The Pearl Of Asia: My Malaysia

My husband and I have been very fortunate to have spent more than 6 weeks in this true paradise. Malaysia is truly dynamic! She is a land of ready smiles and incredible contrasts, which beckons you with her rich diversity of colours and flavours. There is so much to see and do, that one simply cannot cover it all here with enough justice. The country is beautiful, the exchange rate is extremely favourable and English is very commonly spoken!

Many places, customs, festivals, art, rainforests, diving sites, marine parks and jungle life are all unique to Malaysia.  To give you just a taste of what I mean, I have listed off my first 5 of the must sees in My Malaysia!

Read more on South East Asia destinations: Discover the Best of Hanoi, Vietnam for Travellers; find out How to Bargain & Haggle at the Market; or Budget Guide to Travelling in Thailand.

5 Must-sees in Malaysia

1. The Petronas Towers - Boasting a height of more than 421m, the twin towers dominate the skies of Kuala Lumpur, capital city of Malaysia. These stainless steel towers glisten as they pierce the sky over the city. An essential experience is visiting the sky bridge of the towers, which overlook the city. Seeing this view at dawn is an amazing sight! The shopping centre, found at the base of the towers, offers normal to high-end boutiques, designer clothing shops, and jewellery establishments. This complex is perfect for dining, and also contains a Science galleria and an amazing Aquarium! The LRT station, found in the subbasement, provides a convenient and a low-cost alternative to reach other places in Kuala Lumpur.

2. Chinatown - Also found in Kuala Lumpur, this street is a true mecca for bargain shopping! Hawkers selling all types of wares and the scents of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as the smells of exotic freshly-cooked food permeate the air. You might wish to beware of a local fruit with an unusual reputation as a stinky fruit, the Durian. This very popular fruit is grown locally in the jungles. You can literally smell these before you see them, however I have to say, try it !! One thing I was shocked to find here was a Bob Marley Bar!!! Yes, Jamaica, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur! And, by the writings all around the walls, people have visited this bar from every part of our world! Truly a popular spot to stop for a drink at night.

3. Batu Caves - is just 13km from downtown KL. These limestone caves are a popular tourist attraction for the annual Thaipusam festival. There are 272 steep steps straight up into the caves. The main temple cave is full of Hindu shrines and is over 100m high. And yes, my husband and I actually climbed all the way up!

4. Cameron Highlands - is 1820m above sea level and was settled by tea planters looking for a cool retreat from the heat. This area is still rich in agriculture to this day. In between the areas of jungle, tea plantations spread as far as the eye can see. It is an amazing drive up through the mountains, though it is mostly one lane with sheer cliffs up on one side and down the other. I found it most amusing to watch how buses and other vehicles had to manoeuvre around each other. This drive will also afford you the chance to see native villages and dwellings whilst watching out for chickens running on the road. Cameron Highlands is a place where I say you can smell and see the color green in all of its shades!!!

5. Fishing - Fishing takes on a whole new flavour in Malaysia. From soft green seas full of fish you usually see in your aquarium to the giant snakehead in the inland waters. There is fishing opportunities for everyone. You can go fishing like the locals or go fly-fishing or deep sea fishing and diving. The choices and options are endless.

Terry Larke is a certified Travel Counsellor and expert when it comes to holidays or vacations in Malaysia.  For more information, visit her website: www.travelcounsellors.ca/terry.larke.

 

Looking to book a trip to Malaysia? Check out the TripAtlas.com Trip Builder where you can request a quote from over 104,000 travel agents who are waiting to offer you the best prices on trips to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia!

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