Malaysia is an exotic, exciting and utterly unique experience, particularly as a westerner. The first thing you notice is the humidity. Think Florida x2 . . . yes, it’s that humid. As a result there are numerous massive malls, each of which are fully air-conditioned, that serve as a getaway from the elements. Malaysia also has a large casino (and very popular through Asia) strategically located above the cloud line resulting in a far more comfortable environment to play in.
Malaysia, which marks its history back to around 1400 AD, is a very socially stratified country with Chinese at the top followed by the Malay and Indians at the bottom. Malaysia has emerged as an international destination with its mix of past Portuguese, Dutch, English and Japanese colonial occupations in addition to its own rich cultural history. Extremely accommodating and always looking to help, the Malay naturally create a very relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. We stayed in Kuala Lumpur, or KL, easily the largest city in Malaysia whose skyline is dominated by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia is known for its exotic beaches, quaint local villages and beautiful mosques.
We had the pleasure of visiting on a business trip that conveniently allowed us plenty of time to explore. While we couldn’t experience everything Malaysia has to offer we did come up with fifteen of the must visit places in the country. We’ll start in the north in Penang and work our way south finishing with the magical LEGOLAND Malaysia.
Penang Wall Mural Art
In 2008 the former British colonial city of George Town, located on the Malaysian island of Penang, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2012 the art project Mirrors George Town commissioned Lithuanian-born artist Ernest “Zach” Zacharevic to paint six pieces of wall mural art on the sides of buildings. From there it has taken off and art can be found all around town. The original pieces by Zach have started to fade but are still draw the largest crowds. Our favorite is the “Boy with Pet Dinosaur” which is chasing the “Boy on a Bike”. New art is being created as we write this so be sure to join one of the many walking tours available in town.
On the Reel
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh. Directed by Jon M. Chu.
An otherwise formula, fish-out-of-water, romantic comedy features some wonderful performances, particularly the timeless Michelle Yeoh. The story follows an American-born Chinese girl discovering her asian boyfriend is from one of the wealthiest families in the world and chaos ensues. A visual delight including many Malaysian shotting locations like Selangor, Kedah and George Town, Penang.
Taiping Lake Gardens
There’s a very educational hurricane section on the second floor, an exotic area for translucent Moon Jellies and Sea Nettles, sea horses and a massive Megalodon jaw (an extinct 50’ (15.24 m) shark). After a brief shutdown for Covid-19, the facility has reopened with only a few exhibits (mostly outdoor) still not available for viewing. The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is the perfect place to visit for all ages – families, couples or on your own and has to rank high on the list of things to do in Kure Beach.
Cameron Highlands
Located on the northwest border of the state of Pahang, the Cameron Highlands cover a total of 275 square miles (712 km2) of jungle trails, towering mountains and stunningly beautiful rolling hills of tea plantations. The locals, and many tourists, love the highlands for its more temperate climate, golf courses, colonial style houses and hotels. Located about 120 miles (193 km) north of Kuala Lumpur, this area can feel almost as much British as Malaysian. The colonists developed the Cameron Highlands due to its climate mirroring more of their native land but also for its agricultural potential. The altitude and rainy seasons produce some of the best tea and strawberries in this region of the world. Multiple driving tours and transportation are available from the hub of Tanah Rata and a wonderful way to appreciate the natural beauty of this area of Malaysia.
Malaysia Beaches
The beaches of Malaysia stand out for many obvious reasons. There are beaches prized by the locals like Layang-Layang in East Malaysia and more popular ones like Long Beach in Perhentian Kecil Island. There are beaches known for diving like Mabul Island Beach on the south-east side of Malaysia, Pulau Kapas in the state of Terengganu or Redang Beach near Taaras Resort, Redang. The waters are crystal clear and warm with pristine white sandy beaches that are equally suited for a morning of scuba diving, an afternoon of lounging or an evening of sunset gazing. Honestly, the beaches on the peninsular east coast are better than the west coast. Be aware that if you do plan on a beach vacation please avoid the east coast of Malaysia between November and March, the monsoon season.
Malaysia Mosques
One of the primary religions in Malaysia is Muslim and mosques can be found in virtually every town and state in the country. While many local mosques are created in the traditional Malay style, there are several that have become major tourist attractions both for their significance and stunning beauty. The styles, locations and colors vary from the floating Malacca Straits Mosque in Melaka to the palatial Al-Bukhary Mosque in Kendah. Terengganu’s Crystal Mosque and Perak’s Ubudiah Mosque have been recognized internationally as some of the most beautiful places of worship. The Darul Quran Mosque in Selangor reflects its golden dome off a large man-made pond while the most celebrated mosque in the country is the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya surrounded by the spacious Putrajaya Lake.
On the Reel
Anna and the King (1999)
Starring Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat and Bai Ling. Directed by Andy Tennant.
Anna and the King tells the semi-autobiographical story of British schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, in the late 19th century, as she travels to Siam (modern Thailand) to teach the children of the ruling monarch King Mongkut. Great star vehicle for Foster and international sensation Yun-Fat. Beautifully filmed throughout Malaysia including the Penang Port, Perak and Selangor.
Genting Highlands
One of the more fascinating places in Malaysia is the Genting Highlands located in Pahang. It is located up above the cloud line and is the only legal gambling location in the entire country. It has a little bit of everything from theme parks, live entertainment, boutique shops and, of course, gambling. You take a cable car to the top and, on a clear day you can see wild Malaysian Tigers and Asian or Borneo Elephants down below you. On most days you descend up through the clouds to the summit and, from the casinos and/or hotels, it creates a feeling of floating on the clouds. Among the other attractions at the Genting Highlands are Snow World, Talking Garden, Ripley’s Adventureland and Skytropolis Funland.
Royal Selanger Pewter Factory
A must tourist stop when visiting Malaysia is the Royal Selanger Pewter Factory in Kuala Lumpur. In the 19th century Kuala Lumpur was found to have vast resources of tin, the primary element of pewter. The factory started as a small concern and has since grown to internationally acclaim. One of the first things you notice upon entry to the factory are the KL Twin Towers replicated from pewter tumblers. Tours through the factory are illuminating including a few hand-crafted stops. If possible, try and avoid going on a rainy day as the raindrops colliding with the factory tin roof creates a noise that drowns out the words of the tour guide. There is also a large shopping area where you can purchase everything from picture frames and bookends to vases and even custom jewelry. Lastly make sure to take a picture with the “world’s largest tankard” created to commemorate the first 100 years of the factory.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, or KL, is the largest city in Malaysia serving as it’s capital and the location of the King’s Palace, the monarch of Malaysia residence. Officially established in the mid 19th century, KL proper is home to just over 2 million residents and is the 6th most visited city in the world. It’s skyline is world famous with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower, Maybank Tower, Menara Telekom Tower and the soon to be completed Warisan Merdeka 118 Tower, the 2nd tallest building in the world. The most popular gathering spots for locals and tourists alike are the massive air-conditioned malls like Suria KLCC and the Pavilion KL. KL has a thriving Chinatown, the amazing Batu Caves, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Perdana Botanical Gardens and KLCC Park.
Batu Caves
The Batu Caves was our favorite place to visit in Malaysia. From an American perspective it is utterly unique. The limestone interior has a massive open area, numerous caverns and is home to over 250 species of vascular plants. At the base is a 140’ (42.7 m) tall golden statue of the Hindu deity, Murugan, surrounded by temples ornamented with brightly colored religious symbols. Behind the statue are 272 colorful steps up to the caves littered with very aggressive macaques (rhesus monkeys) that are best left alone. The caves (Temple Cave, Dark Cave, Cave Villa and Ramayana Cave) are a welcome cool from the humidity and there are several temples, beautiful artwork and you might be luck enough to see a bare-footed elderly Indian woman who has never once cut her hair. You can pay $50 for a half-day tour or walk around for free for as long as you please.
King's Palace
The King’s Palace, known locally as Istana Negara, is the official residence of the Paramount Ruler or Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. The palace, completed in late 2012, covers 241 acres (104 ha) and, as befitting the national religion, faces Mecca. It’s a functioning complex that has three wings (administrative, royal, official) and two large golden domes the largest 197’ (60 m) high that supports the largest chandelier in the all of Malaysia. There are three entrances, one for us commoners looking for an audience, another for royal guests and a third, main entrance, reserved for official functions like visiting heads of state. While you can’t go inside, each of the gates are beautiful and you can see the dome quite well on the hill.
Petronas Twin Towers
If you know nothing else about Malaysia you are, at the very least, most likely familiar with the Petronas Twin Towers. Built in the late 20th century over a six-year span, they are the tallest twin towers in the world measuring an astounding 1,483’ (452 m) in height over 88 stories. The towers went through several building designs before the current structure was arrived at. The architect, Argentinian César Pelli, worked with the Malay government to create something uniquely Malaysian. One such feature is the eight-pointed star, only seen from above the tower, which represents unity, harmony, stability, and rationality in the Islamic cultures.
Each tower was constructed by different firms, one Japanese and the other Korean. Each floor was budgeted to take only 4 days to complete and both towers were completed within hours of the other. At about the midway point there’s a 750 ton double-decker skybridge that connects the two towers which also provides pretty spectacular views to the southeast and northwest. For even more spectacular 360° views, each tower has observation decks located on the 86th floor. For just under $20 you can get a 45-minute tour of the Twin Towers including the observation decks and gift shop on the concourse level.
On the Reel
Entrapment (1999)
Starring Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ving Rhames. Directed by Jon Amiel.
This playful “master thief” thriller works best as a vehicle for Connery’s magnetism and Zeta-Jones beauty. The real story is the use of Malaysian locations including the Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and the climactic scene shot in the Petronas Twin Towers.
KLCC Park
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur is the amazing 50 acre KLCC Park which serves as a greenery for the Petronas Twin Towers. Designed in the last few years of the 20th century by the famed Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx, the park was intended to be, much like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a perfect blend of man-made and nature. The park features a 2-acre kid’s playground, a .8 mile (1.3 km) jogging path, the Aquaria KLCC, a community waterpark and swimming pool, the As Syakirin Mosque and Lake Symphony with fountains, waterfalls and sea creature sculptures. The 10,764 ft2 (10,000 m2) lake also features nightly water fountain shows with lights, music and a central fountain that shoots as high as 138’ (42 m).
Malacca River
One of the more popular attractions in all of Malaysia is the historic Malacca River which features 45-minute down-and-back cruises covering a 5.6 mile (9 km) stretch. The cruises leave from one of the many local jetties and takes 1.1 million visitors a year on round trips along the “Venice of the East”. There are many highlights along the way like the Kampung Morten, a small “living museum” Malay village and the Ghost Bridge where occupying WWII Japanese soldiers hung decapitated heads of local Chinese citizens as a warning. Multiple bridges, each unique from the next, are among the more interesting sites along with buildings and homes adorned with colorful graffiti and artwork (similar to Penang), colonial buildings and the Christ Church of Melaka.
Christ Church Melaka
One of the more beautiful remnants of the Dutch colonial period is the red brick Christ Church of Melaka. Located near Malacca’s Chinatown centre, across the bridge from the tourist favorite Jonker Street, the church itself is small with only 10 rows of pews and has no fee for entry. What makes this area really stand out is the surrounding Dutch Square filled with a group of brightly-colored, terracotta-red colonial Dutch buildings, built in the late 17th century, the Malaysia Youth Museum & Art Gallery, a central fountain and the distinctive Tang Beng Swee Clocktower. This is a favorite tourist spot that is consistently filled with vibrant colorful rickshaws looking to pick up fares.
LEGOLAND Malaysia
Legoland Malaysia opened in 2012 as the first international theme park in the country. If you have kids prepare to spend an entire day at the park and never run out of things to do and see. If you have time add a second day to enjoy the Sea Life Aquarium and the water park. In all there are over 40 rides, shows and attractions to choose from including a 135’ (41 m) observation tower, 19th century themed Land of Adventure, three different roller coasters and the always popular Miniland featuring 12 different Asian countries.
Malaysia Final Thoughts
Malaysia lies just north of the equator so it doesn’t have traditional seasons but rather wet months (monsoon season) and dry months. The results are lush greenery and high humidity year round. The colonial history of Malaysia, between the Dutch and English, is evident throughout the country but the Malay have made a concerted effort to create a country that reflects their culture and values. The result is a fantastic mix of different influences that appeal to all visitors.
As a final note . . . the Malay people are genuinely some of the warmest and accomodating people we have ever encountered in our travels. We could not recommend Malaysia more as an exotic destination.
