5 Best Places You Must Visit in Malaysia

Malaysia is a country divided. Not by politics, religion or ethnicity, but by geography. Basically, it is in two parts: Peninsular Malaysia is physically connected to Thailand at the lower end of the SE Asian "mainland", which includes, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, etc; then, across the South China Sea there is Eastern Malaysia, an even larger part on the north of the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei.

As a country, Malaysia is very new. It was formed on the 16th of September 1963, but of course, that is just political recognition. The Malay people have been there for centuries and today the country is highly multi-ethnic and multicultural with many Chinese, Indian and other people living harmoniously alongside the Malay majority. This has shaped the country in many ways from its beliefs to its cuisine to its four main languages, Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil.

Here I want to highlight 5 of Malaysia's prime destinations, but please remember this is merely a personal selection. There are many others.

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's most modern and largest city. It was declared the capital in 1963 when Malaysia became independent. Although the administration offices of the Federal Government have been moved to Putrajaya, KL remains the home of the King and where all the embassies and diplomatic missions are to be found. Today, the city is a thriving modern metropolis and is the economic and industrial powerhouse of Malaysia. However, it also remains an important tourist destination.

The City View of Kuala Lumpur

National Museum

Sites of interest tend to fall into the category of national monuments, with the National Museum (Address: Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur), dedicated to documenting Malaysia's history and culture. Opened on 31st August 1963, the museum has four main galleries showing the country's national costumes, traditional weapons, musical instruments, arts and crafts, ceramics, musical instruments, flora and fauna, etc.

Merdeka Square (Independence Square)

Important to the Malaysian people is Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) known in English as Independence Square (Address: Jalan Raja, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur). It was here in 1963 that the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time over an independent Malaysia.

Merdeka Square

National Monument

Also important is the National Monument (Tugu Negara), which commemorates the lives lost during Malaysia's long struggle for independence, first from the Japanese during World War II and then from the British between 1948 and 1960. The statue depicts seven soldiers: one triumphantly holding the Malaysian flag; two armed fighters; one taking care of a wounded companion and two dead combatants at their feet. The monument can be found at Jalan Parlimen, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Old Railway Station

A very different architectural site also deserves attention. The Moorish-style Old Railway Station at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50621 Kuala Lumpur was completed in 1910. Despite its appearance, it was designed by a British architect who incorporated a number of Anglo-Asian styles into the overall Moorish style which was then popular in Britain. Today, the station serves as KL's Railway Museum, but most visitors are there for the architecture.

Petronas Twin Towers

The unmissable Petronas Twin Towers (Menara Berkembar Petronas) at Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, once the world's tallest structure. With 88 floors, the towers reach a height of 452 m and have a viewing gallery on a bridge connecting the two on the 41st floor at 170 m above ground level. The towers are mostly office buildings but there is a luxurious shopping mall, Suria KLCC, at the foot of the towers.

Petronas Twin Towers

Batu Caves

Well, located in Gombak, Selangor, it is not really a Kuala Lumpur attraction. However, due to the convenient transport as well as the grand celebrations of Thaipusam in this capital city, it is always a good choice to add to your Kuala Lumpur sightseeing list. This mysterious limestone said to be 400 million years old, is now known as a Hindu shrine with vivid Hindu statues and paintings inside and out, especially the huge golden Murugan statue near the variously painted 272 steps.

Batu Caves

Malacca

Malacca is perhaps Malaysia's most interesting city in history. Colonized by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, then the British, before independence, it has also been hugely influenced by China and India among others. All these influences have been absorbed in true Malaysian style, making for a truly multicultural city.

St. Paul's Church

Worth visiting are the ruins of St. Paul's Church (Gereja St. Paul), built in 1521 by a Portuguese nobleman, Duarte Coelho as thanks to his god for surviving a severe storm at sea.

In 1548, St Francis Xavier, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), opened a school here and after his death in China was temporarily buried here. His open and empty grave still remains. One strange story is told of Xavier. It seems that in 1614, his body, now buried in Goa, India was disturbed and his right forearm removed as a holy relic. In 1952, a statue of Xavier was erected in front of St Paul's in Malacca. The next day a tree fell on the statue, breaking off the same right arm!

St. Paul's Church in Malacca

Porta de Santiago

A Famosa (Kota A Famosa) was a Portuguese fort built in Malacca in 1511, but taken over by the Dutch in 1641. The Porta de Santiago, is the only remaining part of the fort. It was renovated by the Dutch in 1670, hence the date on the arch. In the 18th century, the fort fell into the hands of the British, who decided the expense of keeping it was too much, so all but destroyed it.

Stadthuys

Another Dutch relic is the Stadthuys on Dutch Square, Laksamana Road. The name is old Dutch for "city hall". It was built in 1650 to serve as the residence and office of the Dutch governor and vice-governor. The red building, with its distinctive, nearby red clock tower is now the History and Ethnography Museum, which has displays documenting Malacca's complicated past.

Dutch Square

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (25 Jalan Tokong, 75200 Malacca), the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia, is dedicated to what is known as "Three Doctrinal Systems", a Chinese religion-philosophical system combining Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The beautiful 4,600 m² temple was built according to Feng Shui principles and overlooks the river.

Jonker Walk

If you are feeling hungry after all that history, The Jonker Walk (Persiaran Jonker) on Jonker Street in Malacca's Chinatown is your best bet. From 6 pm until around midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, it is closed to traffic and becomes a huge night food market. However, on any night there are many restaurants selling great Malaysian food in all its variety.

Penang

Just typing the name Penang sets my taste buds off. Malaysia is known as a great food destination, but within Malaysia, Penang is considered to have the best street food in the world.

Malaysian food is special due to its integration of many influences and Penang cuisine is no different. Its dishes incorporate all the dishes originating from China, India, Thailand, and Myanmar, also influences a heavy dose of Peranakan cuisine. The Peranakan people, who refer to themselves as Baba Nyonya, are ethnic Chinese who migrated here in mainly the 15th to 17th centuries and fully integrated with the Malay population. Their cuisine is similarly integrated.

George Town

The best way to experience Penang food is on a guided food tour. While it is possible to do this yourself, a good guide will know the best spots and the best dishes and offer useful information on the background of what you are eating. And for the best of the best, there is only one place to go, George Town, the provincial capital.

George Town, on Penang Island just off the western shore of the peninsula. The city is noted for its mix of architectural styles, with the oldest part of the city being recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Outside the UNESCO site is a new, thriving city of skyscrapers.

Malaysian Cuisine

Nyonya Laksa is popular throughout Malaysia, but Penang has its own version, Asam Laksa, a sour, fish and tamarind soup. An example of a Malay dish would be Otak-Otak, a dish of fresh fish with mild spices, coconut milk, makrut lime leaves and other aromatics made into a kind of fish paste.

Chowrasta Wet Market

A good start is to visit Chowrasta Wet Market (Lot 26, Jalan Chowrasta, 10100 George Town; Open 6:30 am to 6:00 pm daily) to see the wide variety of produce used; the market is popular with both visitors and locals. The best time to visit is early morning.

Gurney Drive

Also popular is Gurney Drive (Persiaran Gurney), home of Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, one of the city's largest street food venues. This is a good place to sample char kuey teow (wide rice noodles served on a banana leaf with seafood, shrimp paste, chili, bean sprouts, etc.), Hokkien mee (rice and egg noodles with hard-boiled eggs, prawns, pork slices, bean sprouts and water spinach in a spicy prawn and pork bone stock) and many other local dishes.

Wonder Food Museum

An amusing oddity in George Town is the Wonder Food Museum (49, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10200; Tel: +60 4-251 9095; Open 9 am to 6 pm daily). This museum features replica Penang dishes, many much larger than life-size, but is also very informative about the local cuisine.

Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and an important pilgrimage site for believers from across SE Asia and beyond. Built between 1890-1930, the temple is an interesting mixture of styles. Look out for the pagoda which is built in three layers, each having a different architectural style. The bottom third is Chinese; the center third is Thai and the top is Burmese. Somehow these fit together smoothly.

Penang Hill

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera), 9 km west of George Town city center. The peak can easily be reached via the funicular railway and offers exhilarating views over the whole of George Town. The hill, or rather range of hills, is rich in rare flora and fauna and is an important conservation and study zone. There are nature trails and even the Flight of the Colugo zip line which allows visitors to see the rainforest canopy from above.

Ipoh

Ipoh, the capital of the state of Perak is noted for its distinct British colonial architecture, particularly in Ipoh Old Town. On the outskirts of the city is a large number of limestone caves some of which contain temples.

Sam Poh Tong

The best-known, largest, and oldest is the Chinese Sam Poh Tong (Three Buddhas Cave). A steep climb of 246 steps is required to access the cave, which contains various examples of Buddhist artwork and a reclining Buddha.

Sam Poh Tong in Ipoh

Concubine Lane

Ipoh cuisine is also well-known and like Penang. In Concubine Lane, there are a number of hawker centers and restaurants, many specializing in local dishes. There is a strong Chinese influence on Ipoh cuisine, with favorite dishes including Sar Hor Fun, rice noodles with mixed meats and seafood; and Nga Choi Kai, chicken with soy sauce and beansprouts topped with pepper, among many others. This is the place to try Ipoh white coffee, made from palm-oil roasted coffee beans and served with condensed milk. You may want to accompany your coffee with Heong Peng, the local pastry specialty.

Memory Lane Flea Market

This Sunday market turns Ipoh into another welcoming weekend city, an open-air gallery that awakens you to rich cultural displays, as well as a treasure trove full of vendors and their assorted collections of precious records, old books, rare stamps, commemorative coins, black and white photos, and more. Stroll down the long, winding street and catch a glimpse of these impressive goods and things that could be your future treasures.

Borneo

The largest part of Malaysia is Eastern Malaysia, comprising the two states, Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan. It lies on the northern coast of the island of Borneo which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei. Although making up approximately 60% of Malaysia's land space, Malaysian Borneo is less populated and less developed than Peninsular Malaysia. Most of the land is covered by rainforest, harboring a diverse flora and fauna.

Kota Kinabalu National Park

Kota Kinabalu, known to most people as "KK", is the capital of Sabah province in the eastern part of Malaysia's Borneo territory. Easily accessed from Peninsular Malaysia via Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), KK is considered the gateway to Sabah and particularly to Kinabalu National Park, one of Malaysia's first national parks (1964) and the country's first UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site (2000). The park is centered on Mount Kinabalu, at 4,095 meters, Borneo's highest peak. It is home to over 500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 birds and around 100 mammals. It is also home to more than 110 snail species.

Nabulu Market

The park is around 88 km from KK, so many visitors like to break their journey at Nabulu Market (Pekan Nabalu), a lively food market, but also full of reasonably priced souvenirs and local handicrafts. It is also a great place to view Mount Kinabalu in the distance. There are special viewing platforms, and although the mountain is often shrouded in mist, if you are lucky the cover will break allowing you a great shot.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Another Sabah must-see for many is the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. This is located 25 km west of Sandakan on the province's far eastern shore. Opened in 1964 in a forest park comprising mainly virgin rainforest, the center is home to between 60 and 80 orangutans at any time. These are mainly orphaned animals rescued from logging sites, and plantations, victims of illegal hunting or having been kept as pets. In 2014, a nursery section was also opened to the public where you can see the youngest orangutans play and prepare to live on their own. Related: Encounter Various Amazing Wildlife in Sabah.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sabah

The center is open from 9-11 am and 2-3 pm every day. Tickets are RM 30 / USD 7 per adult (18+) and RM 15 / USD 3.5 per child (under 18). There is an extra RM 10 / USD 2 per camera. Tickets last one day so can cover both opening sessions which are built around feeding times.

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