Malaysia Travelers Recommend

Buddhist temples, Christian churches, Hindu temples and mosques – Penang’s multicultural history is evident at every turn. The largest Buddhist complex of temples and pagodas in Southeast Asia is Kek Lok Si , while one of the world’s largest reclining Buddhas stretches out at the Thai Wat Chayamankalaram. A standing Buddha peers over the Burmese Dharmmikarama Temple nearby. Chinese traditions are preserved at Khoo Kongsi, and Kapitan Keling Mosque rubs shoulders with St George’s Anglican Church and the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple. Malaysian hawker food is a highlight of any visit to Penang. To discover the traditions of Nyonya (or Peranakan) cuisine, start with a spicy bowl of assam laksa soup, choosing from tangy tamarind or creamy coconut milk. A blend of Chinese ingredients and Malay spices, Nyonya cuisine features lemongrass, kaffir lime, shallots, rice and galangal.

Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars. A modern city of gleaming skyscrapers, the buzz about KL is as palpable as its intoxicating aromas of sizzling satay, sweet incense, and tropical flowers. Kuala Lumpur has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India. Sample the city's highlights on a morning tour of Chinatown, mosques and grand public buildings - you can also do this as a private tour with your own English-speaking guide. Kuala Lumpur's ethnic mix means you can eat Malay food for breakfast, Chinese for lunch and Indian for dinner. The numerous night markets scattered around the city are crowded, buzzing with the sounds of haggling and Asian pop. When it's time to move on to indoor entertainment, the Golden Triangle and Bangsar areas are the places to head for bars and dancing. In the morning, take a privately guided walk through the Malaysian rain forest.

While you could always relax on popular, powdery-white Pantai Cenang, right on the main island, small boats can take you deeper into the scenic archipelago. Birders will enjoy the five-hour trek through wildlife-rich Langkawi Mangrove Forest, with its eagles and limestone caves; while those who love life beneath the sea will prefer to snorkel Pulau Payar Marine Park. Sun lovers can catch their rays on the four-hour Island Hopping Tour [http://www.viator.com/tours/Langkawi/Island-Hopping-Tour-from-Langkawi/d338-3705LGK12], visiting several islands and beaches, including the inner lagoon of Pregnant Maiden Lake, said to inspire fertility. While the Langkawi islands are justly famed for their sapphire-clear water and fine white beaches, since 1987, when Langkawi was granted tax-free status, it has been known in some circles as a duty-free shopping destination. Most shoppers begin at adorable Oriental Village, an Asian-themed shopping center.

Before venturing out into the hinterlands of Sarawak it’s a good idea to develop an understanding of exactly where in the world you are. With so much information to digest, there are few places better to start than at the Sarawak Museum complex with its sprawling trove of tribal artifacts. Conveniently located only an hour from Kuching, Bako National Park is Sarawak’s oldest national park and one of the few places on the island to catch a glimpse of the rare proboscis monkeys which frequent the mangrove forests at low tide. Set amongst the tropical backdrop for Kuching’s skyline, Kubah National Park is the easiest place from Kuching to amble amongst forested mountain trails and bathe beneath refreshing jungle waterfalls. Resplendent in over 100 types of palms, the diverse flora is matched only by the exotic fauna at the nearby Matang Wildlife Center located within the park boundaries.