Malaysia – The Underrated Gem of South East Asia

Malaysia is a country often skipped over by travellers in the region. When the majority of people think of South East Asia they think about Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Malaysia is a country very diverse in its people, with a mix of Indian, Chinese and Malay. Malaysia is also very diverse in the sense that every place you visit is so different from the last. It is hard to understand why visitors don’t flock here like they do Thailand or Vietnam. The country is cheap to travel in and the exchange rate is good. The food here is world class. You can find everything here from cities to jungles to beaches to tea plantations. It is certainly one of my favourite countries to visit and one I highly recommend. This Malaysia Travel Guide will hopefully help you plan and enjoy your stay in one of my favourite countries.

Currency Converter – 10 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) = €2.10/£1.90/$2.40

Weather

Malaysia has a tropical climate. The best months to visit the west side of the country are between December and February. For the east side, it can be best to visit June through August. Temperatures in the cities and the islands average at 28°C. In the mountainous regions, 23°C is the average. If you follow the main tourist trail, try to avoid May to September. This is the rainy season.

Visa Policy

EU Nationals, along with Americans, Canadians and Australians are just some of the countries entitled to visa-free access into Malaysia for 90 days. Another 97 countries are entitled to visa-free access for stays of up to 30 days. For further information on Malaysia’s visa policy, click here

Things To See and Do in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur – KL was the first place I visited in Asia. It took nearly 4 years to return but I left feeling even fonder of the city. The food here is incredible. Whether on Petaling Street in Chinatown, or Jalon Alor, the food street of the city, there is no way you are going hungry. The Batu Caves are an excellent way to spend half a day. There are parks and museums that are cheap or free to visit and either very relaxing or very informative. Spend a day chilling in the Lake Gardens Park and visit the National Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara), the Islamic Art Museum and the Royal Malaysia Police Museum. A fun way to spend a day that costs you all of 14 Ringgit. The Petronas towers are also amazing. Make sure you come by at night and see the light show behind the towers.

For an idea on how to spend 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur click here.

Melaka – Located just south of the capital is the small city of Melaka. The city centre of Melaka was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. It is a good place to visit to get an understanding of the colonial side of Malaysia. The Portuguese, Dutch and British have all been in control of the city at one time in history. It is not a bad place overall, with some nice buildings, churches and murals. Not a thriving city by any means and can be quiet a lot of the time, but a good place to spend a night or two. I found it a nice rest point when travelling in between KL and Singapore. Alternatively, a day trip would be a good option here. Melaka is only 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur, with a bus ticket costing 10 Malaysian Ringgit.

Cameron Highlands – Situated in between KL and Penang, the Cameron Highlands are a good place to come and slow the pace down. There are two main towns, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. Neither are particularly lively, although calling them sleepy would be a bit of an over exaggeration. People come here for or a few different reasons. The main one is to visit the Tea Plantations here and seeing that picturesque view that is so famous. Another is hiking. There are 10 hiking trails close to the two towns of all different lengths and difficulties. Be wary of the weather too. It tends to get a bit cooler as you ascend the mountain. The highlands are worth the trip if you want to break up the journey and are looking for something a bit different from major cities and towns.

Penang – The best way to describe Penang, food paradise. This small island is the food capital of the region. The island is split into different areas, with Georgetown being the busiest and most popular. More inland is Air Itam and close to that is Penang Hill. You can also travel up the coast to the beach and resort areas. For me, Georgetown is where you want to be, in the thick of the action. After dark, the streets come alive with vendors setting up shop selling their delicious eats. Music from the bars fills the street. For that time it can be hard to imagine being anywhere else. During the day, Penang Hill is worth a trip to, as is Kek Lok Si Temple, both a bus journey from Georgetown. The street art is incredible and unique. Penang is a place you are sure to fall in love with.

For 5 Must Eats in Penang, click here

Langkawi – When people think of relaxing on a beautiful picturesque beach in Malaysia, they are thinking about Langkawi. The ‘Jewel of the Kedah’ is a natural paradise. The white sandy beaches are a dream to relax on and watch the sun go down. The island is also full of lush forests, caves and waterfalls. It is a great place to mix up your days from beach days to getting out and exploring other parts of the island. It is very easy to come here and switch off from the fast moving pace of the mainland. This is what makes Langkawi so popular. The one downside for me was the food. Prices were high and, like nearly all busy island destinations, the quality is lacking. It can make it hard to stay in budget, but with a little adapting and determination not to overspend, it is not impossible.

What To Eat in Malaysia

Wanton Mee – My go-to dish in Malaysia, wanton mee originates from Cantonese cuisine but is a popular dish throughout Malaysia. The dish is made up of egg noodles that are fried and tossed in a mix of oyster and soy sauce. The noodles are then topped with slices of char siu, green chillies and some choy sum. Then there will be wontons either on the plate or served in a soup on the side. The quality of wanton mee depends on where you get it but when it is good, it is really good.

Char Kuey Teow – This greasy, fatty noodle dish is another of my personal favourites. Translating to stir-fried rice cake strips, Char Kuey Teow is rice noodles, stir-fried in oil. Some bean sprouts are thrown into the mix along with a good helping of seafood, usually prawns and squid. The end result is beautiful. They say a good Char Kuey Teow is all in the wok, the older and more used the better. This is why the best places to try this is on a street corner, with a cold beer. Heaven!!

Hokkien Mee – I really am a sucker for a plate of greasy noodles. To the best of my knowledge, Hokkien Mee in Singapore comes quite dry but in Malaysia, what arrives is a bit different. A thick, sinister, dark sauce covers the fried noodles. Some seafood, usually prawns, have been added. Then there is a handful of crispy bacon lardons for some added, fatty flavour. This heart attack inducing plate of good is another noodle dish done perfectly.

Nasi Lemak – Nasi Lemak is considered the national dish of Malaysia. It is rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. This very humble dish is often served with spicy sambal, egg, cucumber, sometimes chicken and peanuts. It is cheap, easy to find and reliable. Some Malays will eat this every day, it can also be eaten at any time of the day.

Laksa – This is a spicy noodle soup. Although you can find it served with chicken or tofu my personal favourite is with fish. Thick, vermicelli rice noodles along with some vegetables and herbs are soaked in a spicy, sour broth. The meat or fish then can be added if it is not already in the broth. The best laksa you will find is certainly in Penang but good versions of it can be found throughout the country.

Economy Rice – This does not refer to just one specific dish. It is basically cafeteria style food. You get your rice and then a selection from a dozen or so prepared foods to add to it. This can range from vegetables to grilled meats to curries. You simply choose what you want and pay the price depending on how much you choose. It is a cheap and reliable meal option, especially for breakfast and lunch. If the place is busy and with a high turnover then the food will be fresh and good. If not, best to keep walking and look elsewhere.

Lok Lok – Lok Lok is essentially the Malaysia version of hotpot or a steamboat. Translating to dip-dip, you take your skewers of meat or vegetables and place them in the boiling broth. It is a great meal choice when you are sharing with people, the communal broth in the middle and everyone eating as much as they wish.

Helpful Phrases

Hello = Halo (Pronounced Ha-loh)

Thank you = Terima Kasih (Pronounced te-ree-mah ka-seh)

You’re Welcome = Sama-Sama (Pronounced saa-ma saa-ma)

Yes = Ya

No = Tidak (Tee-dak)

Goodbye = Selamat jalan (Pronounced s’la-mat zha-lan)

How much? = Berapa (Pronounced be-raa-paa)

Please = Tolong (Pronounced Toh-long)

I don’t understand = Saya Tak Faham (Pronounced saa-yah tak faa-haam)

Typical Costs in Malaysia

Accommodation – You will certainly get a hostel anywhere in Malaysia for less than 30MYR. In some places, you will get a private room that can be shared for double this. On my last visit to Malaysia, the majority of places I visited, it was better financially to share a private room. A decent hotel room in Kuala Lumpur or Penang will start at 100MYR but you may end up spending only half of that in places like Melaka and Cameron Highlands.

Transportation – Getting around Malaysia is quite cheap, especially given the quality of buses. Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh, for example, costs 30MYR. That journey takes just over 3 hours. For bus prices and selection, click here. This website, in my opinion, is the best for selecting and buying bus tickets in the country.

Food – Most street food in Malaysia will cost you less than 10MYR. Certain meals and meats might cost 50% more. Great value for what is usually great food. Of course, if you want to go a bit higher end then you will pay at least over 30MYR. Fast food prices typically start at 10MYR.

How To Save Money in Malaysia

Book Online – Malaysia is one of the easiest countries I have ever travelled around. The transport system here is fantastic for the region. Unlike other countries, you can book everything online direct from the bus company. They will tell you where your drop off point will be. In some instances, there may be more than one to choose from. This gives you a chance to research where you will be in relation to your accommodation and decide the cheapest and easiest way there. It really is a dream compared to other countries in the region.

Make Use of What is Free – Many attractions and sites are free to enter in the cities around the country. It would be a shame to not make the most of that. Instead of paying huge money to climb the Petronas Towers in KL, why not go and visit Masjid Negara, the National Mosque. Check out what museums and sites are free before you go and you will be thankful you did. KL also has a free bus service around the city that can get you to the most popular areas. Don’t make the mistake of paying for transport when you can get it for free.

Avoid Alcohol –  It would be best to avoid heavy drinking whilst in Malaysia. Malaysia is largely a Muslim country meaning a high percentage of the population do not drink alcohol. This has led to the government raising prices in a bid to stop a big drinking culture developing. Prices are higher in comparison with other countries in the region but not so high that it needs to be totally avoided. Places like KL and Penang have some great bars that are worth visiting. It would just be best if you left heavy nights out until you reach another, cheaper country.

Eat Local – Often overlooked, the food scene in Malaysia is one of the best I’ve experienced. You will not be disappointed by the culinary delights that await you when you arrive. Cuisines like Thai and even Vietnamese get all the credit in the Western world, Malaysia is most definitely on their level, if not a step above. Make sure you eat at the street stalls and hawker centres for the tastiest and most budget-friendly meals available to you.

I am not sure if Malaysia will ever get the number of visitors it deserves. In some ways, I think this is good. I feel that every time I return, the country I left will still be waiting there for me. It is not like they get no tourists, just considerably less than neighbouring countries do. It will always have my love though. The food, the people, Penang and Kuala Lumpur all have enough of a pullback to keep me returning. There is still so much of the country I need to explore and I will be certain to do so in the future. Until then, I hope that this Malaysia Travel Guide might convince at least one person that the country is worth visiting because it truly is!