We had a marvelous time escorting the Stielher & Group from Germany for their first golf holidays. This 16 day tour was their first time to South East Asia and it was certainly fantastic to have met them.
Our tour started in Singapore and then proceeded to Melaka where the group played Ayer Keroh Country Club an amazing 27 hole course surrounded by jungle serenity amidst the easy access from the highway. After that they had the opportunity to visit famous Jonker Street, the historic Dutch Square (where it is home to the Stadhuys and Christ Church) and Melaka River Cruise where they showcased the river’s charm and rich history.
The tour then proceeded up to the capital city of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur or known fondly as KL where they would spend a few nights in the centrally located Novotel KLCC, just a pedestrian’s bridge crossing over to Pavilion KL; regarded as one of the best shopping mall in Malaysia.
What couldn’t be a worse timing is that The ASEAN Summit which had world leaders including President of the United Stated of America, Donald Trump visiting Kuala Lumpur had the city in near lockdown with road closures. Certainly became a logistics nightmare to proceed for their golf and tours planned 9 months ago. Through some creativity, we managed to get the group with minimal fuss to play at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, a 36 hole championship course which played host to the Eurasia Cup (European Tour vs Asian Tour) in Shah Alam.
Also we've had the good fortune to visit during the time of the year where rain was in abundance with the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in full swing. Wet and challenging, but nevertheless undeterred with good spirits and camaderie for golf and exploration.
Next up, we climbed up Cameron Highlands for a wonderful change of cooling weather and another set of challenge. While it did feel like we weren't in Malaysia with the colonial-like settings of tall highland trees, beautiful mountain views, lush greens of the natural forest, strawberry farms dotting the landscapes & breath-taking tea plantations to have a cuppa with - the soil reminded us of how the grounds deferred from our home country, and how much we truly are still in tropical Malaysia.
Although unexpected, we thoroughly enjoyed hiking through hidden paths into the Mossy Forest and then re-emerging from the wild only to walk back into our wonderful 5 star hotel lobby with fully mudcaked shoes, it was an unforgettable experience of contrasts!
From the historical city of Melaka, to the bustling metropolis of KL, to the cooling mountains of Cameron Highlands, we venture north and away from the mainland to the famous island of Penang for a completely different feel in weather and landscape. A mash between bustling historical George Town city, to its full-on tropical humidity punctuated by a cooling reprieve up in Penang Hill, it was an amazing tour.
We've sampled some of the most delicious local foods available in each different location, from creamy, to dry, to spicy, to a fusion of everything, we dare say we've experienced it all in Malaysia!
