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Kampung Benuk
This quiet, flowery Bidayuh village, where the loudest sound is often the crowing of a cock, attracted lots of tourists back when the road ended here. These days, it gets relatively few visitors, despite being a pleasant place to spend a few hours.
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Hin Ho Bio
Its easy to miss this temple, tucked away on the roof of the Kuching Hainan Association. Go up the staircase to the top floor and you come to a vivid little Chinese shrine, Hin Ho Bio (Temple of the Queen of Heaven), with rooftop views of Jln Carpenter.
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Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre
Part educational facility, part house of worship, this five-storey spiritual sanctuary includes meditation halls and a seemingly endless well of serenity. Take the elevator up for a seat by the wishing fountain in the modest rooftop garden and ponder the eternal.
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Tun Jugah Foundation
The textile gallery and museum of this charitable foundation, which aims to promote and preserve Iban culture, has excellent exhibits on Iban ikat and sungkit weaving, as well as beadwork. Iban women come here to make traditional textiles using handlooms.
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Kiansom Waterfall
A small chute – Kiansom Waterfall – about 400m beyond the cultural village, which is easily accessible by private transport or on foot. The area around the cascade lends itself well to swimming and it’s a great place to cool off after a visit to Mari Mari.
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Hainan Temple
Dedicated to Mar Chor Poh, the patron saint of seafarers, this temple was founded in 1870 but not completed until 1895. A thorough remodelling for its centenary in 1995 refreshed its distinctive swirling dragon pillars and brightened up the ornate carvings.
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Perak Prison
Opposite Muzium Perak, the prison, built in 1879 to house lawless miners, was used by the Japanese during WWII and later as a rehabilitation centre for captured communists during the Emergency. It’s still a functioning prison and is not open to the public.
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Lake Gardens
Two thin lakes (more canal-like than lake) in a pleasantly wooded park are centerpiece of the old colonial neighborhood of Seremban. Popular with courting local couples, they make for a nice break as you do a large loop around town starting from the train station.
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Heritage District
Wandering around the heritage area between Jln Ibrahim and Jln Ungku Puan is a real highlight of Johor Bahru. Walk past old colourful shophouses filled with sari shops, barbers, Ayurvedic salons, gorgeous temples, a few modern-art galleries and old-style eateries.
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Kompleks Perdadanan Putrajaya
The front of this corporate building has an astonishing arch gateway composed of a lattice of steel blades. Through the arch sitelines you can see the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque across what is known at the Kiblat Walk, a plaza atop a skyway to the mosque.
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Royal Selangor Club
Built in mock-Tudor style and founded in 1884, this exclusive social club for the KL elite is where the running-and-drinking club, the Hash House Harriers, kicked off in 1938. Women are still barred from its long bar, which has a view of the former playing fields.
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Rejang Esplanade
One of Sibu’s 22 community parks – most donated by Chinese clan associations – this pleasant strip of riverfront grass affords views of the wide, muddy river and its motley procession of fishing boats, tugs, timber-laden barges and ‘flying coffin’ express boats.
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Christ Church
Built in 1753 from pink laterite bricks brought from Zeeland in Holland, this much-photographed church has Dutch and Armenian tombstones in the floor of its rather bare interior. The massive 15m-long ceiling beams overhead were each cut from a single tree.
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Lostgens
A variety of solo and group artist exhibitions are held at this contemporary arts space, including intriguing installations and video work. Check its Facebook page for details of drawing courses and talks at the performance space Findars , one floor above.
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Muzium Islam
Muzium Islam occupies an old villa once known as Serambi Mekah (Verandah to Mecca) – a reference to its days as Kelantan’s first school of Islamic instruction. Nowadays it displays a small collection of photographs and artefacts relating to the history of Islam in the state.
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Acheen St Mosque
Built in 1808 by a wealthy Arab trader, the Acheen St Mosque was the focal point for the Malay and Arab traders in this quarter – the oldest Malay kampung (village) in George Town. It’s unusual for its Egyptian-style minaret – most Malay mosques have Moorish minarets.
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Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church
Located just north of the centre of town, the current structure dates back to 1897. The floor tiles were designed by a French priest, the stained glass was imported from Belgium, the bell from France, and the churchs twin spires stand impressively against the jungle behind.
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Gajah Gallery
One of Singapore’s most respected galleries, Gajah has been around since the mid-1990s, and specialises in contemporary art from South and Southeast Asia. The gallery hosts regular exhibits and forums; in 2008 Gajah played host to the International Buddhist Film Festival.
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Sam Sing Kung
The Sam Sing Kung temple (also pronounced Sam Sing Gong) dates from 1887, making it the oldest building in Sandakan. The temple itself is a smallish, if attractive affair – a lovely example of a house of worship dedicated to the traditional Chinese Taoist pantheon.
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Pavillion Square Tower
Opposite the Malay College is a delightful tower overlooking the surrounding parkland and playing fields. Built in 1930, this small three-storey sports pavilion of Malay and colonial design allowed royalty and VIPs to view polo matches in comfort. Not open to the public.
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