Is shopping something you're addicted to? Or perhaps just something you enjoy once every now and then? In general, shopping is a pleasurable thing for everyone – especially when the items you're eyeing are on sale!

The Rosary Basilica and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception One of our neighboring countries, Malaysia, offers a great deal of fun things to do. Other than sightseeing their beautiful buildings and landscapes, and also learning about their history and culture, Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, has recently developed into an international shopping destination with a wide variety of grand shopping centers and mega malls that carry well-known global and local brands.

The annual Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Malaysia, and the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat runs from July 5th until September 1st 2008. For 59 glorious days, locals and visitors from around the world, are able to whip up a fabulous shopping spree with mind-blowing promotions and tempting bargains. With over 8 weeks of outrages discounts on a wide range of products and services at all major shopping malls and retail outlets nationwide, Kuala Lumpur is definitely one of the best places to visit this month – particularly for those who love to shop!

This year Jakarta Java Kini decided to check out the 9th Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival by joining other journalists from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States for the mega familiarization programme in conjunction with the launch of Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2008. Taking place in Kuala Lumpur, about 200 participants comprising travel agents, journalists, TV and radio crew members, and corporate executives attended the event that ran for five days early last month.

During the five days in Kuala Lumpur, we did not only visit the shopping centers like many of the journalists expected in the beginning. That activity was saved for the last couple of days of the trip. On the first couple of days we attended the Tourism Seminar at the Legend Hotel where all the journalists from around the world were given a presentation by the Communication Unit of Tourism Malaysia, as well as speeches from the honorary guests for the programme: Ms Lai Shevren from Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia, and Dato' Mirza bin Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia. We were informed that Malaysia's second biggest income came from the tourism industry. The growing tourism figures have been increasing every year due to the growth in hotel accommodation and shopping which accounts for the largest portion of tourist receipts – clearly indicating a healthy growth for the Malaysian tourism industry.