Airline Special: Wonders of Malaysia and its national airline

When you choose Malaysia as the destination for your next holiday, you can expect an experience like no other.

Home to a number of world-renowned islands, the Southeast Asian country allures with its pristine beaches, scrumptious cuisine and non-stop shopping enjoyment.

Visits to the islands each promise a different experience.

Langkawi, known for its mystical beauty and folklore, is also a shopping haven as goods sold on the island are duty free.

And Redang - one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia - is a true eye-opener as you dive into the deep blue, marvel at the coral and its colorful inhabitants, or simply lay low as time stands still.

Another way to appreciate the natural wonders of Malaysia is a trip to one of its national parks.

Taman Negara is one of the world's oldest tropical rainforests and houses flora and fauna that can't be found anywhere else.

Visitors can witness the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, among other interesting species like the Malayan tapir and rhinoceros hornbill.

And what's a holiday without a culinary experience? In Malaysia, eating is a favorite pastime.

The mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian and many other cultures gives Malaysian cuisine its spicy and colorful identity.

You can't miss savoring the aromatic nasi lemak, a traditional breakfast of rice cooked in coconut milk served with chilli sambal, sliced cucumbers, crispy anchovies and peanuts on the side.

Noodle lovers will be delighted to discover asam laksa, a signature dish from Penang made of springy rice noodles in a tangy fish-based broth.

And if things get too hot to handle, reach out for a bowl of ais kacang - a mountain of shaved ice drenched in palm syrup and condensed milk, topped with spoonfuls of cream corn, red beans and jelly.

Malaysia Airlines' efforts to connect more Chinese travelers to cover more ground is ever growing. It now flies directly from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Kunming, Hong Kong and Taipei to Malaysia with 99 frequencies beginning from June 15.

And since May, passengers can travel in style with the company's spacious A380 departing from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur daily.

Tourists can worry less about what to bring on holidays as the airline gives them each an extra 10-kilogram baggage allowance regardless of travel class so they can pack more for the journey.

From Feb 14, checked baggage allowance is 30 kg for travelers on economy class, 40 kg for business class and 50 kg for first class.

Also, the airline has launched a rewards program called Enrich. It enables passengers to earn points for every mile they fly and redeem them at numerous outlets including restaurants and hotels, in addition to price discounts on their next flight.

Malaysia Airlines offers the convenience of making seamless connections to more than 800 destinations in over 150 countries.

There's no need to worry about stopovers, hidden fees or studying timetables, as all of that will be arranged through a single booking.

For even greater ease of travel, Enrich members gain access to more than 550 airport lounges around the world.

As the world's five-star airline, the company aims to exceed passengers' expectations, according to its executives.

"Once you are up in the skies, let our Skytrax award-winning service speak for itself," they said. "Not only that your journey is accompanied by the world's best cabin crew, you are also served with Malaysian satay, the best airline dish on first class and business class."

"Be it for a quick business meeting or a luxurious getaway, you can always expect that same great service across all travel classes," said the executives. "Journeys are made by the people you travel with, so travel with Malaysia Airlines for a memorable holiday."

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/20/2013 page12)