By Mandy Strauss-Carvalho
WINDHOEK
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Malaysian government for inviting Via Namibia and to be part of the Colours of Malaysia-Mega Fam 2007 tour. It was indeed a memorable and amazing experience to see what the Malaysian government wants to achieve in exposing this truly unique and beautiful country.
When we first boarded Malaysian Airlines it felt as if we were already there.
The warm hospitality and never-ending smiles of the flight attendants made the trip to Malaysia very comfortable. The food served on your national carrier was indeed mouth-watering and very timely. The seats were comfortable and the fact that you had your own entertainment system to watch and listen to, made the trip to Malaysia even more exciting.
During our stay in Malaysia we were exposed to a variety of interesting tourist attractions. All the places we saw and visited made every experience unique and unforgettable. The highlight of my trip to Malaysia was without a doubt our stay at the A Famosa Resort. There we attended various entertainment shows and also had a look at the beautiful accommodation the complex offers visitors.
Our tour guide, Chris Tsen Chee Fong, was very friendly and hospitable. She catered to all our needs and was very lenient in certain unexpected circumstances.
The only mistake Chris made was to over-expose us only to Chinese cuisine.
We had Chinese food everyday for lunch and dinner. After numerous requests to take us to a Malay or Indian restaurant, she asked us to respect her culture, which we did. On our visit to the Eye on Malaysia, we had lunch at another Chinese restaurant that prepares Malay style dishes. It was very enjoyable and the food was divine.
During our visit to Putrajaya, we had a taste of Indian seafood and Chris surprised us with a delicious Satay meal at A Famosa resort the night before our departure. That was very thoughtful of her.
Everywhere we went we were welcomed with open arms and with every activity, from the Lake Gardens to the historical city of Malacca, we always discovered that Malaysia is truly an amazing and proud country with a million smiles, a million colours and a million reasons to be visited.
– Mandy is the editor of a newly published bi-monthly Namibian magazine, Via Africa in Windhoek.