08/03/2026

ON SUNDAY March 8, 2026 theSunday Special IX

Every year, thousands of migratory birds stop over at the wetlands.

JR ZLWK WKH ÀRZ 7KH WURSLFV DUHQ¶W DERXW perfection; they’re about feeling part of the rhythm. Migrating wings You might not think of Malaysia as a hotspot for migration, but the country sits right on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s main migratory bird routes. Every year, from around September to March, thousands of migratory birds stop over at wetlands like Tanjung Tuan (Melaka–Negeri Sembilan border) and .XDOD *XOD %LUG 6DQFWXDU\ LQ 3HUDN %LUG watchers gather for the annual Raptor Watch event at Tanjung Tuan, organised by the Malaysian Nature Society, where species like the Japanese Sparrowhawk DQG 2ULHQWDO +RQH\ %X]]DUG FDQ EH VHHQ soaring overhead. If you’re into something more delicate, FKHFN RXW WKH 3HQDQJ %XWWHUIO\ 3DUN (QWRSLD RU 3RULQJ %XWWHUIO\ *DUGHQ in Sabah, where species like the Rajah %URRNH¶V %LUGZLQJ ± 0DOD\VLD¶V QDWLRQDO EXWWHUÀ\ ÀXWWHU DURXQG :KLOH WKHVH DUH controlled environments, some national SDUNV OLNH .LQDEDOX 3DUN DUH KRPH WR ZLOG populations. How to plan your own “chasing wonders” adventure • Time your visit Most of these natural events depend on seasons, tides and even moonlight. For H[DPSOH 5D̈ HVLD EORRPV PRUH DIWHU UDLQ ¿UHÀLHV VKLQH EHVW RQ PRRQOHVV nights and misty valleys look their dreamiest just after sunrise. • Check local updates 3 arks like Gunung Gading or Kinabalu post bloom alerts on social media. )LUHÀ\ WRXU RSHUDWRUV DOVR XSGDWH RQ weather conditions. • Go with a local guide N RW RQO\ GR WKH\ NQRZ ZKHUH WR ¿QG the action, but they also ensure mini mal environmental disturbance. • Pack smart Torchlight, mosquito repellent, water resistant shoes and an open mind are your best friends. • Travel respectfully D RQ¶W OLWWHU DYRLG ÀDVK SKRWRJUDSK\ at night and never pick or touch wild plants. Malaysia’s ecosystems are delicate and irreplaceable.

It is possible to see elusive wildlife, such as hornbills and tapirs, in Taman Negara.

Misty valleys and a sea of clouds There’s something quietly magical about waking up above the clouds and Malaysia has more than a few places that deliver that experience. In Kundasang, Sabah, early risers are treated to breathtaking sunrises over rolling valleys blanketed in mist. It’s often called the “New Zealand of Malaysia,” and for good reason. With Mount Kinabalu looming in the background and cool highland air, the atmosphere feels almost dreamlike. The best spots for that “sea of clouds” H̆ HFW DUH 0RXQW .LQDEDOX 9LHZ 3RLQW DQG Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, both just outside Kundasang town. The key is timing – aim to arrive before 6am when the fog still OLQJHUV DQG WKH ¿UVW OLJKW RI GD\ SDLQWV WKH hills in gold. O YHU LQ 3HQLQVXODU 0DOD\VLD %XNLW %HUHNHK LQ 3HUDN DQG %XNLW %URJD LQ Selangor are popular with hikers for the same reason. Climb before dawn and you PLJKW ¿QG \RXUVHOI VWDQGLQJ DERYH D FRW tony sea of mist as the sun breaks through. For a cooler, mossier experience, the Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands is another world entirely – think twisted trees, carpets of moss and clouds that drift through the forest like smoke. It’s often compared to scenes from The Lord of the Rings and rightfully so. When the rain becomes the show Monsoon season might not sound like the ideal time for a holiday, but it’s when Malaysia’s rainforests truly come alive. In Taman Negara, the rivers swell, waterfalls roar and the entire jungle turns a deeper shade of green. The rainforest orchestra – frogs, cicadas, birds – reaches full volume. If you’re patient, you might even see elusive wildlife like hornbills, tapirs or with a lot of luck, a Malayan tiger. Similarly, Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu transforms into a moody, mist-covered expanse during rainy months. With over 300 small islands (actually hilltops of a submerged valley), it’s one of Southeast Asia’s largest man-made lakes. The rains add drama, especially at waterfalls like Lasir and Saok. The secret is to embrace the weather – bring a poncho, waterproof your gear and

The magic is closer than you think It’s funny – we scroll through social media and sigh at faraway places, but nature’s miracles are happening right here, quietly, waiting to be noticed. Malaysia may not have the northern lights or geysers, but it has its own kind of

enchantment – a glow, a bloom, a mist, a ÀHHWLQJ PRPHQW WKDW PDNHV \RX VWRS DQG stare. Sometimes, that’s all the wonder you really need. So maybe it’s time to grab your raincoat, set your alarm for sunrise and start chas ing a little magic in your own backyard.

Did you know?

MALAYSIA is home to more than 20 of the world’s 35 Rafflesia species, making it one of the best places on Earth to spot the massive “corpse flower.” Meanwhile, Kuala Selangor’s firefly colonies are among the largest and most consistent in the world – scientists often compare them to those in Thailand and Brazil. And here’s a fun one: In Sabah, some locals still believe that the Rafflesia bloom brings good luck if you see it unexpectedly. So if you stumble upon one during a jungle trek, you’ve just earned some jungle karma.

Global wonders

Malaysian alternatives

Where to see it

Tours from Pangkor or Lumut (best Apr-Sep)

Maldives’ glowing beaches

Pulau Sembilan, Perak – Glow ing bioluminescent plankton turns the sea electric blue on dark nights. Rafflesia Bloom – Instead of pink petals, witness the world’s largest flower erupt in vivid red in Sarawak or Sabah.

Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak / Tambunan, Sabah

Japan’s cherry blossoms

New Zealand’s misty valleys Kundasang, Sabah – Wake up to a sea of clouds with Mount Kinabalu as the backdrop.

Desa Dairy Farm or Mount Kinabalu View Point

Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor

Puerto Rico’s Bio Bays

Kuala Selangor Firefly Park – Mangrove trees sparkle with thousands of synchronised fireflies. Taman Negara in the Rain – Watch tropical storms transform rivers, trees and waterfalls into a living theatre. Tanjung Tuan, Melaka – Thousands of migratory raptors soar over this cape each spring.

Iceland’s dramatic weather

Taman Negara National Park, Pahang

Costa Rica’s rainforest birds

Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve (Feb-Mar peak)