The west coast of the Malaysian peninsular is home to a string of enigmatic cities teeming with life, making it a buzzing, energetic place to explore. Kuala Lumpur is the main entry point, captivating travelers with its soaring skyscrapers, lively streets and cosmopolitan ambiance. Travel north and you are greeted with the naturally astounding Cameron Highlands, a former hill station offering British style tea in exquisite surroundings.
Penang absorbs your attention with a patchwork of cultures and a truly fascinating heritage. In George Town guests can visit Hindu and Chinese temples standing side by side – these historical elements and its preserved colonial building gained it UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008.
Nestled against the Thai border is Langkawi, graced with white sandy beaches, mangroves and a generally laid back atmosphere. Snorkel or scuba dive in the crystal clear waters or ride in the Langkawi Cable Car over the dense interior forests. A wide range of hotels cater to all guests, with some of Malaysia’s most luxurious offerings to be found on the island.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital city and focal point of the “new” Malaysia. While the city’s past is evident in the nostalgic British colonial buildings, the future is apparent in the form of the gleaming towering skyscrapers. The capital has a cosmopolitan vibe that projects an unbounded spirit of progress that symbolizes Malaysia’s confident leap into the future. Must do activities in Kuala Lumpur include visits to the Islamic Arts Museum which documents Islam culture and the Petronas Twin Towers which offer sky high views of the city unraveling into the suburbs.
Langkawi’s outstanding natural land and seascapes have earned it the status of a World Geopark. The plants in the island’s rainforest provide an abundance of fragrances and lotions and the locals are adept at using flowers, fruits, sap, bark, leaves and roots for their traditional medicinal properties. Langkawi offers a journey back in time to a more underdeveloped Asia and it is easily accessible from the capital and regional airports.
With its lantern-lighted canals and narrow streets lined with decades-old shop houses, few places in South East Asia conjure romantic images of the past as effectively as Malacca. Dubbed the ‘Historic State’, the provincial capital Malacca was once filled with the billowing sails of tall-mast ships as Europeans, Indians and Chinese merchants traded spices, silks, opium and tobacco along the East-West trade route.
Penang is one of Malaysia’s most popular leisure destinations as it offers history, culture and heritage. For a more relaxed vacation, the beautiful beaches of Batu Ferringhi provide lazy beach hideaways and luxury accommodations. Penang’s vibrant history as a spice trading port launched a kaleidoscope of mouth-watering cuisines. It is now known as the food capital of Malaysia and visitors are spoilt for choice, with Indian, Chinese, Malay and fusion cuisines on offer.
