Malaysia- Truly Asia
Introduction Page:
Malaysia.. my second favorite country I’ve ever visited!
They have just been so unlucky to be located under such a popular and amazing country as Thailand..
But a second place ain’t bad right?😅
To be honest I am taking personal experiences into my verdict as well, my time in Thailand was spend with a girl that I loved while in Malaysia I was on my own.
That kinda makes it an uneven battle to begin with haha.
But make no mistake!!
This is a country that has to be visited!
I found that tourism is much less than in neighbouring Thailand, which is a shame!
A shame but a huge benefit as well, you can still find very local places in Malaysia where almost no tourists are to be seen.
- Capital: Kuala Lumpur
- Population: 32.3 Million
- Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
- Independence Day: 31 August
- Country size rank: 68th
The Malaysian people are also just as friendly towards foreigners as Thai people are and they have the most amazing capital I have ever visited!
Yes Kuala Lumpur is way above Bangkok for me and also superior to some other cities I have been in Europe!
The good doesn’t end there though: stunning nature, the beatiful island of Langkawi, lush tea plantations at Cameron Highlands and a really generous visa awaits you!
To read all the Malaysia articles, simply click on the button above⬆️
Or scroll down further to see my top 3 places in Malaysia and to find out why Malaysia is nicknamed: Truly Asia⬇️
Malaysia Truly Asia:
Malaysia, truly Asia.. a nickname I’ve seen plenty of times on commmercials and I didn’t really understand what it meant until visiting.
It means that Malaysia is the only country that has a huge population of multiple Asian backgrounds(Indians, Malay’s and Chinese).
When visiting you find out that all of this is true and it’s a fitting nickname for the country.
For example in Kuala Lumpur I stayed in a region mostly inhabited by Indians, my go to restaurant in the morning was Indian and ohh how good the food was(flashbacks😅)
In the city of Ipoh on the other hand there is a huge population of Chinese which you’ll also see in the architecture there!
The landscape is filled with dozens of Chinese temples and restaurants!
Same goes for Penang island and some other regions!
My top 3 places in Malaysia:
1: Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, I never would have thought that I would put a capital on first place above tropical islands or natural areas! But DAMN Kuala Lumpur had everything I was looking for in a capital!
It is not as crowded as other Asian capitals and is much more clean and organized.
And if for some reason you do feel overwhelmed by the amount of people then Kuala Lumpur has got your back!
This is a city where you can take a metro for about 1 hour, leaving the big city behind and arrive yourself in a huge natural area!
The biggest example is the: Bukit Tabur hike!!
A narrow(and dangerous) hike along a mountain ridge overviewing the city in the distance!!
Look of in the distance and watch the famous Petronas Twin towers or turn around and see huge amounts of forests and lakes!
Keep in mind that the trail can get pretty dangerous, at times you’ll be climbing down while holding a rope with a huge drop below.
The views and overall experience are totally worth it though!
TIP: This trail is not for beginners, bring plenty of water and if you feel unsafe carrying on then better turn around and play it safe!
2: Langkawi Island
Langkawi island, my first stop after crossing the Malaysian border.
Easily accessible by ferries departing from the towns of Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah.
An island that is so relaxed and so untouristic that you could stay there for weeks.
If you been to one of the famous Thai islands then you know how crowded those places can be, NOT on Langkawi island!
Sure there are some tourists(mostly backpackers) but it never reaches those insane levels.
Now what does Langkawi have to offer you might think?
The answer is plenty! Stunning beaches, popular daytrips to nearby islands with the Lake of the Pregnant maiden as number 1 attraction.
It’s a stunning island with a huge sweet water lake in the center!
Upon arrival you’ll be hiking through some jungles, meet some locals(monkeys) and then you get rewarded with a stunning view over the pristine lake!!
Then only one thing remains to be done right? Take off those clothes and take a dive inside!
Honestly it feels so refreshing and even though the sea is nearby the water is perfectly fine, no salty flavour at all.
But Langkawi has so much more! Waterfalls, nice beaches and a cablecar bringing you to the highest point of the island, providing you with breathtaking views!
Or how about a day trip towards the: Kilim Geoforest park. A national park with huge rock formations, mangrove forests and a bat cave for you to visit.
And no that is not all, so if I made you excited for more, then click the Langkaw island button below and see what else is out there!
TIP: DON’T stay in the biggest city called: Kuah, it’s underwhelming.
Stay in the Cenang area instead! Good location, plenty of attractions and shops there.
3: Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands, a place you just have to visit!
A very laidback region with a charming city, plenty of hostels for backpackers to stay in and most important of all.. beatiful surroundings!
The area is known for it’s tea plantations and I recommend you to visit those places first.
Step into those fields and on bright sunny days it feels like you are in a fairytale.
Who says you need to visit New Zealand to visit The Shire😜
These plantations give you the exact same vibe(except for the iconic homes haha)
But there is so much more in the area!
How about the Mossy forest for example, the name kinda gives it away I think.
It’s a mossy forest, the trees are covered in moss, the atmosphere is kinda spooky and again you’ll find yourself in another fairytale haha.
There is an easy to be found hiking trail going from the nearby city of Brinchang all the way to where the mossy forest is located!
And if you are coming in by car then keep your eyes open because the road provides you with breathtaking views over the tea plantations below!
Some other small attractions that are worth mentioning: the Sam Poh temple and the Robinson falls.
Tip: Public transport towards the Cameron Highlands is really easy!
There are plenty of busses departing from Kuala Lumpur, Penang or even Ipoh where I came from.
The trip takes you about 3.5 hours.