Malaysia
January, 2019
The first time I planned on visiting Malaysia was while planning my trip to Singapore. There were so many itinerary suggestions clubbing the 2 countries together in just 4-5 nights. Malaysia is a mix of forests, beaches, heritage and culture. This country definitely deserves more than a couple of nights. Here’s a 9 day itinerary to some of the places I had a chance to visit.
Contents
Day 1 : Langkawi
After reaching Langkawi around noon and lazing around for a while, I headed out for a sunset cruise. You can easily book one yourself online. It includes a 3 hour yacht into the Andaman Sea, mouth-watering food, free-flowing drinks and good music. Watching the sun set into the ocean on the deck of a yacht is a luxurious experience in itself. They also have a professional photographer onboard. You can pay extra and get a soft copy of these pictures (no more faking candids 😀 ). The highlight has to be what is called the salt water jacuzzi. There could not have been a better way to kick-start the trip.
We also stopped by Eagle Square, which is very close to the jetty.
Tip : Bring along an extra change of clothes and a towel. I read ‘sunset cruise’ and picked up a fancy white dress. Its not white anymore.
Day 2 : Langkawi
Langkawi is more than just ocean and beaches. It has been given a Geo Park status. The second day began with exploring this side of Langkawi. We started with a mangrove tour with pit stops to watch sea food farming and a bat cave.
This was followed by lunch by the Tanjung Rhu Beach.
My next stop was the Oriental Village. Along with the iconic Sky Bridge and the world’s steepest cable car, this place has many other attractions such as the dome theatre, 5D movie theatre, 3D painting museum etc.
Sky Bridge offers a panoramic view of the Langkawi archipelago which makes this place worth your time.
Day 3 : Penang
Next was a packed day at the place I was most excited about – Penang. George Town in Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site. First few hours of the day were spent hunting for street art and trying cafes in the old town. I was expecting rustic street art but there was more to it; beautiful buildings with ancient architecture and random museums are scattered all over the place.
Next we headed for a tour to the Tropical Spice Garden. I have a thing for green spaces and learning about plantation and food is a great way to know a place.
This was followed by spending the evening at the Batu Feringghi Beach. To be honest, the water wasn’t that clean and you can safely look to skip this one.
Day 4 : Cameron Highlands
Honestly, I added a stop at the Cameron Highlands only because there were some spare days at hand and it turned out to be one of the best days in Malaysia. This little mountain town is full of plantations. You can see greenhouses and tea gardens all around. They have multiple gardens where you can admire the colourful flowers, gorgeous views and also pick strawberries.
I went to the Lavender Garden and Rose Centre. While Lavender Garden had strawberry farming and a much better variety of flowers, Rose Centre had a scenic view of the town.
Houses and buildings across the town are very symmetric in terms of color and shape which add to the beauty of the place.
Do not forget to visit the local fruits and vegetable market.
Day 5 : Kuala Lumpur
With the last few days being hectic, I strived to keep the days in Kuala Lumpur as laid back as possible. I had a pretty standard routine of going out during the day, spending the evening exploring some market or a small locality, followed by a swim.
On the first day itself I covered the most touristy places in KL which includes The Petronas Towers, KL Tower, National Monument (War Memorial) and Merdeka Square (Independence Square). I also visited a leather and a chocolate factory which you can consider skipping.
Day 6 : Kuala Lumpur
I am not really a city person so we decided to spend the day picnicking at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). They have multiple trails and also a tiny waterfall. Do carry a mosquito repellent if you plan to visit.
Next I headed to the Little India market. Things that you do for Indian food! I expected this to be something like Little India in Singapore but nothing close to it. You can totally skip this one.
Day 7 : Kuala Lumpur
This day was reserved for a visit to the Sunway Lagoon Amusement Park because you can never be too old for roller coasters and water slides 🙂 .
Later in the evening I visited China Town. This place has dupes for all fancy brands. I should say, this place has ONLY dupes. I happened to be there just before the Chinese New Year and loved the vibe and cultural extravaganza.
Day 8 : Kuala Lumpur
It was almost my last day in Malaysia and I spent it exploring the Batu Caves and the Genting Highlands.
The caves have a huge statue of Lord Murugan Swami. A fleet of colourful stairs lead to the limestone cave which has several small shrines.
With a cable car, theme park, casino and shopping mall, Genting Highlands are ideal for a day long of entertainment. They are a day trip away from KL and you can stop at the Batu Caves on the way.
Day 9 : Kuala Lumpur
An entire day was reserved for shopping and trying new eateries. Bukit Bintang is a must visit if you want to indulge in some retail therapy. This area has something for every budget. While you can find luxury brands at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Times Square Mall has a huge variety for ones who plan to stick to a budget.
How to travel
- To Langkawi – Took a flight to Langkawi airport. It has very good connectivity from KL.
- Langkawi to Penang – Traveled by a ferry.
- Penang to Cameron Highland – Took a bus.
- Cameron Highland to KL – Traveled by a cab.
- From KL – KL International airport has good connectivity from all major cities in India.
Note – You will be charged extra for luggage in ferries and buses. Travel light 🙂 .
Best Time to visit
While weather is fairly consistent throughout the year, November to March is the ideal time to visit. Remaining part of the year is typically the wet season.
