Kuala Lumpur in recent times has shaken off decades of inertia and emerged as one of the most happening tourist destinations of Southeast Asia.

KL, as Kuala Lumpur is known, is the capital and largest city of Malaysia but along with that it is an amazing mosaic of various communities and cultures. Along with the predominant Malay population live the Indian as well as the Chinese communities. This is a city where the past and present too co-exist in a fantastic design. If there are old colonial buildings like the Royal Selangor Club and the sporting clubs of Dataran Merdeka, there is also the shiny Petronas tower, a marvel of modern architecture.

Until recently the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world before being bypassed by Taipei 101. They are however still the tallest twin buildings and an amazing sight to behold, especially against the night sky. Some of the main occupants of the Tower are Petronas and its subsidiaries, the KLCC Park and the Suria KLCC while the skybridge, the waterpark and a double-decker lift system are some of its highlights. The all-glass shell of the Petronas Towers gives the exterior a classy contemporary look.

For those intent on seeing the Petronas Towers in real, a trip to KL is a very good idea. Check out www.ooaha.com for best Kuala Lumpur hotel deals.

In recent times, Pangkor Island of Malaysia has emerged as the destination of choice for tourists wishing to escape the crowds of the more popular South-east Asian beaches.

The island of Pangkor or Pulau Pangkor is located off the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia. Tourists have to take a ferry either from Lumut or from Sitiawan to reach Pangkor. The island is surrounded by pristine blue waters and lovely beaches; in fact the sands of Pasir Bogak beach are reputed to be of a far better quality than the more-frequented beaches of the country. In Pangkor the Teluk Nipah and the Coral Bay are especially popular with tourists from European countries.

Among other attractions in Pangkor Island is an old Dutch fort which goes back to the 17th century. The fort was built by the Dutch as a means of securing their interests in the Perak tin trade. Later the fort became the site of the historic Pangkor Treaty of 1874 which heralded the British colonial rule in the Malay Peninsula.

While the Malaysian government continues to promote Pangkor as an off-beat tourist destination, many the inhabitants of this small Island continue to follow their traditional occupations like fishing and processing of fish products. However Pangkor is well-supplied with a wide range of hotels which range from low-budget lodgings to star-rated resorts. Check out www.ooaha.com for more information and the best Pangkor Island hotel deals.