Malaysia - beaches, resorts and incredible history
There's much to love about a holiday to Malaysia - not the least of which is the tropical warmth, the sensational food and the delightful people. Malaysia is a diverse country of grand experiences - from outstanding resorts, gloriously clean and restful beaches to mountain resorts, tribal villages and natural wonders. It really is the archetypal melting pot of races, religions and ethnic minorities. The gastronomical extravaganza that you'll find in almost every resort and certainly in the major cities is a direct result of this successful blend of multicultural cooking styles and the tropical ingredients that largely feature seafood are as fresh as it gets.
Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture; 11 states and 2 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) form Peninsular Malaysia Across the South China Sea is East Malaysia which includes the 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) and a third federal territory, the island of Labuan.
The best thing about Malaysia is discovering the delights of a first world city full of towering skyscrapers and then embarking on a journey through a countryside where you'll still find houses on wooden stilts, sandy beaches with wooden fishing boats pulled up on the shoreline and rugged forests full of wild animals.
From the markets of Penang to the jungles of Sarawak, from the incredible resorts on Sabah to the colonial history in Melaka, Malaysia serves up nightlife, beach life, cultural life and diversity in a landscape designed in heaven.
Eating out in Malaysia
Cheap, expensive and everything in between
Depending on the region you're in, the food styles in Malaysia can be quite different. The market stalls in Georgetown, Penang for example have a very Chinese look and feel, while KL itself and the Pahang region offer deliciously light variations on a Thai theme. Sabah and Sarawak are different again, with more spice and more meat dishes. Prices range from stratospheric in the tonier parts of KL to the "I can't believe that just cost so little" in Melaka, Penang and Kalantan.
The budget options – Kabaya on the island of Penang is one of Georgetown's best - and cheapest - restaurants. It's at 2-16 Stewart Lane, Georgetown and the Asian fusion style makes for very light meals that won't fill you up but instead impress with the quality of the sauces and the fresh ingredients. The cocktails are great, the wine list not so great but the food is tremendous!
Mid price options – Sabah is one of Asia's newest destinations with a smattering of exceptional resorts and chances are you'll find yourself on holiday here soon enough! The cuisine tends towards the spicy and one of the better Indian restaurants is K. Sanba's Curry Specials. It's in the Lorong Plaza in Kota Kinabalu and takes fresh fish and does something truly magical with it! Try either the chicken or curry fish head.
Splurge – Tamarind Hill at 19 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur is pure Asian at its best. The blend of Burmese and Thai cuisines are a delight as is the outdoor setting. They do very good vegetarian as well as excellent steak and more with light Burmese sauces a specialty. Look for the waterfall wall and ask for a table outside near the trees.
What to wear, when to go
The weather is generally warm and tropical wherever you go in Malaysia. It doesn't suffer the extremely high temperatures that much of mid-Asia offers but humidity however is a common feature. Happily, nights in Malaysia are fairly cool. Throughout the year, the average temperature ranges from 20°C to 30°C on average. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains from November to February. Mainland or peninsular Malaysia receives average rainfall of 2500 mm, East Malaysia is where it really buckets down in typical Asian downpours - they get an average of 5080 mm of rain.
Things not to miss
KL - a shopper's heaven
Whilst it doesn't have the electronic gizmo and gadget reputation of Hong Kong and Singapore, KL tends towards clothing and very good clothing at that. You can pick up tailored suits or skirts here for little layout so long as you give the tailor a few days and the choice of fabrics and finishes suit a European style.
Petronas Towers - the world's tallest twin towers have featured in any number of movies and yet the trip to the mid-point takes just 41 seconds. The skybridge linking the two also doubles as a viewing platform, but book in advance - tickets sell out fast for each daily allowance.
Genting Highlands - is about an hour's dive from KL and it's where the bright young thing go to hang out, gamble, drink and partake of the excellent food choices in this highlands getaway. The weather is appreciably cooler, though still pleasant and a visit for a night out is recommended.
Pahang Hillstation - the Brits came and went, and left behind a legacy of afternoon tea! And the perfect place to partake is in the Cameron Highlands in the Pahang region. Situated some 1,500 metres above sea level, the elevation takes the tropical heat out of the air and you can relax in front of captivating views of endless tea plantations and verdant hills.