Only In Malaysia - Part 1

So I know I haven’t blogged in months – and I mean months – which is a long story left for another day, but I had such a funny experience last night that I just had to share.

So my husband and I had to take a taxi last night. We were quite far out, going completely across town, so we expected the ride to be about 30 minutes.  In the front passenger seat was the driver’s wife – holding their toddler girl.  Random, but fine, as I’ve had similar things happen before, this was only the beginning of the adventure.  The taxi driver then decided to make a detour – a HUGE detour – to the Indian embassy (at 10PM might I add) to pick up his mother! Of course the meter was running, and of course he didn’t want to take the hassle of leaving the freeway, so he actually parked on the side of the freeway – with his hazard lights on – and waiting for 10 minutes while his mother walked down from the embassy onto the shoulder of the freeway!!! 

So where did she sit you may ask – well right in the back seat next to me and my husband; squeezing us into the already tight taxi cab!  The remainder of the journey my husband looked less than pleased.  The baby periodically crying in the front seat and the mother constantly staring at me in the back, made him all the more annoyed that we weren’t getting to our destination any faster.   I quietly laughed about the whole thing – thinking a periodic thought – Only in Malaysia…

Picture-perfect Pangkor

Pangkor is the relaxation watering-hole of local Malaysians. Although not as famous and developed as the more well-known Langkawi, Pangkor it is much close to KL (a 3 ½ hour drive from KL to Lumut – or 5 hour bus ride since the busses here stop at many places along the way, or short flight from Subang airport), and infinitely more laid back.  

Getting There

We took the bus from Puduraya bus station – which costs RM24.50 each way (from KL – Lumut). The bus station is in walking distance from the Pasar Seni LRT stop, and pretty much attached to Plaza Rakyat LRT station – so basically the most convenient transportation hub outside KL Sentral. We decided on the Transnasional bus company, because you can purchase round trip tickets (some of the others only let you purchase one way). As we were going over the Raya (Eid) Islamic holidays, we wanted to ensure a seat so purchasing in advance was a must.  The bus was, well, ok – the seats were a bit tightly packed in, but overall I can’t have too many complaints. What else can you expect for RM24.50 for a 5 hour drive? However, next time I will try to convince some friends with a car to come along, so we can shorten the drive time immensely.

Once we arrived in Lumut, we walked directly to the jetty. Now being Malaysia, there are absolutely no signs from the bus station – so FYI the best bet is to just walk towards the water and then look for the jetty signs.  The ferry is RM10 – round trip – which is a pretty great deal considering that the picturesque ride is about 30 minutes each way. If you are lucky enough to get onto a boat with outside standing areas, definitely go outside. The views are spectacular. We were there about midday, and were able to see fishing boats coming back from their morning run, birds soaring in the skies and towering evergreen hills.

Accommodations

Upon arriving, we hired one of the Pepto Bismol – colored taxi vans. These vans go all over the island. A trip to Teluk Nipah ran RM15 (for the two of us). Teluk Nipah is the most popular beach area, with a plethora of discount and mid-range chalets and hostels. We reserved in advance, thinking it would be sold out for the long holiday weekend, but were surprised to see how many vacancies were available.  Apparently November is off-season for Pangkor (rightfully so since it rained for a few hours every day). In the future, I probably wouldn’t book in advance during off-season, as I could have gotten a much better deal that I did.

We ended up staying at Nipah Bay Villas. Overall the place is charming: the owners are great, and they even have a free book exchange library where you can give them your old book in return for a new one. My husband and I took full advantage of this – bringing 4 books from home to exchange! Books can also be purchased or rented. In addition, they have a nice garden area surrounding each of their chalets. We stayed in a family room, instead of a chalet (as the chalets were not available online), and were disappointed that we missed out on staying in something nicer for practically the same price. The only downside to the place is their restaurant. Although it looks nice, it’s quite overpriced and not as good as some of the other places we ate at.  

Activities

Like my advice for Langkawi, do not book any activities in advance.  My chalet was advertising snorkeling for RM45 per person, whereas directly on the beach you could get it for RM20 (with RM5 for snorkel rental). We ended up snorkeling, as you guessed. The snorkeling takes place on Coral Island – which is a short boat ride across the bay (the smaller of the two outlying islands). It was our first snorkeling experience as we did not know what to expect. 

Overall, I don’t think I would do it again. Although we could see some brightly colored fish, crabs, a few (and I mean few) coral and some sea cucumbers, the experience was not worth all the effort it entailed. Chiefly, on the side of the island that is roped off for snorkeling, the group is so slippery and sharp (shell-based razorblades sticking out of the rock ready to cut anything that grazes over) that everyone, and I mean everyone was cut up and bleeding – on their feet, hands, legs, arms, etc. We were really careful and still got cuts on our hands and legs. It totally put a damper on things, as the salt water stung our cuts, and we were mortified at getting into and out of the water. Additionally, there were soooo many boats coming and going from the tiny island – dropping off hordes of tourists (and this was off-season) – that you got completely seasick from the constant heavy rocking of the water – blurring your vision of the little you could see below. It was cool to see the things we did, but the experience left us not ever wanting to try snorkeling again. With that said, if you do go, definitely go to the other end of the island – where it’s not roped off (there is still a lot of people snorkeling over there). There is way more to see, and the sea floor is not nearly as slippery or jagged.

We also checked out Pangkor town (the small fishing village located at the ferry exit). It’s quite picturesque with a few restaurants, bakeries and shops. We peered into a few, but didn’t end up buying anything. It’s a nice time-pass for an hour or two – especially if you want to travel back in time to experience simple Malaysian life. The village contains both Malay and Chinese touches, which added to the history and mystique.

 Finally, and most importantly, we spent a ton of time at the beach.  As our accommodations were in Teluk Nipah, we started out at Teluk Nipa beach.  This was the most crowded beach (although not really, considering there were less than 50 people in the water at any time). The sand and surf are nice and enjoyable.

However, we soon discovered that we could also check out emerald bay – which is about a 5 minute walk north from Teluk Nipah. This was an extraordinary beach – almost secluded (with less than 15 people there when we went). The waters here were emerald green (hence the name) – yet almost crystal clear when you get close. There are two restaurants on the beach:  Island 1 Café and Daddy’s Café. We ate at Island 1 Café – Yummy!!! as discussed below.

Food

The food in Pangkor is very hit or miss.

Hits

Island 1 Café: Malay, Chinese, Thai and Western food (primarily seafood). Their nyona shrimp is to-die-for (garlic, lemongrass and turmeric – need I say more) and their sweet and sour chicken reminds me of the States (both pictured). Great ambiance – being right on the beach at sunset. The prices are a little more than at other places (about RM40 for 2 ppl – eating light), but the quality of the food is more than worth it.

         

 Ikan Bakar stall with yellow sign (see picture) right on the teluk nipah beachfront: The best, best, best restaurant on the island. You pick your fish and ask for it ikan bakar (ikan means fish and bakar means toasted or frilled) style (grilled over an open flame). So delicious, especially since they butter the fish before placing it in between banana leaves on the grill. The fish is moist and perfectly done. We got the cheapest fish – not knowing what to choose. In addition to fish you can also get crabs (ketam) and squid (sotong). Their crabs looked really good cooked in this read sauce (not sure what it was). In addition to this, definitely order the kueh teow char – fat rice noodles in the succulent brown garlic sauce with shrimp and scallions. Also try their freshly squeezed orange juice – seriously the best orange juice I’ve ever ever ever had in my entire life. We liked it so much we ordered it 3 times over the weekend.

The owner of this restaurant also has another restaurant that is only open for breakfast and lunch (pictured).  The other restaurant is across the street – near the Mini Mart. If you are on the main road by the beach, and see the cross street that Nipah Bay Villa’s is on, look to the restaurant on the corner of the street (Mini Mart is on other corner). They have no sign outside, and a small yellow menu board on the inside. Their breakfast is so-so, but their lunch is quite delicious.  I had the nasi goring kampong (friend rice with salted anchovies – true Malay classic) and my husband had kueh teow goring. Both were great – with fresh orange juice of course.

Misses

·         Nipah Bay Villa Café: too expensive, food quality only so-so

·         Pretty much any other stall on the teluk nipah beahfront (other than the one with the yellow sign I described above). We tried a few and didn’t eat anything memorable – other than remembering to never go there again.

·         Any breakfast place. We were not able to find any fresh breakfast – only hours old food that has been sitting out in the sun (and we went to eat around 9AM – so it’s not like we are up really late or anything).

As always, if you have any questions and your heading that way, let me know and I can give suggestions.

Ramadan Buffet

One must-do thing in KL over the Ramadan month is to try one of the many Ramadan buffets.  For those who don’t know, Ramadan is a month where Muslim’s fast to reflect on life, practice self-control, and give charity. Although the aim is to abstain from food, in the modern context, many restaurants and hotels monopolise on the sense of community and food during the month to market all-you-can-eat buffets. In Malaysia, they range from standard Malaysian fair, like nasi lemak, beef and chicken rending and satay, to more international cuisine, including rack of lamb, pasta, and smoked salmon.

My co-workers decided to have a girls-night-out, and picked the Dorsett Hotel’s spread – primarily because there was a pretty good ‘Everydaydeal’ (similar to Groupon) that offered a steep discount.  The Dorsett’s spread was quite remarkable: from the chef carving freshly roasted lamb (pictured below), to crab curry (which was by far my favourite) and a limited sushi bar, the Dorsett had offerings that would please everyone’s pallet. In addition to the lamb, the grilling station also offered freshly grilled fish, crab and steak – all made to order. As an extra plus, the Dorsett had an extensive chilled seafood banquet, which supplied succulent cocktail shrimp, plump smoked salmon and oysters on the half shell.

As it’s in KL there were many Malaysian favourites – 2 types of rice, multiple fish chicken, and beef curries, sautéed mussels and spicy chicken wings. One neat thing I really liked is that there were do-it-yourself bars, including the Chinese noodle soup bar pictured below. Here, you boiled your own noodles, and added the vegetables you wanted.

To top off the night, there was a nice spread of desserts to choose from – including traditional Malaysian kueh (sweet rice flour delicacies), cheese and chocolate tarts, and ABC – do-it-yourself shaved ice with unlimited topics of sweet syrups, beans, chocolate, cornflakes, etc. Aside from the dessert buffet, the hotel also had an extensive selection of fresh fruits and fried tidbits (like pisang goreng - fried bananas) and yummy chocolate banana bread pudding.   

Despite all the selection, there were some drawbacks. First, much of the food was cold – having been prepared earlier in the day. I’m not sure if the burners were not working, or if instead the food was sitting out all day, but that did take away from the overall experience. The second criticism what that on the night we went, the buffet included live music. Although that sounds fun, in reality the music was so loud it was pretty much impossible to think – let alone talk to anyone. The music was so loud that in the end we ended up leaving the hotel – possibly earlier than we would have otherwise because we were unable to sit and enjoy the ambiance.

Overall, I am glad to have experienced the decadence that is a Ramadan buffet. I’m not sure if I would do it again next year, but definitely regard it as something that should be checked off from everyone’s list.

Fish Doctors

So I have become obsessed with fish spas! Yes… fish spas…   Basically there are fish created by God that by their very nature eat the dead skin cells off humans. Ok, so I openly admit that their sole purpose is probably not for human dead skim cell consumption, but they do an amazing job at in. I know this sounds totally gross, but once you try it you will agree that it’s awesome!!!

How it works: Picture a really large aquarium, with a bench on one end.  Once you sit on the bench and place your feet near the top of the water, you see the fish (like aquatic leeches) following your movements waiting for the instant that your heel breaks the surface. As you graze the surface dozens of fish begin fighting to ‘kiss’ your feet with their magical suckers. At first all you can do is laugh – well to be perfectly honest at first you spend a good 1-5 minutes convincing yourself to even put your feet into the water. After the laughing stops, which can last from 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on how brave you are and how fast you force your feet into the water without pulling them up again, you realize just how relaxing this aquatic therapy really is. At one point I even got daring enough to spread my toes out so the fish could easily access the skin between my toes.

As fun as it was, I was skeptical at how much it would ‘work’. I was shocked to find out that after one 10 minutes I could already feel the difference on my feet. Through drying my feet off I noticed how smooth my skin was – with a refreshed glow. Walking around post procedure my feet felt lighter and more alive – the tiredness of the day was got (I had been sightseeing all day so I was legitimately tired).

Needless to say I was totally hooked – especially with the price of RM5 for 10 minutes in Central Market (KL, Malaysia) – which is less than $2 USD! Since my first visit I went for the second time and experiences comparable results.

Apparently they are outlawed in the US, due to fear of bacteria or something like that, but in Southeast Asia they are everywhere. If you ever come, you must try this out – you won’t regret it for sure!!!

Home on the Range: My First Malaysian Kampung Experience

This past Sunday, my coworker invited me to spend the day with her family at her husband’s grandmother’s farmhouse. The grandmother was hosting prayers for a blessed Ramadan (which would start a week later) and for a remembrance of the dead. Her family and village neighbors were all invited. With over 50 people in attendance, the food was catered and tents were erected to keep everyone out of the heat.

The Malay word for village is ‘kampung’.  Almost all Malays that I know have ties to at least one kampung (that either their mother or father grew up in), with some having ties to multiple village homes. My understanding is that until Malaysia became an independent nation, a majority of Malays still lived in villages: growing fruits and vegetables to survive – leading a similar life as their ancestors. After Malaysia became an independent nation, a controversial affirmative action plan was put in place whereby Malays were given preferential treatment in government positions and education opportunities (such as scholarships to study abroad), along with instituting hiring quotas for Malays in commercial enterprises. Putting criticism aside, these plans brought many Malays out from the kampungs into the urban cities. With university educations, Malays slowly increased their presence in all major commercial industries, which increased their affluence. As a result, many present-day Malays live in cities, only returning to their ancestral kampuns for Hari Rayas (which are the Islamic holidays of Eid – which mark the end of Ramadan and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca), or when their grandparents have events, such as the prayer service I attended. 

As such, I felt truly honored to be invited to such an intimate family event. To get to the kampong we left KL after breakfast, around 8AM. Driving 2 hours south to the Southern-most peninsular state of Johor, the main sights included oil palm plantations and small towns. As we arrived, I instantly fell in love with the place.  Orchids were lovingly cultivated in a plethora of colors that surrounded the house. Fruits of all types (pineapple, star fruit, papaya, durian, rambutan, mangosteen, coconut and banana) were growing wild, almost as if a collection of tropical seeds were thrown into the wind, failing where they may. Behind the house chickens were roaming free among the oil pam trees (the grandmother had leased out the back portion of her land to an oil palm developer).  A fox trap was laid with bait near the chicken coup – apparently the chickens had experienced a fox problem recently, and day-old rice was left on the ground (although for the chickens, it appeared that mostly flies were enjoying the feast – as the chickens preferred the bugs by the oil palm trees).

After an initial tour, I sat down for the prayers.  Ladies in brightly-colored baju kurungs (which is the staple dress for Malay women, and consists of a brightly colored long sleeve tunic top with matching shirt) greeted me in the traditional way – interlocking my hands with their hands in a sideways clam position pulling our hands apart to touch our chests. Prayers were followed by food: curried chicken legs with rice, shrimp in a spicy sambal sauce (a Malay delicacy), and curried hearts of palm and bamboo for a vegetable side.   

After lunch, one of the uncles sat down to talk to me and my husband. The uncle was one of the most fascinating people I have ever met. He grew up on the very kampong with his two sisters. His mother was widowed with three young children in her early twenties. Not wanting to remarry (refusing multiple marriage proposals), his mother raised her children on her own; deciding to stay on the kampong even after her children had grown up and moved to the city.  This uncle, her child, was so dedicated to the welfare of his mother that he lovingly traveled 2+ hours each direction, every week to visit his mother, tending to her house and land. Upon maturity, the uncle had joined the British army, and later the Malaysian army, where he had honed his survival skills. The uncle told us stories about how he grew up hunting with sling shots, climbed trees for camouflage during military training, and even took down wild boar that were pestering his neighbors. I was so impressed by his excitement for life (always trying something new), his unrelenting dedication and admiration for his mother, and his hospitality in welcoming me and my husband to his childhood home.

Noting our interest in wanting to learn more about kampong life, he took us on a personal tour of the land. We first ventured by the chicken coup, where we literally watched chickens lay eggs in front of our eyes. We were then presented with these eggs to take home. I was shocked to feel the warmth of the eggs in my hands – couldn’t get any fresher! Then we walked to the banana tree. The uncle explained that the banana flower should be removed for the fruit to be sweeter, so he took his machete and chopped it off.  He then offered the banana flower to us, explaining that we could boil it for 30 minutes and eat the heart (which we did – it tasted like artichoke). Next we were handed start fruit that had ripened on the vine, and then proceeded to a coconut tree, where the machete was used to provide us a refreshing drink under the hot sun. Our tour was capped with a viewing of the durian fruit that was still growing on the treat – weighing down some of the branches with its sheer size.

All I can say is: what an experience! The Malaysian hospitality was truly heartwarming! Experiencing kampong life made me and my husband long for a bygone era – where communities are close-knit, life is simpler and values are pervasively instilled from birth. The uncle’s example was a true testament to me that although it may not ‘take a village to raise a child’, having a village can produce impressive results.  

Day and Overnight Trips from KL

Like most major cities, KL has some really great attractions, which can be seen in 3-4 days.  So people that are in Malaysia for longer than that have asked me if there are interesting day and overnight trips from KL. The answer in short is yes!  With great public transportation and infrastructure in Malaysia, you can see the entire country using KL as the starting-off point. Below, I have noted a few of the best options, along with information on if a car is required, how much time you need there, and must-see’s while you are there.

Day Trips

Batu Caves

o  Overview: Batu Caves is a Hindu cave-temple located about 13 KM from KL, which contains the largest Lord Murugan statue in the world. As it’s so close, it makes for a popular half-day excursion from KL. In addition to seeing the temple, you can also watch monkey swinging in the trees and do some cave exploring of your own.

o  Things to See: Definitely see the Temple Cave and Art Gallery Cave. You can also explore the surrounding nature, and drink cool-down with a fresh coconut from one of the local vendors.

o  How to Get There: You can take the KTM Komuter train to the Batu Caves stop. You can also take the LRT to Titiwangsa, and then take the U6 bus to the caves. If you take the bus, tell the bus driver of your intention so you won’t miss your stop. Alternatively you can take a 30-45 min taxi from KL.

Putra Jaya (taxi hire is recommended, but can use public transport)

o  Overview: Putra Jaya is the futuristic government hub of Malaysia. The entire city was masterminded by the ex- Prime Minster of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad.  Under his 22 year rule, Mahathir is credited with bringing Malaysia into the modern-age, overseeing infrastructure, educational and economic gains for the country. One piece of his plan was to develop an entirely new city which would function as the governmental nucleus of the country. This city became Putra Jaya, and houses the Prime Minister’s office, Palace of Justice (which looks like the sultan’s palace in the Disney movie Aladdin), convention center, and countless other architectural wonders. 

o  Things to See: Definitely check out the Palace of Justice, Prime Minister’s office, Putra Mosque (Pink Mosque) and Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque (Crystal Mosque). Putra Jaya is splendid both by day and night, and can be visited at either time. Also consider taking a river cruise to see, among others, the Prince’s Palace and surrounding landscape. Don’t forget to notice the different street light designs that decorate the wide streets.

o  How to Get There: The best thing to do in Putra Jaya is drive around to see all the buildings. You can take the Komuter train from KL Sentral to Putra Jaya (look for KILA ticket counter, as they run an express train to Putra Jaya). One you arrive, you can solicit a taxi driver for an hour to take you around. Otherwise, you can connect with the local busses, which stop at all the major locations.

§  If you take the train, one the way back you can stop at the Serdang Komuter stop and check out the Mines Shopping Mall, which is an indoor mall that was developed over an abandoned mine. Its design is to mimic Venice, and you can even take a boat ride from the train station to the mall for RM1.

 Malacca

o  Overview: Malacca is a historic port town with Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. From the 1300s to post-colonial times, Malacca was used as a strategic port along the spice route from Indonesia, as well as the silk trade from China. From the crumbling colonial church to the oldest Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim temples in Malaysia (located all on the same street), there is something for everyone to enjoy

o  Things to See: The center of Malacca is quite small and most attractions are in short walking distance, and can be divided into two distinct areas: Colonial Center and Chinatown. The top places to experience in the Colonial Center are Fort A Famosa (the remnants of a Portuguese fort) and St. Peter’s Church (a Dutch Fort from the early 1700’s that contains a small internal graveyard and all-encompassing views of the port and city). In Chinatown, definitely experience Jonker Street (Chinatown street with great antiques), and the first-in-Malaysia places of worship for Bhudism (Cheng Hoon Teng), Hinduism (Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple), and Islam (Tranquerah Mosque) – which conveliently are all located in the same street in Chinatown. In addition to these sites, Malacca is famous for its Nyona food (a blend of Chinese and Malaysian cuisines). You can go to the Visitor Center for more information on sites and food in the area.  However, as a heads up, the Visitor Center charges RM5 for a walking map. If you would like a free map instead, you can print one from this site.

o  How to Get There: The easiest way to get to Malacca is via bus.  Busses run every 30 minutes from Terminal Bersepadu Selantan (TBS) TBS is a bus station that services southern-bound journies, so no reservations are needed. You can just show up at the bus station to purchase a ticket. Once you arrive in Malacca, you can either take a taxi to city-center or choose the public buss, which only costs RM1, but takes significantly longer than the taxi. If you prefer the city bus, follow a majority of the bus passengers who will also be taking the bus.  Once you arrive in the city-center, you will see the red brick buildings Malacca is famous for and a water fountain. You can then exit the bus at this stop.

§  LRT: take Ampang line towards Sri Petaling, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

§  KTM: take Seremban line, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

§  ERL: take KLIA transit, get off at Bandar Tasik Selation

·      From the train station there is a bridge that directly connects to the bus terminal

 Port Dickson

o  Overview: Port Dickson is a sleeping beach town, popular with locals.  Although the beach is pretty ordinary, especially compared to Langkawi and Perhentian, it is close enough to be enjoyed in a day-trip from KL (as it’s only a 1 ½ hour bus ride from KL).

o  Things to See: The beach is a must.  In addition, check out the Cape Rachardo Lighthouse (built in the 16^th century). Check out wikitravel for more information.

o  How to Get There: You can take the KTM Komuter train to the Seremban stop. From there you can catch a bus to Port Dickson. You can also take a bus from Malacca to Port Dickson, so can combine Malacca and Port Dickson into a 2-day trip.

Overnight Trips

Cameron Highlands (car or tour group recommended)

o  Overview: The Cameron Highlands contain awe-inspiring tea and strawberry plantations located a short drive away from KL. The Cameron Highlands are a popular local destination, as an escape from the heat of KL (the highlands offer temperatures must cooler than KL) to the serenity of the relaxing countryside.

o  Things to See: It is essential to see the tea plantations where you can learn how tea is grown, walk among the tea fields and of course, enjoy a cup of tea with lunch or a snack. BOH tea plantation is the most famous in Malaysia, as their tea is sold everywhere in the country. Also check out the strawberry farms and vegetable farms, and pick up some goodies at the local farmer’s market.

o  How to Get There: You can take a bus from Puduraya Bus Station. The easiest way to get to Puduraya is via the Plaza Rakyat LRT station (located right at the stop). Alternatively, you can take a 5 minute walk from Chinatown (Pasar Seni stop on the LRT) or 10min walk Bukit Bintang. As the plantations are far apart, consider either renting a car or going in a bus tour from KL.

 Ipoh

o  Overview: Much like Malacca, Ipoh is a historic town with colonial roots dating back to the 1600’s. Compared to Malacca, Ipoh has a distinctly Chinese feel, and is famous for its’ many local eateries.  The city-center is easily walkable, and the visitor’s information center provides amazing maps and materials for free. (I enjoyed Ipoh a lot more than Malacca, as the town was less commercialized, and seemed to be a real-living city and not just a tourist trap).

o Things to See:  In addition to completing the free walking tour (maps are at the visitor center), and eating at the local eateries, consider strolling the winding streets to discover antique stores. You can even watch a local artisan create bamboo furniture (which is quite affordable). If you are adventurous, consider taking a taxi to the Three Buddhist cave temples located on the edge of town. These temples are really unique to Ipoh – finding creative ways to juxtapose temples right into the limestome caves.  One temple even includes a rather-strenous treck deep inside the cave à from which at the top you can see an impressive view of downtown Ipoh.

o  How to Get There: You can take a train from KL Sentral to Ipoh. These tickets can be purchased on the day of departure or in advance, which can be done online. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands). The bus is faster than the train, as long as you are traveling during off-peak times. It takes between 2-4 hours to get to Ipoh, depending on traffic.

Penang

o  Overview: Like Malacca, Penang is also a colonial town with European roots. In Malaysia when people mention Penang their mouths begin to water – people actually go on eating tours of the city. So if you venture to Penang, eating is a MUST! In addition to all that wonderful food, Penang has a well-preserved historical center, and is even considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an honor shared with Malacca).

o  Things to See: Other than eating, check out Chinatown, the Clock Tower and Esplanade (a seafront walkway that contains many hawker stalls, as well as exquisite colonial buildings)

o  How to Get There: Like Ipoh, you can take a train from KL Sentral. These tickets can be purchased on the day of departure or in advance, which can be done online. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands). The bus is faster than the train, as long as you are traveling during off-peak times. It takes between 5-7 hours to get to Penang, depending on traffic.

 Langkawi (See my separate post on Langkawi for more details)

o  Overview: Langkawi is a stunning beach resort located in the Northwest corner of Malaysia, right at the border with Thailand. Langkawi consists of a series of 99 islands, stunning aquamarine waters, white sand, and lush tropical forests.

o  Things to See: Beaches, cable car and walking bridge, hiking, 3-Island Hopping Tour

o  How to Get There:

§  A train from KL Sentral leaves every night at 11 PM (discussed in separate post). 

§  Alternatively, you can take a bus from the Puduraya Bus Station (which is discussed in greater detail under Cameron Highlands).

 Perhentian (3+ day trip is best)

o  Overview: Beach, beach and more beach! Perhentian is voted one of the best beaches in the world and locals and foreigners alike flock to its many pristine shores where you can rest in the powdery white sand sitting under the shade of majestic palm trees, trek through the jungle paths that connect secretive coves, and discover tropical coral and fish through snorkeling and scuba diving the shimmering waters.

o  Things to See: Perhentian’s one and only objective is to help you relax. There are two islands of Perhentian: Kecil and Besar. Kecil is the smaller of the two and is set-up for the backpacker and budget traveler. It also contains a small by lively nightlife.  Lodging on Kecil is pretty basic à where fans and 24 hour electricity are a luxury and air conditioning and hot water are pretty much unheard of. On the plus side, a rom can run as low as RM30 a night. Besar is the bigger of the two and boosts more luxurious accomodations (which can range from simple chalets on the beach to full-fledged resorts). Besar is also the quieter of the two, and thus, a bit more family-friendly.

o  How to Get There: You can take an overnight bus from KL that leaves from the Putra Bus Station (a.k.a. Hentian Putra) heading towards Kuala Besut. (The Putra Bus Station is close to either the PWTC stop on the LRT or the Putra station on the KTM Komuter.) From Juala Besut, walk to the jetty and take a ferry to Perhentian.  The ferry will stop at both islands.

Singapore (can see a lot in a 2 day trip)

o  Overview: Singapore needs little explanation.  As a financial hub in Southeast Asia, its many attractions lure visitors from around the world. (I will have a separate post on Singapore at a later date).

o  Things to See: Check out Little India, Chinatown and Arab Square for some local flavor. Also go to the observation deck of the Marina Sands Hotel (looks like a floating surfboard from the Marina Bay) and Sentosa Island to check out the ever-popular Universal Studios, and aquarium, among other attractions.

o  How to Get There:

§  You can take a bus from TBS bus station (See Malacca above for more information on TBS). The bus is shorter than the train, but may be slightly more expensive, depending on the type of bus taken. However, as busses leave regularly, you usually do not need to reserve in advance, unless you are going over a holiday weekend or leaving on a Friday night.

§  Alternatively, you can take an overnight train from KL Sentral.  The train departs at 11:30PM.  Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter in KL Sentral.  However, since this is a popular option, consider purchasing tickets in advance, which can be done online.

§  As a note, if you are purchasing transportation in Singapore, the prices will be significantly higher than Malaysia (as Singapore would charge the same price in Singapore Dollars, as it would be in Malaysian Ringgit (for example, the train price would be RM50 if purchased in Malaysia and SGD50 if purchased in Singapore – for the same train ride)). Therefore, it is strongly encouraged to purchase a round-trip while you are in Malaysia, to avoid the increased cost in Singapore.