24 Email      : mtpb.stockholm@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.malaysiaturist.net
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM c/o High Commission of Malaysia No. 61, Simpang 336, Jalan Kebangsaan Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1211 P.O. Box 2826 Bandar Seri Begawan BA 8675 Brunei Darussalam Tel       : 02 - 2381 095 / 6 / 7 Fax      : 02 - 2381 576 Email   : mtpb.brunei@tourism.gov.my	PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Beijing c/o Embassy of Malaysia 2 Liang Ma Qiao Bei Jie Chaoyang District 100600 Beijing People's Republic of China Tel          : 10 - 6532 2531 / 2 / 3 Ext : 283 Fax         : 10 - 6532 5376 Email      : mtpb.beijing@tourism.gov.my Chengdu c/o Malaysia Airlines Office 18th Floor, Western China Business Tower 19 Ren Min Nan Road Section 4 Chengdu Sichuan Province People's Republic of China Tel          : 008628 - 8526 - 8586 Fax         : 008628 - 8526 - 8583 Email      : mtpbchengdu@mtpb-hq.net Guangzhou c/o Consulate of Malaysia Room 1915-1918, CITIC Plaza 233 Tian He Bei Road, Tian He District Guangzhou 510610 People's Republic of China Tel          : 20 - 3877 3691 Fax         : 20 - 3877 3692 Email      : mtpb.guangzhou@tourism.gov.my Shanghai c/o Consulate General of Malaysia Room 1101 & 1110 - 1112 Level 11 CITIC Square 1168 Nanjing Road West Shanghai 200041 People's Republic of China Tel          : 21 - 5292 5424 / 5 Fax         : 008621 5292 5948 Email      : mtpb.shanghai@tourism.gov.my	TAIWAN Suite C, 8th Floor, Hung Tai Centre 170, Tun Hwa North Road, Taipei Taiwan Tel         : 02 - 2514 9704 / 34 Fax        : 02 - 2514 9973 Email     : mtpb.taipei@tourism.gov.my
CAMBODIA c/o Embassy of Malaysia No. 5, Street 242 Sangkat Chaktomouk, Khan Daun Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel    : 00 85 5232 16176 / 177 Fax   : 00 85 5232 16004	PHILIPPINES c/o Embassy of Malaysia 107, Tordesillas Street, Salcedo Village P.O. Box 2948 (MCPO) Makati City Philippines Tel          : 0063 281 20770 Fax         : 0063 281 20770	THAILAND Bangkok Unit 1001, Liberty Square 287, Silom Road, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Tel         : 0662 - 631 1994 / 5 / 6 Fax        : 0662 - 631 1998 Email     : mtpb.bangkok@tourism.gov.my Phuket 183-81, Phang Nga Road Amphur Muang, 83000 Phuket Thailand Tel         : 076 - 220 192 / 3 Fax        : 076 - 220 196 Email     : mtpb.phuket@tourism.gov.my
CANADA 1590-1111, West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 4M3 Tel          : 604 - 689 8899 Toll free   : 1 - 888 689 6872 Fax         : 604 - 689 8804 Email      : mtpb.vancouver@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.malaysiatourism.ca	REPUBLIC OF INDIA Chennai Apeejay Business Centre 39/12, Haddows Road Nungambakkam Chennai 600 006 Republic of India Tel          : 009144 2822 4949 Fax         : 009144 2826 2447 Email      : mtpb.chennai@tourism.gov.my Mumbai 123, Jolly Maker Chamber 11 12th Floor, Nariman Point Mumbai 400001 Republic of India Tel          : 91 - 22 - 6635 2085 Fax         : 91 - 22 - 6639 0702 Email      : mtpb.mumbai@tourism.gov.my New Delhi c/o Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia Le-Meridien Hotel, Commercial Towers 1st Floor, 8 Janpath Road Windsor Place, New Delhi 110001 Republic of India Tel          : 91 - 11 - 4150 6105 / 7 / 8 Fax         : 91 - 11 - 4150 6106 Email      : mtpb.newdelhi@tourism.gov.my	TURKEY Valikonagi Caddesi 11/1, Oba Apt. 80220 Nisantasi, Istanbul Turkey Tel         : 212 - 225 2761 / 7368 Fax        : 212 - 240 3691 Email     : mtpb.istanbul@tourism.gov.my
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Rossmarkt 11 D-60311 Frankfurt Am Main Federal Republic of Germany Tel          : 069 - 283 782 Fax         : 069 - 133 79121 Email      : mtpb.frankfurt@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.tourismmalaysia.de	REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA Jakarta c/o Embassy of Malaysia Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. x/6, No. 1-3, Kuningan Jakarta Selatan 12950 Republic of Indonesia Tel          : 021 - 5220 765 / 5224 947 Ext: 3030 Fax         : 021 - 5220 766 Email      : mtpb.jakarta@tourism.gov.my Medan c/o Consulate General of Malaysia 43, Jalan Diponegoro 20152 Medan, Sumatera Utara Republic of Indonesia Tel          : 061 - 4523 192 Fax         : 061 - 4523 179 Email      : mtpb.medan@tourism.gov.my	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Suite No. 9, Mezzanine Floor Al-Shafeena Building, Near Lamcy Plaza Al-Zabeel Road, Al Hamriya P.O. Box 4598, Dubai United Arab Emirates Tel         : 04 - 3377 578 / 9 Fax        : 04 - 3353 318 Email     : mtpb.dubai@tourism.gov.my
FRANCE Office National du Tourisme de Malaisie 29, Rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris France Tel          : 0331 4297 4171 Fax         : 0331 4297 4169 Email      : mtpb.paris@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.tourismmalaysia.my	REPUBLIC OF KOREA 2nd Floor, Hansung Building 47-2 Seosomun-dong, Chung-ku Seoul 100-110 Republic of Korea Tel          : 02 - 779 4422 / 251 Fax         : 02 - 779 4254 Email      : mtpb.seoul@tourism.gov.my	UNITED KINGDOM 57, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU United Kingdom Tel         : 020 - 7930 7932 Fax        : 020 - 7930 9015 Email     : mtpb.london@tourism.gov.my Website : www.malaysiatrulyasia.co.uk
HONG KONG Ground Floor, Malaysia Building No. 47-50, Gloucester Road Hong Kong Tel          : 852 - 2528 5810 / 1 Fax         : 852 - 2865 4610 Email      : mtpb.hongkong@tourism.gov.my	RUSSIAN FEDERATION Touris Malayna Moscow Mosfilmovskaya Ulitsa 50, Moscow 117192 Russian Federation Tel          : 7 495 - 147 1514 / 12 / 23 Fax         : 7 495 - 937 9602 Email      : mtpb.moscow@tourism.gov.my	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Los Angeles 818 West 7th Street, Suite 970 Los Angeles CA 90017 United States of America Tel         : 213 - 689 - 9702 Toll Free : (800) 336 - 6842 Fax        : 213 - 689 - 1530 Email     : mtpb.la@tourism.gov.my New York 120, East 56th Street Suite 810, New York NY 10022 United States of America Tel         : 212 - 754 1113 Fax        : 212 - 754 1116 Email     : mtpb.ny@tourism.gov.my Website : www.visitmalaysia.com
ITALY Via Privata Della Passarella, Nr 4 1st Floor 20122 Milan Italy Tel          : 02 - 796 702 / 723 / 97064155 Fax         : 02 - 796 806 Email      : mtpb.milan@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.malesia-turismo.com	SINGAPORE #01-01B/C/D No. 80, Robinson Road Singapore 068898 Tel          : 02 - 6532 6321 Fax         : 02 - 6535 6650 Email      : mtpb.singapore@tourism.gov.my Website  : www.tourism.malaysia.org.sg
JAPAN Osaka 10th Floor, Cotton Nissay Building 1-8-2, Otsubo-Honmachi, Nishi-ku Osaka 550-0004 Japan Tel           : 00816 - 6444 1220 Fax          : 00816 - 6444 1380 Email       : mtpb.osaka@tourism.gov.my Tokyo 5F Chiyoda Building 1-6-4, Yurakucho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0006 Japan Tel           : 00813 - 3501 8691 / 3 Fax          : 00813 - 3501 8692 Email       : mtpb.tokyo@tourism.gov.my Website   : www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp	SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Hanoi c/o Embassy of Malaysia 16th Floor, Fortuna Tower 6B Lang Ha Street, Hanoi Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tel          : 84 4 831 3400 / 4 Fax         : 84 4 831 3402 Email      : mtpb.hanoi@tourism.gov.my Ho Chi Minh City c/o Embassy of Malaysia, 1208, Me Linh Point Tower, No. 2 Ngo Duc Ke Street Distrct 1, Ho Chi Minh City Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tel          : 84 8 829 9023 / 3132 Fax         : 84 8 829 9027 Email      : mtpb.hochiminh@tourism.gov.my

The year 2007 is set to be a memorable year for visitors to Malaysia. The nation will be hosting Visit Malaysia Year 2007, an international campaign aimed at promoting Malaysia as one of the leading holiday destinations in the region.


Themed 'Celebrating 50 Years of Nationhood', the year 2007 was chosen as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence.

Come and discover a nation known throughout the world as being 'truly Asia'. Malaysia's multiracial population is steeped in diverse cultures arising from a unique melting pot of backgrounds.


Offering a multitude of fascinating attractions, your holiday in Malaysia will leave you with many memorable moments. The country is endowed with verdant rainforests, clear blue seas and marine parks filled with a wealth of plant and animal life unique to this part of the world.


The capital city, Kuala Lumpur is one of the most dynamic cities in Asia. A vibrant metropolis, the city is a delightful contrast of modern cosmopolitan sophistication and nostalgic old-world charm.


The scrumptious food, incredible shopping bargains and balmy weather are more reasons to plan trip to Malaysia. Stay on for the warm hospitality, kind generosity and welcoming faces.

Malaysia will be abuzz with a multitude of colourful parades, carnivals, festivals, shows, conventions, events and celebrations. On 31st August 2007, visitors are invited to join all Malaysians in commemorating the country's Independence or Merdeka Day. Come and be mesmerised by a unique multiracial populace celebrating 50 years of nationhood in harmony and peaceful co-existence.


Another highlight in 2007 will be the Citrawarna or Colours and Flavours of Malaysia parade,  an annual celebration showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country.


Be part of Visit Malaysia year 2007 and join in the festivities. It will be a dream holiday come true.

Hi,

First of all, I want to apologize for being unable to update the blog for some time. Anyway, at the same time, I manage to set up the audio files for some Malay words that were explained here before.

I have to tell you that these audio files are produced my handphone (yeahh, I know..I know). It's not MP3 type files, instead it is AMR type. To play this type of file, you have to install RealPlayer or Quicktime Player. Maybe in the future, I might convert this file into MP3 type files for quicker adoption among you all. But I guess, hey..RealPlayer and Quicktime have been around for as long as mp3, so I guess it shouldn't be a problem.

The recording quality is not on par with the ones done in the studio ( heheheh..), but hopefully you can still here the words pronounced anyway. If you have any difficulty, just inform me and I'l improve it.

I have to inform also that the server used to store these files will delete any files that is not downloaded for more than 30 days (inactive). Therefore, unless the server is down, please tell me if you can't download the files.

I'll inform you all on how this goes.
Cheers!