Malaysia – Year of Festivals 2015

Looking for more reasons to visit the wonderful melting pot of culture, Malaysia in 2015? Well, we have something that will get a hold of your attention and that is the Malaysia Year of Festival 2015.

What is it you ask? Malaysia Year of Festival 2015 is a yearlong celebration of cultural festivals, shopping extravaganzas, international acclaimed events, arts and music showcases, and much.. much more! This initiative is made with the goal of celebrating the diversity that encompasses the whole of Malaysia, which is described in the national slogan of “Malaysia Truly Asia”.

Running throughout the year 2015, there is no doubt that many more exciting activities and events will be organized to look forward to in Malaysia.

If you’re looking for a great accommodation to compliment your truly asia holiday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, head down to our websitehttp://www.the5elementshotel.com.my to book from a wide variety of boutique room choices.

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Top 3 Festival in Malaysia

Malaysia being a melting pot of various cultures, have brought itself up to be a colorful and amazing hub of festival for travelers from all over the world to experience. Below are three examples of festive occasion in Malaysia that we believe represent our multi-cultural background.

1.Deepavali

Deepavali, or also known as the festival of lights is a 5 days festival celebrated by the Indians in Malaysia, as an ode to the historical victory of light over darkness. It is during this festive season that we can see the wonderful art called ‘kolams’ or ‘rangolis’ made with colored rice grain into various forms of traditional and even modern shapes and symbols.

2.Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is one of the important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar, often referred to as the ‘Lunar New Year’. The source of the festive itself is centuries old, and is tied to several myths and traditions, but it is traditionally a festival to honor deities as well as ancestors. Many forms of cultural reference can be seen during this period ranging from foods, arts, performance, and many more. It is also a custom during the occasion that families and relatives, would gather for a reunion dinner to celebrate the coming of the new year.

3.Hari Raya

Also known as Eid al-Fitr, Hari Raya is celebrated by muslims of Malaysia that marks the end of Ramadhan, the holy month of fasting, and welcoming the month of Shawwal in accordance to the islamic calendar. It is during this time that families gathered together to celebrate the occasion with many variety of traditional foods, and dressed up in their traditional Malay attire such as the ‘Baju Melayu’ and Baju Kurung’.

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Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for special promotions and offers during the festive seasons and many holiday celebrations.

Malaysia’s Iconic Food - The Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak is one of the most common dish to be associated with Malaysians to date. This is also contributed to the fact that, Malaysians have now considered the rice dish called Nasi Lemak is the official delicacy of Malaysia. What makes this dish unique is the method of cooking, whereby the rice is cooked with coconut milk infused with Pandan Leaf, which results in a very rich and fragrant rice. Side dishes served consist of crispy fried Anchovies, ground peanuts, hard boil egg, cucumber slices and of course the creme-de-la-creme, sambal!

Nasi Lemak literally means Oily or Fatty Rice. It is widely eaten in Malaysia not only as a breakfast dish, but also for lunch, dinner, brunch, supper, basically any other time of the day! This is one of the contributing factor to why the Nasi Lemak is available at almost every corner of this country, throughout the day.

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Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more info on our rooms, rates, facilities, and more.

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Kuala Lumpur Fun Facts

Kuala Lumpur, widely known as KL has come a long way from what once was a tin mining town, is now a developed metropolis. Kuala Lumpur has been a center point of many Malaysian success story, such example would be the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Want to get to know Kuala Lumpur better? Here are some interesting facts on the town we call KL!

• Kuala Lumpur is derived from the Malay language, meaning “confluence of mud”
• During the early days, Kuala Lumpur often faced problems such as floods, fires, and other natural disaster.
• Kuala Lumpur acheived the city status in 1972.
• People staying in Kuala Lumpur are commonly known as KLites.
• In 2008, Kuala Lumpur has been voted the sixth most visited city in the world!
• Kuala Lumpur is one of the cities to have hosted the Formula One World Championship.
• Each of Kuala Lumpur’s Twin Towers are built by two different group, one by the Hazama Group and the other by Samsung Group.

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Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more info on our rooms, rates, facilities, and more.

Want to know what others think about our hotel? Read through reviews and experience from our previous guests at our Tripadvisor page, http://goo.gl/4mN0nT

Top 3 Truly Malaysian Experience in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is home to many exciting and wonderful attractions, a result that originates from the melting pot of culture that co-exist in the land. These inspiring scenes are even more so highlighted in the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur where modernization meets culture to brought fourth an amazing tourism experience. We at The 5 Elements Hotel would like our guests to immerse themselves with the experience as much as they can, and to help them with that we’ve prepared some of the activities recommended throughout your Kuala Lumpur trip.

1. View the Kuala Lumpur Skyline

There is no better place to get a bird’s eye view of Kuala Lumpur than at the Petronas Twin Towers. Sitting at an amazing 451.9 meters above ground level, the establishment is currently the world tallest twin structure, and the fifth tallest skyscraper. The building is specifically designed to reflect the modernization of Malaysian culture with it’s futuristic facade and a traditional inspired interior. The 88-storey building houses a viewing deck on the 86th floor, providing a wonderful platform for the public to feast their eyes on the magnificent view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.

2. The Gastronomic Adventure

Being a culturally diverse country, Malaysia is now one of the top destinations when it comes to food. The historical impact that made Malaysia today has shown itself in the wide array of culinary offerings throughout the country. What makes it even more special, is the marriage of these different cultures that creates an exciting new mix of flavors which is truly awe inspiring. The type of offerings involved are not restricted to those of side stalls either. These days, it is easy to find an establishment providing a more refined service inspired from the historical cultures.

3. Shopper’s Heaven

Malaysia, or more specifically Kuala Lumpur have been labeled as the 4th top shopping destination in the world. This achievement is largely contributed by establishments such as Pavillion, Starhill, and many more, due to their international influence in terms of products and labels offered in such a compact place, providing convenience in luxury. Although these might not reflect the rich culture of Malaysia, it is the small, quaint institutions that truly brings the culture impact forward by offering historical based products, souvenirs, to those with interest.

Get the latest updates on The 5 Elements Hotel, like us on our Facebook page athttp://goo.gl/UOxMWU or connect with us on Google+ at http://goo.gl/S5IZYC

Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more info on our rooms, rates, facilities, and more.

Want to know what others think about our hotel? Read through reviews and experience from our previous guests at our Tripadvisor page, http://goo.gl/4mN0nT

Batik Malaysia – A “must have” souvenir

Batik essentially is an art form translated onto a piece of textile through a meticulous and unique method, usually depicting the local flora and fauna. The word Batik is derived from the Javanese word “titik” translated in English meaning “dots” which describes the process of wax application during the whole process.

The technique involved in the creation of Batik is a combination of wax canting and dip dyeing, none of which is automated, resulting in a unique and distinct design for each and every piece of work. The amount of work being put into creating a piece of Batik depends on the type of pattern the artist would like to achieve, with some being so complicated and detailed that it could take up to a year to finish up the whole process from start to finish.

Although the Batik is closely related to the Java Island of Indonesia, which is where it is originally created, what makes the Malaysian Batik unique and distinct from it’s Javanese counterpart is the usage of manual brush strokes. The use of bright and lighter hue of color also gives it an unmistakable persona compared to the usually deep and somber design of the Javanese Batik.

The Batik cloth is more commonly associated to a formal event, and even weddings due to the traditional aura that it exudes, portraying the local culture that is perfect for the occasion. Nevertheless, it is now widely modernized by designers, combining a modern touch to create a wonderful mix that is translated to a wide variety of creations that includes household items such as drapes, tables runners, and many more.

Finding a Batik is never a hassle in Malaysia, especially if you’re in the vicinity of places such as the famous Central Market, known locally as Pasar Seni. The home of many local arts and crafts, tourists and visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping for the weird and wonderful, Batik included. Located just 5 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, our guests at The 5 Elements Hotel can easily reach the destination to explore more on the art of Batik.

Get the latest updates on The 5 Elements Hotel, like us on our facebook page at http://goo.gl/UOxMWU or connect with us on Google+ at http://goo.gl/S5IZYC

Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more info on our rooms, rates, facilities, and more.

Want to know what others think about our hotel? Read through reviews and experience from our previous guests at our Tripadvisor page, http://goo.gl/4mN0nT

Top 5 Things To Do Near Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

We at The 5 Elements Hotel would like our guests, travelers across the globe to maximize their Kuala Lumpur experience throughout their stay with us. These are just some examples of activities we think is essential in order to get to know Chinatown and its surroundings better.

1. Shop till you drop!

Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur houses a wide variety of products, some you might not even know exist! Food, accessories, clothing, souvenirs, and more food are available from the many stalls set up in the area. Do note that counterfeit items are common in the market, so the rule of thumb here is to double, triple, and quadruple check on quality before finalizing your purchase! Opens around lunch time till late midnight.

2. Eat like the locals

What better way to get to know a place than through their food. Chinatown is a food heaven for many, due to its wide range of offerings. Take your time in sampling the numerous amount of flavours offered from various cultures including Malay, Indian, Chinese, and many others. You can even try to eat like the locals do! Eat your Chee Chong Fun with a pair of chopsticks, eat your Nasi Kandar with your bare hands, and eat the delicious Nasi Lemak… in the middle of the night, just like us Malaysians!

3. Absorb some local arts and culture

Malaysia is known for it’s arts and cultures that have been developed through a long and often colorful experience and influence from many different countries. This melting pot of culture brings forth a unique experience, unlike any other. Central Market, located just a few minutes walk from Chinatown, is the perfect place for those looking to absorb some of the local culture through it’s many offerings of arts and crafts. The place is also famous for holding cultural based events.

4. Get to know us

Us Malaysians are a bunch of nice and friendly people. Having a hard time to believe? Just go and approach the uncle by the road side and ask for directions, most likely you’ll be spending more time chatting than getting off to where you wanted to initially.

5. Snap some pictures

After a long, and wonderful trip getting to know Malaysia, there is no better way to cherish the adventure than some pictures. By some, we mean ALOT! Don’t limit yourself to taking selfies in the shopping mall, get a picture at the local restaurant, the street side, the little stalls in Chinatown, and even with the local policeman, we’re sure they wont mind. You can also capture the moments at many of Malaysia’s top tourist destinations such as the Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur Tower, and many more!

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Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more information on our rooms, rates, facilities, and many more.

Top 3 Shopping Spots in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur have been labeled as the 4th Top Shopping Destination by CNN Travel for two years straight. That in itself is an achievement to be proud of, and we at The 5 Elements Hotel are excited to share with the travelers of Malaysia on some of the best shopping destinations around the Kuala Lumpur area.

1. Pavillion Kuala Lumpur

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s chic and trendy spot, Bukit Bintang, what once was site for Bukit Bintang Girl’s School is now developed into a modern and fashion forward establishment known as Pavillion Mall. Opened on 20th September 2007, Pavillion Kuala Lumpur consist of many eclectic segments of offerings, from luxury fashion boutiques to street casual labels. Pavillion Kuala Lumpur’s offering does not restricts itself towards clothing and accessories, as it also houses some of the most delectable restaurants, coffeehouse chains, and even a cinema complex!

2. Lot 10

Situated within the famous entertainment district of Bukit Bintang, Lot 10 has also made its own impact in the world of retail. While the mall itself is not as grand and luxurious as the previously mentioned shopping complex, Lot 10 have it’s own merit in a sense that it is much more relaxed and casual while keeping the sense of luxury through selective retail offerings. Lot 10 houses Malaysia’s first ever Uniqlo store, which was widely received as one of the most popular retail brand to have been brought in to cater to the middle class market. Lot 10 also provides a variety of unique eateries for those looking for a bite to eat.

3. Berjaya Time Square

Opened on October 2003, Berjaya Times Square have been an experienced player in the world of shopping. Within it’s giant exterior lies a multitude of international label stores, retail chains, and many other widely known brands in the fashion industry. What sets itself apart is that inside the enclosed space, is a fully functional recreational facility known as Berjaya Times Square Theme Park which includes a roller coaster in its list of rides. This makes the building complex the go to spot for those looking for a shopping experience more suited to families with the integration of indoor recreation hub.

For the latest updates on The 5 Eements Hotel, like us on our Facebook page at http://goo.gl/S2OERg

Visit our website at www.the5elementshotel.com.my for more information on our rooms, rates, facilities, and many more.